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: 10%), limit you to one course (Thinkific), or don't offer a free plan at all (Kajabi).

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.

See the Steps

4.4/5

5/5

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

1 minute

Create your Ruzuku account in under a minute. No credit card required. No commitment.

Create Your Course

30 minutes to hours

Use our drag-and-drop builder to add lessons, upload videos, create quizzes, and organize your content.

Set Your Price

5 minutes

Choose your course price. Connect Stripe or PayPal to accept payments instantly.

Invite Students

Ongoing

Share your course link. Enroll up to 5 paying students on the free tier and start earning.

Engage

Ongoing

Use built-in discussions to support your students. Answer questions and build community.

That's it — five steps to your first course.

No credit card required

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.

Unlimited courses

Video hosting included

PDF & file uploads

Quizzes & assessments

Discussion forums

Student progress tracking

Mobile-friendly courses

Email notifications

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."

Jennie Nash

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 Free	Thinkific Free	Podia	Kajabi
Transaction Fee	0%	10%	0%	8%	N/A
Course Limit	Unlimited	Unlimited	1 course	Unlimited	Unlimited
Student Limit	5 students	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited
Free Tier Available	Yes	Yes	Yes	No ($9/mo)	No ($149/mo)
Monthly Cost	$0	$0 + fees	$0	$9 + fees	$149

Data as of February 2026. All platforms have standard payment processing fees (typically 2.9% + $0.30 via Stripe/PayPal) in addition to 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

Course Price$97

$47$497

Number of Students (Free Tier)5

1 student5 students

Ruzuku

You keep:

$485

100% of your revenue

Platform fees: $0

Teachable

You keep:

$437

10% fee: -$48.50

Lost to fees: $48.50

Podia

You keep:

$446

8% fee: -$38.80

Lost to fees: $38.80

Projected annual savings vs Teachable

$582/year

Based on 12 launches with 5 students at $97 each

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about creating your first online course.

Start Free. See for Yourself.

Create your first course today. No credit card. No commitment. No pressure. Just you, your expertise, and a simple way to share it with the people who need it.

4.4/5

5/5

No credit card required · Free plan never expires · 0% transaction fees