Online education is booming, and the demand for high-quality courses continues to rise. If you’re looking to share your knowledge and make money doing it, choosing the best platforms to create and sell your online courses is crucial.
Here are the 15 best platforms for 2024, along with their pros and cons, target audiences, and revenue share for creators.
15 Best Platforms to Create and Sell Online Courses
1. Teachable
Introduction: Teachable is a popular platform that allows creators to build and sell online courses. With its user-friendly interface, it offers various customization options and marketing tools to help you grow your business.
Pros:
- Easy-to-use course builder.
- Customizable course pages.
- Integrated payment processing.
- Strong marketing and sales tools.
Cons:
- Limited course design flexibility.
- Transaction fees on lower-tier plans.
Best For: Beginners and experienced creators looking for a straightforward platform with robust marketing tools.
Revenue Share: Teachable offers various pricing plans, ranging from $29 to $399 per month. Transaction fees range from 0% to 5%, depending on the plan.
2. Udemy
Introduction: Udemy is a marketplace for online courses with millions of students worldwide. It’s an excellent platform for creators looking to reach a broad audience without handling much of the marketing. Udemy is one of the best platforms to sell online courses.
Pros:
- Massive built-in audience.
- Easy course creation process.
- Marketing and promotional tools.
- No upfront costs.
Cons:
- High revenue share with Udemy (up to 63%).
- Limited control over pricing and discounts.
Best For: Creators looking to reach a large, global audience quickly.
Revenue Share: Creators typically earn 37% of the course price when Udemy promotes it and up to 97% when they drive the traffic themselves.
3. Thinkific
Introduction: Thinkific is a versatile platform that offers robust tools for creating, marketing, and selling online courses. It supports various content types, including videos, quizzes, and assignments.
Pros:
- No transaction fees.
- Comprehensive course-building tools.
- Customizable branding.
- Strong community support.
Cons:
- Limited integrations on lower-tier plans.
- Higher learning curve for beginners.
Best For: Creators who want full control over their course content and branding.
Revenue Share: Thinkific offers plans ranging from $39 to $399 per month with no transaction fees.
4. Kajabi
Introduction: Kajabi is an all-in-one platform designed for entrepreneurs who want to create and sell online courses, memberships, and digital products. It offers powerful marketing automation tools and analytics.
Pros:
- All-in-one solution.
- Advanced marketing and automation tools.
- Beautiful course design options.
- Comprehensive analytics.
Cons:
- Higher cost compared to other platforms.
- Can be overwhelming for beginners.
Best For: Experienced entrepreneurs looking for a complete solution for course creation and marketing.
Revenue Share: Kajabi offers plans from $149 to $399 per month with no transaction fees.
5. Podia
Introduction: Podia is a user-friendly platform that allows creators to sell online courses, memberships, and digital downloads. It emphasizes simplicity and ease of use.
Pros:
- No transaction fees.
- Simple and intuitive interface.
- Integrated email marketing.
- Membership site capabilities.
Cons:
- Limited customization options.
- Basic reporting and analytics.
Best For: Creators who want a simple, hassle-free platform to sell courses and memberships.
Revenue Share: Podia offers plans from $39 to $179 per month with no transaction fees.
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6. Skillshare
Introduction: Skillshare is a marketplace for creative professionals to teach classes on a wide range of topics. It’s ideal for creators looking to share their expertise with a large community of learners.
Pros:
- Large, engaged community.
- Easy course creation.
- No upfront costs.
- Royalty-based payment system.
Cons:
- Lower revenue potential compared to other platforms.
- Limited control over pricing and course structure.
Best For: Creators focused on creative and artistic subjects.
Revenue Share: Skillshare pays creators based on minutes watched and referrals. The exact revenue share varies.
7. LearnWorlds
Introduction: LearnWorlds is a powerful platform for creating, marketing, and selling online courses. It offers a wide range of features, including interactive video, quizzes, and assessments.
Pros:
- Interactive course content.
- Advanced customization options.
- Strong marketing tools.
- Comprehensive analytics.
Cons:
- Higher learning curve.
- More expensive than some alternatives.
Best For: Creators looking for a feature-rich platform to create engaging and interactive courses.
Revenue Share: LearnWorlds offers plans from $24 to $249 per month with no transaction fees.
8. Ruzuku
Introduction: Ruzuku is a straightforward platform designed to make course creation and delivery easy. It offers various tools for building courses, engaging with students, and tracking progress.
Pros:
- Simple course creation process.
- Student engagement tools.
- Integration with popular payment gateways.
- No transaction fees.
Cons:
- Limited customization options.
- Fewer marketing tools compared to other platforms.
Best For: Creators who want a no-fuss platform to create and deliver courses.
Revenue Share: Ruzuku offers plans from $74.75 to $125 per month with no transaction fees.
9. LearnDash
Introduction: LearnDash is a WordPress plugin that allows creators to build and sell online courses directly from their WordPress site. It offers a wide range of features and customization options.
Pros:
- Deep integration with WordPress.
- Flexible course design.
- Drip-feed content and quizzes.
- One-time payment option.
Cons:
- Requires a WordPress site.
- Steeper learning curve for non-technical users.
Best For: Creators who already have a WordPress site and want full control over their course content.
Revenue Share: LearnDash charges a one-time fee starting at $199 per year with no transaction fees.
10. Udacity
Introduction: Udacity offers a unique model focused on professional development and career advancement. It partners with industry leaders to provide courses in technology and business.
Pros:
- High-quality courses with industry partners.
- Focus on career advancement.
- Strong support and mentorship.
- Recognized certifications.
Cons:
- Higher cost for students.
- Limited to specific niches.
Best For: Professionals looking to advance their careers in technology and business.
Revenue Share: Udacity’s revenue share varies based on partnerships and agreements with instructors.
Related: 5 Ways to Get Paid to Teach English Online: Earn $22/Hour
11. Academy of Mine
Introduction: Academy of Mine is a customizable platform for creating and selling online courses. It offers robust tools for course creation, marketing, and student management.
Pros:
- Highly customizable.
- Strong marketing and sales tools.
- Comprehensive student management.
- No transaction fees.
Cons:
- Higher cost compared to other platforms.
- Steeper learning curve.
Best For: Organizations and businesses looking for a customizable solution for online education.
Revenue Share: Academy of Mine offers custom pricing based on specific needs and no transaction fees.
12. Mighty Networks
Introduction: Mighty Networks is a platform that combines online courses with community building. It allows creators to build a network of members and offer courses, memberships, and events.
Pros:
- Integrated community and course platform.
- Easy-to-use interface.
- Flexible monetization options.
- Strong engagement tools.
Cons:
- Limited course design flexibility.
- Higher cost for advanced features.
Best For: Creators who want to build a community around their courses.
Revenue Share: Mighty Networks offers plans from $33 to $99 per month with no transaction fees.
13. CourseCraft
Introduction: CourseCraft is a simple, user-friendly platform for creating and selling online courses. It offers basic course creation tools and integrates with various payment gateways.
Pros:
- Easy course creation process.
- Affordable pricing.
- Integration with popular payment gateways.
- No transaction fees.
Cons:
- Limited advanced features.
- Basic customization options.
Best For: Creators who want a simple, cost-effective platform to sell their courses.
Revenue Share: CourseCraft charges a monthly fee starting at $29 with no transaction fees.
14. Simplero
Introduction: Simplero is an all-in-one platform for creating and selling online courses, managing memberships, and running marketing campaigns. It offers a wide range of features to support your business.
Pros:
- All-in-one solution.
- Robust marketing and automation tools.
- Membership site capabilities.
- Strong customer support.
Cons:
- Higher cost compared to some alternatives.
- Learning curve for beginners.
Best For: Entrepreneurs looking for a comprehensive solution to manage their online education business.
Revenue Share: Simplero offers plans from $70 to $300 per month with no transaction fees.
15. Pathwright
Introduction: Pathwright is a platform designed to help creators build and sell interactive, cohort-based courses. It offers tools for course creation, student engagement, and progress tracking.
Pros:
- Interactive, cohort-based learning.
- Easy-to-use course builder.
- Strong engagement and tracking tools.
- No transaction fees.
Cons:
- Limited advanced features.
- Higher cost for advanced plans.
Best For: Educators and trainers looking to create interactive, cohort-based courses.
Revenue Share: Pathwright offers plans from $99 to $499 per month with no transaction fees.
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Conclusion: Best Platforms to Sell Online Courses
Choosing the right platform to create and sell your online courses can significantly impact your success as an online educator. Each platform listed above has its strengths and weaknesses, so it’s essential to consider your specific needs, goals, and budget. By selecting the platform that best aligns with your objectives, you can maximize your revenue and provide a valuable learning experience for your students.
