9 Best Online Course Selling Platforms For Creators (2026) [I Tested All Of Them]

Online Course Platform Selection Tool

Simply tell us your preferences and this tool will help you find the perfect online course platform for your goals.

The Top Online Course Software For Teachers & Sellers [Updated Pricing & Features 2026]

I get to use different online course platforms regularly because I work with clients across industries and from all kinds of backgrounds.

So the opinions I’m sharing here are based on real-world experience, not just product demos or affiliate pitches.

All of these tools are solid. Honestly, there’s no wrong choice.

But each one comes with its own strengths and trade-offs. And understanding those differences is key to choosing a platform that actually fits your online learning goals, your content, and your workflow.

Let’s break them down one by one.

1. Thinkific (Top Pick)

• Main features: Multimedia course builder, email marketing, live sessions, memberships
• Best for: Creators who want a complete course platform without tech headaches
• Starting price: $49/month

Thinkific is my top choice as the best online course platform for most professionals.

It is a full-featured platform for online courses that lets you build structured learning experiences, sell coaching, offer subscriptions, host communities, and sell digital products—all from one place. 

It also comes with built-in email marketing, automation, and AI tools that help you grow your audience and make more sales.

I recommend Thinkific to most of my clients, especially if you want to stay focused on your content and not get stuck with tech headaches.

Phil Hynes’ story is a great example of how Thinkific empowers non-technical users to monetize their expertise.

Phil runs a fitness membership program and an online course hosted on Thinkific. Collectively, these programs help him earn over six-figures a year, serving thousands of customers worldwide.

Thinkific’s biggest strength is its course creation features. You can build multi-layered courses with modules, lessons, PDFs, videos, quizzes, assignments, and even prerequisites or drip content.

You also get progress tracking, certificates, and surveys, giving you everything you need to structure a real learning experience.

Thinkific also has a clean AI-powered drag-and-drop website and landing page builder that comes with customizable templates.

On the engagement side, Thinkific lets you build private communities under your brand, connect course discussions to lessons, and even host live events. Some creators use it just to run memberships and community programs.

What really makes Thinkific stand out now is its native email marketing. You can run sales emails, segment audiences, and even send abandoned cart reminders without paying for another tool.

It also handles payments globally, including payment plans and subscriptions, and now offers Buy Now, Pay Later options like Klarna and Afterpay.

A big vote of confidence for Thinkific is bestselling author Dorie Clark – who has been a guest on the Learning Revolution podcast and is generally a brilliant and business-savvy person – has used it for her online courses.

Thinkific Features

Here’s a quick overview of the platform’s standout capabilities:

• Unlimited Courses – No caps on how many courses you can publish, even on the Basic plan.
• Drag-and-Drop Course Builder – Easily structure your content without needing to code.
• Live Lessons & Webinars – Host Zoom sessions or webinars directly from your course interface.
• Digital Downloads – Sell or offer downloadable resources like PDFs, worksheets, or guides.
• Memberships – Create recurring revenue with member-only content and access tiers.
• Communities – Build student communities for engagement and discussion.
• Email Marketing & Automation – Capture leads, send automated AI-generated campaigns, abandoned-cart reminders, and integrate with Mailchimp/Zapier
• Bundles & Add-ons – Upsell with course bundles, bonus content, or product add-ons.
• Group Orders & Invoicing – Sell access to businesses or teams and handle B2B payments.
• Analytics & Reporting – Track sales, student progress, and engagement with Thinkific Analytics.
• Branded Experience – Remove Thinkific branding on Grow plan and above.
• SCORM Support – Use SCORM content on Plus plan for more interactive learning.
• Student Learning Paths – Create guided learning journeys on Thinkific Plus.

Thinkific Pricing And Free Trial: How Much Does It Cost?

Thinkific no longer offers a free plan, but you can start with a free trial of any paid plan—no credit card required.

Here’s a breakdown of the paid plans:

• Basic – $36/mo (annual) – Great for getting started with essential course delivery tools.
• Start – $74/mo (annual) – Best for creators ready to scale with unlimited memberships and live lessons.
• Grow – $149/mo (annual) – Built for pros who want advanced features, better support, and full white-labeling.
• Thinkific Plus – Custom – Tailored for high-growth teams needing SCORM, SSO, and enterprise integrations.

All plans offer 25% savings when billed annually.

Plan	Communities	Downloads & Coaching	Memberships & Bundles	Branding	Advanced Features
Basic	1	5 each	❌	❌	❌
Start	1	Unlimited	✅	❌	HTML/CSS Editing
Grow	3	Unlimited	✅	✅	Group Orders, Analytics, API
Plus	Unlimited	Unlimited	✅	✅	SCORM, SSO, CRM, Learning Paths

To go deeper, here’s our full Thinkific review.

2. Kajabi – The Best All-In-One Platform

• Main features: Courses & memberships, advanced email marketing automation, funnels
• Best for: Managing your whole creator business with one platform
• Starting price: $89/month

When I say Kajabi is an all-in-one platform, I mean it has everything you need to build, market, and sell online courses or any other digital products, all in one place. 

More than just a course creator, Kajabi is your website builder, email marketing and newsletter tool, payment processor, and more, designed to help you focus on growing your business instead of juggling multiple platforms.

You can call it a complete audience-building and monetization platform.

In 2024, we sent Jackie, one of our team members, to Kajabi Hero Live to see what it’s like to use Kajabi in real life. 

She came back blown away. Meeting creators like Justin Welsh and Graham Cochrane, who’ve built thriving businesses using Kajabi, gave us a firsthand look at what’s possible. 

Hearing their stories was inspiring and proved how much Kajabi empowers creators to transform their knowledge into a sustainable business.

Kajabi lets you create everything from courses and memberships to coaching programs and digital downloads. 

You can build beautiful websites and landing pages, set up marketing funnels to bring in leads, and even automate email campaigns to nurture your audience. 

It’s the kind of platform that grows with you. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling to the next level, it eliminates the need for piecing together different tools.

If you want to spend less time dealing with tech headaches and more time creating great content and connecting with your audience, Kajabi gives you the tools to make it happen. 

However, since it replaces several tools in your tech stack, it’s at a higher price point than your standard course platform. Which means it might not be a great fit if you’re on a tight budget.

Kajabi Features

These are the core, product-defining features that make Kajabi an all-in-one platform:

• Unlimited Marketing Emails & Landing Pages – Build and promote as many funnels and lead magnets as you want, even on the lowest plan.
• Products & Funnels – Sell online courses, memberships, coaching, podcasts, and more with built-in funnel automation.
• Website & Custom Branding – Host your entire business on Kajabi with a no-code website builder and branded domain.
• Integrated Email Marketing & Automation – Run your email campaigns, newsletters, and automations directly inside Kajabi.
• AI Creator Studio – Generate content and build courses faster with built-in AI tools (available on all plans).
• Affiliate Program Tools – Recruit and manage affiliates to help promote your products (on Growth plan and above).
• Advanced Automation & Webhooks – Trigger personalized workflows and connect with external tools (Growth/Pro plans).
• Branded Mobile App Access – Give users access to your content on Kajabi’s app with your branding (optional add-on).
• No Transaction Fees – Keep 100% of your revenue—Kajabi doesn’t take a cut from your sales.
• 24/7 Support & Onboarding Help – Get help any time via chat, plus onboarding assistance on Growth and Pro plans.

Kajabi Pricing and Free Trial: How Much Does It Cost?

Kajabi doesn’t offer a free plan, but you can get started with a free trial of any paid plan. No credit card required.

Here are its four main paid plans (monthly billing)

• Kickstarter – $89/mo – Best for beginners launching their first digital product.
• Basic – $179/mo (annual) – Ideal for new creators starting to grow with a few products and more email contacts.
• Growth – $249/mo (annual) – Best value for growing creators who need automations, branding, and full marketing tools.
• Pro – $499/mo (annual) – Built for established businesses managing large audiences and multiple product lines.

Each plan includes 20% off when billed annually.

Kajabi Plan Comparison Table

Plan	Products	Contacts	Emails	Funnels	Admin Users	Automations / Branding
Kickstarter	1 + 1 Community	250	7,500/mo	1	1	❌
Basic	3	10,000	Unlimited	3	1	❌
Growth	15	25,000	Unlimited	15	10	✅
Pro	100	100,000	Unlimited	100	25	✅ + Webhooks, Custom Code

For a more in-depth look at Kajabi, read our full Kajabi Review.

3. LearnWorlds

• Main features: Interactive course builder, SCORM support, AI-powered tools
• Best for: Structured learning with assessments and professional training features
• Starting price: $24/month (billed annually)

LearnWorlds is a top-tier course platform built for creators who care about structure, student engagement, and professional polish.

It’s especially great for those creating educational programs that go beyond just uploading a few videos (think assessments, learning paths, and interactivity.)

What really sets LearnWorlds apart now is how deeply it has embedded AI into the platform. From the moment you start building your school, AI guides you, helping you generate course outlines, improve lesson flow, write engaging titles, and even optimize your sales pages. 

LearnWorlds offers top-notch course creation features. You can drip content, require students to finish certain lessons before moving on, and even enforce full video views. 

It also supports SCORM, which is a must-have for corporate and professional training. You can build live sessions, modules, quizzes, assignments, surveys, and certificates, everything needed for a structured learning experience.

Add in in-video quizzes, clickable CTAs, and automatic video transcripts, and you’ve got a platform that makes learning feel active, not passive.

LearnWorlds Features

Here are the most prominent LearnWorlds features.

• AI Tools on All Plans – Use AI for course planning, content creation, assessments, and feedback.
• Unlimited Courses – Create free or paid courses without restrictions on Pro Trainer and above.
• Email Marketing & Automation – Send mass emails, trigger automated messages, and integrate with Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, and others.
• Interactive Video & Assessments – Add hotspots, questions, auto-transcripts, and subtitle translations to videos.
• SCORM & HTML5 Support – Deliver professional, standards-compliant content with tracking.
• Built-in Website Builder – Launch a multi-page course site with templates, domains, and popups.
• Memberships, Subscriptions & Funnels – Sell with flexible pricing, recurring payments, and sales funnels.
• Branded Mobile App – Create your own mobile learning app (Pro Trainer and above).
• Live Classes Integration – Use Zoom, Webex, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams to host live training.
• Affiliate Marketing System – Set up affiliates and track referrals (basic and advanced levels).
• Automations & Custom Roles – Automate tasks, manage teams, and assign custom permissions.

LearnWorlds Pricing

LearnWorlds offers a 30-day free trial with access to all core features. No hidden fees, no revenue share, and transparent plan limits (monthly billing).

• Starter – $29/mo – Great for first-time creators needing essential course creation and payments.
• Pro Trainer – $99/mo – Best for trainers and coaches needing advanced engagement, sales, and branding.
• Learning Center – $299/mo – Built for growing academies that need white-labeling, reporting, automations, and team control.
• High Volume & Corporate – Custom Pricing – Ideal for enterprises needing dedicated success, custom roles, and high-availability hosting.

All plans save up to 20% when billed annually.

LearnWorlds Plan Comparison Table

Plan	Courses	SCORM Support	Email Capabilities	Live Classes
Starter	Unlimited Paid	❌	✅ Notifications only	1:1 / Group
Pro Trainer	Unlimited	20 SCORM files	✅ Mass Emails & Automations	Zoom/Webinars
Learning Center	Unlimited	Unlimited SCORM	✅ Advanced Email + Segments	Multiple Platforms
High Volume & Corp	Unlimited	Unlimited SCORM	✅ Advanced Email + Custom Options	Enterprise-grade

Use code LEARNREV2046 at checkout for 20% off your first 6 months of the Pro Trainer plan or higher.

To learn more, read our full LearnWorlds Review.

4. Teachable

• Main features: Drag-and-drop course builder, digital product sales, coaching tools
• Best for: Non-technical users who just need a course creation platform
• Starting price: $39/month

Teachable is perfect for solo creators, coaches, and subject-matter experts who want a clean, no-fuss way to launch their first course or coaching offer without dealing with tech headaches.

You can create full video-based courses, drip lessons, offer completion certificates, and track student progress, all with minimal setup. 

It’s flexible enough for selling coaching, memberships, and digital downloads too.

Learn more about Teachable’s coaching features, Teachable communities, or Teachable membership sites.

You can find numerous examples of live Teachable courses here.

Teachable’s course builder supports multiple content types, including text, quizzes, PDFs, video, and even code snippets—something not all platforms support.

You can structure your program using prerequisites or drip schedules, and upsells are easy to add at the lesson level to boost revenue.

Teachable still falls short when it comes to built-in email marketing. It doesn’t offer much in terms of automation, segmentation, or behavior-based triggers.

If you already use ConvertKit or MailerLite, this might not be a big deal, but it’s a gap compared to platforms like Thinkific or Kajabi.

Teachable Features

• Unlimited Product Creation – Create as many courses, coaching offers, and downloads as you want on any plan.
• Built-In AI Tools – Use AI to help create course outlines, lesson content, and emails.
• Basic Email Marketing – Send newsletters, automated emails, and abandoned cart sequences (Builder plan and above).
• Course & Coaching Sales Tools – Offer upsells, coupons, order bumps, bundles, and payment plans.
• Mobile App Access – Students can access content via the iOS app for learning on the go.
• Global Payments & Taxes – Sell in 200+ countries with automatic tax handling and Teachable:Pay.
• Affiliate Program Tools – Set up and manage affiliates directly from your dashboard (Builder and above).
• Drip Content, Quizzes, and Assessments – Structure learning journeys with release schedules, graded quizzes, and short answer assessments.
• Certificates & Compliance – Offer auto-generated certificates and enforce course completion rules.

Teachable Pricing & Free Trial: How Much Does It Cost?

Teachable offers a free trial on all plans, but no longer provides a permanent free plan. It gives you everything you need to create and sell courses, coaching, or digital downloads—without coding.

Here’s the list of its paid plans (monthly billing)

• Starter – $39/mo – Best for beginners launching their first digital product, with basic tools and email notifications (no built-in email marketing).
• Builder – $89/mo – Ideal for creators who want built-in email marketing, affiliate tools, and more published products.
• Growth – $189/mo – For scaling creators who need white-label branding, admin roles, advanced customization, and free subtitle translation.
• Advanced – $399/mo – Great for teams or advanced creators wanting unlimited integrations, API access, and advanced support.
• Custom – Contact Sales – Tailored for enterprises with custom limits, bulk imports, dedicated success manager, and migration help.

All plans offer 0% transaction fees, except Starter (7.5%). Email processing fees still apply.

You can get an additional 22% discount on every plan if you choose annual billing.

Teachable Plan Comparison Table

Plan	Published Products	Transaction Fees	Integrations
Starter	1	7.5%	1 Integration
Builder	5	0%	3 Integrations
Growth	25	0%	5 Integrations
Advanced	100	0%	Unlimited + Webhooks
Custom	100+ (Custom)	0%	Unlimited

Read the full Teachable Review for more information or explore Teachable’s pricing plans in more detail here.

5. Circle

• Main features: Community spaces, course hosting, live events, AI workflows, branded apps
• Best for: Creators who want to build a course-driven membership with deep engagement
• Starting price: $89/month

If you want to build an irreplaceable connection with your audience—one that AI can’t fake or replace—you need to build a community around your course business.

And Circle is the ideal platform to do that.

It’s primarily an AI-powered community management platform that also lets you create and sell online courses, memberships, host live sessions, and more—all under your own brand.

I’ve used Circle with two very different clients, one in professional coaching, the other in health and wellness.

In both cases, I was genuinely impressed by how easy it was to build a structured, high-engagement community that kept members active and invested.

Circle Features

Here are some of Circle’s core product features.

• Courses, Discussions & Events – Build interactive learning and engagement spaces under one roof.
• Live Streams & Live Rooms – Host real-time sessions, virtual meetups, and AMA-style events.
• Website Builder – Create a fully functional community site with custom pages and branding.
• Paid Memberships – Offer subscriptions, gated content, and recurring payments.
• Gamification & Member Directory – Motivate with badges, scores, and searchable profiles.
• Email Hub (Add-on) – Send broadcasts, automate campaigns, and manage contacts (starts at $99/mo for 10K contacts).
• Custom Workflows & Automation – Automate member onboarding, engagement, and content delivery (Business & above).
• Analytics & Reporting – Monitor community activity, engagement levels, and member journeys.
• API & Headless Options – Integrate discussions, profiles, courses, and events directly into your own site or app.
• AI Tools – Use AI Agents, workflows, content suggestions, and transcriptions (Enterprise & Plus plans).
• Mobile App (Plus Branded App) – Get your own fully branded iOS and Android apps with in-app purchases and push notifications.

Circle Pricing & Free Trial: How Much Does It Cost?

Circle offers a 14-day free trial on all plans with no credit card required. All prices below are based on annual billing.

• Professional – $89/mo – Great for small creators or coaches starting their first paid community with essential features.
• Business – $199/mo – Ideal for scaling communities that need automation, APIs, custom fields, and branded emails.
• Enterprise – $419/mo – Designed for large businesses needing AI features, custom SSO, analytics, and concierge onboarding.
• Plus Branded App – Custom Pricing – Get your own iOS/Android app with complete branding, migration, and a dedicated launch team.

Email Hub Add-On: Starts at $99/mo for 10,000 contacts – includes broadcasts, workflows, personalization, segmentation, and analytics.

Circle Plan Comparison Table

Plan	Courses & Events	Automations/Workflows	Email Marketing (Add-on)	AI Tools
Professional	✅	❌	Optional ($99/mo)	❌
Business	✅	✅ Workflows & Co-Pilot	Optional ($99/mo)	✅ Transcriptions
Enterprise	✅	✅ Unlimited Workflows	Optional ($99/mo)	✅ AI Agents
Plus App	✅	✅	Optional ($99/mo)	✅ All Features

There’s no free plan, but the trial gives you full access to test everything.

6. Mighty Networks

• Main features: Courses, built-in community, live events & personalization tools
• Best for: Building community-driven learning experiences
• Starting price: $129/month

Mighty Networks gives you everything you need to create and grow your online courses. 

But what makes it truly stand out is how it combines a top-notch course builder with powerful community features. 

This combination keeps your students engaged and turns your course into something much bigger than just lessons and videos.

Its course builder is simple to use and lets you design and organize your content without needing technical skills. You can upload videos, text, and other materials, and it all comes together in a professional-looking package. 

But the real magic happens when you pair this with Mighty Networks’ community tools.

With features like live events, direct messaging, live streaming, groups and individual spaces, and rich member profiles, your students learn, connect and grow together.

What makes this experience even more unique is its People Magic personalization feature. This AI-powered tool matches students with content and even with each other based on their interests and engagement. 

It ensures that every member of your community sees content that’s relevant to them and connects with others who share their goals. 

Mighty Networks even helps you leverage this momentum with its Ambassador program, where you can reward students who bring in new members. This creates a powerful cycle of engagement and growth for your e-learning business.

Mighty Networks Features

Here are the most impactful features that shape Mighty Networks as a community and course platform:

• Unlimited Everything – All plans include unlimited members, hosts, admins, and spaces (no scaling costs).
• Courses & Challenges – Run on-demand, cohort-based, and live courses with native video, quizzes, drips, and badges.
• Community Feed, Events & Chat – Create chat spaces, threads, activity feeds, and host live events.
• AI-Powered Tools – Get instant course outlines, auto-generated writing, conversation starters, and an in-app AI cohost.
• Gamification & Member Profiles – Points, badges, streaks, and leaderboards with detailed profiles and member matching.
• Livestreaming – Host multi-speaker livestreams with chat, up to 10,000 viewers (on higher plans).
• Flexible Payments & Tiers – Offer memberships, subscriptions, one-time purchases, installment plans, and free trials.
• Integrated Email & Notifications – Send branded push and email notifications to members.
• Advanced Automations – Trigger actions based on activity, onboarding, attendance, and gamification events.
• Built-In Marketing Tools – Promo codes, referrals, and analytics like Mighty Insights™, polls, and scheduled posts.
• Integrations & API – Zapier, Zoom, analytics tools, affiliate platforms, and optional SSO & email white-labeling.
• Branded Mobile Apps (Pro Plan) – Get your own iOS and Android apps with branded payments and design studio support.

Mighty Networks Pricing & Free Trial: How Much Does It Cost?

All Mighty Networks plans come with a 14-day free trial, no credit card required, and include unlimited members, admins, and spaces. Pricing is based on monthly billing.

• Community Plan – $41/mo – Best for small groups moving from Facebook or chat apps. Includes basic events, chat, and gamification. But it doesn’t include course selling features.
• Courses Plan – $129/mo – Great for creators launching paid courses or challenges with basic automation and learning tools.
• Business Plan – $229/mo – Ideal for growing communities with custom fields, intermediate automations, and branded notifications.
• Growth Plan – $430/mo – Best for large communities with advanced automations, livestream capacity, and premium services.
• Mighty Pro – Custom Pricing – Enterprise-level solution with custom branded apps, advanced reports, and strategic launch support.

You can get a 20% discount on all plans if you choose annual billing.

Mighty Networks Plan Comparison Table

Plan	Courses & Challenges	Automations	Livestreaming Hours	Transaction Fees
Community	❌	❌	❌	2%
Courses	✅ Basic	✅ Basic	20 hrs/month (200 viewers)	2%
Business	✅ Intermediate	✅ Intermediate	30 hrs/month (500 viewers)	2%
Growth	✅ Advanced	✅ Advanced	40 hrs/month (1000 viewers)	1%
Mighty Pro	✅ All	✅ Advanced + Reports	50+ hrs (3000+ viewers)	1%

---

Read our Mighty Networks Review for more details.

7. Podia

• Main features: Courses, coaching, email marketing, digital downloads
• Best for: Coaches and solo creators on a budget
• Starting price: $33/month (billed annually)

If you’re a coach or course seller looking for a user-friendly all-in-one platform, you must check out Podia.

Podia’s user-friendliness immediately stands out when you start using it for building your online course or coaching offer.

It walks you through the whole process of creating and selling online courses, webinars, digital downloads, and product bundles.

Plus, it gives you some super attractive and fully customizable templates for your course website and landing pages.

Its course creator supports video, audio, text, PDF, and embedded content. Plus, it offers a student experience comparable with Teachable and Thinkific.

Native email marketing features and its built-in blogging feature also make Podia an attractive choice at this price point. It is probably the cheapest all-in-one course selling platform with unlimited email subscribers in all subscription plans. However, every plan has a separate email-sending limit.

Podia Features

Podia offers a simple, all-in-one platform ideal for solo creators and small businesses. Here are its most important features:

• Website Builder with Blog – Build a professional-looking site with custom domains, blogging, live chat, and no Podia branding.
• Online Store for Digital Products – Sell courses, coaching, digital downloads, webinars, bundles, and memberships.
• Email Marketing Built-In – Includes automations, tagging, segmentation, analytics, and beautifully designed email templates.
• Affiliate Marketing – Available on the Shaker plan to let others promote your products for commission.
• Course Delivery & Monetization – Offer drip content, waitlists, access duration, upsells, coupons, and payment plans.
• Certificates & Community – Provide completion certificates and create member communities inside your product space.
• Free Migrations – Podia will migrate your products, customers, and emails at no extra cost.
• Integrated Payments – Use Stripe (both plans) and PayPal (Shaker only) to accept global payments.

Podia Pricing & Free Trial: How Much Does It Cost?

Podia offers a 30-day free trial with access to all features—no credit card required. After that, choose one of the two paid plans (monthly billing):

• Mover – $39/mo – Great for new creators who need an all-in-one platform to sell courses and digital products. Includes 5% transaction fees and no affiliate tools.
• Shaker – $89/mo – Ideal for growing creators who need affiliate marketing, PayPal, and more integrations. No transaction fees.

Both plans include unlimited products, free email tools for up to 100 subscribers, and a complete website.

You can get an additional discount if you choose annual billing for any plan.

Podia Plan Comparison Table

Plan	Transaction Fees	Affiliate Marketing	Email Marketing	Integrations
Mover	5%	❌	✅ Included (100 subs)	Zapier triggers only
Shaker	0%	✅	✅ Included (100 subs)	Full Zapier actions

Read our full Podia review for details.

8. Kartra

• Main features: Course hosting, sales funnels, email marketing, video tools
• Best for: Marketers selling video-heavy courses with strong automation needs
• Starting price: $119/month

Kartra is a powerful training platform that helps you create, sell, and grow your online learning business. 

It provides all the tools you need to build a professional website without hiring a designer or knowing how to code. 

Think of it as a powerful sales tool with decent course creation features.

It includes an email platform, membership sites, sales funnels, video hosting, lead capture forms, a help desk for customer support, and a calendar for managing appointments. 

Plus, it comes with a drag & drop automation builder that allows you to scale your marketing campaigns.

This integration allows you to monitor your audience’s activity throughout the sales process and tailor your marketing messages based on their behavior.

If your course relies heavily on video content, Kartra is especially beneficial. It offers in-video calls to action (CTAs), sign-up forms, and user tagging features that make your videos more engaging and help increase conversions. 

You can choose from various pre-designed CTAs, such as opt-ins, banners, buttons, and social unlocks, to enhance your videos.

However, if your course requires extensive student management or assessment tools, Kartra’s offerings may be less comprehensive compared to platforms dedicated solely to course creation. 

Kartra Features

Kartra is a true all-in-one platform focused on helping creators, coaches, and service providers launch and scale automated digital businesses. Here are its standout features:

• Drag-and-Drop Page Builder – Launch stunning, mobile-optimized landing pages using 100+ templates.
• Course & Membership Delivery – Create gated content with Kartra Memberships—ideal for selling courses and programs.
• Kartra AI – Write sales pages, emails, and content that matches your brand voice, available on all plans with usage limits.
• Email & SMS Marketing (Kartra Mail) – Send live or automated campaigns with segmentation, tagging, and smart automation.
• Sales Funnels & Campaigns – Visual funnel mapping, templates, and automation sequences to turn visitors into paying clients.
• Video Hosting & Interactions – Embed opt-ins, CTAs, and offers directly into your videos with Kartra Video.
• Webinars – Run automated or live webinars with built-in registration pages and sales automation.
• Checkout & Payment Tools – Accept Stripe and PayPal payments, offer upsells, recurring billing, and beautiful checkout pages.
• Affiliate Management – Launch and manage an affiliate program with custom commission rules and tracking (Growth plan+).
• Surveys & Quizzes – Collect feedback, segment users, and trigger automation based on answers (Growth plan+).
• Calendars & Appointments – Schedule meetings, sessions, or group events without third-party tools (Starter+).
• Helpdesk & Live Chat – Provide customer support inside your funnels with ticketing and chat (Growth plan+).
• Team Access & Agency Tools – Invite collaborators, assign roles, and access agency features with scaling plans.

Kartra Pricing & Free Trial: How Much Does It Cost?

Kartra offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and a free 1-on-1 onboarding call. Pricing is based on monthly billing.

• Essentials – $59/mo – Great for beginners with one product, one course or membership, and basic AI and email tools. (5% transaction fees)
• Starter – $119/mo – Ideal for growing creators who want unlimited products, courses, emails, and advanced marketing tools.
• Growth – $229/mo – Perfect for scaling businesses with webinars, affiliate marketing, surveys, helpdesk chat, and more domains.
• Professional – $549/mo – Built for pros managing multiple brands or high traffic, with real-time analytics, more contacts, and full team collaboration.

Save up to 22% with annual billing.

Kartra Plan Comparison Table

Plan	Products/Courses	Email/SMS Limit	Webinars	Transaction Fees
Essentials	1 Product / 1 Course	10,000 emails/mo	❌	5%
Starter	Unlimited	Unlimited	❌	0%
Growth	Unlimited	Unlimited	✅ (1,000 attendees)	0%
Professional	Unlimited	Unlimited	✅	0%

9. LearnDash – The Best WordPress LMS Plugin

• Main features: Advanced quizzes, drip content, certificates, WordPress integration
• Best for: WordPress users who want full control and flexibility
• Starting price: $199/year (plugin) or $39/month (hosted version)

If you already have a WordPress site (or plan to build one), LearnDash is hands-down the best LMS plugin to turn it into a full-featured online course business.

It gives you complete control over your content, your student data, and your revenue, without relying on a third-party platform.

I recommend LearnDash to creators who want more ownership and customization, especially those already familiar with WordPress.

It’s perfect if you need flexibility around design, pricing models, or plugin integrations and don’t mind doing a bit of setup.

LearnDash lets you create structured online courses with video, audio, PDFs, quizzes, assignments, drip content, and certificates.

You can build courses linearly, require prerequisites, or open them all at once. The built-in drag-and-drop builder is smooth, and for a WordPress plugin, it’s surprisingly easy to use—even if you’re not super tech-savvy.

What really makes it shine are the quiz and evaluation tools. You get more quiz types than most platforms, plus timers, randomization, question banks, and detailed grading options.

For teams or schools, you can even assign students to groups and manage their access collectively.

It also supports gamification features, with built-in badges, points, leaderboards, and certificates. And with integrations like Zoom, WooCommerce, Mailchimp, and Zapier, you can run a full learning business on your own terms.

Email marketing isn’t built-in, but that’s expected with WordPress tools. Pair it with something like ConvertKit or FluentCRM, and you’re all set.

LearnDash Features

Here are the standout features in LearnDash:

• Drag-and-Drop Course Builder – Visually structure courses using lessons, topics, quizzes, and multimedia with zero coding.
• Advanced Quizzes & Assessments – Create timed quizzes, question banks, grading, and detailed reporting for learner evaluation.
• Assignments & Certificate Builder – Allow submissions, award customizable certificates, and manage assessments with ease.
• Drip-Feed Content – Release course content gradually to support structured learning.
• Gamification Tools – Boost motivation with badges, leaderboards, achievements, and course completion rewards.
• Focus Mode & Video Progression – Create distraction-free learning with controlled navigation and video gating.
• Flexible Monetization – Sell courses via one-time payment, subscriptions, memberships, or bundles using Stripe, PayPal, or WooCommerce.
• Team Collaboration Tools – Assign multiple instructors and manage permissions for scaling your team.
• Advanced Reporting (ProPanel) – Track student progress, quiz scores, enrollments, and identify learners who need help.
• Mobile Responsive & Multilingual – Fully responsive out of the box; easily translated with 3rd-party plugins.
• Add-Ons Marketplace – Extend functionality with powerful add-ons like Gradebook, Instructor Role, Groups Management, and Notes.
• StellarSites Hosting Option – Fully hosted, secure, and optimized version of LearnDash with managed WordPress, AI writing tools, and pre-built templates.

LearnDash Pricing & Free Trial: How Much Does It Cost?

LearnDash offers two primary pricing models: the self-hosted plugin (for existing WordPress sites) and the hosted StellarSites solution (for creators who want everything ready to go).

LearnDash Plugin (Self-Hosted)

A one-time plugin license installed on your WordPress site. Includes updates and support.

• 1 Site – $199/year
• 10 Sites – $399/year
• Unlimited Sites – $799/year

Includes:

• Course builder, quiz builder, focus mode, PayPal/Stripe integration, certificates, and marketplace add-ons.

LearnDash StellarSites (Hosted)

Includes LearnDash LMS, cloud hosting, backups, AI tools, templates, and full setup.

Plan	Price (Monthly)	Key Features
Essential	$39/mo	Hosting, course builder, certificates, focus mode, Stripe, video progression
Plus	$69/mo	All Essential features + more storage and site customizations
Ultimate	$99/mo	All Plus features + priority support, more users, domains, and storage

30-day money-back guarantee included with all plans.

Read our in-depth LearnDash Review.

We recommend using LearnDash in combination with BuddyBoss to build a powerful online course and membership/community solution. Full BuddyBoss review here.

7 Steps To Choosing The Best Software To Create Online Courses

If you haven’t already, grab the free selection guide for online learning platforms. It’s completely free and designed to help you make the best choice quickly and confidently.

You can also explore detailed reviews of top platforms right here on Learning Revolution.

But how do you actually decide? Here’s a simple step-by-step process:

Step #1: Define Your Goals

Start with the big picture: What are you trying to achieve with your course? Are you testing the waters with a single course, or are you planning to launch a membership program or even an entire online school?

For example, I’ve worked with creators who just needed a straightforward platform for their first course.

Platforms like Thinkific were the perfect fit—it’s simple, beginner-friendly, and grows with you.

On the other hand, if you’re thinking bigger, like building a community around your courses, Kajabi offers tools that boost interaction and engagement.

Knowing your goals upfront will save you from wasting time and money on platforms that don’t align with your vision.

Step #2: Know Your Audience

Understanding who you’re creating your course for is non-negotiable. People buy courses for different reasons. They can be casual learners, busy professionals, and even corporate clients.

Each group has different needs.

• Casual learners often gravitate toward platforms like Udemy because of its affordability and flexibility.
• Professionals need certifications, progress tracking, and interactive content, making platforms like LearnWorlds an excellent choice.
• Corporate clients often require bulk enrollments and detailed reporting. If you’re using WordPress, this is where LearnDash shines.

Your audience influences everything from the features you need to how you price your courses.

Step #3: Identify Your Must-Have Features

Think about what your course absolutely needs to deliver the best learning experience.

• Content flexibility: Thinkific lets you include videos, quizzes, PDFs, and more in a beautifully organized way.
• Engagement tools: I often recommend LearnWorlds for creators looking to add interactive quizzes, gamification, and video transcripts. These features help keep students engaged and boost course completion rates.
• Marketing tools: If you’re looking for built-in email marketing or sales funnels, Kajabi is hard to beat.

Having a clear list of must-haves ensures you focus on platforms that align with your needs and don’t get sidetracked by shiny features you’ll never use.

Step #4: Set a Realistic Budget

The budget is always a concern, especially if you’re just starting out. The good news is, there’s a platform for every budget.

But here’s what I’ve learned:

• Free platforms like Udemy are great to get started, but they take a big cut of your sales.
• Affordable options like Thinkific, starting at $36/month (billed annually), give you professional-grade tools without breaking the bank- the best value for money.
• Premium platforms like Kajabi might cost more upfront, but they often replace several tools in your tech stack, saving you money in the long run.

Figure out what you can afford now, but also think about scalability—will the platform grow with your business?

Step #5: Test Drive the Platforms

Here’s something I always recommend: Try before you buy. Most online training platforms offer free trials. Use this opportunity to get a feel for the platform.

Pay attention to:

• Ease of use: Thinkific’s drag-and-drop builder is so intuitive, even first-timers can create a professional course in no time.
• Customization: LearnWorlds lets you customize your course site extensively, so it feels uniquely yours.
• Support: I’ve worked with many platforms, and Thinkific consistently gets high marks for its responsive customer support.

You’ll never know if a platform is the right fit until you try it out for yourself.

Step #6: Think About Long-Term Growth

One mistake I’ve seen creators make is choosing a platform that can’t scale. Your business may be small now, but if you plan to grow, your platform should grow with you.

Thinkific is a fantastic choice here—it supports everything from single courses to massive multi-course setups.

For creators looking to build communities, MightyNetworks stands out with its social learning features.

And if you’re working with WordPress, LearnDash integrates beautifully with plugins like BuddyBoss, helping you scale while maintaining complete control over your site.

Step #7: Seek Recommendations and Reviews

I’ve repeatedly seen how valuable it is to tap into other creators’ experiences. Join online communities, ask fellow course creators for advice, and read in-depth reviews.

For example, some of the most successful course creators I know like Dorie Clark, swear by Thinkific for its balance of ease and functionality.

Others prefer platforms like Kajabi or LearnWorlds for their marketing features and deep customization options.

Firsthand feedback will help you see past the marketing hype and understand what it’s like to use the platform day-to-day.

Step #8: Integrate With Your Workflow

Finally, make sure your platform works with the tools you already use. If you’re building your course on WordPress, LearnDash is the go-to option.

For email marketing, platforms like Thinkific and LearnWorlds integrate seamlessly with tools like Mailchimp or ConvertKit, saving you time and effort.

The easier it is to connect your tools, the more you can focus on creating great content.

Wait! Do You Really Need A Platform to Host & Sell Online Courses?

It’s always wise to pause for a moment and ask yourself if you even need a platform to create, host, or sell online courses.

I explain why I say this in this video I recently recorded.

One of the more impactful “courses” I’ve purchased used nothing other than e-mail and unlisted YouTube links. 

This was a year-long subscription series from someone well-known in the consulting field. I’ll call him Bob simply because I’m not sure whether he would want his approach broadcast along with his real name.

Bob provided information about the series on his website (which is built on WordPress). 

He took orders through a standard shopping cart (1ShoppingCart in his case).

Then, every week, Bob would send out a link to a new five-minute video he had recorded – basically, him talking to a single camera to provide his view and actionable tips on a topic highly relevant to your average consultant. 

If you happened to sign up after the series had started, the welcome e-mail simply included links to the videos already released.

I paid about $500 for this, and it was more than worth every penny.

When we ran our first online learning platform selection boot camp at my company, Tagoras, we opted to use a simple course platform, but that was only because we are in the platform selection business and find it valuable to try things out. 

Truth is, we did not really need one. (We used LearnDash – the best WordPress LMS plug-in, in my experience.)

We had MemberPress installed to control who could access what (and also to run e-commerce) and we used the BuddyBoss theme to provide for discussion forums that we use as part of the course. 

Otherwise, we delivered the majority of the content through a combination of Zoom and various templates we provided using Word and Excel. 

Ever thought about monetizing YouTube? Estimate your earnings using our YouTube Calculator

So What’s the Benefit of an Online Course Platform?

The biggest benefit of an online training platform is the time it saves. It lets you create world-class learning experiences without knowing how to code or design websites.

And if you can do everything yourself with multiple plugins and tools, why not put that time into creating more value for your customers?

However, if all you are doing is providing access to recorded videos and downloadable documents to a limited set of people, there may not be a benefit. 

Again, a membership plugin will do.

Or, you can just set up a password for the pages you want to protect on your website.

A true online training platform will add value if:

• You want to provide features like quizzing and testing
• Assemble multiple types of content – video, documents, images, etc. – into a cohesive path for learners to follow. 
• You want to be able to monitor student progress through courses, track completion, and award credit and/or a certificate
• You plan to publish many courses and want to be able to manage them efficiently.
• You want to be able to import courses developed with a course authoring tool (like iSpring) or from a third-party catalog (you’ll need SCORM support).

Stay focused on what you really need to accomplish, and if it just providing limited access to a relatively small, simple body of content, you probably don’t need a true course creation platform.

Don’t Overthink It – There’s No Wrong Choice Here

If you’re still not sure, take my word and choose Thinkific or a WordPress plug-in like LearnDash.

This isn’t a life decision. 

Use the free trial period to test a course platform before purchasing it. Even then, you can easily switch to another software if you’re not satisfied.

Put your time, effort, sweat, and stress into the value of your course – not the technology.

Do what makes sense to get started, but by all means, get started – whether that means with your first course or your next one.

Next Steps Once You Have a Course Platform

As you probably realize – having a course platform doesn’t do you a lot of good if you don’t know how to create an online course – just follow the link to get my guidance on how to design an online course.

And then, of course, there is the whole issue of how to launch your online course successfully and continue to market it over time.

Be sure to check out the free Learning Revolutionary miToolbox. It’s chock full of tools and tips to help entrepreneurs with all aspects of creating and growing a successful online course business.

How We Evaluate and Test Online Course Platforms

Reviews of the best online learning platforms on the Learning Revolution site are overseen by the site’s founder, Jeff Cobb, an e-learning industry expert with more than 20 years of experience working with online course platforms. All evaluations are conducted by a team of analysts who have extensive experience using, testing, and writing about these types of platforms. We dedicate numerous hours to researching each platform, ensuring each aligns with the needs of online course sellers, and vetting specific areas like core features, usability, pricing, and customer satisfaction. Our reviews are unbiased, and while we will participate in affiliate programs, if available, we do not accept payment for placement in our articles or links to external websites.

What Makes This Review Credible? My Experience & Ranking Methodology

Over the years, my consulting work through Tagoras has taken me inside hundreds of learning businesses across industries—from healthcare associations to professional societies to solo edupreneurs.

On top of that, I’ve launched courses under the Learning Revolution banner and helped countless edupreneurs do the same for their businesses. Because of this, I’ve had the opportunity to work with virtually every major course platform on the market.

I’m also regularly invited to write or be interviewed for platform providers’ own blogs—Thinkific, Teachable and LearnWorlds have all featured my insights—and my work is cited by respected e‑learning and marketing publications such as eLearning Industry, AdRoll, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and numerous others.

The recommendations in this guide are grounded in that hands‑on experience and industry recognition, not just marketing copy.

Here’s how I’ve approached evaluating these tools and arriving at my recommendations:

1. Started with a broad shortlist. I identified all the credible options I needed to assess: SaaS platforms like Thinkific, Kajabi, LearnWorlds, Podia and Teachable; community‑centric platforms like Mighty Networks and Circle; WordPress LMS plugins such as LearnDash; and marketplaces like Udemy. I also kept an eye on new entrants like Zenler or Xperiencify as they emerged.
2. Built real courses on each platform—my own and clients’. I have developed full courses on each system. In some cases these were my own Learning Revolution modules; in others I was hands‑on helping a client in, say, the medical or accounting field build their curriculum. In every case I created a standard five‑module course with video, PDFs, quizzes and assignments, then configured pricing tiers and sales pages. For WordPress tools like LearnDash, I installed them on a clean WordPress site and managed hosting, themes and plugins myself.
3. Sold to real people and observed the process. I have run actual transactions, either for my own material or alongside a client’s launch, to see how buyers moved from interest to checkout to course access. Watching how learners in different industries enroll, pay and start learning exposed friction points and strengths that never show up in a demo.
4. Used marketing tools in production. Promised “built‑in funnels” and automation features sound great until you try to use them. I’ve created and run real campaigns—sometimes to sell my own courses, other times to help a client’s launch—using each platform’s landing pages, coupons, email sequences and upsells. That experience revealed which tools are flexible enough for serious marketing and which require too much duct tape.
5. Lived with the platforms. Through client engagements I’ve had to support these systems for months and years. I’ve experienced customer support quality, downtimes, version changes and bugs. Some platforms that impressed me out of the gate failed to keep up over time; others, like Thinkific and Kajabi, continued to deliver reliably.
6. Matched tools to goals. No platform is inherently “good” or “bad”; what matters is whether it fits the creator’s objectives. A first‑time course creator does not need the complexity of a multi‑product suite, and a membership‑based association will outgrow a lightweight tool quickly. My likes and dislikes always reflect the context and goals of the creator.
7. Arrived at category‑based recommendations. Based on this work, here’s how I generally guide people:
   • Beginners and most solo course creators: Thinkific has proven to be the right mix of features and usability for most. Podia and Teachable also serve creators who want simplicity.
   • All‑in‑one business builders: Kajabi consistently delivered the most complete, integrated set of course, membership, marketing and email tools for my clients who wanted everything in one place.
   • WordPress power users: When a client already had an established WordPress presence and needed full control, LearnDash paired with a membership plugin provided the flexibility they needed, albeit with more technical overhead.
   • Community‑centric offerings: For clients whose courses revolved around community and engagement, Mighty Networks and Circle stood out for combining forums, events and digital products seamlessly.
   • Marketplace exposure: Udemy and similar marketplaces were useful as additional channels rather than primary homes, since they trade control and customer data for audience reach.
8. Disclosed biases and updated regularly. While I do have affiliate relationships with some platforms, I only recommend tools I trust and have used extensively. I revisit and revise these recommendations at least twice a year as features, pricing and performance change. Platforms that stop innovating lose favor; newcomers that prove themselves earn a place on the list.

By approaching platform evaluations this way—building real courses, running live marketing campaigns, supporting clients across industries and living with the tools over time—I’ve been able to provide recommendations that reflect practical experience and nuanced understanding.

The “best” platform is always the one that aligns with your specific goals, whether that’s launching your first course, building a full learning business, or fostering a thriving community.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I switch platforms later if I start with one and outgrow it?
   Yes, but it can be time-consuming. Some platforms let you export course content, while others don’t. Always check migration support before committing.
2. What’s the difference between a course platform and a course marketplace?
   Platforms like Thinkific or Kajabi let you control pricing, branding, and student relationships. Marketplaces like Udemy give you access to a large audience but take a cut and limit customization.
3. Do I need a separate website if I use one of these platforms?
   Most modern platforms (like Kajabi, Thinkific, and Podia) come with built-in website builders. But if you already have a website, you can usually link or embed your course pages.
4. Which platforms support mobile learning?
   Thinkific, Kajabi, Teachable, Circle, and Mighty Networks all offer mobile-friendly access. Circle and Kajabi even offer branded mobile apps (on higher plans).
5. What happens to my content if I cancel my plan or leave a platform?
   Your content typically becomes inaccessible to students, and some platforms may delete it after a grace period. Always back up your materials.
6. Can I sell other digital products like ebooks, templates, or coaching sessions?
   Yes. Platforms like Kajabi, Thinkific, Teachable, Podia, and Circle allow you to sell a mix of courses, downloads, coaching, and even memberships.
7. Which platform is best if I already use ConvertKit, Mailchimp, or another email tool?
   Teachable and LearnDash are great if you want to plug into external email tools. Kajabi, Thinkific, and Podia also integrate easily but come with built-in email marketing.
8. How important is SCORM compliance for online courses?
   SCORM is mainly useful for corporate or academic settings. If you’re selling to individuals, you likely don’t need it. LearnWorlds and LearnDash are SCORM-friendly if you do.
9. What payment gateways do these platforms support?
   Most use Stripe and PayPal. Some also support Buy Now, Pay Later options like Klarna or Afterpay (Thinkific recently added these).
10. Can I offer coupons, discounts, or free trials on these platforms?
    Yes. Almost all paid plans across platforms like Teachable, Kajabi, Podia, and Thinkific let you create promo codes, bundles, and free trials.

Jeff Cobb, Founder of Learning Revolution

Jeff Cobb is an expert in online education and the business of adult lifelong learning. Over the past 20+ years he has built a thriving career based on that expertise – as an entrepreneur, a consultant, an author, and a speaker. Learning Revolution is a place where Jeff curates tips, insights, and resources to help you build a thriving expertise-based business. Learn more about Jeff Cobb here.