17+ Best Online Course Platforms 2023 (Updated List)

Want to create and sell your own online courses or take courses from industry experts in 2023? Our updated list of 17+ best online course platforms includes options for both. In this guide, we ranked and reviewed the best online course platforms, along with our top 3 picks including their key features, pros & cons, pricing and more. Our list features platforms that make it easy to create and monetize your own course website with easy payment integration, as well as platforms that offer a wide range of quality courses for every learning style and budget. Find the perfect fit for you today.

Disclosure: Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links and when you buy through them, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Our affiliate disclosure can be found in our privacy policy.

In a hurry? Our top 3 choices are Thinkific, Learnworlds and Teachable.

The e-learning and online course market has seen a surge in popularity since the Covid-19 pandemic, with projections estimating the market to reach $325 billion by 2025. 

If you’re looking to enter this market and start selling your own online courses, it’s crucial to choose the right platform that offers a professional and customized experience for your students. 

With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to choose the best one. That’s why we have compiled a list of the best online course platforms grouped in different categories like Learning Management Systems (LMS), Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) providers, Skill-based course platforms, Corporate training platforms, College and university-specific platforms and Specialized platforms for certain industries. 

These platforms provide features that enable you to build an online course website, create a sales landing page, set prices and collect payments, upload videos and interactive content, foster a community, host live webinars and more, all while providing the best experience for both teachers and students. 

With so many options to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect fit for you and your online teaching needs.

What Are the Best Online Course Platforms?

Here are our top picks for the best online course platforms to use in 2022

• Thinkific
• Learnworlds.
• Teachable
• Mighty Networks.
• Podia.
• Kajabi
• LearnDash.
• Ruzuku.
• Academy of Mine.
• WizIQ.

Best Learning Management Systems (LMS)

These are software platforms used to plan, deliver, and manage online courses and training programs. These include:

1. Thinkific.

Best Overall Online Course Platform (Free or $49/mo)

Thinkific is a leading online course platform that allows individuals and businesses to create, market, and sell their own online courses. It is a user-friendly platform that makes it easy for anyone to create and launch a course, even without technical skills. 

With Thinkific, you can create a professional-looking course website, customize your branding, and sell your course through various payment methods. 

The platform also provides a range of features to help you market and promote your course, such as email campaigns, affiliate marketing, and integrations with social media and other platforms. 

It also provides detailed analytics and reporting to help you track your course’s performance and make data-driven decisions. 

In addition to its ease of use, Thinkific offers a variety of features that can help you create a high-quality and engaging course. For example, you can use Thinkific’s built-in multimedia tools to add videos, images, and audio to your course. You can also create quizzes, surveys and assessments to test students’ understanding of the material.

Thinkific also offers an interactive student engagement feature that allows you to create a community around your course by allowing students to interact with one another, ask questions and participate in discussions. This feature can help increase student engagement and satisfaction.

Another great feature of Thinkific is the ability to offer flexible pricing options for your courses, including one-time payments, subscriptions, and free courses. This allows you to cater to different types of learners and price points.

Thinkific also provides a variety of options for delivering your course content, including drip-feeding content, allowing students to access the course on their own schedule, or offering live classes and webinars. This allows you to create a course experience that suits your teaching style and the needs of your students.

Thinkific Key Features:

• Creating and launching a course website
• Customizing branding and design
• Selling courses through various payment methods
• Marketing and promotion tools
• Detailed analytics and reporting
• Built-in multimedia tools
• Quizzes, surveys, and assessments
• Interactive student engagement
• Flexible pricing options
• Drip-feeding content
• Live classes and webinars
• Option to offer free courses

Thinkific User Interface:

The Thinkific user interface is designed to be user-friendly and easy to navigate.

The platform offers a simple and intuitive dashboard that allows you to manage all aspects of your online course business in one place.

The main navigation menu is located on the left-hand side of the screen and includes options for creating and managing courses, managing students, analyzing performance, and more.

The course creation process is straightforward and allows you to add content, multimedia, quizzes, assessments, and more with a simple drag-and-drop interface. You can also customize the design and branding of your course website to match your brand.

Thinkific Pricing:

Thinkific pricing plans include:

• Free plan: includes a limited set of features, and a transaction fee of 5% + $1 for each paid course sale.
• Basic plan: starts at $39/month, includes all the features of the free plan, plus additional features such as the ability to create custom domains, integration with third-party tools and apps, and more.
• Pro plan: starts at $79/month, includes all the features of the Basic plan, plus additional features such as advanced analytics, custom course player, and priority support.
• Premier plan: starts at $399/month, includes all the features of the Pro plan, plus additional features such as dedicated account management, custom development work, and a white-label solution.

All plans come with a 30-day free trial.

Thinkific Pros & Cons:

Thinkific Pros:

• Includes marketing automation and email features
• Offers a free plan
• Allows full editing of course page code
• Customizable course certificates and custom domain options available
• Provides affiliate marketing assistance and reports

Thinkific Cons:

• Setup may have a slight learning curve
• Integration with social media and CRMs can be difficult

New feature: Thinkific Payments offers faster checkout pages and lower drop-off rates, leading to higher profits. Additionally, the built-in order bump feature allows for increased average order value through the offering of small add-on products at checkout.

2. Learnworlds.

Best Online Course Platform for Interactive Learning

LearnWorlds is a comprehensive online course platform that empowers educators and trainers to create and sell their own interactive and engaging online courses. 

The platform offers a wide range of features such as customizable course websites, interactive multimedia content, student progress tracking, and more. 

It is designed for course creators who want to interact with their students in unique ways with features like quizzes, gamification and interactive videos. Additionally, LearnWorlds offers advanced tools such as membership sites, subscriptions and affiliate marketing, integrations with various payment gateways, marketing tools and email marketing platforms.

With its free trial and flexible pricing plans, educators and trainers can create and sell their own courses with no upfront costs.

LearnWorlds Key Features:

Key features of LearnWorlds include:

• Customizable course websites with the ability to add a custom domain, logo, and branding.
• Interactive multimedia content such as quizzes, gamification, and interactive videos to engage students.
• Student progress tracking with the ability to view analytics and generate reports.
• Advanced course selling tools like membership sites, subscriptions, and affiliate marketing to monetize courses.
• Integration with different payment gateways, marketing tools, and email marketing platforms for easy payments and communication.
• Access to the LearnWorlds team for help and support with walkthrough videos, how-to articles, and live chat.
• Mobile App Builder for creating mobile apps for courses.
• Learning Community feature for students to network and learn together.
• Synchronized Transcript feature for tracking student progress.
• Branded digital certificate for students to showcase their progress.
• DIY assessment tools for gauging student understanding.
• Free trial and flexible pricing plans for testing the platform and choosing a plan that fits your needs.
• Mobile compatibility for students to access the course on mobile devices.
• SCORM and xAPI compatibility for importing existing content and tracking progress in compliance with industry standards.
• Multi-language support for creating and selling courses in multiple languages.

Learnworlds User Experience:

LearnWorlds offers a wide range of customization options for creating and branding your online course. The platform provides user-friendly templates that can be easily adapted to match your branding and website appearance. 

Additionally, the platform places a strong emphasis on search engine optimization (SEO), allowing course creators to optimize their course for search engines, making it easier for potential students to find.

LearnWorlds Pricing:

LearnWorlds offers a free trial and flexible pricing plans to suit different needs. The pricing plans are based on the number of active students and the features that you need. The three main pricing plans are:

• Starter: This plan costs $24/month and includes basic features such as course creation, student progress tracking, and integrations with payment gateways.
• Pro Trainer: This plan costs $79/month and includes additional features such as membership sites, subscriptions, and affiliate marketing.
• Learning Center: This plan costs $249/month and includes advanced features such as API access, bulk student management, and priority support.

All pricing plans include a 30-day free trial, and there are no upfront costs or long-term contracts. Additionally, LearnWorlds offers a custom pricing plan for enterprise customers that require high volume student enrollments and customized features.

LearnWorlds Pros and Cons

Pros of LearnWorlds include:

• Interactive multimedia content such as videos, e-books, gamification, and downloadable attachments
• Offers free courses
• Allows for extracting transcripts from courses
• Custom domain names and white label content
• Students can take notes and highlight important points
• Certificate of Completion
• Custom mobile app for iOS
• Ability to create coupons and discounts
• Social media integration
• A new analytics platform for optimizing sales
• Ability to create member pages
• Solid knowledge base
• 24/7 support

Cons of LearnWorlds include:

• Lack of flexibility in customizing the functionality of the site
• Inadequate language support

New Features: LearnWorlds has introduced a Multi-Purpose Form Builder that allows creating custom forms for your course, such as quizzes and polls. Also, new templates have been introduced to give more choices and make it quick and easy to create a professional-looking website without design or coding skills. To test drive the platform, Learnworlds provides a free 30-day trial, which you can access with our link below.

3. Teachable.

Best Online Course Platform for Beginners 

Teachable is a popular online course platform that allows anyone to create, market, and sell their own online courses. 

It’s user-friendly and easy to navigate, making it a great choice for first-time course creators. 

Teachable offers a variety of features such as customizable landing pages, integrated payment processing, and detailed analytics to help you track your course’s progress. Teachable also offers a free plan, as well as a variety of pricing options to fit any budget, starting at just $29/month. For those looking for the best value, the Pro plan at $99/month is a popular choice as it eliminates transaction fees.

Teachable Key Features:

• Customizable landing pages: Teachable allows you to create professional-looking landing pages for your courses, complete with custom branding and design elements.
• Integrated payment processing: It includes built-in payment processing, so you can easily sell your courses and manage payments from within the platform.
• Detailed analytics: Teachable provides detailed analytics that allow you to track the progress of your courses, including student engagement, course completion rates, and revenue.
• Quizzes and assessments: Teachable provides various tools that you can use to create quizzes and assessments to help engage students and test their knowledge.
• Course creation tools: It offers a variety of tools that make it easy to create and organize your course content, including videos, audio, text, and images.
• Student management: It allows you to manage your students, communicate with them, and track their progress within the platform.
• Integrations: Teachable offers a variety of integrations with other tools and platforms, such as email marketing platforms, webinar tools, and more.
• Community features: Teachable includes community features such as discussions, forums, and comments, which allows students to connect and engage with one another and with you as an instructor.
• Mobile-friendly: Teachable is mobile-friendly which means it can be accessed on any device for easy learning on the go.

Teachable User Experience:

The user experience on Teachable is exceptional. The platform offers a structured approach that makes it easy to set and achieve your goals, whether you’re creating your own course, selecting a topic, or building an audience. 

The process of building your course is straightforward and intuitive, allowing you to focus on creating high-quality content. 

Additionally, Teachable allows you to customize the design and appearance of your course with ease. There are also numerous tutorials available to help you navigate and utilize all the platform’s features.

Teachable Pricing:

Teachable offers a variety of pricing options to fit any budget and needs, including a free plan and three paid plans: Basic, Pro, and Business.

The Free plan includes:

• Unlimited course hosting
• Customizable landing pages
• Built-in payment processing
• Detailed analytics
• Students management
• Community features
• But It charges $1 + 5% per transaction

The Basic plan costs $29/month and includes all of the features of the Free plan, plus:

• Access to Teachable’s course creation tools
• Limited theme customization
• No transaction fees

The Pro plan costs $99/month and includes all of the features of the Basic plan, plus:

• Unlimited theme customization
• Advanced analytics
• Customizable email notifications
• The ability to offer course bundles
• No transaction fees

The Business plan costs $249/month and includes all of the features of the Pro plan, plus:

• Advanced reporting
• Customizable student registration fields
• Customizable certificate of completion
• Customizable course player
• Customizable course card
• Customizable email notifications
• Customizable checkout pages
• No transaction fees

Additionally, Teachable also offers a 30-day free trial for all plans, so you can test out the platform before committing to a paid plan.

Teachable Pros & Cons:

Pros:

• Easy setup process
• Unlimited resources, including bandwidth, students, courses, and coaching services
• One-click checkout feature
• Optimized storefront and sales pages
• Live Zoom course feature on the Pro plan
• International payment options in over 130 currencies
• Step-by-step testing feature
• Customizable course completion certificate
• Website design customization options
• The Pro plan allows for up to 5 user accounts

Cons:

• Support for ancillary issues may not be as comprehensive as for general platform issues
• Navigation of the website may take some getting used to

Recent updates:

• The addition of ‘Simple’ and ‘Colossal’ course templates to assist in creating visually appealing courses without design or coding experience
• The ability to add lead generation forms directly to product pages to grow mailing lists and increase conversions
• The addition of bundling functionality to create and offer course packages as one-time purchases or subscriptions.

4. Mighty Networks.

Best online course platform for creating communities

Mighty Networks is an all-in-one platform that allows users to create and manage their own online course and membership sites. Users can design and deliver engaging content, host live events, and connect with their community, all within a single platform.

One of the key features of Mighty Networks as an online course platform is the ability to create custom content. Users can upload videos, audio files, PDFs, and other types of content to their network, which can be organized into different modules or sections. 

They also have the option to offer quizzes, assessments, and other interactive elements to keep learners engaged.

Another important aspect of Mighty Networks is the ability to host live events. Users can schedule and host webinars, live Q&A sessions, and other types of live events, which can be attended by members of their network. This allows users to build a sense of community and engagement among their learners.

Mighty Networks also has built-in membership and payment features, which allow users to charge for access to certain areas of their network or to certain types of content. 

This allows users to monetize their online course and create a recurring revenue stream.

Mighty Networks Key Features:

Some key features include:

• Customizable community pages: Users can create a branded and personalized community page, including a banner, logo, and color scheme.
• Community-specific features: Users can create different types of content, such as posts, events, polls, and member directory.
• Group messaging: Users can communicate with other members of their community through private and public messaging.
• Member profiles: Members can create a personal profile, including a bio, contact information, and links to other social networks.
• Analytics: Owners can track the engagement and growth of their community with analytics data on member activity and engagement.
• Event and course creation: Users can create and sell events or courses within their community.
• Native apps: Mighty Networks is available as a mobile app for both iOS and Android devices.
• Integration with other tools: Users can integrate with other tools like Zoom, MailChimp, Stripe and more.

Mighty Networks User Experience:

Mighty Networks is a user-friendly online course platform that offers a streamlined interface for both desktop and mobile users. 

The platform’s intuitive navigation makes it easy for community members and administrators to access the content they need.

Mighty Networks Pricing:

This platform offers several pricing options for creating an online course, each with a range of features to suit different needs. They are:

• The Community Plan: Priced at $33 per month, this plan offers a variety of basic features such as creating a course, setting up a community, and engaging with members through discussion forums and other interactive tools.
• The Business Plan: priced at $99 per month, this plan includes everything offered in the Community Plan, as well as advanced features such as custom domains, event scheduling, and live video streaming. This plan is ideal for businesses and entrepreneurs who want to create a professional online course.
• The Mighty Pro: This plan is designed for organizations and enterprise level needs. The pricing of this plan is not listed and it’s advisable to request a demo to learn more about the pricing and the features included in this plan

Mighty Networks Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Clients can access courses on mobile devices through the Google Play Store or Apple Store app.
• Setting up an online system for a remote organization is straightforward.

Cons:

• Integration with certain external payment systems is not available.

New Feature: Recent updates to Mighty Network have made the member account creation process more user-friendly.

Get started with Mighty Networks.

5. Podia.

Best Online Course Platform For Selling Digital Content

Podia is a comprehensive online course platform that enables users to create and sell a variety of digital products, including online courses, digital downloads, webinars, and memberships. 

With over 60,000 members, it offers a range of course types, including standalone courses with multimedia content, pre-launch payments for pre-selling courses, cohort-based courses with future start dates, and section-by-section drip courses. 

Podia also has robust membership options, allowing for interaction with members, bundle products for specific groups, tiered plans, connection to Facebook groups and Slack, and the ability to establish an online community. 

Additionally, Podia serves as a webinar platform and has an integrated affiliate program. 
The platform offers 24/7 support, no transaction fees, and a user-friendly drag-and-drop editor for creating content, along with built-in email marketing and a customizable checkout page.

Podia Key Features:

Some key features of Podia include:

• Easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor for creating online courses and digital products
• Built-in email marketing system
• Customizable checkout page
• Integration with popular payment gateways
• Ability to offer coupons and discounts
• Detailed analytics and reports to track sales and user engagement
• Ability to host live or on-demand webinars
• Built-in affiliate program
• Membership options, including the ability to interact with members, bundle products for specific groups, offer tiered plans, connect with Facebook groups and Slack, and establish an online community
• 24/7 support and no transaction fees
• Ability to pre-sell courses with pre-launch payments
• Ability to create cohort-based courses with future start dates
• Drip course feature that releases content in a section-by-section format
• Ability to add coupons and memberships
• No transaction fees.

Podia User Experience:

Podia simplifies the process of creating your own courses with its user-friendly interface. 

You can select from various course types, such as online courses, digital downloads, webinars, bundles, and coaching. 

The platform’s intuitive menu system allows you to easily set up the course content, with options to add text, audio, and video. 
Additionally, you can keep track of your audience, apply coupons, and access affiliate and sales statistics throughout the course creation process.

Podia Pricing:

Podia offers three pricing plans:

• Mover: This plan is $33/month and includes all the basic features, such as the ability to sell unlimited courses, digital downloads, webinars, and memberships, as well as a built-in email marketing system and affiliate program.
• Shaker: This plan is $75/month and includes all the features of the Mover plan, plus additional features such as custom domains, advanced marketing tools, and the ability to create custom checkout pages.
• Earthquaker: This plan is $166/month and includes all features of the shaker plan plus a dedicated account manager, personalized onboarding, and 50,000 emails per month.

Both plans come with a 14-day free trial, and the pricing plans are billed annually. Podia also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for new customers.

It’s worth mentioning that Podia does not charge any transaction fees for any of its plans, which is a great advantage for those who want to start their online business with a low cost.

Pros and Cons of Podia:

Pros:

• The platform’s design is user-friendly for both beginners and experienced users.
• The interface is straightforward and easy to navigate, making it simple for students to find the courses they need.
• Podia offers excellent value for money in comparison to other platforms.
• The platform is tailored for course creators, making it easy to create and sell courses.
• Podia has been continuously updated with new features since its launch.
• Digital downloads provide an opportunity to sell additional content to students.

Cons:

• The lack of product categorization means that students can’t filter products on the storefront page.
• There is no option to add a custom embed code to embed courses on personal websites or pages.

Recent updates:

• Improved community search and reporting capabilities make it easier to find content and members, as well as understand your data.
• The newsletter section now allows generating leads and building a mailing list easily.
• The Podia course viewer has been redesigned for a cleaner look, making your courses more attractive.

Overall, if you’re looking for robust membership features and the ability to increase sales through affiliates, Podia is a unique and valuable course builder to consider.

You can sign up and give it a test run with a free 14-day trial.

6. Kajabi.

Best Online Course Platform for Professionals

Kajabi is an advanced online course platform that caters to professionals and businesses looking to create, market, and sell their own online courses and membership sites. 

With Kajabi, you can create professional-grade websites, landing pages, and marketing funnels, as well as manage and deliver your courses, webinars, and digital products. 

The platform also includes tools for email marketing, automation, analytics, and affiliate management. 

Kajabi is a premium solution that offers a wide range of features and customization options, making it suitable for businesses and experts who want to establish a strong online presence and monetize their knowledge and expertise.

Overall, it’s the best high-end course platform with more built-in tools and features, but it’s a little more expensive than the others on our list.

Kajabi Key Features:

Some key features of Kajabi include:

• Site builder to create professional-grade websites and landing pages
• Marketing funnel creator to design and optimize conversion paths
• Course and membership site builder to manage and deliver online courses and digital products
• Webinar platform to host live and automated webinars
• Email marketing and automation tools
• Affiliate management and tracking
• Advanced analytics and reporting
• Customizable checkout and payment options
• Ability to create custom domains and integrations
• High level of customization options for design and branding
• Mobile optimization for all pages
• Built-in SEO
• Built-in security and backup
• Advanced integrations with popular tools such as InfusionSoft, MailChimp, and more
• 24/7 customer support

Kajabi User Experience:

Kajabi is intuitive for first-time users, providing clear prompts for creating mini-courses, evergreen training, building communities, and setting up membership sites. 

However, the interface may be overwhelming for new users, with a lot of options and features. 

It may take some time to get used to, but the settings are well-organized for easy access.

Kajabi Pricing:

Kajabi offers several pricing plans for its users, including a basic plan, a growth plan, and a pro plan. 

• The basic plan starts at $149 per month and includes features such as creating and selling online courses, website customization, and email marketing. 
• The growth plan starts at $199 per month and includes additional features such as webinars, affiliate management, and custom domains. 
• The pro plan starts at $399 per month and includes additional features such as advanced analytics, customer relationship management, and API access. 

Some of the plans also offer discounts for paying annually, and also have a trial version for 14 days for the users to test drive.

Pros and Cons of Kajabi:

Pros:

• All-in-one software that is suitable for businesses that want to neatly organize their information. 
• It offers excellent video hosting through Wistia.
• Has a strong focus on sales and marketing tools. 
• It also has more built-in tools than other platforms and the option for monthly recurring subscriptions. 
• It is also integrated with Stripe and PayPal, and is used by big names like Amy Porterfield. 

Cons:

• The email sequences could be more varied.
• The landing page builder could be improved.

Recent Updates:

Kajabi has updated its Website Builder’s Carousel module, which allows for easy creation of responsive websites on any device. 

The Kajabi University has also undergone a redesign to make it even more user-friendly. 

Additionally, the Kajabi Payments experience has been improved for easier payment acceptance and financial management. 

What sets Kajabi apart is its powerful marketing automation tools, such as user segmentation, advanced email triggers, and professionally branded messaging. If you’re an established business looking to try out a more advanced platform, Kajabi is worth considering.

7. LearnDash.

Good Online Course Platform for WordPress Users

Learndash is a popular Learning Management System (LMS) plugin for WordPress that allows users to create, sell and manage online courses while tracking student progress.

It is highly popular among many prominent websites like Yoast, Infusionsoft, University of Michigan, and WP Elevation. One of the standout features of LearnDash is the “focus mode” that eliminates distractions for students as they progress through the course.

The plugin’s powerful course builder seamlessly integrates with email drip campaigns, allowing you to schedule and deliver lessons to your students. Its “notebook” technology takes LMS to a new level by giving students an overall grade based on quiz and homework results, creating a weighted average that is reviewed by teachers. Along with grading, LearnDash awards course credits for behavior and offers badges and certificates as rewards for students’ course activity.

The plugin also includes features like quizzes, assignments, and certificate generation. Additionally, it includes integration with payment gateways, allowing for easy selling of courses. Learndash is user-friendly, customizable, and compatible with most WordPress themes and third-party plugins, making it a versatile option for website administrators.

8. Ruzuku.

An incredibly simple platform for creating online courses ($74.75/month)

Ruzuku is an online course platform that makes it easy for anyone to create, market and sell online courses.

It offers a user-friendly interface and a variety of tools to help users create engaging and interactive online learning experiences. Some of the features Ruzuku offers include:

• Course creation: Ruzuku’s course builder allows users to create and organize their course content, add multimedia, and create quizzes and assignments.
• Marketing: Ruzuku provides marketing tools to help users promote their course, such as email marketing and integration with social media.
• Payment and registration: Ruzuku offers various payment options like PayPal and Stripe and allows users to set up course registration and manage their student list.
• Student engagement: Ruzuku allows users to interact with their students through discussion boards and live webinars.
• Analytics: Ruzuku provides detailed analytics on student engagement and progress through the course.
• Technical support: Ruzuku offers excellent technical support to help users set up and run their course smoothly.

Ruzuku has more great features as listed below:

Finally, their platform offers unlimited courses to unlimited students on all of their paid plans.

Ruzuku is a great option for anyone looking to create an online course without the need for technical know-how. It is designed to be easy to use and customizable, making it a perfect choice for educators, entrepreneurs, and small business owners.

You can get started with a 14-day free trial and 30-day money-back guarantee.

9. Academy of Mine.

A customized online course platform tailored to the specific needs of your business ($499/Mo)

Academy of Mine is a premier e-learning platform that empowers businesses and organizations to create, market, and sell their own online courses. 

It offers personalized customer success and customization, catering to a wide range of business niches. 

As a standard feature, it includes free development time with custom integrations to assist in the setup and launch of your course. 

Additionally, it provides marketing tools and analytics dashboards to aid in the sale of your course. Personalization is at the core of its strategy, making it suitable for various industries such as healthcare, insurance, and facility management. 

This enterprise-level solution is perfect for small businesses seeking a robust training system for their employees and customers. 

The platform also includes various features such as course creation tools, payment processing, and the ability to integrate with other learning management systems and support multimedia formats to create interactive and engaging course content.

If this sounds like the eLearning solution you’re looking for, start your 30-day free trial today.

10. WizIQ.

Affordable Virtual Classroom and LMS Software

WizIQ is an online education platform that allows educators and trainers to create and deliver interactive live and self-paced online courses. 

The platform includes a range of features such as virtual classrooms, course creation tools, assessment and testing tools, and analytics and reporting tools. 

It also provides a marketplace for educators to sell their courses, enabling them to reach a larger audience and earn revenue from their expertise. With WizIQ, educators can deliver engaging and interactive online courses to students from anywhere in the world. 

Additionally, it also supports mobile learning, so students can access the courses from their smartphones and tablets. 

The platform is designed for both individual educators and institutions, making it a versatile tool for delivering education online.

Educators and corporate leaders who wish to connect with their audience live, no matter their location, can take advantage of the 14-day free trial offered by WizIQ. This will allow you to test the platform’s features and determine if it is the right fit for your needs.

Best Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) Providers

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are online courses that are open to anyone, anywhere in the world. 

They are typically offered by universities and educational organizations and are designed to provide access to educational resources and opportunities to individuals who might not otherwise have access to them. 

MOOCs are usually free or low-cost and often include video lectures, quizzes, and other interactive elements. They may also include discussion boards and other forms of community engagement, which allow students to interact with each other and with instructors. 

MOOCs can be self-paced or follow a set schedule, and they may or may not offer certificates or other forms of recognition for successful completion.

What are the Best Online Learning Platforms?

Below is the list of the best MOOC providers: 

1. Cousera

Coursera is one of the largest and most popular Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) providers in the world. Founded in 2012 by two computer science professors at Stanford University, Coursera partners with top universities and organizations worldwide to offer online courses in a wide range of subjects.

Coursera’s platform provides access to over 5,000 courses in subjects such as computer science, business, language, and the arts. These courses are taught by professors from prestigious universities such as Yale, Princeton, and the University of London. Coursera also offers a number of professional development and degree programs in partnership with leading universities and organizations.

The platform is designed to provide a high-quality, interactive learning experience, with features such as video lectures, quizzes, and peer-graded assignments. Some courses offer certificates or even degrees upon completion, and some are even eligible for college credit. The platform is available in multiple languages and offers mobile apps for both iOS and Android.

In addition to traditional courses, Coursera also offers a number of specializations, which are a series of related courses that are designed to help students master a particular skill or subject area, and Guided Projects, which are short, hands-on projects that help learners apply their skills to real-world problems.

Coursera is a great option for anyone looking to gain new skills, advance their career, or simply learn something new. With a wide range of subjects and flexible scheduling options, it can be accessed by anyone with an internet connection.

How much does Cousera cost?

Most of the courses offered on Coursera are free to audit, which means you can watch the video lectures and complete the quizzes, but you will not be able to submit assignments or receive a certificate of completion. Some courses also offer a “Signature Track” option, which is a paid option that includes a verified certificate of completion, which can be used to demonstrate your knowledge and skills to employers or schools. The cost of a Signature Track option varies by course, but typically ranges from $49 to $99.

Additionally, Coursera also offers specializations and degree programs, which are series of related courses that are designed to help students master a particular skill or subject area, that usually have a monthly subscription cost and those costs can vary.

Another option is the Coursera Plus, which is a subscription that allows you to take as many courses as you want within a year, which cost $399 per year.

It’s worth noting that some of the universities and organizations that partner with Coursera to offer courses also offer financial aid and scholarships to help cover the cost of the paid options for those who cannot afford them.

2. Udemy

Udemy offers a wide variety of courses on a wide range of subjects, including business, technology, personal development, and creative arts. It was founded in 2010 and since then it has become one of the largest providers of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) in the world.

Udemy’s platform provides access to over 130,000 courses, taught by over 50,000 instructors. The courses are created and taught by both expert instructors and industry professionals, and cover a wide range of subjects, from programming and data science to photography and yoga.

The platform is designed to be user-friendly and easy to navigate, and it provides a variety of interactive learning tools, such as video lectures, quizzes, and discussion forums. Many courses also offer downloadable resources, such as PDFs and exercise files, to help learners further engage with the material.

Udemy courses are self-paced, meaning learners can start and finish the course at their own time and the courses are available on-demand, so they can be accessed at any time. Udemy also offers a mobile app for both iOS and Android, allowing learners to access their course materials and continue learning on the go.

How much does Udemy cost?

Udemy offers a wide range of courses at various prices. The majority of courses are available for purchase at a one-time cost, which can vary from course to course. 

The prices of courses on Udemy can range from free to hundreds of dollars. 

Some courses are also offered at a discounted price or as part of a promotion. 

Udemy also offers a subscription service called Udemy for Business, which allows organizations to access a large selection of courses for their employees at a fixed monthly or annual cost. 

If you’re interested in taking a course on Udemy, you can check the pricing for each course on the course’s landing page.

3. edX

edX is a massive open online course (MOOC) provider founded by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2012. 

It offers online courses from over 150 universities and institutions worldwide, including Ivy League universities and leading organizations such as Microsoft and IBM. 

Courses are available in a wide range of subjects, including computer science, engineering, business, social sciences, and humanities. 

Many courses are self-paced, allowing students to start and finish the course at their own convenience, and some offer verified certificates upon completion. 

EdX also offers online degree programs and professional development courses for corporate and government organizations.

How much does edX cost?

edX offers most of its courses for free, with the option to purchase a verified certificate upon completion. 

These certificates are usually priced between $50 and $150, depending on the course. Some courses may also have additional fees for proctored exams or other materials. 

Additionally, edX also offers online degree programs and professional development courses that have a tuition cost, which varies depending on the program and institution. 

On average, online degree programs cost anywhere from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the level of the degree (e.g. undergraduate, graduate) and the length of the program.

4. UpSkillist (Formerly Shaw Academy)

Shaw Academy is an online education platform that offers professional, accredited courses in a wide range of subjects. 

Students who sign up for Shaw Academy have access to all of the long-form courses which are separated into three main categories: for hobbyists, for professionals, and for entrepreneurs. 

For instance, their “For Professionals” category includes a globally-recognized Digital Marketing Course, which includes 32 videos and takes an average of 16 weeks to complete. 

This course is designed to help students enhance their skills and further their careers. 

Shaw Academy also offers certification for course completion, which can be used to enhance resumes and professional development. 

The platform is designed to be accessible to students of all skill levels, and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for their courses.

How much does UpSkillist (Shaw Academy cost)? 

The cost of Shaw Academy courses can vary, as they offer a range of pricing options. 

They have a free trial option for some of their courses, and also offer a monthly subscription for access to all their courses. 

This subscription is usually around $30-40 per month, but prices may vary depending on promotions and discounts that are available. 

They also offer lifetime access to their courses for a one-time payment, the cost for this option can range from $300 to $600, depending on the course. 
It’s best to check their website for the most current pricing information and any promotions that may be available.

5. SkillShare

Skillshare is an online learning platform that offers a wide variety of classes and workshops in creative and business skills. 

It provides access to thousands of expert-led classes on topics such as photography, illustration, graphic design, entrepreneurship, and more. 

The platform allows users to take classes at their own pace and on their own schedule. 

Additionally, Skillshare offers a Premium membership that provides access to additional features such as offline class viewing and project feedback. 

Overall, Skillshare is designed to help individuals develop new skills, explore their passions, and advance their careers.

How much does SkillShare cost?

Skillshare offers a free version of their platform, which allows users to access a limited number of classes. However, to gain full access to the platform’s library of classes and features, users can sign up for a Premium membership. The cost of a Premium membership varies depending on the plan you choose.

• A monthly membership costs $19 per month
• An annual membership costs $8.25 per month, billed annually at $99
• A two-year membership costs $5.99 per month, billed biennially at $143.76

It’s worth noting that Skillshare also offers a 14-day free trial for their Premium membership, and periodically runs promotions that offer discounted or extended trials.

6. LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn Learning, formerly known as Lynda, is a platform that offers online courses specifically designed for business professionals. 

It has a wide range of courses, including over 1,000 on various business-related topics such as project management, web development, and digital marketing. 

This platform is ideal for working professionals who are looking to enhance their skills and stay current in their field. 

Additionally, LinkedIn Learning offers certifications that can be added to your LinkedIn profile, highlighting your expertise and boosting your online resume.

How much does LinkedIn Learning cost?

LinkedIn Learning, formerly known as Lynda.com, is available as part of a LinkedIn Premium subscription. The cost of a LinkedIn Premium subscription varies depending on the plan you choose:

• A monthly LinkedIn Premium subscription is $29.99 per month
• A yearly LinkedIn Premium subscription is $24.99 per month, billed annually at $299.88
• A premium plus subscription costs $59.99 per month, billed annually at $719.88

You can also get a free trial of LinkedIn Learning for a period of time. It’s worth noting that if your company or organization has a LinkedIn Learning license, you may have access to the platform at no additional cost.

7. TreeHouse

Treehouse is an online learning platform that offers a wide variety of web development and technology-related courses. 

The platform covers a range of topics such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, and many more. 

The platform features interactive coding challenges, quizzes, and videos that are taught by industry professionals. 

They also offer a Track system, where students can follow a specific curriculum, and the ability to earn badges for completed courses. 

Treehouse also provides a community forum for students to connect with one another and get help on projects and assignments. 

Overall, Treehouse aims to provide an accessible, effective, and engaging way for individuals to learn web development and technology skills.

Treehouse has partnered with a number of organizations and companies to provide its users with additional resources and opportunities for learning and development. Some of Treehouse’s partners include:

• Microsoft: To provide its users with access to Microsoft Azure, a cloud computing platform, to build and deploy their web applications.
• GitHub: Treehouse has partnered with GitHub, the world’s largest software development platform, to provide its users with access to a range of tools and resources for managing and sharing their code.
• AWS: Amazon Web Services (AWS), a cloud computing platform, to provide its users with access to a range of tools and resources for building and deploying their web applications on the cloud.
• Google: Treehouse has partnered with Google to provide its users with access to Google Cloud Platform, a cloud computing platform, to build and deploy their web applications.
• The Odin Project: Treehouse has partnered with The Odin Project, an open-source curriculum for learning web development, to provide its users with additional resources and opportunities for learning web development.

How much does TreeHouse cost?

The cost of a Treehouse subscription varies depending on the plan you choose:

• Basic: $25/month or $240/year (billed annually)
• Pro: $49/month or $420/year (billed annually)
• Techdegree: $199/month

The Basic plan provides access to all of Treehouse’s video content and interactive quizzes, while the Pro plan includes access to additional resources such as code challenges, workshops, and real-world projects.

The Techdegree is a more intense program with a specific curriculum, a mentor to help the student with the program and a final project to test the skills learned.

It’s important to note that the cost of a Treehouse subscription may change over time, so it is best to check the Treehouse website for the most up-to-date pricing information.

8. Khan Academy

Khan Academy is a non-profit educational organization created in 2008 by Salman Khan. 

It offers a free online platform for learners of all ages to study a wide variety of subjects, including math, science, history, and more. 

The organization’s mission is to provide a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere. 

The platform offers instructional videos, practice exercises, and assessments to help learners improve their understanding of a subject. 

Khan Academy also provides tools for educators to track student progress and customize lessons. The organization partners with various institutions and organizations to offer additional resources and support for learners.

Best Corporate training platforms

Some popular corporate training platforms include:

1. Skillsoft

Skillsoft is a leading provider of corporate learning and development solutions. The platform offers a wide range of online courses, videos, books, and interactive simulations on a variety of topics such as leadership, management, IT, and business skills. The platform also includes features such as tracking employee progress, compliance and certification management, and integration with other HR systems.

One of the unique features of Skillsoft is its library of over 6,000 books, which can be accessed by users in addition to the video courses and interactive simulations. Skillsoft also offers a personalized learning experience that adapts to the user’s learning style and job role. Users can access the content on any device, and administrators can track progress and compliance through detailed reporting and analytics.

Skillsoft has been widely adopted by many large organizations worldwide, and it is known for its high-quality content and the ability to meet the specific needs of organizations. The platform is also regularly updated with new content to ensure users have access to the most current information and trends.

2. Pluralsight

Pluralsight is a leading provider of online technology training courses. The platform offers a wide range of courses on programming, IT infrastructure, data science, and creative skills. Pluralsight’s library includes more than 7,000 expert-led video courses, interactive coding exercises, and hands-on labs, making it a popular choice for developers, IT professionals, and creative professionals.

One of the key features of Pluralsight is its focus on hands-on, practical learning. The courses are designed to help learners build real-world skills and gain experience working with the latest technologies. The platform also offers a personalized learning experience that adapts to the user’s learning style and job role. Users can access the content on any device, and administrators can track progress and compliance through detailed reporting and analytics.

Pluralsight is widely adopted by many large organizations worldwide, and it is known for its high-quality content and the ability to meet the specific needs of organizations. The platform is also regularly updated with new content to ensure users have access to the most current information and trends. It also offers a feature called Skills IQ that helps the learner to assess their current skills and identify areas of improvement.

In addition to the individual subscriptions, Pluralsight also offers corporate subscription plans for businesses and organizations to provide training for their employees.

3. SAP Litmos

SAP Litmos is a cloud-based corporate training platform that enables businesses and organizations to create, manage, and deliver training programs to their employees. The platform offers a wide range of features for creating and managing e-learning content, tracking progress, and reporting on results.

One of the key features of SAP Litmos is its ability to integrate with other systems, such as human resources and customer relationship management (CRM) systems. This allows organizations to easily track employee training and certification status and align training programs with business goals. Additionally, SAP Litmos offers a personalized learning experience that adapts to the user’s learning style and job role. Users can access the content on any device, and administrators can track progress and compliance through detailed reporting and analytics.

SAP Litmos is widely adopted by many large organizations worldwide and is known for its flexibility and scalability. The platform is also regularly updated with new features and integrations to ensure users have access to the most current information and trends. It also offers features such as gamification, social learning, and mobile learning to enhance the learners’ experience and make the learning more engaging.

What does SAP Litmos cost?

SAP Litmos offers a free trial for its customers to test the platform before committing to a subscription. The company also offers a customized pricing plan for larger organizations with more than 10,000 users and specific needs.

In general, the cost of SAP Litmos starts at around $3 per user per month for the basic plan, and it increases as more features and users are added. It’s important to note that the cost of the platform may also vary depending on the specific needs of the organization and the level of support required. It’s best to contact the company directly for a specific quote based on your organization’s needs.

Creating and selling online courses: What are the steps?

To effectively sell your online course, it is crucial to begin with a specific end goal in mind and to work backwards. Ask yourself, how will your students’ lives be transformed by taking your course and what specific outcomes will they achieve?

To understand the specific needs and desires of your target audience, research the top questions and concerns in forums related to your course’s subject matter, such as Quora. Use this information to craft a personalized learning path that addresses the unique problems of your students and guides them towards a clear end goal.

By creating a well-defined learning path and clear outcome, you will not only keep your students engaged and motivated, but you will also increase the chances of successful course completion and ultimately, a satisfied customer base.

Here are the top 10 strategies for creating and selling online courses:

1. Start with a clear end goal in mind 

Before creating your online course, it is important to have a specific outcome in mind for your students. This will guide the content and structure of your course, and help you market it effectively. For example, if you’re teaching a course on social media marketing, your end goal could be for students to be able to create and execute a successful social media campaign for their business.

2. Understand your students’ needs and desires 

In order to create a course that resonates with your target audience, it’s important to understand their specific needs and desires. This can be done by researching their top questions and concerns in forums related to your subject matter, such as Quora. You can also survey your potential students or speak with people in your target audience to get a better understanding of what they’re looking for in a course.

3. Create a personalized learning path

Once you understand your students’ needs, you can create a personalized learning path that addresses their specific problems and guides them towards the end goal of your course. This learning path should be logical, structured and easy to follow, and should break the course content into manageable chunks.

4. Clearly define outcomes at each stage of the course 

At each stage of the course, make it clear what students should expect to learn, and what the end result will be. This will help them stay motivated and engaged, and will also make it easier for you to track their progress.

5. Keep students engaged and motivated

Keeping students engaged and motivated throughout the course is crucial for successful completion. This can be done by incorporating interactive elements, such as quizzes and discussions, and by providing regular feedback and support.

6. Utilize social proof and testimonials

Using social proof, such as testimonials from past students, can help to build trust and credibility with potential students. This can be done by including testimonials on your course landing page, or by sharing success stories from past students on social media.

7. Offer a free trial or preview of your course

Another tip for selling online courses is to offer a free trial or preview of your course. This can help potential students get a sense of what the course is like, the topics covered, and the teaching style, which can help them decide if the course is a good fit for them. Additionally, offering a free preview can also build trust and credibility with potential students by showing that you stand behind the quality of your course and that you’re confident in its ability to deliver value to them.

8. Create a catchy and compelling course title

Creating a catchy and compelling course title is an important factor in the success of your online course. A good title should be attention-grabbing, accurately reflect the content of the course, and be easy to remember. It should also include keywords that are relevant to the course and to your target audience, as this can help make your course more discoverable in search results. A catchy and compelling title can help to increase the visibility of your course and make it more appealing to potential students, which can ultimately lead to more sales.

9. Invest in high quality material

Another key factor to successfully selling online courses is to invest in high-quality course materials. This includes creating engaging and informative videos, slides, and other content that is easy to understand and follow. High-quality materials can help make your course more attractive to potential students, and can also help to increase the value and perceived value of your course. By investing in high-quality materials, you can set your course apart from others and increase the chances of it being successful.

10. Continuously gather and incorporate student feedback.

Continuously gathering and incorporating student feedback is an essential step in the process of creating and selling online courses. Student feedback can provide valuable insight into how well your course is meeting the needs of your students and what areas need improvement. By gathering feedback and incorporating it into your course, you can ensure that your course is always up-to-date and relevant, which can help to increase student satisfaction and engagement. Additionally, gathering student feedback can also help you identify areas that are particularly popular or successful, which can help you promote your course more effectively and increase the chances of making more sales.

Features of an effective online course.

1. Interactivity. At least, passive learning isn’t particularly effective. Passive learners who watch pre-recorded videos are sure to find their minds wandering. While it can be challenging to add interactive elements to a course at your own pace, modern course creation platforms give you the tools to do so: You can add interactions such as buttons and questions to your videos, or you can even stream a few live sessions.
2. Social learning. Learning from peers is a great way to impart existential knowledge with learners. Through peer-to-peer interactions, whether they take place in a classroom discussion, discussion forum, social media group, or collaborative project, learners not only understand more about the topic, but also develop social and communication skills.
3. Diverse learning materials. Chances are there are many different types of learners in your audience. And we’re not just talking about visual/auditory/dynamic segmentation. People in different age groups also learn differently. Learners on the go and those taking their courses at home have different needs. Make sure there’s a little bit of everything for everyone. Microlearning videos, ebooks, infographics, and podcasts are some examples of content that can accommodate different learning interests while effectively conveying knowledge. Whenever possible and if the topic supports it, be sure to add hands-on activities for your learners.
4. Accessibility features. Your courses should be accessible and easy to follow for people with physical or learning disabilities. Use tools and other methods that can help them handle learning materials more easily, such as screen readers, voiceovers, subtitles and transcripts, notable navigation buttons, and more.
5. Assessing Learners. Assessment is an essential part of learning. Link assessment to course learning objectives to measure whether those goals have been met and also to encourage learners to review course material and reflect on themselves.
6. Mobile-friendliness. Even if your course isn’t intended for primarily mobile use, it should still be mobile-friendly. The number of users on mobile devices is huge, and there is a reason that all content should display well on mobile devices because sooner or later your learners will want to see their course on the device. their mobile.

5 tips to be successful in online learning.

If we could reduce the steps to success to 5, it would be the following:

1. Provide a topic that is in demand. Research social media to find out what people are searching for and if there are gaps that you can fill with your course.
2. Add interaction. Whether it is through real-time sessions, interactive videos, or online communities, interaction is an essential part of success in eLearning.
3. Socializing and networking. An active social media presence can help raise awareness of your course, engage your existing learners, and build interest.
4. Using SEO and paid advertising. If you want people to discover you quickly, you will need to optimize your course and website for SEO. Invest in paid advertising for faster results.
5. Update your content. Yes, you have to “build the course once and keep monetizing it”. But that means you have to stay up to date with what’s happening in your niche and update your course information accordingly. Outdated content means unhappy customers and bad reviews.

Frequently Asked Questions

Summary and Top Picks

When choosing between the best online course platforms, remember to do your research: consider the student experience, marketing features, and pricing.

The truth is, all of the best online course platforms let you easily upload your content, provide training for your students, and generate course sales.

All offer course creation tools and features for online teaching.

Ultimately, the critical factor is you.

The success of your course and ability to sell courses online is based on both the quality of your content and how well you can market yourself.

A platform is just that, a platform.

Yes, it’s a branded, engaging, interactive piece of media with your insights and experience, but it still needs planning, market research, development, and most importantly, marketing.

Here are our final top picks:

• Thinkific: Best Overall Online Course Platform
• Learnworlds: Best for Interactive Learning
• Teachable: Best for Beginners
• Kajabi: Best for High-End Information Businesses

With all of the high-end functionalities you need at the most affordable price, Mighty Networks is the clear overall winner.

Ultimately, with an endless amount of topics to teach, and many millions of students ready to learn from you, why not get started today?

If you’re ready to start creating and selling online courses, we recommend you go with Thinkific

Last updated on July 19th, 2023 at 04:09 am