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The tools you actually need: Online courses

Most "best software" lists are written for everyone and therefore for nobody. This one is filtered to Online courses at €400–€3,000 of startup capital and 10–30 hours a week, which changes the answer.

Buy almost none of this in month one

At 92% net margin and 24 weeks to your first euro, every subscription you start today is a cost you carry through the unpaid months. The order that works is: get a customer, then buy the thing that customer made necessary.

Specific to this trade

Tools that exist for this kind of work and would make little sense for another.

Voice, video and images

ElevenLabs

we earn nothing

AI voice generation and dubbing

Visit ElevenLabs →

HeyGen

we earn nothing

AI avatars and video translation

Visit HeyGen →

Synthesia

we earn nothing

AI video from text, corporate style

Visit Synthesia →

Descript

we earn nothing

Video and podcast editing by transcript

Visit Descript →

Running the work

Notion

we earn nothing

Notes, docs, lightweight databases

Visit Notion →

Email and audience

Kit (ex ConvertKit)

we earn nothing

Email list and newsletter platform

Visit Kit (ex ConvertKit) →

MailerLite

we earn nothing

Simple email marketing

Visit MailerLite →

Selling digital products

Teachable

we earn nothing

Host and sell online courses

Visit Teachable →

Thinkific

we earn nothing

Course platform with a free tier

Visit Thinkific →

Kajabi

we earn nothing

All-in-one course, email and site platform

Visit Kajabi →

Podia

we earn nothing

Digital downloads, courses, memberships

Visit Podia →

Skool

we earn nothing

Paid communities with courses attached

Visit Skool →

Circle

we earn nothing

Community platform for creators and brands

Visit Circle →

Whatever you start

Not specific to this trade. These are the ones almost every new business ends up paying for, listed so the total is honest rather than flattering.

Writing and AI

Claude (Anthropic)

we earn nothing

AI assistant, writing, code, analysis

Max users get guest passes and $10 credit per paid referral. That is a referral perk, not income. The Partner Network is enterprise co-selling, not links.

Visit Claude (Anthropic) →

Design

Canva

we earn nothing

Design, templates, brand kits

Visit Canva →

Website and store

Hostinger

we earn nothing

Web hosting and domains

Visit Hostinger →

Email and audience

Brevo

we earn nothing

Email, SMS and CRM for small business

Visit Brevo →

What else you have to buy

Software is the cheap half. These are the things this business cannot start without, and none of them are a subscription:

course platformmicrophonesales page

How this page pays for itself, in full

Right now we earn nothing from any of the 17 tools on this page, and every card says so. As programmes are approved, the ones that pay us will be labelled individually. Claude, ChatGPT, Ahrefs, Midjourney and Google Business Profile have no affiliate programme at all, and they still appear where they belong. If a recommendation only ever pointed at things that paid us, the page would be worth nothing to you.

Before you buy any of it

Check the business clears your target first. Spending on tools for a model that doesn't fit your hours or your capital is the most common way people lose their first thousand euros.

Find what fits my budget → The guide Back to the numbers