Looking for the best online course platforms to power your eLearning business? In this article, we’ll explore the top-rated online course platforms that can help you create and sell online courses. We’ve researched and tested numerous platforms to bring you the best options available. Whether you want to create and sell courses through your own website or list them on online learning marketplaces, we have the right platforms for you.
Key Takeaways:
- Discover the best online course platforms for your eLearning business
- Explore platforms that allow you to create and sell courses through your own website
- Learn about course marketplaces that can expand your reach
- Find platforms with unique features for specific needs
- Consider your specific goals and requirements when choosing a platform
Best Online Course Platforms for Course Creation
Looking to create and sell online courses through your own website? The best online course platforms offer a range of tools and features to help you build your curriculum, customize your landing pages, and manage your online business. We have researched and selected the top platforms based on their key features, pricing options, and user reviews. Let’s explore the leading online course platforms for course creation:
1. Thinkific
Thinkific is a highly popular online course platform that provides a drag-and-drop course builder, pre-made course templates, and customizable landing pages. With Thinkific, you can easily create engaging and interactive online courses to captivate your learners.
2. Podia
Podia is an all-in-one platform that not only allows you to sell online courses but also offers additional features like affiliate marketing, email marketing, and customer messaging. With Podia, you can create and sell online courses, digital downloads, memberships, and webinars all in one place.
3. LearnWorlds
LearnWorlds is a powerful course platform that stands out for its unique features, including the ability to create a branded mobile app for your school and support for SCORM courses. It offers a robust course builder, multimedia support, and interactive assessments.
4. LearnDash
If you have a WordPress website, LearnDash is the best option for you. It is a WordPress plugin that allows you to effectively create and sell online courses directly from your website. With LearnDash, you have complete control over the selling and delivery of your courses.
Thinkific: Best Overall Online Course Platform
Thinkific is considered the best overall online course platform, providing a comprehensive set of features for course creation and sales. With Thinkific, you can easily create and sell engaging online courses to a global audience.
Drag-and-Drop Course Builder
Thinkific offers a user-friendly drag-and-drop course builder that allows you to create and organize your course content effortlessly. You can easily add videos, PDFs, quizzes, and more, giving you complete control over your course structure.
Pre-Made Course Templates
To jumpstart your course creation process, Thinkific provides pre-made course templates that are professionally designed and fully customizable. These templates enable you to create visually appealing and professional-looking courses without any design or coding skills.
Customizable Landing Pages
With Thinkific, you can create custom landing pages for your courses to attract potential students and drive conversions. The platform offers a wide range of customization options, allowing you to align your landing pages with your branding and create a cohesive user experience.
Extensive Marketing Tools
Thinkific comes equipped with powerful marketing tools to help you promote and sell your courses effectively. From email marketing integrations to advanced analytics and reporting, Thinkific provides the necessary tools to drive traffic, capture leads, and increase sales.
Website Builder
One of the standout features of Thinkific is its built-in website builder. You can create a professional and fully-functional website to showcase your courses and establish your online presence, all within the Thinkific platform.
Community-Building Features
Thinkific understands the importance of fostering a community around your courses. The platform provides community-building features, such as discussion boards and student profiles, enabling students to interact with each other and enhancing the overall learning experience.
With its drag-and-drop course builder, pre-made course templates, customizable landing pages, extensive marketing tools, website builder, and community-building features, Thinkific offers the best overall online course platform for creating and selling engaging and interactive online courses.
Podia: Best All-in-One Platform
When it comes to selling online courses, having all the necessary tools in one platform can make a world of difference. That’s where Podia comes in. With Podia, you get more than just a course creation platform. It’s an all-in-one solution that empowers you to sell courses, utilize affiliate marketing, leverage email marketing, and engage with your customers through messaging.
Podia offers a user-friendly interface and a range of features that cater to both beginners and experienced creators. With its easy-to-use course outline builder, you can effortlessly organize your content and create a seamless learning experience for your students. Whether you want to sell online courses, digital downloads, memberships, or host webinars, Podia has got you covered.
One of the standout features of Podia is its affiliate marketing functionality. By setting up an affiliate program, you can tap into a network of influencers and leverage their audience to boost your course sales. Podia provides you with the tools to easily manage your affiliates, track sales, and offer enticing commission rates.
Another powerful aspect of Podia is its email marketing capabilities. Building an email list and nurturing your subscribers is an essential part of any online business. With Podia, you can create effective email campaigns, send automated emails, and segment your audience to deliver personalized content. This helps you build stronger relationships with your students and drive repeat sales.
Lastly, Podia enables you to communicate directly with your customers through its messaging feature. Whether you need to clarify course details, offer support, or address any concerns, Podia’s messaging feature allows for seamless communication and provides a better learning experience for your students.
Let’s take a look at the features that make Podia the best all-in-one platform for selling online courses:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Course Creation | A user-friendly course outline builder and support for various content formats. |
| Affiliate Marketing | Set up an affiliate program to boost your course sales through influencers. |
| Email Marketing | Create effective email campaigns, send automated emails, and segment your audience for personalized communication. |
| Messaging | Communicate directly with your customers through Podia’s messaging feature. |
Podia’s all-in-one platform makes it a convenient and efficient choice for course creators. Whether you’re just starting or looking to scale your online course business, Podia offers affordable pricing plans that cater to your needs. With its comprehensive set of features, Podia empowers you to create, market, and sell your online courses, making it the best all-in-one platform for your eLearning business.
LearnWorlds: Powerful Course Platform with Unique Features
LearnWorlds is a powerful course platform that stands out from the competition with its unique features and capabilities. Whether you are an individual course creator or represent a school or institution, LearnWorlds offers a comprehensive solution to deliver engaging and effective online courses.
Create Your Branded Mobile App
One of the standout features of LearnWorlds is the ability to create your own branded mobile app for your school. With this feature, you can elevate your online learning experience by offering your students a seamless mobile app experience. Your students can access your courses anytime, anywhere, directly from their mobile devices. This enhances convenience and accessibility, leading to increased student engagement and satisfaction.
Having your own branded mobile app also helps establish your brand identity and differentiate your online school from others in the market. It gives you a professional edge and makes your courses easily recognizable and accessible to your target audience.
By offering a branded mobile app, LearnWorlds empowers you to deliver a truly immersive and personalized learning experience that sets your online courses apart.
Support for SCORM Courses
LearnWorlds also provides robust support for SCORM (Shareable Content Object Reference Model) courses. SCORM is a widely used industry standard for eLearning. It enables the creation of interactive and reusable content that can be easily integrated into different Learning Management Systems (LMS).
With LearnWorlds, you can create and import SCORM courses into your platform. This allows you to leverage existing SCORM content or develop new SCORM courses with ease. SCORM compatibility ensures compatibility with various eLearning tools and systems, providing flexibility and interoperability for both creators and learners.
Robust Course Builder and Interactive Assessments
LearnWorlds offers a robust course builder that enables you to create engaging and interactive online courses. The intuitive drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to organize your course content, incorporate multimedia elements, and design visually appealing lessons.
In addition, LearnWorlds provides a wide range of interactive assessment options, including quizzes, tests, and assignments. These assessments allow you to assess your students’ progress and understanding, providing valuable feedback and driving their learning forward.
Community-Building Features and Third-Party Integrations
Beyond course creation and delivery, LearnWorlds offers community-building features that foster student engagement and interaction. You can create private forums, encourage peer-to-peer collaboration, and facilitate discussions to build a strong learning community.
Furthermore, LearnWorlds integrates seamlessly with popular third-party applications and tools, allowing you to extend the functionality of your course platform. Whether it’s integrating with email marketing tools or leveraging advanced analytics, LearnWorlds provides flexibility and customization options to meet your specific needs.
With LearnWorlds, you can unleash the full potential of your online courses, deliver a unique learning experience, and build a thriving community of engaged learners.
LearnDash: Best WordPress Course Plugin
When it comes to creating and selling online courses on your WordPress website, LearnDash is the go-to plugin. With its extensive course management features and seamless integration with WordPress, LearnDash provides you with the tools and control you need to deliver a top-notch eLearning experience.
One of the key advantages of LearnDash is its high level of customization. You can tailor the look and feel of your courses to match your brand and create a unique learning environment. Whether you want to design engaging multimedia lessons or interactive quizzes, LearnDash offers the flexibility to make it happen.
With LearnDash, you have full control over how you sell your courses. You can set flexible pricing options, offer discounts, create memberships, and even sell course bundles. Plus, with its built-in course progression and completion tracking, you can ensure your learners have a structured and rewarding learning experience.
“LearnDash gives you the power to monetize your knowledge and expertise while providing your audience with a seamless learning journey.”
The Benefits of LearnDash:
- Create and sell online courses directly from your WordPress website
- Customize the look and feel of your courses to align with your brand
- Set flexible pricing options, discounts, memberships, and course bundles
- Track and monitor course progression and completion
- Integrate seamlessly with other WordPress plugins and themes
With LearnDash, you can have full control over your eLearning business. From course creation and customization to flexible selling options, this plugin empowers you to provide a seamless and engaging learning experience to your audience.
Best Online Learning Platforms for Course Marketplaces
In this section, we’ll explore the best online learning platforms that serve as course marketplaces. These platforms allow you to list your courses alongside other sellers and tap into a larger audience. We’ve selected the top-rated platforms based on their user-friendly interfaces, wide range of courses, and strong reputation in the e-learning industry.
1. Online Learning Platform A
- Pros:
- Extensive course selection from leading online course providers
- User-friendly interface for easy course navigation
- Diverse learning formats, including video lectures, interactive quizzes, and discussion forums
- Cons:
- Limited course customization options for instructors
- Higher commission fees compared to other platforms
2. Online Learning Platform B
- Pros:
- Robust search and filtering options for students to find relevant courses
- Flexible pricing models for course creators
- Integration with popular marketing and communication tools
- Cons:
- Smaller course catalog compared to other platforms
- Less established reputation in the e-learning industry
3. Online Learning Platform C
- Pros:
- Highly curated course selection for quality assurance
- Advanced analytics and reporting features for course creators
- Active community for peer-to-peer learning and collaboration
- Cons:
- Strict course approval process for new instructors
- Higher pricing plans for premium features
These top online learning platforms offer a variety of features and benefits for both instructors and learners. Consider your specific needs and goals to choose the platform that best aligns with your eLearning business.
Udemy: Best Online Course Marketplace for Course Creation
When it comes to online course marketplaces, Udemy stands out as one of the largest and most popular platforms. With its global reach and extensive user base, Udemy provides instructors with a valuable opportunity to create and sell their courses to a wide audience.
As a premium instructor on Udemy, you’ll have access to their guided course creation flow, making it easy to bring your ideas to life. Whether you’re an experienced educator or new to course creation, Udemy provides the necessary tools and resources to help you create engaging and professional courses.
One of the key advantages of using Udemy is its marketing support. The platform offers promotional opportunities and affiliate programs to help you reach more potential students. By leveraging Udemy’s marketing initiatives, you can increase your course visibility and attract learners who are interested in your topic.
Udemy empowers instructors to share their knowledge with the world, providing a platform where expertise can be monetized and shared on a global scale.
It’s important to note that Udemy operates on a revenue share model. This means that for each course sale, Udemy takes a percentage of the revenue. While this may reduce your overall profit margin, it’s essential to consider the benefits of the platform, such as its massive user base and marketing support.
The Advantages of Udemy:
- Global audience: Reach students from around the world
- Guided course creation flow: Easily create and publish courses
- Marketing support: Promotions and affiliate programs
In conclusion, if you’re looking for an online course marketplace that offers a wide reach, marketing support, and a user-friendly course creation process, Udemy is an excellent choice for instructors looking to monetize their expertise and connect with a global audience.
Skillshare: Best Online Course Marketplace for Creative Skills
Skillshare is a popular online course marketplace that specializes in teaching creative skills. This platform offers a diverse range of courses on topics such as drawing, painting, photography, writing, and more. Whether you’re a aspiring artist, writer, or photographer, Skillshare has an extensive selection of courses to help you develop and enhance your creative abilities.
What sets Skillshare apart is its quick and easy course setup, making it accessible for both instructors and learners. As an instructor, you can easily create and publish your courses, sharing your expertise with a global community of learners. And as a student, you can quickly enroll in courses that are of interest to you, learning at your own pace.
Furthermore, Skillshare provides a platform for community interaction that fosters collaboration and support among learners. You have the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals, share ideas, and receive feedback on your creative work. This sense of community adds an extra layer of engagement and motivation to the learning process.
So whether you’re looking to explore a new artistic hobby, enhance your existing creative skills, or even turn your passion into a profession, Skillshare is the go-to online course marketplace for creative enthusiasts like you.
Why Choose Skillshare for Creative Skills:
- Wide range of courses on various creative topics
- Quick and easy course setup for instructors
- Accessible platform for learners of all levels
- Opportunity for community interaction and feedback
Testimonials:
“Skillshare has been an incredible platform for me to expand my creative skills. The courses are engaging, easy to follow, and the community aspect adds a wonderful collaborative element. I highly recommend Skillshare to anyone looking to unleash their creativity!” – Sarah, Skillshare student
“Being an instructor on Skillshare has been a rewarding experience. The platform is user-friendly, and I love how they emphasize the community aspect. It’s gratifying to see my students grow and share their progress with fellow learners.” – Michael, Skillshare instructor
Coursera: Best Online Course Marketplace for University Courses
Coursera is a renowned online course marketplace that partners with top universities to offer a wide range of courses to learners worldwide. With Coursera, you can access real university classes and learn from esteemed professors and industry experts.
One of the key advantages of Coursera is the extensive selection of university courses available on the platform. From computer science to business, humanities to engineering, Coursera offers courses in various disciplines, ensuring that learners can find the subjects that interest them the most.
Whether you are a professional looking to enhance your skills or a student eager to explore new topics, Coursera provides an opportunity to pursue online education from reputable institutions from around the globe.
Moreover, Coursera offers both free and paid courses, allowing learners to choose the learning path that suits their preferences and budget. The platform also provides the option to earn professional certificates upon completion of certain courses, validating your skills and knowledge for potential employers.
For those aspiring to pursue a higher level of education, Coursera offers degree programs from top universities. These programs provide a structured curriculum and the opportunity to earn a degree entirely online, making it convenient for learners to balance their studies with other commitments.
With Coursera, you can enjoy the benefits of quality education from reputable institutions, flexibility in course selection, and the opportunity to earn recognized credentials to advance your career.
Coursera – Key Features and Benefits
| Key Features | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Partnership with top universities | Access to courses from prestigious institutions |
| Wide range of disciplines | Diverse selection of courses to suit individual interests |
| Free and paid course options | Flexibility in choosing the learning path |
| Professional certificates | Validation of skills for career advancement |
| Degree programs | Opportunity to earn a degree entirely online |
Whether you’re looking to expand your knowledge, gain practical skills, or earn a degree, Coursera offers an excellent online course marketplace for university courses. The platform’s partnership with top universities, extensive course catalog, and flexible learning options make it a standout choice among online learners.
Khan Academy: Best Free Online Learning Platform
Khan Academy is a leading online learning platform that provides free academic learning materials. It offers comprehensive courses in math, science, computing, economics, and many other subjects. Khan Academy’s videos, readings, and interactive components are well thought out and designed to facilitate learning. The platform is especially beneficial for students in K-12 education.
| Subjects | Features |
|---|---|
| Math | Interactive video lessons, practice exercises, and quizzes. |
| Science | Engaging video lessons, simulations, and experiments. |
| Computing | Programming tutorials, coding challenges, and projects. |
| Economics | Introductory courses, concept explanations, and case studies. |
| Other Subjects | Wide variety of courses covering history, art, music, and more. |
With Khan Academy, learners have access to a vast library of educational resources that can help them grasp complex concepts and improve their academic performance. The platform’s user-friendly interface and structured learning materials make it easy to navigate and progress through various subjects.
“Khan Academy provides an invaluable resource for students looking to strengthen their understanding of key academic subjects. The platform’s comprehensive courses and interactive components make learning engaging and enjoyable.”
– Education Expert
MasterClass: Best Online Learning Platform for Inspiration
MasterClass is a unique online learning platform that offers courses taught by A-list celebrity instructors. It aims to inspire learners by providing insights and practical skills from accomplished individuals in various fields. MasterClass stands out for its high production values and well-structured course content. It offers a wide range of topics, including creative arts, business, sports, and more.
MasterClass brings together the expertise of renowned professionals in their respective industries, providing learners with a rare opportunity to learn directly from the best. The platform features A-list celebrity instructors such as:
- Stephen Curry: Learn basketball techniques from the NBA superstar.
- Christina Aguilera: Get singing lessons from the Grammy-winning artist.
- Gordon Ramsay: Master the art of cooking with the world-renowned chef.
- Natalie Portman: Gain insights into acting from the Academy Award-winning actress.
These are just a few examples of the impressive lineup of instructors on MasterClass. Each course is meticulously crafted with high production values, ensuring an immersive and engaging learning experience.
With MasterClass, learners have the opportunity to explore their passions, develop their skills, and receive guidance from industry leaders. Whether you aspire to become a chef, a writer, a musician, or even a poker player, there’s a MasterClass course that can fuel your inspiration and help you reach new heights.
“MasterClass is like having a personal mentor, guiding you through the journey of mastery.”
With its compelling combination of star-studded instructors, high production values, and well-structured course content, MasterClass has gained a reputation as the go-to platform for inspiration and skill development in a wide range of fields.
| Key Features of MasterClass | Instructors | Course Categories |
|---|---|---|
| High production values | A-list celebrity instructors | Creative arts |
| Well-structured course content | Renowned professionals | Business |
| Immersive and engaging learning experience | Industry leaders | Sports |
Mighty Networks: Best Online Learning Platform for Building a Community
Mighty Networks is an online learning platform that stands out for its focus on community building and creating a paid community around your courses. It offers a range of features designed to facilitate community interaction, course hosting, and content creation. With Mighty Networks, you have the opportunity to establish a branded community space where your students can engage with each other, share their experiences, and access exclusive course content.
Community-building is at the core of the Mighty Networks platform. It allows you to foster connections, facilitate discussions, and encourage collaboration among your students. By providing a dedicated space for your community, you can offer a more personalized learning experience and enhance the sense of belonging among your students. This can result in higher engagement and improved learning outcomes.
Key Features:
- Create a Branded Community: Design a unique and branded community space that reflects your course or brand identity.
- Community Interaction: Enable discussions, direct messaging, and collaboration among community members.
- Course Hosting: Host your courses directly on the platform, making it convenient for your students to access all course materials in one place.
- Content Creation: Share exclusive content, resources, and updates with your community members.
Mighty Networks offers a seamless user experience, allowing you to easily manage your community and course materials. With its intuitive interface and robust features, you can focus on fostering meaningful interactions and delivering valuable content to your students. Whether you’re a course creator, coach, or consultant, Mighty Networks provides a unique approach to online learning by prioritizing community building alongside course delivery.
Simplero: Best Online Learning Platform for Managing Your Business
When it comes to managing your online learning business, Simplero is the all-in-one platform you need. With its comprehensive suite of features, Simplero simplifies the process of running your online courses, allowing you to focus on what you do best – creating and selling valuable content to your audience.
As an all-in-one platform, Simplero combines online course hosting with customer relationship management (CRM) and marketing automation features. This means you can effectively manage your business operations, streamline your processes, and deliver a seamless learning experience to your students.
Simplero’s key features include:
- Course creation: Create and organize your online courses with ease, using Simplero’s intuitive course creation tools.
- Sales management: Sell your courses effortlessly through Simplero’s integrated sales tools, allowing you to set pricing, create payment plans, and manage subscriptions.
- Email marketing: Stay connected with your students and nurture your audience with Simplero’s powerful email marketing capabilities. Send automated emails, set up drip campaigns, and track engagement.
- Customer support: Provide top-notch customer support with Simplero’s help desk and ticketing system. Address student inquiries promptly and efficiently.
With Simplero’s user-friendly interface, you can easily navigate through the platform and access all the tools you need to manage your business effectively. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned course creator, Simplero offers a straightforward and intuitive experience.
Furthermore, Simplero seamlessly integrates with other popular tools and services, allowing you to connect your business ecosystem and automate your workflows. From CRM integrations to email marketing platforms, Simplero has you covered.
Simplero is revolutionizing the way online course creators manage their businesses. Its all-in-one platform empowers entrepreneurs to focus on their expertise and grow their audience without getting lost in the technical complexities of running an online learning business. With Simplero, you can streamline your operations, automate your marketing, and provide exceptional learning experiences to your students.
Why Choose Simplero?
Here are a few reasons why Simplero stands out as the best online learning platform for managing your business:
| Feature | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Comprehensive all-in-one solution | With Simplero, you can access all the tools you need to manage your online learning business in one place, saving you time and effort. |
| User-friendly interface | Simplero’s platform is designed with user experience in mind, ensuring that you can navigate and utilize the features effortlessly, regardless of your technical expertise. |
| Seamless integrations | Integrate Simplero with your favorite tools and services to streamline your workflows, automate tasks, and enhance your business operations. |
| Reliable customer support | Simplero provides excellent customer support, ensuring that you receive prompt assistance whenever you need it. |
With Simplero as your online learning platform, you can efficiently manage your business, nurture your audience, and provide exceptional learning experiences. Empower yourself with Simplero’s all-in-one solution and take your online courses to new heights.
Conclusion
In conclusion, when it comes to finding the best online course platforms, there are plenty of options available to suit your specific needs and goals. Whether you want a platform for course creation or a course marketplace, you can find the right fit for your eLearning business.
If you’re looking to create and sell courses through your own website, platforms like Thinkific, Podia, LearnWorlds, and LearnDash offer a range of features and tools to help you build engaging and interactive online courses.
On the other hand, if you prefer to list your courses on established marketplaces, platforms like Udemy, Skillshare, Coursera, and Khan Academy provide access to a large audience and offer various course categories to choose from.
For those seeking unique features, MasterClass, Mighty Networks, and Simplero offer specialized services tailored to specific needs, such as learning from industry experts, building a paid community, or managing your entire online business.
So, take the time to explore these top online course platforms and find the one that aligns with your eLearning goals. Whether you’re an individual course creator or a business, these platforms can help you unlock the potential of online learning and maximize your success.
FAQ
What are the best platforms for creating and selling online courses?
The top platforms for course creation and sales are Thinkific, Podia, LearnWorlds, and LearnDash.
What is the best overall online course platform?
Thinkific is highly regarded as the best overall online course platform, offering customizable course templates and a user-friendly drag-and-drop course builder.
Which platform is best for creating an all-in-one online business?
Podia is an excellent choice for an all-in-one online business platform, as it not only allows you to sell online courses but also offers additional features like affiliate marketing and email marketing.
Which platform offers unique features like support for SCORM courses and branded mobile apps?
LearnWorlds is a powerful course platform that stands out for its unique features, such as the ability to create a branded mobile app for your school and support for SCORM courses.
What is the best WordPress plugin for creating and selling online courses?
LearnDash is the best WordPress plugin for creating and selling online courses directly from your WordPress website. It offers extensive course management features and seamless integration with other WordPress plugins and themes.
Which online learning platforms are the best for accessing a variety of courses from different instructors?
Udemy, Skillshare, Coursera, and Khan Academy are top choices for accessing a wide range of courses from different instructors.
Which online course marketplace is best for course creation?
Udemy is the best online course marketplace for course creation, as it allows instructors to easily create and publish courses with their guided course creation flow.
What online course marketplace is known for focusing on teaching creative skills?
Skillshare is a popular online course marketplace that specializes in teaching creative skills such as drawing, painting, photography, and writing.
Which online course marketplace partners with top universities to offer a variety of courses?
Coursera partners with top universities to provide a wide range of courses, making it an ideal choice for those looking for university-level education.
What online learning platform provides free academic learning materials?
Khan Academy is a leading online learning platform that offers a comprehensive range of free academic learning materials in subjects like math, science, computing, and economics.
Which online learning platform features courses taught by A-list celebrity instructors?
MasterClass is a unique online learning platform that provides courses taught by A-list celebrity instructors in various fields, including creative arts, business, and sports.
What online learning platform is best for building a paid community around your courses?
Mighty Networks is the best online learning platform for building a paid community around your courses, as it offers features for community interaction, course hosting, and content creation.
Which online learning platform is best for managing your online business?
Simplero is an all-in-one platform that combines online course hosting with customer relationship management (CRM) and marketing automation features, making it the best choice for managing your online business.