13 Best Platforms to Create and Sell Online Courses Now in 2023

Are you looking for the best platforms to create and sell online courses? If yes, then stay right here. 

Today, the world of online education is more vibrant and accessible than ever before. This offers incredible opportunities for both educators and learners. 

Whether you’re a seasoned instructor or a passionate enthusiast looking to share your skills, we’ve brought you the top platforms. That is specifically tailored to current needs.

Let’s embark on a transformative adventure together – where learning and earning go hand in hand as we unveil these platforms. 

What to Look for in an Online Course Platform?

Navigating the dynamic world of online course platforms can be a daunting task, especially with the multitude of options available. 

So, before we move ahead, let’s explore what to look for in an online course platform. With that, you can make an informed choice and find the perfect platform that aligns with your goals and vision.

• User-Friendly Interface: Prioritize platforms with an intuitive, user-friendly interface for both instructors and students.
• Customization Options: Seek platforms that enable course customization to reflect your unique style and branding.
• Diverse Content Formats: Look for platforms supporting various content formats, promoting engaging and interactive learning experiences.
• Monetization Features: Ensure the platform aligns with your revenue strategy. Offering options like pricing, discounts, or subscription models.
• SEO and Marketing Tools: Opt for platforms that assist in SEO optimization and provide marketing integrations to boost course visibility.
• Customer Support: Choose platforms with a responsive support team, ready to assist with any issues or inquiries.

So, what’re we waiting for? Let’s dig into our handpicked list of the best platforms to create and sell online courses. 

You might want to check our article on popular online course websites for inspiration.

13 Best Platforms to Create and Sell Online Courses Now in 2023

Here, we’ve brought you a hand-picked list of the best platforms to create and sell online courses. Along with its description, key features, and pricing. Make sure to go through them all to make the right deal. 

1. Udemy

Are you on the hunt for an online course platform that combines vast reach with instructor-friendly features? Look no further. As Udemy remains a top choice, offering a wide array of tools and benefits to educators and content creators.

Indeed, it’s a good choice for course creators who want to reach a large audience. And need more time or resources to build their own website or marketing platform. Plus, it offers a variety of features to help you promote your courses, including email marketing, social media integration, and paid advertising.

So, join the ranks of successful online instructors on Udemy and take your educational journey to new heights. With Udemy, your passion and expertise can become a thriving online course business.

Key Features

• With millions of students worldwide, Udemy gives you unparalleled access to a diverse and extensive audience.
• Udemy’s user-friendly interface simplifies course creation, allowing you to focus on content rather than technicalities.
• You have control over course pricing, offering the freedom to set your desired rates and even run promotions.
• Create engaging courses with videos, quizzes, assignments, and downloadable resources.
• Benefit from Udemy’s marketing tools and promotions to boost your course’s visibility.
• Access detailed analytics to monitor student engagement and improve your teaching strategies.

Pricing

Udemy uses a revenue share model, meaning that Udemy takes a percentage of your earnings from each sale. The revenue share percentage varies depending on how your course is promoted on the platform.

Normally, it takes 37% of the revenue from your courses, or 50% if you promote your courses through Udemy’s paid marketing channels.

For more information, you can check out their article on instructor revenue share. 

2. Skillshare

If you’re eager to share your creative skills and knowledge, then Skillshare is your canvas. It’s a good choice for course creators who want to teach creative and practical skills. 

Moreover, it stands out as an ideal platform for artists, designers, and creative minds looking to monetize their talents. As it offers a good way for course creators to build a community around their courses, with features like student discussions and projects.

Overall, Skillshare is a good choice for course creators who want to teach creative and practical skills and build a community around their courses.

Key Features

• Caters to creators with a strong emphasis on art, design, and creative subjects.
• With a subscription-based approach, students enjoy unlimited access to all courses, increasing the potential for recurring revenue.
• Connect with a vibrant community of learners and fellow creators to enhance your profile and network.
• An easy-to-navigate platform ensures that you can focus on crafting compelling content.
• Offers a royalty system for instructors, earning revenue based on student minutes watched.
• With a mobile-responsive platform, students can engage with your content on the go.

Pricing

Skillshare takes a 50% revenue share for courses that are promoted through the Skillshare platform. And a 30% revenue share for courses that are promoted through paid marketing channels outside of Skillshare.

You can check out their article on receive and payments from Skillshare for more details. 

3. Teachable

For educators and entrepreneurs with a vision, Teachable provides the perfect stage to shine. As it continues to empower course creators with its customizable and feature-rich platform.

This platform gives you full control over the branding and course experience. Plus, it offers a variety of features to help course creators create and sell successful courses. Including video lectures, quizzes, assignments, and discussion forums.

Teachable is a good choice for course creators who want full control over their branding and course experience. Not to forget, you get a good way to scale your business, with features like memberships and affiliate marketing.

Key Features

• Craft your unique online school with a branded website, domain, and flexible design.
• Accept payments securely with various options, and keep all your earnings without transaction fees.
• Engage students with interactive quizzes and assignments to enhance the learning experience.
• Leverage email marketing integrations to reach your audience and boost course sales.
• Share your expertise with students worldwide, and support multiple languages and currencies.
• Provides round-the-clock customer support to assist both you and your students.

Pricing

Teachable platform is available to you at the following premium prices:

• Free: $1/month along with a 10% transaction fee. 1 published product of each type, teachable pay with integrated payment processing. 
• Basic: $39/month along with a 5% transaction fee. 5 published products, 1 membership tier, integrated email marketing, coupons, and more. 
• Pro: $119/month. 0 % transaction fee. 50 published products, unlimited membership tiers, affiliate marketing, live chat support, and more. 
• Pro+: $199/month. 0 % transaction fee. 200 courses, 200 coaching products, 200 digital downloads, 200 product bundles, and more. 

4. Thinkific

Thinkific is an online course platform that is known for its ease of use and affordability. It offers a variety of features to help course creators create and sell successful courses. Including video lectures, quizzes, assignments, and discussion forums.

It’s a good choice for course creators who are new to online learning or who are looking to create and sell simple, straightforward courses. With Thinkific, you can turn your expertise into a thriving online course business, reaching students globally.

Key Features

• Tailor your online school with branding, design, and content, offering a personalized learning experience.
• Deliver content in various formats, including videos, quizzes, surveys, and assignments.
• Integrate marketing tools to optimize your course’s SEO, launch marketing campaigns, and track your progress.
• Set your pricing, create bundles, and offer subscriptions for flexible revenue generation.
• Access detailed reports to gauge student engagement and make data-driven improvements.
• Foster a sense of community among your students to enhance learning outcomes.

Pricing

Thinkific platform is available in both free and premium versions. The free version includes 1 course, 1 community with 2 spaces, unlimited students, and 0% transaction fee.

Meanwhile, you can opt for premium pricing plans for more features:

• Basic: $36/month. Includes all free features. Plus, unlimited courses, email, and live chat support, coupons and discounts, and affiliate selling. 
• Start: $74/month. All Basic features. Plus, mobile add-ons, assignments, bundles and add-on packages, memberships, payment plans, etc. 
• Grow: $149/month. All Start features. Plus. phone and priority email support, remove Thinkific branding, bulk student enrollments, and more. 

5. Kajabi

Kajabi is your all-in-one platform for digital entrepreneurs looking to sell online courses, memberships, and more. It’s a good choice for course creators who want a full-featured platform and who are willing to pay a premium price. You can scale your teaching school with features like landing pages and sales funnels.

Moreover, it makes it easy to sell online courses, with features like payment processing, subscription management, and affiliate marketing. Also, it provides detailed analytics on course performance, so you can track the progress and see what’s working well.

Key Features

• Combines course creation, website hosting, marketing tools, and more, streamlining your digital business.
• Craft stunning teacher websites with a range of templates, making your brand stand out.
• Utilize advanced email marketing features to engage with your audience and nurture leads.
• Set pricing for your courses, offer upsells, and create subscription-based revenue streams.
• Enhance learning outcomes with quizzes, assessments, and automated grading.
• Engage students on the go with a mobile app for both iOS and Android devices.

Pricing

The cost of using the Kajabi platform depends on the pricing plan you choose. Precisely, it offers three premium pricing plans:

• Basic: Costs $119/month. Includes 3 funnels, unlimited landing pages, unlimited marketing emails, 1000 active customers, and more. 
• Growth: Costs $159/month. Includes 15 funnels, 25000 contacts, 10000 active customers, and more. 
• Pro: Costs $319/month. Includes 100 funnels, 100.000 contacts, 20000 active customers, etc. 

6. EdX

EdX is a well-known platform in the field of creating and distributing online courses. It still holds its standing as the top option for educators today. Further, it provides a multitude of chances for sharing information and skills with a global audience.

It offers a variety of features to help instructors create and deliver engaging courses. Including a user-friendly course creation platform and a variety of multimedia tools for creating video lectures, quizzes, and assignments.

What’s more, you get a built-in Learning Management System (LMS) for tracking student progress and providing feedback. Not to forget, you get access to a large community of potential students.

Key Features

• Provide students with credentials recognized by employers and institutions, giving your courses added value.
• Students can access your courses at their own pace, choosing from a wide range of subjects and skill levels.
• Join a diverse community of learners and educators worldwide, expanding your network and influence.
• EdX’s commitment to accessible education includes financial aid options, making it an inclusive platform for all.
• Create courses tailored to career growth, providing opportunities for skill enhancement and personal advancement.

Pricing

EdX is a free platform to create and sell courses on the platform. 

However, it does take a revenue share from all course sales. The revenue share percentage varies depending on the course, but it is typically around 50%.

On top of that, it also charges instructors a transaction fee on all course sales. The transaction fee is 3% of the total sale price of the course.

7. Coursera

Coursera is another popular online learning platform that offers a range of benefits for instructors looking to teach courses. It has a massive global user base, allowing instructors to reach a diverse and international audience.

On top of that, it’s well-known and respected in the online education industry, which can enhance an instructor’s credibility. What’s more, is that it provides resources, guidelines, and tools to help instructors create engaging and effective online courses.

Furthermore, instructors can collaborate with other educators and institutions to create and offer courses. This helps to foster a sense of community.

Key Features

• Wide range of courses, including single lectures, short courses, specializations, full degree programs, and more.
• You’ve full control over the content and structure of your courses, allowing for creative freedom in course design.
• Track learner progress and engagement through analytics to improve course effectiveness.
• Offers revenue-sharing options, enabling instructors to earn money from their courses.
• Comes with a mobile app, making it convenient for learners to access courses on the go.

Pricing

Coursera does not charge instructors a fee to create and sell courses on the platform. 

However, Coursera does take a revenue share from all course sales. The revenue share percentage varies depending on the course, but it’s typically around 50%.

Also, it charges instructors a transaction fee on all course sales. The transaction fee is 3% of the total sale price of the course.

8. LinkedIn Learning

Previously known as Lynda, LinkedIn Learning is another best platform to create and sell online courses. Its integration with LinkedIn provides instructors with access to a large and diverse professional audience. Further, making it an ideal platform for courses that target career development and skills enhancement.

This platform mainly focuses on professional development. With that, you can access a vast network of professionals. Plus, its robust support for instructors makes it an appealing choice for those looking to teach courses. Related to career advancement, skill development, and personal growth.

Key Features

• You can reach a global audience as LinkedIn Learning is accessible to users around the world, allowing for diverse student engagement.
• Supports a variety of content formats, including video courses, quizzes, assignments, and downloadable resources.
• Create learning pathways or playlists of related courses, enhancing the overall learning experience for your students.
• Learners can access your courses via the LinkedIn Learning app, making it convenient for learners to access content on mobile devices.
• Access data and analytics to monitor learner engagement and course performance, to make data-driven improvements.

Pricing

LinkedIn Learning does not charge any cost to publish and host your courses on the platform. 

Instead, it typically operates on a revenue-sharing model, where instructors earn a share of the revenue generated from their courses. The revenue share percentage varies depending on the course.

Also, it charges instructors a transaction fee on all course sales. The transaction fee is 5% of the total sale price of the course.

9. LearnWorlds

LearnWorlds is another online learning platform that offers a range of features to instructors and course creators.  It provides easy-to-use course authoring tools. This helps you to create and customize your online courses with various multimedia elements.

Also, this platform supports white-labeling. This means you can brand your courses and create a consistent, professional online learning environment.  Plus, it ensures reliable hosting and 24/7 uptime, making courses accessible to learners without interruptions.

Key Features

• Offers built-in eCommerce features, enabling instructors to sell courses, subscriptions, and digital products directly from the platform.
• You can issue certificates and badges to learners upon course completion, providing recognition and motivation.
• Conduct live virtual classes, webinars, and events directly on the platform, promoting real-time interaction with learners.
• It’s regularly updated and improved, ensuring that instructors have access to the latest features and technology.
• Provides customer support and resources to assist you with technical and instructional challenges.

Pricing

LearnWorlds is a premium platform available to you at the following costs:

• Starter: Costs $29/month and $5 per course sale. Create unlimited paid courses, drip-feed courses, 3-page websites, 3 payment gateways, etc.
• Pro Trainer: Costs $85/month. No transaction fees. Starter features plus customizable course player, live classes and webinars, memberships, etc.
• Learning Center: Costs $255/month. No transaction fees. All Pro features plus interactive videos, remove LearnWorlds branding, progress reports, etc.
• Learning Center + Mobile App: Costs $509/month. No transaction fees. Get features like a tailorable school app, frictionless mobile learning, and more. 

10. Podia

Podia is another best online platform designed for creators to sell and market their digital products, courses, and memberships. Moreover, it’s known for its easy-to-use platform, making it accessible for instructors with varying levels of technical expertise.

Also, you can brand your storefront and courses to maintain a consistent look and feel with your personal brand. And the best part is, that it does not charge any transaction fees on sales. This allows you to keep a higher percentage of your earnings.

Key Features

• Create and sell online courses with customizable content, including video, text, and downloads.
• Provides tools for email marketing, sales pages, and affiliate marketing. This helps you promote and sell your courses effectively.
• Supports pre-launch features for creating buzz around upcoming courses and post-launch features for ongoing marketing and promotion.
• Facilitates secure payment processing with options like Stripe and PayPal.
• Offers insights into sales, course performance, and student engagement, helping instructors make data-driven decisions.
• You can set up affiliate programs to encourage others to promote your courses in exchange for a commission.

Pricing

Podia is a freemium platform to create and sell online courses. You can use its free scheme, however, you’ll need to pay an 8% transaction fee. 

Meanwhile, you can opt for its premium schemes at the following costs:

• Mover: $33/month. No transaction fees, unlimited downloads, unlimited coaching, unlimited courses, draft webinars, chat support, and more. 
• Shaker: $75/month. All Mover features along with affiliates and third-party code. 

11. WizIQ

WizIQ is another online learning and teaching platform that provides tools for educators to create and deliver courses. It offers a virtual classroom environment that supports live, interactive teaching. With features like video conferencing, whiteboards, screen sharing, and chat.

Moreover, you can create both private courses for specific groups or public courses open to a broader audience. Also, you can choose to offer courses for free or monetize them through various pricing models. Such as one-time payments or subscriptions.

Key Features

• Provides mobile accessibility so learners can access the course content from anywhere.
• Track learner progress and performance through analytics and generate reports to gain insights into course effectiveness.
• Several student management tools for managing students’ profiles, attendance, and performance. 
• Provides technical support and resources to help you navigate the platform and troubleshoot issues.
• Supports the issuance of certificates and badges upon course completion, adding credibility to the courses.

Pricing

WizIQ mainly provides 2 kinds of schemes i.e. Live Classroom and Learning Management System. Which start from $18/teacher/month and $1/user/month respectively. 

However, for detailed pricing, you’ll need to reach out to its Sales team. 

12. Ruzuku

Ruzuku is one of the user-friendly platforms to create and sell online courses. It provides several tools for creating and organizing course content, including text, videos, quizzes, etc. 

What’s more, you can host live webinars and upload pre-recorded video content to engage with students in real time. Plus, you have the option to release course content gradually over time. This can help keep students engaged and prevent overwhelm.

Also, the platform includes discussion forums and chat features. This facilitates interaction and community building among students.

Key Features

• Integrate with popular payment gateways like PayPal and Stripe to handle transactions securely.
• Set course prerequisites, ensuring that students have the necessary knowledge or skills before enrolling in a course.
• Access analytics and reporting tools to track student progress and engagement.
• Send automated reminders to students to help keep them on track and engaged in the course.
• You can offer digital downloads, such as PDFs or ebooks, as part of your course materials.
• Choose your pricing models, such as one-time payments, subscriptions, or free courses.

Pricing

Ruzuku is also a freemium platform for creating and selling online courses. 

You can use the free version with unlimited courses, limited to 5 students, host unlimited videos, and more. 

Meanwhile, you can opt for the premium version at the following costs:

• Core: Costs $99/month. All Free features with unlimited student capacity. 
• Pro: Costs $199/month. All Core features along with custom domains, premium branding, multiple instructor accounts, and more. 

13. Academy of Mine

Last but not least, we’ve got Academy of Mine on our list of best platforms to create and sell online courses. It offers a high degree of customization and flexibility. As a result, you can tailor the platform to your branding and specific needs. 

Plus, it supports the creation of multiple academies or sub-portals on a single platform. On top of that, you can create a fully white-labeled experience. This makes it appear as if the platform is entirely your own, which can enhance your brand identity.

Key Features

• Supports eCommerce features, enabling you to sell courses and other digital products directly from the platform.
• Offers robust assessment and quiz creation capabilities, allowing for both self-assessment and instructor-graded assessments.
• Create engaging courses with interactive elements, discussion forums, and collaborative projects.
• You can issue certificates and badges to learners upon course completion, helping to validate their achievements.
• Provides detailed analytics and reporting to track learner progress and engagement.
• Designed with security and data privacy in mind, making it suitable for businesses and organizations with strict compliance needs.

Pricing

Academy of Mine is a premium platform that’s available to you at the following pricing costs:

• Professional: Starts at $999/month. All Core features along with 1000 active users and unlimited users in total. Also, you can build custom features. 
• Enterprise: You’ve to reach out to its Sales team for a price. All Professional features with unlimited users, unlimited customization features, and more. 

You might love exploring our comprehensive article on how to create a teacher website and how to start a coaching business online. 

Conclusion

And that’s all, folks! We’ve come to the end of our article on the best platforms to create and sell online courses. 

Hopefully, we believe this article was useful to you in finding the right platform to create and sell online courses. 

Still in a dilemma regarding which one to choose? Then, we’d particularly suggest Udemy, as it’s one of the feature-rich platforms with a global audience. 

If you’ve got any confusion, then do let us know in the comment section below. We’re happy to help you out.

Also, check out our other articles like proven ways to make money online and the best LMS WordPress themes for online courses. 

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