Hosted vs self-hosted
Learnkasts vs LearnDash.
LearnDash is a WordPress plugin you bolt onto your own site, hosting and plugin stack. Learnkasts is a hosted platform that handles all of that for you. Same teaching job, very different operating cost.
The short version
LearnDash is great if you already love WordPress, want full control over the stack, and have a developer (or are one). Learnkasts is the right pick if you would rather teach than maintain WordPress plugins, want local-currency payments and need cohorts, gamification and AI without configuring anything.
What you actually pay (and maintain).
The LearnDash license is cheap. The full WordPress stack around it is the real bill.
What changes
Learnkasts
LearnDash
Platform cost
LearnDash sells a plugin, not the stack.
₦15,000/mo
$199/year licence
Hosting required
Add $30-150/mo for managed WordPress hosting.
Included
You buy WP hosting
Maintenance
WP, theme, plugin updates and security patches.
We handle it
You handle it
Local currency at checkout
Naira, Cedi, Rand, Shilling out of the box.
Yes
Plugin-dependent
Payment processor
Stripe / Paystack / Flutterwave with config.
Built in
You wire up
Cohort programmes
Cohort behaviour via separate paid plugins.
Yes
Add-on plugin
Gamification
Add GamiPress or similar at extra cost.
Yes
Add-on plugin
AI course builder
Drafts a full curriculum from a prompt.
Included
No
Coaching session bookings
Add a booking plugin to your WordPress site.
Yes
Plugin needed
Time to first course live
WP setup, theme, plugins, payment, content.
A weekend
Days to weeks
Pricing reflects publicly listed LearnDash and typical managed-WordPress rates as of 2026. Always check learndash.com for the latest. We are Africa-first today, and adding more countries as we go.
Pick the platform that matches your reality.
Self-hosting is liberating if you want to do the work. It is a tax if you do not.
Choose Learnkasts if you...
- Would rather teach than maintain WordPress and plugins
- Sell to learners in Africa and need local-currency payments
- Want cohorts, gamification and AI ready out of the box
- Do not have a developer on call (or do not want to be one)
- Need accessibility built in across every page
- Already run your business on WordPress and love it
- Have a developer (or are one) to maintain the stack
- Want absolute control over the database, theme and plugins
- Are happy wiring up payments, hosting and security yourself
- Do not need a hosted vendor and want a one-time licence model
Tired of maintaining LearnDash?
We will move you over. On the house.
Our migration team imports your courses, lessons, quizzes and learners from your LearnDash site for free. Most schools are fully moved over in under three working days, with zero downtime for active learners.
Build a teaching business worth keeping.
Open your school on Learnkasts today. Free for 7 days, no credit card required.
Try Learnkasts Free for 7 Days
No credit card required. Cancel anytime. Full access to all features.
Educators
See how educators are using Learnkasts to build, teach, and grow their learning businesses.
Try Learnkasts Free for 7 Days
No credit card required. Cancel anytime. Full access to all features.
Creator
Perfect for getting started
₦0
for 7 days
- Up to 3 courses
- Landing page builder
- Basic analytics
Pro
For serious creators ready to scale
₦0
for 7 days
- Up to 20 courses
- Custom domain
- Full analytics dashboard
- Cohort management
No credit card required. Your trial starts immediately after signup.