8 best online course platforms for creators in 2024: top picks
Finding the right platform is essential for a first-time or experienced course creator — let's explore the top options.
Are you looking to create an online course and searching for the best platform to host it? With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one. In this article, I'll explore the top online course platforms to help you make an informed decision.
Online course platforms offer a variety of features, such as course creation tools, marketing and sales options, payment processing, and student management. Some platforms are geared towards specific types of courses, while others are more general. It's important to consider your course goals and audience when selecting a platform.
Whether you're a first-time course creator or have experience in the field, finding the right platform can make all the difference in the success of your course.
So, let's dive into the top online course platforms and see which one is the best fit for your needs.
What is an online course platform?
An online course platform is a software tool that allows you to create, manage, and sell online courses. It provides a platform for you to host your course content, manage student enrollments, and track student progress.
Creating an online course can be difficult, but online course platforms make it easy. They provide a range of tools and features to help you create engaging and interactive courses without the need for technical skills.
Consider your specific needs and goals when choosing an online course platform. Look for one that offers the features you need at a price that fits your budget. With the right platform, you can create and sell online courses that help you achieve your business goals and share your knowledge with the world.
Types of online course platforms
There are several types of online course platforms available for creating and selling courses. The right platform for you will depend on your specific needs and goals for your online course. Here are some of the most common types:
Learning management systems platforms are designed for creating and delivering online courses. They provide features like course creation tools, student management, and progress tracking.
Course marketplaces are platforms where instructors can create and sell courses to a large audience. These platforms often provide marketing and promotional support.
All-in-one platforms provide a complete solution for creating and selling online courses. They typically include features like course creation tools, payment processing, student management, and website hosting.
Video hosting platforms are designed specifically for hosting and delivering video content. They often provide features like video analytics, customization options, and integrations with other tools.
To keep it simple, I'll focus on 8 best platforms that provide the most essential features a course creator might need.
Best standalone (all-in-one) platforms
If you are looking for a standalone platform to host your online courses, there are several options available in the market. In this section, I will discuss some of the best standalone platforms you can use to create and sell your courses.
Thinkific
Source: thinkific.com
Thinkific is a popular online course platform that allows you to create and sell your courses. It offers a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to create and manage your courses.
Features | Availability | Details |
|---|---|---|
Course creation tools | ✅ | Allows course customization with videos, quizzes, surveys, and other multimedia content. |
Customizable website | ✅ | Provides a customizable website builder. |
Marketing tools | ✅ | Offers a range of marketing tools, including email marketing, affiliate marketing, and social media integration. |
Payment processing | ✅ | Supports a range of payment options, including credit cards, PayPal, and Stripe. |
Student management | ✅ | Allows to manage students, track their progress, and provide support through a built-in messaging system. |
Analytics and reporting | ✅ | Provides detailed analytics and reporting tools. |
Third-party integrations | ✅ | Such as Zapier, Mailchimp, and Google Analytics. |
Course certificates | ❌ | Doesn't provide course certificates to students who complete a course, which can be used to demonstrate their skills to potential employers. |
Pricing
Free: plan with limited features and only 1 course.
Paid: from 36$/mo with unlimited courses.
Teachable
Source: teachable.com
Teachable is another popular online course platform that allows you to create and sell your courses. It offers a range of features that make it easy to create and manage your courses.
Features | Availability | Details |
|---|---|---|
Course creation tools | ✅ | Allows course customization with videos, quizzes, surveys, and other multimedia content. |
Customizable website | ✅ | Provides a customizable website builder. |
Marketing tools | ✅ | Offers a range of marketing tools, including email marketing, affiliate marketing, and social media integration. |
Payment processing | ✅ | Supports a range of payment options, including credit cards, PayPal, and Stripe. |
Student management | ✅ | Allows to manage students, track their progress, and provide support through a built-in messaging system. |
Analytics and reporting | ✅ | Provides detailed analytics and reporting tools. |
Third-party integrations | ✅ | Such as Zapier, Mailchimp, and Google Analytics. |
Course certificates | ✅ | Provides course certificates to students who complete a course, which can be used to demonstrate their skills to potential employers. |
Drip content | ⭐ | Allows course creators to schedule the release of course content over time. |
Pricing
Free: 14-days trial.
Paid: from 59$/mo with 5 courses.
LearnWorlds
Source: learnworlds.com
LearnWorlds is a powerful online course platform that allows you to create and sell your courses. It offers a range of features that make it easy to create and manage your courses.
Features | Availability | Details |
|---|---|---|
Course creation tools | ✅ | Allows course customization with videos, quizzes, surveys, and other multimedia content. |
Customizable website | ✅ | Provides a customizable website builder. |
Marketing tools | ✅ | Offers a range of marketing tools, including email marketing, affiliate marketing, and social media integration. |
Payment processing | ✅ | Supports a range of payment options, including credit cards, PayPal, and Stripe. |
Student management | ✅ | Allows to manage students, track their progress, and provide support through a built-in messaging system. |
Analytics and reporting | ✅ | Provides detailed analytics and reporting tools. |
Third-party integrations | ✅ | Such as Zapier, Mailchimp, and Google Analytics. |
Course certificates | ✅ | Provides course certificates to students who complete a course, which can be used to demonstrate their skills to potential employers. |
Interactive video player | ⭐ | Allows to add clickable buttons, quizzes, and other interactive elements to their videos. |
Gamification | ⭐ | Provides gamification tools, such as badges and points. |
Pricing
Free: 30-day trial.
Paid: from 29$/mo with unlimited courses.
Podia
Source: podia.com
Podia is an all-in-one platform that allows you to create and sell your courses, digital products, and memberships. It offers a range of features that make it easy to create and manage your courses.
Features | Availability | Details |
|---|---|---|
Course creation tools | ✅ | Allows course customization with videos, quizzes, surveys, and other multimedia content. |
Customizable website | ✅ | Provides a customizable website builder. |
Marketing tools | ✅ | Offers a range of marketing tools, including email marketing, affiliate marketing, and social media integration. |
Payment processing | ✅ | Supports a range of payment options, including credit cards, PayPal, and Stripe. |
Student management | ✅ | Allows to manage students, track their progress, and provide support through a built-in messaging system. |
Analytics and reporting | ✅ | Provides detailed analytics and reporting tools. |
Third-party integrations | ✅ | Such as Zapier, Mailchimp, and Google Analytics. |
Course certificates | ✅ | Provides course certificates to students who complete a course, which can be used to demonstrate their skills to potential employers. |
Digital downloads | ⭐ | Allows course creators to sell digital downloads like eBooks, audio files, and PDFs. |
Membership sites | ⭐ | Offers tools for creating and managing membership sites. |
Pricing
Free: plan with limited features.
Paid: from 39$/mo with chat support.
Kajabi
Source: kajabi.com
Kajabi is an all-in-one platform that allows you to create and sell your courses, digital products, and memberships. It offers a range of features that make it easy to create and manage your courses.
Features | Availability | Details |
|---|---|---|
Course creation tools | ✅ | Allows course customization with videos, quizzes, surveys, and other multimedia content. |
Customizable website | ✅ | Provides a customizable website builder. |
Marketing tools | ✅ | Offers a range of marketing tools, including email marketing, affiliate marketing, and social media integration. |
Payment processing | ✅ | Supports a range of payment options, including credit cards, PayPal, and Stripe. |
Student management | ✅ | Allows to manage students, track their progress, and provide support through a built-in messaging system. |
Analytics and reporting | ✅ | Provides detailed analytics and reporting tools. |
Third-party integrations | ✅ | Such as Zapier, Mailchimp, and Google Analytics. |
Course certificates | ✅ | Provides course certificates to students who complete a course, which can be used to demonstrate their skills to potential employers. |
Webinars | ⭐ | Offers tools for creating and hosting webinars. |
Sales funnels | ⭐ | Offers tools for creating and managing sales funnels. |
Pricing
Free: 14-days trial.
Paid: from 149$/mo with basic features.
Udemy
Source: udemy.com
Udemy is an online course marketplace that allows you to create and sell your courses. It offers a range of features that make it easy to create and manage your courses.
Features | Availability | Details |
|---|---|---|
Course creation tools | ✅ | Allows course customization with videos, quizzes, surveys, and other multimedia content. |
Customizable website | ❌ | Doesn't provide a customizable website builder. |
Marketing tools | ✅ | Offers a global marketplace where instructors can sell their courses to a large audience of students. |
Payment processing | ✅ | Handles all payment processing for courses, including credit card payments, PayPal, and others. |
Student management | ✅ | Allows to manage students, track their progress, and provide support through a built-in messaging system. |
Analytics and reporting | ✅ | Provides detailed analytics and reporting tools. |
Third-party integrations | ❌ | Such as Zapier, Mailchimp, and Google Analytics. |
Course certificates | ✅ | Provides course certificates to students who complete a course, which can be used to demonstrate their skills to potential employers. |
Mobile app | ⭐ | Allows students to access courses from their mobile devices. |
Sales funnels | ⭐ | Offers tools for creating and managing sales funnels. |
Pricing
Udemy pricing is determined by the course instructor. The pricing of courses can vary widely, with some courses being free and others costing hundreds of dollars.
Academy of Mine
Source: academyofmine.com
Academy of Mine is an all-in-one platform that allows you to create and sell your courses, digital products, and memberships. It offers a range of features that make it easy to create and manage your courses.
Features | Availability | Details |
|---|---|---|
Course creation tools | ✅ | Allows course customization with videos, quizzes, surveys, and other multimedia content. |
Customizable website | ✅ | Provides a customizable website builder. |
Marketing tools | ✅ | Offers a range of marketing tools, including email marketing, affiliate marketing, and social media integration. |
Payment processing | ✅ | Supports a range of payment options, including credit cards, PayPal, and Stripe. |
Student management | ✅ | Allows to manage students, track their progress, and provide support through a built-in messaging system. |
Analytics and reporting | ✅ | Provides detailed analytics and reporting tools. |
Third-party integrations | ✅ | Such as Zapier, Mailchimp, and Google Analytics. |
Course certificates | ✅ | Provides course certificates to students who complete a course, which can be used to demonstrate their skills to potential employers. |
Gamification | ⭐ | Provides gamification tools, such as badges and points. |
Custom development | ⭐ | Offers custom development services for course creators who need additional features or functionality. |
Pricing
A custom pricing model based on your specific needs.
LearnDash
Source: learndash.com
LearnDash is a WordPress plugin that allows you to create and sell your courses. It offers a range of features that make it easy to create and manage your courses.
Features | Availability | Details |
|---|---|---|
Course creation tools | ✅ | Allows course customization with videos, quizzes, surveys, and other multimedia content. |
Customizable website | ✅ | Provides a customizable website builder. |
Marketing tools | ✅ | Offers a range of marketing tools, including email marketing, affiliate marketing, and social media integration. |
Payment processing | ✅ | Supports a range of payment options, including credit cards, PayPal, and Stripe. |
Student management | ✅ | Allows to manage students, track their progress, and provide support through a built-in messaging system. |
Analytics and reporting | ✅ | Provides detailed analytics and reporting tools. |
Third-party integrations | ✅ | Such as Zapier, Mailchimp, and Google Analytics. |
Course certificates | ✅ | Provides course certificates to students who complete a course, which can be used to demonstrate their skills to potential employers. |
Gamification | ⭐ | Provides gamification tools, such as badges and points. |
Drip content | ⭐ | Allows course creators to schedule the release of course content over time. |
Pricing
From $199 per year for use on one site, includes unlimited courses, users, and email support with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Frequently asked questions
What are the benefits of using an online course platform over traditional classroom teaching?
Online course platforms offer benefits such as flexibility, cost-effectiveness, scalability, personalization, access to a global audience, data-driven insights, and environmental sustainability.
What platform to use to create an online course?
Some of the most popular options are LearnWorlds, Thinkific, and Teachable. When choosing a platform, consider factors such as ease of use, pricing, and features. Look for a platform that allows you to easily create and manage your course content, as well as track student progress and engagement.
What is the best platform for selling courses online?
The most popular options include Udemy, Coursera, and Skillshare. However, the best platform for you will depend on your specific needs and goals.
What do course creators need?
Course creators need a variety of tools and resources to create and sell their courses online. Some of the most important tools include course creation software, a platform for hosting and selling the course, and marketing and promotional tools to help attract and retain students. Additionally, course creators may need access to resources such as design templates, video and audio editing software, and instructional design resources to help create an engaging and effective course.