The online course industry is exploding, and if you’re looking to get in on the action, choosing the right platform can make all the difference. Whether you’re an expert with a passion for teaching or a business looking to expand your digital offerings, the platform you choose to host and sell your courses is key to your success.
In this guide, we’ll explore the best online course platforms out there. Pro tip: our top pick might just be your perfect fit for launching and scaling your online courses with ease.
The Best Online Course Platforms Ranked
With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to pick the right one. To make your decision easier, we’ve ranked the best platforms for online courses based on their features, flexibility, and scalability.
1. Shopify: The Ultimate Platform for Selling Courses (With the Right Apps)
Key Advantage: Shopify is perfect if you’re looking to sell both physical and digital products (including courses). It gives you control over your branding and integrates seamlessly with tools for payment processing, marketing, and more.
When it comes to selling online courses, Shopify takes the top spot.
While Shopify is renowned for e-commerce, it’s also a fantastic platform for offering online courses when paired with the right apps. With Shopify, you can build a custom store to sell your courses, design digital products, manage memberships, and even integrate with video hosting platforms, all from a single dashboard.
Apps like Thinkific or Teachable integrate seamlessly with Shopify, allowing you to create a professional, fully branded course platform. Sell courses, track student progress, offer certificates, and market your courses using Shopify’s powerful marketing tools. If you’re already using Shopify, adding courses to your existing online store is a no-brainer.
2. Teachable: The Go-To for Course Creators
Key Advantage: Teachable makes it easy to focus on content creation, while handling everything from marketing to payment processing. It’s great for entrepreneurs looking for an easy-to-use yet robust platform.
Teachable is a fan favorite among course creators for good reason. It’s a powerhouse platform that offers an easy-to-use interface for building and selling courses. With Teachable, you can design your courses with videos, quizzes, and assignments—all without any tech headaches.
It also provides great marketing tools to help you grow your audience and convert them into paying customers. With Teachable, you can handle everything from course creation to payment processing, making it a one-stop solution for those who want simplicity without sacrificing functionality.
3. Thinkific: Customization Meets Simplicity
Key Advantage: Thinkific is highly customizable and works great for larger course offerings. It also integrates well with tools you might already be using, making it ideal for businesses that want a personalized touch.
Thinkific is a strong contender when it comes to creating online courses. The platform is built for ease of use with a drag-and-drop course builder, but what sets Thinkific apart is its high level of customization. You can fully brand your courses, add multimedia elements, and even gamify your course content to increase engagement.
For those looking to scale their course business, Thinkific offers advanced features like integrations with third-party tools and the ability to host a membership site or community. It’s a solid choice for course creators who want flexibility without getting overwhelmed by complicated setups.
4. Kajabi: The All-in-One Marketing Machine
Key Advantage: Kajabi offers all the features needed for marketing and running your online course business. However, its pricing can be a barrier for those just starting out.
Kajabi isn’t just an online course platform—it’s a full-fledged business solution. If you’re looking for an all-in-one system to create courses, manage marketing, and track customer relationships, Kajabi has everything you need. It allows you to design courses, build landing pages, create email marketing campaigns, and even manage subscriptions and memberships.
Kajabi is ideal for those looking to turn their course offerings into a business. While it’s a premium service, it’s packed with features that streamline everything from course creation to customer retention.
5. Udemy: The Marketplace for Global Reach
Key Advantage: Udemy is ideal for newcomers who want instant access to a large audience, but it’s not the best option for those who want complete control over their course and branding.
Udemy is one of the biggest online course platforms and for good reason—it offers instant access to a massive audience. As a course creator, you can upload your course to Udemy’s marketplace, where millions of students are already browsing for learning opportunities.
However, there’s a trade-off. While Udemy handles much of the marketing for you, it also means you’re competing with thousands of other courses. Plus, Udemy takes a cut of your revenue. It’s a good choice if you want exposure, but not if you’re looking to keep full control over pricing and branding.
6. Podia: Simplicity Meets Functionality
Key Advantage: Podia is a great entry-level platform for creators who want to keep things simple while still offering multiple monetization options.
Podia is quickly making a name for itself as a simple and effective platform for course creators. With Podia, you can create and sell online courses, digital downloads, and even host webinars. It’s designed for creators who want to monetize their content without dealing with complex systems.
What sets Podia apart is its commitment to simplicity. There are no hidden fees or complicated setups. You get unlimited video hosting, email marketing, and an easy-to-use interface, all for a flat fee.
Choosing the Right Platform for Your Course Business
So, how do you choose the best online course platform for you? It comes down to your business needs.
- Shopify is ideal if you’re looking for full control over your branding and want to sell both physical and digital products. It’s got you covered with a variety of apps (think booking calendars and memberships) with exceptional integration capabilities.
- Teachable and Thinkific are great for simplicity and flexibility, while Kajabi is perfect if you want an all-in-one marketing solution.
- Udemy offers instant exposure, and Podia is best for those who want simplicity and unlimited video hosting in a platform for online courses.
The Best Online Course Platforms Power Your Unique Business
Finding the best platform for your online course is a make-or-break decision if you want to create a seamless experience for both you and your students. Fortunately, there’s definitely a platform for you and your goals. Whether you go with Shopify or any of the other top platforms, remember that each option offers unique features that can be tailored to your needs.
If you’re ready to take your course business up a notch, Evey Events has you covered. Get started today and discover just how easy it is to integrate your courses with Shopify and start generating revenue today.
