How to Use Teachable: The Ultimate Setup Guide in 2026?

Quick Start

This guide covers every Teachable feature:

• Getting Started — Create your school and prepare to accept payments
• How to Use Video Curriculum — Upload lesson videos and stack them into a finished online course
• How to Use Design Templates — Match your school branding without touching a line of code
• How to Use Page Manager — Build landing pages that turn visitors into paying students
• How to Use Custom Content — Mix videos, text, and downloadable resources inside one lesson
• How to Use Customize Milestones — Issue completion certificates that prove real student achievement
• How to Use Drip Course Content — Release sections on a schedule to keep students coming back
• How to Use Quizzes and Assessments — Test understanding with AI-generated quiz questions
• How to Use Analytics and Reports — Track sales and student engagement in one dashboard
• How to Use AI-Powered Tools — Draft course outlines and lesson titles in minutes

Time needed: 5 minutes per feature

Also in this guide: Pro Tips | Common Mistakes | Troubleshooting | Pricing | Alternatives

Why Trust This Guide

I’ve used Teachable for two years and tested every feature covered here.

This tutorial comes from real hands-on work, not vendor screenshots.

Teachable is an education-first platform for creators, founders, and business owners.

More than 150,000 people use it to teach and reach students worldwide.

But most creators only scratch the surface of what the platform can do.

This guide shows you how to use every major feature, step by step.

Teachable Tutorial

This How to Use Teachable tutorial walks you through each tool, from first setup to the pro habits that grow revenue.

Teachable

Turn your unique expertise into an online course that sells while you sleep. Teachable gives you the tools to build, host, manage, and sell digital products from one dashboard. Start free and upgrade only when students start coming.

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Getting Started with Teachable

Before using any feature, finish this one-time setup.

It takes about three minutes on any computer.

Watch this quick walkthrough first:

Now let’s walk through each step.

Step 1: Create Your Account

Go to the Teachable website and click Sign Up.

Enter your email, then create a password.

Name your school. This is the home base for your digital product business.

✓ Checkpoint: Check your inbox for a confirmation email.

Step 2: Set Up Payments and Branding

Open Settings and connect Stripe or PayPal for payouts.

Both gateways support immediate payouts and a Buy Now, Pay Later option at checkout.

Here’s what the dashboard looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: Your payment status reads connected.

Step 3: Test Before You Launch

Create a mock product priced at one dollar.

Run a test purchase and experience the full checkout as a student would.

Then delete the mock product and start building the real thing.

How to Use Teachable Video Curriculum

Video Curriculum lets you upload videos and stack them into a finished online course.

Upload and order lesson videos inside a clean course structure.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Create a New Course

Open your Teachable school and click New Product.

Choose the course option and name it after your topic.

Step 2: Upload Your Lesson Videos

Drag video files into a lesson from your computer.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: Each video shows a green processing badge, then a play thumbnail.

Step 3: Publish the Lesson

Toggle each lesson to published, then publish the course.

How to Use Teachable Design Templates

Design Templates lets you match your school branding without touching a line of code.

Apply colors, fonts, and logos across every page at once.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Open the Theme Editor

Go to Site, then Theme inside your Teachable school.

Pick a template that fits your subject and audience.

Step 2: Set Your Brand Colors and Fonts

Add your logo, brand colors, and heading font.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: Your logo appears in the header on both preview sizes.

Step 3: Preview on Every Device

Check the desktop and mobile preview before saving.

How to Use Teachable Page Manager

Page Manager lets you build landing pages that turn visitors into paying students.

Easy block-by-block editing, with no developer needed.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Open Pages in Your Dashboard

Select Site, then Pages, then your sales page.

Teachable loads a live editor with movable blocks.

Step 2: Add Proof and a Clear Offer

Drop in testimonials, a course description, and one call to action.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: The live page opens in a new tab with your offer above the fold.

Step 3: Publish and Copy the Link

Hit publish, then copy the page link for promoting your course.

How to Use Teachable Custom Content Creator

Custom Content lets you mix videos, text, and downloadable resources inside one lesson.

Combine several content types so every learner finds a format they prefer.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Open a Lesson Editor

Click any lesson, then choose Add Content.

You can add text, images, audio, code, or a file.

Step 2: Add Supporting Resources

Attach worksheets, examples, or slides students can download and keep.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: The lesson preview shows your video above the download links.

Step 3: Save and Reorder Blocks

Drag blocks into the order that teaches best.

How to Customize Teachable Milestones

Customize Milestones lets you issue completion certificates as proof of achievement.

Reward finished courses with a branded certificate students can share.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Enable Certificates

Open your course settings and switch certificates on.

This option sits under the course details panel.

Step 2: Edit the Certificate Design

Add your school name, logo, and the author signature.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: A sample certificate previews with your branding filled in.

Step 3: Set the Completion Rule

Decide what percentage of lessons earns the certificate.

How to Use Teachable Drip Course Content

Drip Course Content lets you release sections on a schedule to keep students coming back.

Space out lessons so learners continue instead of binge-quitting.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Open Drip Settings

Select a section, then click the drip icon.

You will see date and day-based options.

Step 2: Choose Your Release Rule

Set a specific date or a number of days after enrollment.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: Locked sections show a small clock icon in the student view.

Step 3: Save and Notify Students

Save the schedule and turn on release emails.

How to Use Teachable Quizzes and Assessments

Quizzes and Assessments lets you test understanding with AI-generated quiz questions.

Check what students actually absorbed before they move on.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Add a Quiz Lesson

Inside a section, add a new lesson and pick Quiz.

Teachable can draft questions from your lesson content.

Step 2: Review the Generated Questions

Edit wording and fix any answer the AI got wrong.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: The quiz appears in your curriculum with a question count.

Step 3: Place the Quiz After Key Sections

Move each quiz to the end of a teaching block.

How to Use Teachable Analytics and Reports

Analytics and Reports shows you sales and student engagement in one dashboard.

See revenue, enrollments, and lesson drop-off in real numbers.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Open the Sales Analytics Dashboard

Click Analytics in the left menu of your school.

Revenue, enrollments, and refunds load by default.

Step 2: Check Lesson Completion Data

Open the engagement tab and find your biggest drop-off point.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: You can see revenue by product and completion percentage per lesson.

Step 3: Adjust Your Marketing

Use the numbers when making pricing and email timing decisions.

How to Use Teachable AI-Powered Tools

AI-Powered Tools drafts course outlines and lesson titles for you in minutes.

Turn a rough topic into a structured curriculum draft.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Open the AI Curriculum Generator

Start a new product and choose the AI outline option.

Describe your topic and who you teach.

Step 2: Generate and Edit the Outline

Review the draft sections and cut anything off-topic.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: A section-by-section outline appears in your curriculum tab.

Step 3: Build Lessons From the Draft

Accept the outline and start filling lessons with your material.

Teachable Pro Tips and Shortcuts

After two years of managing courses on Teachable, here are the habits that mattered.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Mac users swap Ctrl for Command.

Hidden Features Most People Miss

• Free mini-courses: Publish a short free course to build trust before you ask for a sale.
• Coupon codes: Create limited-time codes under Sales to experiment with price points.
• Mobile apps: Students can learn on dedicated apps, so your content stays accessible on any device.
• Email tools: Communicate with students in-app, or connect MailChimp and ConvertKit if you prefer.
• Course categories: Group related products so returning students find your next offer fast.

Teachable Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake #1: Recording Everything Before Testing Demand

Mistake #2: Chasing Broadcast Video Quality

Mistake #3: Selling Without Any Free Content

Teachable Troubleshooting

Problem: Video Upload Fails or Stalls

Cause: The file is oversized or your connection dropped mid-transfer.

Fix: Export at 1080p, keep files under 2GB, and upload on a wired connection.

Problem: Students Cannot See a Lesson

Cause: The lesson sits in draft, or a drip schedule still has it locked.

Fix: Publish the lesson, then check the drip date on that section.

Problem: Payouts Have Not Arrived

Cause: Your gateway details are incomplete or tax information is missing.

Fix: Open Settings, finish your payout profile, and confirm your Stripe account is verified.

📌 Note: If none of these fix your issue, contact Teachable support.

What is Teachable?

Teachable is an online course platform that helps creators build, host, manage, and sell digital products.

Think of it like a storefront and a classroom sharing one login.

Watch this quick overview:

It includes these key features:

• Video Curriculum: Upload lesson videos and stack them into a finished online course
• Design Templates: Match your school branding without touching a line of code
• Page Manager: Build landing pages that turn visitors into paying students
• Custom Content: Mix videos, text, and downloadable resources inside one lesson
• Customize Milestones: Issue completion certificates that prove real student achievement
• Drip Course Content: Release sections on a schedule to keep students coming back
• Quizzes and Assessments: Test understanding with AI-generated quiz questions
• Analytics and Reports: Track sales and student engagement in one dashboard
• AI-Powered Tools: Draft course outlines and lesson titles in minutes

For a full review, see our Teachable review.

Teachable Pricing

Here’s what Teachable costs in 2026:

Free trial: Yes. A free plan is available, limited to one course and 10 students.

Money-back guarantee: No refund window is advertised, so you can cancel your plan before renewal instead.

💰 Best Value: Builder — it removes the beginner limits at a price a single author can cover with a handful of sales.

Teachable vs Alternatives

How does Teachable compare? Here’s the competitive landscape:

Quick picks:

• Best overall: Teachable — the fastest way to build and monetize an online course.
• Best budget: Thinkific — a usable free tier for testing your first lesson.
• Best for beginners: Skool — one simple feed, almost nothing to configure.
• Best for community building: Circle — discussion, events, and courses in one place.

🎯 Teachable Alternatives

Looking for Teachable alternatives? Here are the top options:

• 🚀 Skool: Combines a community feed with courses, so discussion drives completion rates.
• 💰 Circle: Strong member spaces and events, with course hosting included on higher plans.
• 💼 GoHighLevel: Built for agencies that need CRM, funnels, and courses under one login.
• 🏢 Mighty Networks: Best when your product is the network itself rather than the course.
• 🔧 Bettermode: Highly customizable community software for teams with developers on hand.
• 👶 Thinkific: Beginner-friendly course builder with a genuinely usable free plan.
• 🎨 LearnWorlds: Interactive video, ebooks, and assessment tools for serious education brands.
• ⚡ Swarm: Lightweight community tool for creators who want fast setup and low overhead.
• 🧠 Disco: AI-assisted cohort learning built for accelerators and training programs.
• 🌟 Kajabi: Courses plus email marketing and funnels, priced for established businesses.
• 🔒 Wylo: White-label community app with control over data and member privacy.
• 📊 Whop: Marketplace-first platform that helps new products find buyers quickly.

For the full list, see our Teachable alternatives guide.

⚔️ Teachable Compared

Here’s how Teachable stacks up against each competitor:

• Teachable vs Skool: Skool wins on community energy. Teachable wins on course structure, drip content, and checkout control.
• Teachable vs Circle: Circle is the better forum. Teachable is the better classroom and storefront for paid products.
• Teachable vs GoHighLevel: GoHighLevel suits agencies. Teachable suits individual experts selling their own knowledge.
• Teachable vs Mighty Networks: Mighty Networks builds networks. Teachable builds curriculums with certificates and quizzes.
• Teachable vs Bettermode: Bettermode needs setup work. Teachable works out of the box for course creators.
• Teachable vs Thinkific: Thinkific has a stronger free plan. Teachable has better native payment and payout tools.
• Teachable vs LearnWorlds: LearnWorlds offers deeper interactive video. Teachable is simpler and faster to launch.
• Teachable vs Swarm: Swarm is a chat-first tool. Teachable is a full course business with analytics behind it.
• Teachable vs Disco: Disco fits cohort programs. Teachable fits self-paced courses that sell around the clock.
• Teachable vs Kajabi: Kajabi bundles more marketing. Teachable costs far less at the entry tier.
• Teachable vs Wylo: Wylo focuses on white-label apps. Teachable focuses on selling and delivering lessons.
• Teachable vs Whop: Whop brings marketplace traffic. Teachable gives you a branded school you fully own.

Start Using Teachable Now

You learned how to use every major Teachable feature:

• ✅ Video Curriculum
• ✅ Design Templates
• ✅ Page Manager
• ✅ Custom Content
• ✅ Customize Milestones
• ✅ Drip Course Content
• ✅ Quizzes and Assessments
• ✅ Analytics and Reports
• ✅ AI-Powered Tools

Next step: Pick one feature and try it now.

Most people start with Video Curriculum.

It takes less than five minutes to make an impact on your course.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you really make money on Teachable?

Yes. Creators sell courses, coaching, and downloads through Stripe or PayPal. Earnings depend on your audience, pricing, and marketing, not on the platform itself.

What are the disadvantages of Teachable?

The free plan caps you at one course and 10 students. Transaction fees apply on lower tiers, and design flexibility is narrower than a custom website.

How does Teachable.com work?

You create a school, upload lesson videos and resources, set a price, then share your sales page. Teachable hosts the content and handles checkout.

What can you do on Teachable?

You can build, host, manage, and sell online courses, coaching, and digital downloads. It also runs quizzes, certificates, email marketing, and sales analytics.

Can I use Teachable for free?

Yes. The free plan lets you publish one course for up to 10 students. Paid plans start at $29 per month and lift those limits.