How to Create an Online Course for Free
Turn your expertise into an online course without spending a cent. Follow this step-by-step guide to create, launch, and sell your first course — with zero transaction fees.
5 Steps to Your First Course
Here's how to go from idea to enrolled students — step by step, all on the free plan.
Sign Up Free
Create your Ruzuku account in under a minute. No credit card required. No commitment.
Create Your Course
Use our drag-and-drop builder to add lessons, upload videos, create quizzes, and organize your content.
Set Your Price
Choose your course price. Connect Stripe or PayPal to accept payments instantly.
Invite Students
Share your course link. Enroll up to 5 students on the free plan and start earning.
Engage
Use built-in discussions to support your students. Answer questions and build community.
Everything You Need to Create a Course
Our free tier isn't a stripped-down demo. It includes all the essential tools you need to create professional courses that your students will love.
Course Content Types
Mix and match different content types to create engaging learning experiences:
- Video lessons — Upload or embed from YouTube/Vimeo
- PDF downloads — Workbooks, guides, templates
- Text lessons — Written content with rich formatting
- Quizzes — Test understanding with multiple choice
- Audio files — Podcast-style lessons
"Ruzuku allowed me to PAY MYSELF to learn how to create an online class, launch it, practice teaching it, and perfect it. I can already see how Ruzuku is going to transform everything I do."
Writer & Book Coach
Why Most "Free" Platforms Aren't Really Free
Other platforms charge transaction fees that eat into your revenue. Here's how Ruzuku's free tier compares to the alternatives.
| Feature | Ruzuku Free | Teachable | Thinkific | Podia | Kajabi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transaction Fee | 0% | 7.5% | 5%on your own Stripe; 0% on Thinkific Payments | 5% | 2%on your own Stripe; 0% on Kajabi Payments |
| Course Limit | Unlimited | 5 products | Unlimited | 50 products | 5 products |
| Student Limit | 5 students | Paid-only gateways unlimited* | 10,000 students | Unlimited | 2,500 contacts |
| Free Tier Available | Yes | No ($39/mo) | No ($54/mo) | No ($49/mo) | No ($179/mo) |
| Monthly Cost | $0 | $39 + fees | $54 + fees | $49 + fees | $179 + fees |
*Teachable’s current usage policy: paid-only Native/Custom gateway students are unlimited. Free or imported enrollments count; $0.50/month above 100. Legacy schools may have different limits. See our pricing guide for counting and renewal rules.
Data as of August 2026. Prices are each platform's entry plan at monthly billing — annual billing is cheaper on all of them. All platforms have standard payment processing fees (typically 2.9% + $0.30 via Stripe/PayPal) in addition to the platform fees listed above.
See How Much You'll Keep
Adjust the sliders to see exactly how much more you'll earn with Ruzuku's 0% transaction fees compared to other platforms.
Your Course Details
You keep:
$485
Zero transaction fees
Platform fees: $0
You keep:
$449
7.5% fee: -$36.38
Plus $39/month for the plan
You keep:
$461
5% fee: -$24.25
Plus $49/month for the plan
Plan cost you don't pay on Ruzuku's free plan
$468/year
Teachable Starter at $39/month, billed monthly. Ruzuku's free plan is $0 for up to 5 students.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about creating your first online course.
How long does it take to create an online course?
Most creators build and launch their first course in a few hours to a few days. You don't need a perfect course to start — a focused pilot with 3–5 lessons is enough to enroll your first students and begin learning what works.
Do I need to be an expert to create a course?
No. You need to know more than your students about one specific topic. If people already ask you for advice, you have enough expertise. Teaching is the best way to deepen your knowledge.
Can I create a course without video?
Yes. Ruzuku supports text lessons, PDFs, audio files, quizzes, and discussions — not just video. Many successful courses are primarily text-based with downloadable resources.
What equipment do I need?
Just a computer and an internet connection. If you want to include video, a smartphone camera and a quiet room are enough to start. Professional equipment is not required.
How do I get paid when students buy my course?
You connect your own Stripe or PayPal account. When a student purchases, the money goes directly to you. Ruzuku charges 0% transaction fees — only standard payment processor fees (typically 2.9% + $0.30) apply.
What is the best free platform to create an online course?
Ruzuku's free plan includes unlimited courses, 0% transaction fees, and no credit card required. Most competitors either charge transaction fees (Teachable: 7.5% on Starter, plus $0.50/month per countable free student above 100 under current terms; legacy terms differ), removed their free tier (Thinkific), or don't offer a free plan at all (Kajabi starts at $143/month annual with 5 products and 2,500 contacts now that the $89 Kickstarter plan is closed to new creators). Under the current policy, students with only paid Native or Custom gateway enrollments are exempt from student usage fees. A free, imported, or manual enrollment makes a student count even if they also pay for another enrollment. The count starts at zero when the school moves to this policy; only students added afterward count. The billing-period peak above 100 costs $0.50/month per student. Schools created before September 3, 2026 keep legacy terms until their first renewal on or after April 30, 2027 unless they convert early.