You’ve created quality teaching resources and you’re ready to share them with a wider audience. The question isn’t whether to sell — it’s where. As a South African educator, you have several options, and each one works differently. Here’s an honest comparison to help you decide.
The Options
LeagueIQ
Built for: South African educators selling to South African students
LeagueIQ is South Africa’s dedicated marketplace for educational resources. Every resource is reviewed for quality before publication, and the platform is specifically designed for the SA curriculum landscape.
Key details:
- Earnings: 52% to you — you keep more than half of every sale
- Currency: ZAR — students pay in Rands, you earn in Rands
- Pricing: Set by the admin team to ensure consistency and fair pricing
- Quality control: Every resource is reviewed before going live
- Audience: South African students and parents
- Curricula: All South African-based curricula (CAPS, IEB, Cambridge/IGCSE)
- Cost to join: Free — no listing fees, no monthly fees
- Ownership: You keep full ownership of your work
Best for: Educators who want to reach SA students specifically, earn in Rands, and be part of a curated platform that maintains quality standards.
Teacha (SA-based)
Built for: South African teachers selling locally
Teacha is another SA-based platform for educational resources. It’s been around longer and has an established community.
Key details:
- Earnings structure varies
- ZAR-based
- Self-service pricing (you set your own price)
- SA curriculum focus
Best for: Educators who want to set their own prices and have been creating resources for a while.
Teachers Pay Teachers (US-based)
Built for: Global educator marketplace, primarily US audience
TpT is the largest educational resource marketplace globally, but it’s designed for the American education system.
Key details:
- USD-based — SA teachers earn in dollars (currency conversion and PayPal fees apply)
- Massive audience but primarily American (Common Core, US standards)
- You set your own price
- Platform takes a percentage of each sale
- No quality review — anyone can upload anything
Best for: Educators who create resources that aren’t curriculum-specific (generic skills, templates, organizational tools) or who want to tap into a US audience.
The SA challenge: Very few South African students browse TpT. If your resources are CAPS or IEB-aligned, your target audience isn’t there.
Selling Independently (Own Website / Social Media)
Built for: Educators who want full control
You can sell through your own website, Gumroad, or even WhatsApp groups.
Key details:
- You keep 100% (minus payment processing fees)
- You handle everything: marketing, payments, delivery, customer service
- No built-in audience — you need to drive all your own traffic
- No quality badge or platform credibility
Best for: Educators with an existing following (blog, YouTube, Instagram) who can drive their own traffic.
The reality: Most independent sellers earn very little because they can’t solve the distribution problem. Creating the resource is 20% of the work — getting it in front of buyers is 80%.
The Comparison Table
| Feature | LeagueIQ | Teacha | TpT | Independent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Currency | ZAR | ZAR | USD | Your choice |
| You earn | 52% | Varies | Varies | ~95% (minus fees) |
| SA audience | Yes | Yes | Minimal | Only if you build it |
| Quality review | Yes | Varies | No | N/A |
| Pricing control | Admin sets price | You set price | You set price | You set price |
| Cost to join | Free | Varies | Free/Premium | Hosting costs |
| Curriculum focus | SA curricula | SA curricula | US curricula | Your choice |
| Built-in marketing | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Payment in Rands | Yes | Yes | No (USD) | Your choice |
What to Consider
If you’re just starting out
Go with a platform that has a built-in audience. The hardest part of selling resources isn’t creating them — it’s finding buyers. A platform gives you instant access to students who are already searching for what you’ve made.
If your resources are SA curriculum-specific
Use a South African platform. CAPS, IEB, and Cambridge/IGCSE resources on an American platform won’t reach the students who need them.
If you want quality over quantity
Choose a platform with quality review. It might feel like a hurdle, but being on a curated platform means students trust what they’re buying — and trust drives sales.
Can you be on multiple platforms?
Yes, if the platforms allow it and you retain ownership of your work. Many educators list resources on more than one platform to maximise reach.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Which platform will I earn the most on?
It depends on sales volume, not just earnings. 52% of 100 sales beats 95% of 5 sales. Platforms with built-in audiences and marketing support typically generate more sales than going independent.
Q: Should I sell on a US platform if I’m a South African teacher?
Only if your resources aren’t curriculum-specific. Generic resources (graphic organisers, planning templates, classroom management tools) can sell anywhere. Curriculum-aligned content needs a local audience.
Q: What if I’ve already listed resources on another platform?
You can still join LeagueIQ. As long as you own your resources, you can list them on multiple platforms. Just check each platform’s terms regarding exclusivity.
Q: How long before I start making sales?
Expect your first sale within 1-4 weeks on an established platform. Building a consistent income takes longer — most successful resource creators say 3-6 months to see meaningful returns, and it compounds from there.
Ready to reach South African students? Join LeagueIQ — free to join, start earning, quality-reviewed, and built specifically for the SA education market.
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