Best For | Indian creators needing affordable, local payment options and branded mobile apps. | Global creators wanting a simple, all-in-one platform for courses and memberships. |
Price | ~$24/month | $33/month |
Features | Indian payment gateways | Simple course creation |
Pros | Affordable pricing plans | Easy to use |
Cons | Less global focus | Higher plan costs |
Choosing the right online course platform can make or break your digital education business. With so many tools available, creators often get stuck between two popular names: Spayee vs Podia.
But which one is better for you? Both platforms have evolved significantly over the past few years. Spayee, now operating under Graphy (by Unacademy), has expanded its India-first features, payment gateways, and monetization tools. On the other hand, Podia has repositioned itself as a creator-friendly platform for online courses, memberships, and communities.
In this blog, we’ll compare Spayee and Podia step by step. We’ll look at their prices, features, support, and more—all in simple English that’s easy to understand.
Whether you’re an Indian creator or targeting a global audience, we’ve got you covered. By the end, you’ll know exactly which platform fits your needs. Let’s get started!
Bottom Line Up Front: If you are looking to sell to an Indian audience, then Spayee is an obvious choice for you. From Indian payment gateway, membership sites, & multi-layer security to branded mobile apps, Spayee has it all. At the same price, Spayee provides quite comprehensive features as Podia.
Why Online Courses Are a Great Idea
Before we jump into the comparison, let’s talk about why online courses are so awesome:
- Sell Forever: Once you create your course, you can sell it again and again without extra work. It’s like a gift that keeps on giving!
- More Money in Your Pocket: Unlike selling physical items, there are no shipping or restocking costs. Most of what you earn stays with you.
- Teach What You Love: Got a passion for photography or baking? There’s an audience out there waiting to learn from you.
But here’s the thing: To make your course a hit, you need a platform that works for you. It should be easy to use, affordable, and packed with the tools you need. That’s where Spayee and Podia come in. They’re both great, but they’re built for different kinds of creators.
Let’s see what they’re all about.
Meet Spayee and Podia
First, let’s get to know these two platforms.
What is Spayee?
Spayee is an Indian platform that’s all about helping creators teach online. In 2021, it was bought by Unacademy, a big education company, and now it’s called Graphy.
Spayee focuses on the Indian market with features like Indian payment options (think PayTm or Razorpay) and even your own branded mobile app. It’s perfect if you’re an Indian teacher or if your students are mostly in India.
What is Podia?
Podia started in 2014 and is a global platform loved for being simple. It’s an all-in-one tool where you can sell courses, memberships, and digital products—like eBooks or templates.
Podia’s design is clean and easy, so you don’t need to be a tech expert to use it. It’s a top pick for creators who want to keep things straightforward and sell worldwide.
Pricing: How Much Will It Cost You?
Money matters, right? Let’s break down what Spayee and Podia charge in 2025. We’ll keep it clear and simple.
Spayee (Now Graphy) Pricing
Spayee has been rebranded as Graphy by Unacademy, but its pricing structure still caters to Indian educators and digital entrepreneurs. The platform offers two main plans:
- Launch — ₹1,999/month (~$24), 10% platform fee or ₹10 per sale (whichever is higher).
- Rise — ₹9,999/month (~$120), 5% platform fee or ₹10 per sale (whichever is higher).
👉 The biggest appeal of Spayee/Graphy is that the entry cost is low, but the platform takes a small percentage from every sale you make. This revenue-sharing model works well for new creators who don’t want high upfront costs.
Podia Pricing
Podia has shifted to a cleaner and more flexible subscription-based pricing structure. Unlike Spayee, there are no transaction fees, which means you keep everything you earn (except payment gateway fees).
Here are Podia’s 2025 pricing tiers:
- Mover — $39/month (or $33/month billed annually): includes Podia Email, website + checkout, courses, digital downloads, webinars, coaching, and 5% transaction fee on sales.
- Shaker — $89/month (or $75/month billed annually): everything in Mover with 0% transaction fee and advanced features like memberships. 14-day free trial; free plan discontinued.
👉 Unlike Spayee, Podia doesn’t charge transaction fees. This makes it more predictable for creators earning high monthly revenue, as you don’t lose a percentage of your sales.
Quick Tip: Spayee’s Launch plan is a little cheaper than Podia’s Mover plan, and no fees mean more savings. But Podia’s higher plans might be worth it if you’re selling globally and don’t need Indian features.
Indian Payment Gateways: A Big Deal for India
If your students are in India, how they pay matters a lot. Let’s see why Spayee shines here.
In India, people love using UPI—think PayTm, Google Pay, or Razorpay. It’s quick, simple, and doesn’t always need a credit card. A 2023 report from India’s central bank said 70% of online payments use UPI. That’s a big number!
- Spayee: Supports all the major Indian payment gateways like PayTm, Razorpay, and Instamojo. Your students can pay easily, which means more sales for you.
- Podia: Uses Stripe and PayPal only. These are great worldwide, but in India, they’re less popular. Many Indians don’t have credit cards, and PayPal isn’t as common as UPI.
What This Means: If your audience is in India, Spayee’s local payment options are a huge advantage. For global creators, Podia’s Stripe and PayPal are fine.
Spayee’s support for UPI aligns with India’s payment trends—over 70% of digital transactions now use UPI, according to the RBI Digital Payments Report.
Customer Support: Who Helps You When You’re Stuck?
When things go wrong—like a payment glitch or a tech issue—you need help fast. Here’s how Spayee and Podia support you.
Spayee Support
- Personal Help: You get a dedicated account manager on every plan. That’s someone you can call or email directly.
- Lots of Ways to Reach Out: Phone, chat, email, and a help center with articles.
- Speedy Replies: Users say Spayee often fixes problems in 30 minutes or less.
Podia Support
- Chat and Email: Available on all plans, but no phone support.
- Personal Help: Only on the $179/month Earthquaker plan.
- Good Feedback: Podia’s support team is friendly, but it’s less hands-on unless you pay more.
Which is Better?: If you like having a personal helper, Spayee wins. If you’re okay with chat or email, Podia’s support is still solid.
Great support can make or break a platform. Forrester’s 2025 Customer Service Report highlights why personalized help, like Spayee’s, is increasingly vital.
Features: What Can You Do With Each Platform?
Now, let’s talk about the tools you’ll use to build and sell your course. Both platforms offer a lot, but they’re different.
White-Labeled Mobile Apps
- Spayee: On the Business and Advanced plans, you get your own mobile app. It’s branded with your name and logo, and students can download it from the App Store or Google Play. This makes your course look professional and keeps learners coming back.
- Podia: No mobile app option. Your students can use their phones to access your course through the website, which works fine but isn’t as cool as an app.
Why It Matters: A mobile app can make your course stand out. Spayee has it; Podia doesn’t.
Mobile learning is booming—Statista predicts the global market will grow significantly by 2025, making Spayee’s mobile app feature a game-changer.
Live Classes
- Spayee: Built-in live classes right on the platform. You can chat with students, run polls, and record sessions—all without extra tools. You can also use Zoom if you like.
- Podia: No built-in live classes. You’ll need to use Zoom or YouTube Live and connect it to your course. It works, but it’s an extra step.
Why It Matters: If you love teaching live, Spayee’s setup is smoother and simpler.
Quizzes, Certificates, and Assignments
Spayee:
- Quizzes: Tons of options—multiple-choice, open-ended, fill-in-the-blanks.
- Certificates: Automatically sent when students finish—great for motivation!
- Assignments: Students can upload work for you to review.
Podia:
- Quizzes: Only multiple-choice, nothing fancy.
- Certificates and Assignments: Not available—you’d need to do these outside Podia.
Why It Matters: Spayee gives you a full classroom experience. Podia keeps it basic.
Membership Sites and Affiliates
Spayee:
- Memberships and affiliates included on all plans. You can charge monthly fees or let others sell your course for a share of the profits.
Podia:
- Memberships start at $79/month (Shaker plan). Affiliates are only on the $179/month plan.
Why It Matters: Spayee lets you grow your income with memberships and affiliates right away. Podia makes you upgrade for these.
Bottom line on features: If you want a frictionless, all-in-one with built-in email and simple pricing, Podia wins for most solo businesses. If you specifically need white-label mobile apps, higher seat limits, and India-first billing, Graphy (Spayee) is compelling.
2025 Trends: Are They Ready for the Future?
Online learning is changing fast. In 2025, it’s all about personalization, community, and mobile access. Let’s see how Spayee and Podia keep up.
- Mobile Learning: More people are learning on phones. Spayee’s mobile apps fit this trend perfectly. Podia’s website works on phones, but it’s not as slick.
- Building Community: Live classes and memberships help students feel connected. Spayee has both built-in. Podia has memberships but needs extra tools for live classes.
- Smart Features: Think AI that suggests lessons to students. Spayee is starting to add these. Podia sticks to simplicity without much AI yet.
What This Means: Spayee feels more future-ready with mobile apps and community tools. Podia’s great if you like things simple and don’t need the latest trends.
Who Should Choose Which?
Here’s the simple guide to picking your winner:
- Pick Spayee if:
- You’re in India or teaching Indian students.
- You want local payments like PayTm.
- You’d love a mobile app with your name on it.
- You need live classes and quizzes built in.
- Pick Podia if:
- You’re selling to people worldwide.
- You want something easy and hassle-free.
- You’re okay using Zoom or other tools for extras.
FAQs on Spayee vs Podia
Can I move my course from one platform to the other?
Yes! Both Spayee and Podia let you migrate. Spayee helps you with support, and Podia gives you guides. It might take some effort, though.
Which is better for selling globally?
Podia’s better for global reach with Stripe and PayPal. Spayee focuses on India but can still work worldwide.
Do they both have live classes?
Yes, but Spayee has them built-in with fun features like polls. Podia needs you to use Zoom or YouTube Live.
Is my course safe from copying?
Spayee uses strong security like encryption and watermarks. Podia protects your content too, but Spayee’s video security is tougher.
Can I try them for free?
Yep! Spayee gives you 14 days free, and Podia offers 30 days. Test them out before you decide.
Quick Links:
- How To Create An Online Course For Free
- Podia Pricing Plans
- 5 Best Public Speaking Courses Online
- Best Online AI Courses With Certificates
Spayee vs Podia Verdict: Which Is Better Course Platform?
So, which one should you choose? It’s all about what you need.
- Choose Podia if you’re a solo creator who wants an all-in-one website + email + checkout with minimal setup, and you prefer a simple two-tier model (Mover/Shaker) where you can eliminate transaction fees by upgrading.
- Choose Spayee (Graphy) if you must have white-label mobile apps, need larger participant limits, or sell primarily in India and want local pricing and payments. The trade-off is juggling region-specific pricing/fees
Not sure yet? Try their free trials—Spayee for 14 days, Podia for 30 days. Play around, and see what feels right. Both are awesome in their own way, so you’re starting off on the right foot either way.
Good luck with your course—you’ve got this!
