Teaching others what you know is a rewarding experience.
In this article, I'll explore the best online course platforms and tools available today, and highlight their key features and benefits.
Whether you're just starting out or looking to switch to a new platform, by the end of this article, you'll have a better understanding of which online course platform is the best fit for your business needs.
Identifying the key features of a great online course platform
When it comes to building and delivering online courses, choosing the right platform is critical to your success. It's important to note, that an online course platform is different from hosting your course on your own website or using WordPress LMS plugins.
As you embark on your course creation journey, keep an eye out for these essential features:
User-friendly interface
An intuitive and easy-to-use platform will make your course creation process smooth and enjoyable. I remember spending hours trying to figure out how to navigate a clunky interface when I first began – save yourself the headache and choose a platform with a user-friendly design.
Customization and branding capabilities
As an entrepreneur, you want your course to reflect your unique brand and style. Look for platforms that offer customization options like branded landing pages, personalized course themes, and customizable templates. This will help you create a cohesive and professional appearance that resonates with your audience.
Course creation and management tools
You need a platform with powerful tools to build and manage your course effectively. From video hosting and quizzes to progress tracking and student engagement features, the right platform will make it easy for you to deliver an exceptional learning experience.
Integration with other software and tools
A platform that seamlessly integrates with your existing tools, such as email marketing software or CRM systems, will streamline your workflow and save you valuable time. I've found that platforms with a robust selection of integrations have been game-changers for my business.
Payment processing and security
Choose a platform with secure payment processing and flexible pricing options, such as one-time payments, subscriptions, or payment plans. This will help you cater to different student budgets and preferences while ensuring your revenue is protected.
Marketing and analytics tools
Growing your course business requires effective marketing and data-driven decision-making. Top-notch platforms provide built-in marketing tools, such as SEO optimization and social media integration, as well as in-depth analytics to help you track your success and make informed choices.
Customer support and resources
A reliable customer support team can make all the difference when you're faced with technical issues or have questions about the platform. Look for platforms with responsive support, helpful resources, and a dedicated community to help you succeed.
With these features in mind, let's dive into the top online course platforms that redefine e-learning excellence!
Teachable
All-in-one platform for business and individual creators
Teachable is an all-in-one platform designed to help creators engage their audiences and monetize their knowledge through online courses, coaching, and digital downloads.
With its intuitive interface and powerful features, Teachable makes it easy for users to create, market, and sell their content, empowering them to earn on their own terms.
Features
Best for: Teachable is ideal for businesses and individual creators looking to monetize their expertise through a variety of formats, including online courses, coaching services, and digital products.
Pros:
Cons:
Pricing:
Teachable offers a free plan with basic features, as well as three paid plans ranging from $59 to $665 billed monthly. The paid plans offer additional features such as advanced analytics, integrated affiliate marketing, and more. Users can save up to 33% with annual plans.
Kajabi
All-in-one platform with marketing tools, CRM, and community-building features
Kajabi is a comprehensive all-in-one platform designed to help creators build and monetize a wide range of digital products, such as online courses, coaching programs, memberships, podcasts, and more.
Launched in 2010, Kajabi now empowers over 50,000 knowledge entrepreneurs across 120 countries.
Features
Best for: Kajabi is ideal for creators and businesses looking for an all-in-one solution to create, market, and sell various digital products while providing a seamless user experience.
Pros:
Cons:
Pricing:
Kajabi offers three pricing plans ranging from $149 to $399 billed monthly, with no transaction fees charged. The plans differ mainly by the number of active customers, products, and funnels a user can have at any given time. Users can save 20% with annual billing.
Gumroad
Simple, easy-to-use platform for selling digital products
Gumroad is a versatile platform that enables creators to sell digital products, physical products, and memberships with ease.
With Gumroad, users can monetize almost anything, from eBooks and courses to art and merchandise, all within a single, user-friendly solution.
Features
Best for: Gumroad is ideal for creators and businesses looking for a versatile yet simple platform to sell digital or physical products, as well as memberships.
Pros:
Cons:
Pricing:
Gumroad does not charge monthly fees, but takes a flat 10% fee on every sale made through their platform.
LearnWorlds
Interactive courses with personalized video, assessments, and real-time learner engagement.
LearnWorlds is a versatile platform that enables creators to build and sell online courses directly from their own websites.
Founded in mid-2014 with offices in Greece and Cyprus, LearnWorlds has become a popular choice for creators in over 100 countries, offering beautifully crafted templates and tools for course creation, sales, and promotion.
Features
Best for: LearnWorlds is ideal for creators and businesses looking to create, sell, and promote online courses through their own branded websites while maintaining full control over their content and user experience.
Pros:
Cons:
Pricing:
Learnworlds offers three pricing plans with monthly billing starting at $29, $99, and $299, respectively. The higher-tier plans have no transaction fees, while the $29 plan charges $5 per course sale. Users can save up to 20% with yearly billing. Additional features, such as insightful reporting and site builder tools, are available in the higher-tier plans.
Thinkific+
Create, sell and deliver courses with flexible options and customization.
Thinkific is a comprehensive platform designed for creators to build and sell online courses, foster engaging communities, and monetize memberships, all within a single, scalable solution.
With Thinkific, users have complete control over pricing, revenue, learning product data, and the look and feel of their content.
Features
Best for: Thinkific is perfect for creators and businesses seeking an all-in-one solution to create, sell, and manage online courses while building vibrant communities and monetizing memberships.
Pros:
Cons:
Pricing:
Thinkific offers three paid plans ranging from $49 to $199 billed monthly, with no transaction fees charged. Users can save up to 25% with annual billing. The plans differ in the number of features offered, such as memberships, live lessons, and advanced course pricing options, with more features available in the higher-tier plans.
LearnDash
User-friendly interface with add-ons
LearnDash cloud is a cloud-based platform that has been serving major universities, startups, small to mid-size companies, entrepreneurs, and bloggers worldwide since 2012.
It offers a quick and easy setup process, with hosting included, making it a convenient option for users looking to build online courses.
With its user-friendly interface and customizable templates, LearnDash allows creators to design professional and engaging courses that align with their brand.
Features
Best for: LearnDash Cloud is ideal for creating professional and engaging branded courses without coding skills, offering certificates, progress tracking, and flexible pricing options.
Pros:
Cons:
Pricing:
Learndash Cloud offers a basic plan for $29 billed monthly, with add-ons available for an extra fee. The add-ons, which include features such as reporting and group management, are priced differently depending on the number of sites a user has, with options for 1, 10, or unlimited sites. Users can save $49 if they opt for annual billing.
Podia
All-in-one platform for creators to showcase and sell products.
Podia is a user-friendly platform that allows creators to build websites, sell online courses and digital products, and host communities, all within a single solution.
With its "pay-as-you-grow" pricing model, Podia caters to creators at different stages of their business journey, making it an accessible and scalable choice.
Features
Best for: Podia is ideal for creators and businesses looking for an all-in-one solution to create, sell, and manage their online presence, courses, digital products, and communities with ease.
Pros:
Cons:
Pricing:
Podia offers two paid plans, priced at $39 and $89 billed monthly. The main difference between the plans is the availability of affiliate marketing and third-party code features, with these features only available in the higher-tier plan. Users can save 17% if they opt for annual billing.
Academy of Mine
Customizable platform for businesses
Academy of Mine is a customizable eLearning platform that allows businesses to create, manage, and deliver online courses, all within an all-in-one solution.
Since 2014, Academy of Mine has served over 600 businesses in more than 10 countries, offering seamless integrations with popular apps and customizable features to meet individual needs.
Features
Best for: Academy of Mine is ideal for businesses seeking a customizable and comprehensive solution to create, manage, and deliver online courses to their learners.
Pros:
Cons:
Pricing:
Academy of Mine offers three paid plans, priced at $299, $599, and $999 billed monthly. The main difference between the plans is the number of active users allowed, with higher-tier plans supporting a greater number of users. Unfortunately, there is no annual billing option available due to the higher monthly charges.
Wrapping Up
Choosing the right online course platform is essential for the success of your business. I’d like to hear from you.
Have you tried any of the platforms mentioned in this article? What was your experience like? We'd love to hear from you in the comments below!