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An all-in-one platform for coaches has to do four things: a page that sells the package, a checkout that takes the money, an email list, and somewhere to deliver the program. systeme.io does all four on a free plan, and it is the pick below for that reason. It does not do proper scheduling or client notes, so the honest setup for most coaches is systeme.io plus a free Calendly, not systeme.io alone.
- 1Our pick
systeme.io
Free, then $17/mo
Best for: selling packages, email, a program area, a checkout with payment plans
The catch: no client notes; booking is a basic calendar, so pair it with Calendly
Try systeme.io free - 2
Paperbell
Paid, see vendor
Best for: scheduling, contracts, client notes and packages in one coaching-specific tool
The catch: no funnels or course hosting; price not verified today
- 3
Kajabi
$179/mo, $143 annual
Best for: a polished program, member app and email once you are past a few thousand a month
The catch: ten times the price for the same selling machinery
Prices and free-plan limits checked 2026-09-19 on each vendor's pricing page.
What a coaching business needs to sell online
Coaches on Reddit who have done it say the same thing: “Calendly, Zoom and a Google account is all I used.” That is true for the first client. It stops being true when you want to sell a three-session package, charge a deposit, and follow up with people who booked a call but did not buy. Those need a sales page, a checkout and an email sequence, which is what the tools to start an online coaching business actually are.
How to take payments for coaching online
On systeme.io you create a product, set a one-off price or a payment plan (three payments of $400, say), and attach it to an order form. Money goes through Stripe or PayPal at their rates, about 2.9% plus 30 cents, and systeme.io takes 0%. The order form can sit on a sales page or be linked straight from a call. That replaces the PayPal invoice, which is the thing most new coaches are embarrassed about.
The free way to sell coaching online, with the fees named
The free plan holds 2,000 contacts, 3 funnels, 1 course area for the program materials, 1 community, and 1 automation rule. One rule is enough to tag buyers and send them a welcome email. The second rule, for example removing access when a payment plan fails, needs the $17 plan. Card fees still apply, so “free” means no platform fee, not no fees.
What systeme.io does not do for coaches
The booking calendar supports one event type on the free plan and five on Startup, with no intake forms or reminders of the kind Paperbell and CoachAccountable have. There are no client notes, no session logs, and no contracts. Embed Calendly on the thank-you page and keep notes where you keep them now.
Free plan, no card. Affiliate link; we earn a commission on paid plans.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best all-in-one platform for coaches?
For selling, systeme.io: sales pages, checkout with payment plans, email and a program area on a free plan. For scheduling and client notes, Paperbell. Kajabi does both with more polish at $179.
How do I take payments for coaching online?
Connect Stripe or PayPal to systeme.io, create a product with a one-off price or a payment plan, and link the order form from your sales page or your booking confirmation.
Is there a free way to sell coaching online?
Yes. systeme.io free covers a sales page, checkout, 2,000 contacts and unlimited emails. You still pay card processing fees.
Does systeme.io have a booking calendar?
A basic one: one event type on the free plan, five on Startup. Most coaches embed Calendly instead.
Related: website builder for coaches, sales funnel for coaches, best CRM for coaches.