Teachable — Best Overall
$39/mo · ★★★★★ · The most complete platform for course creators
| Rank | Platform | Best For | Price | Rating | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Teachable | Overall | $39/mo | ★★★★★ | Visit |
| 2 | Thinkific | Free Start | Free | ★★★★★ | Visit |
| 3 | Kajabi | All-in-One | $149/mo | ★★★★☆½ | Visit |
| 4 | Podia | Simplicity | $39/mo | ★★★★☆ | Visit |
| 5 | LearnWorlds | Interactive | $24/mo | ★★★★☆ | Visit |
| 6 | Mighty Networks | Community | $41/mo | ★★★★☆ | Visit |
| 7 | Udemy | Marketplace | Free | ★★★½☆ | Visit |
| 8 | Skillshare | Passive Income | Free | ★★★½☆ | Visit |
| 9 | Gumroad | Digital Products | Free | ★★★½☆ | Visit |
| 10 | Systeme.io | Budget All-in-One | Free | ★★★½☆ | Visit |
The online education market is booming, projected to exceed $400 billion by 2027. Whether you're a coach, consultant, or subject matter expert, selling courses is one of the most scalable ways to monetize your knowledge. We tested all 10 platforms by building actual courses and evaluating the creator experience, student experience, marketing tools, and revenue potential.
Teachable dominates because it balances power with simplicity. The drag-and-drop course builder handles video, text, quizzes, and downloadable content effortlessly. Built-in payment processing (with instant payouts on higher plans), tax handling for 130+ countries, and a native iOS app for students make it a complete solution. The AI curriculum generator helps you outline courses in minutes.
Pros
- Intuitive drag-and-drop course builder
- Built-in payment processing and tax handling
- AI-powered curriculum generator
- Native iOS app for student access
Cons
- Transaction fees on the basic plan (5%)
- Limited community features compared to Mighty Networks
- Email marketing is basic — you'll want a third-party tool
Thinkific offers the most generous free plan in the industry: one course, unlimited students, and no transaction fees. This makes it the ideal platform to test your course idea without any financial risk. The paid plans unlock multiple courses, advanced quizzes, certificates, memberships, and Thinkific's powerful Communities feature for building engaged student cohorts.
Pros
- Truly free plan with no transaction fees
- Excellent course completion tools
- Communities feature for student engagement
- Custom domain on all plans
Cons
- Free plan limited to one course
- Site design templates are somewhat limited
- No built-in email marketing
Kajabi is more than a course platform — it's a complete business operating system. Courses, coaching, memberships, email marketing, landing pages, podcasting, and a full website builder are all under one roof. The pipeline builder creates automated sales funnels, and the analytics dashboard shows revenue, engagement, and student progress in one view. Premium pricing, but it replaces 5+ separate tools.
Pros
- Replaces email, website, funnel, and course tools
- Powerful sales pipeline and automation builder
- Beautiful, professional templates
- Zero transaction fees on all plans
Cons
- Highest price point at $149/mo
- Steep learning curve for all features
- Overkill if you only need course hosting
Quick Reviews: #4 – #10
#4 Podia ($39/mo) — The simplest all-in-one platform for creators who want to sell courses, digital downloads, coaching, and memberships without complexity. Podia's clean interface gets you from idea to launch faster than any competitor. Zero transaction fees and built-in email marketing included. Ideal for solo creators who value simplicity over advanced features.
#5 LearnWorlds ($24/mo) — The most interactive learning experience available. LearnWorlds supports interactive video (clickable hotspots, in-video quizzes), SCORM/xAPI compliance, and formal certificates. Its course player is the most engaging we tested. Best for educators and trainers who prioritize learning outcomes over marketing features.
#6 Mighty Networks ($41/mo) — Community-first platform that combines courses with a branded community space, events, and challenges. Students learn together rather than in isolation. The native mobile app gives members a social-media-like experience. Perfect for creators who want to build a community-driven learning business.
#7 Udemy (Free to publish) — The largest course marketplace with 70+ million students. You get instant access to a massive audience but give up pricing control and revenue share (Udemy takes 63% on organic sales). Best as a lead generation channel alongside your own platform, not as your primary revenue source.
#8 Skillshare (Free to publish) — A subscription-based marketplace that pays teachers based on minutes watched. You can't set your own price, but the passive income potential is real for creators with engaging, binge-worthy content. Best for creative skills like design, illustration, photography, and filmmaking.
#9 Gumroad (Free + fees) — Not a course platform per se, but a simple digital product storefront that many creators use to sell course bundles, PDFs, and video series. Gumroad charges a 10% flat fee per sale with no monthly costs. Best for creators who want the simplest possible setup with no recurring fees.
#10 Systeme.io (Free) — A surprisingly capable free platform that includes courses, email marketing, sales funnels, and a website builder. The free plan allows up to 3 courses and 2,000 contacts. Quality and polish don't match the top tier, but for bootstrapping creators on a zero budget, it's hard to beat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make money selling online courses?
Yes. The global e-learning market is projected to exceed $400 billion by 2027. Thousands of creators earn six and seven figures annually from course sales. Success depends on choosing a profitable niche, creating genuinely valuable content, and building an audience. Start with a topic where you have real expertise and a clear target student.
How much should I charge for an online course?
Course prices typically range from $47 for a mini-course to $997+ for comprehensive programs. The key factors are perceived value, transformation delivered, and your audience's budget. Most successful creators price between $97 and $297 for standard courses. Premium courses with coaching or community access can command $500–$2,000+.
Do I need to be on camera to create a course?
No. Many successful courses use screen recordings, slide presentations, audio lessons, and written content. While being on camera can build personal connection, it's not required. Choose the format that best delivers your content and that you're comfortable creating consistently.
Platform vs. marketplace: which should I choose?
Platforms (Teachable, Thinkific, Kajabi) give you full control over pricing, branding, and student data. Marketplaces (Udemy, Skillshare) provide built-in audiences but take a large revenue cut and limit your control. For serious course businesses, we recommend hosting on your own platform and using marketplaces as an additional distribution channel.