When offering subscription-based products in LearnWorlds, you can structure your school in two different ways: by creating multiple subscriptions or by using tiered subscriptions.
Both approaches support recurring revenue, but they are designed for different content strategies and learner experiences. This guide explains how each option works, when to use it, and how to decide which setup best fits your school.
Tiered subscriptions
Tiered subscriptions allow you to sell one Learning Program with multiple subscription tiers. Each tier has its own pricing, billing interval, and set of included courses.
All tiers belong to the same Learning Program, and learners choose the option that best matches their needs. They can upgrade or downgrade between tiers at any time.
Typical use cases include:
- Bronze, Silver, and Gold access levels
- Monthly and yearly plans for the same Learning Program
- Limited vs extended access to the same course collection
Tiered subscriptions are best suited when:
- Your content represents a single learning experience or journey
- You want to offer different levels of access or value within the same program
- You want to encourage learners to upgrade over time
- Pricing differences are based on access depth, not topic
Multiple subscriptions
Multiple subscriptions are created by offering separate Learning Programs, each with its own subscription plan.
Each Learning Program represents an independent subscription product, with its own pricing, positioning, and set of courses. Learners can subscribe to one or more programs, depending on their interests.
Typical use cases include:
- Subscriptions grouped by theme or subject (for example, Marketing, Design, Development)
- Separate subscriptions for different learner audiences or skill levels
- Independent course libraries sold as standalone subscriptions
Multiple subscriptions are best suited when:
- Your content naturally falls into distinct topics or categories
- Learners may want access to more than one subscription at the same time
- Each subscription should stand on its own as a separate product
- You want full flexibility in pricing and messaging per topic
Key differences at a glance
| Aspect | Tiered Subscriptions | Multiple Subscriptions |
| Structure | One program, multiple tiers | Multiple programs, one subscription each |
| Content focus | Same topic, different access levels | Different topics or themes |
| Pricing logic | Value-based tiers | Independent pricing per program |
| Learner actions | Upgrade or downgrade tiers | Subscribe to additional programs |
| Best for | Depth and progression | Breadth and choice |
Choosing the right approach
Choosing between tiered subscriptions and multiple subscriptions depends on how your content is structured and how you want learners to access it. If your courses belong to a single learning experience and the main difference between plans is the level of access or value offered, tiered subscriptions are usually the best fit. They keep everything within one Learning Program and make it easy for learners to upgrade or downgrade as their needs evolve.
On the other hand, if your content is organized into distinct topics, themes, or audiences, multiple subscriptions provide more flexibility. This approach allows you to treat each Learning Program as a standalone subscription and gives learners the freedom to subscribe to one or more programs independently.
Using both models together
In some cases, combining both approaches offers the most flexibility.
For example, you might:
- Create multiple subscription programs for different subject areas.
- Use tiered subscriptions within each program to offer different access levels.
- This setup allows you to scale your subscription strategy while keeping pricing and access clear and consistent for learners.