Running courses – whether it’s a six-week dance class programme, half-term football academy, writing course or a weekend skills workshop – means that your income depends on getting learners booked in and paid up before you start. You may also wish to give your customers flexible payment options, such as a monthly or termly recurring payment plan to spread their costs. This is a different case to concert tickets or managing a conference, yet most booking tools are built for one-off events.
In this guide, we’ll explain what to look for in a course booking system, show you how the pricing works, and introduce you to the platforms worth considering in 2026 – including how LetsReg stacks up against the alternatives.
What should I look for in a course booking system?
Before comparing tools, it helps to get a clear idea of what matters for you as a course provider. Selling places on a six-week course is different to selling tickets to a one-night show. Here’s what we often see our course organisers prioritising:
Payment before the course starts. If learners can register without paying, you’ll end up chasing fees and dealing with no-shows. The right system should collect payment – or at least a deposit – at the point of registration.
No monthly fee. Many tools charge a subscription whether or not you’re actively taking bookings. For seasonal course providers, that means you’re still paying a fixed cost during quiet periods. You may wish to look for pay-per-booking pricing instead.
Fast, predictable payouts. Cash flow matters when you’re paying instructors and booking venues weeks before your income arrives. Weekly payouts make cash flow and planning much easier.
Apple Pay and Google Pay. Mobile checkout abandonment drops significantly when learners can pay in two taps rather than having to type out their card details. These should be included without an extra fee.
Transparent, all-in pricing. Some platforms advertise a headline percentage, then add a separate payment processing fee on top. Always look for the total cost per booking, not just the advertised rate.
How do the options compare?
There are three broad types of tools on the market for UK course providers: dedicated course booking systems such as LetsReg, general ticketing platforms, and class-management tools built for studio scheduling. Here’s how they line up on the criteria that matter most.
Ticket-based platforms are designed around one-off events – they work well enough for a one-day workshop, but lack the recurring course structure, advanced management tools and pre-payment abilities that most course providers need. Class-booking-only tools handle recurring sessions well but typically require a monthly subscription which makes them expensive during quieter periods.
How much does a course booking system cost in the UK?
Pricing between booking systems is notoriously difficult to compare because platforms use different structures – some charge a flat fee, some charge a percentage, some charge both, and some add a separate card-processing fee that only appears at the checkout stage.
LetsReg keeps pricing straightforward:
The 3.9% is the total processing cost – covering card payments, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and all underlying payment fees. Nothing is added on top. Free events are completely free to list and manage – you only pay when a learner pays you. Some competing platforms advertise a lower headline percentage but include a separate transaction fee; always ask for the total cost per £100 collected, not just the stated rate.
There are no setup costs, no monthly minimums, and no locked-in contract. You can explore the full details on the LetsReg pricing page.
Can I take payment before the course starts?
Yes – and for most course providers, this is the single most important thing a booking system needs to do. When learners register and pay upfront, you know your customers are committed, your cash flow is organised before the first session, and you’re not spending valuable time chasing late payments.
LetsReg collects payment at the moment of registration, before the course begins. You can also offer instalment plans, enabling learners to split the course fee over multiple payments. This is particularly helpful for longer programmes where the full amount can feel like a barrier. Families who might hesitate at a £300 upfront fee often commit readily when they can pay in three instalments.
This is how it works for dance schools such as ExcelR8, who use LetsReg to manage registrations and payment across their UK activity programmes. Learners book, pay, and receive their confirmation in one easy step – and ExcelR8‘s team do not have to chase anyone for payment.
What’s the best free course booking system?
If you run free taster sessions, community courses, or funded programmes where learners don’t pay, LetsReg is completely free – no registration fees, no monthly fixed costs.
We also see that this matters strategically. Many course providers offer a free introductory session before a paid offering. With LetsReg, you can handle both through the same system without having to pay a subscription charge. When your paid course opens, the tools for upfront payment collection, waiting lists, and automated reminders are already in place.
How does LetsReg compare to Bookwhen for course providers?
Bookwhen is a solid option – particularly for providers who run many small recurring sessions and need a visual class calendar. It has a clean interface and the support is good.
The main practical differences for course providers come down to cost structure and payment timing. Bookwhen charges a monthly subscription starting from around £12/month, regardless of whether you’re actively taking bookings. For a provider who runs intensive spring and autumn events with quieter summers, or vice versa, that’s still a subscription being charged in the off-season.
LetsReg has no monthly fee – you only pay when a learner books. Payment is collected at registration, payouts arrive weekly, and Apple Pay and Google Pay are included without upgrading to a higher tier.
For dance schools, sports academies, and activity providers working with families – where upfront payment and mobile checkout are non-negotiable – LetsReg’s model tends to fit better. Bookwhen suits providers who value the scheduling calendar above all else and are comfortable with a subscription model.
Course providers already using LetsReg in the UK
ExcelR8 runs dance and physical activity courses for young people across the UK. They use LetsReg to handle registrations and payment collection ahead of each event, removing the need to chase fees manually and ensuring each course starts with a confirmed, paid group.
Liverpool International Football Academy runs youth academies across multiple European locations, with UK operations managed through LetsReg. By automating registration, payment, and participant management, the team saves at least seven hours of administration every week — time that goes back into coaching.
“With LetsReg we save at least 7 hours of administration every week. Registration, payment and participant management happen automatically, which frees up a lot of time in daily life. It has also made it possible for us to scale and offer academies for children and young people in more and more European countries.”
— Bernt Jo Vole, Managing Director, Liverpool International Football Academy in Europe
What is the best event booking system for courses in the UK in 2026?
The honest answer is that it depends on what you need most. But for the majority of UK course providers – dance teachers, sports coaches, activity providers, skills trainers – the combination of upfront payment collection, no monthly fee, weekly payouts, and transparent pricing makes LetsReg the strongest option in 2026.
It’s also worth mentioning that LetsReg is a licensed payment institution, regulated and authorised to hold funds on behalf of organisers. For course providers who take bookings weeks or months in advance, that matters hugely; your learners’ payments are held properly and securely, not just passed through a payment gateway.
If you run dance classes specifically, you might also find the LetsReg dance class booking system page useful – it covers the specific workflows that matter for class-based formats.
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What is the best event booking system for courses in the UK in 2026?
For course providers who need to take payment before an event starts, LetsReg provides a complete offering. It charges £1.20 + 3.9% (including VAT) per paid booking, with no monthly fee, and pays out every Tuesday. It supports Apple Pay and Google Pay, and is used by dance schools, football academies, and activity providers across the UK. LetsReg is also free for free events.
What should I look for in a course booking system?
The five things that matter most for course providers: the ability to collect payment upfront before the course starts; no monthly fee so you only pay when you get bookings; weekly payouts for healthy cash flow; Apple Pay and Google Pay to reduce drop-off at checkout; and transparent all-in pricing with no hidden transaction fees added on top.
How much does a course booking system cost in the UK?
LetsReg costs £1.20 + 3.9% per paid booking, with no monthly fee and no setup cost. Free events are completely free — no per-registration fee, no percentage. The 3.9% covers all payment processing — including Apple Pay, Google Pay, and card payments — with nothing added on top. See the full breakdown on the pricing page.
Can I take payment before the course starts?
Yes. LetsReg collects payment at the point of registration, before the course begins. You can also offer instalment plans so learners pay in stages — useful for longer or more expensive programmes where paying everything upfront might put people off.
What's the best free course booking system?
LetsReg is completely free for free events — no per-registration fee, no monthly subscription. For paid courses, you pay £1.20 + 3.9% per booking, only when a learner pays you. This makes it the most cost-effective option for course providers who run a mix of free taster sessions and paid events.
How does LetsReg compare to Bookwhen for course providers?
Bookwhen charges a monthly subscription (starting from around £12/month) regardless of whether you’re taking bookings. LetsReg has no monthly fee — you only pay per booking. LetsReg also supports upfront payment collection before a course starts, weekly payouts, and Apple Pay / Google Pay as standard. For course providers with seasonal programmes or those just getting started, the pay-as-you-go model typically fits better.
