Online Course Platforms
Explore platforms like Teachable & Thinkific. Compare features, pricing, and more in 2024.
Online learning has become a popular way for students and professionals to refine their skills.
If you're an expert or have teaching experience, you can create and sell online courses to share your knowledge and earn income.
Choosing the right platform is crucial. Learning platforms vary in features like course builders, revenue sharing, transaction fees, support, and ease of use.
To help, we’ve selected the best online course platforms and outlined what each one offers.
Brett Helling is a digital marketing expert with over 10 years of experience building, managing, and scaling websites.
Basics to Understand
Online course platforms are powerful tools designed to bring education and instruction into the digital age.
They combine the functionality of learning management systems (LMS)—which handle course creation, student management, and virtual classrooms—with additional tools like marketing features to help educators and businesses grow their audience.
These platforms offer a wide range of features, including online testing, course uploads, digital downloads, and discussion forums, making it easier than ever to create a dynamic virtual learning environment.
Most platforms also include tools to design engaging landing pages, which act as persuasive sales pitches to attract students through search engines, ads, or affiliate marketing.
With an online course platform, you can upload a variety of course materials—such as PDFs, videos, PowerPoints, and other digital resources—to enhance the learning experience.
This article highlights the best online course platforms to help you get started, whether you’re an educator, entrepreneur, or organization looking to build a successful online course.
How to Choose
Some popular genres include academic courses, professional development programs, and skill-building guides. To go further into depth, some of the key functionalities and features of these courses are as follows:
- Course management and administration: Instructors can monitor their courses and make changes to any content, as well as things such as schedules and curriculum
- User registration: Platform users can register for their preferred courses, commonly for a fee, for access to resources
- Content delivery: this can be through a range of different mediums, such as video lectures, slides, audio recordings, and interactive exercises
- Discussion forums: Students can interact with other students and instructors through forums, chats, and messaging
- Progress tracking: Analytic tools can track student performance, and once a course is completed, they may be eligible for a certificate or badge signifying their achievement.
My Personal Take
Can't wait? Here are our favorites.
As you can see, a lot depends on what your needs are. However, this list has something for everyone.
- Teachable: Best overall platform for creating and selling online courses.
- Thinkific: Best for easy course creation with user-friendly tools.
- Udemy: Best for attracting students through a large course marketplace.
- Skillshare: Best marketplace for short, skill-based classes.
- Kajabi: Best for experienced creators with all-in-one marketing and teaching tools.
- Podia: Best for beginners looking for simple, all-in-one solutions.
- LearnWorlds: Best for interactive student engagement.
- AccessAlly: Best WordPress plugin for hosting courses on your website.
- MemberSpace: Best for creating courses on Squarespace or other website builders.
- TalentLMS: Best for small business training and employee development.
Our Top Picks
Teachable is one platform with a lot of name recognition on the market, and that’s for a reason.
It is usually the first online platform that content creators consider when looking for a site to create and sell online courses, and most often, they don’t have to look anywhere else.
Teachable is easy to use, affordable, and has many features for content creation.
Another leading online learning platform, Thinkific has an easy to use interface.
They have features like the best course builder, email marketing, and 24/7 customer support ready to answer any questions you might have while building your course business.
Right now, Udemy is by far the largest online course marketplace. There are over 12 million students in Udemy’s virtual classrooms.
Udemy is a veteran in the world of online learning, and no matter what subject you’re teaching, you’ll find students eager to learn.
Why We Chose This for Top Pick
5 million students are learning through Teachable on over 20,000 active courses. So yes, there’s a lot of traffic.
Keep students engaged in your course by utilizing Teachable’s numerous features like graded quizzing, certificates, content dripping, and more.
Your content can range anywhere from video, audio, PDFs, PowerPoints, etc. You can also connect Teachable to Zapier to use even more features and integration.
Teachable also offers real-time analytics, so you know what’s got students hooked. Which is awesome to build on a course’s success in the future.
While Teachable used to have a free plan, their cheapest plan currently is $29 per month, with a 5% transaction fee. Hardcore instructors can upgrade to pricier options that eliminate the transaction fee and increase access.
However, there is a limited free plan if you want to try it. Read our article about Teachable pricing to learn more.
Want to know more about Teachable? See how it stacks up to other competitors:
But the list doesn’t end there. If this one doesn’t exactly sound like what you’re looking for, take a look at some other top-rated online course platforms below.
Why We Chose This for Runner-Up
Thinkific offers a one month free trial on their Pro plan, so you can get the look and feel of their business before deciding to invest.
Unlike Teachable, Thinkific has marketing features such as the ability to create an email list, making it easy to garner an audience. You can use this one learning management system (LMS) to create, sell, and market your online course.
They offer a free plan on which they charge a 10% transaction fee, and you have a limit of three courses. The next step up is the basic plan for $39 monthly, with a 5% transaction fee and the ability to create unlimited courses for your students.
Why It’s Awesome
Thinkific is well known for its responsive customer support. Customer support is available 24/7, so you would even be able to shoot them a question when you’re pulling an all-nighter to make sure the course is ready for launch the next morning. Other online course platforms, like Skillshare, usually have only an online form that takes 2-3 business days to get a response.
It has various integrations with popular software, so if you already have a toolbox for your online creation sales tools, such as a website or marketing software, Thinkific will mix well into the blend.
How It Can Be Improved
Thinkific’s basic plan is on the higher end of the budget compared to other leading platforms’ starter plans. If you have a small business or if you’re not ready yet to invest in online course teaching, there are cheaper options out there for you. A couple of platforms are entirely free and just take a revenue share––take a look at Udemy.
Why We Chose This for Budget Pick
There is no monthly subscription to Udemy. It is a free plan, but they take 50% of the enrollment fee revenue if students discover your online course through them.
However, they provide you with a link for affiliate marketing, and if you bring in the students yourself, you keep 97% of the profits, and it only costs a 3% transaction fee.
You can create courses using a combination of PDFs, PowerPoint slides, and videos on Udemy. Their interface, while not as flashy as competitors, is very user friendly.
Why It’s Awesome
Udemy is excellent if you don’t already have a large following because of the number of students in their course marketplace.
You don’t have to make your website; you can post your course directly on Udemy. It’s easy to use, so you don’t need to be a tech wiz to get started: it will teach you the basics of content creating.
If your course content is not bringing in the steady income needed to pay an online platform a monthly fee, or maybe you simply don’t want to, Udemy is free for instructors.
How It Can Be Improved
50% is a pretty hefty revenue share, so if your students are mainly coming in through Udemy’s course marketplace, enrollment fees might not amount to much when you first get started.
You need to sell a lot of courses to make any money.
Udemy requires courses to have at least 30 minutes of video content, or be 60% video.
If that is not your most comfortable mode of instruction, it can be hard to get yourself on their course marketplace.
There are disadvantages to putting yourself out on a large course marketplace: there are over 20,000 instructors and countless site courses on Udemy, so competition for students is high.
Content creators just starting should make sure they can create an eye-catching and high-quality site course.
On Udemy, you are unable to create an email list to market your course content, so that is one tool you won’t have by signing up with them.
Alternatives
Kind of like an all-in-one platform, Kajabi is not just a learning management system (LMS) for course content like Udemy but has features like a web content management system (CMS) and customer relationship management tools (CRM).
If you want to boost your already active online presence and business, Kajabi is the way to go.
If Udemy is a veteran, Podia is the latest rookie sensation. They joined the internet in 2014, but have been gaining traction in the last couple of years.
It is excellent for digital downloads and webinars, which can be hosted in real-time.
If you’re nervous about betting your money on a new, emerging platform, Podia offers a 14-day free trial to get a look and feel.
Free Option
Skillshare was created for passionate teachers and students learning for the sake of learning, so there’s a strong emphasis on real, applicable skills (cooking, photography, writing, etc.) rather than clickbait-y self-promotional videos.
About the Alternatives
Kajabi
With Kajabi’s basic plan, you get your website, three products, three pipelines, unlimited landing pages, marketing emails, and up to 1,000 members and 10,000 contacts.
They will provide you with strong marketing resources; unlike Udemy, this includes email marketing. Along with selling online courses, you can use their platform to sell most digital products.
Their beautiful web design will keep your students engaged. Their site builder has the most to offer out of any platform, with 10+ pre-built site themes.
Why It’s Awesome
Kajabi is loaded with features. While you might need additional tools to help manage your online business on other platforms, Kajabi is an all-in-one learning management system.
On this one system, content creators can market, sell, and deliver online teaching, as well as create their website. Kajabi can take a creator or business with zero web presence thus far, and provide them with all the online essentials.
How It Can Be Improved
For content creators who already have their own website and marketing tools, Kajabi might be excessive.
Their price is on the higher end of the market (their basic plan is $149 per month), although there is zero transaction fee, and they offer multiple services.
The cost may be too steep for teachers who are exclusively looking to sell online courses, so make sure this is a price your business can sustain.
Basically, if you’re just starting out and don’t know how big your course will be (or if you’ll even enjoy courses), you should stick to a more basic system like Podia.
Podia
The interface is easy to use and navigate, with a uniquely modern style. As a new and contemporary online course platform, Podia has distinguished itself by its cartoon-like branding.
On Podia, content creators primarily sell online courses, but they can also sell digital downloads, membership, e-books, and other digital products.
Webinars, hosted either in real-time or on-demand, can be sold or posted for free to build your customer email list.
The monthly fee to use Podia is $39, with no transaction fee aside from the payment processor. You get to keep 100% of your enrollment fee revenue.
Why It’s Awesome
As a new and emerging platform, Podia has fewer instructors, especially compared to Udemy’s 20,000. The lower volume means that there will be slightly less competition with other experts in your field for online course students.
On top of unlimited courses, Podia offers unlimited bandwidth, file size, and sales. Unlike Udemy, email marketing is built-in in on Podia, and there is no limit on subscribers or emails sent.
There are plenty of more customizing options on Podia, for creators looking to create a personal online course.
Storefront, landing pages, and the logo and branding color of each product are all customizable on Podia’s basic plan. For most online course platforms, you have to purchase the most expensive plan to gain that freedom.
Podia is focused on more than just online courses; it will help your overall online business. There are countless digital products you can sell using their platform, and affiliate marketing focus is strong on Podia.
How It Can Be Improved
Once again, if you are a small business and you’re unsure if your course sales will cover the cost, the monthly fee, as opposed to a revenue share payment system, might not be optimal.
However, if you want to actually run a sustainable business, I think you need your own platform and Podia is a great option.
Similar to Kajabi, Podia is an all-in-one platform for any of your digital products. If you are focused primarily on becoming an online instructor, you will need a platform more exclusive to online course learning.
Skillshare
Like Udemy, Skillshare has a free plan for instructors. But their payment system is set up differently than Udemy’s revenue share: instructors on Skillshare make money through monthly royalties on their video content and affiliate marketing on premium membership.
Royalties come in by each minute of video content watched per month, which is advantageous if your most comfortable method of course creation is video.
The interface is very user friendly. Each course is accompanied by a ‘class project’ that students need to hand in at the end of the course.
Why It’s Awesome
Skillshare has shorter classes––classes range between 10-25 minutes and consist of multiple short videos.
You can create courses with self-paced, high-quality videos because of these shorter bursts for course content to maximize student engagement.
The monthly royalties on video content watched are considerable for video creators and can create long-term passive income right into your bank account.
Features like the ‘class project’ authenticate virtual classrooms, and can create a look and feel of a real class. Seeing your students’ work at the end might bring great satisfaction to online teaching.
How It Can Be Improved
Content creators only start earning money once they’ve gained 25 students, so this may not be the best option if you have a smaller online presence or you’re looking for immediate gains.
There is also no feature like quizzing on the system, so if you are looking for a traditional class structure, this may not be for you.
Like Udemy, email marketing is not a feature on Skillshare. Keep in mind; you will not be able to build an email list.
Other Options
If you have unique requirements for your course, such as hosting it on your own website or creating internal training programs, these alternative course creation tools are worth exploring.
Each is tailored to specific use cases, providing flexible, high-quality options for course creators looking beyond traditional platforms.
Coursera
Coursera is a well-known LMS partnered with hundreds of universities and companies worldwide, offering users access to thousands of high-quality courses.
You can learn on your own schedule and even gain recognized credentials, including formal certifications and degrees.
Coursera provides flexible pricing options, ranging from 2,900 free courses for one-off learning needs to subscription plans starting at $59/month.
For those seeking guided projects, professional certificates, or even master’s degrees, varying price points ensure there’s something for everyone.
Coursera is ideal for individuals looking to gain formal certification from a globally recognized academic resource, though entry-level courses may require some prior knowledge.
edX
Similar to Coursera, edX offers courses in partnership with prestigious institutions like Harvard and Google, giving students access to verified certificates and interactive learning experiences.
edX provides two tracks: a free audit track and a paid Verified track.
While the audit track offers free course access, Verified tracks range in price from $50 to $300 depending on the course type.
Pros include the opportunity to earn verified qualifications, a 14-day refund window, and the availability of free courses.
However, non-academic topics and consistent course structures are limited. edX is best for those looking to gain verified skills and qualifications at their own pace.
FutureLearn
FutureLearn, owned by Global University Systems, partners with universities and cultural institutions to provide diverse courses. Users can choose free courses or upgrade to receive accreditation.
Pricing includes a $19 first-month introductory offer on the Unlimited Monthly Plan (then $39/month) or flat-rate course upgrades ranging from $74–$124+.
FutureLearn offers verified certificates and access to reputable institutions like John Hopkins University and Accenture.
While pricing is accessible, a lack of a mobile app may be a drawback. This platform is great for learners seeking a mix of free and affordable courses with options for accreditation.
CreativeLive
CreativeLive is a platform designed for creative professionals and entrepreneurs who want to monetize their expertise on their terms.
The platform hosts a variety of creative courses taught by high-profile instructors, offering lifetime access to purchased courses.
Subscription plans include $129/year or $29/month. While CreativeLive boasts extremely high-quality content and free access to live classes, it does not offer accreditation, and some individual courses can be expensive.
This is a fantastic option for those seeking creative inspiration and skill development without needing formal qualifications.
MemberSpace
MemberSpace is a versatile platform for hosting membership sites or courses on website builders like Squarespace, Wix, and Weebly.
This all-in-one solution is designed for simplicity and elegance, making it a popular choice for those seeking a self-hosted course or membership option.
MemberSpace is best for users who are committed to using Squarespace or similar platforms for their course hosting needs.
TalentLMS
TalentLMS is tailored for small business training, offering a robust set of features to create effective employee or client training programs.
It is optimized as a training solution, providing only the tools you need without unnecessary extras.
While it could benefit from stronger marketing tools, TalentLMS excels in its niche. It’s ideal for businesses that prioritize streamlined and efficient training programs over broader course creation needs.
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Selecting the best online course platforms required a careful evaluation of key features, flexibility, and value to ensure they meet a variety of creator needs.
Our litmus test focused on several critical criteria:
- Ease of Use: Platforms must provide intuitive tools that make course creation straightforward, even for beginners.
- Features & Flexibility: We prioritized platforms offering comprehensive course-building tools, interactive elements, and customization options to suit diverse teaching styles.
- Cost & Value: Affordability and transparent pricing were essential, alongside evaluating whether the features justified the price.
- Scalability: Platforms needed to accommodate creators at various stages, from first-time course builders to experienced professionals managing large-scale programs.
- Support & Community: High-quality customer support and active user communities were essential for providing guidance and troubleshooting.
- Specialization: Some platforms excel in niche areas like creative courses, training programs, or hosting courses on self-managed websites. These distinctions helped us match platforms to specific needs.
By adhering to these criteria, we identified the top options for online course creators, ensuring there’s something for everyone, from beginners to seasoned educators.
Additionally, we also backed these up with our Editorial Guidelines, which help us to maintain a high-quality content standard for everything that we post on the site.
Out of the countless online learning platforms out there, Teachable is our top pick to help you get started on your online business and get connected to students.
Asides from Teachable, we’ve highlighted the best online course platforms depending on your needs: Thinkific, Udemy, Skillshare, Kajabi, Podia, and LearnWorlds.
The best online course platform for you depends on your budget, marketing needs, mode of instruction, and much more.
Join the new wave of teachers and experts in virtual classrooms today by using one of these carefully-picked sites to launch your online course.
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