Podia Fees Explained: What You Actually Pay on Each Sale
Podia takes 5% of each sale on its cheapest plan, and 0% on the two above it. That’s the whole fee structure in one sentence — but processing fees from Stripe or PayPal apply no matter which plan you’re on, and Podia never sees that money.
The short answer
- If you’re on Mover ($49/month) -> expect a 5% platform fee on top of Stripe processing, because Mover is the only tier where Podia takes a cut.
- If you want 0% platform fees -> go with Shaker ($99/month) or Earthquaker ($179/month), where Podia stops taking a percentage of your sales entirely.
- If your buyers need PayPal at checkout -> you need Shaker or Earthquaker; Mover only supports Stripe.
- If you’re not sure you’ll stick with Podia -> use the 14-day free trial, which doesn’t require a card, before committing to anything annual.
- If you already paid annually and want out -> refunds only apply within 72 hours of your last payment, and annual plans don’t get partial refunds.
What “platform fee” actually means here
Podia’s platform fee is separate from payment processing, and mixing the two up is how people get surprised by their first payout. The platform fee is what Podia itself keeps: 5% on Mover, 0% on Shaker, 0% on Earthquaker. Processing is what Stripe or PayPal keeps for moving the money, and it’s charged at 2.9% + 30¢, though the exact rate can shift depending on your location as the course creator. That processing fee applies on every single plan — Mover, Shaker, and Earthquaker alike, and Podia doesn’t take a slice of it.
So on Mover, a sale gets hit twice: Podia’s 5%, then Stripe’s cut. On Shaker and Earthquaker, it only gets hit once, by Stripe or PayPal. That’s the entire trade you’re making by paying more per month, you’re buying out the platform’s percentage, not the processor’s.
Why the payment method matters as much as the plan
Here’s a detail that trips people up: PayPal as a checkout option for your buyers only exists on Shaker and above. Mover customers can only pay through Stripe. If your audience pays through PayPal, Mover isn’t just cheaper, it’s a checkout wall. That’s a real limitation, not a nitpick, and it’s worth weighing before you lock into the lower-priced plan.
Where the monthly-vs-annual math actually lands
Mover runs $49/month or $42/month billed annually. Shaker is $99/month or $84/month annually. Earthquaker is $179/month or $150/month annually. Those are the only numbers on the table. Podia doesn’t publish a cheaper entry point or a free tier anymore, so the trial is your only no-cost way to test the waters. If you’re weighing Podia against other platforms at this price point, the cheapest course platform guide walks through how entry pricing compares once fees are factored in.
Decision criteria that actually matter
Platform fee percentage. This is the one number that changes based on plan alone: 5% on Mover, 0% on Shaker and Earthquaker. If you’re doing any real volume, that 5% adds up fast, and it’s the single biggest argument for upgrading past Mover.
Processing fees you can’t avoid. Stripe or PayPal charge 2.9% + 30¢ regardless of plan, and that rate can vary depending on your location as the creator. No plan change removes this, it’s the cost of accepting cards or PayPal anywhere, on any platform.
Checkout method support. Mover locks you into Stripe only. Shaker and Earthquaker add PayPal. If your buyers expect PayPal as an option, this decides your plan for you before price even enters the conversation.
Refund terms if you cancel. Podia will refund a subscription if you contact support within 72 hours of your last payment. Annual plans don’t get partial refunds, so paying yearly is a bigger commitment than it looks on the surface.
Trial length and risk. Fourteen days, no card required. That’s enough time to build a test offer and see whether the checkout flow and fee structure actually work for your situation, but it’s not long enough to judge how your real launch performs.
Decision table
| Reader situation | What to pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Brand-new creator, unsure if sales will be steady | Mover, and plan to upgrade once revenue justifies it | 5% on top of processing stings less when sales volume is still low |
| Selling consistently, want to stop losing a percentage | Shaker or Earthquaker | 0% platform fee means every dollar past processing is yours |
| Buyers expect PayPal at checkout | Shaker or Earthquaker | PayPal checkout isn’t available on Mover at all |
| Considering annual billing to save money | Think hard before committing | No partial refund on annual plans if you change your mind mid-year |
| Still comparing platforms, not sold on Podia yet | Use the 14-day trial first | No card required, so there’s no cleanup needed if you walk away |
Common mistakes
Assuming the plan price is the whole cost. People budget for the $49 or $99 monthly fee and forget that Stripe or PayPal processing comes out of every sale regardless of plan. Your actual take-home is always lower than the sticker price implies, on any plan.
Staying on Mover to save money while losing PayPal buyers. If a chunk of your audience only pays with PayPal, Mover’s missing checkout option isn’t a minor inconvenience, it’s lost sales you’ll never see in your analytics, because they never got to the point of trying to pay.
Paying annually to save per-month, then needing a refund in month eight. The 72-hour refund window applies to your last payment, not your original purchase date, and annual plans don’t get partial refunds at all. Lock in annual pricing only once you’re confident you’re staying.
Confusing 0% platform fee with 0% total fees. Shaker and Earthquaker drop Podia’s cut to zero, but Stripe or PayPal still take their processing fee on every sale. Zero platform fee doesn’t mean zero fees.
For a side-by-side on how this stacks up against a direct competitor, the Podia vs Teachable comparison and the Kajabi vs Podia breakdown both dig into fee structure differences in more detail than makes sense to repeat here.
FAQ
Does Podia ever take a cut of payment processing fees? No. Processing goes entirely to Stripe or PayPal; Podia’s only revenue from transactions is the 5% platform fee on Mover, which drops to 0% on Shaker and Earthquaker.
Can I switch from Mover to Shaker mid-month to stop the 5% fee? Podia’s pricing page says you can upgrade, downgrade, or switch between monthly and annual billing at any time. It doesn’t spell out exactly when the new fee rate kicks in after a switch, so check Podia’s billing settings directly before assuming the timing.
Is there a way to avoid processing fees entirely? Not through Podia. Stripe or PayPal processing applies on every plan, and the rate depends on your location as the creator, not your plan choice.
What happens if I cancel Podia right after an annual payment? You can request a refund only within 72 hours of your last payment, and annual plans don’t receive partial refunds, so canceling in month two of a yearly plan won’t get you a prorated amount back.
Does the 14-day trial require a credit card? No, Podia’s trial doesn’t require a card upfront, which makes it one of the lower-risk ways to test checkout flow and platform fees before paying anything.
If I’m deciding between Podia and another platform entirely, where should I start? Start with how to choose a course platform, fee structure is only one piece of the decision, and that guide covers the others.
How we got these numbers. Prices and fees come straight from the official pricing pages of Teachable, Thinkific, Kajabi, Podia, checked in September 2026. Where a value wasn’t published, the table shows “—”. Prices in this space change often — confirm on the provider’s site before you buy.