The Best Online Courses Platforms for 2025

Looking for the best online course platforms in 2025? This guide reviews the top platforms based on customization, ease of use, and audience reach, enabling you to create courses and pick the right one for your needs.

What is an Online Course Platform?

Definition and Purpose of an Online Course Platform

An online course platform is a software or website that enables users to create, sell, and deliver online courses. These platforms also allow users to easily create and manage their own branded online school, enhancing the learning experience while simplifying course creation, marketing, and management. These platforms provide a comprehensive solution for course creators, offering all the tools needed to host, market, and sell their courses. The primary purpose of an online course platform is to streamline the process of course creation and delivery, ensuring a seamless learning experience for students while empowering course creators to manage their content effectively.

Online course platforms cater to various needs, from individual instructors to large educational institutions. They offer features like customizable course pages, secure payment processing, and marketing tools, making it easier for course creators to reach their target audience and grow their online course business.

Benefits of Using an Online Course Platform

Using an online course platform offers numerous benefits, including:

• Easy Course Creation and Management: These platforms provide intuitive tools for creating and managing course content, allowing instructors to focus on teaching rather than technical details. Creating courses affiliated with esteemed institutions can further enhance your authority and reputation.
• Customizable Sales Pages and Marketing Tools: Course creators can design attractive sales pages and utilize built-in marketing tools to promote their courses effectively.
• Secure Payment Processing and Transaction Management: Online course platforms handle payment processing securely, ensuring smooth transactions and financial management.
• Access to a Large Audience and Potential Customers: Many platforms have built-in marketplaces, giving course creators access to a vast audience of potential learners.
• Ability to Track Student Progress and Engagement: Advanced analytics and reporting tools help instructors monitor student performance and engagement, enabling data-driven improvements.
• Opportunities for Upselling and Cross-Selling: Platforms often support multiple product types, allowing creators to offer additional resources or courses to their students.
• Scalability and Flexibility to Grow Your Online Course Business: As your business grows, these platforms can scale with you, offering features and integrations to support expansion.

By leveraging these benefits, course creators can enhance their teaching effectiveness and achieve greater success in selling online courses.

Types of Online Course Platforms

Standalone Platforms

Standalone platforms are online course platforms that allow users to create, host, and sell online courses independently. These platforms typically offer a range of features, including course creation tools, payment gateways, and marketing tools, to help course creators manage their online course business and effectively sell courses to their audience. Standalone platforms are ideal for course creators who want to maintain control over their online course business and have the flexibility to customize their sales pages and marketing strategies.

Examples of standalone platforms include Thinkific, Teachable, and Kajabi. These platforms offer a comprehensive suite of tools to support course creation, marketing, and sales, making it easier for course creators to build and grow their online course business.

When choosing a standalone platform, consider the following factors:

• Ease of Use and Course Creation: Look for platforms with intuitive interfaces and drag-and-drop editors that simplify the course creation process.
• Customization Options for Sales Pages and Marketing Tools: Ensure the platform offers robust customization options to tailor your sales pages and marketing strategies to your brand.
• Payment Processing and Transaction Fees: Evaluate the platform’s payment processing capabilities and any associated transaction fees to ensure they align with your business model.
• Integration with Other Tools and Services: Check for integrations with other tools and services you use, such as email marketing software, CRM systems, and analytics tools.
• Customer Support and Community Resources: Consider the level of customer support and the availability of community resources to help you navigate the platform and resolve any issues.

By considering these factors, you can choose a standalone platform that meets your needs and helps you achieve your online course business goals.

Overview of Top Online Course Platforms for 2025

Selecting the right platform is crucial for success in the competitive online learning market of 2025. Online learning platforms provide various marketplaces where learners can access courses offered by different instructors. Here’s an overview of the best online course platforms and their strengths:

• Best Overall: Shiken
• Best for Customization: Thinkific
• Best for Large Audience Reach: Udemy
• Best for Creative Courses: Skillshare
• Best for User-Friendly Experience: Teachable
• Best All-in-One Platform: Kajabi
• Best for Membership Sites: Podia
• Best for Interactive Learning: LearnWorlds
• Best for Enterprise Training: Academy of Mine
• Best WordPress LMS Plugin: LearnDash
• Best for Solopreneurs: LifterLMS

Each platform offers unique features, helping you choose the one that fits your specific needs.

Shiken AI

Shiken AI excels in offering personalized, adaptive AI-generated courses, benefiting both learners and educators. The platform’s features, such as grading assignments and translating text, greatly enhance learning. Shiken AI’s versatility enables effective sharing and commercialization of educational content.

Shiken's ai course creator also provides tools for selling online courses, enabling educators to generate revenue from their content.

You can upload any document, add a link or use your own prompt to generate a course from scratch which includes images and formatted text. Shiken also allows for courses to be generated in any language with a single click or for an existing course to be duplicated and translated which is great if you need your course for different geographies. You can then use Shiken's AI text editor to improve the copy, write additional content or mix up the formatting with AI-generated images and more.

Unique to Shiken is their native text-to-speech reader that will narrate text-based course lessons to boost interactivity and videos and quizzes can be added to your courses.

Price: £40/seat/month

Specifications:

• Personalized, adaptive tutoring
• Features for grading assignments and translating text

Pros:

• Versatile platform for content sharing and commercialization
• Educational prompts tailored for learners and educators

Cons:

• May require a learning curve for some features
• Variable pricing can be a downside for budget-conscious users

Rating:

• Price: 4/5
• Design: 5/5
• Features: 5/5
• Usability: 5/5

Thinkific - Best for Customization

Thinkific excels in customization, offering a wealth of tools for tailoring content. With pre-made templates, a drag-and-drop editor, and various e-commerce tools, including a website builder and student management system, Thinkific provides unmatched flexibility.

Thinkific supports community building and drip course delivery, allowing phased content access to enrich the learning experience. However, the extensive customization options may present a steeper learning curve for beginners, and some advanced features require higher-tier plans.

Price: Various pricing tiers available, starting from a free plan to higher-tier plans with more features.

Pros:

• Extensive customization options
• Pre-made templates and drag-and-drop editor
• E-commerce tools for effective sales management
• Community features and drip course delivery

Cons:

• Steeper learning curve for beginners
• Some advanced features may require higher-tier plans

Rating:

• Price: 4/5
• Design: 5/5
• Customization: 5/5
• Ease of Use: 3/5

Udemy - Best for Large Audience Reach

Udemy is ideal for reaching a large audience, with over 49 million students and around 155,000 courses covering diverse topics, providing unparalleled access to potential learners globally.

The platform operates on a revenue share model, charging significant commission on sales. Despite this, its vast audience access and marketing tools, like custom coupons and global promotions, make it worthwhile.

Price: Revenue share model with varying commission rates.

Pros:

• Access to a vast audience
• Comprehensive course variety
• Invaluable marketing tools

Cons:

• High commission rates on platform sales
• Variable course quality

Rating:

• Price: 3/5
• Audience Reach: 5/5
• Course Variety: 5/5
• Ease of Use: 4/5

Skillshare - Best for Creative Courses

Price: Subscription-based model.

Pros:

• Focus on creative subjects
• Strong community and project-based learning
• Hands-on projects included in every class

Cons:

• Limited to creative fields
• Subscription model may not suit all users

Rating:

• Price: 4/5
• Community: 5/5
• Course Quality: 5/5
• Ease of Use: 4/5

Teachable - Best for User-Friendly Experience

Teachable’s user-friendly interface makes it ideal for those new to online course software as a course creator, allowing users to focus on content without technical challenges. It supports multiple content formats, including videos, PDFs, and text in a single lecture.

Teachable excels in ease of use but may lack customization options compared to Thinkific. Some advanced features require higher-tier plans, which could be a limitation for budget-conscious users.

Price: Various pricing tiers, starting from a free plan.

Pros:

• Intuitive interface
• No technical knowledge required
• Supports multiple content formats
• Integration with third-party applications

Cons:

• Limited customization options compared to other platforms
• Some features require higher-tier plans

Rating:

• Price: 4/5
• Ease of Use: 5/5
• Content Flexibility: 4/5
• Customization: 3/5

Kajabi - Best All-in-One Platform

Kajabi offers a comprehensive set of tools for course creation, marketing, and sales. With built-in marketing funnels, customizable templates, and email marketing capabilities, it provides everything needed to manage an online course business without taking a percentage of users’ revenue.

However, its extensive features and higher cost might overwhelm beginners or those with a limited budget. Nevertheless, Kajabi’s user-friendly design makes it accessible for non-technical users, aiding their online business success.

Price: Starts at $119 per month.

Pros:

• Comprehensive toolset
• Marketing funnels and email marketing tools
• No revenue share
• Non-technical user-friendly

Cons:

• Higher cost compared to other platforms
• Complexity might be overwhelming for beginners

Rating:

• Price: 3/5
• Features: 5/5
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Customization: 4/5

Podia - Best for Membership Sites

Podia excels for creators offering memberships and digital products alongside courses. It supports selling various products, including webinars and digital downloads, making it versatile. Podia’s simplicity and clean design enhance user experience, and it offers unlimited video hosting.

While Podia is easy to use and affordable, it may lack some advanced customization options found on other platforms. Additionally, certain features might only be accessible with higher-tier plans, which could be a limitation for some users.

Price: Starts at $33 per month, with annual discounts available.

Pros:

• No transaction fees It supports memberships. Additionally, it also supports digital products.
• Unlimited video hosting
• Easy-to-use and clean design

Cons:

• Limited advanced customization options
• Some features require higher-tier plans

Rating:

• Price: 4/5
• Features: 4/5
• Ease of Use: 5/5
• Customization: 3/5

LearnWorlds - Best for Interactive Learning

LearnWorlds excels in interactive learning with features like interactive videos, pop-up texts, quizzes, social learning, and interactive eBooks, significantly enhancing student engagement and learning outcomes. Courses can be set up quickly, making it convenient for fast launches.

A standout feature is the ability to create a branded mobile application, providing easy access to courses on iOS and Android devices. However, the higher cost for comprehensive plans and the complexity of some interactive features might challenge beginners.

Price: Starts at $24 per month with transaction fees; $99 per month for a comprehensive plan with no transaction fees.

Pros:

• Interactive learning tools
• Branded mobile application
• SCORM-compliant content support
• Quick setup

Cons:

• Higher cost for comprehensive features
• Some features may be complex for beginners

Rating:

• Price: 4/5
• Features: 5/5
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Engagement: 5/5

Academy of Mine - Best for Enterprise Training

Academy of Mine is ideal for large businesses and educational institutions enhancing their training programs. It offers custom-made solutions for large-scale course creation and management, with award-winning support and complete course building and learning management services.

Key features include customizable reporting and analytics, course delivery control, live virtual training, integrations, and payment gateways. While beneficial for large organizations, the complexity and potentially high cost might overwhelm smaller businesses.

Price: Custom pricing based on enterprise needs.

Pros:

• Customizable solutions for large businesses
• Comprehensive course building and learning management services
• Award-winning support
• Advanced reporting and analytics

Cons:

• Potentially high cost
• Complexity might be overwhelming for smaller businesses

Rating:

• Price: 3/5
• Features: 3/5
• Ease of Use: 3/5
• Customization: 5/5

LearnDash - Best WordPress LMS Plugin

LearnDash, the most popular WordPress LMS plugin, integrates seamlessly with WordPress. It offers a powerful quizzing engine, customizable courses, and supports various content types like lessons and quizzes. LearnDash supports over 300 payment gateways, including PayPal, Stripe, and 2Checkout, and offers a 15-day money-back guarantee.

However, using LearnDash requires some WordPress knowledge, which might be a barrier for beginners. The initial setup can be complex, but the flexibility and extensive features make it worthwhile for those familiar with WordPress.

Price: Starts at $119.40 for the first year, $199 for renewal.

Pros:

• Seamless WordPress integration
• Powerful quizzing engine
• Supports various payment gateways
• SCORM-compliant content support

Cons:

• Requires WordPress knowledge
• Wordpress
• Initial setup can be complex

Rating:

• Price: 4/5
• Features: 5/5
• Ease of Use: 3/5
• Customization: 5/5

LifterLMS - Best for Solopreneurs

LifterLMS is ideal for solopreneurs, offering unique features tailored for individual course creators and small businesses. It provides affordable and flexible options, enabling users to develop, launch, and market their courses on a self-hosted WordPress site, making it user-friendly for non-technical users.

LifterLMS supports various payment options, including subscriptions and one-time payments, providing flexibility in course purchases. The strong support community ensures beginners have access to help. However, some advanced features may require additional add-ons, which could be a limitation.

Price: Starts with a $1 30-day trial.

Pros:

• Affordable and flexible options
• User-friendly for non-technical users
• Supports various payment options
• Strong support community

Cons:

• Limited advanced features
• Add-ons required for some functionalities

Rating:

• Price: 5/5
• Features: 4/5
• Ease of Use: 5/5
• Customization: 3/5

Key Features to Consider When Choosing an Online Course Platform

Selecting the right free online course platform can be a game-changer for your educational endeavors, especially when using an online learning platform. Several key features should be considered to ensure that the chosen platform and other online course platforms meet your specific needs and enhance your overall course delivery experience.

Customization options allow you to tailor your course content, branding, and user experience. Platforms like Thinkific and Kajabi offer extensive customization, including custom branding with logos, color schemes, and unique domains, presenting your courses professionally. Platforms like Podia enable creators to sell various digital products, enhancing customization for different audiences.

Ease of use is crucial. Platforms with user-friendly interfaces and drag-and-drop editors, like Teachable and Podia, simplify the course creation process on an online course creation platform, making it accessible for instructors without extensive technical expertise.

Support and analytics are essential. Advanced analytics and reporting tools help track student engagement and performance, ensuring effective course management. Professional support resources, including customer success managers, assist instructors in navigating the platform. Platforms like LearnDash and Podia provide comprehensive support and analytics, making them excellent choices for those who need these features.

How to Select the Best Online Course Platform for Your Needs

Choosing the best online course platform involves assessing several factors. Start by evaluating your audience. If you lack an existing following, selecting an online course marketplace like Udemy can help in attracting learners by promoting free courses to sell online courses.

Evaluate your budget to determine your investment capacity. Platforms like Teachable and Podia offer various pricing tiers, accommodating different budgets. Identify your course goals, whether for income maximization, lead generation, or as part of a larger business strategy.

Plan your content format to align with your target audience’s preferences. Sign up for a free trial to evaluate a platform’s features and compatibility with your teaching style and content needs. Consider the necessary functionality, including CMS and CRM tools, and your desired level of customization.

Determine if you need a marketplace, WordPress plugin, standalone platform, or enterprise LMS. Platforms like LearnDash and LifterLMS integrate with WordPress, ideal for those familiar with this CMS, while Kajabi offers an all-in-one solution. Choose based on your specific requirements to ensure the platform meets your needs.

Maximizing Your Success with the Right Online Course Platform

After selecting the right online course platform, maximize your success by leveraging its features fully. Gamification features like badges and certificates enhance learner engagement and motivation. Platforms like Teachable and LifterLMS offer customizable completion certificates, boosting student engagement.

Utilize the platform’s capabilities to manage student engagement effectively. Interactive quizzes, commenting functions, and clear learning outcomes maintain student interest and increase course completion rates. Clear expectations and structured feedback significantly enhance completion rates.

Marketing is critical. Platforms like Kajabi support marketing with email campaigns and integrations with email software. Using social media as a marketing channel drives traffic to your course website and increases enrollments. Podia offers marketing strategies designed to boost membership sales.

Track student progress and course performance using the platform’s reporting tools. Detailed reporting features, like those offered by LifterLMS, allow close monitoring of course effectiveness and student engagement. Leveraging these tools enables data-driven decisions to continually improve course content and delivery.

Summary

In summary, the right online course platform can significantly impact the success of your online courses. Platforms like Thinkific, Udemy, Skillshare, Teachable, Kajabi, Podia, LearnWorlds, Academy of Mine, LearnDash, and LifterLMS each offer unique features tailored to different needs. Whether you prioritize customization, audience reach, creative courses, user-friendly experience, or all-in-one solutions, there’s a platform to suit your requirements.

As you navigate the world of online learning, consider the key features, your specific needs, and how to maximize the platform’s potential. By making informed decisions and leveraging the right tools, you can create engaging, effective, and successful online courses. Remember, the journey of online teaching is as rewarding as the destination, and choosing the right platform is the first step towards achieving your goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best online course platform for customization?

Thinkific is the best online course platform for customization, as it provides extensive options, pre-made templates, and an intuitive drag-and-drop editor.

Which platform is best for reaching a large audience?

Udemy is the best platform for reaching a large audience, boasting over 49 million students and a wide range of courses to appeal to diverse learners.

What makes Skillshare the best platform for creative courses?

Skillshare is the best platform for creative courses due to its emphasis on a diverse range of creative subjects and a project-based learning approach that fosters community engagement. This makes it ideal for individuals looking to enhance their creative skills in a supportive environment.

How do I choose the best online course platform for my needs?

To choose the best online course platform for your needs, assess your audience, budget, and goals, while planning your content format. Signing up for free trials can help you evaluate features and determine compatibility.

How can I maximize my success with the right online course platform?

To maximize your success with the right online course platform, take full advantage of its features for learner engagement and utilize its marketing tools for outreach. Regularly track student progress to make informed, data-driven improvements to your course content and delivery.

All-in-One Platforms

All-in-one platforms are online course platforms that provide a comprehensive suite of tools and features to create, market, and sell online courses. These platforms aim to provide course creators with everything they need to run their digital schools, including course creation tools, website builders, marketing automation, payment processing, analytics, and student engagement tools.

Popular all-in-one platforms include Kajabi, Teachable, and Thinkific. These platforms offer a range of features designed to simplify the process of creating and selling online courses. For instance, Kajabi provides robust marketing automation and email marketing tools, while Teachable offers an intuitive interface that supports multiple content formats. Thinkific stands out with its extensive customization options and community-building features.

All-in-one platforms are ideal for course creators who want to create and sell online courses without worrying about the technical aspects of running an online business. They provide a scalable and flexible solution for course creators looking to grow their business and reach a wider audience. By offering a comprehensive set of tools in one place, these platforms enable course creators to focus on what they do best—teaching and engaging with their students.

Online Course Marketplaces

Online course marketplaces are platforms that allow multiple course creators to list their courses in one place. These platforms provide a large audience of potential customers and often have built-in marketing and sales tools. Some popular online course marketplaces include Udemy, Skillshare, and Coursera.

Online course marketplaces are ideal for course creators who want to reach a large audience and don’t want to worry about marketing and sales. These platforms handle much of the promotional work, allowing instructors to focus on creating high-quality content. For example, Udemy offers extensive marketing tools and access to millions of learners, while Skillshare emphasizes community and project-based learning.

However, online course marketplaces often take a commission on course sales, which can impact revenue. Additionally, course creators have limited control over the user experience and revenue streams. They also have to compete with other course creators for attention and sales, which can be challenging in a crowded marketplace. Despite these drawbacks, the potential to reach a vast audience makes online course marketplaces an attractive option for many instructors.

Pricing and Support

Online course platforms offer a range of pricing plans to suit different business needs and goals. Some platforms offer a free plan with limited functionality, while others provide paid plans with additional features and support. When choosing an online course platform, it’s essential to consider the pricing and support options available.

For instance, Teachable and Podia offer various pricing tiers, starting from free plans to more comprehensive paid options. These plans often include additional features such as advanced analytics, marketing tools, and enhanced support. Kajabi, known for its all-in-one capabilities, starts at a higher price point but offers extensive features that justify the cost.

Support is another critical factor. Some platforms provide 24/7 support, ensuring that help is available whenever needed. Others may offer support during business hours or through community forums. Platforms like Thinkific and LearnDash are known for their responsive customer support, which can be invaluable for course creators navigating technical challenges or seeking advice on maximizing their platform’s potential.

By carefully evaluating the pricing and support options, course creators can choose a platform that aligns with their budget and provides the necessary resources to help them succeed in their online education business.

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