14 best online course selling platforms for monetizing your knowledge

It’s no secret that the demand for online learning is growing exponentially.

In fact, according to a report published by Facts & Factors, the global eLearning market size was valued at $210.1 billion in 2021 and is expected to surpass $848.12 billion by 2030.

This growth is fueled by the increasing adoption of online learning in corporate and academic settings, as well as by individuals seeking to improve their skills or learn new ones.

This surge in interest has opened up a world of opportunities for experts in various fields to share their knowledge and monetize it through online courses.

So, if you have expertise to share, now is the perfect time to explore the best platforms to sell online courses!

Why sell online courses?

Selling online courses is not just about making a profit; it’s about sharing your knowledge and skills with those who are eager to learn.

Here are a few reasons why you might want to consider selling online courses:

1. Monetize your knowledge: If you’re an expert in a particular field, why not get paid for your expertise? Selling online courses allows you to monetize your knowledge and experience.
2. Flexible schedule: Unlike traditional teaching, online courses allow you to work on your own schedule. You can create and sell your courses at your own pace, giving you the flexibility to balance other aspects of your life.
3. Global reach: With online courses, you’re not limited to a specific geographical location. You can reach students from all over the world, expanding your audience significantly.
4. Passive income: Once your course is created and uploaded on a platform, it can generate income for you over time without requiring constant effort.
5. Personal branding: Creating and selling online courses can help establish you as an authority in your field, enhancing your personal brand and credibility.

But who stands to benefit the most from selling online courses?

The answer is quite broad and can encompass a wide range of people:

• Professionals: Those with expertise in a specific field can share their knowledge and experience, enhancing their professional reputation while generating additional income.
• Educators and trainers: Traditional educators can reach a wider audience and have a more flexible schedule by offering their courses online.
• Entrepreneurs: Business owners can create courses related to their industry as a way to generate additional revenue and attract potential customers.
• Bloggers and influencers: Those with a significant online following can monetize their audience by offering specialized courses.
• Freelancers: Freelancers can create courses around their skillset, providing another income stream and showcasing their expertise to potential clients.

Regardless of who you are, offering online courses can be a great way to share your knowledge and experience while creating a source of income.

In the following sections, we will delve into the 14 best platforms to sell online courses, helping you find the best place to share your knowledge and expertise.

Comparing the 14 best online course selling platforms side-by-side

Before we explore each platform in detail, let’s first take a look at each from a bird’s eye view:

Platform	Key Features	Monetization Options	Pricing
WordPress	Course creation, community features, marketing tools	One-time purchases, subscriptions, memberships	Free platform, cost associated with hosting, domain, and premium plugins. LearnDash: $199/year; LifterLMS: Free, $199/year; SureMembers: $99/year; SureCart: Free, $99/year
Teachable	Course creation, quizzes, certificates, coaching products	One-time purchases, subscriptions, memberships, course bundles	Basic: $39/month, Pro: $119/month, Business: $299/month
Thinkific	Course creation, quizzes, surveys, memberships, communities	One-time purchases, subscriptions, memberships, course bundles	Free, Basic: $49/month, Pro: $99/month, Premier: $199/month
LearnWorlds	Course creation, interactive video, social learning, SCORM compliance	One-time purchases, subscriptions, memberships, course bundles	Starter: $24/month, Pro Trainer: $79/month, Learning Center: $249/month
Podia	Course creation, memberships, webinars, email marketing	One-time purchases, subscriptions, memberships, course bundles	Free, Mover: $39/month, Shaker: $79/month
Kajabi	Course creation, marketing automation, memberships, webinars	One-time purchases, subscriptions, memberships, course bundles	Basic: $149/month; Growth: $199/month; Pro: $399/month
Udemy	Course creation, student engagement tools	One-time purchases	Free to create a course, Udemy takes a variable percentage of course sales
Payhip	Digital downloads, memberships, physical products	One-time purchases, subscriptions, memberships	Basic: Free + 5% transaction fee; Plus: $29/month + 2% transaction fee; Pro: $99/month + no transaction fee
Simplero	Course creation, CRM, automations website builder	One-time purchases, subscriptions, memberships	Starter: $70.80/month; Scale: $178.80/month; Skyrocket: $298.80/month
Ruzuku	Course creation, community features	Subscriptions or single payment	Free; Core: $99/month; Pro: $199/month
Skillshare	Wide range of courses, real projects, support of fellow-creatives	Royalties based on minutes watched	$19/month or $99/year for Skillshare Premium
Zenler	Course creation, community building, business tools, insights and analytics	Multiple pricing options, funnel builder, checkout builder	Pro: $67/month; Premium: $197/month
SendOwl	Sell digital products, fast and secure delivery, scale your marketing	One-time purchases, subscriptions, memberships, drip content	Starter: $9/month; Growth: $15/month; Pro: $39/month
TrainerCentral	Course creation, community building, business tools, insights and analytics	Subscriptions, one-time payments, and custom payments supported	Free; Starter: $20/month; Professional: $50/month

Now that we’ve compared the platforms, let’s dive deeper into each one to understand their unique offerings and how they can help you sell your online courses.

1. WordPress

WordPress is a robust and flexible platform that allows you to create a website tailored to your needs. It’s a popular choice for many online entrepreneurs due to its versatility and the vast array of plugins available.

This makes it a strong contender for the best platform to sell online courses.

Benefits of creating a website with WordPress

Compared to other platforms, WordPress offers a high degree of customization and control. You can design your website to match your brand and provide a unique experience for your users.

It’s also SEO-friendly, which can help your site rank higher in search engine results and attract more visitors.

Course plugins

WordPress supports a variety of course plugins, such as LearnDash and LifterLMS. These plugins allow you to create and manage online courses directly on your WordPress site.

They offer features like course creation, student management, and progress tracking.

SureMembers

SureMembers is a WordPress plugin that helps you manage memberships on your site. It’s a great tool for online course creators as it allows you to restrict content and create subscription-based courses.

For example, you can create a members-only area where students can access course materials.

You can also drip-feed content to your students, releasing new lessons or modules over time.

SureCart

SureCart is another useful tool for selling online courses. It’s a powerful checkout builder that can help you sell memberships for physical goods.

So, if you’re offering a course that includes physical materials, you can use SureCart to manage these sales.

Features

WordPress, combined with plugins like LearnDash, LifterLMS, SureMember, and SureCart, offers a comprehensive set of features for online course creators.

These include:

• Course creation and management: Tools for uploading and arranging course materials, creating quizzes and assignments, and tracking student progress.
• Content restriction: Control who has access to your course content. This is particularly useful if you’re offering subscription-based courses or members-only content.
• Subscription-based courses: Supports subscription-based courses, allowing you to charge students a recurring fee for access to your courses.
• Drip-feeding content: Deliver course content to students over time rather than giving them access to the entire course at once. This can help keep students engaged and prevent them from feeling overwhelmed by too much content.

Monetization options

With WordPress, you have several options for monetizing your online courses. You can sell courses individually, offer subscription-based access, or create a members-only area with premium content.

You can also sell physical goods as part of your courses.

Pricing

WordPress itself is a free platform but some costs may be associated with hosting, domain registration, and premium plugins.

The cost of plugins breaks down like this:

• LearnDash: $199/per year.
• LifterLMS: The core plugin is free but access to more advanced features starts at $199/year.
• SureMembers: Starts at $99/year
• SureCart: The basic plugin is free with more advanced plans starting at $99/year.

General impression

Overall, WordPress is a powerful and flexible platform for selling online courses. With the right plugins, it can provide all the tools you need to create, manage, and sell your courses.

It may require a bit more setup and management than some other platforms, but the level of control and customization it offers makes it a worthwhile option for many course creators.

2. Teachable

Teachable is a comprehensive online course platform that empowers creators to transform their knowledge into income.

It’s a platform that’s trusted by entrepreneurs worldwide to sell over $500 million worth of courses to over 18 million students.

Features

Teachable offers a host of features that make it a robust platform for selling online courses:

• Intuitive course builder: No coding or design skills are necessary to share what you know.
• Digital downloads: You can sell PDFs, audio clips, and more, reaching your audience faster than ever.
• Coaching products: Manage your coaching business with milestones and scheduling, plus process payments all on Teachable.
• Customizability: Teachable API and integrations allow you to automate tasks and enable seamless communication between your Teachable products and your favorite marketing and analytics tools.

Monetization options

Teachable provides a robust suite of monetization tools, including upsells, bundles, and order bumps, unlocking more value from every product you create.

Creators get automated tax filings, fraud monitoring, chargeback support, and eCommerce optimization tools.

Pricing

Teachable offers a free plan that includes everything you need to begin teaching and earning.

For additional resources to support your business’s changing needs, you can upgrade to their paid plans, which start at $39/month.

General impression

Teachable is a user-friendly and powerful platform for selling online courses. It offers a wide range of features and monetization options, making it a versatile choice for course creators.

The platform’s focus on ease of use and flexibility makes it a strong contender in the online course platform market.

3. Thinkific

Thinkific is a leading online course platform that allows you to create, market, and sell your own online courses. It’s designed to make it easy for you to create and deliver high-quality courses to your learners.

Features

Thinkific offers a variety of features that make it a powerful platform for selling online courses:

• Custom web themes and domains: You can customize the look and feel of your courses to match your brand.
• Community spaces and notifications: Build your business with a collaborative learning experience created and controlled by you.
• Mobile app for courses and communities: Your students can access courses and communities from anywhere, anytime, on any device.
• Bundles, coupons, and cross-selling: You can create promotional bundles and offer discounts to boost your sales.

Monetization options

With Thinkific, you control the pricing and keep all of your revenue — with no hidden fees. You can sell your courses for a one-time fee, a subscription, or a payment plan.

You can also offer free courses to attract more learners.

Pricing

Thinkific offers a free plan that includes everything you need to start creating and delivering courses. Paid plans start at $49/month.

General impression

Thinkific is a comprehensive platform that offers a wide range of features for course creation and student engagement. Its ability to support different types of course structures and robust community features make it a versatile choice for course creators.

The availability of a free plan makes it accessible for those just starting out.

4. LearnWorlds

LearnWorlds is a robust online course platform that allows you to create, sell, and promote your online courses. It’s designed to help you monetize your skills, experiences, and audience.

Features

LearnWorlds offers a variety of features that make it a powerful platform for selling online courses:

• Interactive and impactful learning: Captivate learners with a mix of interactive videos, ebooks, one-on-one and group sessions, assessments, certificates, SCORM-compliant content, surveys, and much more.
• Flexible course structure: Choose from attractive themes for your course player and offer a variety of course pathways, including free and paid courses as well as drip-fed content.
• Revolutionizing video learning: Transform your videos into full learning experiences with features like auto-generated transcripts, quizzes, and tables of contents.
• Integration with social media: Foster a sense of community and build lasting relationships by integrating your training school with social media platforms.

Monetization options

LearnWorlds provides a powerful sales engine, with advanced pricing options for all kinds of digital products.

You can also upsell and cross-sell by using their pre-made landing pages that are designed to convert alongside 1-click funnels.

Pricing

LearnWorlds plans start at $24/month, but you can get started for free.

General impression

LearnWorlds stands out for its interactive video and social learning features, which can help create a more engaging learning experience.

Its SCORM compliance also makes it a good choice for more formal educational institutions or businesses that need to meet certain standards.

5. Podia

Podia is an all-in-one platform that lets you build websites, sell courses, digital products, and host communities. It’s designed to help you start and grow your business.

Features

Podia offers a variety of features that make it a powerful platform for selling online courses:

• Effortless website setup: With Podia, you can easily establish your online presence. It takes care of all the technical aspects, freeing you to concentrate on your core tasks.
• Versatile digital product platform: Podia’s intuitive course builder enhances the presentation of courses. It’s not just about courses – you can also market ebooks, templates, audio and video files, spreadsheets, and more, regardless of the file type.
• Coaching and webinar features: Podia empowers you to schedule and monetize one-on-one coaching sessions. Additionally, it’s a breeze to manage your webinar and workshop sales directly from your Podia site.
• Flexible community plans: Podia offers the liberty to create an unlimited number of plans with varying price points. Whether you’re interested in offering free or paid plans, Podia accommodates your strategy.

Monetization options

Podia takes care of hosting products, taking payments, and getting products to your customers. You can sell courses, bundles, and memberships, and upsell and cross-sell with promotions.

Pricing

Podia offers a free plan that includes everything you need to start creating and delivering courses. However, you will have to pay a transaction fee on each course sale. To get rid of this, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan, which starts at $39/month.

General impression

Podia is a great choice for creators looking for a platform that goes beyond just course creation.

Its features for memberships, webinars, and email marketing make it a comprehensive solution for building and growing an online business.

6. Kajabi

Kajabi is a comprehensive platform that provides a robust solution for course creators who want to sell online courses.

It’s more than just a course hosting platform; it’s an all-in-one business platform that integrates course creation, marketing, sales, and customer engagement.

Features

• Course creation: Kajabi allows you to create engaging courses with its easy-to-use course builder. You can add videos, text, images, and downloadable files. It also supports quizzes and surveys for interactive learning.
• Website builder: With Kajabi, you can build a fully functional, professional-looking website without any coding skills. It offers customizable themes and a drag and drop editor.
• Email marketing: Kajabi includes built-in email marketing tools, allowing you to create and send emails to your students or potential customers.
• Sales funnels: Known as Pipelines in Kajabi, you can create a fully automated sales funnel to guide your customers through the buying process.
• Community building: You can create a community within your course, allowing your students to interact with each other, fostering engagement and discussion.

Monetization options

Kajabi provides various monetization options. You can sell your courses as one-time purchases, subscriptions, or membership sites. You can also offer payment plans to your students.

Pricing

Kajabi offers three pricing plans:

• Basic: $149/month
• Growth: $199/month
• Pro: $399/month

Each plan offers a different level of features and capabilities so you can choose the one that best fits your needs and budget.

General impression

Kajabi is a premium platform that offers a comprehensive set of tools for creating, marketing, and selling online courses.

Its marketing automation and webinar features make it a great choice for course creators looking to scale their businesses.

7. Udemy

Udemy is one of the largest online learning platforms out there, offering over 210,000+ courses to more than 62 million+ learners.

It’s a marketplace for learning and instruction, providing access to thousands of courses produced by independent instructors.

Features

• Course creation: Udemy allows anyone to create a course on any subject. Instructors can upload video, audio, text, and other resources.
• Student interaction: Some courses offer discussion forums, allowing students to interact with instructors and other students.
• Certificate of completion: Upon completing a course, students receive a certificate, although it’s not officially accredited.

Monetization options

On Udemy, instructors can earn money through course sales. When a student purchases your course, you receive a percentage of the sale.

The percentage varies depending on whether you, Udemy, or an affiliate partner made the sale.

Pricing

There’s no fee to sell courses on Udemy. Course prices vary and are set by the instructors, typically ranging from $11.99 to $199.99. Udemy frequently offers discounts on courses, making it an affordable option for many learners.

If a learner subscribes to your course through your own promotional link, you’ll receive 97% of the revenue. However, if a learner finds your course in another way, you receive 37% of the revenue of that sale.

General impression

Udemy is a massive online course marketplace, offering a wide variety of courses. It’s a great platform for instructors looking to reach a large audience.

However, because Udemy is open to everyone, the quality of courses can vary.

Please note that Udemy certificates are not always recognized by employers because it’s not an accredited institution. However, the knowledge and skills you gain can still be valuable and beneficial for your personal and professional development.

8. Payhip

Payhip is an all-in-one platform that allows you to sell digital downloads, memberships, and physical goods. It’s a simple yet powerful solution for entrepreneurs looking to sell online courses.

Features

• Digital product sales: Market a wide array of digital products, from ebooks and software to design resources, templates, videos, music, and beyond. If it’s a file, you can monetize it.
• Online course creation: Develop comprehensive online courses enriched with videos, digital documents, quizzes, and assignments.
• Coaching services: Share your knowledge through personalized coaching sessions. Seamlessly arrange online meetings with clients via integrations with platforms like Zoom and Calendly.
• Membership options: Provide your customers with the opportunity to support you on a recurring basis in exchange for access to your digital products or membership community.
• Physical product sales: Manage the sale and inventory of any physical products directly through the platform.

Monetization options

With Payhip, you can sell your courses as one-time purchases, subscriptions, or memberships. You can also offer different pricing plans to your customers.

Pricing

Payhip operates on a commission-based pricing model and you only pay when you make a sale to start. The commission rate starts at 5% for the Free Forever plan and goes down to 2% for the Plus plan, which costs $29/month.

General impression

Payhip is a straightforward and user-friendly platform for selling online courses. It’s a great choice for course creators who want a simple, no-frills platform that allows them to start selling quickly.

The commission-based pricing model also makes it a low-risk option for those just starting out.

9. Simplero

Simplero is an all-in-one platform designed to help entrepreneurs build and grow their online businesses. It’s a comprehensive solution that combines multiple tools into one, making it a convenient choice for online course creators.

Features

Simplero offers a wide range of features that cater to different aspects of running an online course business.

These include:

• Website builder: Simplero provides an intuitive website builder that allows you to create a professional-looking website without any coding skills. It’s a great tool for making a strong first impression on your potential students.
• Course creation: Sell access to various types of content, including videos, ebooks, virtual events, and more. It also supports password-protected membership sites, ensuring that your students can access the content they’ve paid for.
• Automations and triggers: Automation features allow you to create custom customer journeys based on how they interact with your site, emails, and content. This can help you deliver a personalized learning experience to each student.
• Integrated CRM: Simplero includes a robust CRM system that helps manage your customer relationships effectively. You can track customer interactions, segment your audience, and more.

Monetization options

Simplero supports various monetization options. You can sell individual courses, offer subscription-based access, or create a members-only area with premium content.

It also supports selling physical goods, making it a versatile solution for different types of online businesses.

Pricing

Pricing for Simplero starts at $70.80/month and includes a website, 5 courses, and 250GB of storage.

General impression

Simplero is a comprehensive solution for online course creators who want to manage all aspects of their business in one place.

It offers a wide range of features and supports various monetization options, making it a versatile choice for different types of online businesses.

10. Ruzuku

Ruzuku is a platform that allows passionate experts to quickly and easily create online courses and learning communities.

It’s a platform that is highly praised for its clean and professional look, and it offers a ton of resources to help you set up and launch your courses.

Features

• Easy setup for courses: Allows you to quickly and efficiently set up courses, reducing the time and effort required to get up and running.
• Posting of discussion questions and course information: Engage with students by posting discussion questions and sharing important course information. Also supports the uploading of PDFs, providing a convenient way to share reading materials and other resources.
• Student progress monitoring: Students can track their completed assignments and monitor progress throughout the course. This can help students stay organized and motivated.
• Student profiles and bios: Students can create profiles and bios, fostering a sense of community and helping to build a “classroom” culture in the virtual world.

Monetization options

You can offer your courses via subscriptions or for a single payment with Ruzuku. You can also make compelling sales pages to take the guesswork out of promotion.

Pricing

You can get started with Ruzuku for free with up to5 students. Paid programs start at $99/month for unlimited students.

General impression

Ruzuku is praised for its clean and professional look, and the resources it offers to help set up and launch courses.

However, some users have mentioned that the course design aspect can be complex and time-consuming. Overall, it’s seen as a user-friendly platform with great customer support.

11. Skillshare

Skillshare is an online learning platform that encourages you to explore new skills, deepen existing passions, and get lost in creativity.

It offers a wide range of courses and is designed for real-life learning that fits people’s regular routines.

Features

• Wide-range of courses: Skillshare offers a broad spectrum of courses across various disciplines. This diversity allows students to explore and learn about a wide range of topics all in one place.
• Real projects to create: Skillshare courses often include real projects for students to work on. This hands-on approach helps students apply what they’ve learned and gain practical experience.
• Support of fellow-creatives: Skillshare fosters a community of creatives who support and learn from each other. This collaborative environment can enhance the learning experience and provide valuable networking opportunities.

Monetization options

Teachers are paid via royalties based on the number of class minutes watched each month.

Pricing

Skillshare operates on a subscription model. The price for a Skillshare Premium membership is $19 per month or $99 per year.

General impression

Skillshare is a community-driven platform that’s great for creators who want to share their knowledge and skills with a creative and engaged audience. Its unique royalty-based payment model can provide a steady income stream for popular courses.

12. Zenler

Zenler is a new comprehensive online course platform that empowers you to establish and grow your online education business all in one place.

It provides a multitude of features for course creation and learner engagement, such as a user-friendly drag and drop course builder, live instruction capabilities, quizzes and assignments, certification options, and community-building tools.

Features

• All-in-one platform: Provides the tools you need to create, manage, and sell your online courses in one place.
• Flexible course builder: The course builder is flexible and user-friendly, allowing you to create courses that meet your specific needs and preferences.
• Ability to offer live classes: Offer live classes in addition to pre-recorded courses. This can provide a more interactive and engaging learning experience for your students.
• Inbuilt funnel building tools: Includes funnel building tools to help you create effective sales and marketing funnels for your courses.
• Handles EU VAT natively: Handles EU VAT natively, simplifying the process of managing taxes for your online course sales.

Monetization options

Zenler provides flexible pricing options and a 1-step checkout process. It also offers a sales funnel builder, email marketing tools, and affiliate marketing features.

Pricing

Zenler offers two plans, starting at $67/month. They include no transaction fees, unlimited students, and unlimited courses.

General impression

Zenler is a comprehensive platform that combines course creation tools with marketing and community-building features. It’s a good choice for creators who want to manage all aspects of their online course business in one place.

13. SendOwl

SendOwl is a platform designed to support creators and businesses of all shapes and sizes. It makes it easy for you to sell digital products directly to your audience from your blog, social media, or anywhere you can paste a link.

Features

• Sell digital products: SendOwl allows you to sell a variety of digital products, including online courses, ebooks, software, and more. This makes it a versatile platform for online entrepreneurs.
• Scale your marketing: Offers tools to help you scale your marketing efforts as your business grows. This can help you reach a larger audience and increase your sales.
• Analyze and manage: Analytics and management tools to help you track sales, manage products, and understand customer behavior.
• Integration with apps: SendOwl can be integrated with popular apps like Linktree, Notion, Shopify, and Stripe. This allows you to streamline your workflow and manage different aspects of your business in one place.

Monetization options

SendOwl offers a range of monetization options, including the ability to sell digital products, memberships, subscriptions, drip content, audio, video, livestream, and more.

Pricing

There’s a free trial available for SendOwl so you can get a sense of its features before committing. After that, pricing starts at $9/month.

General impression

SendOwl is a versatile platform that supports the sale of digital products. It’s a good choice for course creators who also want to sell ebooks, software, or other digital items.

Its fast and secure delivery features ensure a smooth purchasing experience for your students.

14. TrainerCentral

TrainerCentral is an all-in-one training platform designed to empower trainers and educators to create and deliver engaging online courses. It allows you to build your knowledge brand, impress learners worldwide, and turn your passion into your livelihood.

Features

• Unified platform: Tools include a website builder, a payment system, and diverse options for crafting online courses.
• Flexible course design: Share your knowledge in various ways, through self-guided modules, live virtual classes, or face-to-face programs.
• Community nurturing: A platform to build and sustain your own learning community, fostering enduring trust and rapport.
• Essential business tools: Provides the tools to bolster your training profession, including an intuitive website builder, customizable branding options, and efficient payment management.
• Data-driven insights: A comprehensive dashboard delivers in-depth analytics on subscription patterns, learner progress, and course feedback.

Monetization options

You can select from different methods to collect payment including one-time payments, subscriptions, and custom payments.

Pricing

You can get started with TrainerCentral for free, as it offers a free plan for up to 3 courses. If your needs are more complex, pricing starts at $20/month.

General impression

TrainerCentral is a platform designed specifically for trainers and coaches. Its features for course creation, community building, and business management make it a comprehensive solution for professionals in the training and coaching industry.

What is the best place to sell online courses?

Choosing the right platform to sell your online courses is a crucial step in your journey as an online course creator. Each platform has its unique strengths and caters to different needs.

Whether you’re looking for a comprehensive all-in-one solution like Simplero or a flexible and customizable platform like WordPress, the key is to choose a platform that aligns with your business goals.

Remember, the best platform to sell online courses is the one that makes it easy for you to create, manage, and sell your courses, while also providing a seamless and enjoyable learning experience for your students.

So take your time, do your research, and choose a platform that feels right for you.

In the end, the success of your online course business depends not just on the platform you choose, but also on the quality of your courses, your marketing efforts, and your dedication to providing value to your students.

Choose wisely, create passionately, and here’s to your success in the world of online courses!