How We Match You With the Right Course Platform
Our quiz evaluates five course platforms across 20 scoring dimensions. What you're selling (courses only vs mixed products vs memberships) carries 25% weight because platforms are optimized very differently for these models. Built-in marketing needs carry 20% because this is the biggest cost and complexity differentiator — Kajabi's all-in-one approach at $149/mo vs Thinkific's course-focused approach at $36/mo represents fundamentally different business strategies.
The 5 Course Platforms in Our Quiz
Teachable is the most popular online course platform with over 100,000 creators and more than $1 billion in course sales processed. The drag-and-drop course builder, quizzes, completion certificates, and branded mobile app make it the most proven option for selling structured online courses.
Kajabi is the premium all-in-one platform for serious knowledge businesses doing $10K+/mo. It includes website builder, email marketing, sales funnels, podcasting, and community features — replacing 5+ separate tools. The $149/mo price tag pays for itself when you factor in the subscriptions it eliminates.
Thinkific stands out with a genuinely useful free plan — launch one course with unlimited students at zero cost. Paid plans start at $36/mo with zero transaction fees, meaning you keep 100% of your revenue minus payment processing. The best option for testing a course idea with no financial risk.
Podia is the simplest way to sell multiple digital product types — courses, downloads, memberships, and coaching — from one clean storefront. Built-in email marketing and zero transaction fees make it ideal for creators selling a mix of products rather than courses exclusively.
Gumroad charges zero monthly fees and takes a 10% cut of sales. This makes it the lowest-risk way to start selling digital products — you pay nothing until you earn something. Ideal for testing whether your course idea has market demand before committing to a monthly subscription.
Course Platform Pricing Comparison 2026
| Platform | Starting Price | Transaction Fee | Best For | Key Strength |
|---|
| Teachable | $39/mo | 5% on basic | Online courses | Most proven course builder |
| Kajabi | $149/mo | 0% | Knowledge businesses | All-in-one platform |
| Thinkific | Free–$36/mo | 0% | First-time creators | Best free plan |
| Podia | $33/mo | 0% on paid plans | Mixed digital products | Simplest multi-product store |
| Gumroad | Free | 10% | Testing ideas | Zero upfront cost |
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best platform for selling online courses?
Teachable is the most popular and proven option for dedicated online courses. If you need marketing tools built in, Kajabi replaces multiple subscriptions. If you're just starting out, Thinkific's free plan lets you launch with zero cost. The "best" depends on your stage, budget, and what else you're selling alongside courses.
How much can I earn selling online courses?
Revenue varies enormously based on niche, audience size, and pricing. Solo creators commonly earn $1,000-10,000/month. Established course businesses with marketing systems in place often generate $10,000-100,000+/month. The key factors are audience size, course pricing (typically $50-500 for self-paced, $500-5,000 for cohort-based), and email list quality.
Should I use a course platform or just sell through my own website?
Course platforms handle video hosting, student progress tracking, payment processing, and content dripping — all things you'd need to build or integrate yourself on a custom site. For most creators, the time saved is worth the monthly fee. Custom solutions only make sense once you're at significant scale and have development resources.
Do I need Kajabi or is Teachable enough?
Teachable is enough if you already have separate tools for email marketing, website, and sales funnels. Kajabi makes sense when you're paying $50+/mo across multiple tools and want to consolidate everything into one platform. Do the math — if your current tool stack costs more than $149/mo total, Kajabi saves money while simplifying operations.