Most people who want to sell an online course get stuck at the same place: the tech. They’ve got the knowledge, they’ve half-recorded the videos, and then they hit a wall of “which platform, which checkout, how do I even take the money” — and the whole thing stalls.
Here’s the good news. You can do the entire thing on Systeme.io’s free plan: host the course, take payment, collect emails, and launch it — without paying for software until it’s actually selling. Here’s the workflow, start to finish.
Step 1: Build the course itself
Inside Systeme.io you create a course area, add your modules and lessons, and upload your videos or written content into them. The free plan includes one course, which is exactly what you need for your first one.
Don’t over-engineer this. A first course doesn’t need forty lessons and a glossy intro video. It needs to solve one specific problem well. Get the outline down, record it plainly, and load it in. You can always polish later — you can’t sell a course you never finished.
Step 2: Create the sales page
A course nobody can find or buy isn’t a business, it’s a hobby. So next you build a sales page — the page that explains what the course is, who it’s for, and why it’s worth the money, with a buy button.
Systeme.io’s funnel builder handles this. If you’ve not built one before, I’ve written a full walkthrough of building your first funnel — a sales page is just the front end of exactly that. Keep the page simple: the problem, what they get, the price, the button. Clever rarely outsells clear.
Step 3: Set up the payment
This is the bit people fear, and it’s genuinely straightforward. You connect a payment processor — Stripe or PayPal — to Systeme.io, attach it to your course’s price, and that’s the money side handled. When someone pays, they’re automatically given access to the course.
Two things worth knowing. You’ll need a Stripe or PayPal account (both free to open), and Systeme.io itself takes zero transaction fees — the only cut is Stripe or PayPal’s standard processing fee, which you’d pay with any platform. Nothing extra to Systeme.io, even on the free plan.
Step 4: Capture emails and follow up
Not everyone buys on the first visit. Most don’t. So before the sales page asks for money, it’s worth offering something free — a useful checklist, a short guide, a sample lesson — in exchange for an email address.
Now you’ve got a list of interested people you can email. Systeme.io’s free plan includes unlimited emails to up to 2,000 contacts, so you can send a simple follow-up sequence: here’s the free thing, here’s why the course helps, here’s the link to buy. A lot of your sales come from this step, not the first visit.
Step 5: Launch it
You don’t need an audience of thousands to start. You need the course live, the page working, the payment tested, and then you need to tell people. Email your list, post where your audience actually hangs out, mention it to anyone who’s asked you about the topic. Make one real sale. Then make it work better.
The hardest course to sell is the one that’s still “nearly ready.” Live and imperfect beats perfect and unpublished every time.
When to upgrade (and when not to)
Stay on the free plan until it’s genuinely in your way. You’ll know when: you want to sell a second course, run more than three funnels, or you need proper automation to segment your buyers. At that point the $17/month Startup plan removes the limits, and by then the course should be paying for it several times over.
Until then, there’s no reason to pay. Start free with Systeme.io, build the course, and let the first sales fund the upgrade.
Frequently asked questions
Can I really sell a course for free on Systeme.io?
Yes. The free plan includes one course, a funnel builder for the sales page, checkout via Stripe or PayPal, and unlimited emails to 2,000 contacts — everything you need to launch and sell, with no software cost.
Does Systeme.io take a percentage of my course sales?
No. Systeme.io charges zero transaction fees on all plans, including free. You only pay Stripe or PayPal’s standard payment processing fee, which applies on any platform.
When should I upgrade from the free plan?
When you want a second course, more than three funnels, or advanced automation. The $17/month Startup plan lifts those limits — and by then your course should comfortably cover it.
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