Shopify
Teachable
| Feature | Shopify | Teachable |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $39/mo | Free / from $59/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Best For | ecommerce, dtc-brands, dropshippers, small-businesses | course-creators, coaches, educators, experts, solopreneurs |
| Founded | 2006 | 2013 |
| Online Store | ✓ | ✗ |
| Payments | ✓ | ✗ |
| Shipping | ✓ | ✗ |
| Pos | ✓ | ✗ |
| Marketing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Analytics | ✓ | ✗ |
| Course Builder | ✗ | ✓ |
| Coaching | ✗ | ✓ |
| Digital Downloads | ✗ | ✓ |
| Quizzes | ✗ | ✓ |
| Certificates | ✗ | ✓ |
| Affiliates | ✗ | ✓ |
| Email Marketing | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Shopify Pros
- Easy to set up
- Huge app store
- Great themes
- POS included
✗ Shopify Cons
- Transaction fees
- Limited without apps
- Theme customization limits
✓ Teachable Pros
- Easy course builder with drag-and-drop
- Built-in payment processing and affiliates
- Custom domain and branding on all plans
- Coaching and community features included
✗ Teachable Cons
- Transaction fees on free and basic plans
- Limited site customization options
- No built-in community forum (added 2024)
The Verdict
Shopify is built for ecommerce and dtc brands, with a focus on online-store and payments. Teachable targets course creators and coaches and leads with course-builder and coaching.
On pricing, Shopify is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $39/mo compared to $59/mo for Teachable. That $20/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Teachable has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. Shopify requires a paid subscription from day one.
Feature-wise, Teachable offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Shopify takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.