Best Online Course Platforms 2026
Pricing and features last verified April 2026
Online course platforms handle hosting, payments, and student management. But they differ in philosophy — some are marketplaces that bring students, others are standalone platforms where you build your brand. We evaluated Teachable, Thinkific, Kajabi, Podia, and Udemy across pricing, features, and which creator types they serve best.
Quick Comparison
| Platform | Starting Price | Type | Best For | Free Trial | Transaction Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teachable | $39/mo | Course builder | Online courses | 7 days | 5% on basic |
| Kajabi | $149/mo | All-in-one | Knowledge businesses | 14 days | 0% |
| Thinkific | Free–$36/mo | Course builder | First-time creators | Free tier | 0% |
| Podia | $33/mo | Multi-product | Mixed digital products | 30 days | 0% on paid |
| Gumroad | Free | Digital storefront | Testing ideas | N/A | 10% |
What Actually Matters When Choosing
Marketplace vs standalone is the fundamental choice. Udemy has built-in traffic but takes a large revenue share. Standalone platforms keep more revenue but you bring your own audience.
All-in-one vs course-only matters. Kajabi includes email, website, and community. Teachable and Thinkific focus on courses. Don't pay for features you already have elsewhere.
Transaction fees eat into margins. Teachable Basic charges 5%. Thinkific charges 0% on all paid plans. A 5% fee on $200 courses with 100 students/month costs $1,000/month.
Our Take on Each Platform
Teachable is the easiest for creating courses. Intuitive builder and polished checkout at $39/month (5% fee) or $119/month (0%). Best for individual creators.
Thinkific is the best free-start option. Free plan with one course, unlimited students, 0% fees. At $49/month paid. Best for testing course ideas before investing.
Kajabi is the all-in-one creator platform. Courses, email, website, and community at $149/month. Best for established creators wanting one platform for everything.
Podia is the simplest all-in-one. Courses, downloads, and community at $39/month. Best for creators wanting simplicity over power.
Udemy is the marketplace. 50+ million students, no marketing needed. Trade-off is pricing control and revenue share. Best for passive income without building your own audience.
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Detailed comparison pages coming soon. In the meantime, take our quiz for a personalized recommendation.
Head-to-Head Comparisons
Dive deeper into how specific platforms stack up:
Best By Use Case
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best platform for selling courses?
Teachable is the most popular for dedicated courses. Kajabi replaces multiple tools if you need built-in marketing. Thinkific's free plan lets you launch with zero cost.
How much can I earn selling online courses?
Solo creators commonly earn $1,000-10,000/month. Established businesses often generate $10K-100K+/month. Key factors are audience size, pricing ($50-500 for self-paced, $500-5,000 for cohort), and email list quality.
Should I use Kajabi or Teachable?
Teachable is enough if you already have email marketing and website tools. Kajabi makes sense when your current tool stack costs more than $149/mo total — it consolidates everything.