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Software · head to head

Google Classroom vs Teachable

Google Classroom logo

Google Classroom

Software

Free, easy-to-use learning management for schools

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Teachable logo

Teachable

Software

Create and sell courses online

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Google Classroom has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Google Classroom no SCORM or xAPI support for tracking learning analytics; Teachable starter plan charges 7.5% transaction fee, significantly higher than other plans
  • They diverge on capability: Google Classroom covers Class management, Teachable covers Course builder.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Google Classroom and Teachable actually diverge.

Attributes where Google Classroom and Teachable differ
AttributeGoogle ClassroomTeachable
Starting priceFree$29/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb
Founded19982014

Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Google Classroom

  • Class management
  • Assignments
  • Gradebook
  • Google Meet
  • Google Drive integration
  • Originality reports
  • Mobile app
  • Parent summaries

Only in Teachable

  • Course builder
  • Quizzes
  • Certificates
  • Coaching products
  • Payment processing
  • Affiliate marketing
  • Email marketing
  • Analytics

Both cover

  • Web support
  • IOS support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Google Classroom

  • Class managementnot Teachable
  • Assignment distributionnot Teachable
  • Gradingnot Teachable
  • Communicationnot Teachable

Teachable

  • Course creationnot Google Classroom
  • Coaching servicesnot Google Classroom
  • Digital productsnot Google Classroom
  • Membership sitesnot Google Classroom

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Google Classroom

  • No SCORM or xAPI support for tracking learning analytics
  • Limited quiz types, relying on Google Forms instead of native assessment tools
  • No rubric-based grading workflow for detailed feedback
  • Minimal built-in analytics and no discussion forums for asynchronous engagement
  • Tightly dependent on Google Workspace ecosystem with limited third-party integrations

Teachable

  • Starter plan charges 7.5% transaction fee, significantly higher than other plans
  • Student limits lift only at $10k+ annual sales for higher plans
  • No free tier, only 7-day trial
  • Custom plan requires sales contact with minimum $30k/year revenue

Pricing, plan by plan

Google Classroom

Free
  • Education FundamentalsFree
    • Classroom, Docs, Gmail, Meet, Forms, Chat
    • 100 TB pooled storage
  • Google Workspace for Education Plus$5/month
    • Advanced features
    • Dedicated support

Teachable

$29/month
  • Starter$39/month
    • 5 products
    • 100 active students
    • 7.5% transaction fee
  • Builder$89/month
    • 10 products
    • 1000 active students
    • 0% transaction fee
  • Growth$189/month
    • 50 products
    • 5000 active students
    • 0% transaction fee
  • Custom$null/month
    • Unlimited products
    • Dedicated success manager
    • Custom pricing

Which should you pick?

Choose Google Classroom if

  • You need class management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want assignments.
Google Classroom review

Choose Teachable if

  • You need course builder.
  • You also want quizzes.
Teachable review

Questions people ask

Is Google Classroom or Teachable better?
Neither clearly leads. Google Classroom starts at Free and Teachable at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Google Classroom or Teachable?
Google Classroom has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Google Classroom and $29/month for Teachable.
Does Google Classroom or Teachable run on more platforms?
Google Classroom runs on Web, iOS, Android. Teachable runs on Web.
Can I use Google Classroom for free?
Yes. Google Classroom has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Teachable starts at $29/month.
What is Google Classroom best used for?
Google Classroom is most often used for class management, assignment distribution, grading, communication. Of those, class management and assignment distribution are not what Teachable is typically brought in for.
What can Google Classroom do that Teachable cannot?
Google Classroom covers Class management, Assignments, Gradebook, Google Meet. Teachable covers Course builder, Quizzes, Certificates, Coaching products. Both handle Web support, IOS support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Google Classroom: How much does Google Classroom cost?

Google Classroom is free with Google Workspace for Education. Advanced AI features via Gemini Pro add-on cost $24 per user per month, and Google Workspace for Education Plus costs $5-$8 per user per month.

Source
Teachable: Does Teachable have a free plan?

Teachable offers a 7-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee, but no permanent free plan. The Starter plan costs $39/month (or $29/month annually).

Source
Google Classroom: What are the limitations of Google Classroom compared to full LMS platforms?

Google Classroom lacks SCORM or xAPI support, has limited quiz types relying on Google Forms, no rubric-based grading workflow, minimal built-in analytics, and no discussion forums for asynchronous student interaction.

Source
Teachable: What are the transaction fees?

Starter plan charges 7.5% transaction fee. Builder, Growth, and Advanced plans charge 0% transaction fees. Additional payment processing fees of 2.9%-4.99% plus per-transaction charges apply depending on payment method.

Source
Google Classroom: Can Google Classroom be customized for advanced course structures?

Google Classroom is not ideal for modular or branching content and offers limited customization compared to full LMS platforms like Moodle or Canvas.

Source
Teachable: What integrations are available?

Teachable integrates with Zapier, Stripe, PayPal, Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, Google Analytics, Calendly, Zoom, and other tools via the App Hub.

Source
Google Classroom: Does Google Classroom integrate with Microsoft 365 or other SIS platforms?

Google Classroom is tightly integrated with Google Workspace and depends on Google Meet. Integration with other systems like Microsoft 365 or specific SIS platforms is limited.

Source
Teachable: How many courses can I create?

Starter plan allows 5 products, Builder allows 10, Growth allows 50, and Advanced allows 100 courses.

Source
Teachable: What is included in certificate features?

Course certificates are available starting on the Growth plan ($139/month annually). Certificates can be customized with branding and are generated automatically when students complete courses.

Source
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Related pages

More on Google Classroom

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