Sell videos online with recurring subscriptions
Turn recorded classes into a paid library. Propel supports subscriptions, one-time purchases and free previews, so you can choose an offer that fits how your audience watches.
- ✓ Subscriptions · One-time purchase · Free previews
- ✓ Card, Apple Pay, Google Pay
- ✓ Your subscribers stay yours
What “selling videos online” can mean
Choose the business model before the software. Propel supports subscriptions and one-time purchases; this table compares the wider options.
| Way to sell | What the buyer gets | What you keep doing | Revenue shape |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downloads | A file they can keep | Making the next file worth buying | One payment per file |
| Online course | A program with a defined outcome | Selling courses or enrolling new cohorts | Typically one payment or instalments |
| Marketplace | A title in another company's catalog | Competing for discovery alongside other sellers | Sales share under marketplace terms |
| Subscription library | Ongoing access to a video collection | Giving members reasons to return | Recurring payments while members stay |
Why sell access instead of files
Streaming access can give an existing catalog recurring value, with ongoing work to keep members.
- A download is finished on delivery
- The buyer receives a file under your license terms. Another payment needs another sale.
- Access keeps every recording working
- Older classes can remain useful to new members, alongside the recordings you add.
- Recurring revenue changes planning
- Renewals can help fund production, but forecasts still need cancellations, fees and refunds.
- The trade: you keep earning it
- Members need reasons to return. Budget for ongoing publishing, navigation and support, not just the launch.
Choose a monetization model
Propel's confirmed modes are subscriptions, one-time purchase and free previews.
- Subscription (SVOD)
- Recurring payment for library access. Suits content people use regularly and a publishing schedule you can sustain. Supported by Propel.
- One-time purchase (TVOD)
- One payment for a defined offer, such as a program or workshop recording. Supported by Propel.
- Free previews
- Let prospective members sample your teaching before paying. Supported by Propel.
- Advertising (AVOD)
- Advertisers fund free viewing. Revenue depends on audience demand and advertising terms. Outside Propel's confirmed monetization modes.
Package your video library
Make the offer easy to understand: what members get, what they pay and where they begin.
- Decide what one membership covers
State what is included, what stays separate and how often you expect to add videos.
- Group the library the way you teach
Choose useful groupings, such as level or program, then check how the platform presents them.
- Choose your free previews
Choose recordings that demonstrate the paid experience, with enough substance to help someone decide.
- Add a one-time offer if it earns its place
Consider a separately priced program when it gives buyers a clear alternative to ongoing access.
Bundles, add-ons and per-collection access are unconfirmed. Check before building your offer around them.
Payments, paywall, and subscriber access
Supported payment methods are a starting point. Settle the checkout, payout and access details before selling.
Payment methods: Card, Apple Pay, Google Pay. Hosted in the EU. Your subscribers stay yours.
- Which currencies can you charge in?
Confirm customer currencies, conversion costs and which party pays them.
- Who is the merchant of record, and what does that make you liable for?
Establish who handles tax, refunds and chargebacks before publishing your terms.
- How and when do payouts reach you?
Get the payout schedule, method and deductions for your cash-flow forecast.
- What happens on cancellation and refund?
Confirm when access ends and who processes refunds.
- How is shared access handled?
Ask which account-sharing controls exist and what remains your responsibility.
Model revenue and platform cost
Enter paying members and monthly price to estimate gross revenue. These are your numbers, not a forecast.
What this assumes
- Every member pays the same amount, every month.
- Nobody cancels, and nobody is on a discount or a free trial.
- Taxes, payment costs and platform costs are not deducted.
Worked example. 200 members paying €15 a month is €3,000 a month, or €36,000 a year, before any costs.
- The result is gross revenue, before fees, refunds, tax and production costs.
- Propel is €199/mo on Studio and €599/mo on Brand, and takes no percentage of your sales. Prices exclude VAT.
- Allow for payment processing, partnered solutions, any applicable app-store commission and tax where liable.
- See pricing for plan inclusions, fee details and the cost calculator.
Bring your expected member count, price and publishing schedule.
Launch and retain members
Plan for the first session and the reasons to return, not only the first sale.
- Launch to the audience you already have
Tell your students or followers what membership includes, what it costs and where to start.
- Publish on a cadence you can survive
Choose a schedule you can maintain. Budget time for support as well as filming.
- Give the first week a shape
Recommend a first session and a next step so a new member can begin without searching.
- Watch three numbers
Track joins, cancellations and viewing where data is available. Use member feedback to understand why people leave.
FAQ
What is the best platform for selling videos online? +
Match the platform to the offer: a download store for files, a course platform for structured learning, or a subscription video platform for a library people revisit. Check the required screens, costs and ownership terms.
How do I get paid when I sell videos online? +
Propel supports card, apple pay, google pay. Confirm checkout availability on each screen, payout timing, currencies and tax responsibilities before launch; those details are not published here.
Is it better to sell video downloads or streaming access? +
Downloads suit a one-off deliverable. Streaming access suits a library people revisit. A subscription also brings ongoing publishing and support work; neither format guarantees sales or prevents all unauthorised sharing.
How much can I earn from a video membership? +
Start with paying members multiplied by monthly price, then subtract costs and allow for refunds and cancellations. The calculator shows gross revenue, not take-home income. Propel does not guarantee a member count.
What kind of video works as a paid library? +
Classes, technique libraries and guided sessions can suit repeat viewing. A program watched once may fit a one-time purchase better. Start with how your audience uses the content.