11 BEST Online Course Platforms (2023 Update)
Alyssa Walker
Online course platforms are types of LMS (Learning Management Systems) that enables you to create and manage learning program with ease. These platforms help you create engaging multimedia lectures, including video, text, PDF, and audio files.
Following is a handpicked list of Top Online Course Platforms, with their popular features and website links.
Thinkific is an all in one platform that helps you to create, sell, and delivers online courses. It enables you to easily make and customize courses that match your brand.
Top Platforms to Create and Sell Online Courses
1) Thinkific
Thinkific is an all-in-one platform that helps you to create, sell, and delivers online courses. It enables you to easily make and customize courses that match your brand.
Thinkific, founded in 2012, is a comprehensive online course platform that integrates seamlessly with Zapier, Keap, Shopify, and Zoom. It offers multiple payment options, including PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay, and provides cloud storage in Dropbox and Google Drive. Thinkific supports a variety of course templates and is trusted by companies like Later, Hootsuite, and Shopify. It adheres to compliance standards such as CCPA, GDPR, and PCI DSS, ensuring security with TLS 1.2 and AES-256 encryption.
Also handles a range of file formats and provides custom web themes & domains, quizzes & assignments, drip scheduling, community spaces, notifications, and bundles. Its user-friendly interface features drag-and-drop editing tools, live previews, customizable branding, and course migration capabilities.
Deployment Type: Cloud-Hosted Open API
Supported Browser: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari
Free Trial: 30 Days Free Trial
Features:
- You can create a video, quizzes, surveys, downloadable tutorials, and more.
- It enables you to showcase your themes designed for selling education.
- You can set the expiry to the course.
- Thinkific helps you to organize web content with drag and drop feature.
- This platform provides full access to CSS and HTML.
- Supports Google Adverb (an advertising platform), Facebook, and more.
- It provides customer support via Email and Chat
- Supported platforms: Windows and Mac
- Price: Plans start at $49 a month. 25% Discount on Yearly Payments.
- Free Trial: Lifetime Free Basic Plan
| 👍 Pros | 👎 Cons |
|---|---|
| The best lesson options | Live Chat support is not available |
| Integrated marketing and e-commerce capabilities | Plans with higher prices |
| Coding skills are not required |
Lifetime Free Basic Plan
2) Teachable
Teachable is a website that helps you to create and sell online courses. It provides a user-friendly interface for build courses. This site helps you to set up a fully functioning course with a few mouse clicks.
Teachable, founded in 2013, integrates with MailChimp, Zapier, ConvertKit, Google Analytics, and Segment. It supports multiple payment options, including cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay, and offers cloud storage via OneDrive, Google Drive, and Dropbox. With Teachable Classic, Colossal, and Simple templates, it accommodates various needs.
The GDPR and CCPA-compliant platform ensures security with AES, DES, and 2FA encryption. It handles formats like CSV, HTML, XLS, and PDF and offers features such as unlimited students, an integrated website builder, custom domain, public API, advanced theme, and course migration with user-friendly drag-and-drop tools.
Deployment Type: Cloud, SaaS, Web-Based
Supported Browser: Chrome, Firefox
Free Trial: Lifetime Free Basic Plan
Features:
- It helps you to create engaging multimedia lectures that include video, text, PDF (ebook), and audio files.
- You can import content from Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox.
- This LMS site allows page editors to easily draft, customize, and launch a new course.
- You can create quiz questions.
- Enables you to issue certificates after completing a specific course.
- You can integrate Teachable with Google Forms to collect feedback from students.
- Teachable accept payment in more than 130 currencies.
- It provides customer support via Email
- Supported platforms: Windows and Linux
- Price: Plans start at $59 a month. 33% Discount on Yearly Payments.
- Free Trial: Lifetime Free Basic Plan
| 👍 Pros | 👎 Cons |
|---|---|
| Built-in payment processing | Multi-tenancy is not available |
| Integrated email marketing automation | Support for limited languages |
| Teachable offer for free courses |
Lifetime Free Basic Plan
3) LearnWorlds
LearnWorlds is a site that helps you to create and sell online courses. It provides responsive templates and styles to build your course.
Founded in 2014, LearnWorlds is an inclusive digital learning platform trusted by companies such as Kaspersky and LG. It offers seamless integration with Stripe, Zapier, Zendesk, and more and multiple payment options, including PayPal and Google Pay. LearnWorlds provides cloud storage solutions and a variety of course templates and supports SCORM compliance.
Furthermore, it offers features like drag-and-drop editing tools, customizable branding, and course migration. With a focus on security, it provides 2FA encryption and supports multiple file formats.
Deployment Type: Cloud-based (SaaS) or hosted
Supported Browser: Chrome, Firefox
Free Trial: 30 Days Free Trial
Features:
- You can customize the logo, style, and theme that matches your own brand.
- It enables you to build a course on a responsive website.
- This platform provides multilingual support.
- Notifications can be customized as per your needs.
- You can use CSS and JavaScript to edit course pages.
- Learnworlds provides a pre-ready course catalog.
- You can launch your site in less amount of time.
- It allows you to create unlimited courses.
- Offering free courses to students is possible.
- It provides customer support via Email, Phone, and Contact Form
- Supported platforms: Windows, iOS, and Android
- Price: Plans start at $29 a month. 20% Discount on Yearly Payments.
- Free Trial: Lifetime Free Basic Plan
| 👍 Pros | 👎 Cons |
|---|---|
| Simple to use | An unoptimized checkout process |
| Unlimited courses | Bulk upload is not available |
| Library of videos |
Lifetime Free Basic Plan
4) Podia
Podia is easy to use e-learning platform that helps you to create, host, and sell your lessons. It supports messaging for live chat. This platform helps you to manage students with ease.
Established in 2014, Podia is a robust online learning platform endorsed by organizations like Medium and Forbes. It enables seamless integration with various mailing services like MailChimp and ConvertKit and provides multiple payment options such as Stripe and PayPal.
Podia supports GDPR compliance and offers diverse course templates, 2FA encryption, and various file format options. Notably, it offers features like digital downloads, coaching, email marketing, customizable branding, and a drag-and-drop editing tool, enhancing the overall learning experience.
Features:
- You can create online courses having audio files, links, PDFs, videos, images, etc.
- It enables you to combine similar courses.
- You can customize your website pages.
- Podia provides live previews.
- Courses can be accessed from a tablet, mobile, desktop, and more.
- You can grant or remove content access for a particular user.
- It helps you to manage students with ease.
- You can control website elements the way you like.
- It provides customer support via Chat and Email
- Supported platforms: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS
- Price: Plans start at $39 a month. 17% Discount on Yearly Payments.
- Free Trial: Lifetime Free Basic Plan
| 👍 Pros | 👎 Cons |
|---|---|
| User-friendly | Customization limited |
| A great value for the money | |
| Great customer service |
Lifetime Free Basic Plan
5) Learndash
Learndash is a course platform integrated with WordPress. It supports numerous plugins. This app helps you to setup courses online.
Founded in 2013, Learndash is a trusted e-learning platform renowned for its seamless integration capabilities with services like Stripe, Slack, and MailChimp. Favored by institutions like the University of Florida and personalities like Tony Robbins, it supports GDPR, PCI, and HIPAA compliance. Learndash offers multiple payment options, Google Drive cloud storage, and SSL encryption for secure transactions.
Features:
- It provides eight types of questions, custom messages, and more.
- You can arrange courses according to course order.
- This site can be synced with the LearnDash quiz (Quiz question creating a website).
- You can give users a hint in text, video, and images.
- It enables you to award anyone who successfully passes the quiz.
- This site allows users to review questions and answers.
- It helps you to send quiz results to the users, group leader, or admin.
- Learndash provides advanced features such as Focus Mode, dynamic content delivery, and automated notifications.
- It supports multiple file formats, including JPG, PNG, and PDF, and offers user-friendly tools like drag-and-drop editing and live previews.
- It provides customer support via Contact Form.
- Supported platforms: Windows
- Price: Plans start at $29 a month. 10% Discount on Yearly Payments.
- Free Trial: 30 Days Free Trial
| 👍 Pros | 👎 Cons |
|---|---|
| An easy-to-use drag-and-drop builder | Limited payment options |
| Full support for video content | Available only for WordPress websites |
| Building flexible quizzes |
30 Days Free Trial
6) Talentlms
TalentLMS is a cloud-based learning management system. It helps users to simplify online seminars, training programs, and courses. You do not require technical skills to use this website.
Founded in 2013, TalentLMS is a revered online learning platform that integrates with Zoom, Salesforce, and more. It supports multiple payment options and Google Drive storage while adhering to GDPR standards. Trusted by companies like OYO and Hudl, TalentLMS ensures secure learning experiences with TLS 1.2 and AES-256 encryption.
Features:
- It supports multiple types of questions.
- You can effortlessly collect and analyze survey responses.
- TalentLMS helps you to share a file with other people.
- You can design your own certification.
- This company allows you to integrate with up to 200 services through Zapier.
- It provides reports to make better decisions.
- Offers printable infographics (collection of information and graphics) to users.
- You can create course certification with ease.
- TalentLMS offers a range of file format support, including PPT, PDF, and GIF, and provides blended learning paths, an assessments engine, and a content-friendly interface.
- It features drag-and-drop editing and customizable branding for user ease.
- It provides customer support via Contact Form and Phone.
- Supported platforms: Windows, iOS, and Android
- Price: Plans start at $69 a month. 28% Discount on Yearly Payments.
- Free Trial: Lifetime Free Basic Plan
| 👍 Pros | 👎 Cons |
|---|---|
| Customizable roles for users | Completeness of reports is lacking |
| Value for money | Statistics on dropouts |
| Easy to deploy, configure, and manage |
Lifetime Free Basic Plan
7) iSpring Learn
iSpring Learn is an intuitive cloud-based learning management system that comes bundled with a powerful authoring tool. These two tools together allow you to create interactive online courses, quizzes, role-plays, and video lectures, deliver them to learners, and track their progress in real time.
Founded in 2001, iSpring Learn is an esteemed eLearning platform trusted by corporations like Adidas and IBM. It integrates with Oracle and Salesforce and provides multiple payment options and cloud storage solutions. iSpring offers plug-and-play and customizable eLearning templates that adhere to GDPR compliance and ensures secure experiences with 256-bit SSL encryption.
Features:
- Create engaging eLearning content both online and offline
- Store as many materials as you like with unlimited storage space
- Automate most training management processes
- Create learning tracks
- Use content and learner reports
- Train employees in the mobile app
- Integrate the LMS with your IT ecosystem
- iSpring Learn supports multiple file formats, including WAV, MP3, and XLSX
- Offers robust features like content, user, and training management, along with customization options.
- It provides drag-and-drop editing tools, customizable branding, and course migration for enhanced usability.
- It provides customer support via Chat, Email, and Phone
- Supported platforms: Windows, iOS, and Android
- Price: Plans start at $77 a month. 8% Discount on Yearly Payments.
- Free Trial: 7 Days Free Trial
| 👍 Pros | 👎 Cons |
|---|---|
| An easy-to-use interface | Reporting options must be improved |
| Compatibility with SCORM | eCommerce features is limited |
| Budget-friendly and affordable |
7 Days Free Trial
8) Passion
Passion.io is a software application that lets you build your e-learning apps. This site allows you to create your customized e-learning app from a wide range of templates for the Android Play Store and iOS App Store.
Founded in 2016, Passion is a versatile platform that integrates seamlessly with Stripe, Shopify, and more, while offering multiple payment options. Trusted by reputable firms like Business Insider and Forbes, it specializes in offering engaging content templates for areas like cooking, music, and yoga, promoting focus and alignment for its audience.
Features:
- This site offers downloadable and fully protected content that you can watch anytime without network coverage.
- It also allows you to create group-based challenges for the community.
- You can create audio-based content your customers can listen to anytime, anywhere.
- Helps you to identify customer segments to deliver exactly what they want.
- Passion supports various file formats, including DOC, PDF, and MP3, and provides features like drip content, offline sync, and interactive exercises.
- It further enhances user experience with drag-and-drop editing tools and live previews and facilitates easy course migration.
- It provides customer support via Chat and Email.
- Supported platforms: iOS and Android
- Price: Plans start at $97 a month. 18% Discount on Yearly Payment.
- Free Trial: 14 Days Free Trial
| 👍 Pros | 👎 Cons |
|---|---|
| An easy-to-use interface | Costly plans |
| On demand & live streaming | Has no certificate builder |
| Push notification support |
14 Days Free Trial
9) TrainerCentral
TrainerCentral is a platform that enables you to easily manage and run your training business. It provides collaborative learning in virtual classrooms through polls, Q&A, screen sharing, and more. This tool allows you to shortlist attendees with no hassle.
TrainerCentral, founded in 2021, is an efficient training platform that integrates seamlessly with Slack, Meta, and Shopify. Trusted by notable publications like The Economic Times, it offers multiple payment options and adheres to compliance standards including HIPAA, GDPR, and PCI. TrainerCentral ensures secure transactions with TLS 1.2 and AES-256 encryption.
Features:
- You can analyze your result with an intuitive graph.
- It allows you to invite the person with just one mouse click.
- Enables you to add multiple trainers to your sessions.
- You can record the entire training session.
- TrainerCentral supports PDF files and offers a range of features including a course builder, drip scheduler and a learner portal.
- With user-friendly tools such as drag-and-drop editing, live previews, and customizable branding, it facilitates easy course migration and charges no transaction fee.
- It provides customer support via Chat, Email, Phone and Contact Form.
- Supported platforms: Windows, Mac, and Linux
- Price: Plans start at $17 a month. 16% Discount on Yearly Payments.
- Free Trial: Lifetime Free Basic Plan
| 👍 Pros | 👎 Cons |
|---|---|
| Customizable CRM with great features | User interface is lacking |
| Processing payments with no hassle | The tutorials need to be improved |
| It is cost effective |
Link: https://www.zoho.com/showtime/
10) Kajabi
Kajabi is an online course platform. It contains numerous site themes for building in-depth courses. It is one of the best platforms for online courses that helps you to easily create your own online customized courses.
Kajabi, established in 2010, is a comprehensive platform that integrates effortlessly with Calendly, Stripe, and Aweber, among others. It supports multiple payment options and provides various cloud storage options. Kajabi, offering marketing funnel templates and adhering to GDPR compliance, ensures a secure user experience with MFA and SSL encryption.
Features:
- It helps you to build a website without writing any code.
- This LMS site offers 24/7 support.
- Kajabi provides easy-to-use custom domains or subdomains.
- You can create as many pages as you like for creating a static site.
- It enables you to upload your video content.
- You can drag and drop images and videos to the working area.
- Kajabi supports Excel, CSV, and PDF file formats, and provides a range of features such as unlimited hosting, auto-scaling, and an SEO-optimized website builder.
- It enhances user experience with drag-and-drop editing tools, live previews, and facilitates easy course migration.
- It provides customer support via Chat, Email and Contact Form
- Supported platforms: Windows
- Price: Plans start at $149 a month. 20% Discount on Yearly Payments.
- Free Trial: 14 Days Free Trial
| 👍 Pros | 👎 Cons |
|---|---|
| The all-in-one platform | Certificates are not supported natively |
| Themes for multiple courses | The starting price is high |
| Builder of powerful communities |
Link: https://kajabi.com/
11) Alison
Alison is a free e-learning platform that provides various categories like IT, language, health, science, etc. It provides an innovative network of locations to learn courses.
Alison, established in 2007, is an online learning platform that supports numerous languages, including English, Spanish, and French. It offers API integration and multiple payment options such as Credit/Debit Cards, Stripe, and PayPal, and it adheres to compliance standards like GDPR and SCORM. Esteemed institutions like Stanford and MIT trust it. Plus, it assures safety through SSL encryption.
Features:
- Alison is accessible worldwide.
- This site offers many course types, including certificate courses, diploma courses, and more.
- It allows you to find a wide range of courses for a specific job.
- Alison provides a versatile platform offering CSV and PDF file formats, course assessments, learner records, and a variety of courses.
- Its user-friendly interface includes drag-and-drop editing, live previews, customizable branding, and course migration capabilities.
- It provides customer support via Chat and Email.
- Supported platforms: Windows, iOS, and Android
- Price: Plans start at $7.99 a month.
- Free Trial: 30 Days Free Trial
| 👍 Pros | 👎 Cons |
|---|---|
| User-Friendly | You must pay to remove ads |
| High-quality content | |
| Courses available for free |
Link: https://alison.com/
FAQs
» Check here our list of the Best Online Courses & Test Prep Classes from Top Institutions