Online Course Platform Evaluator
Rate each platform on a 1-5 scale for the key criteria below. The platform with the highest total score will be recommended for your needs.
- Course builder flexibility 1
- Student experience 1
- Monetisation options 1
- Marketing & sales automation 1
- Integrations 1
- Scalability & performance 1
- Pricing transparency 1
- Support & community 1
| Criterion | Rating |
|---|---|
| Course builder flexibility | |
| Student experience | |
| Monetisation options | |
| Marketing & sales automation | |
| Integrations | |
| Scalability & performance | |
| Pricing transparency | |
| Support & community |
Choosing the right place to host and sell your digital lessons can feel like hunting for a needle in a haystack. With dozens of options, each boasting flashy features and pricing tricks, you need a clear roadmap. This guide breaks down the most popular platforms, shows how they stack up against the criteria that really matter, and points you to the one that fits your teaching style, budget, and growth plans.
How to evaluate an online course platform
Before we dive into the names, let’s settle on the decision factors that separate a good platform from a great one. Treat these as a checklist you can copy‑paste into a spreadsheet.
- Course builder flexibility - drag‑and‑drop vs. code‑first, variety of content blocks, quizzes, assignments.
- Student experience - mobile app, progress tracking, community tools, certificates.
- Monetisation options - one‑time payments, subscriptions, bundles, coupons, affiliate programs.
- Marketing & sales automation - email funnels, landing pages, SEO tools, upsell pathways.
- Integrations - Zapier, Stripe, PayPal, CRM, webinar services.
- Scalability & performance - bandwidth limits, CDN, video hosting, live‑class support.
- Pricing transparency - monthly fees, transaction cuts, hidden costs for add‑ons.
- Support & community - live chat, knowledge base, user forums, onboarding assistance.
Rate each platform on a 1‑5 scale for these items, then total the scores. That simple math will reveal which tool aligns best with your priorities.
Top platforms at a glance
Below are the eight platforms that consistently appear in industry surveys, power thousands of creators, and cover a range of price points.
Teachable is a cloud‑based service that lets instructors build fully branded schools with a visual course builder, built‑in payment processing, and robust analytics.
Thinkific offers a modular course creator, white‑label site options, and a generous free tier for creators just starting out.
Kajabi combines course delivery with a full‑fledged marketing suite, including email automation, membership sites, and pipeline management.
Podia focuses on simplicity, letting you sell courses, memberships, and digital downloads from a single dashboard without any transaction fees.
LearnWorlds emphasizes interactive learning, offering advanced quiz types, certificates, and a white‑label mobile app.
Moodle is an open‑source LMS popular in academia and corporate training, highly extensible via plugins but requiring self‑hosting.
Udemy operates as a marketplace where you upload courses to reach a massive audience, though revenue sharing is less favorable for creators.
Coursera partners with universities to host professional certificates and degree programs; it’s best for institutions rather than independent instructors.
Feature‑by‑feature comparison
| Platform | Course Builder | Student Mobile App | Monetisation Types | Transaction Fee | Free Tier | Starting Price (USD/mo) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teachable | Drag‑and‑drop, video, quizzes | iOS & Android app | One‑time, subscription, bundle | 5% on Basic plan | No (14‑day trial) | $39 |
| Thinkific | Modular blocks, drip schedule | Responsive web app only | One‑time, subscription, memberships | 0% on Free plan | Yes (Free Forever) | $0 (Free) / $49 |
| Kajabi | Visual builder, pipelines | Customizable white‑label app | Subscriptions, memberships, bundles | 0% | No | $149 |
| Podia | Simple editor, drip content | Responsive mobile site | Courses, memberships, digital goods | 0% | Yes (14‑day trial) | $39 |
| LearnWorlds | Interactive video, quizzes, certificates | White‑label iOS/Android app | One‑time, subscription, bundles | 0% (except payment gateway) | No | $29 |
| Moodle | Open source, plugin ecosystem | Third‑party mobile apps | Assignments, certifications, corporate LMS | 0% (self‑hosted) | Yes (free download) | Self‑hosted (hosting costs vary) |
| Udemy | Upload‑only, limited branding | Official Udemy app | One‑time sales only | 50% on organic traffic, 25% on paid ads | No | Free to list (revenue share) |
| Coursera | University‑level course builder | Coursera app (iOS/Android) | Certificates, degrees, specializations | Varies by partnership | No | Partner‑dependent |
Best platform for specific needs
- Best for beginners on a tight budget - Thinkific’s free tier lets you launch three courses without any transaction fees.
- Best for marketers who want funnels - Kajabi bundles email automation and membership tools in one sleek dashboard.
- Best for interactive learning - LearnWorlds shines with video quizzes, SCORM support, and a white‑label app.
- Best for community‑driven creators - Podia offers built‑in community forums and no hidden fees.
- Best for institutions or large enterprises - Moodle’s open‑source nature lets IT teams customize every layer.
- Best for reaching a massive audience quickly - Udemy provides instant marketplace exposure, though you give up a larger revenue share.
- Best for academic credentials - Coursera partners with universities to deliver accredited certificates.
Pricing nuances you shouldn’t miss
Many platforms advertise a low monthly fee, but the real cost shows up in transaction cuts and add‑on services. Here are three hidden pockets to watch:
- Payment gateway fees - Stripe and PayPal charge 2.9%+$0.30 per transaction, which stacks on top of any platform‑level fees.
- Advanced integrations - Zapier premium plans, email‑marketing APIs, or custom video hosting can add $20‑$100 per month.
- Content delivery network (CDN) - If you host large video files, platforms like Teachable offer a CDN add‑on for $15‑$30.
When you total the monthly subscription, transaction percentages, and any required add‑ons, the best online course platform for you may shift dramatically.
Quick checklist before you commit
- Define your primary revenue model (one‑time vs. subscription).
- Test the course builder with a free trial - see if drag‑and‑drop feels intuitive.
- Check mobile app reviews - students often learn on phones.
- Calculate total monthly cost using your projected sales volume.
- Read recent user forum posts for support quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which platform has the lowest transaction fees?
Thinkific and Podia both charge 0% transaction fees on their paid plans. However, you still pay the standard Stripe/PayPal fees (about 2.9%+$0.30 per transaction).
Can I migrate my existing courses to a new platform?
Most platforms provide CSV or API import tools for text and video files. Teachable, Kajabi, and Thinkific have dedicated migration guides. Complex quizzes may need manual recreation.
Is self‑hosting with Moodle cheaper than SaaS platforms?
If you already have a server and IT staff, Moodle can be low‑cost. But you’ll spend time on updates, security, and customizing plugins, which often outweighs the savings for solo creators.
Do these platforms support live‑stream classes?
Kajabi, Teachable, and LearnWorlds integrate with Zoom or Vimeo Live. Podia offers a built‑in live‑stream module for members. Udemy and Coursera do not support live sessions for individual instructors.
Which platform offers the best certification features?
LearnWorlds provides customizable certificates with branding and automatic issuance. Teachable also offers certificates, but they’re less flexible. For accredited university‑style certificates, Coursera is the go‑to.
Armed with this comparison, you can match your teaching goals to the platform that delivers the right mix of flexibility, price, and student experience. Happy teaching!
