Are you a tech-savvy entrepreneur looking to create and sell online courses without breaking the bank? In this comprehensive review, we’ll dive deep into Acadle, a new platform that’s challenging giants like Kajabi and Teachable. I’ll walk you through its features, pricing tiers, and potential dealbreakers to help you decide if this $99 lifetime deal could be the game-changer for your online education business.
Introduction [00:00]
In today’s digital landscape, online courses have become a cornerstone for entrepreneurs looking to share their knowledge and create additional revenue streams. However, the cost of popular platforms like Kajabi or Teachable can be prohibitive, especially for those just starting out. Enter Acadle, a platform that promises to deliver robust features at a fraction of the cost.
Plans & Pricing [00:50]
Acadle is currently available on AppSumo for a one-time payment of $99. This is in stark contrast to platforms like Kajabi or Teachable, which can cost upwards of $1000 annually. Let’s break down what you get with this lifetime deal:
- Basic Plan (Codes 1-4):
- Up to 800 users (200 per code)
- Up to 8 team members (2 per code)
- Up to 40GB storage (10GB per code)
- Core features like multi-language support, course cloning, and custom domain
- Essential Plan (Codes 5-9):
- All Basic features
- Up to 2000 users (scaling with codes)
- Up to 18 team members (scaling with codes)
- Up to 90GB storage (scaling with codes)
- Additional features like discussion boards, templates, and advanced customization
- Advanced Plan (10 Codes):
- All Essential features
- 2000 users
- 20 team members
- 100GB storage
- Premium features like community building and single sign-on
It’s important to note that while the basic plan offers significant value, some features like custom certificates and advanced analytics are reserved for higher tiers.
Courses [12:01]
The heart of Acadle lies in its course creation and management capabilities. Let’s explore how it handles this crucial aspect.
User View [12:50]
From a user’s perspective, Acadle offers a clean and intuitive interface. Students can easily navigate through available courses, view their progress, and access learning materials.
Landing Page [13:20]
Each course in Acadle comes with a customizable landing page. This page includes:
- Course title and image
- Ratings and enrollment numbers
- Course overview
- Lesson contents
- Author information
While the landing page template is functional, it’s worth noting that customization options are somewhat limited compared to more established platforms.
UI Quirks [14:55]
While using Acadle, I noticed a few UI quirks that might be worth mentioning:
- The “eyeball” icon is used inconsistently throughout the platform, sometimes meaning “publish” and other times “preview”.
- The process of publishing a landing page involves both a toggle switch and a globe icon, which can be confusing.
These aren’t deal-breakers, but they do impact the overall user experience.
Exploring Courses in User View [16:20]
When students access a course, they’re presented with a layout similar to popular platforms like Udemy. This familiarity can help users feel more comfortable navigating the content. Courses can be structured with modules containing individual lessons, and progress is clearly tracked.
Creating a New Normal Course [19:21]
Creating a course in Acadle is straightforward. You can choose between a “normal” course and a “video” course. The course creation process allows you to:
- Set course name and description
- Define duration
- Set access permissions
- Categorize and tag the course
- Add course image or video
One limitation I noticed is the inability to easily mix “normal” and “video” lesson types within a single course.
Adding a New Lesson [21:44]
Adding lessons to your course is simple, but there are some limitations to be aware of:
- You can create quizzes, lessons, or groups (modules)
- More advanced features like assessments and surveys are reserved for higher-tier plans
- The process of nesting lessons within groups (modules) isn’t as intuitive as it could be
Lesson Editor [24:04]
The lesson editor in Acadle is based on a system similar to Ghost CMS. It offers a range of content blocks including:
- Text and headings
- Lists
- Images and videos
- Code blocks
- Tables
- Personality boxes (author or product descriptions)
- File attachments
- Warning boxes
While the editor is functional, it lacks some advanced features like slash commands that more sophisticated editors offer.
Lesson Preview [28:43]
The lesson preview function allows you to see how your content will appear to students. This is crucial for ensuring your lessons are well-structured and easy to follow.
Video Course [29:11]
Video courses in Acadle have a different layout compared to “normal” courses. They feature a full-width video player with options for discussion (on higher tiers) and bookmarks.
Video Course Editor [30:13]
The video course editor is more streamlined compared to the normal course editor. It allows you to:
- Add an overview
- Enable discussions (higher tiers)
- Add bookmarks (external links related to the video content)
- Manage visibility settings
However, I did notice some glitches in the bookmark feature, which could use improvement.
Users [33:28]
Acadle provides robust user management features:
- Manual user addition
- Bulk import via Excel file
- User export functionality
- Email invitations
- Group management for course access control
The group management feature is particularly useful for controlling access to different courses or creating separate learning tracks.
Settings [36:52]
The settings section in Acadle allows you to customize various aspects of your academy:
- Login page customization
- SEO settings
- Certificate templates (limited on basic plan)
- External links
While functional, some aspects of the settings interface could be more intuitive, such as the layout preview when customizing the login page.
Admin Section [40:51]
The admin section is where you’ll manage the more technical aspects of your Acadle academy:
Team [40:51]
Manage your team members and their roles.
Masters [41:12]
Handle course categories and tags.
Integrations [41:28]
Acadle offers integrations with various chat platforms, help desks, and automation tools.
Domain [41:60]
Set up your custom domain for a branded experience.
Access Codes [42:15]
Create and manage access codes for bulk course enrollment.
Languages [42:41]
While Acadle supports multiple languages, the translation process is manual and could be improved.
File Manager [43:42]
Manage your uploaded files and monitor storage usage.
Pricing [43:60]
Configure payment settings using Stripe or Thrivecart.
Email [44:31]
Customize email templates and set up your SMTP server for transactional emails.
Configurations [45:44]
Manage core settings like privacy policy, terms of service, and payment options.
Security [46:59]
Modify security headers if needed.
Add-Ons [47:13]
Acadle offers additional paid features like an affiliate program and live streaming capabilities.
More UI Quirks [47:41]
Throughout the platform, I noticed a few more UI inconsistencies:
- The training tab only appears on the dashboard
- The logo reloads on every page, which seems inefficient
Conclusion [48:28]
Acadle offers a compelling package for entrepreneurs looking to create and sell online courses without a hefty monthly subscription. While it has some limitations and UI quirks, the $99 lifetime deal represents significant value, especially for those just starting their online course journey.
Pros:
- Affordable one-time payment
- Comprehensive feature set
- User-friendly course creation
- Solid user management
Cons:
- Some UI inconsistencies
- Limited customization compared to more established platforms
- Advanced features restricted to higher tiers
Overall, I’d rate Acadle a 6.9 out of 10. It’s a strong contender in the online course platform space, particularly for those on a budget or just starting out. While it may not have all the bells and whistles of more expensive options, it provides a solid foundation for building your online course empire.
If you’re ready to start your online course journey without breaking the bank, Acadle could be the platform you’ve been waiting for. Give it a try and let me know your thoughts!
Remember, if you need help setting up your online course business or have any questions, feel free to reach out to me at ClientAmp.com. I’m here to help you succeed in your online education endeavors!
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