Decision guide · Verified September 26, 2026
Systeme.io Free vs Startup for a Second Course
If your first course is already using the Free plan's single course slot, the second course—not a vague promise of “more features”—is the clearest reason to consider Startup.
Who this page is for
This is for an English-speaking solo creator, coach or consultant who wants one workable place for a funnel, email, checkout and a digital product or course. You already have—or expect to have—one course and want to know whether a second course makes an upgrade necessary.
What Free can do
Systeme.io's current pricing page says the Free plan includes the core tools needed to test a simple offer: sales funnels, email marketing, payment integrations and one online course. It currently lists up to 2,000 contacts, three sales funnels, one blog, one course, one affiliate program and one custom domain, with unlimited email sends.
The actual upgrade trigger
Free allows one course. Startup allows five courses. If your first course occupies the Free slot and you need a genuinely separate second course, Startup is the relevant next plan.
The official pricing page currently lists Startup at $17 per month. Pricing can change, so check the live pricing page before upgrading.
Funnel, email, checkout and course summary
| Need | Free | Startup |
|---|---|---|
| Sales funnel | Core funnel builder; up to 3 funnels listed | Unlimited funnels listed |
| Email marketing with unlimited sends listed | Email marketing with a higher contact limit | |
| Checkout | Supported payment integrations and 0% platform transaction fees listed | Same core checkout category; payment processor fees still apply |
| Courses | 1 course | 5 courses |
| Contacts | Up to 2,000 | Up to 5,000 |
Limitations to check before you commit
- One course on Free is a hard planning constraint if you want separate products.
- “All-in-one” does not mean every specialist feature is equally deep. Test the editor, email workflow, checkout and student experience yourself.
- Payment processor availability depends on your country and chosen processor. Processor fees are separate from Systeme.io's platform fee.
- Moving an established course, email list or funnel later can take time even when migration help exists.
- This page compares the current published plan limits; it does not claim that every paid-plan workflow has been personally tested.
Who should NOT use Systeme.io
- You need advanced course features, assessments, certificates or learning administration that you have not verified in a real account.
- You already have a reliable specialist stack and the cost or risk of migration is greater than the benefit.
- You need a payment processor, integration or regional requirement that Systeme.io does not support for your setup.
- You want maximum design or developer control and are comfortable managing several separate tools.
Simple decision checklist
- Choose Free first if you have one course, fewer than 2,000 contacts and no immediate need for more than three funnels.
- Consider Startup if a real second course is ready to build, or another current Free-plan limit is already blocking you.
- Do not upgrade yet for hypothetical future needs. Validate the editor, email, checkout and first course on Free.
- Choose another platform if a must-have integration, course feature or regional payment requirement fails your test.
Affiliate disclosure: If you open a Systeme.io account through the button below, Jolt Digital may earn a commission if you later make a qualifying purchase, at no extra cost to you. That does not change the recommendation to begin with the free plan and upgrade only when a verified limit matters.
Open a free Systeme.io account firstNo credit card is currently required for the Free plan according to Systeme.io's official pricing page. Verify current terms before signing up.
Source and verification note
Plan limits and the $17 monthly Startup price were checked on the official Systeme.io pricing page on September 26, 2026. Product limits and pricing can change.