Choosing an LMS platform is one of the most important decisions for an online school. It affects your workflow, costs, scalability, and the security of your students’ data. Softbook and GetCourse are two platforms often compared against each other, though they differ fundamentally: country of jurisdiction, pricing model, and target markets. This review breaks down both systems by specific criteria, including risks that are rarely discussed openly.
Softbook at a Glance
Softbook is a Ukrainian SaaS platform for creating and managing online learning. Operating since 2018, it serves clients in 57 countries. The platform targets online schools, independent experts, coaches, and the corporate segment.
Key features: unlimited students on all plans, built-in CRM, gamification (rewards, points, scenarios), a social network for students with a feed and messenger, video content protection, and integration with Fondy, LiqPay, WayForPay, Stripe, and PayPal. In 2026, the platform launched automated email campaigns and chatbots.
Website: softbook.app
GetCourse at a Glance
GetCourse is a Russian platform created by LLC “Sistema GetCourse” (Moscow). On the market since 2014, it positions itself as an all-in-one solution for online schools: LMS, CRM, website builder, email marketing, webinars, sales funnels, and analytics in a single system.
The platform offers 15 pricing plans with limits on active users — from 1,000 to 400,000. User data is stored on servers in the Russian Federation. The platform accepts payments in rubles, and its built-in payment module (Get Module) primarily works with Russian banks and payment systems.
Website: getcourse.ru
Jurisdiction and Data Storage: Why It Matters
Before comparing features, it’s worth addressing a question many overlook when choosing an LMS — where your students’ data is stored and which laws govern the platform.
GetCourse is a company registered in Russia, subject to Russian legislation. This means:
- Data on servers in Russia. Your students’ personal data — names, email addresses, learning history, payment information — is stored on the territory of the Russian Federation. Under Federal Law No. 152-FZ “On Personal Data,” Russian intelligence services have legal access to this information.
- Sanctions risks. Since 2022, Russia has been under comprehensive international sanctions from the EU, US, UK, Canada, Australia, and dozens of other countries. Using Russian software and transferring data to Russian territory creates risks of violating sanctions regimes for companies from these jurisdictions.
- GDPR non-compliance. Transferring EU citizens’ personal data to servers in Russia is problematic under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Russia is not on the European Commission’s list of countries with an adequate level of data protection.
- Blocking and restrictions. There is a risk that getcourse.ru domains may be blocked in certain countries or face restrictions from hosting providers and CDN networks as part of sanctions policy.
Softbook is registered in Ukraine, with data stored on cloud infrastructure outside of Russia. The platform is not subject to sanctions restrictions.
Reputational Risks: Not Just for Ukrainian Schools
The reputational dimension deserves separate attention, as it affects far more than just the Ukrainian market.
For Ukrainian schools, using GetCourse after 2022 is effectively unacceptable. Payments go to a Russian company, which means directly financing the economy of the aggressor state. Ukrainian students and partners rightfully view this as an unethical choice.
For schools in Europe, Kazakhstan, Georgia, and other countries, the risks are equally significant. Partners, investors, and students from the EU or UK may view negatively the fact that their data is stored on Russian servers. For educational projects working with corporate clients, this can be a dealbreaker — compliance departments of major companies audit data processing chains.
For international schools working with a global audience, a brand built on Russian infrastructure carries reputational baggage. In the realities of 2026, when ESG standards and ethical business responsibility are part of a company’s public image, this is a factor that cannot be ignored.
Feature Comparison
|
Criterion |
Softbook |
GetCourse |
| Course builder |
✅ |
✅ |
| Number of students |
Unlimited on all plans |
Limited by plan (from 1,000 to 400,000) |
| CRM system |
✅ |
✅ |
| Gamification |
✅ |
❌ |
| Social network |
✅ |
❌ |
| Email campaigns |
✅ |
✅ |
| Chatbots |
✅ |
✅ |
| Website builder |
❌ |
✅ |
| Webinars |
❌ |
✅ |
| Sales funnels |
❌ |
✅ |
| Video protection |
✅ |
✅ |
Payments: A Critical Difference
This is one of the most important practical aspects that directly impacts your ability to accept payments from students.
Softbook supports:
- Ukrainian systems: Fondy, LiqPay, WayForPay
- International: Stripe, PayPal
- Payment in any currency, with any bank card worldwide
GetCourse supports:
- Built-in Get Module — works with Russian bank cards, SBP (Fast Payment System)
- Get Module fees: 3.5% for Russian card payments, 10% for international payments
- Foreign cards (Visa/Mastercard issued outside Russia) may not work due to sanctions restrictions
- For the Indian market: PayUMoney, Razorpay (via getcourse.co.in)
- LiqPay, Fondy, WayForPay — not supported
- Stripe — not available for accounts on getcourse.ru
For an online school working with Ukrainian or international students, the absence of Stripe and local Ukrainian payment systems means direct conversion losses. A student who can’t conveniently pay for a course simply won’t pay.
Pricing Comparison
Softbook
| Plan | Price/month | Students | Key Features |
| Mini | $39 | Unlimited | Courses, video protection, payments |
| Pro | $89 | Unlimited | + CRM, gamification, email campaigns |
| Max | $159 | Unlimited | + Full feature set, priority support |
GetCourse (main plans)
| Plan | Price/month | Active Users | Storage |
| Start | 5,900 ₽ (~$65) | 1,000 | 20 GB |
| Amateur | 10,100 ₽ (~$112) | 2,000 | 30 GB |
| Professional | 21,100 ₽ (~$234) | 5,000 | 50 GB |
| Expert | 27,200 ₽ (~$302) | 10,000 | 100 GB |
| Producer | 31,900 ₽ (~$354) | 17,000 | 200 GB |
Exchange rate: ~90 ₽ per $1. GetCourse prices are for monthly billing, data from the official website getcourse.ru.
Cost Calculation by Scenario
Scenario 1: 500 students, launching an online school
- Softbook Mini: $39/mo — unlimited students, room to grow
- GetCourse Start: ~$65/mo — 1,000 user limit, sufficient for launch
Scenario 2: 3,000 students, active school
- Softbook Pro: $89/mo — no student limits
- GetCourse Professional: ~$234/mo — 5,000 user limit
Scenario 3: 15,000 students, large-scale project
- Softbook Max: $159/mo — price stays the same
- GetCourse Producer: ~$354/mo — 17,000 user limit
The cost gap widens at every level. At 15,000 students, Softbook costs roughly half of what GetCourse charges.
Also note: if you pay GetCourse from abroad via Get Module, the international payment fee is 10% — an additional cost that doesn’t exist with Softbook.
Softbook Advantages
- Unlimited students on all plans — cost doesn’t increase as you scale
- Fixed, transparent pricing — three plans, no overage charges
- Ukrainian jurisdiction — data outside Russia, no sanctions risks
- Full payment system support: Fondy, LiqPay, WayForPay for UA + Stripe, PayPal for the global market
- Gamification and social network — engagement tools not available in GetCourse
- 24/7 support in Ukrainian
- Operates in 57 countries — no restrictions by geography or card type
GetCourse Advantages
- Built-in webinars — no need for third-party services for live broadcasts
- Website and landing page builder — create a full school website within the platform
- Sales funnels — complex automation scenarios with segmentation and triggers
- Mature product — on the market since 2014, extensive knowledge base
- All-in-one approach — LMS, CRM, website builder, email, analytics in one system
Softbook Drawbacks
- No built-in website builder — external tools needed for landing pages
- No built-in webinars — requires integration with Zoom, Google Meet, etc.
- No sales funnels — automated sales sequences are basic
- Smaller integration ecosystem compared to GetCourse
GetCourse Drawbacks
- Russian jurisdiction — data stored on servers in Russia, the company is subject to Russian law, including intelligence service requirements for data access
- Sanctions risks — using a platform under Russian jurisdiction can create compliance issues for companies in the EU, UK, US, and other countries
- GDPR non-compliance — transferring personal data to servers in Russia is problematic when working with EU audiences
- Limited payments — Stripe not available, foreign cards work with restrictions, 10% fee on international payments via Get Module
- No Ukrainian payment systems — Fondy, LiqPay, WayForPay not supported
- Active user limits — if exceeded, the account is blocked within 7 days unless you upgrade to a more expensive plan
- Complex interface — overloaded with features, takes newcomers weeks to learn
- Reputational risks — for businesses from any country, using a Russian platform in 2026 carries reputational baggage
- No gamification — no points, rewards, or game-based learning scenarios
Who Is Softbook For?
- Ukrainian online schools — a local platform with Ukrainian payment systems and a native-language interface
- Schools targeting international markets — Stripe, PayPal, English interface, no sanctions restrictions
- Schools with large or growing student bases — the unlimited model delivers significant savings at scale
- Schools in Kazakhstan, Georgia, Moldova, and other post-Soviet countries looking for a GetCourse replacement without the risks
- Corporate clients where compliance and data security are mandatory requirements
- Those who value engagement — gamification and social network features help retain students
Who Is GetCourse For?
- Schools operating exclusively within the Russian domestic market, working only with Russian audiences and not planning to expand beyond Russia
- Projects that critically need built-in webinars without third-party services
- Schools with established processes in GetCourse where migration costs outweigh the risks
Summary
Softbook and GetCourse are platforms from different realities. And the difference goes beyond features.
If you operate in the Ukrainian market — GetCourse has not been an acceptable option since 2022. Softbook fully covers Ukrainian schools’ needs: local payments, unlimited students, Ukrainian-language support, data stored outside Russia.
If you target the international market — weigh the risks: data on Russian servers, GDPR issues, no Stripe, 10% fee on international payments, reputational exposure from using a Russian platform. Softbook with Stripe, PayPal, and a presence in 57 countries is a safer and more cost-effective alternative.
If you’re in Kazakhstan, Georgia, or another CIS country and migrating from GetCourse — Softbook offers a familiar approach to online learning, but without jurisdiction risks and with transparent pricing.
If you need built-in webinars and sales funnels — this is the only niche where GetCourse currently holds a functional advantage. The question is whether that advantage is worth the risks that come with it.
|
Criterion |
Recommendation |
| Ukrainian market | Softbook |
| International market | Softbook |
| Transparent pricing | Softbook |
| Scaling beyond 5,000 students | Softbook |
| Data security & GDPR | Softbook |
| Gamification & engagement | Softbook |
| Built-in webinars & sales funnels | GetCourse |
| Website builder within LMS | GetCourse |