Course Creator Stack: Newsletter + Payment + Community

The Complete Course Creator Stack

Newsletter: Build Your Audience First

beehiiv Launch (Free, $0/mo) gives you 2,500 subscribers with unlimited sends, a custom domain, and a built-in website. Scale ($49/mo) unlocks unlimited subscribers, the ad network, and referral program. The ad network can generate revenue that pays for the plan.

Kit Newsletter (Free, $0/mo) supports 10,000 subscribers with unlimited sends. Kit has better automation (even on free) for tagging subscribers by interest. Creator ($39/mo) unlocks advanced automations and integrations. Kit also has built-in commerce for selling digital products.

The decision: beehiiv if you want built-in growth tools (referral program, ad network) and plan to monetize the newsletter itself. Kit if you want better automation and plan to sell courses through email sequences.

Payments: Sell Without Monthly Fees

Gumroad ($0/mo, 10% + $0.50 per sale)is the simplest way to sell a digital product. Set up in 10 minutes, handle global tax compliance, and start selling. The 10% fee is high, but there's zero monthly cost — you only pay when you earn. On a $99 course, Gumroad takes ~$10.40 per sale (10% + $0.50 + payment processing).

Lemon Squeezy ($0/mo, 5% + $0.50 per sale) takes half the percentage of Gumroad. On a $99 course, Lemon Squeezy takes ~$5.45 (5% + $0.50). It also handles global tax compliance as a merchant of record. Better for software and SaaS, but works for courses too. Note: +1.5% on international transactions.

The math: At 100 sales of a $99 course, Gumroad costs ~$1,040 in fees. Lemon Squeezy costs ~$545. That $495 difference pays for itself quickly. Switch to Lemon Squeezy once you validate the course works on Gumroad.

Community: Where Students Connect

Discord Free ($0/mo)gives you unlimited messages, voice/video channels for up to 25 people, and role-based access. Create a private channel for course buyers, a public channel for prospects, and voice channels for live Q&A sessions. The free tier is genuinely unlimited for most community needs.

Website: Your Home Base

Ghost Starter ($18/mo)gives you a professional publishing platform with native memberships. 1,000 members, 1 staff user, custom domain, and newsletter delivery built in. Ghost takes zero cut of your membership revenue (unlike Substack's 10%). Publisher ($35/mo) unlocks unlimited members and paid subscriptions.

Alternative:Skip Ghost and use beehiiv's built-in website on the free plan. It's less customizable but saves $18/mo when starting out. Add Ghost later when you want full control over your brand and SEO.

What to Skip

• Kajabi ($149/mo): All-in-one platform that does everything but charges $1,788/year. Only worth it if you sell 3+ courses and need an integrated LMS. Before that, Gumroad/Lemon Squeezy + a simple PDF or video hosting works fine.
• Teachable ($59/mo): Good LMS but charges monthly fees plus transaction fees on lower plans. Gumroad or Lemon Squeezy are simpler for a first course.
• Circle ($89/mo): Premium community platform. Discord Free handles 90% of community needs at $0. Consider Circle only when you have 500+ paying members.
• Substack: Takes 10% of paid subscription revenue forever. Ghost takes 0%. beehiiv takes 0%. The math is clear.

Common Mistakes Course Creators Make

• Building the course before the audience. Start your newsletter first. Validate demand with a landing page and email signups before creating content. beehiiv or Kit free makes this cost nothing.
• Paying for an LMS before making a single sale. Your first course can be a PDF + a series of videos hosted on Vimeo or even unlisted YouTube videos. Sell via Gumroad. Upgrade to an LMS after 200+ students.
• Choosing Gumroad when Lemon Squeezy is cheaper. Both have $0 monthly fees, but Gumroad's 10% cut vs Lemon Squeezy's 5% adds up fast once you sell consistently.
• Ignoring community as a retention tool. A Discord server where students help each other reduces refund requests and generates testimonials. It costs $0 to set up.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I host video courses on Gumroad?

Gumroad delivers digital files (video, PDF, zip). For a simple course, upload video files directly. For a better student experience, host videos on Vimeo and deliver access via Gumroad. Gumroad is not an LMS — it's a checkout + delivery tool.

When should I upgrade from beehiiv free to Scale?

When you exceed 2,500 subscribers or want the ad network and referral program. beehiiv Scale ($49/mo) pays for itself if Boost ads generate even $50/mo in revenue.

Is Lemon Squeezy safe after the Stripe acquisition?

Stripe acquired Lemon Squeezy in 2024. This generally signals stability, not risk. Stripe has no incentive to shut down a product that feeds revenue into Stripe's payment rails.

Do I need Ghost if I use beehiiv?

Not at first. beehiiv includes a basic website. Add Ghost ($18/mo) when you want a professional blog with SEO control, custom themes, and native memberships.