7 Best Online Course Platforms in 2024

Are you a course creator looking for the best online course platform to help you sell your course? 

Well, there are many online course platforms coming up, especially with the rise of online learning. 

And I know it can be overwhelming to choose the best.

But I’m here to help. I have compiled a list of the 7 best online course platforms that can help you create and sell your course. 

Each of these platforms offers unique features and benefits tailored to different needs and preferences. 

Keep reading to find the online course platform that suits your needs and takes your course creation to the next level.

Factors to Consider Before Choosing the Best Online Course Platforms

When choosing the best online course platform, consider the following factors to ensure it meets your needs and helps you achieve your course creation goals:

1. Ease of Use

• User Interface: A user-friendly interface allows you to easily navigate and set up your course.
• Learning Curve: Platforms with a steep learning curve might require more time and effort to master.

2. Customization Options

• Branding: The ability to customize the platform to reflect your brand identity.
• Course Design: Flexibility in designing your course layout and content.

3. Content Delivery

• Types of Content Supported: Ensure the platform supports various content types like videos, quizzes, PDFs, and interactive elements.
• Content Dripping: The ability to release content to students over time.

4. Monetization Options

• Pricing Models: Availability of different pricing models such as one-time payments, subscriptions, and memberships.
• Payment Gateways: Integration with multiple payment gateways for ease of transactions.

5. Marketing Tools

• Email Marketing: Built-in email marketing tools to engage with your students.
• Sales Pages and Funnels: Features for creating sales pages and funnels to convert visitors into customers.
• Affiliate Marketing: Tools to set up and manage affiliate marketing programs.

6. Student Engagement

• Community Features: Options for creating a community through forums, groups, or discussion boards.
• Interactive Elements: Tools for quizzes, surveys, and assignments to keep students engaged.

7. Analytics and Reporting

• Performance Tracking: Detailed analytics to track student progress and course performance.
• Reports: Access to reports on sales, student engagement, and more.

8. Support and Resources

• Customer Support: Availability of reliable customer support through chat, email, or phone.
• Resources and Training: Access to tutorials, webinars, and knowledge bases to help you get started.

9. Integration with Other Tools

• Third-Party Integrations: Compatibility with other tools and software you use, such as CRMs, email marketing services, and learning management systems.

10. Scalability

• Growth Potential: The platform should support your growth, allowing you to add more courses and students as your business expands.
• Enterprise Solutions: Availability of enterprise-level solutions for large-scale course providers.

11. Security and Reliability

• Data Protection: Ensure the platform has robust security measures to protect your content and student data.
• Uptime and Reliability: A platform with high uptime guarantees and reliable performance.

12. Cost

• Pricing Plans: Compare different pricing plans and choose one that fits your budget.
• Hidden Fees: Be aware of any additional costs, such as transaction fees or charges for extra features.

Top 7 Best Online Course Platforms in 2024

Here’s a comprehensive review of the best online course platforms available in 2024, complete with their features, pricing, pros, and cons.

1. Teachable

Teachable is one of the best online course platforms, especially for those who are not tech-savvy. 

I put it first on my list because it’s affordable and has a user-friendly interface making it a top choice for beginners and experienced course creators alike.

You can read this comprehensive teachable review to know if it fits your requirements.

Let’s check out its features:

Key Features:

• Unlimited students and members-only community
• Unlimited video bandwidth and hosting
• Third-party integrations
• Advanced reports
• Integrated payment processing
• Sales pages creation feature
• Course certificates
• Flexible student pricing options

Pros

• Easy to use, allowing quick course setup
• Supports simple funnel creation
• Numerous integration options
• Affiliate marketing tools

Cons

• Limited course customization options
• 5% transaction fee on the Basic plan

Pricing

• Free
• Basic: $59 per month
• Pro: $159 per month
• Pro+: $249 per month

Visit the Teachable website to see if it fits your needs.

2. LearnWorlds

LearnWorlds stands out as one of the best online course platforms due to its robust tools for course creation, marketing, maintenance, and monetization. 

It offers comprehensive analytics and flexible pricing options, catering to a wide range of course creators.

Key Features

• Unlimited courses
• Video library access
• Interactive content features
• Ready-made templates
• Marketing tools including landing pages, sales funnels, blogging, etc.
• Affiliate program management
• Constant support
• Flexible pricing options

Pros

• Advanced course creation tools
• Interactive learning features
• Extensive marketing tools

Cons

• Steeper learning curve for beginners
• Limited course payment options
• Cluttered user interface

Pricing

• Starter: $29 per month
• Pro Trainer: $99 per month
• Learning Center: $299 per month
• High Volume and Corporate: Contact support for pricing

Explore more on the LearnWorlds website.

3. LearnDash

LearnDash is one of the best online course platforms, particularly as a powerful LMS plugin for WordPress.

It is ideal for solo course creators, academic institutions, and training organizations, offering a wide range of features for effective course delivery.

Key Features

• Powerful course builder
• Advanced quiz builder
• Multiple payment options
• Automated email triggers
• Student forums
• Course bundles
• Dynamic content delivery
• Free and priced add-ons

Pros

• Professional focus mode
• Drag-and-drop builder
• Numerous monetization options
• Third-party add-ons

Cons

• No free trial
• Poor onboarding process
• Steep learning curve for non-tech users

Pricing

• LearnDash Plugin: Starting at $199/year
• LearnDash Cloud: Starting at $29/month

4. Podia

Podia is another top notch online course platform. It allows you to facilitate the sale of courses, webinars, memberships, and digital downloads. 

Its versatility and ease of use make it a favorite among course creators.

Key Features

• Customizable branding
• Live previews
• Pre-launch, pre-sell, and upsell marketing features
• Unlimited students, courses, earnings, bandwidth, and emails
• Integrated email marketing
• Live chat widget
• Product bundle feature

Pros

• User-friendly interface
• Extensive customization options
• Good student experience
• Built-in online chat

Cons

• Limited automation options
• Limited reporting and design options

Pricing

• Free
• Mover: $39 per month
• Shaker: $89 per month

5. Thinkific

Thinkific is another best online course platform that provides comprehensive tools for creating, marketing, delivering, and selling online courses. 

Its features and pricing plans cater to a wide range of needs, making it a popular choice.

Key Features

• Drag-and-drop course builder
• Unlimited courses
• Private course options
• Various themes and customization options
• Secure cloud hosting
• Full e-commerce capabilities
• Instant funds access

Pros

• Free trial available
• User-friendly interface
• Unlimited students and high-quality courses
• Multiple payment options

Cons

• Steeper learning curve for first-time creators

Pricing

• Free
• Basic: $49 per month
• Start: $99 per month
• Grow: $199 per month

6. MemberPress

MemberPress integrates with WordPress and is one of the best online course platforms for building, creating, upselling, promoting, and cross-selling online courses. 

Its ease of use and powerful features make it a strong contender.

Key Features

• Visual course builder
• Interactive course content
• Drip content
• Custom course pricing
• Multiple payment gateways
• Email marketing tool integration
• Customization options

Pros

• Discussion forums
• High-quality downloadable resources
• Zapier and email marketing integrations
• Easy to use

Cons

• Learning curve for WordPress newcomers

Pricing

• Basic: $179.50 per year
• Plus: $299.50 per year
• Pro: $399.50 per year
• Elite: $499.50 per year

7. TalentLMS

TalentLMS is one of the best online course platforms known for its ease of use, feature richness, and affordability. 

It caters to a wide range of users with its simple interface and extensive capabilities.

Key Features

• Access to over 550 ready-made courses
• Drag-and-drop course builder
• Centralized training content database
• Survey response analysis
• Customizable certification
• Zapier integrations
• Reports and analytics
• Printable infographics

Pros

• Simple interface
• E-commerce capabilities
• Gamification
• Automated task management
• Customizable user roles

Cons

• Certificate management needs improvement
• Limited quiz question types

Pricing

• Free plan available
• Starter: $89 per month
• Basic: $189 per month
• Plus: $369 per month
• Premium: $569 per month
• Enterprise: Custom pricing

So, Which is the Best Online Course Platform?

Well, every online course platform mentioned has its own unique set of features, advantages, and limitations. 

Some excel in ease of use, while others offer advanced marketing tools or extensive customization options. 

The best online course platform for you will depend on your specific requirements, such as budget, course content type, desired level of interactivity, and marketing needs.

Take your time to assess each platform based on these factors to make an informed decision that aligns with your goals as a course creator.

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