Does Podia have a free plan?

No, Podia does not have a free plan. It offers a 30-day trial instead. After the trial ends, you must pick a paid monthly plan. The entry plan has a transaction fee, while higher plans drop it. Check their pricing page for current numbers.

Does Whop charge a monthly fee?

Whop does not charge any monthly fee. Sellers only pay payment processing fees per sale and fees when withdrawing funds. Payout methods include bank transfer, instant payout, crypto, wire, and Venmo. For exact fee amounts, check their pricing page for current numbers.

Can you sell courses on both Whop and Podia?

Yes, both platforms let you sell courses. Podia includes course creation tools inside its website builder. Whop lets you add the Course app to your store alongside chat, events, and file downloads. Both let you organize lessons and accept one-time or recurring payments.

Which platform is better for building a full website?

Podia is better for building a full standalone website. It includes a built-in website builder and email marketing. Whop focuses on membership hubs and product checkouts, though you can embed Whop checkout on your existing website using code snippets or checkout links.

Whop vs Podia: which platform should you choose?

Updated 27 September 2026

The short answer

Whop and Podia help you sell courses, downloads, and memberships. Whop has no monthly fee. You only pay processing fees and payout fees when you make a sale. Podia charges a monthly fee and offers a 30-day trial. Pick Whop for flexible payments, apps, and community. Pick Podia if you want an all-in-one website builder.

How pricing and fees work

Whop does not charge a monthly subscription fee. Sellers pay payment processing fees for each sale they make. Whop also charges payout fees that vary based on how you withdraw your money, like bank transfers or crypto. Podia does not have a free plan. It gives you a 30-day trial instead. After that, you must pay monthly.

Podia has a transaction fee on its entry plan. Higher Podia plans remove that fee. To see what both platforms charge right now, check their pricing page for current numbers. Whop keeps the same fee setup for all sellers, which makes it easier to start if you do not want fixed monthly costs.

Selling courses and digital downloads

Podia offers a built-in course builder, digital file downloads, and coaching. It gives you a website builder and email marketing so you can run your whole business in one place. You can build landing pages and email your buyers without needing extra software.

Whop lets you add modular apps like Course and Files to your store. If you want to sell standalone files on Whop, you can use the MKKT app. Sellers upload a file, set a price or make it free, and get a store link buyers can use without a Whop account.

Memberships and community features

Whop is designed around community hubs. You can add apps like Chat, Events, and Content Rewards to your space. Whop also turns on an affiliate program by default for every store, and you set the payout rate. You can also offer free trials on recurring subscription plans.

Podia supports memberships too. You can bundle products and charge members recurring payments. But Podia behaves more like a private blog and learning library than a live social room. Whop feels more like a shared hangout where members talk, attend events, and interact.

Checkout and payment options

Whop gives your buyers many ways to pay. They can use credit cards, Apple Pay, PayPal, Cash App, bank transfers, crypto like Bitcoin, and buy-now-pay-later tools. You can use direct checkout links or embed Whop checkout on your existing website with custom styling.

Whop may pause payouts if an account is under review for risk or identity checks. Podia runs payments through your own Stripe or PayPal account. Podia accepts standard card and PayPal payments, but it does not offer crypto or as many local payment methods as Whop.