12+ Best Online Course Platforms to Sell Courses 2026

Looking for one of the best online course platforms to sell your digital course in 2026? You’re making a smart move – with the cost of living rising, stopping the time-for-money trap and selling your expertise in the form of digital products and digital downloads instead is one of the best decisions you can make.

The online learning market is projected to hit $462 billion by 2026, and people are desperate to learn new skills. Exciting times!

I know you’re raring to go and probably already planning what equipment you need to create your course content. But before you break open the selfie stick, we need to get your foundations sorted. Because choosing the right online course platform isn’t just important – it can literally make or break whether you build a profitable business or just create yourself a huge headache for later. Eg when you need to move 100+ students over to a new platform… I may or may not still be slowly rocking in the corner of my sofa at the memory of this. 😱

I know the importance of choosing the right platform for your course firsthand. I’ve sold over 10,000 photography courses on Udemy and another 600+ online courses at premium prices directly on my own platform. My advice comes directly from the coal fires of course creation – so you can learn from someone who’s made all the mistakes already.

Back when I started my first online course in 2014, my camera settings course hit #2 in Udemy‘s photography course category rankings – earning $2,000 per month at its peak. Wayhay I thought – easy money!.. Or was it?! We shall find out later!

And more recently over the last few years when I’ve hosted courses with other course platforms and marketed them directly I’ve seen Meta ads be capable of earning profits of $1,000+ per day. How exciting you might think – I want me some of that! Well yes, it does sound rather good – that is until they turn extremely volatile, stab you in the back and hurl you to the ground while making a negative ROAS (return on ad spend) a week later. 😩😂 Not that I’m bitter.

I’ve grossed around $250,000 in online course sales (that’s gross, sadly not net – damn you Meta!) and throughout the years I’ve tested Udemy, Teachable, Thinkific, and Xperiencify for selling my courses. Plus I’ve experienced multiple other online course platforms such as MemberVault, Skool and others as a student – including an impressive all-in-one course platform that handles everything from training materials to payment processing.

I know what works well for both the user side of the experience and the course creator process. And more importantly, I’ve also experienced first hand the frustrations of using each of these platforms – so I can give you honest feedback. I have also tapped up my network of esteemed entrepreneurs and industry experts for their recommendations with first hand experiences of course platforms too.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the best online course platforms based on real course creator experience, not just features lists. Whether you’re launching your first online course on a marketplace like Udemy or are looking to build out your own custom branded course platform, this post will help you choose the right setup for success and sales in 2026 and beyond.

It’s going to be a good one guys – let’s dive in! (PS. Use this clickable table of contents to navigate around as it’s one chunky monkey!)

Please note: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only post honest, genuine reviews.

What Is an Online Course Platform? (And Why It Matters for Your Success)

An online course platform (also called an elearning platform or LMS – Learning Management System) is software that helps you create, host, and sell your digital courses and digital products. Think of it as your all-in-one teaching toolkit – handling everything from video hosting to student payments so you can focus on creating brilliant course content instead of wrestling with tech.

Here’s why choosing the right online course platform actually matters: When I first started selling courses in 2014, I jumped straight onto Udemy because it seemed easiest. And whilst I went on to sell 10,000+ courses there, I later realised I’d built my entire business on someone else’s platform. No email list. No real control over pricing. No brand of my own. Exciting and proud, but slightly bittersweet!

So if you’re creating your first course, this decision matters more than you might think.

Here’s what a good online course platform handles for you:

For Your Students:

• A smooth learning experience where they can watch video content, download course materials including audio files, and track their progress
• The ability to take notes, complete quizzes, and earn certificates
• Access on any device – laptop, tablet, or phone
• A professional course delivery system (not private YouTube links!)
• Potentially an engaged community – some platforms have a much bigger focus on this than others

For You (The Course Creator):

• Video hosting and streaming (this alone can cost $50-100/month separately)
• Course pages and landing pages to showcase your offer
• Payment processing (Stripe, PayPal, etc.) with secure checkout
• Student management – who’s enrolled, who’s completed what, progress tracking
• Email marketing tools to communicate with students
• Analytics to see what’s working (and what’s not)

The best online course platforms essentially give you everything you need to run a proper course business. We’re talking web hosting, domain connection, sales pages, email campaigns, course builder, student login areas, and often even community features.

But here’s what nobody tells you: Not all platforms are created equal.

Some are perfect for beginners and getting your first course launched quickly (Teachable is brilliant for this). Others have powerful features but you might find the sales page builders don’t quite match your brand image (my experience with Thinkific). And some focus heavily on student engagement with gamification that can really boost your completion rates (which is why I love Xperiencify). There are also different ways to approach course hosting, from standalone course platforms to solutions like LinkedIn Learning or even the best WordPress LMS plugins if you prefer that route.

The Right Platform Does Three Critical Things:

1. Makes course creation actually manageable – You shouldn’t need a computer science degree to upload a video
2. Delivers an excellent learning experience – Happy students = testimonials = more sales
3. Gets out of your way – The platform should handle the boring tech stuff so you can focus on teaching and marketing

I’ve created courses on Udemy’s marketplace, Teachable’s beginner-friendly platform, Thinkific‘s more advanced system, and now Xperiencify’s gamified experience. Each serves a different purpose depending on where you are in your course creator journey and what your brand stands for.

Some platforms even offer extra features like generative AI quiz creators (LearnWorlds, Kajabi) or automated transcripts like Teachable or Podia (handy!), while others focus on industry specialisations – like Trainerize for fitness professionals or iTalki for language teachers – depending on your subject matter and target audience.

The truth? Your platform choice affects everything from your profit margins (transaction fees add up!) to your conversion rates (clunky checkout pages lose sales) to your student completion rates (which impacts testimonials and word-of-mouth).

So before you spend weeks creating course content for your first course, let’s make sure you’re building on solid foundations with the right platform. Because switching online learning platforms later – trust me, I’ve done it – is about as fun as moving house. Whilst carrying an angry cat. In the rain.

Ready to find your perfect match and choose the best platform for your needs? Let’s take a closer look at the options…!

Best Online Course Marketplaces (Udemy, Skillshare & Coursera)

Online course marketplaces are platforms where you upload your course and they handle pretty much everything else – hosting, payment processing, and most importantly, bringing you students. The big draw? A massive built-in audience of millions of learners actively searching for courses.

These online learning platforms spend millions on ads and SEO to attract students, so you don’t have to. Sounds brilliant, right? I’ll just order that Pina Colada and open my book while the sales roll in!

Well… yes and no. Let me share what I learned from selling 10,000+ courses on Udemy.

The Marketplace Trade-Off:

The built-in audience is real and it’s massive. But here’s what nobody tells you upfront – you’re essentially renting shelf space in someone else’s shop. You don’t own the customer relationship, you can’t build an email list, and the platform controls pretty much everything from pricing to discounts to how your course gets promoted.

Still, for testing a course idea or making your first sales? Marketplaces are absolutely brilliant. I wouldn’t have sold my first 100 courses without Udemy’s audience. But going in with your eyes open about the trade-offs is crucial.

Let’s break down the main players:

Udemy – Best for Testing Your Course Idea (Where I Made My First Sales)

My Experience:

I uploaded my first photography course Camera Settings Made Easy to Udemy in 2014, and it felt like magic! Within weeks, I had students I’d never heard of buying and reviewing my course. I was doing no marketing, had no email list, no Instagram following – I was just utilising Udemy’s built-in audience finding my content.

My camera settings course hit #2 in Udemy’s photography course category and earned $2,000/month at its peak. And over the years, I’ve sold 10,000+ photography courses there. Not bad for a platform that does most of the heavy lifting, right? We are literally experiencing the dream of passive income.

But here’s the reality check:

The Good:

• Massive reach: 40 million students actively searching for courses (that built-in audience is real!)
• Zero setup costs: Upload your course for free – courses can go live in days
• They handle everything: Video hosting, payment processing, customer support, refunds
• Great for testing: See if people actually want your course before investing in your own platform
• Easy course creation: Their course builder is genuinely beginner-friendly

The Not-So-Good:

• Udemy controls pricing: They run sales constantly (often your $50 course sells for $9.99)
• Commission structure: You keep 97% on your own promotional sales, but only 37% when Udemy brings the student
• No email list: While you can message your students, you can’t email them directly nor capture student emails. Massive mistake I made – I essentially built Udemy’s business, not mine
• You need Udemy SEO: Courses don’t magically rank. I took a whole course on Udemy SEO to hit #2 and would have been invisible without it
• Rankings decline: New courses get preferential treatment, so even successful courses slowly slip and won’t stay at the top forever. So don’t be planning your mortgage around an epic first month!
• Race to the bottom: Everyone’s competing on price, which devalues your expertise

What It Actually Costs:

Free to upload, but here’s where it gets interesting with Udemy’s revenue share:

• Your promotional links: You keep 97% when students use your coupon or referral link (this is the good part!)
• Udemy’s organic traffic: You get only 37% when students find you through Udemy’s search, browse, or ads

So if you drive your own traffic? Brilliant. If you rely on Udemy’s marketplace? You’re giving away 63% of every sale.

But wait, there’s more (and it’s not good):

If someone buys through the Udemy app on Apple devices, there’s an additional 30% Apple App Store fee on top of everything else. So on a $14.99 course sale:

• Your 37% share = $5.55
• Minus Apple’s 30% cut = $4.49 deducted
• Your actual earnings = $3.33 (about 22% of the sale price!)

This is why building your own platform and email list matters so much. Yes, you still have marketing costs – Meta ads can eat 30-50% of your revenue, and affiliate commissions add up. But on your own platform, you control the pricing AND the environment.

I can charge $297 without my students browsing other $14.99 courses right next to mine. Even after paying 40% in marketing costs, I’m keeping $178 per sale – versus Udemy’s $3.33 when sold through the Apple app.

Sure, you can opt out of Udemy’s constant sales. But then you’re trying to sell a $297 course on a platform where students expect $14.99 prices and are literally one click away from cheaper alternatives. That’s the difference premium pricing (and your own platform) makes.

Udemy is Best For:

• Your first course (test the market!)
• Courses on popular topics (photography, business, tech, digital marketing)
• When you don’t have an audience yet
• Testing content before investing in your own platform
• Generating some passive income on the side

Udemy is Not For:

• Building your own brand
• Selling premium courses ($300+)
• Keeping control over pricing
• Building an email list (you cannot do this!)
• Long-term business strategy (unless you’re okay with the trade-offs)

My Honest Take:

Udemy was brilliant for my first 2-3 years. It gave me confidence, testimonials, and proof that people wanted my courses. But I eventually realised I’d built a business on rented land. No email list meant starting from scratch when I moved to my own platform.

Use Udemy to test and build credibility. Just don’t make it your forever home.

Try Udemy

Skillshare – Best for Creative Courses & Short-Form Content

Skillshare is different from Udemy – instead of one-off purchases, students pay a monthly subscription for unlimited access to all courses. Great for students, less straightforward for course creators.

How It Works:

You’re paid based on watch time minutes, not course sales. The more students watch your content, the more you earn from Skillshare’s royalty pool. Courses tend to be shorter (20-60 minutes) rather than Udemy’s comprehensive multi-hour courses.

What’s Popular:

Skillshare really shines for creative courses:

• Graphic design (logo design, branding, typography)
• Interior design and home styling
• UX design and web design
• Photography (especially editing and composition)
• Illustration and digital art
• Creative business topics

There’s also a discussion forum where students can share projects and get feedback – nice for building community.

The Trade-Off:

Your earnings are less predictable than Udemy. You might create brilliant content but earn less if watch time is low. Plus, students can binge your entire course library for one subscription fee.

Skillshare is Good For:

• Creative topics (design, art, photography)
• Shorter courses (under 60 minutes)
• Building a portfolio of multiple courses
• Creators who enjoy the subscription model

My Take:

I haven’t focused on Skillshare myself (I feel that the income from this platform would be even less than Udemy as if people don’t watch your course you dont get paid), but plenty of creators do love it for the creative community vibe. Just be realistic about potential earnings with the royalty model.

Explore Skillshare

Coursera – Best for Academic & Professional Certificates

Coursera is in a different league – this is where universities and major companies offer certificate programs and professional courses. Think Stanford, Google, IBM.

What They Offer:

• Academic courses: Data science, machine learning, computer science, artificial intelligence
• Professional certificates: Google Career Certificates, IBM Data Analytics
• Business courses: Business analytics, digital marketing, project management
• Health care and social sciences programs
• Some courses even offer college credits

The Catch:

Unless you’re affiliated with a university or major company, you can’t just upload a course to Coursera. This isn’t an open marketplace like Udemy.

Pricing:

Students pay $29-99/month for specialisations, with certificate programs running higher.

Best For:

• Taking courses, not creating them (unless you have academic credentials)
• Professional development and career changes
• Courses with job-ready skills
• Anyone interested in data science, machine learning, or tech careers

My Take:

I’ve taken courses on Coursera as a student – brilliant for professional development. But it’s not a realistic option for most course creators.

Browse Coursera Courses

The Best Online Course Platforms for Course Creators

Right, now we’re getting into the good stuff – the best online course platforms where you actually build your own course business. These are proper course creation platforms where you host your content, own your student relationships, build your email list, and – crucially – control your pricing.

This is where I moved after Udemy, and I’ll be honest: the learning curve felt like climbing Everest in flip-flops. Ouchie, I’ve got frostbite on me toes!

The good news is that it’s also where I finally felt like I was running my own gig rather than being a digital freelancer for someone else’s business. When you’re earning an average of $3.33 per course sale on Udemy (thanks, Apple!), you start questioning your life choices. I mean, my courses were costing less than a fancy coffee. A COFFEE. And my course took me months to create, not 4 minutes to brew.

Unless you’re selling a truly mass-market course to millions of people, that maths just doesn’t work. And even then, you’re essentially telling students your expertise is worth less than their morning latte. Which, if your course actually transforms their life or business? Doesn’t sit right.

So as the steam coming out of my ears subsides, let me walk you through the online course platforms I’ve actually used, starting with where most course creators land when they leave the marketplace…

1. Teachable Review – Online Course Platform (Where I Started)

My Experience:

Teachable was my first self-hosted online course platform back in 2016. After selling thousands of courses on Udemy, I wanted to test if I could sell directly at a higher price point. Teachable seemed like the easiest way to dip my toe in without drowning in tech.

And you know what? It absolutely was. I had my first course live within a few hours.

What I Loved About Teachable:

The Good:

• Stupidly easy to use: If you can use Canva, you can use Teachable. Their course builder is genuinely intuitive
• Fast setup: I went from signing up to having a live course in under 4 hours (including faffing about with branding)
• Free plan available: You can start without paying monthly fees (though there’s a 10% transaction fee on the free plan)
• Unlimited courses and students: Even on the basic plan
• Clean, professional course pages: Your courses look legitimate, not like a dodgy Dropbox folder
• Payment processing built in: Stripe and PayPal integration is seamless
• Student management: Easy to see who’s enrolled, track progress, issue refunds

What Frustrated Me:

• Limited customisation: The sales pages and course designs are… fine. But if you want something that really reflects your brand? You’ll hit walls quickly. Everything feels a bit template-y
• Transaction fees on Starter plan: 7.5% transaction fee on top of Stripe/payment processing fees (ouch)
• Sales page builder is clunky: This is what eventually pushed me to look elsewhere. I wanted more control over my sales page design for better conversions
• Design limitations: The themes don’t feel very customisable – you’re pretty much stuck with what they give you
• No built-in gamification: Your students watch videos and complete lessons. You get quizzes and completion certificates (Pro plan only), but no progress bars, badges, achievements, or points systems unless you pay extra for third-party integrations

What Does Teachable Cost?

Current pricing (billed monthly):

• Starter Plan: $39/month with 7.5% transaction fee (plus Stripe fees)
• Builder Plan: $89/month with 0% transaction fees
• Growth Plan: $189/month (most popular – 0% transaction fees)
• Advanced Plan: $399/month with advanced features

Or save 22% with yearly billing.

Free trial: 7 days

Important: Those transaction fees are ON TOP of payment processing fees (Stripe/PayPal), so factor that in!

My Honest Take:

I feel Teachable is expensive for what you actually get. At $89/month (Builder plan) just to avoid transaction fees, there are better-value options out there with more features.

And here’s what nobody warns you about: if you start here and then want to move to another course platform later (which many people do), it’s a headache. It’s not just about uploading your content to the new platform. You’ve got to tell all your students about the move, get them signed up on the new platform, help them remember new login details… I may or may not have had several panicked emails from confused students during my migration. 😅

Teachable can work for testing your first self-hosted course if you feel like you just want to get going with some standard templates and are not fussed about gamifying your course (making it fun to complete). Just know you might outgrow it faster than you think and switching online course platforms later comes with admin pain you don’t want to deal with while trying to run your business.

Best For:

• Your first course off Udemy/marketplaces
• Testing if you can sell without a built-in audience
• Course creators who want simple and fast
• Anyone who’s not tech-savvy
• Validating your offer before investing in pricier platforms

Not For:

• Optimising conversion rates (sales pages and designs are template-y, not very easy to customise)
• Maximising student engagement and completion
• Avoiding transaction fees (you’ll pay 7.5% on Starter plan)
• Custom branding (design options are limited)
• Building complex course funnels

Try Teachable

2. Thinkific Review – Online Course Platform (My Experience)

Why my next move saw me switch to Thinkific:

After Teachable, I wanted more customisation options. Thinkific promised more control, better branding capabilities, an – crucially – no transaction fees even on their free plan.

My Experience:

Thinkific gave me more flexibility than Teachable, but honestly? That came with more complexity. Setting up my first course took longer, and I spent hours watching tutorials to understand all the features.

What Worked Well:

The Good:

• No transaction fees: Even on the free plan! This is huge when you’re selling courses at premium prices
• More customisation options: You can tweak more elements of your course pages and sales pages
• Powerful course builder: Supports quizzes, surveys, assignments, and drip content
• Free plan available: Genuinely free (not a trial)
• Unlimited courses: On all plans
• Better for scaling: More advanced features as you grow
• Strong community and support: Loads of tutorials and helpful community

What Frustrated Me:

• Steeper learning curve: Not as intuitive as Teachable
• Sales page builder still clunky: Better than Teachable but still not great for conversions and I found it stressful trying to customise it to what I wanted
• Design takes more time: More options = more decisions = more time
• Limited engagement features: Like Teachable, students just watch and complete. No gamification
• When I moved from Thinkific they would not let me delete my old course in case any old students wanted to access it. Even though I was moving all my existing students across to the new platform. So people still see my old course when they search my name which is confusing for everyone and annoying for me when I want to keep my digital footprint tidy! 

What Does Thinkific Cost?

• Free Plan: $0/month, no transaction fees (!), limited features
• Basic Plan: $49/month
• Start Plan: $99/month with better features
• Grow Plan: $199/month with advanced marketing tools

Real User Feedback:

Ioana Hardy runs her Amplify Accelerator course on Thinkific: “The reason I decided to go with Thinkific was customer service – they actually have humans answering and very promptly. When you have a client stuck outside or with a problem, I can’t wait for 2 days until somebody opens a ticket.

I also love the structured way to build the lessons but I guess all big platforms have this.
Cons? Not sure if this is a con, maybe a preference. The community side of it is not the most appealing in terms of how it functions. Which is why all the interactions around the Amplify course happen in Circle.”

Free trial: 14 days on paid plans (or use free plan indefinitely)

My Honest Take:

Thinkific is like the grown-up version of Teachable. More powerful, more flexible, no transaction fees – but you’ll need to invest more time learning the platform.

I used it for about a year and appreciated the additional customisation. But I eventually realised the sales pages still weren’t converting as well as I needed, and I felt it didn’t spark joy for myself or my students.I felt there must be something else out there that would make taking a course more fun and playful! Also not thrilled I haven’t been able to delete the old sales page – especially as I don’t feel it fits my brand and looks clunky, let alone the confusion aspect when it comes up in search results. 

Thinkific Is Best For:

• Course creators who’ve outgrown Teachable
• Anyone who wants no transaction fees
• Creators who don’t mind a learning curve
• Building a library of multiple courses
• More advanced course features (drip content, assignments)

Not For:

• Complete beginners (Teachable is easier)
• Optimising sales page conversions
• Maximising student completion rates
• Quick setup (you’ll spend time learning)

Try Thinkific

3. Xperiencify Review – Online Course Platform (Gamification Done Right)

Gamification is the hottest trend in online course creation right now – and Xperiencify is leading the charge.

If you love the Duolingo app experience (progress streaks, celebration sounds, visual rewards), you’ll love what Xperiencify does for online courses.

Why I Chose Xperiencify:

By 2021, I’d sold thousands of online courses across Udemy, Teachable, and Thinkific. They worked fine and I was getting good reviews, but something still felt… off. My courses were functional but a bit meh for my liking. Just videos and text. Click, watch, nod off before snapping back to concentration… 👀

My brand is playful, fun, and energetic – but my course delivery felt like reading a manual. I teach entrepreneurs to shoot their own self portrait brand photography (my course is Slay Your Selfies), and I wanted my course experience to feel as fun and empowering as the transformation I’m teaching.

I wanted my online course to feel like ME. Playful. Rewarding. Fun. Not too serious.

Xperiencify lets you add personality and gamification to make learning genuinely enjoyable. You don’t need to validate your course on another platform first – if you want students to engage and have fun from day one, you can start here.

My experience with this online course platform:

What Makes Xperiencify Different:

The Game-Changing Features:

• Custom celebrations: I can add my OWN dancing GIFs when someone completes a module – it’s hilarious and so on-brand for me
• Exploding confetti animations: Because who doesn’t love confetti when they achieve something?!
• The “cha-ching” sound effect: Students LOVE this when they earn points – I get messages about it all the time
• Gamification that feels on-brand: Add achievement unlocks, points systems that match YOUR personality
• Actually fun to use: My students tell me they look forward to lessons because it’s enjoyable, not just educational
• Progress bars and visual feedback: Makes learning feel rewarding instead of overwhelming
• Celebration moments: Students get little dopamine hits for completing lessons – it’s playful and motivating
• My brand, amplified: I can finally make my course feel as playful as my personality!
• Student engagement features: Achievement unlocks, gamified learning experience, interactive elements
• Student progress tracking: See exactly where each student is in your course content
• Students genuinely enjoy it: I get messages like “This is the most FUN online course I’ve ever taken” and “I love the cha-ching sound!”

The Trade-Offs:

• Higher price point: Starting at $99/month (no free plan)
• Steeper learning curve: The gamification setup takes time to configure
• No built-in community: Xperiencify focuses on course delivery, not community features. But you can easily run a Facebook group or use Circle/Slack alongside it – I send the link in my automated welcome email
• Sales page builder is… still not amazing: This is why I eventually moved to Squarespace + Spiffy + Zapier for my sales pages
• Smaller community: Not as many tutorials as Teachable/Thinkific (though customer support is excellent)
• More setup time: Getting everything right takes longer than basic online course platforms
• No email marketing built-in: You’ll need to integrate with your existing email marketing tool (but it does have SMS functionality to welcome students if you want that!)

What Does Xperiencify Cost?

Pricing (billed monthly):

• Starter Plan: $99/month
• Growth Plan: $199/month with more students
• Scale Plan: $299/month for unlimited students

Zero transaction fees on all plans (no extra fees on top of your payment processing)

Free trial: 14 days

My Honest Take on This Course Platform:

Xperiencify is where I finally stopped platform-hopping. The gamification sold me – not just because it “works” but because it let me inject personality into my courses.

The feedback changed from “This course was helpful” to “This was the most ENJOYABLE online course I’ve taken!” and “I love the cha-ching sound every time I earn points!”

When your students are enjoying the experience, everything else follows:

• More enthusiastic testimonials for your sales pages
• Better word-of-mouth referrals (people tell their friends about the fun experience)
• Students actually want to keep going
• Higher student satisfaction and fewer refund requests
• You build a reputation for creating courses people genuinely love

Yes, it’s more expensive than other online course platforms. Yes, there’s a learning curve. But finally having an online course that feels like my brand – playful, fun, rewarding – is worth every penny.

The only thing I changed? I eventually built custom sales pages on Squarespace (connected via Zapier and using Spiffy checkouts) because I wanted even MORE control over branding and conversions. But for course delivery and making learning genuinely enjoyable, Xperiencify is hands-down the best platform I’ve used.

What You Can Do with Xperiencify:

• Upload video content (host videos externally on Vimeo/Wistia or use their hosting)
• Create quizzes and assessments
• Drip course content based on schedule or completion
• Track detailed student progress and engagement
• Award points, badges, and achievements
• Build membership sites with recurring subscriptions
• Create landing pages (though I prefer external tools for this)
• Set up automated emails (welcome sequences, progress reminders)
• Send SMS messages to welcome students or remind them about lessons
• Integrate with email marketing tools like Kit, MailerLite, ActiveCampaign
• Accept payments via Stripe (built-in payment processing)
• Offer payment plans and subscriptions
• Mobile-friendly course access for students
• Link to external communities (Facebook groups, Circle, Slack) via automated emails

Best For:

• Course creators who want their courses to feel on-brand and playful
• Anyone who loves the Duolingo app experience and wants that for their online course
• Anyone with an energetic, fun brand personality who’s frustrated with boring course platforms
• Creators who want students to actually ENJOY the learning experience
• People who don’t take life too seriously and want courses that reflect that
• Courses where personality and engagement matter (coaching, creative skills, transformation)
• Creators willing to invest in setup time to get the gamification right
• Building an online course that stands out from the sea of bland video dumps
• Small businesses wanting to maximize student satisfaction and word-of-mouth
• Creators who want advanced features like gamification without overwhelming complexity

Not For:

• Anyone needing a built-in community feature (Xperiencify focuses on course delivery, but you can run a Facebook group or external community alongside it like I do)
• Tight budgets (it’s not cheap at $99/month minimum)
• Quick and easy setup (you’ll need time to learn the gamification features)
• Simple information courses (gamification is overkill for some topics)
• Course creators who need beautiful built-in email marketing (though you can send automated emails based on lesson completion and SMS texts are also available)
• Anyone wanting extensive customisation of sales pages (you’ll need to use external tools like Squarespace like I do)
• If you want to accept Apple Pay you will need a separate checkout like Spiffy. I am also able to run my affiliate program through Spiffy which is an excellent way to promote my course.

My Recommendation:

If you want students to engage, enjoy themselves, and not take life too seriously – Xperiencify is worth the investment. Love the Duolingo experience? You’ll love this. The gamification features genuinely work to make learning enjoyable, not just educational.

For course creators who want students to love the experience (not just consume the information), this is the best online course platform I’ve found for adding personality.

👉 Try Xperiencify Free for 14 Days

Try Squarespace for building a beautiful custom sales page

Try Spiffy for high converting checkouts

Try Zapier for connecting all these tools and getting them to work seamlessly!

Want to See Xperiencify in Action?

Check out my course Slay Your Selfies – it’s built entirely on Xperiencify with all the dancing GIFs, confetti celebrations, and cha-ching sounds I’ve been raving about. Experience the gamification for yourself and see why students love the playful approach!

4. Kajabi Review – All-in-One Online Course Platform

Gamification may be hot right now, but some course creators just want everything in one place without the fuss.

Enter Kajabi: the all-in-one online course platform that bundles course hosting, website builder, email marketing, and payment processing into a single subscription. No integrating 5 different tools. No Zapier workflows. Just one login for everything.

I spoke with Jo Wheatley from In Good Company (a global accredited coach education provider in my network) who’s been using Kajabi for five years. Here’s what she had to say about the all-in-one approach.

What Jo Loves About Kajabi:

“We are a global accredited coach education provider and use Kajabi. We love that it is an all-in-one solution so we host all of our courses, websites, email list, payment processing in it.”

The All-in-One Appeal:

Jo runs a significant business with multiple courses, hundreds of learners, and complex offerings. What sold her on Kajabi?

Everything in one platform:

• Course hosting (all training content)
• Website builder (entire business website)
• Email marketing (no separate tool needed)
• Payment processing (Stripe integration built-in)
• Client portal for coaches working with individual clients
• Mobile app for students to access content
• Landing pages and sales pages

“I’m no techie but can use it!” Jo explains. For someone running a global education business, that ease of use matters.

What Learners Love:

Jo’s students (coaches in training) appreciate:

• Easy to use interface (“Our learners love how easy it is to use”)
• Professional designs (“the designs we use”)
• Mobile app access (desktop + app flexibility)
• Clean, polished learning experience

After five years on the platform with a substantial business, Jo’s team has a dedicated account manager—a level of customer support you don’t get with most online course platforms.

The Honest Reality:

“It’s not perfect as recent upgrades caused a number of ‘glitches’ but they always work hard to resolve issues and constantly working to improve things.”

This is the trade-off with all-in-one platforms: when they push updates, sometimes things break temporarily. But Jo notes Kajabi’s team works hard to fix issues and continuously improves the platform.

What Does Kajabi Cost?

Kajabi is premium-priced, but you’re replacing multiple tools:

Pricing (billed annually for best rates):

• Kickstarter Plan: $55/month (billed yearly) – 1 product, 1 website, 250 contacts
• Basic Plan: $119/month (billed yearly) – 3 products, 3 websites, 10,000 contacts
• Growth Plan: $159/month (billed yearly) – 15 products, 15 websites, 25,000 contacts
• Pro Plan: $319/month (billed yearly) – 100 products, 100 websites, 100,000 contacts

Free trial: 14 days

Zero transaction fees on all plans.

The Math:

If you’re paying separately for:

• Course platform ($99/month)
• Email marketing ($50/month)
• Website hosting ($20/month)
• Landing page builder ($30/month)

That’s $199/month. Kajabi Basic at $119/month consolidates everything with one login.

What You Can Do with Kajabi:

• Host unlimited courses (depending on plan)
• Build entire websites (not just course pages)
• Email marketing campaigns and automation
• Create sales pages and landing pages
• Accept payments via Stripe or PayPal
• Offer payment plans and subscriptions
• Build membership sites with recurring revenue
• Host podcasts
• Sell digital products and downloads
• Client portals for 1:1 coaching
• Mobile app for students
• Track student progress and engagement
• Create quizzes and assessments
• Drip course content on schedule
• Run webinars and events
• Affiliate program management

My Take:

I haven’t used Kajabi to host my own courses (I chose my Squarespace + Spiffy + Xperiencify stack because I want best-of-breed tools and love gamification). But I have enrolled in several Kajabi courses as a student, which gave me insight into the student experience.

What I noticed about the student side: The courses I took had huge, really helpful course content—tons of value packed in. But the navigation structure made it tricky to see everything laid out at a glance. I found myself wondering “what else is in here?” rather than having a clear overview of the full course scope.

For shorter courses (10-15 lessons), this isn’t really an issue. But for comprehensive, content-rich courses? I think some students might not realise the full extent of what they’ve purchased because it’s not as visually mapped out as other platforms.

This matters because if students can’t see the full value of what they’ve bought, they might not engage with all the course materials. That’s lost transformation for them and potentially fewer glowing testimonials for you.

That said, I understand the appeal of Kajabi from a creator’s perspective:

• One platform for everything
• No tech integrations to manage
• Professional look without coding
• Email marketing built in
• Serious customer support (dedicated account managers for larger businesses like Jo’s)

For course creators who prioritise simplicity and all-in-one convenience over student engagement features and clear content visibility, Kajabi makes sense. You’re paying a premium, but you’re getting a premium all-in-one solution.

The trade-off? Limited gamification (no confetti or cha-ching sounds!), less customsation than building your own stack, and in my experience as a student, the navigation doesn’t showcase your full course value as clearly as I’d like.

But if your course is straightforward, not overly complex, and you want everything managed in one place? Kajabi delivers on that promise.

Best For:

• Course creators who want everything in one place
• Coaches running education businesses (like Jo’s accredited training)
• Anyone who wants to avoid managing multiple tools and integrations
• Small businesses scaling to significant revenue
• Creators who value simplicity over best-of-breed tools
• Building membership sites with courses, email marketing, and websites together
• Non-techies who want professional results (“I’m no techie but can use it!”)
• Businesses that will grow into dedicated account management
• Anyone willing to pay premium pricing for premium simplicity
• Shorter to medium-length courses (where navigation is straightforward)
• Creators prioritising all-in-one convenience over detailed student engagement features

Not For:

• Tight budgets (starting at $119/month for useful features)
• Course creators who want gamification features (no confetti here!)
• Anyone who prefers best-of-breed tools (like I do with Squarespace + Xperiencify)
• Long, complex courses with tons of content (navigation makes it hard for students to see full value)
• People who want extensive customisation options
• Creators already invested in separate email marketing tools they love
• Beginners testing their first course idea (too expensive to validate)
• Creators who prioritise clear student progress visibility and content structure

My Recommendation:

If you’re running or planning to run a serious online course business (not just testing), have relatively straightforward courses (not massively complex with hundreds of lessons), and you value simplicity over flexibility, Kajabi is worth exploring. The all-in-one approach means one less thing to think about—everything just works together.

Jo’s five-year success with In Good Company proves it works for substantial education businesses.

But if you’re like me and want:

• Clear student navigation that showcases your full course value
• Gamification features (confetti, cha-ching sounds, achievements)
• The absolute best platform for each function
• Beautiful sales pages with high conversion

You’ll find Kajabi limiting. I prefer my best-of-breed stack for those reasons.

Know yourself: all-in-one simplicity with some trade-offs, or best-of-breed flexibility with more complexity?

Try Kajabi Free for 14 Days

Want to See Kajabi in Action?

Check out In Good Company—Jo Wheatley’s global accredited coaching training provider built entirely on Kajabi. See the all-in-one approach in action with a real education business.

5. LearnWorlds Review – Online Course Platform (Education-First Approach)

Not all online course platforms are created equal—some prioritise community, others prioritise learning.

If you’ve looked at Mighty Networks or Circle and thought “but I just want people to actually LEARN, not spend all their time in discussions,” LearnWorlds might be your answer.

I spoke with Heather Murray, who runs AI for Non-Techies courses. She used LearnWorlds for years before scaling to a custom solution, and she had brilliant insights about when LearnWorlds shines—and when you’ll outgrow it.

The Education-First Philosophy:

Here’s the problem Heather identified: most membership sites are community-focused. Platforms like Mighty Networks, Circle, and Skool prioritise discussions, engagement, and social features. But what if your students just want to learn?

“For us it was always about the learning,” Heather explains. “People aren’t coming to talk, they’re coming to learn.”

This is the key distinction:

Community-first platforms (Mighty Networks, Circle, Skool) → Discussions and engagement take priority → Learning content is secondary

Education-first platforms (LearnWorlds) → Learning content takes priority → Community features exist but are optional

If you’re teaching technical skills, transformations, or knowledge-based courses (like Heather’s AI training), your students came to learn—not chat. LearnWorlds gets this.

What Heather Loved:

Really Easy to Use:

Heather describes herself as “a complete non-techie” but found LearnWorlds intuitive:

• Uploading video content was simple
• Adding quizzes and assessments throughout courses was straightforward
• Organising course materials in libraries was easy
• Building course pages without web development experience

“I was able to very intuitively add pages without any web development experience or design experience.”

Great Dashboard & Support:

“I love the dashboard. We didn’t realise until we moved to our own site how useful it was to just see how many new signups you have that day—it’s all just sorted there for you.”

Plus customer support was “really really good.”

Where It Has Limitations:

Design Constraints:

“Their designs are quite limited. I think they’re nice but they’re quite limited.”

The designs work and look professional, but if you want highly customised branding, you’ll hit walls. (Sound familiar? This is why I use Squarespace for sales pages.)

Data Analytics:

“When we wanted very specific data—we wanted to start analysing our growth—we felt we outgrew it a little bit. When you’ve got a couple of people on the team, you’re making significant revenue, you want to break down the user journey and analyse different types of data, then it becomes limiting.”

LearnWorlds gives you solid basic analytics. But for deep data analytics and sophisticated reporting as you scale? It doesn’t go far enough.

Who It’s Perfect For:

Heather’s recommendation: “For a one person hosting their course, I think it’s an absolutely brilliant thing. If you’re a growing business, it’s a great first step.”

You’ll Outgrow It When:

• Multiple team members need access
• You’re making significant course revenue
• You need detailed user journey analysis
• You want very specific custom features

Heather’s Ultimate Endorsement:

“If I was doing another new member site, I would use LearnWorlds as a starting point definitely. If I sold this business and started a new one, I’d just use LearnWorlds because it was so easy.”

High praise from someone who now runs a custom solution!

What Does LearnWorlds Cost?

Pricing (billed annually):

• Starter Plan: $29/month (with $5 transaction fee per course sale)
• Pro Trainer: $99/month (no transaction fees, unlimited students)
• Learning Center: $299/month (teams, white-label options)

Free trial: 30 days

What You Can Do:

• Upload video content (built-in hosting)
• Create interactive quizzes and assessments
• Organise course materials in libraries
• Build course pages (no coding needed)
• Drip course content on schedule
• Track student progress via dashboard
• Accept payments via Stripe/PayPal
• Offer payment plans and subscriptions
• Mobile-friendly learning experience
• Basic community features (education-focused)
• Integrate with email marketing tools

My Thoughts:

I haven’t used LearnWorlds personally, but Heather’s distinction between “education-first” vs. “community-first” platforms is brilliant and something no other review mentions.

The limited customisation options would frustrate me (which is why I use Squarespace for sales pages). And if you’re planning to scale significantly, know that you might outgrow the data analytics capabilities like Heather did.

But for course creators launching education-first courses as a solopreneur? LearnWorlds delivers exactly what you need without overwhelming complexity.

Best For:

• Course creators teaching skills or technical knowledge
• Education-first approach (learning > community discussions)
• Solopreneurs and small businesses starting out
• “Complete non-techies” who want intuitive platforms
• Your first course or first few courses
• Anyone who’d use it again if starting fresh (Heather’s endorsement!)

Not For:

• Community-first courses (use Mighty Networks or Skool instead)
• Teams needing detailed data analytics
• Businesses making significant course revenue needing sophisticated reporting
• Anyone wanting highly customised, unique designs
• Scaling businesses with multiple team members

My Recommendation:

If you’re creating education-focused courses where learning comes first and community is secondary, LearnWorlds is worth serious consideration. Heather’s “I’d just use LearnWorlds because it was so easy” is high praise from someone who now runs a custom solution.

The education-first philosophy sets it apart from community-focused platforms.

Try LearnWorlds Free for 30 Days

6. New Zenler Review – The Online Course Platform You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

Sometimes the best online course platforms aren’t the ones dominating Google’s first page.

I was recommended New Zenler by a couple of people in my network, including Alastair Banks from digital agency Optix Solutions and Ginette Tessier (The Online Business Alchemist), who helps course creators bring their courses to life and has used pretty much every platform out there.

And I’ll be honest – I’d never heard of it before!

New Zenler doesn’t come up in the top results when you search for online course platforms. But maybe that’s exactly why it’s worth looking at – sometimes the best recommendations come from people actually using the tools day-to-day, not from paid partnerships.

Here’s what makes it interesting.

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What Is New Zenler?

Ginette categorises online course platforms into four types: marketplaces (Udemy, Skillshare), SaaS platforms (Teachable, Thinkific), plugins (LearnDash), and hybrids.

New Zenler is a hybrid – an all-in-one online course platform offering course hosting, website builder, email marketing, webinar hosting, sales pages, payment processing, community features, and live streaming.

It’s positioned as a Kajabi alternative at a fraction of the cost.

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Why These Two Recommend It:

Alastair Banks (Optix Solutions): Alastair runs a digital agency and calls New Zenler a product he’s “fallen in love with.”

What Alastair particularly rates:

• Block-based website builder: “I didn’t want to pay someone to do my own sites. I knew what I wanted but I just needed a system that would allow me to create it easily.” The drag-and-drop block system lets you build professional sites without graphic design skills.
• Built-in live streaming: Host live webinars and even stream directly to Facebook and YouTube – all within the platform. No Zoom needed.
• Order bumps for upselling: When someone buys a course, you can automatically offer another at a reduced price – clever for increasing course revenue.
• Pop-up functionality: Create pop-ups that trigger on scroll (e.g., after 10% of page) to capture leads.
• Community feature: Like having a Facebook page built-in where students can interact with you and each other.

“This has done everything I want in the way that I want it,” Alastair says.

Ginette Tessier (The Online Business Alchemist): Ginette has used nearly every platform and written a book on course creation. She categorises platforms into marketplaces, SaaS, plugins, and hybrids – New Zenler is a hybrid offering more than just course hosting. She’s actively moving to New Zenler from funnel builder Convertri because it’s “more cost-effective.”

The All-in-One Appeal (Without the Kajabi Price Tag):

Like Kajabi, New Zenler gives you everything in one place. But where Kajabi starts at $119/month, New Zenler starts significantly cheaper with similar functionality.

For small businesses and course creators who want an all-in-one solution but can’t justify Kajabi’s premium pricing, New Zenler bridges that gap.

Built-In Webinar Hosting:

This is rare. Most platforms require Zoom or external webinar tools. New Zenler has live webinar hosting built in—brilliant for course creators who use webinars to sell or teach.

What Does New Zenler Cost?

Pricing: $47/month (Essential), $67/month (Professional), $97/month (Premium)

All plans include unlimited courses, students, email marketing, webinar hosting, community features, zero transaction fees.

Compare to Kajabi Basic at $119/month – New Zenler offers similar functionality for significantly less.

What You Can Do with New Zenler:

• Host unlimited courses and students
• Build complete websites and sales pages
• Unlimited email marketing (no contact limits!)
• Host live webinars (no Zoom needed)
• Run community discussions
• Accept payments and offer payment plans
• Drip course content and track student progress
• Create quizzes, assessments, and funnels
• Mobile-friendly access
• Live streaming capabilities

My Thoughts:

I haven’t used New Zenler personally (I’m currently committed to my Squarespace + Spiffy + Xperiencify stack – although researching all these other options is definitely making me intrigued!), but recommendations from Alastair and Ginette – both of whom have extensive platform experience – are compelling.

It’s a newer platform with less brand recognition and fewer community resources, but the value proposition is strong: Kajabi-like functionality at $47-97/month with unlimited courses, students, and email marketing.

For course creators on a budget who want all-in-one simplicity, that trade-off might be worth making.

Best For:

Course creators wanting all-in-one functionality without Kajabi pricing

• Small businesses needing unlimited students and email marketing

• Webinar users (built-in hosting!)

• Solopreneurs wanting to scale

Not For:

• Anyone needing extensive tutorials and large community support

• Risk-averse creators wanting proven platforms

• Anyone wanting gamification (use Xperiencify)

• Creators preferring best-of-breed tools

My Recommendation:

New Zenler is the dark horse of online course platforms – not on everyone’s radar, but offering genuine value. If Kajabi’s pricing frustrates you but you want similar all-in-one functionality, try the 14-day trial. Unlimited courses, students, and email marketing at $47-97/month is compelling.

Try New Zenler Free for 14 Days

6. Skool Review – Community-First Online Course Platform

Skool is a clever new concept for online course creators that brilliantly blends community and e-learning, with lots of gamification and rewards for student engagement.

I seriously considered using Skool for hosting my own courses, and I’m an active member in two premium Skool communities – Ben Heath’s Facebook Ads Mastery (FAM) Community and Grow With Evelyn (Evelyn Weiss). So I know exactly how this platform works from both the creator research side and the student experience side. And as a student user, I absolutely love it! So that is a big tick from the user experience side.

When I reached out to my network to see if anyone else had experience with them, Marketing Mentor Caroline Sumners got back to me about how she has found hosting her marketing community The Smarter Marketing Hub on Skool and told me:

“I’ve recently switched to Skool. It has amazing community features and a clear learning path for members. There is also the ability to offer upsells for certain content and leaderboard feature and unblocking of features for participation is useful.” – Caroline Sumners

So this is all sounding rather awesome, right? However – after looking into it for me personally, I realised Skool wasn’t for me in terms of hosting my own course. Here’s why…

My Experience as a Skool Member:

Ben Heath’s Facebook Ads Mastery community and courses on Skool has been brilliant for me. Meta ads are constantly changing (as I learned the hard way when my $1,000/day profits vanished overnight!), so having an active discussion forum where I can ask questions, get updates, and learn from others navigating the same volatile platform? Absolutely invaluable.

I am also part of Evelyn Weiss’s Grow With Evelyn community, which is excellent – loads of valuable information and incredible daily engagement. However when I first watched Evelyn show up consistently day after day, I thought to myself: “She must be exhausted running all this!” 😵 Then I learned she has a team of 17 people supporting her – which makes a LOT more sense!

And that’s when I realised awesome as it is for students, Skool wasn’t for me as a course creator.

Why I Chose NOT to Use Skool:

I have ADHD. Some weeks I’m hyperfocused, engaged, and chatty in communities. Other weeks I’m completely overwhelmed or deep in a different project, and consistency goes out the window.

Building a Skool community would mean my students paying monthly for access to ME – and I knew I couldn’t guarantee I’d show up consistently every single day. That felt like setting myself up to let people down (and potentially burn out in the process).

I didn’t want to sell community as the main feature of my courses because I know my limitations.

What Makes Skool Different to Other Course Platform Providers:

Skool flips the traditional online course platform model completely. Instead of students buying individual courses and working through them independently, you’re building a membership community where courses are part of an ongoing learning experience.

The Community-First Model:

• Monthly membership pricing: Students pay recurring fees for access to everything
• Community feature is central: Discussion forums aren’t an add-on, but the main value proposition
• All courses included: Members get access to your entire course library for one monthly fee
• Active engagement is essential: Students expect you to be present, answering questions, facilitating discussions
• Gamification built in: Leaderboards, levels, points to encourage participation
• Unlock content through engagement: You can gamify your membership by giving rewards when members reach certain engagement levels, and unlock more videos or course materials as they progress – basically rewarding participation with access

What It Offers:

• Course hosting integrated with discussion forums
• Mobile app: Clean, mobile-friendly interface that works beautifully on mobile devices
• Calendar and live events for streaming sessions
• Member directory for networking
• Intuitive interface: Simple, easy-to-use design with no technical skills required
• Strong for accountability and peer support
• Engagement features like gamification to reward participation and progressively unlock content
• Track student progress through levels and achievements

The Reality Check:

Skool requires you to show up. Regularly. You’re not creating course content once and letting it sell on autopilot. You’re running a living, breathing community where members pay for ongoing access to YOU and to each other.

If you disappear for a few weeks? Your members notice. They start wondering why they’re paying monthly for a ghost town. I saw this play out in past communities I’ve been part of – when engagement drops, so does retention (not Evelyn or Ben’s communities – they are consistently good).

You also need to be on top of moderating members and potentially managing “challenging” online behaviour as your membership grows. Which – for someone who actively avoids confrontation like me – sounds pretty intense. 😳 😂

Real User Feedback:

Rebecca Claxon runs her membership Skoolable on Skool and says,

“I’ve previously used dozens of course platforms for myself and clients (Kajabi, Teachable, Thinkific, MemberVault, GumRoad, Circle, Payhip).

Skool make everything simple, it’s the easiest system to build on, handles all VAT, the gamification is fun, there are people already on the platform looking for new groups to join, and you can start before your course is ready by gathering like-minded people together in your community.

Plus, the CEO cares, and it shows. The support team are responsive and helpful. And the platform is full of supportive fellow creators.”

My Thoughts:

Skool works brilliantly if you genuinely love the community aspect and have the capacity for consistent engagement.

Ben Heath has a large supporting team, and Evelyn Weiss now has 17 people helping her run Grow With Evelyn – which shows you the level of support successful Skool communities can need as they grow. They’re both incredible at it, but it’s not a one-person show.

Be real with yourself: are you building an online course business or a community business? They’re different beasts requiring different strengths and different needs. Do you want to potentially manage a team as your course and community grows?

Neither online courses in general nor Skool specifically are truly “passive income” – but Skool is the MOST un-passive version. You’re essentially running a membership community that happens to include courses, not an online learning platform that happens to have community features.

For me, I chose best platforms where I could create excellent course content, optimise for completion rates (hello, Xperiencify gamification!), and let the courses do their thing without requiring me to show up in a discussion forum every day. That’s what works for my frazzled-single-mum-of-four-brain and my business model.

But if you thrive on consistent community engagement, have the capacity for daily interaction, and want recurring revenue from students who value access to YOU as much as your content? Skool might be perfect. Just make sure you’re realistic about the ongoing commitment.

Want to Learn More About Building a Skool Community?

If you’re seriously considering the course/community hybrid model, I’d highly recommend joining Evelyn’s Grow With Evelyn community. She’s absolutely brilliant at building and maintaining engagement, and you’ll get loads of practical advice on making Skool work for your specific situation.

👉 Free 7 day trial of Join Grow With Evelyn

👉 Check Out Skool Platform

Like the Sound of Skool? Here Are Other Community-Based Online Course Platforms:

If Skool’s community-first approach appeals to you but you want to explore alternatives, check out:

Circle – Similar to Skool with course hosting integrated into community spaces. Popular with membership site owners who want more customisation options than Skool offers. Pricing starts around $89/month.

Mighty Networks – Focuses on building a community around your courses, with features for paid memberships and live events. Many course creators use Mighty Networks when they want community engagement without the daily intensity Skool requires. Starts at $41/month.

Both platforms prioritise the community feature alongside course delivery, making them solid alternatives if you’re building a membership-style online course business where connection between members matters as much as the course content itself.

The choice between Skool, Circle, and Mighty Networks often comes down to specific needs around customisation, pricing, and how much you want to be involved in daily community management.

I’ll be updating this post with more detailed reviews of these platforms as I investigate further, so bookmark this page or pin it on Pinterest to come back to!

7. MemberVault Review – The “Binge & Buy Marketplace” Platform

When I asked my LinkedIn network about their experiences with online course platforms, MemberVault came up multiple times. I haven’t personally used it, but based on real user feedback, it’s worth including as a contender for one of the best platforms for course creators wanting something different.

What Makes It Different:

MemberVault positions itself as a “binge & buy marketplace” – instead of hiding your offers behind funnels, students see everything you have (free and paid) in one place. Think Netflix for your course content.

Real User Feedback:

Cat Hase – Deck Adventure Course: “What I love about MemberVault is that it offers all the functionality I need without restricting settings to premium users. Thriving community, super involved founders. What I don’t love: people can’t add multiple items to their basket – they buy each one separately.”

Gemma Varney: “MemberVault is the best for me. excellent customer support and business growth challenges.”

Why Course Creators Love It:

Small Business, Big Heart Run by Erin & Mike Kelly (homeschooling parents of 3). They built this online course platform for values-led small businesses wanting ethical growth without manipulative sales pages tactics.

Free Plan to Start

• First 7-14 days: Full advanced features access
• Ongoing free plan: 1 product, 25 members
• No credit card required

Gamification Built In Like Xperiencify, includes confetti bursts, unlockable content, and engagement features to boost completion rates.

All Features on Paid Plans Once you upgrade, you get unlimited students, all features unlocked (community feature, affiliate, blog, landing pages, custom domain). You just pay based on number of active products – best online course platform pricing for transparency.

What It Includes:

Course Creation:

• Unlimited file uploads (2GB/file)
• Drip content (time, date, rolling)
• Quiz questions (multiple-choice, essay)
• Student progress tracking
• Discussion forum and comments

Payment & Marketing:

• Built-in checkout: Stripe integration (PayPal with limited functionality)
• Zero transaction fees
• Coupon codes, free trial options
• Multi-currency support
• Affiliate tracking
• Email marketing integrations

Flexible Content Types: Not just courses – create memberships, challenges, 1:1 portals, lead magnets, webinar replays, resource hubs and pre-sell offers. This does seem like a really great online learning platform for creators with diverse digital products.

The Trade-Offs:

• No video hosting (use YouTube, Vimeo, Loom)
• No email system (you’ll need separate marketing tools connected via Zapier)
• Limited sales page builder
• Limited checkout options (Stripe only, PayPal with limited functionality)
• No shopping cart (buy one product at a time)

Pricing:

• Free plan: 1 product, 25 members, no credit card required
• Paid plans: Start around $39/month
• All features unlocked on paid plans (unlimited students)
• Zero transaction fees on any plan

My Take:

I haven’t used MemberVault personally, but I’ve only heard good things from people who have. The ethos behind it is brilliant – Erin and Mike genuinely care about supporting course creators ethically without manipulative tactics, and their customer support reputation backs that up.

Where it shines:

• Values-led approach (small business supporting small business)
• Engagement features and gamification to boost completion
• Fair, transparent pricing (no feature gating)
• Genuinely helpful free plan for testing
• Personal support that actually cares

Where it’s limited: Personally, I’d want more customisation options for sales page design and a shopping cart that offers Google and Apple Pay. If you’re like me and obsess over conversion optimisation (which is why I use Squarespace + Spiffy), the limited sales pages builder might frustrate you.

But here’s the thing: not everyone needs that level of control. If you value ease of use, ethical business practices, and a platform that focuses on student progress and engagement over fancy funnels? MemberVault could be perfect.

I’d recommend MemberVault for:

• First course creators who want zero risk to start
• Course creators who already use (or plan to use) separate email and video tools
• Anyone prioritising engagement features over sales funnel sophistication
• Values-led online course business owners who want to work with real humans
• Creators offering diverse digital products (not just courses)
• Anyone frustrated with platforms that nickel-and-dime for features

Skip it if:

• You need sophisticated sales page design control (use Squarespace or similar instead)
• Shopping cart functionality is essential for your business model
• You want everything in one platform (video hosting, email, funnels, courses)
• You need advanced customisation options for branding

The Bottom Line:

MemberVault is a user-friendly platform built by good humans for good humans. The free plan lets you test risk-free, and if the “binge & buy” model works for you, it’s a great platform with fair pricing.

It won’t give you the customisation control that you can get from building your own sales pages on Squarespace, but it will give you something many platforms lack: real people who care about your success. For many course creators, that’s worth more than fancy design options.

Try MemberVault Free

The Ultra-Simple Alternative: Email + Vimeo (No Platform Needed)

Before we dive into custom course hosting, let me share something refreshing: you don’t actually need a course platform at all.

Louise Miller, a time management mentor for coaches and consultants, delivers her course via:

• Email (course content and lessons)
• Vimeo (video storage with links)
• Google Docs (workbooks)

No platform. No monthly fees. No learning a new system.

Why This Works:

“I’m a simple soul,” Louise explains. This approach is perfect for course creators who want to focus on teaching, not tech.

The Setup:

1. Upload videos to Vimeo (starts at $20/month, or free for limited videos)
2. Create sign up page and automated email sequence in your email marketing tool like Flodesk (you probably already have this!)
3. Share workbooks via Google Docs (free)
4. Students click links in emails to access video content
5. Have community engagement within Slack or a Facebook group if needed

Total Cost:

• Vimeo: $20/month (or free with limits)
• Email tool: You’re already paying for this
• Google Docs: Free
• Total: ~$20/month (vs. $99-199/month for platforms)

What You Can Do:

• Deliver course content via timed email sequences
• Host video content professionally on Vimeo
• Share workbooks and course materials
• Track who opens emails and clicks links
• Personal, intimate learning experience (feels like 1:1)

What You Can’t Do:

• Track student progress within videos
• Offer quizzes or engagement features
• Have a branded course portal
• Create community feature or discussion forums
• Issue completion certificates
• Sophisticated data analytics

Who this is best for:

• First-time course creators testing an idea
• Coaches delivering intimate, high-touch programs
• Small businesses wanting simplicity over features
• Anyone who finds platforms overwhelming
• Course creators on tiny budgets
• People who already have strong email relationships with students
• Short courses (under 10 lessons)

Not for:

• Courses with 50+ videos needing organisation
• Complex programs requiring student progress tracking
• Businesses wanting polished, branded online learning platform
• Courses requiring quizzes, certificates, or gamification
• Scaling to hundreds of students (email lists get messy)

My Honest Take:

Louise’s approach is refreshingly anti-tech. If you’re a coach or consultant adding course content to your existing offerings, and your students already know and trust you via email? This could be perfect.

No course creation process to learn. No platform fees eating into course revenue. No technical skills required beyond sending emails.

The limitation? It won’t scale easily, and you lose engagement features that boost completion rates. But for your first course or a small, intimate program? Sometimes simple is exactly what you need.

The Bottom Line:

Not every course needs a platform. If your strength is teaching (not tech), and you’re delivering to a small, engaged audience, Louise’s email + Vimeo approach might be the best platform for you – because it’s not a platform at all.

Want to try this ultra-simple approach?

• Set up a free Vimeo account and upload a test video
• Create an email sequence in your existing email tool (Kit, MailerLite, Mailchimp)
• Share a Google Doc workbook
• Test with 5-10 beta students before investing in anything more complex

Sometimes the best tech is the tech you already have.

Beyond Platforms: When Custom Course Hosting Makes Sense

After exploring all these online course platforms, you might wonder: what if none of them quite fit? The exciting thing is – you can get something bespoke made just for you, and it’s not as expensive as you might imagine!

I spoke with Nathalie Doremieux from The Membership Lab, who has built over 300 custom memberships with her husband (both Silicon Valley software engineers). 

Here’s when commissioning a custom online course platform makes sense – and when it doesn’t.

Real Case Study: Heather Murray’s Journey

AI trainer Heather Murray has a very successful AI for Non-Techies online training academy membership and her Become an AI Trainer digital course which she ran on LearnWorlds for years. She loved 80% of what LearnWorlds offered  – the ease of use, the course delivery, the dashboard.

But she hit walls: community features weren’t what she needed, she couldn’t offer bulk selling and white-labeling for corporate clients, and data analytics were too limited for her growing team. That’s when she brought in Nathalie to build exactly what she needed on WordPress.

“She liked about 80% of what LearnWorlds could do,” Nathalie explains. “But she was frustrated. They were getting to the next level and wanted to add bulk selling, white labeling. Things felt stuck.”

Nathalie’s Strategic Approach: Problem First, Not Tools

“Any platform that you see out there is just a tool. People usually ask ‘what tools do we need to use?’ But actually, the decision on the tool or delivery platform should be the part that comes at the end, once you know what it is you want to do.”

Nathalie’s framework that she works through with each client includes: Content, Support and Accountability (CSA Model)

• Content – Your videos and modules
• Support – How members get help when stuck
• Accountability – What most course creators overlook

“People don’t sign up for ‘content’. They want one thing: results.” Accountability means tracking student progress visibly, showing accomplishments, preventing “leaky bucket syndrome.” where people are leaving as fast as you sign new ones up. You want to encourage people to complete your course so they achieve the desired results and stay in your membership. 

Her first question isn’t “What platform?” but “Where do you see this in 5 years?” You’re building for growth, not just next month.

The Investment: Real Numbers

Monthly Tool Costs for having a custom course platform created:

• WordPress hosting: $10-50/month
• Membership plugin (AccessAlly or MemberPress): $150/year to $150/month
• Video hosting (Vimeo/Wistia): ~$200/year
• Monthly total: ~$40-80/month

Nathalie’s Build Fee: Starts at $3,000 (includes strategic onboarding, structure setup, training)

Year 1 Total: ~$3,500-4,000 | Years 2+: Only ~$500-1,000/year (just tools)

Compare to Platforms:

• Kajabi: $1,788/year
• Xperiencify: $1,188/year
• LearnWorlds: $1,188/year

Custom costs more upfront, but by Year 3, you’re significantly ahead financially.

Nathalie’s “Pre-Sell and Build” Strategy

Nathalie advises not to create months of course content only to find out nobody wants it (gutted!). Instead test out whether there is demand for it by preselling your audience, then teach the course live and adapt as you get feedback. 

1. Create structure (module titles, lesson outlines)
2. Add “live session” placeholders with Zoom links
3. Pre-sell access to live cohort
4. Deliver live, record the sessions, add in as replays
5. Your course builds itself through delivery

“You don’t create the content upfront. The content becomes the course as you deliver it live.”

When Custom Makes Sense

You’re Ready When:

• You’ve validated your course (proven it sells or have a good audience of clients already asking for your solution)
• You need features that don’t exist anywhere (bulk sales, white-labeling, specific workflows)
• You have a team needing sophisticated data analytics
• Platform fees are eating into profits
• You’re thinking 5+ years ahead for your online course business

Heather’s triggers for converting to a custom course platform: Growing team, corporate bulk sales, needing more community features, struggling with limited analytics, 5-year vision didn’t fit platform constraints.

When to Stick With Platforms

Stay on Teachable/Kajabi/Xperiencify if:

• You’re starting on a bootstrap budget
• You value ease of use over customisation options
• The 80% platforms offer is genuinely enough
• You understand the limitations of your chosen platform and are willing to work within those constraints. 

The Bottom Line

Most course creators thrive on platforms for years. But if you’re like Heather – proven success, hitting real limitations, ready for features that don’t exist – custom opens doors platforms can’t.

Nathalie’s advice: “Don’t think about what platform and tools you need until you know what problem you’re solving and where you want to be in 5 years.”

Start by creating an email waitlist. Validate ruthlessly. Go custom only when you truly know there is a ready and willing market for your idea.

Next Steps:

Not sure if you’re ready? Grab Nathalie’s free resources:

• Plan Your Successful Membership Site – 1-day planner
• 7 Proven Membership Models – Find your fit
• Monthly Recurring Revenue Calculator – Project income

Ready to explore custom? Connect with Nathalie at The Membership Lab

How to Choose the Right Online Course Platform for Your Business

Right, you’ve just read about 12+ different online course platforms. Your head is probably spinning. I get it, I’m sorry 😂

After testing numerous online course platforms as a course creator myself, I’ve learned that choosing the right platform doesn’t have to be complicated. Let me cut through all the noise and give you the simplest decision framework possible for your online course business.

The 3-Question Method: Choose Your Platform in 5 Minutes

Forget everything else. Just answer these three questions:

QUESTION 1: Have you sold ANY courses yet?

NO → Start here:

• Udemy if you have zero audience (they bring the students)
• Email + Vimeo if you have an email list already ($20/month)
• Thinkific Free Plan if you want to test self-hosting ($0/month, no transaction fees)

Don’t overthink it. Just pick one of these online course platforms and launch. You can always move later.

YES, I’ve made sales → Go to Question 2

QUESTION 2: What’s your annual course revenue?

Under $10,000/year:

• Thinkific ($49/month, no transaction fees, beginner-friendly)
• Teachable ($89/month for zero transaction fees)
• MemberVault ($39/month, includes engagement features)

$10,000-$50,000/year:

• Xperiencify ($99/month) – if you want students to finish and love your course
• LearnWorlds ($99/month) – if you’re teaching technical skills
• New Zenler ($47/month) – if you want all-in-one cheaper than Kajabi

$50,000+/year:

• Kajabi ($119/month) – if you want everything in one place
• Xperiencify ($99/month) – if student progress and completion matter most
• Custom WordPress ($3,000 setup + $40-80/month) – if you’re hitting platform limitations and need features that don’t exist on other platforms

Over $100,000/year and frustrated with platforms? → Custom WordPress build – when you need bulk selling, white-labeling, sophisticated data analytics, or features no online course platform offers

Still unsure? → Go to Question 3

QUESTION 3: What’s your ONE biggest priority?

Pick the ONE thing that matters most for your online course business:

“I just want it to be EASY” → Teachable or Kajabi (best ease of use)

“I want students to FINISH my course” → Xperiencify or MemberVault (strong engagement features)

“I want to build a COMMUNITY” → Skool or Mighty Networks

“I want the CHEAPEST option” → Thinkific Free or Email + Vimeo

“I want EVERYTHING in one place” → Kajabi or New Zenler (cheaper alternative)

“I want it to feel FUN and on-brand” → Xperiencify (this is me!)

“I need to run AFFILIATES to drive sales” → Kajabi, MemberVault, or Spiffy Checkouts + Xperiencify (drives course sales)

“I need features that don’t exist on any platform” → Custom WordPress build (bulk selling, white-labeling, bespoke workflows)

Done. That’s it. Choose and get started!

What About All Those Other Factors?

Look, yes – transaction fees matter. Yes, customisation options matter. Yes, email marketing integration matters.

But picking an imperfect online course platform TODAY is better than spending another month researching the “perfect” one.

You can always switch later. I did it three times before finding my setup (Xperiencify + Squarespace + Spiffy). And switching online course platforms is annoying, but it’s not the end of the world.

The real mistake? Never launching your online course business because you’re paralysed by choice.

Now stop researching and start building. Your students are waiting! 🎓

The Bottom Line: Pick Your Platform and Start Building

You’ve made it through the ultimate guide to online course platforms. Well done for sticking with me!

Here’s what you need to remember:

There is no perfect platform. I’ve tried Udemy, Teachable, Thinkific, and Xperiencify. Each served a purpose at different stages of my online course business. The “best online course platform” is simply the one that matches where you are RIGHT NOW.

My personal setup? Xperiencify for course delivery (because gamification works), Squarespace for sales pages (because conversions matter), and Spiffy for a high converting checkout and affiliates. It took me years and multiple platforms to land here. You don’t need to copy my journey – learn from it instead.

The real secret to successful course sales? It’s not which online course platform you choose. It’s creating course content that genuinely helps people, showing up consistently, and actually launching instead of endlessly researching.

So stop reading. Pick a platform from this guide. Set a launch date. And build the thing.

Your students are waiting. And honestly? If your material genuinely helps people achieve transformation, they won’t care which platform you use – they just want the results you’re offering.

Now go create something brilliant. 🎓

Want to stay updated? Bookmark or Pin this post – I’ll keep adding new online course platforms and updating reviews as I test more tools and gather more feedback from course creators in my network.

Got questions? Drop a comment below and I’ll help you choose the right platform for your specific situation.

Good luck, and remember: Done is better than perfect. Let’s get launching! 🚀

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