If you’ve been searching for the best platform to sell online courses, you’re not alone! As someone who’s witnessed the transformative power of the right tools, I know why so many instructors are making the switch.
Imagine a platform that simplifies course creation, boosts your reach, and maximizes revenue—all in one place! In this post, I’ll reveal what makes the best platform to sell online courses a favorite among educators and why it could be your next best move.
Factors for Selecting the Best Platform to Sell Online Courses
Selling online courses can be a lucrative business if you have the right foundation. That’s done by knowing what online course platform is the best for you.
With so many options available, selecting the right one can be a challenge. That’s why you may need to consider these key factors, ensuring you make an informed decision that aligns with your teaching goals and business needs.
1. Pricing
Pricing directly affects your profit.
Some platforms charge a flat monthly fee, while others take a percentage of each sale. If you plan on selling many courses, a monthly fee might be more cost-effective.
However, if you’re just starting, a platform that takes a cut from each sale can reduce upfront costs.
Thus, it’s crucial to evaluate how your pricing structure aligns with the platform’s fees.
2. Essential Tools
Think about the tools you’ll need. Do you want to add videos, quizzes, or certificates? Some platforms provide all these features, while others may charge extra.
In addition, it’s best to choose a platform that fits your course type and teaching style.
For example, if you’re teaching interactive courses, a platform with strong quiz and discussion tools would be beneficial.
3. Ease of Use
Ease of use is crucial, especially if technology isn’t your strong suit. A platform that’s intuitive and easy to navigate saves you time and effort. You’ll be able to focus on creating great content rather than dealing with complex software.
Additionally, platforms with simple student interfaces improve the learning experience and reduce friction.
4. Marketing Features
Effective marketing is key to growing your course sales. Platforms with built-in marketing tools, like email campaigns or discount options, help you save time and money.
For instance, offering automatic discounts or sending follow-up emails can boost your conversions without the need for third-party tools.
5. Customer Support
No matter how good a platform is, problems will arise.
That’s why reliable customer support is essential. A platform with fast and effective customer support ensures that you can resolve issues quickly and keep students satisfied.
Whether it’s a payment issue or a technical glitch, quick assistance is vital to maintaining a smooth experience for both you and your students.
By considering these factors, you’ll be able to select the best platform to sell online courses that support your goals and enhance the learning experience for your students.
Course Marketplaces vs. Standalone Platforms: What’s Best for You?
When choosing the right platform to sell your online courses, it’s important to understand the difference between course marketplaces and standalone platforms.
Each type has its pros and cons, depending on your goals.
Marketplaces
Marketplaces like Udemy and Skillshare offer easy access to a large audience, giving you exposure to thousands of potential students.
However, they come with limitations, such as the following:
- Your branding options are restricted.
- They take a percentage of your sales.
- They control key metrics like student engagement and course visibility.
While it’s a quick way to get started, these platforms can limit your growth and profit potential in the long run.
Standalone Platforms
On the other hand, standalone platforms such as Teachable, Thinkific, and Podia provide more control over your course.
You own your branding, set your own pricing, and have full access to student data, which allows you to build a stronger connection with your audience. These platforms also allow you to create a custom-branded website for your courses.
However, they require more time and effort to set up and market effectively. That means you’ll be responsible for driving traffic and building your own student base.
In my experience, if you’re looking for more control and long-term growth, standalone platforms are worth the extra effort. For instance, with Teachable, you can create a fully branded site, track your student’s progress, and keep all your sales revenue.
Meanwhile, platforms like Udemy may limit your ability to scale and control your brand.
Ultimately, the choice depends on your priorities—whether you want more exposure with less effort or prefer full control with a bit more work upfront.
Top Contenders for Best Platform to Sell Online Courses
Now that you understand the differences between marketplaces and standalone platforms, let’s look at some of the top contenders for the best platform to sell online courses.
Each platform offers unique features to help you grow your audience, increase sales, and create a seamless learning experience.
Here’s a closer look at what makes each option stand out.
1. Teachable
Over 150,000 creators use Teachable to sell courses, memberships, and digital downloads, making it one of the top contenders for the best platform to sell online courses.
That’s no wonder since Teachable is known for user-friendliness and built-in marketing features. You can easily integrate with various tools like Zapier, Mailchimp, and Google Analytics, providing an enhanced marketing experience.
What’s more? It lets you create a fully branded site, giving you control over your visual identity.
One of Teachable’s key features is its flexible pricing options. You can set your own course prices, offer memberships, or create bundled packages.
As to its payment processing, it’s also straightforward, allowing you to handle transactions securely while offering global payment options.
The platform’s student management tools allow you to view and analyze your students’ progress and engagement, giving you valuable insights to improve your courses.
How about its customer support? Besides its wide range of customization options, this platform has dedicated support.
So, if you want to build a professional and profitable course, consider this as one of the best platforms to sell online courses.
2. Thinkific
Thinkific stands out for its intuitive course creation tools and flexible customization options. With a drag-and-drop editor, Thinkific makes it easy to design and structure your content.
This means you can create lessons—including video lessons, quizzes, or downloadable resources. Not only that, but the platform allows for different types of content delivery:
- One-time sales
- Subscription-based memberships
And if you want to reach a larger audience, their marketing tools can help. These tools include coupons, email integration, and sales widgets to promote your courses.
You can even expand your marketing and e-commerce capabilities because you can integrate it with powerful tools like Shopify, ActiveCampaign, and Zapier.
One unique feature is its ability to create community forums, allowing students to interact and share knowledge, enhancing engagement.
Lastly, the analytics tools provide valuable insights into student progress and course performance. When you understand these performances, it’s easier for you to refine your approach.
With its broad range of features, Thinkific is well-suited for both beginners and seasoned educators aiming to scale their online teaching business.
3. Podia
Podia is an all-in-one platform that makes it easy for creators to offer courses, digital products, and memberships. Its user-friendly dashboard streamlines the process, making it simple to manage everything in one place.
One standout feature is Podia’s built-in email marketing, which enables you to send newsletters, drip campaigns, and updates without needing additional tools. It also offers live chat, allowing you to engage directly with potential students on your site.
The best? It doesn’t charge transaction fees, so you keep more of your earnings.
Additional features include affiliate marketing, custom domains, and integrations with tools like Google Analytics and Facebook Pixel.
So, if you want an intuitive, cost-effective platform to manage and promote your content, this can also be the best platform to sell online courses.
4. Kajabi
Another premium platform for selling online courses is Kajabi, which can be a complete solution to grow your online business.
With powerful marketing and automation tools, Kajabi lets you do the following:
- Create professional landing pages.
- Automate email campaigns.
- Set up sales funnels to boost conversions.
You can also Kajabi track revenue, student progress, and campaign performance with its built-in analytics dashboards.
It also includes community-building tools, allowing you to set up forums and memberships, which can increase engagement and foster loyalty. Another way to do this is by using Kajabi’s integrated podcast hosting. Connecting with your audience is even easier.
With such features, the platform emphasizes sales automation and customer relationship management. Using it is ideal if you want to build a comprehensive business around your courses.
However, these great features come at a price. Kajabi is a higher-cost option due to its extensive tools, strong branding, and marketing capabilities. As a result, it’s a top choice for serious entrepreneurs looking to build a business in the online education space.
5. LearnWorlds
Want to create engaging and interactive learning experiences? Try LearnWorlds.
It offers advanced tools that allow instructors to enhance courses with quizzes, assignments, certificates, and interactive videos—all of which can boost student engagement.
The platform’s video editing features let you add interactive elements like pop-up questions or embedded notes directly into video lessons.
LearnWorlds also supports gamification, a feature that helps increase student motivation and retention.
For course branding, it provides extensive customization options. This means you can design a unique, professional look for your content.
In terms of marketing, it offers tools like custom landing pages, coupons, and affiliate tracking to help you promote and grow your audience. Additionally, the platform includes powerful analytics to track student progress and engagement.
If you’re looking to deliver a rich, interactive learning experience, LearnWorlds provides the tools you need to make selling courses online easier.
6. Pathwright
Pathwright is a versatile platform with a user-friendly drag-and-drop course builder that supports various media types. Using such a course builder, you can create structured learning paths, guiding students step-by-step through content.
It also platform offers interactive engagement tools such as quizzes, surveys, and discussion forums to foster student participation. Gamification elements like badges, points, and leaderboards are included to increase learner motivation.
As to pricing options, you can choose from one-time payments, subscriptions, and tiered pricing. It also allows cohort management for group enrollments, making it ideal for classrooms or teams.
Additionally, it has comprehensive reporting tools and learning analytics to track student progress and course effectiveness. With mobile accessibility and offline support, Pathwright ensures learners can engage anytime, anywhere.
Security features, integrations with tools like Stripe and Zapier, and a flexible pricing structure can make Pathwright an excellent choice for course creators.
7. Udemy
Udemy is one of the most well-known course marketplaces, offering access to a large, built-in audience. For creators looking to reach a broad spectrum of students quickly, Udemy is an excellent choice.
The platform handles all payment processing and marketing, so you can focus solely on content creation. However, Udemy takes a percentage of your revenue, and you have limited control over course pricing structures and branding.
Udemy offers course promotions during site-wide sales—helping with visibility but may affect earnings per course.
The platform provides analytics on minutes watched and student engagement, giving you insights into your course’s performance.
The disadvantage is, Udemy doesn’t allow for much customization.
But if you’re prioritizing exposure over branding control, then this could be the best online course platform.
Especially, if you’re a new educator looking to quickly gain an online presence, Udemy’s marketplace model can offer a valuable starting point for building your audience.
8. Skillshare
If your courses are focused on practical and creative skills, this platform is for you.
Here, you can access over 12 million registered users, giving you a large, engaged audience. The best? You can host courses for free, removing upfront costs and allowing you to focus solely on content creation.
Moreover, Skillshare’s project-based learning encourages active student engagement. They offer hands-on projects, fostering a supportive community where learners can share their work and receive feedback.
Earning income here is based on the number of minutes watched in your courses. You can also receive referral bonuses for bringing in new members.
Additionally, Skillshare helps you build your personal brand within the creative community, enhancing your visibility and credibility.
FAQs
Which website is best for selling courses?
The best website for selling online courses varies. Udemy suits those needing a marketplace while Teachable or Thinkific prioritize branding. But if you’re into robust marketing, Kajabi is good for you.
However, you should also consider your budget, technical skills, desired learning experience, and ideal platform for your online courses.
Which is the best platform to sell online courses?
The best platform depends on your approach.
You might use a blended approach: free courses on platforms and paid courses on a dedicated store. Or if you want to have control over customization and interactive content formats, platforms like Thinkific and Pathwright are ideal for branded marketplaces.
Is selling online courses profitable?
Selling online courses can be a lucrative venture, with earnings varying from $1,000 to more than $100,000 per year. However, factors like course quality, effective marketing, and the size of the target audience can affect your potential earnings.
Nonetheless, the online education market is growing quickly and is expected to exceed $336 billion by 2026. This reflects a significant demand for learning materials, so why not take advantage of it.
What is the best platform to sell online for beginners?
For beginners looking to sell online courses, several platforms offer user-friendly features:
- Teachable: Easy course creation, customizable pages, and multiple payment options.
- Podia: An all-in-one platform for courses, digital downloads, and memberships with built-in marketing tools.
- Thinkific: A free plan with essential tools for creating, marketing, and selling courses.
These platforms provide essential tools for beginners to launch online courses without complicated setups.
Conclusion
The best platform to sell online courses depends on your needs and goals.
Teachable and Thinkific are top choices for creators seeking customizable, user-friendly features with strong marketing tools.
Podia is ideal for cost-conscious educators looking for an all-in-one platform with no transaction fees. But if you’re looking for a premium solution focused on building a comprehensive online business, Kajabi is the one.
Or choose LearnWorlds if you prefer creating interactive and engaging content.
For a more unique platform, Pathwright offers versatile tools for structured learning paths and cohort management. Finally, Udemy provides exposure to a large audience, making it a great starting point for new educators.
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