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Online course app for students: what they expect, the options, and what the WithMe app does

What students expect from a course app, how the options compare, and what the WithMe app does on iOS and Android. $25/month billed annually, 0% commission.

WithMe Team·11 November 2026

Students expect a course app to sign them in, play video smoothly, show their progress and keep the community close. On WithMe, every hub works in the WithMe app on iOS and Android at no extra cost: students sign in with the email they bought with and find your course lessons, community and downloads. There is no built-in offline mode, so if students need lessons without a connection, let them download the files.

WithMe is $25 per month billed annually (UK £25), with a 14-day trial and 0% WithMe commission. Stripe and PayPal fees still apply. More than 8,000 creators use it.

What do students expect from a course app?

Most students will not compare apps feature by feature. They notice when something is missing. These are the six things they look for:

One login: the email they bought with, and only the courses they paid for.
Video that streams well on a phone connection.
Progress: which lessons are done and what comes next.
Worksheets, PDFs and audio alongside the videos.
A community or comments to ask questions and see others' progress.
Offline access for commutes and flights, which matters more for some courses than others.

What are the options for a course app?

These are each vendor's own published prices, checked 11 November 2026.

Kajabi: customers can use the Kajabi app on every plan, from $143 per month billed annually. A branded app is included on Pro, at $399 per month billed annually, and Kajabi's help centre lists it as a $199 per month add-on on any plan.
Passion.io: an app-first course platform from $119 per month billed yearly. Its App Store and Google Play listing under your name comes with Expand, at $599 per month billed yearly. Expand also lists offline mode.
Uscreen: built for video memberships. Branded iOS and Android apps start on App Essentials, listed at $449 per month billed annually, plus $0.99 per member.
A no-code builder such as Adalo, from $65 per month, if you want to design every screen and connect your own course data, logins and payments.

Card processing fees are extra everywhere. If your course is the main product and offline viewing is essential, an app-first platform with an offline mode is worth the higher price.

What does the WithMe app do for students?

Once someone buys, your course is there in the app as well as in your hub on the web. Students get:

Sign-in with the same email address they used to buy. The app shows only your content, not other creators'.
Uploaded videos converted for streaming at 720p and 480p, served through signed links that expire after an hour.
Lessons as video, text with images, audio, PDFs shown in the app's reader, or files such as workbooks.
Progress Tracking, when you turn it on: students mark each lesson complete and see how many they have finished.
Drip Feed, when you turn it on: lessons unlock on your schedule, and students get an email when one unlocks.
Your community alongside the course, where members can post, comment and like.

Can students watch course lessons offline?

Not inside the app. There is no offline mode, so streamed lessons need a connection.

If students need lessons offline, turn on Make course content downloadable. Videos, audio, images and PDFs can then be saved. File lessons, such as workbooks, can always be downloaded. Leave the setting off to keep video in the player.

Do students get notifications?

Students are emailed, not sent push notifications. They get an email when a drip lesson unlocks, and you can email everyone who bought the course from your hub.

App push notifications go to you as the creator, for sales and sign-ups. If you need push alerts for students, an app-first platform is the better fit.

How do you set up a course for the WithMe app?

Start your 14-day trial and create a course.
Add chapters, then lessons: uploaded or embedded video, text, audio, PDF or file.
Turn on Progress Tracking, and Drip Feed if lessons should unlock over time.
Decide whether content should be downloadable.
Set a price and share your hub link. Students buy on the web.
Tell students to download the WithMe app on iOS or Android and sign in with the email they bought with.

Do you need your own branded course app?

Most course creators do not. Students care about getting into the course quickly, and the WithMe app is included and works from day one.

If your brand matters most, WithMe builds a white label app with your name and icon as a paid add-on, and submits it to the App Store and Google Play under the WithMe developer account.

What is not included?

There is no offline mode inside the app; use downloadable content instead. Members do not get push notifications. There are no quizzes and no certificates of completion, and no DRM or video watermarking. The white label app is a paid add-on, not part of the $25 plan.

How much does WithMe cost?

WithMe is $25 per month billed annually (UK £25), with a 14-day trial and 0% WithMe commission. Stripe and PayPal fees still apply. Free migration of up to 10 GB of your courses and members comes with the yearly plan. One plan covers courses, memberships, community, coaching, webinars and digital products.

Course app questions

Does WithMe have an app for my students?

Yes. Every hub works in the WithMe app on iOS and Android, included in your plan. Students sign in with the email they bought with.

Can students download lessons to watch offline?

There is no offline mode in the app. Turn on Make course content downloadable and students can save videos, audio, images and PDFs.

Can students track their progress in the app?

Yes, if you turn on Progress Tracking. Students mark each lesson complete and see how many lessons they have finished.

Do students get push notifications?

No. Students are emailed, for example when a drip lesson unlocks. App push notifications go to you as the creator.

How much does it cost to put my course in the WithMe app?

Nothing extra. The app comes with the plan, at $25 per month billed annually (UK £25), with a 14-day trial and 0% WithMe commission.

Start your 14-day trial at https://www.withme.so/become-a-creator.