Looking for a Podia Alternative? Here's Why We Built BTS (2026)

If you're reading this, you're probably frustrated. You signed up for Podia hoping it would be the one platform to run your creator business. And it probably worked—for a while. But now you're hitting walls. Features feel limited. The design feels dated. And you're asking the question every serious creator eventually asks: Is there something better?

We built BTS because we believe creators deserve to own what they build. Not rent it. Not piece it together from a dozen different tools. Actually own it—in one place, with infrastructure designed to scale with your audience.

Let's be upfront: we're not writing a fake "unbiased comparison." We are the alternative we're recommending. BTS is where creators turn content and community into real businesses. We've paid out over $1.4 million to creators, we have 1,600+ creators building on our platform, and we raised at a $15 million valuation because investors believe in what we're building.

But this article isn't a sales pitch. It's an honest look at why creators leave Podia, what we built instead, and whether BTS is actually right for you. Because here's the truth: we're not for everyone. And that's by design.

Why Creators Leave Podia

From our experience: "We've talked to hundreds of creators who've made the switch from Podia. The patterns are consistent—and they're not always about what Podia does wrong."

Podia is a solid platform. It's affordable, it's relatively easy to use, and it lets you sell courses, digital downloads, and memberships in one place. For many creators starting out, it's a reasonable choice.

But here's what we hear over and over:

1. Feature Limitations Start to Bite

Podia's Mover plan ($39/month) comes with a 5% transaction fee and no affiliate marketing. Their Shaker plan ($89/month) removes the fee and adds affiliates, but even then, you're working within a constrained feature set. No native mobile app. Email marketing costs extra beyond 100 subscribers. Customization options feel locked down.

What we've learned: "Creators don't notice limitations until they're growing. Then every missing feature feels like a wall."

2. The Design Feels Dated

This matters more than most platforms admit. Your creator business is your brand. When your membership site looks like a 2015 course portal, it reflects on you. Podia's design is functional, but it's not modern. It doesn't feel like a brand extension—it feels like a platform.

3. The Fragmentation Problem

Here's the real issue, and it's not unique to Podia: the creator economy is fragmented. Podia handles some things. But you still need separate tools for advanced community features, coaching management, better analytics, and modern engagement. You end up stitching together five or six platforms, none of which talk to each other, none of which feel like yours.

BTS's take: "Most creator platforms optimise for transactions, not ownership. You're building your business on rented land."

4. Ownership Feels Tenuous

When your entire business runs on someone else's platform, you're dependent on their decisions. Their feature roadmap. Their pricing changes. Their design choices. Podia is better than most about this, but the fundamental dynamic doesn't change.

Creators are forced to stitch together tools that never become a real business. That's the problem we set out to solve.

What We Built Instead

BTS is the creator business infrastructure. Not a course platform. Not a community tool. Not a monetisation widget. Infrastructure.

Here's what that means in practice:

One Place to Build Something You Own

Everything runs behind the scenes in one space. Subscriptions, one-time purchases, pay-per-view content, coaching, community, tips, custom requests—all in one place. Your audience doesn't bounce between platforms. Your data doesn't live in six different dashboards. You have one business, and it feels like one business.

Our philosophy: We focus on structure and momentum, not algorithms. We're not trying to be a social network. We're not a marketplace. We don't have a feed competing for your audience's attention. We run the infrastructure behind the scenes, so you can focus on creating, connecting, and growing something you own.

Modern, Brand-Forward Design

Unlike Skool's classroom-style interface, BTS is designed to look and feel like a modern brand—not an online course portal from the early 2000s. Your creator business should look like your brand, not ours. Every touchpoint is designed to feel premium, current, and professional.

Simple to Start, Flexible to Scale

We made different choices than Podia—consciously. Getting started takes a day, not a week. But as you grow, you don't hit artificial walls. The platform scales with you. Advanced features unlock as you need them. You're never forced to migrate to a "higher tier" just to access basic functionality.

The Tradeoffs We Made

Let's be honest about what we're not:

• We're not a marketplace. We don't find customers for you. You bring your audience; we help you turn them into a real business.
• We're not a social network. No feeds, no algorithms competing for attention.
• We're not for hobbyists. If you're experimenting casually, we're probably not the right fit.

Our recommendation: "If a creator has an existing audience but no structure, BTS is the answer. If you're still building your first 1,000 followers, focus on audience-building first."

BTS vs Podia: Honest Comparison

Let's put the two platforms side by side. No spin—just the facts as we see them.

What we'll admit: Podia has more established momentum and name recognition. They've been around longer. If you want the safe, established choice, Podia is defensible.

Where we're confident: Design, getting started experience, extensibility, and support. We built BTS because we genuinely believe creator businesses deserve better infrastructure.

How BTS Approaches Creator Success

Our methodology has helped creators build sustainable businesses, not just make quick sales.

Here's how we think about creator business development:

The BTS Methodology: Structure Before Scale

1. Consolidate your business — Stop stitching together six platforms. Put everything in one place where you can actually see what's working.
2. Design for ownership — Your members should feel like they're joining your world, not visiting a platform. Brand every touchpoint.
3. Create recurring momentum — Subscriptions, community engagement, ongoing content. Build something that compounds, not one-off transactions.
4. Measure what matters — Not vanity metrics. Revenue per member. Engagement depth. Retention. The numbers that actually indicate business health.
5. Scale when ready — Don't scale complexity before you've nailed the core experience. We help you know when you're ready.

This methodology reflects how we built BTS itself. We're not adding features to check boxes. We're building infrastructure that helps creators build real businesses.

Is BTS Right for You?

Let's be honest about who we're for—and who we're not.

You're Probably a Great Fit If:

• You have an existing audience (10,000+ for education creators, 100,000+ for entertainment creators)
• You have a clear value-niche (You know what you teach, share, or offer)
• You have a digital product offering (Content, courses, coaching, community, or some combination)
• You want to own your business, not rent it (You're thinking long-term, not just next month's revenue)
• Design and brand experience matter to you (Your creator business is an extension of your personal brand)

From our experience: "The most successful BTS creators come with an existing audience and a clear idea of what they want to offer. We accelerate their business; we don't build their audience."

Podia Might Actually Be Better If:

• You're just starting out with minimal audience and need the cheapest possible entry point
• You only sell simple digital downloads and don't need community or membership features
• You prefer an established, conservative choice over a newer platform
• You don't care about design differentiation and just need functional

We're not for everyone, and that's okay. Podia serves a different creator at a different stage. We built BTS for creators who are ready to build something real.

How to Decide

Ask yourself these questions:

1. Do I have an audience waiting for what I want to offer?
2. Am I building something I want to run for years, not months?
3. Does my brand experience matter to my audience?
4. Am I willing to invest in infrastructure that scales with me?

If you answered yes to most of these, you're likely a fit. If not, there's no shame in starting with something simpler and coming back when you're ready.

Making the Switch from Podia

If you're ready to make the move, here's what to expect:

Migration Process Overview

Switching platforms is never completely painless. But we've designed BTS to make it as smooth as possible:

What transfers easily:

• Your content (courses, downloads, materials)
• Your member list and email contacts
• Your pricing and product structures
• Your custom domain (just point it to BTS)

What you'll need to recreate:

• Page designs and layouts (but you'll want to upgrade these anyway)
• Automations and email sequences
• Some integrations depending on what you use

Timeline Expectations

Most creators complete migration in 1-3 days:

• Day 1: Set up your BTS space, import content, configure products
• Day 2: Design and customize your brand experience
• Day 3: Migrate members and go live

We don't lock you into a lengthy onboarding process. Our philosophy is to get you earning as quickly as possible.

How We Help

Migration isn't just on you. Our creator success team helps with:

• Planning your migration — We'll map out what needs to move and when
• Member communication — Templates and best practices for telling your audience about the switch
• Technical support — Real humans available when things get tricky
• Launch optimization — Making sure your new BTS space is set up for success

Our data shows: Creators who work with our team during migration see faster time-to-revenue and higher member retention through the transition.

Monetisation on BTS: The Full Picture

Let's talk money—because that's why you're building a business.

What We Support

Pricing and Fees

Our fee structure is transparent:

• Starter (Free): 10% platform fee — launch and start earning with zero upfront cost
• Pro ($149/month): 3.5% + 30¢ per transaction — for serious creators ready to scale

Compare this to Podia:

• Podia Mover: $39/month + 5% fee
• Podia Shaker: $89/month + 0% fee

At lower volumes, Podia's sticker price looks better. At higher volumes, our Pro plan often makes more sense because of the lower percentage fee. Run the math for your specific situation.

Payouts

We payout creators within 1-5 days globally, with same-day payouts available in the US. We operate everywhere except Africa, Spain, Venezuela, North Korea, Iran, and Russia.

Get Started Free

Here's the thing: you don't have to commit to find out if BTS works for you.

Our Starter plan is completely free. No credit card required. No trial period. Just a 10% fee on what you actually earn.

What You Can Accomplish on Free:

• Launch your creator business
• Set up subscriptions, products, and community
• Accept payments and start earning
• Build and design your space
• Engage your audience

You can run a real business on Starter. Many creators do. When you're ready for lower fees and advanced features, Pro is there. But you're never forced to upgrade before you're ready.

No Risk to Try

This is important: you're not signing up for a trial that converts to a paid plan. You're signing up for a free plan that stays free as long as you want it. We only make money when you make money.

That's how we believe creator platforms should work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: How much does BTS cost?

BTS offers a free Starter plan to get started, with a 10% platform fee on earnings. Our Pro plan is $149/month with a 3.5% + 30¢ transaction fee, designed for serious creators ready to scale. Check our pricing page for the full breakdown.

Q2: Is BTS free to use?

Yes! Our Starter plan is completely free with no trial period or credit card required. You pay a 10% fee on what you earn—so we only make money when you do. Upgrade to Pro when you need lower fees and advanced features.

Q3: What makes BTS different from other creator platforms?

BTS is creator business infrastructure, not just a monetisation tool. We focus on ownership, modern design, and having everything in one place. We're not a social network competing for your audience's attention, and we're not a marketplace trying to find customers for you. We run the infrastructure behind the scenes so you can focus on building something you own.

Q4: Can I migrate my existing members to BTS?

Absolutely. We help creators migrate from platforms like Podia, Patreon, Teachable, and others regularly. Your members can transfer seamlessly, and our creator success team supports you through the process. Most migrations complete in 1-3 days.

Q5: 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. You can have a fully functional creator business running before the end of day one.

Q6: Does BTS take a percentage of my earnings?

Yes, transparently. Starter takes 10%, Pro takes 3.5% + 30¢ per transaction. There are no hidden fees. We make money when you make money, which aligns our incentives with your success.

Q7: What kind of support does BTS offer?

We provide hands-on creator success support—real humans who understand your business, not just a ticket system. Our team helps with migration, launch optimization, and ongoing strategy. We're invested in your success because your success is our success.

Q8: Can I use my own domain with BTS?

Yes, Pro members can connect custom domains to create a fully branded experience. Your creator business should look like yours, not ours. Starter members use a BTS subdomain while getting started.

Q9: Is BTS better than Podia?

It depends on your needs and stage. We built BTS for creators with existing audiences who want to own their business infrastructure and care about modern design. Podia works well for creators just starting out who need the simplest possible entry point. Be honest about where you are—both are legitimate choices.

Q10: Can I use both BTS and Podia?

Some creators do run multiple platforms during a transition period. But most find BTS handles everything they need in one place, which is kind of the point. We built BTS so you wouldn't need to stitch together multiple tools.

Q11: What's the difference between BTS and Skool?

Unlike Skool's classroom-style interface, BTS is designed to look and feel like a modern brand—not an online course portal. Skool focuses heavily on the community gamification model. We focus on giving you one place to build a complete creator business with your brand front and center.

Q12: How does BTS compare to Patreon?

Patreon monetises content. BTS helps creators build a real business. Patreon is great for tip-jar style support. BTS is infrastructure for creators who want to build something they own with structure and scale.

Q13: Is there a mobile app?

Yes. Unlike Podia (which has no native app), BTS provides a modern mobile experience for your community and members. Mobile engagement is increasingly essential for creator businesses, and we've built for that reality.

Q14: What types of creators succeed on BTS?

Education-focused creators in clear niches with existing audiences of 10,000+ do exceptionally well. We're also strong with fitness, business, and entrepreneurship niches. Entertainment creators with 100,000+ audiences building behind-the-scenes access also thrive. The common thread: they have an audience and want to build something real.

Q15: What if I'm not ready for BTS yet?

That's completely fine. If you're still building your first 1,000 followers or experimenting with your niche, focus on audience-building first. BTS will be here when you're ready. We'd rather you succeed on another platform now and come to us when the timing is right than struggle because you arrived too early.

Q16: Who are some notable creators on BTS?

We have amazing creators like Nick Bell (our ambassador), Etienne Steven, George Mirosevich, Finlay Noorlander, Cassie Leong, and Tom Noske building on BTS. As George put it: "I was already sharing a lot online... BTS just helped me turn it into something much more tangible."

Q17: What payment methods do you support?

We support all major payment methods globally, with payouts in 1-5 days (same-day in the US). Creator-controlled pricing, flexible billing options, and global coverage make it easy to monetise your audience wherever they are.

Q18: Does BTS work for coaching businesses?

Yes. Coaching products are fully supported with booking, sessions, and integrated payment. Many of our most successful creators combine coaching with community and content—all in one place, all under their brand.

Key Takeaways

• BTS is creator business infrastructure—not just another monetisation tool or course platform
• We built BTS for creators who want to own what they build—one place for everything, designed to scale
• Podia works for some creators—especially those just starting with simple needs and tight budgets
• BTS is designed for creators with existing audiences who are ready to build something real and care about brand experience
• You can start free and only pay a percentage of what you earn—no risk to try

If a creator has an audience but no structure, BTS is the answer.

About the Author

The BTS Team is the Product Team at BTS, where we build creator business infrastructure. We've helped over 1,600 creators turn content and community into real businesses, paying out more than $1.4 million to date. Everything we write comes from direct experience building the platform and working with creators who use it every day.

We built BTS because we believe the creator economy deserves better infrastructure. Not more tools. Not more fragmentation. Infrastructure that lets creators own what they build.

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

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