What makes one platform better than another? With so many online course platforms available, it’s important to choose one that fits your specific needs. The right platform can help you create engaging courses, manage memberships, and grow your business with ease.
Different platforms offer unique strengths. Some focus on simplicity for beginners, while others provide advanced tools for creators looking to scale. Features like online course creation, marketing tools, and student engagement options can make a big difference in how beneficial your courses become.
In this article, we’ll break down the top online course platforms and what makes each one unique. Understanding what they offer will help you choose a platform that aligns with your needs and helps you build a successful course business.
5 Best Online Course Platforms
With so many platforms available, it can be difficult to choose the right one. Here is a list of the best online course platforms.
Each platform is suited to specific needs, so this list includes options for beginners, advanced users, and everything in between.
1. CustomerHub
Building a successful business often comes with a major roadblock: tech overwhelm. That’s where CustomerHub offers unmatched ease and efficiency!
CustomerHub is designed specifically to simplify your workflow and help you focus on delivering value to your audience. With plug-and-play simplicity, coaches, consultants, and course creators can launch and grow their businesses without technical headaches.
Here’s why CustomerHub should be your top pick:
Effortless Content Management
Forget the complicated setups of other platforms.
Unlike platforms that require weeks of setup and troubleshooting, CustomerHub gets you up and running in days with its intuitive drag-and-drop interface. It's easier to structure lessons, upload videos and PDFs, and create a seamless experience for your audience.
Engage Customers Like Never Before
CustomerHub’s private feed creates a stronger connection with your audience by allowing you to share updates, exclusive content, and targeted notifications. Customers can interact by commenting and liking posts, which creates a stronger connection with your community.
Simplify Sales and Monetization
While other platforms charge extra for additional users, products, or content, CustomerHub offers unlimited users and products to give you the freedom to scale without limits.
CustomerHub includes everything you need to sell your courses and products. You can create high-converting sales pages, checkout links, and smart confirmation pages to deliver products.
The platform also integrates with Stripe to make payments secure and hassle-free. Plus, you can cross-sell additional products directly from your content library to increase revenue.
Done-for-You Services
Switching platforms can feel daunting, but CustomerHub eliminates the hassle with its Done-for-You services. CustomerHub’s team ensures a smooth transition from migrating your content to setting up workflows, so you can start seeing results faster.
Track Your Progress with Advanced Analytics
Other platforms may offer "advanced analytics," but they often leave users overwhelmed with overly technical reports. CustomerHub gives you clear, actionable insights, showing you what’s working and where to improve—without the guesswork.
Connect with Thousands of Apps
CustomerHub works with over 7,000 other apps through direct integration or Zapier. You can automate tasks, sync data, and set up custom workflows that fit your business.
Friendly and Reliable Support
Many platforms offer basic support or tiered plans that charge more for help. CustomerHub provides unlimited chat support to every user, along with a resource library and step-by-step onboarding guides. You’ll always have the answers you need, without extra costs.
CustomerHub's Pricing
CustomerHub keeps things simple with a 14-day free trial so you can test all its features without any risk.
After the trial, it costs $79 per month, and you get unlimited access to products, users, and multimedia content.
Unlike other platforms that charge extra for more features or limit what you can do, CustomerHub gives you everything you need in one plan. It’s easy, affordable, and built to help you grow as a creator or business.
Grow your community without limits—start your free trial with CustomerHub today!
2. Thinkific
Thinkific allows course creators to build curriculums using videos, quizzes, and downloadable resources, and it supports various teaching methods like group classes and hybrid models.
However, the platform’s customizable features often require advanced setup and third-party course creation tools to unlock their full potential.
Pricing
- Free Plan ($0/month) lets you create one course with unlimited students.
- Basic Plan ($49/month) adds features like custom domains, email marketing integrations, and affiliate marketing tools.
- Start Plan ($99/month) includes advanced options like certificates, live Zoom classes, and priority support for creators looking to scale
- Grow Plan ($199/month) is best for businesses, offering white labeling, advanced analytics, and additional admin accounts.
- Scale Plan provides custom features and support at a personalized price. You can choose the plan that fits your goals and grow from there.
3. Kajabi
Kajabi’s visual email editor makes designing emails easy and engaging. You can customize beautiful emails with videos, countdown timers, and other interactive elements to connect with your audience effectively.
Kajabi markets itself as an all-in-one solution with tools for website building, email marketing, and automated funnels. However, this "do-it-all" approach can mean higher costs, with add-ons and upgrades driving up the price.
Many users find its automated marketing features tech-heavy and challenging to master without additional training.
Pricing
- Kickstarter ($69/month): Get started with the essentials to set up your business. Suitable for beginners building a foundation.
- Basic ($149/month): Includes all the tools needed to launch and run your business, perfect for creators ready to grow.
- Growth ($199/month): Designed for creators focused on expanding their business, offering additional tools for scaling.
- Pro ($399/month): Best for advanced users looking to scale their business with premium features and better capabilities.
4. Podia
Podia makes creating and selling online courses simple with its drag-and-drop course builder. It provides email templates, marketing automation workflows, and A/B testing tools that make it easy to launch and manage effective email campaigns.
However, its A/B testing requires more effort and technical skills to implement.
Pricing
- Mover Plan, priced at $39/month, is suitable for beginners and includes a 5% transaction fee on sales.
- Shaker Plan, priced at $89/month, is designed for those looking to scale their business and comes with no transaction fees.
Both plans include free access to Podia’s email platform, featuring beautiful email designs, automation tools, and analytics to track sales and performance.
5. Membership.io
Membership.io is designed for creators who focus on courses, online coaching, and podcasts. It offers tools to manage and grow their businesses with ease.
The platform allows you to populate your membership site by uploading audio, video, and text files from across the web. With every upload, AI generates headlines, summaries, and other helpful content.
Creators can craft personalized experiences for each member and provide what they need when they need it. Membership.io also features AI-powered content search for members to find answers by pinpointing specific moments.
Pricing
- Creator Plan, at $8/month, helps you organize all your digital assets in an AI-powered, searchable content library.
- Start Plan, priced at $49/month, provides everything you need to launch your first membership and is suitable for beginners.
- Grow Plan, at $119/month, includes additional tools to expand your membership and community.
- Scale Plan, at $219/month, offers full feature access along with a dedicated Customer Success Manager.
Key Features to Look for in Online Course Platforms
When choosing the best online course platform, it’s important to focus on the features that make it easier to create, manage, and sell your courses. The right platform should meet both your needs as a creator and the expectations of your students.
Below are the most important features to look for:
Ease of Use
Onboarding can be overwhelming for both creators and students, especially when the process is unclear or scattered across multiple tools. CustomerHub solves this by allowing you to create guided onboarding steps that are simple and effective.
CustomerHub's drag-and-drop builder lets you create online courses without any coding or design skills. You can easily add lessons, videos, and quizzes by dragging them into place and rearranging the order of your course materials as needed.
Community Features for Engagement
Strong community features can transform your courses from simple lessons into interactive experiences.
Platforms that offer discussion boards, forums, or live chat help students connect with each other and with you. This is especially important when teaching creative skills, as students often benefit from sharing ideas, asking questions, and giving feedback.
CustomerHub goes beyond traditional community tools by including a private customer feed. This feature allows you to share updates, post exclusive content, and send targeted notifications. It’s a way to build a stronger connection with your learners.
Customization Options
Your online course should represent your brand, whether you’re an individual creator or a business. Customization options let you add your logo and match your course design with your brand’s colors and typography.
The layout of your course pages matters because it affects how students interact with your content. A good platform allows you to choose from different pre-designed templates for your course homepage.
For creators in the creative skills niche, branding is key to standing out in the online course market. Custom sections like testimonials or FAQ pages can also add credibility and improve the overall experience for students.
Marketing Features
Email marketing is one of the most effective ways to communicate with potential and current students. Many platforms offer integrated email tools that let you send updates about new courses or segment your audience based on behavior.
A well-designed sales or landing page can increase your course’s visibility and enrollment. Good platforms provide tools to create these pages without needing a designer.
CustomerHub simplifies marketing by providing high-converting sales pages, seamless email integration, and the ability to upsell products directly from your content library. These tools are built into the platform to eliminate the need for costly third-party software or complex integrations.
Content Delivery and Formats
Different students prefer different ways of learning. A good platform should support a mix of formats to make your course more engaging and effective. Common formats include:
- Videos: These are often the most engaging form of content. Platforms should allow you to upload or host high-quality videos.
- Audio files: Ideal for podcasts or spoken lessons that students can listen to while multitasking.
- Text and PDFs: Written lessons, guides, and downloadable materials are essential for learners who like to read or need extra resources for later reference.
- Interactive quizzes: Quizzes help students review and test their knowledge, making the learning experience more interactive.
- Live sessions: Some platforms support live webinars or classes for real-time engagement with students.
CustomerHub makes managing all these formats simple and centralized, where you can upload, organize, and deliver content in ways that best suit your audience. Additionally, drip content functionality helps pace lessons and keep learners on track.
Analytics and Tracking
Tracking student progress allows you to see how learners are interacting with your course. You can identify how many students finish your course. Low completion rates may signal that some lessons need to be improved or better structured.
CustomerHub provides actionable insights through user-friendly analytics tools. You can quickly identify drop-off points, measure revenue trends, and understand which content performs best.
Unlike platforms that overwhelm you with technical reports, CustomerHub focuses on clarity, so you can refine your strategies.
Pricing Options
Pricing options are an important feature of any online course platform. They determine how you earn money and how accessible your courses are to your audience.
The one-time payment model allows students to pay a single fee for lifetime access. This pricing option is ideal for simple courses that don’t require regular updates.
Subscription plans provide recurring revenue by charging students monthly or yearly fees. It works well for membership programs with continuously updated content.
Offering free courses can be a powerful way to attract new students and build your audience. Free courses can serve as a marketing tool to showcase your teaching style.
With CustomerHub, you gain the flexibility to implement multiple pricing strategies while enjoying the benefit of unlimited users and products. There are no hidden fees as you scale your business.
How to Choose the Right Online Course Platform
Think about how you want your students to learn. Should they follow a step-by-step path or explore at their own pace? Do you want to build a sense of community or keep the focus on independent learning?
The platform you pick will shape how your ideas come to life and how your students experience them. Focusing on what feels right for your content and audience helps you make a choice that supports both your goals and their needs.
Here’s how to find the best fit for you:
Define Your Course’s Purpose
It's important to have a clear idea of your course’s purpose. Understanding what you want to achieve and how your course will help your students. Ask yourself these key questions:
Are you teaching a specific skill, providing professional certifications, or sharing knowledge on a hobby or interest?
A course aimed at helping professionals earn certifications will need features like certificates and detailed progress tracking. On the other hand, a hobby course might focus more on videos and downloadable resources.
Are you targeting busy professionals, casual learners, or a niche group like photographers or fitness enthusiasts?
Professionals might value structured learning with deadlines, while casual learners might prefer flexible, self-paced courses.
Will your course include videos, quizzes, PDFs, or live sessions?
If your course relies on visuals like videos and interactive elements like quizzes, you’ll need a platform that supports these formats.
Match the Platform’s Strengths to Your Needs
If you’re new to the course creation process, look for platforms with easy-to-use tools like drag-and-drop builders. These allow you to upload videos, add text, create quizzes, and design lessons without technical skills. CustomerHub offers a simple interface that is great for beginners.
If your course requires advanced features, such as interactive content or drip-fed lessons (where content is released gradually), make sure the platform supports those. Drip content is especially useful if you want to guide students through your course step by step.
Evaluate Marketing and Sales Features
You should look for platforms that simplify the selling process. Features like built-in sales pages and checkout links help simplify the buying experience for your students.
Some platforms offer pre-designed templates for sales pages that are easy to customize and optimized for conversions. Smart confirmation pages, which guide students after purchase, can also help by upselling additional products.
If the platform doesn’t offer advanced marketing tools, check whether it integrates with popular apps like Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, or Google Analytics. Integration capabilities expand your marketing potential and allow you to connect with tools you already use.
Consider Student Experience
Students should be able to access your course content easily on a desktop, tablet, or mobile device. You must look for platforms that are mobile-friendly or offer dedicated apps where students can learn on the go.
If your course benefits from student interaction, look for platforms with community-building tools like forums, discussion boards, or live chat features.
Some platforms allow you to personalize the student experience by segmenting content. CustomerHub lets you tease or restrict content based on the student’s membership level or progress so they only see what’s relevant to them.
Compare Pricing Models
Most platforms operate on a monthly or yearly subscription basis, with different tiers offering more features as the price increases. Subscription plans are predictable and great for those who need access to a wide range of tools.
When comparing prices, consider what’s included in the plan:
- Does the plan include unlimited courses and students, or are there limits?
- Are tools like email marketing, custom branding, and analytics included, or do they require higher-tier plans?
- Are there hidden costs, such as additional fees for video hosting or integrations?
If you’re running a larger operation, look for platforms with enterprise-level plans or custom pricing.
Factor in Customer Support
Even the most intuitive platforms can come with occasional challenges, and having responsive, reliable support keeps your course running without interruptions.
Check what types of support the platform offers and how accessible they are. The most common options include live chat, email support, and phone support.
While many platforms rely on limited email or phone support with long wait times, CustomerHub makes sure you don’t go it alone.
CustomerHub’s unlimited chat support keeps you from getting stuck from troubleshooting to setting up features or exploring new tools. Their dedicated team is always available to provide expert guidance.
Don’t Just Build a Course—Create an Experience with CustomerHub!
Are you searching for a platform that takes the stress out of creating and managing online courses?
CustomerHub is an all-in-one solution that helps you build, sell, and manage your courses without the hassle of juggling multiple tools. With easy-to-use features, you can focus on growing your business and delivering an amazing experience for your students.
CustomerHub stands out because it doesn’t limit your growth. You can create unlimited courses, manage memberships, and deliver digital products all from one place.
It also provides smart features like progress tracking and AI-powered tools for managing content. These features ensure that your students have a seamless experience while you stay focused on creating high-quality material.
Don’t settle for less when you can have the best. Start your 14-day free trial with CustomerHub today and discover why creators choose it to power their online businesses.
FAQs About Online Courses Platforms
Which online course platform is the best?
The best platform depends on your needs as a creator. If you’re looking for an all-in-one solution that handles course creation, memberships, and digital products, CustomerHub is the best choice.
This intuitive course builder offers unlimited courses, smart content tools, and advanced features like progress tracking and community engagement. Other popular platforms include Thinkific for beginners and Kajabi for advanced marketers.
What is the best platform for online learning?
For learners, platforms like Udemy and Skillshare are widely regarded as the go-to options. These platforms provide access to thousands of courses across various subjects, ideal for casual learners or those looking to explore new skills.
For structured, professional learning, Coursera and LinkedIn Learning offer high-quality courses from industry experts and universities.
Which platform is best for online certification?
If certification is a priority, platforms like Coursera, Thinkific, and Kajabi are good options. Coursera partners with leading universities to offer accredited certificates, while Thinkific and Kajabi let creators customize certificates for their students.
