Building
Course Platform Without an LMS
PostgreSQL + Next.js. 168 lessons. $5/month.
April 11, 2026
🎓
Why not use an LMS
Teachable: $99-399/month. Thinkific: $36-149/month. Both add their branding, limit customization, and own the relationship with your students.
Every course on Teachable looks like a Teachable course. If you want courses that feel like part of your experience, build it yourself.
The schema
Three tables. That's the entire course system.
courses → course_modules → course_lessons
Courses have modules. Modules have lessons. Lessons have HTML and optional video. Positions determine order.