Pricing Deep-Dive

    Podia Pricing: What It Actually Costs

    Three plans since the 2026 restructure — and the 5% fee on Mover, its 50-product cap, and metered email contacts all matter.

    Updated August 24, 202611 min read

    Podia restructured in 2026. There are now three plans: Mover at $49/month ($42 annual) with a 5% transaction fee, Shaker at $99/month ($84 annual) with 0% fees, and a new Earthquaker tier at $179/month ($150 annual). All three include courses, coaching, webinars, community, payment plans and certificates. Two things the plan cards make easy to miss: Mover caps you at 50 products, 500 videos and 25 spaces, and email contacts are metered on every plan — 100 included on Mover, then $10 to $1,250/month depending on list size.

    Podia's Plans at a Glance

    All plans with monthly and annual pricing, limits, and key features.

    Mover

    5% tx fee
    $49/moor $42/mo annually
    Courses: 50 productsStudents: Unlimited
    • Unlimited customers
    • Online courses, coaching, webinars
    • Digital downloads
    • 5% transaction fee on every sale
    • 50 products, 500 videos, 25 spaces

    Shaker

    Popular
    0% tx fee
    $99/moor $84/mo annually
    Courses: 150 productsStudents: Unlimited
    • Everything in Mover
    • 0% transaction fees
    • 150 products, 1,000 videos, 100 spaces
    • Email beyond 500 contacts is a paid add-on
    • No native live session tools (embed Zoom links manually)

    Earthquaker

    0% tx fee
    $179/moor $150/mo annually
    Courses: UnlimitedStudents: Unlimited
    • Everything in Shaker
    • 0% transaction fees
    • Unlimited products, videos and spaces
    • Email beyond 1,000 contacts is a paid add-on
    • Still no quizzes or graded assignments

    Podia Discounts, Coupons & Free Trial

    What's actually available — and what the coupon sites won't tell you.

    30-Day Free Trial

    No credit card required. 30-day free trial with full access to all features. One of the longest trials in the market.

    ~15% Annual Billing Discount

    Annual billing saves about 15%. Mover drops from $49 to $42/month ($84/year), Shaker from $99 to $84/month ($180/year), and Earthquaker from $179 to $150/month ($348/year).

    The Truth About Podia Coupon Codes

    Podia does not publish coupon codes. If you find "Podia promo code" results online, they are outdated affiliate links. Podia's free plan was also removed in October 2024, so results mentioning "Podia free" are no longer accurate.

    Best deal strategy: Use the 30-day free trial to test thoroughly, then choose annual billing for about 15% off. Shaker at $84/month annual is the value pick: it removes the 5% fee, and above $840/month in sales it costs less than Mover. Add the contact tier you actually need before comparing — email is metered on every plan.

    Ruzuku offers a permanent free plan (not just 30 days), zero transaction fees on every paid plan, and dedicated course features like quizzes, assignments, and built-in Zoom that Podia does not offer.

    What Podia's Pricing Page Doesn't Make Obvious

    Hidden fees, gotchas, and costs that aren't clear until you're already committed.

    5% transaction fee on Mover plan

    At $3,000/mo revenue on the $42/mo plan (annual), you pay $150/mo in transaction fees — more than 3x the plan cost. Shaker at $84/mo annual is cheaper than Mover above $840/mo in sales

    Email contacts are metered on every plan

    Mover includes 100 contacts, Shaker 500, Earthquaker 1,000. Past that it is a published add-on: +$10/mo at 500 contacts, +$18 at 1,000, +$28 at 2,500, +$45 at 5,000, +$70 at 10,000, +$135 at 25,000, +$250 at 50,000, rising to +$1,250 at 500,000. A 5,000-contact list on Shaker is $84 + $45 = $129/mo

    Mover caps products, videos and spaces

    Mover allows 50 products, 500 videos and 25 spaces — not unlimited, as it was before the 2026 restructure. Shaker raises this to 150 products and 1,000 videos; only Earthquaker at $150/mo annual is unlimited

    PayPal, affiliates and upsells all require Shaker

    Mover has no PayPal, no affiliate marketing, no upsells and no Zapier. If you need any one of them the price doubles, from $42 to $84/mo on annual billing

    No native live session integration on any plan

    Unlike platforms with built-in Zoom, Podia requires manual Zoom link sharing — no scheduling, attendance tracking, or recording integration

    How Does Podia's Simpler Pricing Compare in Practice?

    Podia's 2026 restructure added a third tier, but the decision most creators face is still binary: pay for Mover ($49/month, $42 on annual billing) with a 5% transaction fee, or pay for Shaker ($99/month, $84 annual) with 0% fees. Earthquaker ($179/month, $150 annual) is also 0%, so you move up to it for its unlimited products, videos and spaces rather than to escape a fee.

    The breakeven calculation is simple, but it depends on which billing basis you are on. On annual billing, Mover costs $42 + 5% of revenue and Shaker costs $84 flat, so the two meet at $840/month in revenue. On month-to-month billing ($49 versus $99) they meet at $1,000/month. The 2026 price rise moved both plans by the same amount, so neither crossover changed. Above that line, every dollar makes Mover the more expensive plan. Most of the figures on this page use annual billing, so $840 is the number to work from.

    What Podia Does Well for the Price

    Podia includes built-in email marketing on every plan — a real differentiator, within a contact limit: 100 on Mover, 500 on Shaker, 1,000 on Earthquaker, then a metered add-on from about $10/month up to $1,250 at 500,000 contacts. Most course platforms require a separate email tool (Mailchimp, ConvertKit, etc.). If you'd otherwise pay $29-49/month for email marketing, Podia's effective cost drops significantly.

    Digital downloads work seamlessly alongside courses, making Podia strong for creators who sell a mix of products — ebooks, templates, workshops, and courses.

    What's Missing at Both Tiers

    Podia's course features are intentionally simple. There are no quizzes, no graded assignments, and no completion tracking. Drip exists but works at section level — you delay a section by a number of days from each student's enrollment date, rather than scheduling individual lessons. If you're teaching a structured program where student progress matters, you'll find these gaps significant.

    There's also no native live session integration. You can embed Zoom links, but there's no built-in scheduling, attendance tracking, or recording integration.

    What Real Podia Users Say

    What Users Appreciate

    "Super user friendly. The thing I am most impressed with though is their support."

    Trustpilot reviewer·5 stars · March 2026

    Podia's support quality and simplicity are the two most consistently praised qualities. A five-star Trustpilot reviewer described it as "amazing for small time creators." Users on r/OnlineBusiness describe it as the platform you can set up in a weekend — low learning curve, minimal configuration, professional-looking results quickly.

    Common Complaints

    "The same simplicity that feels freeing at first eventually becomes a ceiling."

    Platform review analysis·2025

    Quizzes are limited to basic multiple choice — no randomization, grading, or question banks. Students can skip content and still mark lessons complete, making progress tracking unreliable. Course structure is limited to two levels (sections and lessons) with no submodules.

    A Trustpilot reviewer in January 2026 noted the platform was "lacking the simplest features for content creators" — including affiliate link tracking and no way to know when a student finished a course. Another long-time user in September 2024 reported that Podia suddenly limited the number of hosted videos, forcing a migration of 1,000+ videos to Vimeo with just 10 additional videos as compensation.

    The removal of the free plan in October 2024 also generated backlash. One Trustpilot reviewer called it a "bait and switch," noting the cheapest option jumped from around $4/month to $39/month overnight.

    The Migration Question

    Podia's simplicity makes migration relatively straightforward — export your email list, re-upload your content. But there's no one-click export: quizzes can't be migrated, site pages don't transfer, and files may need format conversion. Podia advertises free migration assistance; confirm what it covers for your plan before you count on it.

    See our complete Podia vs Ruzuku comparison and honest Podia review. You can also view Podia's official pricing page to verify current numbers.

    Real-World Cost Scenarios

    What Podia actually costs at three revenue levels — including fees, add-ons, and the plan you'd really need.

    Solo Creator

    $1,000/mo revenue

    Podia

    $92/mo

    Mover (annual): $42/mo

    Processing fees: $50/mo

    Annual: $1,104/yr

    Ruzuku

    $99/mo

    Core ($99/mo): $99/mo

    0% platform fee (standard Stripe 2.9% + $0.30)

    Annual: $1,188/yr

    Podia is $7/mo cheaper

    What you get on Podia

    • 50 products
    • Courses, coaching, webinars
    • Payment plans & certificates
    • Built-in email (100 contacts included)
    • Community

    What you'll still need

    • 5% transaction fee ($50/mo on $1K)
    • No PayPal, affiliates or upsells
    • No affiliate marketing
    • No quizzes or assignments
    • No built-in video meetings
    • No student tech support

    Growing Business

    $5,000/mo revenue

    Podia

    $84/mo

    Shaker (annual): $84/mo

    Annual: $1,008/yr

    Ruzuku

    $99/mo

    Core ($99/mo): $99/mo

    0% platform fee (standard Stripe 2.9% + $0.30)

    Annual: $1,188/yr

    Podia is $15/mo cheaper

    What you get on Podia

    • 0% transaction fees
    • Affiliate marketing
    • PayPal payments
    • Courses, coaching, webinars, community
    • Email marketing

    What you'll still need

    • No quizzes or assignments
    • No quizzes or graded assignments
    • No built-in video meetings
    • No student tech support

    Established Creator

    $20,000/mo revenue

    Podia

    $129/mo

    Shaker (annual) + 5,000 email contacts: $84/mo

    Add-ons: $45/mo

    Annual: $1,548/yr

    Ruzuku

    $199/mo

    Pro ($199/mo): $199/mo

    0% platform fee (standard Stripe 2.9% + $0.30)

    Annual: $2,388/yr

    Podia is $70/mo cheaper

    What you get on Podia

    • 0% fees on a low base price
    • Affiliate marketing and upsells
    • Full product suite, 150 products

    What you'll still need

    • No quizzes or assignments
    • No quizzes or graded assignments
    • No built-in video meetings
    • No student tech support
    • Limited reporting
    • $45/mo for the 5,000-contact email tier

    Podia vs. Ruzuku: Honest Comparison

    A fair, side-by-side cost comparison focused on what matters most to course creators.

    FeaturePodiaRuzuku
    Starting price (0% fees, annual)$84/mo (Shaker)$83/mo (Core annual)
    Transaction fees5% on Mover, 0% on Shaker and Earthquaker0% on all plans
    Courses50 products on Mover, 150 on Shaker, unlimited on EarthquakerUnlimited on every plan
    StudentsUnlimitedUnlimited
    CertificatesAll plansPro ($199/mo)
    Payment plansAll plansAll paid plans
    Email marketingIncluded, metered by contacts (100 on Mover, then +$10 to +$1,250/mo)No (use separate tool)
    Quizzes & assignmentsNoYes
    Live video sessionsNo native video; YouTube Live or Zoom embed onlyBuilt-in video meetings (no Zoom account needed) + Zoom integration
    Student tech supportNot includedIncluded on all paid plans

    Choose Podia if:

    You sell a mix of digital products (downloads, coaching, webinars) alongside courses and want built-in email marketing and certificates on every plan. Podia's simplicity is a real strength if you don't need quizzes, graded assignments, or live session tools.

    Choose Ruzuku if:

    You want dedicated course features (quizzes, graded assignments, lesson-level drip), built-in Zoom for live sessions, student tech support, and zero transaction fees without needing the higher-tier plan.

    Podia Pricing FAQ

    Does Podia charge transaction fees?

    Yes, on one plan. Mover ($49/month, $42 annual) charges 5% on every sale. Shaker ($99/month, $84 annual) and the newer Earthquaker tier ($179/month, $150 annual) charge 0%. Standard Stripe or PayPal processing (2.9% + $0.30) applies on all three.

    Is Podia worth it?

    Podia is worth it if you sell a mix of digital products and courses and want built-in email marketing, certificates, and payment plans on every tier. Shaker at $84/month annual is a competitive 0%-fee price, though the 2026 restructure raised it from $75 and added contact metering. Podia is less ideal for creators who need structured course features like quizzes or graded assignments. It does drip content, but by section rather than by lesson.

    What is the cheapest way to use Podia?

    The Mover plan at $42/month on annual billing ($504/year). The 5% transaction fee means you are better off upgrading to Shaker ($84/month annual) once your monthly revenue exceeds about $840. On month-to-month billing that crossover is $1,000/month. Mover also caps you at 50 products, 500 videos and 25 spaces.

    Does Podia include email marketing?

    Yes, with a contact limit on every plan. Mover includes 100 contacts, Shaker 500, Earthquaker 1,000 — newsletters, automations, segmentation and tagging included. Beyond your plan's limit it is a published add-on: about +$10/month at 500 contacts, +$45 at 5,000, +$135 at 25,000, and up to +$1,250 at 500,000.

    Can I switch from Podia to another platform?

    You can export your contact list. Course content needs to be manually re-uploaded. Podia offers migration help in the other direction, capped by plan — up to 50 products on Mover and 150 on Shaker or Earthquaker — but that is for moving in, not out.

    How much does Podia cost per month?

    Podia has three plans since its 2026 restructure: Mover at $49/month ($42 annual) with a 5% transaction fee, Shaker at $99/month ($84 annual) with 0% fees, and Earthquaker at $179/month ($150 annual). All three include unlimited customers, community, coaching, certificates and payment plans. Products are capped at 50 on Mover and 150 on Shaker; only Earthquaker is unlimited. There is no free plan — a 30-day trial.

    Are Podia coupon codes legit?

    No. Podia does not distribute public coupon codes. Third-party sites listing "Podia promo codes" are affiliate links or fabricated. Podia's free plan was also removed in October 2024, and prices changed again in 2026, so older results are outdated in both respects.

    What is the best way to get a discount on Podia?

    Use Podia's 30-day free trial to test the platform, then choose annual billing for about 15% off. Shaker at $84/month annual gives you 0% transaction fees. Price the contact tier you need at the same time, since email is metered on every plan. If you need quizzes and graded assignments, which Podia does not have, Ruzuku offers those with a permanent free plan.

    Compare Podia to Ruzuku

    Start free and see the difference. Zero transaction fees, unlimited courses, up to 5 students on the free plan — no credit card required, and it doesn't expire.

    No credit card required · 0% transaction fees · Student support included