| Platform | Best For | Price | Highlight Feature |
| Teachable | Solo educators | Free+ | Built-in marketing tools |
| Thinkific | Custom creators | Free+ | Flexible course structure |
| Kajabi | Online businesses | $149+ | All-in-one business tools |
| Udemy | Mass reach | Free | Huge built-in audience |
| Coursera | Institutions | Invite | Accredited certifications |
| Podia | Digital sellers | $39+ | Multi-product support |
| Skillshare | Creatives | Invite | Royalties for watch time |
What Makes a Great Online Course Platform
Let’s get this out of the way—great course platforms make your life easier. They should be simple to use but powerful enough to grow with you. You want something that lets you build courses quickly, gives you control over how they look, and helps you actually make money from them.
What to look for:
- Ease of use
- Customization options
- Monetization flexibility
- Marketing and analytics tools
- Good customer support
- Useful integrations
Teachable: A go-to for educators and entrepreneurs
Teachable is a favorite among creators who want to get started fast. You can build out your courses using a drag-and-drop builder, and you don’t need any tech background to make something that looks great. It supports all the essentials—video lessons, PDFs, quizzes, and even certificates for your students.
You’ll also find built-in payment options and marketing features like coupon codes and affiliate tracking. While the basic plan has some transaction fees and fewer customization options, it’s still a solid start.
Best for: Coaches and educators who want a simple, all-in-one solution.
Thinkific: A flexible option with room to grow
Thinkific is a flexible platform that lets you do more as your needs grow. You can structure your courses exactly how you want, even setting prerequisites or dripping content out over time. The design editor gives you decent control, and there’s a free plan that’s surprisingly generous.
The one drawback? There’s no built-in email marketing, so you’ll need a third-party tool to handle that.
Best for: Creators who like to customize their setup and want to scale long term.
Kajabi: The all-in-one powerhouse
Kajabi is a beast—in a good way. This is the platform for folks who want to run their entire digital business in one place. You’re not just getting a course builder. You’re getting landing pages, email sequences, sales funnels, podcast hosting, and even blogging tools.
It does come with a steeper price tag, and there’s a bit of a learning curve because it’s packed with features. But once you’re in, you’ll find it’s super powerful.
Best for: Professionals or businesses that need everything under one roof.
Udemy: Big reach without the hassle
If you’re more interested in getting in front of a massive audience than owning your own brand, Udemy is the place to be. It’s a marketplace, so people come to the platform to browse and buy courses—no marketing required on your end.
The downside? You won’t have much control over pricing or branding, and Udemy takes a cut of your revenue.
Best for: Instructors who want visibility and are okay with less control.
Coursera: Serious credentials and institutional backing
Coursera is where universities and large organizations hang out. The platform offers academic-level courses and professional certificates that carry serious weight. If you’re an institution or company offering structured training, Coursera brings credibility and reach.
It’s not really built for solo creators, and getting your content on the platform means going through a partnership process.
Best for: Institutions and corporate teams providing formal training.
Podia: A creator-friendly platform that’s easy to use
Podia makes it easy to sell not just courses, but digital downloads, memberships, and webinars—all from one clean dashboard. It’s designed to help you get your digital storefront up and running fast, and it doesn’t take a cut of your sales.
You’ll find live chat support, email marketing tools, and a straightforward pricing structure. While it doesn’t have as many customization options as some of the others, Podia is great for creators who want a fuss-free setup.
Best for: Creators selling multiple digital product types on a budget.
Skillshare: A creative playground that pays in royalties
If you’re a creative—think photography, design, writing, or animation—Skillshare is your kind of platform. It’s project-based, short-form, and community-driven. You get paid based on how many minutes people watch your content.
You won’t be setting your own prices or branding anything, and not everyone can start teaching right away (there’s an application process).
Best for: Creatives who want to build a following and earn passive income.
How to Match a Platform to Your Goals
- New to course creation: Go with Teachable or Thinkific. They’re intuitive and have all the basics you need.
- Need advanced tools for your business: Kajabi is ideal if you’re running a full-on digital brand and want everything in one place.
- Want maximum reach without marketing: Udemy or Skillshare lets you tap into a huge audience, fast.
- Looking to provide academic-level training: Coursera’s structure and credentials give you the credibility needed for formal education.
- Selling multiple product types: Podia makes it easy to bundle and offer more than just courses.
Some Smart Tips Before You Commit
- Define your goals: Know if you’re building a personal brand, selling digital products, or training employees.
- Try the platform first: Use free trials or plans to see if the dashboard and features feel right.
- Think about future growth: Make sure the platform can scale as your student base grows.
- Understand the revenue models: Check how you’ll make money—subscriptions, memberships, or one-time purchases.
- Watch out for hidden costs: Some platforms charge transaction fees or make you pay extra for basic features.
Wrapping It Up
At the end of the day, choosing the best online course platform is all about what fits your style and goals. Whether you want full control, major exposure, or just a simple way to teach, there’s something out there for you.
Teachable, Thinkific, and Podia make things easy for beginners and solo creators. Kajabi brings everything together if you’re looking to scale fast. Udemy and Skillshare let you plug into massive communities without worrying about the backend. And Coursera gives institutions the structure and credibility for high-level training.
The best move? Just get started. Pick a platform, launch your course, and fine-tune as you go.
Key Takeaway: There’s no one-size-fits-all. The right platform depends on what you’re trying to do—reach a big audience, create a branded experience, or sell different kinds of digital content.
FAQs
Can I change platforms after launching my course?
Yes, it’s possible, but it can take time. You’ll need to transfer course materials and student data, so always keep backups.
Which platform lets me keep the most profit?
Platforms like Thinkific and Podia don’t take transaction fees on paid plans, so you get to keep more of your earnings.
Is it okay to use multiple platforms at once?
Yes. Many creators use Udemy for exposure while hosting premium content on platforms like Kajabi or Teachable.
Can students access courses from their phones?
Most platforms are mobile-friendly, and some—like Coursera and Kajabi—have dedicated apps for a better learning experience.
How much time does it take to build a course?
It depends on how prepared you are, but once you have your content, you can publish a course in just a few days using tools like Teachable or Podia.