Sender vs Systeme.io
Both are on our shortlist for course creators. They part company on several things that matter more than the monthly price.
Sender
Systeme.ioWhich one, for whom
- A list already in the thousandsSenderSender stays free to 2,500 subscribers against Systeme.io's 2,000.Start free on Sender
- Worried about being locked inSenderSender keeps your subscribers and automations when you cancel, rather than deleting them.
- Selling the course from the same toolSysteme.ioSysteme.io can take the payment itself, so you do not need a separate checkout.Start free on Systeme.io
Side by side
| Sender | Systeme.io | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | 2,500 subscribers | 2,000 subscribers |
| Free sends | 15,000 emails/mo | Unlimited emails |
| Welcome sequence on free | Yes | Yes |
| Connects to Teachable | Not listed | Sells courses itself |
| Connects to Kajabi | Not listed | Sells courses itself |
| Connects to Podia | Not listed | Sells courses itself |
| Connects to Thinkific | Not listed | Sells courses itself |
| Paid from | $9/mo | $17/mo |
| At 5,000 subscribers | Not published | $17 |
| At 25,000 subscribers | Not published | $97 |
| The catch | A smaller name with a smaller integration list. Check it connects to your course platform before you commit. | The free plan holds one course only, and takes 0% on sales, which is rare. |
| G2 score | 4.7 out of 5, from 278 reviews | 4.8 out of 5, from 750 reviews |
| Trustpilot score | 4.9 out of 5, from 1,421 reviews | 4.9 out of 5, from 8,448 reviews |
Figures read off each vendor's own pricing page on 9 September 2026. Where a row says not published, that vendor does not state a price at that list size and we will not invent one.
The last two rows are other people's scores, not ours, read on 6 September 2026. Check them yourself:Sender on G2, Sender on Trustpilot, Systeme.io on G2, Systeme.io on Trustpilot.
Getting your list back out
SenderEasy to leave
The friendliest exit terms we found. Cancelling drops you to the free plan instead of deleting anything: their help page says subscribers, campaigns, automations, forms and reports are all retained. Source
Systeme.io
You can export contacts to CSV yourself at any time. Cancelling does not take effect immediately: it stops the subscription from renewing, and you keep access until the end of the current billing period, at which point the plan is removed automatically. Their terms and conditions add that subscription plans are non-refundable, and that an account can be banned without notice for a content-policy violation. What happens to stored data after a cancellation takes effect is not stated. Source
Sender vs Systeme.io, answered
- Is Sender or Systeme.io better for an online course?
- Neither is better outright, and anyone who says so is guessing on your behalf. Sender if you are a list already in the thousands. Sender if you are worried about being locked in. Systeme.io if you are selling the course from the same tool.
- Which of Sender and Systeme.io has the better free plan?
- Sender allows more free subscribers (2,500 against 2,000). A bigger allowance is not automatically the better plan: check the welcome sequence row above, because that is where the two usually part company.
- Can I move from Sender to Systeme.io later?
- Yes, and you should assume you will. Export your list before you cancel anything, and keep whatever marks who bought from you. We wrote the whole running order up separately.
Try either one
SenderThe most generous free plan we found
$9/mopaid plans start here. Free up to 2,500. Read off their pricing page on 9 September 2026.
Start free on SenderRead the full Sender breakdownSysteme.ioCourse hosting, funnels and email on one free plan
$17/mopaid plans start here. Free up to 2,000. Read off their pricing page on 9 September 2026.
Start free on Systeme.ioRead the full Systeme.io breakdownMoving between them? Read the switching guide first, or answer 5 questions to check neither of these is the wrong shortlist.
Neither of these? See all 14, including which ones connect straight to Teachable, Kajabi, Podia or Thinkific, or compare what they cost as your list grows.