If you’re teaching online and still undercharging, you’re leaving serious money on the table. Learn how to price smarter using tiered models, upsells, and value stacking that actually convert. Here are top smart pricing strategies to earn more from your online courses on Teachable and Thinkific. Plus: discover top tools that automate, optimize, and help you earn more from every student.
The Real Cost of Undercharging: Why Most Online Teachers Earn Less Than They Should
You’ve probably felt it: you put in hours building your course, recording videos, writing lessons, and setting up your Teachable or Thinkific dashboard. You launch, get a few sales, and then… crickets. Or worse, you get steady enrollments but the revenue barely covers your time. That’s not just frustrating—it’s unsustainable.
Let’s break down what’s really happening when you undercharge:
- You’re attracting bargain hunters, not committed learners.
- You’re signaling low value, even if your content is excellent.
- You’re limiting your ability to reinvest in better tools, marketing, or support.
- You’re burning out faster because you’re doing more for less.
Here’s a common scenario: You price your course at $49 thinking it’s “affordable” and will attract more people. You get 20 students. That’s $980. But you spent 40 hours building the course, plus another 10 hours answering questions and updating materials. That’s less than $20/hour—and that’s before platform fees, taxes, or marketing costs.
Now compare that to someone who priced their course at $199, added a few bonuses, and positioned it as a transformation rather than just information. They get 10 students. That’s $1,990. Half the volume, double the revenue—and likely fewer support headaches.
Here’s a quick comparison to show how pricing affects perceived value and effort:
| Course Price | Students | Revenue | Time Spent | Revenue per Hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $49 | 20 | $980 | 50 hours | $19.60 |
| $199 | 10 | $1,990 | 30 hours | $66.33 |
You don’t just earn more—you work smarter.
The problem isn’t your content. It’s how you’re packaging and pricing it. Most people default to low pricing because they’re afraid of scaring people away. But low pricing often attracts the wrong audience and sets the wrong expectations.
Here’s what low pricing tends to trigger:
- “This must be basic or beginner-level.”
- “I’ll buy it, but I probably won’t finish it.”
- “I’ll ask for a refund if I don’t like one module.”
And here’s what higher pricing—when paired with clear value—can trigger:
- “This looks serious. I want to commit.”
- “I’ll make time for this because I paid for it.”
- “I expect results, and I’m ready to do the work.”
You’re not just selling content. You’re selling clarity, transformation, and outcomes. And that’s worth more than $49.
If you’re using Teachable or Thinkific, you already have the infrastructure to support better pricing. What’s missing is the strategy. That’s where tools like ThriveCart come in. ThriveCart lets you build high-converting checkout pages, add upsells, and test pricing variations—all without needing a developer. It’s one of the highest-paying affiliate platforms in the course space, and it’s built for people who want to earn more without adding complexity.
Another tool worth looking at is KoalaWriter. It’s an AI-powered writing assistant that helps you craft course descriptions, landing pages, and email sequences that actually sell. If your pricing is solid but your messaging is weak, you’ll still struggle. KoalaWriter helps you position your offer so it feels premium, not just “affordable.”
And if you’re delivering bonus content, templates, or swipe files, Notion is a great way to package those assets. You can create clean, modular libraries that feel high-value—and you can use Notion’s affiliate program to earn from your recommendations too.
Here’s what you need to remember:
- Pricing low feels safe, but it’s often the riskiest move.
- You’re not just charging for access—you’re charging for transformation.
- The right tools help you position, automate, and optimize your pricing without adding more work.
If you’re undercharging, you’re not just losing money—you’re losing momentum. And that’s fixable.
Tiered Pricing: How to Build a Ladder of Value
If you’re charging one flat price for your course, you’re missing a huge opportunity to serve different types of learners—and earn more while doing it. Tiered pricing lets you offer multiple levels of access, each with increasing value, so people can choose what fits their needs and budget.
Think of it like this:
- Basic Tier: Just the course content. No extras. Great for self-paced learners.
- Mid Tier: Course + bonus materials (templates, worksheets, cheat sheets).
- Premium Tier: Everything above + live coaching, community access, or 1-on-1 support.
This structure works because it gives people options. Some want to learn quietly on their own. Others want hand-holding and accountability. You don’t have to guess—you just offer all three.
Here’s a simple layout:
| Tier Name | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $99 | Full course access |
| Pro | $199 | Course + templates + bonus modules |
| Premium | $399 | Everything + coaching calls + private community |
You can build this easily on Teachable or Thinkific. Both platforms support tiered pricing and allow you to gate content based on access level. But if you want to go further—like adding upsells at checkout or testing which tier converts best—ThriveCart is a better fit. It’s built for conversion and lets you create dynamic pricing pages that adjust based on user behavior.
And if you’re struggling to write compelling descriptions for each tier, use KoalaWriter. It helps you craft persuasive copy that highlights the transformation, not just the features. That’s what gets people to upgrade.
Upsells That Convert: Turning One Sale into Many
Upsells aren’t just for e-commerce. They work beautifully in online education too. The key is making them feel like a natural extension of the learning journey—not a random add-on.
Let’s say someone buys your course. You can offer:
- A workbook or template pack for $29
- A 30-minute coaching call for $99
- Access to a private mastermind group for $199
These aren’t distractions. They’re accelerators. They help your students get results faster, with less friction.
Here’s how to make upsells work:
- Timing matters: Offer them right after purchase, during onboarding, or midway through the course when motivation dips.
- Keep it relevant: The upsell should solve the next problem your student will face.
- Use urgency: Limited-time offers or bonuses drive action.
ThriveCart shines here again. You can build post-purchase upsell flows that feel seamless. No clunky redirects. No awkward transitions. Just clean, high-converting offers.
And if you want to automate follow-up emails that pitch these upsells over time, ConvertKit is your go-to. It’s built for creators and professionals who want to segment their audience and send targeted messages based on behavior. You can tag students who finish a module and send them an upsell offer that fits perfectly.
Value Stacking: Make Your Offer Feel 10x More Valuable
People don’t just buy courses—they buy outcomes. And the more tools you give them to reach those outcomes, the more they’re willing to pay.
Value stacking is about bundling assets that make your offer feel complete. You’re not just selling videos. You’re selling a toolkit.
Here’s what you can stack:
- Templates and swipe files
- Checklists and cheat sheets
- Bonus lessons or expert interviews
- Private community access
- Personalized feedback or audits
When you stack value, you shift the conversation from “Is this worth $199?” to “I can’t believe I’m getting all this for $199.”
Use Notion to deliver these assets. Create a clean, organized workspace where students can access everything in one place. It feels premium, and it’s easy to update. Plus, Notion’s affiliate program lets you earn when others adopt it for their own course delivery.
And if you’re not sure what to include in your stack, ask your audience. Use ConvertKit to send a quick survey. Find out what they struggle with most—and build your bonuses around that.
Pricing Psychology: What Makes People Pay More
Pricing isn’t just math. It’s emotion, perception, and psychology. You can have the same product priced at $99 and $299—and the $299 version might sell better if it’s positioned right.
Here’s why:
- Anchoring: Show a high-priced option first to make the others feel affordable.
- Decoy pricing: Add a middle tier that makes the premium tier look like a better deal.
- Charm pricing: $199 feels cheaper than $200, even though it’s just a dollar.
Use these tactics to guide your pricing decisions:
| Strategy | What It Does | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Anchoring | Sets a high reference point | Show $499 first, then $199 |
| Decoy Pricing | Makes premium tier look more valuable | $99 / $199 / $299 |
| Charm Pricing | Feels psychologically cheaper | $199 vs $200 |
You can test these strategies using ThriveCart’s built-in A/B testing. Try different price points, layouts, and copy. See what converts best. Then double down.
Automation and Optimization: Tools That Help You Earn More Without Doing More
You don’t need to manually pitch upsells, send emails, or track conversions. The right tools do that for you—so you can focus on teaching and building.
Here’s what to automate:
- Email sequences: Welcome emails, upsell pitches, re-engagement campaigns
- Tiered access: Automatically unlock bonuses based on purchase level
- Behavior tracking: Tag students based on progress and send relevant offers
ConvertKit handles all of this. You can build smart automations that respond to what your students do (or don’t do). It’s simple, powerful, and built for people who want to earn more without hiring a team.
And if you want to optimize your landing pages, pricing copy, and course descriptions, KoalaWriter helps you test different angles. You can generate multiple versions and see which one resonates most.
Bonus: How to Test and Iterate Your Pricing Without Losing Students
Pricing isn’t set in stone. You can test, tweak, and improve it over time. The key is doing it without alienating your audience.
Here’s how:
- Use A/B testing: Try two price points and see which converts better.
- Survey your audience: Ask what they’d pay—and what would make them upgrade.
- Offer grandfathered access: Let existing students keep their pricing when you raise it.
ThriveCart makes testing easy. You can run split tests and track results without needing a developer. And ConvertKit helps you gather feedback and segment your audience based on responses.
The goal isn’t to guess. It’s to learn, iterate, and improve.
3 Actionable Takeaways
- Build a pricing ladder: Offer multiple tiers so people can choose their level of commitment—and you earn more per student.
- Stack value intentionally: Templates, bonuses, and coaching make your offer feel premium and justify higher prices.
- Automate with smart tools: Use ThriveCart, ConvertKit, and KoalaWriter to optimize your pricing, messaging, and upsells without adding more work.
Top 5 FAQs About Pricing Online Courses
How do I know if my course is priced too low? If you’re getting sales but not enough revenue to justify your time, or if students aren’t engaging deeply, your price might be too low.
Can I raise my prices after launching? Yes. Just communicate clearly, offer grandfathered access to early buyers, and position the increase as a reflection of added value.
What’s the best way to offer upsells? Use post-purchase offers, email sequences, and in-course prompts. Keep them relevant and helpful—not pushy.
Do tiered pricing models confuse buyers? Not if they’re clearly explained. Use tables, bullet points, and comparison charts to make each tier’s value obvious.
Which tools help me test pricing strategies? ThriveCart for checkout and upsells, ConvertKit for email automation and surveys, and KoalaWriter for optimizing your messaging.
Next Steps
- Map out your pricing tiers: Start with three levels—basic, pro, and premium. Use ThriveCart to build checkout flows that match each tier.
- Create a bonus stack: Use Notion to organize templates, cheat sheets, and extra resources that make your offer feel complete.
- Automate your upsells: Set up ConvertKit to send targeted emails based on student behavior. Use tags, sequences, and smart triggers to pitch the right offer at the right time.
You don’t need to overhaul your entire course. Just rethink how you present and price it. You’ve already done the hard work of creating value—now it’s time to get paid what it’s worth. Start small, test often, and use the right tools to scale your earnings without scaling your workload.