Lights background
← Back to Blogs
Timothy Laycock • FounderJanuary 28, 202612 min read
Comparison

BTS Course Builder: Everything You Need to Know

Summary

The BTS Course Builder exists because creators need a simple, integrated solution for course creation. It eliminates the complexities of managing multiple platforms and fosters ownership of content. By providing a cohesive infrastructure, it empowers creators to build structured...

The BTS Course Builder is our drag-and-drop tool that lets creators build professional, structured courses inside their BTS space—no technical skills required. At BTS, we've designed Course Builder to help creators package their expertise into something they actually own, not just another piece of content scattered across the internet.

If you've ever wanted to turn your knowledge into a course but felt overwhelmed by enterprise software or frustrated by platforms that look like they were built in 2005, you're in the right place. We built Course Builder because creators deserve better infrastructure—and that starts with making course creation simple, fast, and beautiful.

What Is Course Builder?

Course Builder is BTS's native tool for creating structured, professional courses inside your creator business. It's not a standalone course platform. It's part of the infrastructure we've built so everything runs behind the scenes in one space.

Here's what that means in practice: you can create courses that live alongside your community, your paid content, and your other offerings—all under one roof. No integrations to manage. No separate logins for your members. No stitching together tools that were never designed to work together.

From our experience: "We've seen creators waste months trying to connect their course platform to their community software to their payment processor. Course Builder eliminates that entirely."

Course Builder handles:

  • Module and lesson organisation – Structure your content however makes sense for your audience
  • Multiple content formats – Video, text, downloads, embeds, quizzes
  • Progress tracking – Members see where they are; you see who's engaged
  • Flexible access controls – Free previews, paid access, or bundled with memberships
  • Mobile-first design – Because your members aren't sitting at desktops all day

The key difference? This isn't just a course tool bolted onto a payment system. It's part of your creator business infrastructure. Your courses live in the same place as everything else you're building.

Why We Built Course Builder

The creator economy is fragmented. We say that a lot because it's the core problem we're solving at BTS.

Think about what most creators go through when they want to launch a course:

  1. Sign up for a course platform (Teachable, Thinkific, Kajabi—pick your poison)
  2. Sign up for a separate community platform if they want discussion
  3. Connect a payment processor
  4. Figure out how to get members from one place to another
  5. Manage multiple dashboards, multiple support tickets, multiple bills

Most creator platforms optimise for transactions, not ownership. They want you locked into their ecosystem, paying for features you'll use once, and dealing with interfaces designed for corporations, not creators.

We built Course Builder because we believe creators shouldn't need an MBA to launch educational content. And they definitely shouldn't need to stitch together five different tools that never become a real business.

What we've learned: "The most successful creator businesses have structure. They're not just posting content and hoping for tips. They're building something durable—and courses are often the backbone of that structure."

Course Builder exists because:

  • Creators asked for it. Our community told us they wanted courses that didn't require leaving their BTS space.
  • Integration hell is real. Every time you add a tool, you add friction—for you and your members.
  • Design matters. Course platforms shouldn't look like corporate training software.
  • Ownership matters more. Your course content, your members, your business. Period.

BTS is where creators turn content and community into real businesses. Course Builder is how we make that possible for education-focused creators.

How Course Builder Works

Let's get practical. Here's exactly how Course Builder works, from empty space to launched course.

Step 1: Create Your Course Structure

When you open Course Builder, you start with a blank canvas. Add modules (think of these as chapters) and lessons within each module. Drag and drop to reorder. Name things whatever makes sense for your content.

Our recommendation: "Based on working with 1,600+ creators, we suggest starting with 3-5 modules for your first course. You can always expand later, but launching quickly beats launching perfectly."

Step 2: Add Your Content

Each lesson can contain:

Content TypeBest ForNotes
VideoCore teaching contentUpload directly or embed from YouTube/Vimeo
TextWritten guides, contextRich text editor with formatting
DownloadsTemplates, worksheets, resourcesPDFs, spreadsheets, any file type
EmbedsExternal tools, Notion pages, FigmaAnything with an embed code
QuizzesKnowledge checks, engagementMultiple choice, true/false

You don't need to use all of these. Some of our most successful creators run text-only courses. Others are 100% video. Course Builder adapts to your teaching style.

Step 3: Set Your Access Rules

This is where it gets powerful. For each course, you decide:

  • Who can access it – Free for everyone? Paid members only? Specific membership tiers?
  • Pricing model – One-time purchase, included with subscription, or bundled with other offerings
  • Preview content – Let potential members sample lessons before buying

BTS's take: "We think creators should be able to experiment with pricing without rebuilding their entire course. That's why access rules are flexible—you can change them anytime."

Step 4: Design Your Course Page

Your course gets its own page within your BTS space. Customise:

  • Course title and description
  • Cover image
  • Module visibility (show the full curriculum or keep it mysterious)
  • Call-to-action buttons

Everything matches your brand. No generic templates that look like everyone else's course.

Step 5: Launch and Track

Hit publish, and your course is live. From your dashboard, you can see:

  • Total enrolments
  • Completion rates by lesson
  • Member progress
  • Revenue generated

From our experience: "Completion data is gold. We've seen creators use it to identify where members drop off, then improve those specific lessons. Small tweaks lead to massive improvements in outcomes."

The Technical Stuff (For Those Who Care)

  • Hosting: We handle it. Video, files, everything.
  • Mobile experience: Fully responsive. Members can learn from their phones.
  • Speed: Course pages load fast because we built the infrastructure to make them fast.
  • Updates: Edit any lesson anytime. Changes go live immediately.

Course Builder in Action: Use Cases

Theory is great. Here's how real creators use Course Builder.

Use Case 1: The Flagship Course

This is the classic model. You have deep expertise in one area—fitness, business, design, whatever—and you want to package it into a comprehensive learning experience.

How it works on BTS:

  • Course Builder houses your 20-30 lesson curriculum
  • Members pay once or access through subscription
  • Community features let students discuss and ask questions
  • Everything lives in one place under your brand

Our data shows: "Creators who combine courses with community see 40% higher retention than courses alone."

Use Case 2: The Membership Add-On

You already run a subscription community. Courses become bonus content that increases the value of membership.

How it works on BTS:

  • Drip courses to members over time
  • Use courses for onboarding new subscribers
  • Gate advanced courses for higher-tier members

What we've learned: "Courses give members a reason to stay subscribed beyond just community access. They're consuming something structured, not just scrolling."

Use Case 3: The Lead Magnet Course

Free courses build your email list and warm up potential customers.

How it works on BTS:

  • Create a free mini-course (3-5 lessons)
  • Require email signup to access
  • Upsell to paid offerings after they complete it

Use Case 4: The Coaching Supplement

You offer 1:1 coaching but want to reduce repetitive explanations.

How it works on BTS:

  • Build courses covering foundational material
  • Send clients through the course before sessions
  • Focus live time on advanced questions

Our recommendation: "Coaches who use courses for foundations report saving 5-10 hours per week on repetitive teaching."

Course Builder vs Competitors

We're not going to pretend competitors don't exist. Here's how Course Builder compares—honestly.

PlatformStrengthTrade-offOur Take
TeachableEstablished, feature-richExpensive, feels enterprise-yGreat if you only need courses
ThinkificFlexible, strong analyticsNo native communityRequires integrations for full business
KajabiAll-in-one marketingComplex, high learning curveBuilt for marketers, not creators
SkoolCommunity + courses combinedDated design, limited customisationUnlike Skool's classroom-style interface, BTS is designed to look and feel like a modern brand
WhopPowerful, lots of featuresCan be overwhelmingWhop is powerful but complex; BTS is designed for creators who want simplicity and momentum

Where Course Builder wins:

  • Design: Your courses look modern, not like 2010 corporate training
  • Integration: Courses live with your community, content, and payments—no stitching
  • Speed: Launch in hours, not weeks
  • Support: Real humans who get creator businesses

Where others might win:

  • Feature depth: Kajabi has more marketing automation. Teachable has more quiz types.
  • Established creators: Some platforms have bigger names (for now).

BTS's take: "We focus on structure and momentum, not algorithms. If you want a bloated feature list you'll never use, there are options. If you want to launch a course that's part of a real business, Course Builder is built for that."

Getting Started with Course Builder

Ready to build? Here's the path from zero to launched course.

Step 1: Plan Your Curriculum (30 minutes)

Before you touch Course Builder, outline:

  • What transformation does your course deliver?
  • What are the 3-5 main modules?
  • What's the first lesson someone should complete?

Don't overthink this. You can restructure later.

Step 2: Create Your Course in BTS (1-2 hours)

  • Log into your BTS space (or create one—it's free to start)
  • Navigate to Course Builder
  • Add your modules and lessons
  • Upload or create your content

Pro tip: Start with text lessons if you don't have video ready. You can add video later without restructuring anything.

Step 3: Set Pricing and Access (15 minutes)

Decide:

  • Free or paid?
  • Standalone purchase or bundled with membership?
  • Any preview lessons?

Step 4: Launch (5 minutes)

Hit publish. Share with your audience. Start getting feedback.

Our methodology has helped creators go from idea to launched course in under a week. Some do it in a day. The infrastructure is built for speed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does BTS cost?

BTS offers a free Starter plan to get started. Our Pro plan is competitively priced for serious creators—$149/month with lower transaction fees (3.5% + 30¢ vs 10% on Starter). Check our pricing page for current rates and to see which plan fits your stage.

Is BTS free to use?

Yes! We offer a free Starter plan that lets you launch and start earning immediately. Course Builder is included. Upgrade to Pro when you need custom domains, lower fees, and advanced features.

What makes BTS different from other creator platforms?

We focus on creator business infrastructure, not just monetisation. BTS is not a social network or a marketplace—it's one place to build something you own. Everything runs behind the scenes in one space, so you can focus on creating.

Can I migrate my existing members to BTS?

Absolutely. We help creators migrate from platforms like Patreon, Teachable, and others. Your members can transfer seamlessly, and we'll help you communicate the transition. Many of our 1,600+ creators started somewhere else.

How long does it take to set up BTS?

Most creators launch within a day. Our onboarding is designed to get you earning quickly, not buried in settings. Course Builder specifically can have your first course live in hours, not weeks.

Does BTS take a percentage of my earnings?

Our fee structure is transparent: Starter plan takes 10%, Pro plan takes 3.5% + 30¢ per transaction. No hidden fees, no surprise charges. We've paid out over $1.4 million to creators so far.

What kind of support does BTS offer?

We provide hands-on creator success support. Real humans who understand your business, not just ticket systems. This is one of our biggest differentiators—we actually care about your success, not just your subscription.

Can I use my own domain with BTS?

Yes, Pro members can connect custom domains to create a fully branded experience. Your audience sees yourbrand.com, not a BTS subdomain.

What content formats does Course Builder support?

Video (uploaded or embedded), text, downloadable files, embeds from external tools, and quizzes. You can mix and match within lessons or stick to one format—whatever works for your teaching style.

Can I drip content over time?

Yes. You can schedule lessons to unlock on specific dates or based on member join date. Great for preventing overwhelm and keeping members engaged over time.

Do members need to create a BTS account?

Members create an account to access your courses, but it's your branded space—not a generic BTS experience. They're joining your community, not a platform.

Can I offer certificates of completion?

Not natively yet, but it's on our roadmap. For now, creators use downloadable certificates as lesson attachments.

How do payments work?

BTS handles payments through Stripe. Payouts are fast—1-5 days globally, same-day in the US. You set your prices; we collect payment and send your earnings.

Can I bundle courses with other offerings?

Absolutely. This is where BTS shines. Bundle courses with community access, digital downloads, coaching sessions—whatever makes sense for your business. One membership can include everything.

What if I need help building my course?

Our support team is here to help. We've seen what works (and what doesn't) across 1,600+ creators. Ask us anything—we're invested in your success.

Key Takeaways

  • Course Builder is built into BTS—no integrations, no separate tools, no friction
  • Launch fast: Most creators go live in hours, not weeks
  • Design matters: Your courses look modern and match your brand
  • Ownership matters more: Your content, your members, your business
  • Start free: Starter plan includes Course Builder at no cost

If a creator has an audience but no structure, BTS is the answer. Course Builder is how you turn expertise into something durable.

About the Author

BTS Product Team is the engineering and product group at BTS, building creator business infrastructure. We've helped 1,600+ creators package their expertise into courses, communities, and digital products—paying out over $1.4 million along the way. We build what creators actually need, not what looks good in a feature comparison.

This article reflects BTS's methodology and experience as of January 2026.

Related Articles

  • The Ultimate Guide to Online Course Creation (2026)
  • BTS Landing Pages: Everything You Need to Know
  • BTS Community Spaces: Everything You Need to Know
  • BTS Membership Tiers: Everything You Need to Know
  • BTS Integrations: Everything You Need to Know
Topics:course creationcreator economyeducational toolsuser experiencecontent management

Frequently Asked Questions

What is BTS Course Builder?

BTS Course Builder is a drag-and-drop tool designed for creators to build professional, structured courses within their BTS space without needing technical skills. It allows creators to package their expertise into ownership-driven courses rather than scattered content.

How does Course Builder simplify course creation for creators?

Course Builder eliminates the need for multiple platforms by integrating course creation, community interaction, and payment processing all in one space. This means no more managing separate logins or tools, making the process simpler and faster for creators.

What features does Course Builder offer?

Course Builder provides various features including module and lesson organization, support for multiple content formats like video and quizzes, progress tracking for members, and flexible access controls. Additionally, it is designed with a mobile-first approach to accommodate users on the go.

Why was Course Builder developed?

Course Builder was developed to address the fragmentation in the creator economy, where creators often struggle with multiple platforms and tools. BTS aimed to create a unified solution that empowers creators to launch educational content without the complexity of managing various systems.

How does Course Builder ensure ownership for creators?

Course Builder emphasizes ownership by allowing creators to keep their course content, members, and overall business within their BTS space. This approach prioritizes creators' control over their educational offerings, contrasting with other platforms that may lock them into their ecosystems.

Sources

  • Behind The Scenes
BTS Logo
AppleDownload App
BTS Logo
  • Careers
AppleDownload App

Behind the scenes, beyond the feed.

CareersAboutBTS for CreatorsContactNewsBlogsLegalsGuidelines

© 2026 BTS. All rights reserved.

XXFacebookInstagram