Selling digital content is one of the best businesses there can be. With no inventory needs, the only investment that one must make is time. But wait, aren't we forgetting something? To sell digital content, one must have a platform where to do so! Where can a content creator start, then?
Luckily, in 2024, there are now many places where to do so. But, finding the right platform is no easy endeavor. Selling digital content is a seasonal business, and a very uncertain one. Yet, all the platforms charge hefty monthly fees to give you the most basic of features - like affiliate programs, installments, subscriptions - or just to remove their branding! All while keeping your content hostage.
Who wants to pay monthly fees just to distribute content which may not achieve product-market-fit and a good ROI? But that's not all. Having control over brand and pricing is crucial, as is the possibility to create promotional codes, affiliate coupons, and much more.
Enter Sherpo. Built by creators for creators, Sherpo stands out as the smartest choice for creators, offering usage-based pricing, a white-label experience free of charge, with all the features needed to sell as much as possible. Naturally, we also sell some add-ons such as AI, but those are optional and many are pay-as-you-go too.
Let's dive into how Sherpo compares to other LMS providers and why it offers the best deal for creators.
We Make Money Only When You Make Money
Unlike other platforms that charge for basic features or lock them behind expensive plans, Sherpo includes a comprehensive suite of tools at no additional cost. For a simple 5% net fee on your sales (Stripe commissions, generally of 2.9% + $0.3, also apply) you get:
- Coupons & Discounts
- Installments, Subscriptions
- Affiliate Programs
- Analytics
- Live Sessions
- Brand Removal
- Custom Domains
- Unlimited courses and files
And much more (check out our Pricing page). In short, we make money only when you make money. Our incentive is thus to enable you to sell your content to as many users as possible, without locking in useful features behind expensive monthly plans. By providing these features for free, Sherpo ensures that you have all the tools you need to succeed right from the start.
All other platforms charge for free-to-deliver features on higher priced plans, and lock some features out. It is not really "pricing that scales with you" it is "I hide you features so that, if you were to get successful, you will pay me more". Not great.
Overview of LMS
For transparency, here is a full breakdown of the pricing of prominent alternatives to Sherpo:
Thinkific
- Free Plan (0/month, 0% transaction fees): includes 1 course, 1 community (2 spaces per community), 1 digital download, 1 live event, 1 administrator, unlimited students, support via email and chatbot, quizzes and surveys.
- Basic Plan ($49/month, 0% transaction fees): same as Free but with unlimited courses, 5 digital downloads, 5 live events, support via email and chatbot, branded mobile, custom domain, coupons & discounts, affiliate selling.
- Start Plan ($99/month, 0% transaction fees): same as Basic but with unlimited digital downloads, unlimited live events, support via email and live chat, assignments, bundles and add-ons, memberships & payment plans, live lessons, advanced course-building, advanced website code editing.
- Grow Plan ($199/month, 0% transaction fees): same as Start but with advanced website code editing, remove branding, Thinkific Analytics, bulk student emailer, bulk enrollments, API access.
Teachable
- Free Plan (0/month, $1 + 10% transaction fees): includes 1 product each type (course, coaching, download), 1 community, no-code course builder and pages, student referrals, 1 admin & author seat.
- Basic Plan ($59/month, 5% transaction fees): same as Free but with 5 products each type, community, 1 membership tier, integrated email marketing, coupons and order bumps, custom domains, live group coaching.
- Pro Plan ($159/month, 0% transaction fees): same as Basic but with 50 products each type, unlimited membership tiers, affiliate marketing, live chat support, upsells to increase order value, removable branding, 5 admin & author seats.
- Pro+ Plan ($249/month, 0% transaction fees): same as Pro but with 200 courses, 200 coaching products, 200 digital downloads, 200 product bundles, public API access, custom user roles.
- Plus Plan ($665/month, 0% transaction fees): same as Pro+ but with unlimited products, unlimited admin & seats, bulk student enrollment.
Kajabi
- Kickstarter Plan ($69/month): 50 landing pages, 1250 marketing emails, 1 product, 1 funnel, 250 contacts, 50 active customers, 1 website, Kajabi AI features, Creator studio.
- Basic Plan ($149/month): same as Kickstarter but with unlimited landing pages, unlimited marketing emails, 3 products, 3 funnels, 10,000 contacts, 1,000 active customers, custom branding.
Growth Plan ($199/month): same as Basic but with 15 products, 15 funnels, 25,000 contacts, 10,000 active customers, advanced automations, affiliate program, 24/7 support.
- Pro Plan ($399/month): same as Growth but with 100 products, 100 funnels, 100,000 contacts, 20,000 active customers, 3 websites, custom branding, 24/7 support, custom code editor.
LearnWorlds
- Starter Plan ($29/month, $5 per sale fees): unlimited paid courses, eBook pages builder, exams & quizzes, 1:1 and group sessions, drip-feed courses, 3-page website, site templates, custom domain, checkout & coupons.
- Pro Trainer Plan ($99/month, 0% fees): same as Starter but includes unlimited free & paid courses, customizable player, assessments & certificates, live class & webinars, subs & members, installments, funnels, 5 admins/instructors, affiliate marketing, users import.
- Learning Center Plan ($299/month, 0% fees): same as Pro Trainer but includes interactive videos, auto-transcripts & subtitles (not AI-based), advanced assessments, Zoom & Webex, removable branding.
Podia
- Free Plan ($0/month, 10% fees): includes only one download and one product, no affiliates.
- Pro Trainer Plan ($9/month, 8% fees): same as Free but includes custom domain.
- Mover Plan ($39/month, 5% fees): same as Pro but with unlimited downloads and products, and third-party code.
- Shaker Plan ($89/month, 0% fees): same as Mover but with affiliates.
Highly Customizable Modular Architecture
Sherpo's modular architecture is another standout feature, allowing creators to build anything from blogs to podcasts to video courses. This flexibility means you can tailor your platform to meet your specific needs without being constrained by the limitations typical of other LMS providers. Whether you're a blogger, podcaster, or course creator, Sherpo's customization options help you create a unique and engaging experience for your audience.
Conclusion
Sherpo offers a smarter, more cost-effective solution for creators compared to other LMS providers. Our 5% flat fee ensures aligned incentives, our modular architecture allows for unparalleled customization, and our comprehensive features are included at no extra cost. With Sherpo, you can focus on what you do best - creating outstanding digital content - without worrying about prohibitive costs or hidden fees.
Make the smart choice with Sherpo and take your content creation to the next level.
