Online courses & cohorts vs Selling the site, app or domain (2026): Which Monetization Method Pays Better?
Both are products & services. Here is how Online courses & cohorts and Selling the site, app or domain compare on what they pay, the traffic they need, effort and the properties they suit, and when to pick each.
Online Courses & Cohorts
Package expertise as a self-paced course or a live cohort and sell it at $50-2,000 through a course platform.
8.4 /10
Earns: 1-2% of readers at $100-500; $30-300 RPM
Pros
- The highest price point most creators can sell without a sales team
- Course platforms handle video, drip, quizzes, checkout, affiliates and certificates
- Cohorts command 3-10x self-paced prices and build a community that renews
Cons
- Months of production before the first sale, and courses need updating
- Launch-driven revenue is lumpy unless you run evergreen funnels
- Completion rates of 10-30% make refunds and reputation a constant concern
Selling the Site, App or Domain
The exit: content sites sell for 30-45x monthly profit, SaaS for 3-8x annual revenue, through brokers and marketplaces.
7.1 /10
Earns: 30-45x monthly net profit for content sites; 3-8x ARR for SaaS
Pros
- Converts years of future income into cash now, tax-efficiently in many countries
- Brokers (Empire Flippers, FE International, Quiet Light) handle valuation, buyers, escrow and transfer
- A buyer will pay for what you built even if you no longer want to run it
Cons
- You lose the asset and its future; sellers often regret selling at the bottom of a cycle
- Brokers take 5-15%; marketplaces attract low offers and time-wasters
- Diligence exposes everything: traffic sources, link sales, undisclosed risks
Online courses & cohorts vs Selling the site, app or domain at a glance
| Online courses & cohorts | Selling the site, app or domain | |
|---|---|---|
| Editor score | 8.4 / 10 | 7.1 / 10 |
| Typical earnings | 1-2% of readers at $100-500; $30-300 RPM | 30-45x monthly net profit for content sites; 3-8x ARR for SaaS |
| Per 1,000 visitors (US, general) | $30-300 | n/a |
| Traffic needed | 5k/mo | 5k/mo |
| Cost to start | $0-200/mo | $0 |
| First payout | 2-4 months | 2-6 months |
| Difficulty | Hard | Hard |
| Effort | Semi-passive | Semi-passive |
| Family | Products & services | Products & services |
| Blog / content site | Yes | Yes |
| Newsletter / email list | Yes | Yes |
| YouTube / video channel | Yes | No |
| Podcast | No | No |
| Mobile app | No | Yes |
| SaaS / web app | Yes | Yes |
| Community / forum | Yes | No |
| Social account | Yes | No |
| Online store | No | Yes |
| Directory / listing site | No | Yes |
| Free tool / utility | No | Yes |
| Ad & affiliate networks in this directory | 0 | 0 |
| Platforms & tools in this directory | 22 | 6 |
| Marketplaces & brokers in this directory | 1 | 9 |
| Reader upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Best for | course, cohort, teachable | website flipping, exit, multiple |
Our pick
Online courses & cohorts edges it with a score of 8.4 versus 7.1. Online courses & cohorts is the better fit if you value: the highest price point most creators can sell without a sales team, course platforms handle video, drip, quizzes, checkout, affiliates and certificates. Choose Selling the site, app or domain instead if you need: converts years of future income into cash now, tax-efficiently in many countries, brokers (empire flippers, fe international, quiet light) handle valuation, buyers, escrow and transfer. Most properties run both: see the planner.
Other products & services to consider
Full ranking →
Digital Products Medium
Sell ebooks, templates, presets, printables, swipe files and toolkits: near-zero marginal cost and 90%+ margins.
SaaS & Micro-SaaS Subscriptions Hard
Charge a monthly or annual fee for software: the highest-margin, highest-multiple revenue on the web, and the most work.
In-App Purchases & App Subscriptions Medium
Sell upgrades, consumables and subscriptions inside an iOS or Android app through the store's billing, at a 15-30% store cut.
Coaching, Consulting & Services Medium
Sell your time and expertise directly: coaching, consulting, audits, done-for-you work and productised services.