If you create an online course, it can be an exciting opportunity to share your expertise. But it’s natural to wonder how much it will cost to bring your vision to life.
Online course development costs will depend on the tools you use, the complexity of your content, and the production quality you want to achieve.
If you’re working with a tight budget or planning a high-end production, understanding where your money will go will help you create a successful online course.
A major portion of your investment will go toward creating high-quality course materials that engage and educate your audience. These materials may include video lessons, downloadable resources, interactive quizzes, or even live sessions, all of which come with varying costs.
DIY methods using free tools can also keep expenses low. But it’s also important to factor in long-term costs when calculating your online course development costs.
Platforms for hosting and marketing often charge monthly fees, while marketing expenses like social media ads or email campaigns can add to your overall budget.
However, when done right, a successful online course becomes an income-generating asset that pays for itself many times over.
In this guide, we’ll break down the costs associated with creating an online course and provide tips to help you make smart financial decisions throughout the process.
Factors That Influence the Cost of Creating an Online Course
You might be wondering how much does it cost to create an online course. The truth is, it depends on multiple factors, from the type of content you want to deliver to the tools and resources you choose.
These factors will help you understand where your money might go and how to plan better.
Course Type and Complexity
There are two main categories of course types: simple and complex.
Simple courses focus on delivering essential information with minimal technical or multimedia requirements. These courses are ideal for creators working on a tight budget or for beginners entering the online teaching space.
Key Features
- Text-based lessons or slides with minimal visuals
- Pre-recorded video content with basic editing
- Limited or no interactive elements, such as quizzes or assignments
- No live sessions or student engagement tools
Complex courses are in-depth and often include a variety of multimedia and interactive features to create a more engaging online learning experience. These courses usually target professional or niche audiences willing to pay a premium for high-quality content.
Key Features
- Professionally produced video content, often with multiple camera angles
- Interactive features like quizzes, assignments, and gamification
- Supplemental resources such as downloadable PDFs, templates, or eBooks
- Advanced tools like AI-driven personalized learning paths or certifications
- Optional live sessions, Q&A events, or forums for student interaction
To manage complexity without overspending, you can start with a simple course and expand later based on audience feedback. Focus on features that add the most value for learners, such as clear videos or practical assignments.
Course Length and Depth
Short courses are designed to address a specific topic or skill in a concise manner. These courses typically consist of fewer lessons and require less time to produce. Typically, it’s 1–3 hours of content, and it’s ideal for audiences seeking quick, actionable knowledge.
Comprehensive courses cover a wide range of topics in a single subject. These programs are often broken into multiple modules, suitable for audiences looking for detailed instruction or professional certification.
Most of these courses include 10–50+ hours of content divided into modules or lessons. They also include multimedia elements like videos, quizzes, assignments, and downloadable resources.
Content Format and Delivery Style
The way you choose to deliver your course content also determines expenses. Below are the common formats and their cost implications:
- Video-based courses: High-quality video production involves cameras, microphones, lighting equipment, and editing software
- Interactive elements: Features like quizzes, gamification, and progress tracking may require specific tools or a developer's assistance
- Downloadable resources: Offering eBooks, templates, or worksheets adds value but requires time and design tools to create
If you’re on a tight budget, you can start with text-based or basic video content. Also, analyze your target audience’s learning preferences. Professionals may prefer interactive elements, while casual learners may be content with videos.
Software and Tools
Depending on your budget and the complexity of your course, these tools can range from free to high-end professional platforms.
A Learning Management System (LMS) allows you to upload content, manage students, and track their progress. Platforms like Thinkific, Teachable, and Kajabi typically cost between $29/month and $399/month.
But why settle for the complexity of traditional LMS options when CustomerHub offers the ultimate plug-and-play simplicity?
Designed specifically for coaches, consultants, and course creators, CustomerHub lets you launch memberships, courses, and digital products with zero tech stress.
With CustomerHub, you can save time through its intuitive, user-friendly interface and speed up your workflow by managing all your digital products in one central hub.
You'll also stay supported with unlimited customer assistance and Done-for-You services that simplify setup and launch.
To improve your courses, you will also need other tools such as:
- Video editing tools to create polished, engaging online course content
- Content creation tools to create visuals, presentations, and other resources to improve your course
- Screen recording tools for high-resolution recording and easy editing options
Tip: If you have budget constraints, you can start with free tools and gradually invest in paid options like CustomerHub as your course scales.
Marketing and Promotion
The most well-crafted course won't sell without a solid marketing strategy. Here’s what to consider:
- Building a landing page or online course website ($500 - $5,000 if outsourced)
- Running ads on social media (budget can start as low as $100 but scale depending on reach)
- Investing in email marketing tools like Mailchimp or ConvertKit (starting at $15/month)
You can use tools like CustomerHub (with built-in hosting and membership features) or ClickFunnels to create a professional, conversion-focused landing page. Include a clear course description, benefits, pricing, and a countdown timer for urgency.Also, it's ideal to start collecting email addresses using lead magnets, such as free resources, webinars, or sneak peeks of your course.
Typical Cost Breakdown for Creating an Online Course
Understanding how much it costs to create an online course helps you budget and prioritize where to allocate resources. Here’s a look at the expenses involved in creating online courses:
Planning and Research
This phase includes identifying your target audience, defining course objectives, and conducting market research to ensure your course meets a demand.
Planning and research are often the most cost-effective phases of course creation, especially if you rely on free tools and your own expertise. However, outsourcing tasks like market research or curriculum design can increase expenses.
- DIY approach: Using free tools like Google Trends or social media insights, you can complete this phase at no cost.
- Professional assistance: Hiring a course curriculum designer or market researcher typically costs $500–$2,000, depending on the scope of the work.
Content Creation Costs
High-quality content is essential to delivering a great learning experience. This includes writing scripts, designing presentations, and producing videos.
Costs depend on the level of production. DIY options can cost as little as $200 for software like Canva and video editing tools, while hiring a videographer or designer can range from $2,000 to $10,000.
Technology Costs
The tools you choose for hosting and delivering your course play a critical role in the student experience and your ability to scale your business. These costs vary based on the platform and features offered.
Platforms like Thinkific, Teachable, and Kajabi are popular options for hosting online courses. They provide a range of features, such as content hosting, student progress tracking, and payment processing.
Pricing for these platforms typically falls into the following ranges:
- Basic plans: $29 to $79 per month. Basic plans often come with limited features, such as capped course offerings, basic templates, and restricted student enrollment options.
- Mid-tier plans: $99 to $199 per month. These plans often include integrations with email platforms, advanced analytics, and more customization options.
- Premium plans: $299 to $399 per month. Premium tiers may include more storage, advanced automation, white-label branding, and priority support.
While these platforms are powerful, their complexity can overwhelm users, particularly those new to course creation. Also, you may find yourself needing multiple tools to compensate for missing features, which increases costs and complicates workflows.
Why Choose CustomerHub?
CustomerHub offers an affordable, user-friendly solution to eliminate unnecessary expenses and speed up your workflows.
Unlike traditional LMS platforms, it is designed for simplicity and scalability, which makes it ideal for coaches, consultants, and creators.
A typical course creator might spend $199 per month on an LMS like Kajabi, $20 per month on Zapier integrations, and another $50 per month on email marketing software.
With CustomerHub, you can access all these features in a single platform. It connects with over 7,000 apps, including email marketing platforms, CRMs, and payment processors through direct and Zapier integrations.
Start your free 14-day trial today and discover how CustomerHub simplifies course creation while keeping technology costs under control!
Marketing and Launch Costs
Promoting your course is one of the most important investments to attract students, build an audience, and generate revenue.
Paid ads are a fast and effective way to reach your target audience. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Google Ads, and LinkedIn allow you to run targeted campaigns based on demographics, interests, and online behavior.
Email is also a cost-effective way to nurture leads and convert them into paying students. Costs include email marketing software subscriptions and possibly hiring a copywriter for compelling email sequences.
If managing marketing feels overwhelming, you can hire a freelancer or agency to handle your campaigns. This could range from $20 to $100 per hour for freelancers to $1,000 to $5,000+ per month for agencies, depending on the scope.
CustomerHub provides integration with existing tools, including email marketing platforms. This makes it possible to set up workflows like nurturing sequences.
Combine this with personalized onboarding flows and progress tracking, and you have a cohesive marketing and customer experience strategy without juggling multiple tools.
Ongoing Support and Maintenance
Once your online course is live, ongoing support and maintenance provide an exceptional experience for your students and keep your course content up-to-date.
If you handle support yourself, the cost is primarily your time, which could range from 5 to 20 hours per week, depending on the size of your student base. Assigning a monetary value based on an hourly rate (e.g., $25–$50/hour) could mean a cost of $500 to $1,000 per month.
Outsourcing to a virtual assistant or a dedicated support specialist typically costs $15 to $50/hour. A part-time assistant working 10 hours per week would cost around $600 to $2,000 per month.
If you rely on developers or IT professionals to handle updates or troubleshoot platform issues, you must expect hourly rates between $50 and $150. However, CustomerHub’s Done-for-You services and unlimited chat support reduce or eliminate the need for external technical support.
How to Create an Online Course on a Budget
Creating an online course doesn’t have to break the bank. Using affordable platforms like CustomerHub helps you launch a professional course without overspending. Here's how to create an online course on a budget:
DIY Content Creation
Creating your course content yourself (DIY) is one of the best ways to save money while maintaining full control over the quality and message of your material.
Start by outlining the structure of your course and identifying the key topics. Break your content into smaller, digestible lessons or modules that deliver value and keep students engaged.
You can use free or low-cost tools like Google Docs, Notion, or Trello to create a course roadmap, write scripts, and organize your thoughts. Look for free online resources or templates to help you map out each lesson.
You don’t need expensive equipment to create high-quality video lessons; many creators achieve great results using tools they already have. You can use your smartphone or a webcam and choose a quiet, well-lit space with minimal background distractions.
Once your content is ready, choose a platform to host and deliver your course.
CustomerHub is a budget-friendly option that simplifies the process of uploading videos, organizing modules, and providing students with a professional learning experience.
Focus on Core Content Only
Start by understanding your audience’s biggest challenges and the outcomes they want from your course. Focus on teaching practical, actionable skills or knowledge that address their pain points.
You should also limit your course to the most impactful topics rather than overwhelming students with excessive material. A simple course is often more effective than a lengthy one.
You can break your course into 3–5 core modules with 2–4 lessons in each. Include only what is necessary to achieve results, leaving bonus or advanced content for future updates or premium add-ons.
CustomerHub simplifies the process of focusing on core content by providing everything you need to host and deliver your course in one place.
Then, use the platform's progress tracking to ensure students stay focused on key material.
Repurpose Existing Content
If you have a blog, many of your articles may already cover topics you want to teach. Repurpose these posts by turning them into video scripts, presentation slides, or downloadable worksheets.
Social media posts, short-form videos, or carousel posts can be expanded into course modules. You can turn Instagram or LinkedIn carousel posts into detailed lessons with examples and exercises.
Offer a Beta Version of Your Course
A beta launch allows you to refine your course while earning early revenue, all without investing heavily in advanced production or marketing.
Offer your beta version at 50–70% of the price you plan to charge for the full course. If your course will eventually cost $300, offer the beta version for $100–$150.
Emphasize that students are getting early access and a discounted price in exchange for their feedback.
You can use pre-recorded videos, live sessions, or a mix of both. Then, provide downloadable resources like PDFs or templates instead of creating complex interactive features.
You can host the course on a simple, user-friendly platform like CustomerHub, which lets you organize lessons and manage students with minimal effort.
Is Creating an Online Course Worth the Investment?
For many coaches, consultants, and creators, an online course provides an opportunity to scale their expertise, reach a global audience, and generate passive or semi-passive income.
While the upfront costs and effort might seem daunting, the long-term benefits often outweigh the initial investment. Once the course is created, it can be sold repeatedly with minimal ongoing expenses, which provides for a high return on investment over time.
Also, creating an online course helps establish authority in your field, attract new clients, and build a loyal community of learners who trust your expertise.
With platforms like CustomerHub simplifying the process, even creators on a budget can launch a professional course without needing extensive technical skills or a large upfront investment.
If you use affordable tools, repurpose existing content, and focus on core material, you can minimize costs while delivering a high-value product. The flexibility of online courses allows you to update and adjust offerings over time to remain valuable to your audience.
All-in-One Course Creation Made Affordable with CustomerHub!
Developing online courses doesn’t have to break the bank, but managing costs can be challenging without the right tools.
CustomerHub is designed to simplify the process, combining affordability with powerful features to help you create and deliver a professional course.
From course hosting to memberships and marketing, this all-in-one platform eliminates the need for multiple expensive tools.
With pricing starting at just $79/month, CustomerHub provides the tools you need to launch your course without the hefty price tag. Upload your content, engage with students through built-in membership features, and even automate your marketing—all from one easy-to-use dashboard.
CustomerHub reduces complexity and lets you focus on developing impactful content for your audience. It’s a cost-effective way to turn your expertise into a thriving online course, no matter your budget!
Take control of your course creation journey and start earning passive income without overspending.
Start your 14-day free trial today and discover how easily you can create and grow your online course business!
FAQs About the Cost of Creating an Online Course
How much does it cost to create an eLearning course?
It can vary based on factors such as content complexity, production quality, and whether you use DIY tools or outsource the work.
For a basic course, costs can range from $500 to $5,000 if you handle most tasks yourself using free or affordable tools or CustomerHub for hosting.
For more advanced courses with professional-grade videos, interactive features, and custom designs, costs can go up to $10,000–$50,000, especially if you hire experts for video production, graphic design, and curriculum development.
Can I pay someone to create an online course for me?
You can hire professionals for course creation. This includes instructional designers, video producers, graphic designers, and content writers.
Hiring an expert team can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $50,000, depending on the course length, the complexity of the content, and the level of production quality you require.
Platforms like Fiverr or Upwork offer access to freelancers who can help with specific tasks, such as video editing or curriculum design, at more affordable rates starting from $30/hour.
How much does it cost to launch an online course?
The cost of launching an online course includes expenses for marketing, hosting, and any pre-launch promotions. Hosting platforms like CustomerHub start at $79/month, while marketing costs such as social media ads or email campaigns can range from $50 to $1,000.
If you invest in pre-launch strategies like a landing page and promotional content, your total launch cost may range from $500 to $2,000. However, a well-executed launch often leads to strong initial sales, which allows you to recoup these costs.
How much does it cost to create a class?
For a video-based lesson, equipment and software costs might include a microphone ($100–$300), lighting equipment ($100–$500), and video editing software (like Adobe Premiere Pro at $20.99/month).
If you hire a professional to produce the lesson, expect to pay $500–$1,500 per class.
Alternatively, if it’s a text-based or slide-based class, tools like Google Slides or Canva (free or $12.99/month for Pro) can help you create the content at little to no cost. A single class typically costs $50–$500 to produce when using DIY methods.
