Written and tested by Tuğçe Altun, founder of Creator Tool Lab
Pricing and features last checked: October 9, 2026
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you sign up through them, Creator Tool Lab may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. This does not affect the recommendation. Read our full affiliate disclosure.
If you want the simplest path from a finished mini-course to a branded product page, Payhip is usually easier to manage. If you need the course, landing pages, email campaigns, order forms and follow-up automation inside one system, Systeme.io is the stronger all-in-one option.
The key difference is how each free plan works. Both platforms let you start without a monthly subscription. Payhip includes its core features and unlimited products while charging a 5% platform fee on each sale. Systeme.io limits the number of courses, contacts and funnels on its free plan, but currently charges 0% in platform transaction fees. Payment-processor fees still apply on both.
The right choice therefore depends less on which platform has the longer feature list and more on what you are building:
- Choose Payhip for a straightforward mini-course store, a simpler setup and more built-in indirect-tax handling in supported regions.
- Choose Systeme.io when the mini-course is part of a funnel with lead capture, automated email, order bumps or upsells.
For a broader overview before comparing these two tools, see our guide to where to sell workshop recordings and mini-courses.
Affiliate link: Both options below are free to start. Check the current terms before publishing your course.
Payhip Free charges a 5% platform fee per sale. Payment-gateway fees may also apply.
Systeme.io lists a 0% platform transaction fee. Payment-gateway fees may still apply.
Quick verdict
| Choose Payhip when… | Choose Systeme.io when… |
|---|---|
| You want to create the product and storefront quickly | You want a complete sales funnel around the course |
| You prefer unlimited products on the entry plan | One course is enough while you validate demand |
| You want Payhip to handle digital EU/UK VAT and supported US/Canadian sales taxes | You are prepared to configure, report and remit taxes that remain your responsibility |
| You want more dedicated lesson types and more customizable certificates | You need automated campaigns, behavioral reminders, order bumps and upsells |
| You already have an audience or a separate email platform | You want email marketing and course delivery in one account |
| A simple product-first dashboard matters more than advanced funnels | Avoiding a platform percentage fee matters more than keeping setup minimal |
Our recommendation: Payhip is the cleaner choice for a creator selling a mini-course to an existing audience. Systeme.io is the better value when you still need to build the audience, nurture leads and automate the sale.
Payhip vs Systeme.io at a glance
| Feature | Payhip | Systeme.io |
|---|---|---|
| Starting monthly price | $0 | $0 |
| Entry-plan platform fee | 5% per sale | 0% |
| Payment processing | Separate payment-gateway fees apply | Separate payment-gateway fees apply |
| Documented payment gateways | 13 processors, including PayPal, Stripe, Mollie and Iyzico | PayPal, Stripe, Mollie, Razorpay, Flutterwave and other regional options |
| Entry-plan limits | Unlimited products and revenue | 2,000 contacts, 3 funnels and 1 course |
| Course structure | Sections and seven lesson types | Classic and Light courses with modules and lectures |
| Quizzes and assignments | Yes | Yes; quizzes are added at module level, and assignments are documented for Classic courses |
| Drip content | Yes | Yes |
| Native video hosting | $5/month for 16 hours; external embeds are also supported | Unlimited media storage is listed; each uploaded video file is limited to 2 GB |
| Completion certificates | Yes; customizable themes, colors, text, logo and background | Yes; logo and signature can be added, but certificate layout is more limited |
| Native email | Customer updates and cart-abandonment recovery; integrations for broader email marketing | Unlimited email sends, campaigns, automation rules and progress-based reminders |
| Sales funnels | Product pages, checkout, cross-sells and marketing tools | Multi-step funnels, order forms, order bumps, upsells and downsells |
| Tax workflow | Handles and remits digital EU/UK VAT and supported US/Canadian sales taxes; exceptions may remain | Can calculate and add VAT at checkout; it is not presented as a worldwide Merchant of Record |
| Best fit | Simple store and course delivery | Funnel-first selling and automation |
Pricing, limits and tax rules can change. Confirm the latest details on the official Payhip pricing page and Systeme.io pricing page before making a final decision.
What we tested—and what we did not
We created the same sample course shell on both platforms:
Workshop Replay Starter
- Start Here → Welcome and access details
- Workshop Replay → Part 1: Core lesson
- Workshop Replay → Part 2: Q&A highlights
- Resources → Workbook and checklist
This was a limited setup test, not an end-to-end purchase test. We compared how each dashboard organizes a short workshop-based course and how the path toward selling it is presented.
We did not upload a real workshop video, connect a live payment method, complete a purchase, enroll a test student or evaluate the final student experience. Any conclusion about checkout reliability, video playback or post-purchase access would therefore go beyond what we tested.
Payhip test: a direct route to the curriculum
In Payhip, we created a Course product and reached the Curriculum area directly after naming it. The test course contains three sections and four lessons, all kept in Draft status.
Our Payhip test course with three sections and four draft lessons, October 2026.
The interface exposed the course structure without requiring us to create a sales funnel first. When editing a lesson, we could choose from seven visible types: Video, Text, Quiz, Download, Survey, Assignment and Embed.
Caption: The seven lesson types displayed during our October 2026 Payhip test.
In the Download lesson editor, Payhip displayed a maximum file size of 2 GB.
The 2 GB maximum shown in the Download lesson editor during our October 2026 test.
That 2 GB observation applies specifically to the course Download lesson screen we tested. It should not be generalized to every Payhip product or video-hosting option.
Systeme.io test: course setup plus a separate funnel layer
In Systeme.io, we created an inactive Classic course with the same three modules and four lectures. Each lecture displayed “Drip: immediately,” making the default release timing visible from the curriculum screen.
Our inactive Systeme.io Classic course using the same workshop replay structure, October 2026.
We also created a separate funnel containing an Order Form and Thank You Page. Systeme.io displayed multiple checkout templates, which confirms that the selling flow can be designed separately from the course curriculum.
The funnel list showed the funnel as Active, but warning icons remained beside both steps. We had not connected a payment method or completed the configuration, so “Active” should not be interpreted as a tested or purchase-ready checkout.
These tests support a narrower conclusion: Payhip presented the more direct product-to-curriculum path in our setup, while Systeme.io exposed a broader course-plus-funnel structure. They do not prove that one platform has the better live checkout or student experience.
The hands-on test was not symmetrical beyond the curriculum. We created a Systeme.io funnel, but we did not configure Payhip’s sales page or checkout during the same session. The sales-page comparison later in this article therefore combines our limited dashboard observations with each platform’s official documentation; it is not a like-for-like checkout test.
Pricing: which platform costs less?
Payhip pricing
Payhip currently offers three plans:
- Free Forever: $0 per month plus a 5% Payhip transaction fee.
- Plus: $29 per month plus a 2% Payhip transaction fee.
- Pro: $99 per month with no Payhip transaction fee.
All three plans include Payhip’s core feature set, unlimited products and unlimited revenue. Your connected payment provider may still charge its own processing fee.
This model is useful when you want to launch many products without paying a subscription before the first sale. The tradeoff is that the free plan becomes more expensive as revenue grows.
Systeme.io pricing
Systeme.io’s current free plan includes up to:
- 2,000 contacts
- 3 sales funnels
- 1 course
- Unlimited email sends
- 0% Systeme.io platform transaction fees
The free plan can therefore cover a small creator’s first mini-course, landing page and basic follow-up sequence. Its limits become relevant when you need additional courses, a larger contact list or more separate funnels.
Systeme.io’s paid plans are based mainly on capacity. At the time of checking, Startup costs $17 with monthly billing or $170 billed annually—about $14.17 per month when averaged across the year. Higher tiers increase contact limits and add capacity or specialized features. Payment gateways can still charge their own processing fees even though Systeme.io adds no platform transaction fee. Verify the current plan comparison before upgrading because limits can change.
A $49 mini-course fee example
The table below compares platform charges only. It excludes payment-processor fees, refunds, currency conversion and taxes because those vary by seller and buyer.
| Monthly sales | Gross revenue | Payhip Free platform fee | Systeme.io Free platform fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $49 | $2.45 | $0 |
| 10 | $490 | $24.50 | $0 |
| 20 | $980 | $49.00 | $0 |
| 50 | $2,450 | $122.50 | $0 |
On platform fees alone, Systeme.io Free is cheaper. That is a real advantage, not a minor detail.
Payhip Plus becomes cheaper than Payhip Free at approximately $967 in monthly revenue because the fee falls by three percentage points:
$29 monthly fee ÷ 3% = approximately $967 in monthly sales
At a $49 product price, that is about 20 sales per month. This break-even calculation does not include payment processing, refunds or taxes, but the processor cost applies regardless of whether you use Payhip Free or Plus.
Price should not be the only decision. Payhip’s fee may be worth paying when its simpler store workflow or tax handling replaces work you would otherwise manage yourself. Systeme.io creates better software economics when you will actually use its funnel and email tools. A free all-in-one platform is not automatically simpler.
Course building and documented student features
Payhip course builder
Payhip courses are organized into sections and lessons. Its current documentation lists seven lesson types:
- Video
- Text
- Quiz
- Download
- Survey
- Assignment
- Embed
Our test account showed the same seven options.
This structure is a strong fit for turning a workshop into a short learning product. You can separate the core replay from the Q&A, add a workbook as a download lesson and include a short quiz or assignment without building a complicated school.
Payhip also supports drip content, prerequisite lessons, preview lessons and completion certificates. Its certificates offer more visual customization than Systeme.io’s current certificate workflow, including multiple themes, editable wording, fonts, colors, backgrounds and logos.
The main delivery decision is video. A basic digital product can deliver a downloadable file, while a course provides a logged-in learning area.
Systeme.io course builder
Systeme.io currently offers two course formats:
- Light courses: A faster, mobile-friendly format created inside a Systeme.io creator store.
- Classic courses: A more customizable desktop course builder with modules and lectures.
Light courses are practical when the product is a short replay with a few supporting resources. The editor allows creators to add text, upload video or files, enable comments and schedule delayed access.
Classic courses are more appropriate when course structure and control matter. They support modules, lectures, drip delays and assignments. Systeme.io also supports a quiz attached to a course module; its documentation says students can access the quiz after completing that module’s lessons. We used a Classic course for our sample and saw the default “Drip: immediately” setting beside every lecture. Systeme.io also provides certificates, though its documentation says the generated layout cannot be edited beyond adding a logo and signature.
Both platforms can deliver a credible mini-course. Payhip exposes more dedicated lesson types in a simple curriculum. Systeme.io connects the learning product more tightly to the rest of the sales system.
Video hosting: cost and limits
Payhip’s native video subscription currently costs $5 per month for 16 total hours of video storage across course and membership products. Additional capacity is sold in 16-hour increments; for example, 32 hours costs $10 per month. Creators can instead embed video from services such as YouTube, Vimeo or Wistia without paying Payhip’s video-hosting charge.
Systeme.io currently lists unlimited media and file storage across its plans. Its documentation nevertheless limits each uploaded video file to 2 GB and recommends keeping individual videos at 100 MB or less for faster loading. Videos can also be added by direct URL or embed code.
We did not upload or stream a real workshop recording on either platform. These figures come from the platforms’ current documentation, so check them again if video size, resolution or a large course library will materially affect your costs.
Sales pages, checkout and conversion tools
Payhip is product-first. You create a product, build its sales page, connect a payment provider and publish it in your store. Coupons, cross-selling, customer reviews and Payhip’s newer cart-abandonment recovery feature can help improve conversion without requiring a separate funnel builder.
That is enough when people arrive already interested—for example, from an existing newsletter, community or social account.
Systeme.io is funnel-first. A typical course flow can include:
- Landing or sales page
- Order form
- Optional order bump
- Optional upsell or downsell
- Thank-you page
- Automated email campaign
The Order Form and Thank You Page in our October 2026 Systeme.io test funnel, alongside the available checkout templates. Warning icons show that the steps were not fully configured.
This is more setup than the Payhip product-page workflow described in Payhip’s documentation, but it gives you more control over what happens before and after the purchase. Systeme.io documents workflows that can grant course access after successful payment, tag the buyer and subscribe the contact to a campaign. We did not activate or test those actions in our sample funnel, and we did not build a Payhip checkout for a direct conversion comparison.
The practical distinction is simple:
Payhip helps you put a course on sale. Systeme.io helps you build a sales process around the course.
Do not build a multi-step funnel merely because the feature exists. For a first product with no proven traffic, extra pages and automation can delay the launch without improving sales.
Payment gateways and country availability
Payment availability can decide the comparison before course features do. A platform may support a gateway globally while that gateway accepts sellers only in certain countries, currencies or business types.
Payhip currently documents 13 payment processors: PayPal, Stripe, Mollie, Square, Mercado Pago, Flutterwave, Paystack, Xendit, Midtrans, PayU, Razorpay, Iyzico and PayTabs. In most cases, a seller can connect PayPal plus one other processor. The list gives Payhip broad regional coverage; for example, its documentation specifically identifies Iyzico as an option for sellers in Türkiye.
Systeme.io documents PayPal and Stripe alongside regional integrations such as Mollie, Razorpay, Flutterwave, Mercado Pago, Xendit, GoCardless and Paystack. Some buyer methods depend on an underlying gateway—for example, iDEAL and Bancontact are enabled through Stripe, and Apple Pay also depends on a compatible Stripe setup.
Do not choose based only on the length of either list. Before building the course, confirm that the gateway accepts businesses registered in your country, supports your selling currency and can process the one-time or recurring payment model you need. Gateway fees, reserves and payout schedules remain separate from the platform fees compared above.
Email marketing and student follow-up
Payhip includes essential transactional emails and lets sellers send email updates to all customers or buyers of a specific product. It can also connect buyers to supported external email services, subject to email-consent requirements. Its newer cart-abandonment feature can send a reminder 24 hours after an eligible checkout is left incomplete.
This is adequate for product announcements and basic customer communication. It is less suitable when you want a long automated sequence based on tags, behavior and student progress.
Systeme.io includes unlimited email sends on every current plan. Campaigns and automation rules can connect lead capture, purchases and course access. Systeme.io also documents automated course reminders based on enrollment, last login and progress, with configurable timing and repetition.
Choose Systeme.io when follow-up is part of the product strategy—for example:
- A free checklist followed by a mini-course offer
- A welcome sequence after purchase
- Reminders for students who have not started
- An upsell after completing the replay
- Different emails based on a tag or purchase
Choose Payhip when you already use another email platform or only need essential order and product-update messages.
VAT, sales tax and seller responsibility
This is one of the most important differences, particularly for international sellers.
Payhip states that it automatically handles digital EU and UK VAT by default. Since July 1, 2026, it also says it collects and remits applicable US sales tax as a marketplace facilitator and handles Canadian GST/HST and PST, with Quebec QST identified as an exception that may remain with the seller.
Payhip is not described as a worldwide Merchant of Record, so responsibilities may still remain in other countries and for income tax, registrations, bookkeeping or specific product classifications.
Systeme.io can calculate and add VAT based on the buyer’s country when its checkout is configured correctly. Its documentation explains charging and VAT settings, but does not present Systeme.io as the worldwide seller or Merchant of Record for your course. The practical inference is that calculating VAT at checkout does not by itself transfer your reporting and remittance obligations to Systeme.io.
Neither this comparison nor platform documentation replaces advice from a qualified tax professional. The important buying question is whether you want the platform only to calculate a tax amount or to take responsibility for collecting and remitting it in named jurisdictions.
Ease of use: which one is better for a beginner?
Payhip should have the shorter learning curve for most first-time sellers. Its dashboard begins with the product: choose Course, add sections and lessons, set pricing and edit the page.
Systeme.io introduces more concepts because it combines several tools. A creator may need to understand contacts, campaigns, tags, funnels, order forms, resources and automation rules in addition to the course itself.
That complexity is justified when those components replace several separate subscriptions. It is unnecessary when all you need is a checkout and a place for students to watch three lessons.
This is why “all-in-one” is not automatically better. It is better only when you need the whole system.
Who should choose Payhip?
Choose Payhip if you:
- Want the quickest product-first setup.
- Plan to sell several courses, downloads, memberships or bundles.
- Already have an audience or email service.
- Want stronger built-in handling for digital EU/UK VAT and supported US/Canadian sales taxes.
- Need dedicated quizzes, assignments, downloads, prerequisites or highly customizable certificates.
- Prefer paying a percentage while sales are low instead of learning a broader funnel system.
Avoid Payhip if a 5% entry-plan fee materially damages your margin, or if multi-step funnels and automated email campaigns are central to the business from day one.
Free plan: 5% Payhip platform fee per sale, plus any payment-gateway fees.
Who should choose Systeme.io?
Choose Systeme.io if you:
- Want course delivery, landing pages and email automation in one account.
- Need a lead magnet and nurture sequence before the sale.
- Want order bumps, upsells or downsells.
- Can stay within the free plan’s course, funnel and contact limits.
- Prefer 0% platform transaction fees and accept a more involved setup.
- Are prepared to confirm and manage the tax obligations that the platform does not take over.
Avoid Systeme.io if you want the shortest possible path to publishing a simple course, or if the language of funnels, tags and automation creates more work than your offer currently needs.
Free plan: 0% Systeme.io platform transaction fee; payment-gateway fees may still apply.
Which platform is better for a workshop replay?
For one edited workshop replay sold to an existing audience, Payhip is usually the cleaner choice. You can organize the replay, Q&A and workbook inside a small course without building a complete funnel.
For an evergreen workshop that must attract leads, send a sequence, make the sale and offer another product afterward, Systeme.io is the stronger choice. The course is only one part of the system, and the surrounding funnel is where Systeme.io creates most of its value.
If you have not yet prepared the recording itself, follow our seven-step guide to selling a workshop recording online before choosing the platform. If you are deciding between a simple download and streaming delivery, see Payhip vs Gumroad for workshop replays.
Final verdict
Payhip wins for simplicity, product flexibility and supported tax handling. It is easier to recommend when the creator already has traffic and needs a straightforward place to sell and deliver a mini-course.
Systeme.io wins for funnel economics and automation. Its free plan’s 0% platform transaction fee, built-in email and sales-funnel tools make it the better value when the creator needs an entire customer journey rather than only a storefront.
Use this final rule:
- Choose Payhip when the course is the product.
- Choose Systeme.io when the funnel is part of the product strategy.
Do not choose either platform solely because it is free to start. Choose the workflow you can maintain after the launch.
Frequently asked questions
Is Systeme.io cheaper than Payhip?
On entry-plan platform fees, yes. Systeme.io currently lists 0% transaction fees, while Payhip Free charges 5% per sale. Both may still involve separate payment-processing fees. Payhip may nevertheless reduce other work through its simpler store setup and supported indirect-tax handling.
Can I sell a mini-course for free on both platforms?
Both platforms allow creators to offer free access. On Payhip, free course access is created through a free pricing plan. Systeme.io can grant free course access to contacts. A free product can be useful as a lead magnet, but you still need lawful email consent before sending marketing messages.
Does Payhip include email automation?
Payhip includes receipts, customer email updates and cart-abandonment recovery, and it can connect to external mailing-list providers. It does not offer the same native funnel-and-campaign workflow as Systeme.io.
Does Systeme.io charge a transaction fee?
Systeme.io’s current pricing page says all plans have 0% platform transaction fees. Your connected payment gateway may still charge its own processing fees.
Which platform has better course features?
Payhip provides a clearer set of specialized lesson types, including quizzes, surveys, assignments and downloads. Systeme.io provides both Light and Classic course formats, with stronger integration into funnels, email and automation. The better course builder depends on whether curriculum tools or the surrounding sales system matters more.
Which platform handles VAT?
Payhip states that it handles digital EU and UK VAT and named US and Canadian sales taxes, with documented exceptions. Systeme.io can calculate and add VAT in checkout, but sellers should not assume this means Systeme.io files and remits every tax obligation for them.
Can I move from Payhip to Systeme.io later?
Yes, but the course structure, student accounts, progress records and automation will not transfer perfectly. Keep original videos, downloads, written lesson content and a lawful export of customer data so the business is not dependent on one platform.
Editorial methodology
This comparison combines the platforms’ current public pricing pages and official documentation with Creator Tool Lab’s limited hands-on course-setup tests. We created the same course structure in both accounts and created a two-step Systeme.io funnel. We did not configure an equivalent Payhip checkout, process a payment, publish the products or test student access. We do not assign arbitrary star ratings or recommend a tool because of its affiliate commission. Learn how Creator Tool Lab reviews creator tools.