With many options to choose from, it can be a difficult task trying to settle on an online course platform that will work for you. You'll need to think about cost, flexibility and how easily your chosen platform can support the type of learning you're looking to make money from.
Whatever your specific needs, you can use this guide to help you compare your options.
An all-in-one package to create fully integrated online courses
An all-in-one platform which connects everything about your business
An online course platform is a type of Learning Management System (LMS) that works a bit like a digital classroom where you host the sharing of your expertise in a certain area. These platforms can provide a host of added features to facilitate your teaching, including multimedia such as webinars and animation. They can also help you market your lessons, helping you turn your knowledge into hard cash.
The type of learning you want to provide can range from a one-off, intensive session to ongoing courses that last weeks or months.
Generally, online course platforms can be split into the following categories:
The features of online course platforms vary quite a lot, and whether or not you can use all of them depends on what pricing tier you choose.
Try to pick a plan that works best with the type of course creation you have in mind.
We reviewed these websites in August 2024. We endeavour to ensure that the information on this site is current and accurate but you should confirm any information with the product or service provider and read the information it can provide.
Important. Many online course platforms are US-owned, so expect to see lots of prices in USD. Keep this in mind during your comparison and be clear about how much it will cost you with foreign conversion rates in mind as well as the provider's overall costs. If this is a problem, look for Aussie sites instead.
There are a number of different types of online course platforms to consider, including the following:
Thinkific makes it very easy to create and customise your courses using a drag-and-drop editor. Using the Zapier tool, you can integrate Thinkific with more than 1,500 apps - without the need for a WordPress plugin. What's more, their responsive customer support team is on-hand to help with any problems you may have and there's a bunch of support and learning guides available.
Pros
Cons
Kajabi is another all-in-one platform that gives customers plenty of ways to get paid, including via user memberships and file downloads in addition to your full online course. What's more, its email service has a range of editable features to help you customise your updates.
Pros
Cons
Teachable has a premium option that includes a range of website theme customisations, quizzes, certificates and support for up to five admins. There's a flexible pricing model that gives you the choice between using the platform for free (with a $1 and 10% charge) for all transactions, or you can pay a monthly fee without having to pay transaction fees.
Pros
Cons
Udemy offers a simple sign-up process and, once you're a premium instructor, you can start creating video content of at least 30 minutes in length. A great perk with Udemy is there's numerous ways to market your work from within their platform, which may include being placed in their marketing emails.
Pros
Cons
LearnDash comes with a WordPress integration, meaning you can plug it directly into your existing WordPress site. This programme includes a number of useful features including a 'Focus Mode' to hide unnecessary sidebars and navigation, ensuring a smoother experience between you and your students.
Pros
Cons
TalentLMS is an online business learning platform with an intuitive design that can help you to deliver training to your clients or colleagues in a hassle-free way. The platform is very easy to navigate and it won't require much training to get you started. Helpful features with TalentLMS include its support for multiple file types and multimedia options.
Pros
Cons
Podia is an easy-to-use platform with a straightforward fees structure: you'll pay a flat charge each month and there's no limit to the number of courses or products you can use. Its webinar functionality is impressive, as you can schedule them in advance, share replays, and more. You can provide some of these for free as a way to grow your customer email base.
Pros
Cons
Ruzuku comes with an easy to use, customisable platform and you won't have much trouble with the quick sign-up process. The platform itself is simple for students: they can mark activities as they complete them, while you can track their progress with the minimum of fuss. You can choose to pay for Ruzuku on a monthly or yearly basis.
Pros
Cons
How can I create an online course?
Here are four immediate steps to consider when it comes to online course creation:
Once you've delivered your course, make sure you get feedback - collecting as many engagement metrics as you can in order to improve your course.
Is Zoom good for online learning?
Yes, Zoom has a range of features which can be learnt with a bit of training. Its multi-user interface makes it easy to host meetings and share data.
Are there any free course platforms I should think about?
There may be some free course platforms, but it's hard to guarantee their quality. You may find you're better off sticking with free versions of a provider listed above, such as Teachable or Thinkific.
If you're set on a free option then make sure you do plenty of research about the provider's credentials and look for genuine user reviews first.
What are some of the most popular online courses/categories?
Some of the most searched for online courses include the following:
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