11 Best Online Course Platforms in 2025 (I’ve Tried All)

I tested more than 15 of the most popular online course platforms to find out which ones actually make teaching easier in 2025.

I did this for two reasons.

First, I run my own program called Content Creators Accelerator, where I teach creators how to use AI tools. 

To deliver it effectively, I needed a platform that could handle structured lessons, live calls, quizzes, and payments without requiring me to piece together ten different tools.

Second, I didn’t want to rely on sales pages. 

I wanted to see how these platforms perform when you actually upload videos, set up checkouts, and bring in real students. 

One platform that stood out was Thinkific. 

While many platforms felt either too complex or too limited, Thinkific hit a sweet spot between ease of use, flexibility, and serious business tools. 

It is not perfect, but it quickly became one of my top picks.

This guide breaks down the 7 best course platforms in 2025, showing where each excels, where it falls short, and who should actually use it.

What are the best online course platforms?

Course Platform	Best For	Pricing
Thinkific	Best overall for creators who want professional courses with quizzes, certificates, progress tracking, and no transaction fees	$49 – $199/mo
Circle	Best for community-driven courses with modular spaces, memberships, paywalls, and live events in one platform	$99 – $219/mo
Systeme.io	Best for budget-conscious creators who want an all-in-one dashboard with courses, funnels, email marketing, and automation	$0 – $97/mo
LearnWorlds	Best for professional educators and academies needing advanced learning features, compliance tools, exams, and branded experiences	$29 – $299/mo
Podia	Best for creators who want no transaction fees, simple pricing, and built-in tools for courses, email, and communities	$9 – $89/mo
Teachable	Best for beginners who need a simple setup with AI tools, built-in payments, and compliance features	$39 – $399/mo
Kajabi	Best for scaling businesses that need a true all-in-one platform covering courses, funnels, communities, email, and payments	$89 – $499/mo
ThriveCart Learn	Best for creators who want a lifetime deal; one-time payment for unlimited courses and instant delivery	$495 – $690 (One-Time Fee)
Mighty Networks	Best for building social-style learning communities with courses, memberships, live sessions, and gamification	$33 – $119/mo
LearnDash	Best for WordPress users who want full control with a plugin-based LMS, deep customization, and strong quiz features	$199 – $799/yr
Kartra	Best for businesses that want marketing automation + courses, funnels, CRM, memberships, and email marketing in one place	$99 – $499/mo

My Research Process…

Any software that lets you create, host, and sell lessons online can count as a course platform.

So what did I consider when evaluating the best ones? 

Let me start with why I needed a strong course platform in the first place.

I run a program called Content Creators Accelerator, where I help creators master AI tools. 

I didn’t want to piece things together with Zoom calls, Facebook Groups, and random checkout links. 

To make this list, I personally activated free trials on most platforms and tested them with my own course. 

On a few platforms where I didn’t activate the trial, I conducted thorough research by reading feedback on forums, checking user reviews, and following discussions on social media.

I wanted a setup where:

• Lessons were structured and easy to follow.
• Students could track progress with quizzes or completion markers.
• I could host live sessions and group coaching without relying on too many external apps.
• Payments and memberships were built in and are simple.
• The experience felt professional and distraction-free.

That meant the platform had to do a few things really well:

• Course delivery tools (videos, text, quizzes, drip schedules).
• Engagement features like discussions, communities, or live calls.
• Payment options with global support.
• Branding control so my course looked like mine, not the platform’s.
• Scalability to grow without becoming a headache.

Now, here’s how I narrowed my list.

I started with a list of over 15 popular course platforms. Then I quickly cut it down.

I excluded platforms that:

• Were just video hosting tools (like Vimeo or Loom). Good for content, but not full course platforms.
• Were WordPress plugins (like LearnDash or MemberPress). I’ve used WordPress for years and didn’t want the hassle of plugins, hosting, and conflicts.
• Were too expensive enterprise solutions (like Docebo or Absorb LMS). Great for corporations, but not for individual creators running a program like mine.
• Were pure communities without course delivery (like Facebook Groups or Discord). I tested Circle and Skool separately because they actually combine both.

After removing all that noise, I was left with the 7 platforms outlined in this guide. 

Each one passed the test of being practical for real creators, offering solid teaching features, and giving you ownership over your students and business.

#1: Thinkific

Best all-in-one course platform for most creators.

• Best for: educators, coaches, and creators who want professional course tools without complexity.
• Price: $49/month – $199/month
• Mobile app: Yes (iOS & Android)

After testing more than 15 platforms, Thinkific quickly stood out. 

It struck the right balance between ease of use and powerful teaching features. 

While some platforms felt too basic and others were overloaded with features, Thinkific gave me everything I needed to build and sell my course. 

The interface is clean, the setup is straightforward, and the tools are reliable enough for real business use. 

You can create structured lessons, drip content, run quizzes, issue certificates, and even bundle coaching products, all from one dashboard.

It supports multiple lesson types as shown below.

You can add additional text in your lesson, attach a file for your students, and even make any lesson “Free Preview Lesson” so that your audience can preview some lessons from your course before purchasing your course.

You can go to your Course setting further and do multiple things like:

1. Add basic details like course name, instructor name and access level.

2. You can cutomize entire course according your brand

3. You can enable drip content and manage affiliates easily.

You can set any type of pricing for your course like

• Free
• One Time Payment
• Subscription or Membership
• Monthly Payment Plans

Plus, the thing I literally like about Thinkific course platform is that it automatically generate sales page for you. So, you don’t need any landing page builder to design sales page for your course.

You can easily customize it according to your need with its drag and drop editor.

And you know what it comes with lots of marketing related tools like leads management, funnels, affiliate management, and email automation.

Plus, you can also create bundles and coupons to increase your sales.

And if you want to use it with the tool which you are already using in your business then you’ll be glad to know that it comes with tons of app integrations as shown below.

Also, you don’t need any community platform like Skool or Circle because you can create one with Thinkific for FREE as shown below.

And if we talk about front end experience i.e. look and feel from student point of view then as you can see that courses looks super attractive.

Plus, when they complete a chapter then it’ll show this popup to encourage them and also they can track their completion progress from the left sidebar as shown below.

Thinkific Features

• Drag-and-drop course builder: I was able to set up modules, upload videos, and add quizzes in minutes. No coding needed.
• Assessments and certificates: Unlike many platforms, Thinkific makes it easy to test students with quizzes and issue branded certificates when they finish.
• Payment flexibility: Supports one-time fees, subscriptions, free trials, and payment plans. Stripe and PayPal are both integrated.
• Community spaces: Thinkific has built-in communities so students can interact without leaving the platform.
• Live lessons: You can connect Zoom to host live coaching sessions or group calls right inside your course area.
• Website builder: Comes with customizable themes so you can run your entire school under your own domain.
• App Store integrations: Access 80+ apps, including analytics, email tools, and upsell features.

Thinkific Pricing

All plans support unlimited courses and students, but features unlock as you scale.

• Basic ($49/month): Unlimited courses, 1 community, 5 digital downloads, 5 coaching & webinar sessions, sales tools, abandoned cart recovery.
• Start ($99/month): Everything in Basic plus unlimited live lessons, unlimited memberships, unlimited digital downloads, unlimited coaching sessions, HTML/CSS editing, bundles, and add-ons.
• Grow ($199/month): Everything in Start plus 3 communities, remove Thinkific branding, analytics, group orders, invoicing, gifting, API access.
• Thinkific Plus (custom): Everything in Grow plus unlimited everything, SCORM compliance, CRM integrations, SSO, learning paths, custom reports, branded mobile app, and dedicated onboarding.

Thinkific Pros and Cons

Pros

• Beginner-friendly but still powerful for scaling
• Strong quiz and certificate tools
• Built-in community spaces
• Smooth Zoom integration for live coaching
• Flexible payment options
• No platform transaction fees on paid plans

Cons

• Website builder is limited compared to Kajabi
• Native email is very basic
• Communities are useful, but not as engaging as Skool or Circle

Bottom Line: Why Choose Thinkific to Build & Sell Online Course?

#2: Circle

Best all-in-one community + course platform.

• Best for: creators, coaches, and startups who want to combine courses with an active community.
• Price: $89 – $419/month
• Mobile apps: Yes (iOS & Android)

When I tested Circle for the first time, the first thing I noticed was how clean and modern the interface felt. 

Setting up spaces, adding lessons, and creating discussion areas was quick. 

It’s flexible enough to host courses, run events, and build a branded community without being overwhelming.

Other platforms I tried struggled with this balance. 

Skool is simpler but feels limited once you want advanced features. 

Kajabi is strong for marketing, but doesn’t match Circle’s community-first feel. 

Circle sits right in the middle, simple enough to start, but robust enough when your audience grows.

Let me talk about how easy and clean it is from a student side.

First let’s talk about sales page.

It let you build simple looking sales page (not professional sales page like Kajabi and other platform). It means no need to use external landing page builder for creating sales page.

When your student will join your course then they can see all courses from you like this.

Real magic is here when they will open the course then it looks very attractive. UI and UX is too good from student side.

When your student will open any lesson then they can watch the video, see additional description, comment on any lessons, and more as shown below.

Circle Features

• Flexible spaces: Think of them like Slack channels but designed for learning. You can set spaces for courses, discussions, events, or media libraries. Access can be public, private, or hidden.
• Community + courses in one place: You can build structured lessons with drip scheduling and link them to community discussions. Great for cohort-based learning.
• Events: Host live sessions, send reminders, and let members RSVP. You can run livestreams inside Circle (up to 2,000 people) or use rooms for smaller group calls. Recordings can be reused as course material.
• Monetization tools: Gate entire communities or single spaces with paywalls. Supports one-time fees, subscriptions, and payment plans through Stripe.
• Customization: Brand your Circle with custom colors, logos, and a domain. On higher plans, you can even launch a white-labeled mobile app.
• Workflows: Automate tasks like sending welcome messages or unlocking spaces when someone joins.
• Gamification: Use points, levels, and leaderboards to keep members engaged.
• Integrations: Embed videos, Typeforms, Airtable databases, and more directly into posts.
• Affiliate system: Let members promote your community and earn commissions.

Circle Pricing

All plans include unlimited members. Limits vary by admins, moderators, and spaces.

• Professional ($89/mo): Courses, discussions, events, website builder, live streams, live rooms, custom branding, reporting & analytics, member directory, rich profiles, paid memberships, gamification, custom domain, weekly community digest, migration services for payments.
• Business ($199/mo): Everything in Professional, plus Workflows, custom profile fields, Headless Member API, Admin API, branded email notifications, content co-pilot, automated transcriptions, and activity scores.
• Enterprise ($419/mo): Everything in Business, plus AI Agents, AI workflows, unlimited workflows, custom SSO, priority support, advanced analytics, lower transaction fees, sandbox community, 10 admins & 100 moderators.
• Plus Branded App (Custom pricing): Your own iOS and Android apps, prioritized migration, dedicated launch team, access to Circle’s design studio, branded push notifications, in-app purchases, and higher limits.

Circle Pros and Cons

Pros

• Clean interface, easy for beginners
• Combines courses and communities seamlessly
• Native livestreaming and events
• Flexible paywalls for monetization
• Mobile apps for iOS and Android
• White-label options on higher plans

Cons

• Limited student assessments (only quizzes)
• Advanced automations are locked in higher tiers
• Marketing tools are basic compared to Kajabi
• Bottom Line: Why Choose Circle

Bottom Line: Why Choose Circle for Online Course Creation?

#3: Systeme.io

Best all-in-one course + marketing platform for budget creators.

• Best for: creators and small businesses who want one tool for courses, funnels, and email marketing without stacking multiple apps.
• Price: Free – $97/month
• Mobile app: Not yet (works on mobile browser)

Systeme.io offers almost everything related to creating and selling course even on their FREE plan.

Most course platforms make you pay extra for email automation, affiliate programs, or funnels. Systeme.io bundles them all under one roof.

I created a mini course inside it to see how smooth the process was super easy.

Then I built a funnel to capture leads, connected it directly to my course checkout, and linked everything to automated email sequences. 

I didn’t have to leave the dashboard or pay for extra tools like Mailchimp, Leadpages, or Zapier.

This is where Systeme.io really shines. 

It’s an all-in-one setup: courses, communities, emails, funnels, blogs, e-commerce, and even affiliate programs. 

For a new creator or someone running on a budget, not needing to stitch together five different tools is a big advantage.

Of course, there are some cons. 

The course builder works, but it’s not as polished as Thinkific or Kajabi. 

Design templates are basic, and if you want a premium look, you’ll feel limited. 

Advanced learning features like graded quizzes or learning paths aren’t built in. 

For engagement, the community spaces work fine, but don’t feel as lively as Circle or Skool.

Still, I was impressed by how far you can go without spending much. 

Even running email campaigns to thousands of contacts felt reliable, and the no transaction fees policy means you keep every dollar you earn. 

For anyone testing course ideas, Systeme.io gives you enough power to launch and scale without upfront costs.

Want to know more? Read my full review here

Now, let’s talk about real things.

You can create sales page for your course directly inside Systeme.io and connect it with your course by going to your Course setting as shown below.

Setting up lessons is very simple: you can drag and drop text, audio and video files inside any lessons as shown below.

But it don’t support quiz, live sessions, and other lesson types as Thinkific.

You can customize the look and feel of your course according to your brand by going to your course setting.

Want to customize more? Then you can click on Preview Course and here you’ll see option called “Cutomize Theme” in the top. Just click it and customize more in real-time.

Plus, you can also give course completion certificate to your audience.

Now, let’s talk about student experience in Systeme.io courses.

From student side, course looks professional as you can see below.

And the best part? Your student can also see their course completion percent from the sidebar.

Overall, It’s a very good platform for online course creation.

Systeme.io Features

• Courses + students: Host unlimited students on every plan. Course limits depend on your plan (1 on free, up to unlimited on higher tiers).
• Communities: Create up to 20 communities on the Unlimited plan with unlimited members.
• Email marketing: Unlimited email sends even on the free plan. Automation rules, workflows, and tagging scale as you upgrade.
• Funnels & websites: Build sales funnels, deadline funnels, and even evergreen webinars with no extra software. Includes A/B testing and upsells.
• E-commerce: Sell physical products, manage shipping and inventory, and add order bumps and upsells.
• Affiliate marketing: Run your own affiliate program from inside the platform.
• Integrations: Works with Google Sheets, Google Meet, ActiveCampaign, SendGrid, Zoom, and popular payment gateways (Stripe, PayPal, Apple Pay, Razorpay, etc.).
• No transaction fees: Keep 100% of your sales.
• Unlimited file storage: Upload as many course videos or resources as you need.

Systeme.io Pricing

It comes with 4 affordable pricing plans:

• Free ($0/mo): 1 course, unlimited students, 1 community, 2,000 contacts, 3 funnels, 1 blog, unlimited emails.
• Startup ($17/mo): 5 courses, 5 communities, 5,000 contacts, 10 funnels, 3 blogs, 10 automation rules, 10 workflows, custom domains, more integrations.
• Webinar ($47/mo): 20 courses, 20 communities, 10,000 contacts, 50 funnels, 10 blogs, 100 automation rules, evergreen webinars, 1-on-1 coaching session included.
• Unlimited ($97/mo): Unlimited courses, communities, students, funnels, blogs, and contacts. Includes free migration, custom domains, priority support, and advanced features.

Systeme.io Pros and Cons

Pros

• All-in-one tool with funnels, email, courses, and e-commerce
• Free plan available with solid features
• No transaction fees on any plan
• Unlimited students on every plan
• Built-in affiliate program

Cons

• Design flexibility is limited compared to Kajabi
• Course experience is basic (no advanced quizzes/certificates)
• No dedicated mobile app
• Interface feels less polished than higher-priced tools

Bottom Line: Why Choose Systeme.io for Online Course Creation?

#4: LearnWorlds

Best Online Course Platform for advanced learning features and certifications.

• Best for: educators, trainers, and organizations who want interactive learning with professional assessments.
• Price: $29 – $299/month
• Mobile apps: Yes (branded mobile app on higher plans)

Few days back, I tested LearnWorlds and created a detailed review on my YouTube channel, the difference was clear.

It feels like a platform built for serious online learning rather than just simple course hosting. 

While Thinkific is easy to use and Kajabi leans on marketing, LearnWorlds shines when you want to give students a classroom-like experience.

I uploaded lessons from my Content Creators Accelerator into LearnWorlds to see how interactive it could be. 

The platform lets me add quizzes, surveys, and even interactive video elements like hotspots and questions inside videos. 

That’s something I didn’t find in Systeme.io or ThriveCart Learn.

Other platforms I tested lacked this level of detail. 

For example, Skool is great for engagement but has no certificates. 

Systeme.io is strong for funnels but basic for assessments. 

LearnWorlds stood out because it treats learning outcomes as seriously as sales pages.

LearnWorlds Features

• Interactive video player: Add questions, buttons, or tips inside your video lessons to keep students engaged.
• Advanced assessments: Quizzes, exams, assignments, surveys, and even SCORM/HTML5 compliance for corporate training.
• Certificates: Automatically issue branded completion certificates when students finish a course.
• Learning paths: Combine multiple courses into a structured program with prerequisites.
• Course authoring tools: Built-in ebook creator for text-based learning materials.
• Social learning: Discussion boards, note-taking, and highlights help students learn together.
• Customization: White-label domains, custom branding, and a website builder with drag-and-drop.
• Mobile learning: Branded iOS and Android apps on higher plans.
• E-commerce: One-time payments, subscriptions, memberships, bundles, and coupons.
• Integrations: Connect with Stripe, PayPal, Zoom, Mailchimp, HubSpot, Zapier, and more.

LearnWorlds Pricing

• Starter ($29/mo): 1 admin, $5 per course sale fee, basic features.
• Pro Trainer ($99/mo): No transaction fees, unlimited courses, subscriptions, certificates, and live classes via Zoom.
• Learning Center ($299/mo): White-label, SCORM/HTML5, advanced assessments, branded mobile apps, advanced integrations.
• Corporate/Custom (custom pricing): For enterprises with dedicated onboarding and support.

LearnWorlds Pros and Cons

Pros

• Best-in-class assessments and certifications
• Interactive video tools keep students engaged
• Strong white-label and branding options
• Branded mobile apps available
• Supports SCORM and corporate training use cases

Cons

• Starter plan charges $5 per sale
• More complex to set up than Thinkific or Skool
• Design flexibility is limited without higher plans
• Pricing is higher if you need branded apps. In this case, you need to look for its alternatives.

Bottom Line: Why Choose LearnWorlds for Online Course Creation?

#5: Podia

Best all-in-one lightweight platform for beginners.

• Best for: solo creators and small businesses who want courses, digital downloads, memberships, and email marketing in one tool.
• Price: $39 – $89/month
• Mobile apps: Not available (browser-based access).

When I tested Podia for hosting a mini version of my course, the course builder felt simple and beginner-friendly. 

Uploading videos, adding text lessons, and attaching resources took only a few minutes. Unlike Thinkific or LearnWorlds, there’s no steep learning curve.

Podia covers most of the essentials creators expect:

• Quizzes for checking understanding.
• Drip courses to release lessons on a schedule.
• Course comments so students can ask questions directly inside lessons.
• Certificates to reward completion.
• Access and seat limits to control enrollment for premium cohorts.
• Presell options and future start dates for launching before the content is fully ready.

In my testing, I liked that Podia also supports bundles and upsells. 

I was able to package a course with a digital download and offer it at checkout. 

Many platforms like Teachable charge transaction fees or restrict upsells, but Podia includes them by default.

Other platforms I compared gave me different impressions. 

Thinkific is stronger for assessments and progress tracking, while Kajabi provides more advanced automation tied to lessons.

Podia doesn’t go that deep, but it keeps the essentials in one place, including video hosting, student progress tracking, and instant payouts after sales.

For me, the strength of Podia’s course system is in its speed and simplicity. 

I didn’t need third-party apps for hosting videos, issuing certificates, or managing payments. 

Everything from building to selling to rewarding students happens under one dashboard.

Podia Features

• Courses & digital products: Host courses, sell digital downloads, or run coaching programs. Supports bundles and upsells.
• Community spaces: Create communities with unlimited members. Students can post, comment, and interact.
• Webinars: Host live or pre-recorded webinars directly from Podia.
• Email marketing: Unlimited email sends on every plan. Includes automation, segmentation, tagging, and analytics.
• Affiliate marketing: Available on higher plans to let others promote your products.
• Website builder: Create a full website with blogging, a custom domain, and live chat.
• E-commerce: Sell physical or digital products, manage access duration, payment plans, and coupons.
• Integrations: Works with Stripe and PayPal for payments, plus Zapier for extending workflows.

Podia Pricing

• Mover ($39/mo): Website, online store, unlimited products, email marketing, blogging, custom domain, 7-day support. 5% transaction fee on sales.
• Shaker ($89/mo): Everything in Mover plus affiliate marketing, advanced integrations, and 0% transaction fees.
• Podia Email: included with all plans, free for under 100 subscribers, scales as you grow.

Podia Pros and Cons

Pros

• Beginner-friendly and quick to launch.
• Unlimited email marketing included
• Supports digital products, courses, coaching, and communities
• Affiliate marketing on higher plans
• Clean interface with built-in website builder

Cons

• 5% transaction fee on $39 plan
• No mobile app. So, if you need mobile app then check its alternatives here.
• Course builder is basic compared to Thinkific or LearnWorlds
• Lacks advanced assessments and certificates
• Limited design flexibility

Bottom Line: Why Choose Podia for Online Course Creation?

#6: Teachable

Best online course platform for first-time creators

• Best for: Solo creators and small businesses who want an all-in-one teaching platform without tech headaches.
• Price: Starts at $39/mo (Starter) – $399/mo (Advanced).
• Mobile app: Yes (iOS).

Teachable is a popular course platforms. 

The setup is straightforward, the drag-and-drop course builder works well, and you don’t have to touch extra plugins or code. 

What stood out is that Teachable now leans heavily on AI features.

You can generate course outlines, sales pages, quizzes, and even subtitles automatically. 

It doesn’t always hit 100%, but it saves a ton of time for first drafts.

Where Teachable shines compared to others is in payment processing. 

With Teachable Pay, you don’t need to set up Stripe or PayPal setups yourself. 

They handle taxes, payouts, and even fraud protection for you. If you want more control, you can still connect gateways like PayPal, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.

The course delivery side covers the essentials:

• Structured lessons with video, text, and downloads
• Quizzes and course compliance features
• Student progress tracking and certificates
• Coaching and community add-ons
• Built-in upsells, coupons, and bundles

That said, Teachable isn’t perfect. 

The Starter plan takes a 7.5% transaction fee, which feels steep. 

The Builder plan ($89/mo) removes this fee and unlocks features like affiliate programs and live chat, which is the real minimum I’d suggest if you’re serious.

But here’s the catch: while Teachable markets “unlimited products,” the fine print limits how many published products you can have. 

• On Starter it’s just 1, 
• Builder allows 5, 
• Growth 25, and 
• Advanced 100. 

**Since products include courses, coaching, and digital downloads, this cap can hold you back once you start scaling.**

As a student, Teachable course looks 80-90% exatly same as other platform like Thinkific and Systeme as shown below.

Teachable Features

• AI Course Builder: Teachable has leaned hard into AI. You can generate course outlines, quizzes, sales pages, and even subtitles with a single click. When I tested it, the drafts weren’t always perfect, but they cut my prep time in half.
• Lesson Delivery: You can upload videos, audio, text, and downloadable files. Lessons are structured with progress tracking, compliance tools, and certificates. For coaches, there’s support for 1:1 or group sessions.
• Payments and Checkout: Teachable Pay is the biggest win here. It lets you accept payments without setting up Stripe or PayPal on your own. Taxes, fraud protection, and even VAT/GST handling are included. Students can pay with PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Buy Now Pay Later options.
• Sales Tools: You get built-in upsells, coupons, and bundles at checkout. The affiliate program (from the Builder plan and up) makes it easy to recruit partners to sell your courses. Sales analytics help track what’s working.
• Customization and Branding: Custom domains and white-label websites are available on higher plans. While the site builder isn’t as flexible as Thinkific or LearnWorlds, it’s enough for most solo creators.
• Unlimited Students and Video Hosting: No matter which plan you’re on, you’re not restricted by student count or video hosting limits. That’s one reason Teachable still appeals to first-time course creators.

Teachable Pricing

• Starter ($39/mo): 7.5% transaction fee, 1 published product, upsells, cart recovery
• Builder ($89/mo): 0% transaction fees, 5 published products, affiliate program, certificates, live chat support
• Growth ($189/mo): 25 published products, white-label website, custom admin roles, free subtitle and translation
• Advanced ($399/mo): 100 published products, unlimited integrations, dedicated support
• Custom (Contact sales): 0% transaction fees, 100+ published products, migration assistance, priority support

Teachable Pros and Cons

Pros

• AI-powered tools for outlines, quizzes, and sales pages
• Teachable Pay simplifies payouts and tax handling
• Certificates, upsells, bundles, and an affiliate program are included
• Compliance features to track student progress
• Unlimited students and video hosting

Cons

• Transaction fees on the Starter plan
• Website customization is more limited than Thinkific or LearnWorlds
• The mobile app is only for iOS
• “Unlimited products” is misleading. The fine print shows limits on how many published products you can have (Starter = 1, Builder = 5, Growth = 25, Advanced = 100). Products include courses, coaching, and digital downloads, so you’ll hit the cap quickly as you scale.

Why Choose Teachable to Build and Sell Online Courses?

#7. Kajabi 

Best all-in-one platform for scaling your knowledge business

• Best for: coaches, consultants, and educators who want courses, communities, and marketing in one platform.
• Price: $89 – $499/month
• Mobile app: Yes (iOS & Android)

After trying Kajabi side by side with Thinkific, Teachable, and Podia, it became obvious why many 6-7 figure creators choose it. 

Most course platforms focus only on lessons and quizzes.

Kajabi goes beyond that; it combines teaching tools with full-scale marketing, payments, and community features as shown below.

Where Thinkific provides structure and Teachable offers simplicity, Kajabi offers a complete business stack. 

I can build a course, run live sessions, send marketing emails, set up funnels, and accept payments all within Kajabi’s dashboard. That level of integration is rare.

Kajabi Features

• Flexible Course Builder: Create video, audio, text, or drip lessons. Add quizzes, certificates, and even cohort-based peer groups for small group learning.
• Live + Community: Kajabi includes live video sessions and embedded communities. Students can engage inside Kajabi without needing Slack or Facebook Groups.
• AI Tools: The AI assistant can draft course outlines, sales copy, and even quizzes. In my testing, it sped up setup but still required light editing.
• Marketing & Funnels: Unlimited emails, landing pages, and funnels are included across all plans. Upsells, downsells, and bundles are built in. Higher plans unlock advanced automations to personalize customer journeys.
• Payments: Kajabi Pay supports Stripe, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and BNPL options. Taxes, fraud protection, and global payments are handled automatically.
• Customization: Kajabi’s website builder is one of the most polished I’ve seen. You can fully brand your site, landing pages, and even launch a branded mobile app on higher tiers.

Kajabi Pricing

• Kickstarter ($89/mo): 1 product, 250 contacts, 1 site
• Basic ($179/mo): 5 products, 2,500 contacts, custom domain
• Growth ($249/mo): 50 products, 25,000 contacts, advanced automations, affiliate program, remove branding
• Pro ($499/mo): 100 products, 100k contacts, branded app, dedicated manager
• Custom: Tailored pricing for enterprise

Kajabi Pros and Cons

Pros

• True all-in-one: courses, communities, funnels, email, and payments
• Highly customizable websites and themes
• Strong AI tools for course and sales copy
• Affiliate program and advanced automations included
• Branded mobile app option

Cons

• Higher cost than most platforms
• Entry plan capped at 1 product and 250 contacts. Many Kajabi alternatives don’t have this kind of restrictions.
• Advanced features like branded apps are only available on the Pro plan

Bottom Line: Why Choose Kajabi for Online Course Creation?

Which Online Course Platform Should You Choose? [Quick Guide]

With so many options, the right choice depends on your goals and stage as a creator. 

There’s no single “best” platform for everyone. 

Ask yourself these questions and match your answer to the platform that fits your needs.

Are you a first-time creator?

Go with Teachable or Thinkific. Both are easy to set up and give you the core tools to launch your first course without tech struggles.

Do you want simple pricing with no hidden fees?

Pick Podia or Thinkific. Podia keeps things affordable, and Thinkific has no transaction fees on paid plans.

Do you want a lifetime deal instead of paying monthly?

Choose ThriveCart Learn. You pay once, get lifetime access, and can deliver unlimited courses without ongoing costs.

Is community your #1 priority?

Go for Circle if you want flexibility, or Mighty Networks if you want a social-style learning hub with events and memberships.

Are you building on a tight budget but still need funnels and email?

Pick Systeme.io. It combines courses, email marketing, and automation in one low-cost tool.

Do you need advanced certifications and interactive features?

Choose LearnWorlds. It’s made for academies and training programs with exams, certificates, and compliance features.

Are you scaling into a full education business?

Go with Kajabi. It combines courses, payments, communities, and marketing in one platform.

NOTE: Thinkific is the best in my testing for all in one course platform but I want only community feature. So, I host my “Content Creators Accelerator” program on Skool.

FAQs: Best Online Course Platforms

Next Step:

• Decided Course Platform but confused about your course pricing? Check this Course Pricing Calculator