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LMS · head to head

Podia vs TalentLMS

Podia logo

Podia

LMS

Sell online courses, memberships, and digital downloads

From
$42/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
TalentLMS logo

TalentLMS

LMS

Cloud LMS built for training success

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only TalentLMS has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Podia mover tier charges 5% transaction fees on all sales; higher tiers offer fee-free processing; TalentLMS the free plan is capped at 5 users and 10 courses
  • They diverge on capability: Podia covers Course hosting, TalentLMS covers Course creation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Podia and TalentLMS actually diverge.

Attributes where Podia and TalentLMS differ
AttributePodiaTalentLMS
Starting price$42/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, IOS, Android
Founded20142012

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

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 Podia

  • Course hosting
  • Digital downloads
  • Memberships
  • Email marketing
  • Webinars
  • Community
  • Affiliate marketing
  • Custom website

Only in TalentLMS

  • Course creation
  • Gamification
  • Mobile learning
  • Certifications
  • Reporting
  • Video conferencing
  • E-commerce
  • SCORM support

Both cover

  • Zapier
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Podia

  • Content creators selling digital courses with email marketing integrationnot TalentLMS
  • Coaching businesses managing memberships and community spacesnot TalentLMS
  • Newsletter publishers monetising subscriber base with events and digital productsnot TalentLMS

TalentLMS

  • Delivering employee onboarding and compliance trainingnot Podia
  • Running separate branded training portals for customers or partnersnot Podia
  • Authoring courses and tracking completion across teamsnot Podia

Where each one falls short

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

Podia

  • Mover tier charges 5% transaction fees on all sales; higher tiers offer fee-free processing
  • Mover plan capped at 50 products maximum; Shaker at 150 products; only Earthquaker offers unlimited
  • Video storage limited by plan: 500 videos (Mover), 1,000 (Shaker), unlimited (Earthquaker)
  • Email subscriber limits tiered: 100 (Mover), 500 (Shaker), 1,000 (Earthquaker); overage model not stated
  • Annual billing required for all plans with 72-hour refund window; partial refunds excluded

TalentLMS

  • The free plan is capped at 5 users and 10 courses
  • Custom domain and single sign on are excluded from the free plan and start at the Core tier
  • Core at $119 per month allows only 1 branch portal; Grow allows 3 and Pro allows 15
  • Learning paths are capped at 5 on Grow and are unlimited only from Pro upward
  • AI credits on Core are a one time allocation of 5,000 rather than a monthly refill
  • Enterprise pricing is custom with no published rate and targets 1,000+ users
  • The advertised annual rates require paying for a year up front

Pricing, plan by plan

Podia

$42/month
  • Mover$42/month
    • Up to 100 email subscribers
    • 5% transaction fees
    • 50 products
  • Shaker$84/month
    • Up to 500 email subscribers
    • No Podia fees
    • 150 products
  • Earthquaker$150/month
    • Up to 1,000 email subscribers
    • No Podia fees
    • Unlimited products

TalentLMS

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 5 users
    • Unlimited email support
    • Up to 10 courses
  • Core$119/month
    • 1-40 users
    • 1 branch
    • Unlimited courses
  • Grow$229/month
    • 1-70 users
    • 3 branches
    • Starter onboarding
  • Pro$449/month
    • 1-100 users
    • 15 branches
    • Premium AI credits

Which should you pick?

Choose Podia if

  • You need course hosting.
  • You also want digital downloads.
Podia review

Choose TalentLMS if

  • You need course creation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want gamification.
TalentLMS review

Questions people ask

Is Podia or TalentLMS better?
Neither clearly leads. Podia starts at $42/month and TalentLMS at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Podia or TalentLMS?
TalentLMS has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $42/month for Podia and Free for TalentLMS.
Does Podia or TalentLMS run on more platforms?
Podia runs on Web. TalentLMS runs on Web, IOS, Android.
Can I use TalentLMS for free?
Yes. TalentLMS has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Podia starts at $42/month.
What is Podia best used for?
Podia is most often used for content creators selling digital courses with email marketing integration, coaching businesses managing memberships and community spaces, newsletter publishers monetising subscriber base with events and digital products. Of those, content creators selling digital courses with email marketing integration and coaching businesses managing memberships and community spaces are not what TalentLMS is typically brought in for.
What can Podia do that TalentLMS cannot?
Podia covers Course hosting, Digital downloads, Memberships, Email marketing. TalentLMS covers Course creation, Gamification, Mobile learning, Certifications. Both handle Zapier, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Podia: How much does Podia cost?

Podia offers three plans: Mover at $42/month, Shaker at $84/month, and Earthquaker at $150/month. All plans include a 30-day free trial and can be billed monthly or annually with cost savings on annual billing.

Source
TalentLMS: What is the minimum starting price for TalentLMS?

The Core plan starts at $119 per month for 1-40 users. A free plan is available for up to 5 users with basic features.

Source
Podia: Does Podia charge transaction fees?

Yes, the Mover plan charges 5% Podia transaction fees. Higher tiers (Shaker and Earthquaker) include no Podia fees. However, all plans are subject to payment processor fees of 2.9% + 30 cents per transaction.

Source
TalentLMS: Is there a free version of TalentLMS?

Yes, TalentLMS offers a free plan supporting up to 5 users, up to 10 courses, unlimited email support, and access to test AI features.

Source
Podia: Is there a free trial for Podia?

Yes, Podia offers a 30-day free trial. No credit card is required to start the trial, allowing you to explore all features before deciding on a plan.

Source
TalentLMS: Do paid plans include API access?

API access is included in all paid plans starting from the Core tier ($119/month).

Source
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