Step‑by‑Step Guide to Setting Up Drip‑Feed Content in LearnDash

Updated 2026-07-16 · Hosting Reviews

Choosing the Right Platform and Hosting for Your Online Course Site

If you’re building an online course website, the first decision is whether to use WordPress with the LearnDash LMS plugin or a full‑stack website builder that already has LMS features. WordPress gives you maximum flexibility, an extensive plugin ecosystem, and the ability to keep 100% of your revenue. A builder can be faster to launch, but it often locks you into higher costs and limited customization.

When it comes to hosting, shared, VPS, or cloud plans are all viable. For most small‑business course sites, a shared plan with a high‑performance server is enough, especially if you choose a provider like Hostinger that offers SSD storage, free SSL, and a one‑click WordPress installer. Cloud or VPS plans are useful if you expect high traffic or need advanced scaling options.

What You Need: Domain, Hosting, WordPress, LearnDash, and Payment Gateway

1. Domain name – Buy a .com or .org that reflects your brand. Hostinger offers domains at a low introductory price.
2. Hosting plan – Start with a shared plan ($3–$15/month) that includes 1‑click WordPress, automatic backups, and a free SSL certificate.
3. WordPress installation – Use the one‑click installer in your Hostinger control panel.
4. LearnDash LMS plugin – Purchase the plugin ($159–$229/year) and install it via the WordPress plugin manager.
5. Payment gateway – Connect LearnDash to Stripe or PayPal for secure, instant payments.
6. SSL certificate – Enable the free SSL that comes with your Hostinger plan to keep student data secure.

Setting Up Drip‑Feed Content in LearnDash

The core of a drip‑feed course is the schedule that releases lessons over time. LearnDash makes this simple with its Schedule feature.

1. In WordPress, go to LearnDash LMS > Courses and create a new course or edit an existing one.
2. Under the Course Settings tab, enable Schedule and choose the start date.
3. For each lesson, click the Lesson Settings panel and set the Release Date or Release Time relative to the course start (e.g., “+7 days”).
4. Use the Lesson Availability toggle to lock content until the release date. Students will see a countdown or “locked” message.
5. Optional: Add Prerequisites to force completion of earlier lessons before unlocking the next.
6. Publish the course. Test the drip schedule by creating a test student account and verifying that lessons become visible on the set dates.

To keep your server fast, host videos on a dedicated CDN or external platform (YouTube, Vimeo) and embed them. This reduces bandwidth usage and speeds up page load times.

Launching Your Site: Final Checklist

• Verify SSL is active (HTTPS).
• Install a caching plugin (e.g., WP Rocket, LiteSpeed Cache) for speed.
• Set up automated backups via Hostinger or a WordPress plugin.
• Test the payment flow and email notifications.
• Publish a landing page with a clear call‑to‑action to enroll.

FAQ

What is the cheapest way to host an online course site?

Starting with a shared plan from Hostinger in the $3–$15/month range is usually enough for a small to medium course site. The plan includes free SSL, SSD storage, and a one‑click WordPress installer.

Do I need a VPS if I use LearnDash?

Not unless you anticipate heavy traffic or complex customizations. LearnDash runs fine on shared hosting as long as you keep the number of active courses and students moderate.

Can I change the drip schedule after launching?

Yes. Edit the course and adjust the release dates in the Lesson Settings. Students will see the updated schedule, but any content already unlocked remains accessible.