Comparison of the 9 most popular digital course platforms
Creating a course is a fantastic way to scale your business and serve a larger audience. But if you are just building your first online course or you’re already a course creator and are considering switching course hosting platforms, you might be feeling a little overwhelmed about which course platform to choose.
When comparing the nine most popular online course platforms, it's essential to consider factors such as ease of use, customization options, pricing, marketing tools, and customer support. Each platform has its own strengths and weaknesses, so it's crucial to align your specific needs with what each one offers. By thoroughly researching and understanding these platforms, you can make an informed decision that will help you scale your business and reach a larger audience effectively.
And if you’ve already got your website built out on Squarespace you might also be wondering which course platform integrates best with your existing tech.
In this post, I’ll be comparing a few of the most popular digital course platforms so you can make a more informed decision about which one is right for your, your budget, and your business.
Let's dive into our course platform comparison
Because who’s got time to test out ALL the course options out there?
Well, me actually!
I’ve tested ALL of the course platforms listed below as a customer and most of them as a course creator, so I’m sharing personal opinions here as well as helpful info on the different features of each platform. I really hope it helps make your choice a bit easier :)
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Squarespace Member's Area
If you’ve already got your website built on Squarespace you may be considering simply hosting your course on their gated member’s area. The inbuilt member’s area in Squarespace is essentially a password-protected section of your website where you can host your course content. It’s a great choice for a simple, low-budget way to get started with creating courses but isn’t the most flexible option if you’re planning on running a complex membership or a large number of courses. There also aren't options for affiliate marketing or building a more complex learning experience, there is the advantage that your course website is hosted on your own website.
Here are the pros and cons of Squarespace’s Members Area:
✅ Email Marketing: Your membership area emails can be sent using Squarespace’s in-built email marketing system which keeps things nice and simple
❌ Affiliate Program: Squarespace doesn’t have a built-in affiliate program, but you can set this up using a third-party software called Peaches
✅ Landing Pages: This is Squarespace’s strong suit and you can build stunning landing pages directly on your website!
✅ Membership Option: Squarespace market this as a membership portal and it works well for a simple content-focused membership model
❌Tripwires: You’ll be using Squarespace e-commerce for your checkout which unfortunately doesn’t have tripwire functionality, but you can always upsell other offers inside your course!
ThriveCart Learn
Learn from ThriveCart is an excellent option if you already use ThriveCart for your checkout cart. Learn is easy to use, very customizable, and works seamlessly with your email marketing platform and obviously with ThriveCart for your checkout.
It’s also very simple to embed your checkout into your Squarespace sales pages by simply adding the cart link to a button (this is what I use to for my template shop!)
As an extra bonus, there is no monthly fee for ThriveCart, and the basic version Learn is included for free with your ThriveCart one-time purchase, with an optional one-time upgrade fee if you want to unlock more features. It is a higher investment at first, but over time with no monthly fees, it makes a lot more sense cost-wise since you'll be able to create unlimited courses. Even for earlier-stage course creators, it doesn't seem too hard for your course sales to quickly pay back this sort of investment!
Here are the pros and cons of ThriveCart Learn:
❌ Email Marketing: ThriveCart does a lot but it doesn't do email marketing, however, it’s very easy to connect your email marketing software of choice to your cart and courses
✅ Affiliate Program: If you opt for the Pro version of ThriveCart you can create a robust affiliate program for your course, including an affiliate asset library in your ThriveCart account
✅ Landing Pages: In addition to creating fantastic carts, ThriveCart can also be used to make your landing pages with your checkout embedded directly into the page for even easier purchasing!
✅ Membership Option: You can easily set up recurring membership payments for any product in your library and continue to add content to your membership as you go
✅ Tripwires: This is another place ThriveCart shines, with a countdown timer option built into the landing page builder you can easily create a tripwire product and connect it to your lead magnet.
You can read my in-depth review of ThriveCart Learn right here.
Teachery
Teachery is a design-forward course platform with a lot to love. It was created by the husband and wife team behind Wandering Aimfully and is a beautiful, user-friendly course platform that will delight course creators and students alike. (Oh, and if you decide to join Jason and Caroline Zook in the Wandering Aimfully online community you’ll get lifetime access to Teachery, which is pretty cool!).
This design-focused learning platform offers a wide range of course templates and almost unlimited customization, which means you can style your individual courses to look completely different if you want.
Here are the pros and cons of Teachery:
❌ Email Marketing: While Teachery doesn’t come with a full email marketing system, you can send course notification emails easily through their built-in email system.
✅ Affiliate Program: It’s super easy to start and share your affiliate program in Teachery as soon as you’ve created your course you’ll be able to invite partners to share it.
✅ Landing Pages: You can build out nice, if a bit simple, landing pages to promote your course in Teachery or simply use their checkout and link to your sales page in Squarespace.
✅ Membership Option: It's easy to manage your membership with the courses and checkouts native to Teachery.
❌ Tripwires: At the moment, you can't add tripwire offers, however, you can now add bump offers to your checkout pages to increase your purchase totals.
Podia
Podia is a pretty cost-effective option for course creators, looks nice out of the box and is super easy to use. They have a powerful built-in membership option on their higher-up plans and a solid affiliate program setup for your digital products and courses. The basic plan is quite robust and they're investing heavily in offering further digital marketing tools such as website builders and email list management.
Here are the pros and cons of Podia:
✅ Email Marketing: There is a relatively simple email marketing software option included in your Podia account which is great for when you’re getting started
✅ Affiliate Program: You can easily set up your affiliate program to start paying for those lovely referrals to your new course
✅ Landing Pages: You can build a simple landing page to sell your course, though there aren’t a lot of customization options available so be prepared to play with what they have
✅ Membership Option: Setting up a membership on a subscription plan is very straight-forward
❌ Tripwires: Podia doesn’t have a tripwire option so you won’t be able to offer a limited-time discount on your course
Kajabi
Kajabi is a robust all-in-one option, but it is also fairly pricey for newer course creators. Because Kajabi has many built-in features and extras, it can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming for people who aren’t necessarily technologically savvy and some of the features are a little less established than others.
Kajabi as the big name creator's pick for best online course platform, though that may be influenced by their generous affiliate program. However, even on the lower pricing plans, Kajabi is one of the most expensive options on the market so it's worth trying to snag a free trial before committing to this online course builder.
Here are the pros and cons of Kajabi:
✅ Email Marketing: There is a relatively good email marketing option inside of Kajabi that does all of the tagging and segmenting you’ll likely need as a newer course creator
✅ Affiliate Program: Kajabi has a nice affiliate program system with a good amount of control over your affiliate settings
✅ Landing Pages: There is a pretty good level of design control in Kajabi, though as a designer I can always tell when a sales page as been built there as there are some limitations in the design functionality
✅ Membership Option: This is where Kajabi shines! Creating a complex membership with dripped content and gated areas is all possible and relatively easy to set up
✅ Tripwires: You can easily set up a tripwire with a limited-time discount in Kajabi
New Zenler
New Zenler is a great alternative to Kajabi that’s also an all-in-one solution but is a bit easier to use for less techy course creators. One of the interesting features of Zenler is the ability to host live classes and live interactive webinars. With video courses and video content being the industry standard for online course creators, New Zenler's features are quite attractive if you plan on focusing on delivering live online learning experiences.
Here are the pros and cons of Zenler:
✅ Email Marketing: Zenler has a built-in email marketing option that’s a great start for new course creators, much like Kajabi’s,
✅ Affiliate Program: It’s very easy to set up your affiliate program and bring in affiliate partners with their system
✅ Landing Pages: Again, like Kajabi you can build out your sales pages in Zenler, though there is some design limitations you’ll have to contend with.
✅ Membership Option: Creating a membership and taking subscription payments is super easy in Zenler
✅ Tripwires: Adding a tripwire or limited-time offer is simple and easy to set up in the Zenler builder
Kartra
Another all-in-one option and alternative is Kartra, which includes a lot of features and can replace a lot of separate programs that you might be using now, though the monthly fees are high for a newer course creator. Perhaps one of the lesser known online learning platforms, Kartra may well be with considering as their course management systems are very user friendly and it's drag and drop course builder is quite intuitive to learn.
Here are the pros and cons of Kartra:
✅ Email Marketing: Pretty straightforward email marketing build in that’s great for newer course creators
✅ Affiliate Program: Kartra comes with an affiliate program option ready to go
✅ Landing Pages: Setting up and designing nice landing pages to sell your offers in Kartra is simple, though there isn’t a ton of flexibility when it comes to design.
✅ Membership Option: You can create a subscription-based membership easily in Kardtra
✅ Tripwires: Setting up tripwire offers is simple and straightforward
Teachable
Another popular course creation software option is Teachable. They don’t include email marketing abilities, but honestly, it’s better to keep that separate and use ConvertKit or ActiveCampaign anyway.
Also quite popular in the online course creation community, Teachable has a relatively good mobile app for students to watch your content or access their digital downloads on the go. However, the login process and premium pricing make it a challenging choice for those offering lower-cost or even free courses to grow their email lists.
Here are the pros and cons of Teachable:
❌ Email Marketing: Teachable doesn’t include an email marketing system, but as I said earlier this isn’t exactly a strike against them as a dedicated system is usually the best way to go anyway
✅ Affiliate Program: Teachable comes with a native affiliate program that makes it easy to share commissions with your affiliates
✅ Landing Pages: Designing simple landing pages is possible in Teachable, though they are very limited in design potential
✅ Membership Option: Setting up a membership is easy with Teachable
❌ Tripwires: Tripwires aren’t natively supported with Teachable
MemberVault
A rising star in the course platform market is MemberVault. Focused on creating supportive and interactive member experiences, MemberVault’s unique selling point is their integrated forms where you can gather customer responses straight from your courses.
While integrations are still a little limited, if you’re looking for a high-touch member experience, MemberVault is well worth considering. You can also play with gamifying your course experience and get granular data on your customer progress.
Here are the pros and cons of MemberVault:
❌ Email Marketing: MemberVault doesn’t include an email marketing system and has limited direct integrations, however you can connect your email system of choice using Zapier.
✅ Affiliate Program: MemberVault does come with an affiliate program, though many users choose who use an external cart software opt to use that for their affiliate programs for more granular control.
✅ Landing Pages: There’s a lot of flexibility with the landing page builder and they even boast you could host your entire website on MemberVault, though I’d advise keeping your own website if you’re using it for anything beyond selling your courses.
✅ Membership Option: This is where MemberVault shines! It was built for memberships and has lots of advanced features to engage your members.
✅ Tripwires: You can set up upsells and course bundles inside their dashboard to share more offers with your buyers.
Tips for choosing between online course platforms
Which each of these course builder platforms has their pros and cons, so deciding which is the right fit for your online course business is as much about comparing their features as deciding what you are looking for.
Comparing features with your specific needs
All learning management systems offer a variety of features and support for course creators. From customizable course builders to integrated marketing tools and robust customer support, these platforms cater to the needs of online educators. Features like email marketing, sales pages, and membership sites streamline the course creation process, while dedicated support teams ensure a smooth experience for both creators and students. Choosing the right online course platform with the best features and support is crucial for success in the online education industry.
When considering online course platforms for newer creators, Kartra and Teachable stand out as popular options. Kartra offers an affiliate program, easy setup of landing pages, subscription-based membership creation, and straightforward tripwire offers. On the other hand, Teachable provides a native affiliate program, simple landing page design, easy membership setup, but lacks support for tripwires.
Some may be enticed by the "all in one" features of Kajabo, however, the high price can desuade many. On the other hand, ThriveCart Learn's one-time lifetime deal is very attractive for course creators wanting to reduce overheads.
Ultimately, choosing between these platforms involves comparing features based on your specific needs and preferences.
Categories of Online Course Platforms
Online course platforms can be categorized based on their features and offerings. Some platforms focus on course creation tools, while others emphasize marketing features. Additionally, certain platforms cater to specific needs like membership sites or educational institutions. Understanding the categories can help course creators choose the right online course platform that aligns with their goals and requirements. Each category offers unique benefits and functionalities tailored to different types of online courses and audiences.
Pricing Models of Popular Online Course Platforms
When selecting an online course platform, understanding the pricing models is crucial. Various platforms offer different structures such as monthly subscriptions, transaction fees, or a combination of both. Some platforms provide a free plan with limited features, while others offer tiered pricing based on the level of functionality needed. It's essential to compare the pricing models of different platforms to find the best fit for your budget and requirements.
Conclusion
No matter what digital course platform you choose, it’s important to make sure it will work for you, your product suite, and your business. But, don’t forget your client or student experience!
Frequently Asked Questions:
How much do online course platforms cost?
Online course platforms vary in cost depending on the features and services they offer. Pricing models can include monthly subscriptions, one-time fees, or a combination of both. Typically you could expect to spend $40-50 a month for a beginner plan on most online course software, however that will vary according to their various features and pricing models. Some platforms even offer free plans with limited functionality. It's essential to compare pricing models to find the best fit for your budget and goals.
Should I put my course on an online course marketplace or sell it myself on my website?
Putting your course on a course marketplace or selling it on your website each has its own advantages and considerations. Selling your course on a marketplace like Udemy or Skillshare can give you access to a large audience already leveraging the platform for learning, potentially increasing exposure and sales. However, you may have to adhere to the marketplace's pricing structure and rules.
On the other hand, selling it on your website gives you more control over pricing, branding, and student data but requires significant effort in marketing and driving traffic to your site. Consider your goals, target audience, and resources before making a decision.
How do you launch your first online course?
Launching your first online course requires careful planning and execution to ensure its success. Here are some steps to consider:
1. Define Your Course Topic: Choose a topic that you are knowledgeable and passionate about, ensuring there is demand in the market for it.
2. Create High-Quality Content: Develop engaging and informative course material that adds value to your target audience.
3. Choose the Right Platform: Select an online course platform that aligns with your budget, features, and business goals.
4. Market Your Course: Utilize social media, email marketing, SEO, and other strategies to promote your course
What are the top online course platforms available today?
Some of the top online course platforms available today are Udemy, Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, Skillshare, Teachable, Kajabi, Thinkific, Podia, and LearnWorlds. Each platform offers unique features and course structures to cater to different learning styles and preferences.
