Top 10 Best Platforms to Sell Online Courses
Choosing the right platform to sell your online course is crucial. The ideal tool should simplify course creation, facilitate marketing, handle payments, and provide a seamless experience for learners. Based on expert reviews and trusted sources, here are the top 10 platforms worth considering in 2025:
Thinkific – Best Overall Online Course Platform
Why choose it: A powerful and intuitive platform with a generous free plan, ideal for beginners.
Highlights:
- Offers a free tier with zero platform fees, letting you test ideas and start without cost.
- Features include course hosting, email marketing tools, membership integration, and around-the-clock support.
- Paid plans unlock more advanced marketing and engagement tools.
Kajabi – Best All-in-One Creator Platform
Why choose it: Excellent for creators who want to centralize course building, marketing, community, and email automation in one place.
Highlights:
- Combines website, courses, sales funnels, email campaigns, and student engagement in a single platform.
- Powers a vast ecosystem: as of early 2025, users have generated over $9 billion in sales.
Podia – Best Value for Solo Creators & Coaches
Why choose it: Budget-friendly, straightforward, and packed with essential tools.
Highlights:
Supports courses, webinars, downloads, memberships, and coaching on all plans.
Starter plan begins at around $33/month with transaction fees; higher-tier plans remove these fees and add affiliate tools.
Kartra – Best for Marketing Automation & Funnels
Why choose it: Ideal for creators focused on marketing-heavy, video-driven learning experiences.
Highlights:
- Advanced features such as sales funnels, in-video CTAs, email automations, calendars, help desks, and membership sites.
- Noted for value—offers extensive tools under ~$99/month.
LearnWorlds – Best for Interactive, Structured Learning
Why choose it: Great for creators needing interactive elements like assessments, quizzes, and SCORM support.
Highlights:
- Emphasizes immersive learning, with interactive features and customizable learning paths.
- Popular for educational institutions and creators wanting to deliver engaging and polished online courses.
LearnDash – Best WordPress LMS Plugin
Why choose it: Offers maximum flexibility for those comfortable with WordPress.
Highlights:
- Turns your WordPress site into a full-featured LMS with premium plugin features.
- Flexible pricing (around $199/year or $25/month) and extensive customization.
Circle.so – Best for Courses + Community Building
Why choose it: Excels when you want to pair education with community engagement.
Highlights:
- Combines course delivery with discussion forums, groups, and community features, enhancing learner engagement.
Udemy – Best Marketplace for Reach and Traffic
Why choose it: Perfect for creators who want to tap into a huge user base and let the platform do the marketing.
Highlights:
- Easy to upload courses and access Udemy’s built-in audience.
- Note: Revenue share can be steep, and you don’t own the learner relationship.
Skillshare – Best for Creative & Subscription-Based Learning
Why choose it: Great for creatives and educators in design, arts, and lifestyle niches.
Highlights:
- Subscription-based model; anyone can become an instructor.
- Works best for building passive recurring income through creative learning.
Payhip – Best Lightweight Platform for Digital Creators
Why choose it: Simplicity-focused—perfect if you want a no-fuss storefront for courses, downloads, and memberships.
Highlights:
- Free plan has 5% transaction fee; paid plans ($29–$99/month) reduce or remove fees.
- Easy to set up, user-friendly, but lacks advanced SEO tools.
Comparison at a Glance
| Platform | Strengths | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Thinkific | Free plan, solid features | Beginners, low-budget creators |
| Kajabi | Full-stack marketing + course ecosystem | Advanced creators, brand builders |
| Podia | Affordable, easy to use | Solo creators, coaches |
| Kartra | Automation, funnels, video-focused features | Marketing-savvy creators |
| LearnWorlds | Interactive and structured learning tools | Educators building advanced courses |
| LearnDash | Full control via WordPress | Tech-savvy creators wanting customization |
| Circle | Community-centric course experience | Niche educators building engaged cohorts |
| Udemy | Massive exposure, easy onboarding | First-time creators, exposure-seekers |
| Skillshare | Subscription model, creative focus | Artists, designers, creative educators |
| Payhip | Lightweight storefront, no-code setup | Minimalist creators, digital downloads |
Why Quality Platforms Matter for Course Creators
Selecting the right platform can influence:
- Course Creation Workflow: Save time and maintain course structure.
- Marketing & Sales: Tools like funnels and email automation can boost conversions.
- Audience Ownership: Platforms like Udemy bring reach—but you lose direct contact.
- Pricing Flexibility: Own-platforms allow full control over pricing and branding.
Final Thoughts: Platforms to Sell Online Courses
There’s no one-size-fits-all—your needs determine the best match:
- Low budget or just starting out? Thinkific or Podia.
- Want all tools in one place? Kajabi or Kartra.
- Need advanced interactive learning? LearnWorlds or LearnDash.
- Starting in creative niches and want passive income? Skillshare or Udemy.
- Prefer simplicity? Payhip or Podia.
