Hello, ambitious, driven and visionary entrepreneurs! I’ve been where you are. Bursting with knowledge, dying to share it with the world, but stuck on the “how.” How do you package your expertise into a profitable online course? Well, I’ve got good news. The world of online course platforms is your oyster, and I’m here to help you pick the perfect pearl.
Think of me as your trusty compass, guiding you through the sea of options to find the platform that fits like a glove. Whether you’re a tech whiz or a digital newbie, there’s a course platform out there that’ll make your online teaching dreams a reality. So, ready to dive in and discover your match made in online course heaven?
Contents
- The 11 Best Online Course Platforms for 2024
- What Is an Online Course Platform?
- So, why go with an online course platform anyway?
- How to Choose the Best Online Course Platform
- Mighty Networks
- Thinkific
- Teachable
- Kajabi
- Podia
- LinkedIn Learning
- Coursera
- Academy of Mine
- FAQs in Relation to Online Course Platforms
- Conclusion
The 11 Best Online Course Platforms for 2024
Looking for the best online course platform to launch your digital learning empire in 2024? You’re in the right place. As someone who’s been creating and selling courses for years, I know firsthand that the platform you choose can make or break your success.
But with so many options out there, it can be overwhelming to figure out which one is the best fit for your needs. That’s why I’ve done the heavy lifting for you and rounded up the top 11 online course platforms that are dominating the market this year.
Whether you’re a seasoned course creator or just getting started, these platforms offer a range of features to help you create engaging online courses, market them effectively, and deliver a top-notch learning experience to your students. No matter what you’re after—be it an all-rounder toolset or something more targeted for distinct needs—we’ve laid out options for every kind of user.
So, if you’re ready to take your online course game to the next level and sell online courses like a pro, keep reading. I’m here to walk you through the standout aspects, cost details, and what makes each option a winner so that choosing where to build your course feels like a breeze instead of a headache.
Trust me, choosing the right learning platform is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as a course creator. But don’t worry, I’ve got your back. Let’s dive in and find the perfect platform to bring your course vision to life.
What Is an Online Course Platform?
If you’re new to the world of online courses, you might be wondering what exactly an online course platform is. In a nutshell, it’s a software tool that allows you to create, host, and sell your digital courses all in one place.
Think of it like a virtual classroom where you can upload your course content, engage with your students, and manage your course business from a single dashboard. The best online course platforms offer a range of features to help you create a seamless learning experience for your students, from engagement features like interactive quizzes and assignments to discussion forums and live coaching sessions and mobile app to take the course on your mobile phone.
But an online course platform is more than just a tool for delivering your content. Think of it as not only expanding how many people hear about what awesome stuff you’re doing but also as a way to shine up that reputation of yours and see real gains from sharing what you know best.
With marketing features like email marketing, affiliate programs, and payment options for multiple types of payment gateway, you can setup sales funnels and can automate your course sales and focus on what you do best – creating awesome content and engaging with your students.
Now, I know what you might be thinking. Can’t I just host my course on my own website or another generic learning platforms? Well, you could, but you’d be missing out on the specialized key features and support that online course platforms offer. Plus, unless you are like me and can set up all the key features, engagement features and functionality you will not likely be able to create the same experience that the established online course platforms have already invested in giving your students the best experience.
Plus, using a dedicated platform signals to your students that you’re serious about delivering a high-quality learning experience. It’s like the difference between teaching a class in your living room versus a state-of-the-art lecture hall – it just feels more professional and legit.
So, why go with an online course platform anyway?
So, you’re convinced that an online course platform is the way to go. But why exactly should you use one? What are the benefits of investing in a dedicated tool for your course business?
As someone who’s been in the online course game for a while, I can tell you that there are plenty of reasons to choose a specialized platform over a generic website or learning management system. Here are just a few of the top benefits:
- All-in-one convenience: With an online course platform, you can handle every aspect of your course business from a single dashboard. From creating content to processing payments via the payment gateways the platform will process for you, to analyzing your sales data, everything is streamlined and integrated. Forget about having to bounce around multiple apps or plugins.
- Specialized features: Online course platforms are designed specifically for creating and selling courses, which means they offer features you won’t find anywhere else. Things like course progress tracking, drip content, and completion certificates and mobile app are all built-in and easy to set up.
- Marketing and sales tools: Most online course platforms come with a suite of marketing tools and sales features like sales funnels, landing pages to help you promote your course and generate revenue. From email marketing and affiliate programs to coupon codes and upsells, you’ll have everything you need to get your course in front of the right people and convince them to buy.
- Student engagement: The best online course platforms make it easy to engage with your students and foster a sense of community around your course. With features like discussion forums, live coaching, and gamification, you can create an interactive learning experience that keeps your students motivated and coming back for more.
- Professional credibility: Using a dedicated online course platform sends a signal to your potential students that you’re serious about delivering a high-quality educational experience. Sprucing up your course business with a dash of professionalism and credibility really makes you shine in a sea of competitors.
Of course, every course creator’s needs are different, and what works for one person might not be the best fit for another. That’s why it’s so important to do your research and choose a platform that aligns with your specific goals and requirements.
But in general, if you’re serious about creating and selling online courses, investing in a specialized platform is a smart move. It will save you time, help you deliver a better learning experience, and ultimately, boost your course sales and revenue.
Key Takeaway:
Choosing the right online course platform can skyrocket your success in 2024. From all-in-one solutions to niche tools, there’s a perfect fit for everyone. Let these platforms help you create, market, and sell engaging courses with ease.
How to Choose the Best Online Course Platform
Choosing the right online course platform is a critical decision that can make or break your online teaching business. With so many options out there, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.
As someone who’s been in the online course game for a while, I know firsthand how important it is to pick a platform that aligns with your goals and needs. It’s not just about the features and pricing – it’s about finding a tool that empowers you to create engaging learning experiences for your students.
Determine Your Goals and Needs
Before diving into the nitty-gritty of features and pricing, take a step back and think about your big-picture goals. What do you want to achieve with your online courses? Are you looking to build a thriving community around your content, or do you simply want a straightforward way to sell courses online?
Your goals will shape your priorities when evaluating different platforms. For example, if fostering student engagement is a top priority, you’ll want to look for a platform with robust community features like forums, live video, and private messaging. On the flip side, if your main focus is creating and selling courses at scale, you might prioritize platforms with advanced marketing tools and integrations.
Consider Your Budget
Let’s face it – budget is always a factor when making business decisions. Online course platforms come at various price points, from free plans with limited features to premium all-in-one solutions that can cost hundreds of dollars per month.
Be realistic about what you can afford, but also consider the long-term value of investing in a platform that will grow with you. While it might be tempting to start with a free or low-cost option, you could end up outgrowing it quickly as your online course business takes off. Think about your budget not just in terms of monthly costs, but also in terms of the time and resources you’ll save by choosing a platform with the right features and support for your needs.
Look for Essential Features
While every course creator’s needs are unique, there are some essential features to look for in any online course platform. These include:
- Course creation tools: Look for a platform with an intuitive course builder that supports a variety of content types, from videos and audio files to quizzes and assignments.
- Student management: You’ll want tools to easily enroll and communicate with students, track their progress, and manage payments and refunds.
- Marketing and sales features: To successfully sell your courses, look for a platform with built-in marketing tools like landing pages, email campaigns, and affiliate programs.
- Reporting and analytics: Make sure the platform provides robust reporting on student engagement, course sales, and other key metrics so you can continually optimize your offerings.
Evaluate Ease of Use
An online course platform is only as good as your ability to use it effectively. When evaluating different options, consider how easy (or difficult) it is to navigate the platform, create and organize your course content, and manage day-to-day tasks like enrolling students and processing payments.
Look for platforms with intuitive, user-friendly interfaces and helpful resources like knowledge bases, tutorials, and customer support. The last thing you want is to invest in a platform only to struggle with technical headaches and a steep learning curve.
Check for Integrations
No online course platform is an island. To create a seamless experience for you and your students, you’ll want a platform that integrates with the other tools and systems you rely on. This might include your email marketing service, payment processor, customer relationship management (CRM) system, or social media accounts.
When evaluating platforms, check for pre-built integrations with popular tools like ConvertKit, Stripe, Salesforce, and Facebook. The more your course platform can “talk to” the rest of your tech stack, the more efficiently you’ll be able to run and grow your business.
Assess Marketing and Sales Tools
Creating an amazing online course is only half the battle – you also need to get it in front of the right people and convince them to enroll. That’s where marketing and sales tools come in.
Look for a platform that offers built-in features to help you market and sell your courses, such as:
- Landing page builder: Easily create professional-looking sales pages to showcase your courses and drive enrollments.
- Email marketing: Send targeted campaigns to promote your courses, nurture leads, and engage your students.
- Affiliate management: Recruit affiliates to help promote your courses and manage commissions and payouts.
- Coupon codes and discounts: Offer promotions and incentives to encourage enrollments and reward loyal students.
The more robust your platform’s marketing and sales tools, the less you’ll have to rely on third-party solutions (and the more seamlessly you’ll be able to execute your growth strategy).
Review Customer Support
Even the most user-friendly online course platform will require some level of support at times. Whether you have a question about a particular feature or need help troubleshooting a technical issue, it’s important to know that you can count on responsive, knowledgeable customer support.
When evaluating platforms, look for ones that offer multiple support channels (such as email, phone, and live chat) and have a reputation for quick response times and helpful, friendly service. Bonus points if they offer resources like a knowledge base, community forum, or training webinars to help you get the most out of the platform.
Choosing the right online course platform is a big decision, but it doesn’t have to be a stressful one. By clarifying your goals, priorities, and budget – and carefully evaluating each platform’s features, ease of use, integrations, and customer support – you can find the perfect tool to help you create, market, and sell your courses with confidence.
Mighty Networks
If you’re looking to build a thriving community around your online courses, Mighty Networks is a platform worth considering. More than just a tool for hosting and selling courses, Mighty Networks is designed to help you create a vibrant membership site where your students can connect, collaborate, and learn together.
One of the standout features of Mighty Networks is its focus on engagement features. In addition to traditional course content like videos and PDFs, you can create polls, quizzes, and discussion prompts to keep your students actively involved. You can also host live events, like webinars and Q&A sessions, and even charge for access to exclusive content or experiences.
Another big selling point of Mighty Networks is its all-in-one approach. With this platform, you can build your community, offer online courses, and even sell digital products and subscriptions – all in one place. This can be a big time-saver compared to juggling multiple tools and platforms.
Mighty Networks also offers some handy features for marketing and growing your community. You can set up a free trial or freemium plan to give potential members a taste of what your community has to offer, and use the platform’s built-in email and notification tools to keep your members engaged and coming back for more.
One potential downside of Mighty Networks is the price tag. Paid plan that includes online courses start at $99/month, which may be a stretch for course creators just starting out. However, if you’re serious about building a robust membership site and online course business, the cost may be well worth it for the features and support you get.
Overall, if creating a engaged community is a top priority for your online course business, Mighty Networks is definitely worth checking out. Its combination of course creation tools, community features, and marketing features make it a strong contender in the world of online course platforms.
Thinkific
Thinkific is a popular online course platform that offers a range of features to help you create, market, and sell your courses with ease. One of the biggest advantages of Thinkific is its user-friendly course builder, which allows you to drag and drop your content to create professional-looking courses without any coding or design skills.
In addition to the standard features you’d expect from an online course platform (like the ability to host videos, create quizzes, and offer downloadable resources), Thinkific also offers some handy tools for engaging your students and fostering a sense of community. For example, you can use the platform’s discussion forums and live chat features to encourage students to interact with you and each other, and create completion certificates to recognize and reward your students’ achievements.
Another standout feature of Thinkific is its flexibility when it comes to pricing and packaging your courses. You can offer your courses for free, charge a one-time fee, or set up a recurring subscription. You can also bundle your courses together or offer them as part of a membership site. This makes it easy to experiment with different pricing strategies to find what works best for your audience and goals.
Thinkific also offers some solid marketing and sales features to help you get your courses in front of the right people. You can create landing pages, set up email campaigns, and even offer affiliate marketing programs to incentivize others to promote your courses. Plus, with integrations to popular tools like ConvertKit, Zapier, and Google Analytics, you can streamline your marketing efforts and get a better understanding of what’s working (and what’s not).
One potential downside of Thinkific is that some of the more advanced features (like the ability to create custom certificates or offer live lessons) are only available on the higher-priced plans. However, with plans starting at just $49/month, Thinkific is still a relatively affordable option for most course creators.
Overall, Thinkific is a solid choice for anyone looking to create and sell online courses. With its user-friendly course builder, flexible pricing options, and robust marketing and community features, it’s a platform that can grow with you as your online course business takes off.
Key Takeaway:
Choosing the right platform means matching your goals, budget, and needs with what’s out there. Look for user-friendly features that let you create awesome courses and tools to market them effectively. Don’t forget about support; having a good team behind you can make all the difference.
Teachable
If you’re looking to create an online school with advanced marketing features, Teachable might just be the platform for you. I’ve personally used Teachable to sell online courses and can attest to its ease of use and powerful features. Dive into the world where marketing meets education; that’s what Teachable offers by allowing course makers access to an enthusiastic group set on promoting their educational content far and wide.
You can set custom commission rates and track your affiliates’ performance directly from your dashboard. This can be a game-changer for driving sales and expanding your reach. Teachable also offers a website builder that allows you to create a professional-looking site for your online school without any coding knowledge.
You can choose from a variety of customizable templates and even use your own domain name. Whether you’re pinching pennies or ready to splurge, Teachable‘s got a plan that’ll fit just right. The free plan allows you to create unlimited courses, but you’ll be charged a $1 + 10% transaction fee on all course sales.
Paid plan starts at $39/month and offer additional features like custom domains, coupon codes, and advanced reporting. The higher-tier plans also remove transaction fees, so you can keep more of your course revenue. One thing to keep in mind is that Teachable does charge a 2.9% + 30¢ processing fee on all transactions, regardless of your plan. However, this is pretty standard for online course platforms.
Course Creation and Student Experience
Creating courses on Teachable is a breeze thanks to its intuitive course builder. You can add text, images, videos, and even quizzes to your lessons. One feature I particularly appreciate is the ability to create course completion certificates natively within the platform. If you’re diving into learning with Teachable, you’ll be glad to know it’s super easy to find your way around the course materials thanks to its neat and friendly interface.
Students can easily navigate through the lessons, take notes, and interact with instructors and fellow students through comments. Teachable is also mobile-friendly, so students can access your courses on the go from their smartphones or tablets. This is increasingly important in today’s mobile-first world.
Kajabi
Kajabi is an all-in-one platform that allows you to create and sell online courses, build sales funnels, and manage your email marketing all in one place. It asks for a bit more from your wallet compared to other paths you could take. However, when building an online course biz is at the top of your list, spending that extra might just hit different in terms of value.
As someone who personally uses Kajabi, I can attest to its comprehensive features and continued improvements. While the price point may be higher compared to some other options, I believe the value it provides makes the investment worthwhile. Kajabi offers a complete suite of tools that simplify the process of building and marketing your online business, from website building and course creation to email marketing and sales funnel automation. They also provide excellent customer support and continuously enhance their platform based on user feedback.
One of Kajabi‘s standout features is its powerful email marketing tools. You can easily segment your audience based on their actions (like which courses they’ve purchased), and create targeted email campaigns to promote your offerings. Kajabi also offers a wide range of beautifully designed email templates to choose from.
Another area where Kajabi shines is its sales funnels builder. You can create high-converting landing pages, opt-in forms, and automated email sequences to nurture leads and drive course sales. Plus, setting up an affiliate program for your courses is a breeze with the built-in management tools this platform provides.
When it comes to actually building your courses, Kajabi offers a user-friendly drag-and-drop course builder. Jazz up your material with all sorts of treats – think lively video content, crisp sound bites for the auditory learners out there, challenging quizzes for a bit of fun learning curve adjustment phase or as I’d say just keeping everyone on their toes while also sneaking in some super helpful downloads. One thing I really appreciate about Kajabi is the level of customization it offers.
You can fine-tune everything from the colors and fonts of your course site to the layout and organization of your lessons. This allows you to create a truly branded experience for your students. Kajabi also offers a range of course blueprints and templates to help you get started quickly. These pre-built frameworks are based on proven course structures and can be a huge time-saver when building out your content.
One of the standout features of Kajabi that I find incredibly valuable is its built-in coaching functionality. This allows you to easily create and manage coaching programs, schedule sessions with clients, and facilitate communication all within the platform. As someone who offers coaching services alongside my digital products, I find this feature incredibly valuable.
While the cost of Kajabi may be higher than some other course platforms or website builders, I believe the time and effort it saves me in the long run more than justifies the expense. Plus, you can get special 30 day free trial, you can test out the platform and see if it’s a good fit for your business before committing.
Of course, the best platform for you will depend on your specific needs and budget. But if you’re looking for an all-in-one solution that can streamline your online business and provide room for growth, I highly recommend giving Kajabi a try.
Pricing and Value
There’s no getting around it – Kajabi is one of the more expensive online course platforms out there. Plans start at $149/month, which can be a stretch for those just starting out. However, when you consider all the features and tools you get access to (course creation, email marketing, sales funnels building, create and manage coaching programs, etc.), the value proposition starts to make more sense.
With Kajabi, you’re essentially getting an all-in-one platform for running your online course business. Always good to balance the scales between your gains and losses before jumping in. But if you’re looking for a comprehensive solution and are willing to invest in your course business, Kajabi is definitely worth considering.
Podia
Podia is an all-in-one platform that allows you to sell online courses, digital downloads, and even memberships all from one place. I’ve found it to be a really user-friendly option, especially for those just getting started with selling digital products. One of the things I like best about Podia is how easy it is to create and sell a variety of digital products.
In addition to online courses, you can also offer downloadable resources like ebooks, checklists, and templates. Consider branching out – it’s an awesome way to both enrich what you offer folks and beef up those earnings. Podia steps up your email game by letting you sort your audience into groups and whip up emails that send themselves. While not as advanced as some other platforms, these features can still be really useful for promoting your products and nurturing your leads.
Podia offers two main pricing plans: Mover at $39/month and Shaker at $79/month. If you’re diving into creating and selling your own courses or digital downloads, the Mover plan has got you covered with all the essentials. But if you want to kick things up a notch by offering memberships, running affiliate marketing programs, or embedding checkout on your site, then the Shaker plan is what you need.
One of the biggest advantages of Podia‘s pricing model is that there are no transaction fees on any plan. This means you get to keep 100% of your course and product sales, which can make a big difference to your bottom line. Podia also offers a free plan, which allows you to test out the platform and even start building your audience with email marketing and a customizable storefront. While you can’t actually sell products on the free plan, it’s a great way to get a feel for the platform before committing.
Course Creation and Delivery
Creating courses on Podia is straightforward and intuitive. You can add text, images, videos, and even quizzes to your lessons using the simple course builder. One feature I particularly like is the ability to pre-sell courses before you’ve created all the content.
This can be a great way to validate your course idea and generate some revenue upfront. When it comes to course delivery, Podia offers a clean and user-friendly interface for students. Courses can be easily navigated and consumed on any device. Podia also handles all the technical aspects of hosting and delivering your course content, so you don’t have to worry about any of that.
One potential downside of Podia is that it doesn’t offer as many advanced features as some other platforms when it comes to course creation. For example, you can’t create custom completion certificates or set up prerequisite lessons. However, for most course creators (especially those just starting out), Podia offers more than enough functionality.
Overall, I’ve found Podia to be a really solid platform for selling online courses and digital products. Easy on the wallet and user-friendly too – this gem offers all the bells and whistles for creating your course content as well as getting it out there. If you’re looking for an all-in-one solution that’s easy to use, Podia is definitely worth checking out.
Key Takeaway:
Teachable, Kajabi, and Podia stand out as top platforms for creating and selling online courses in 2024. Teachable shines with its affiliate program and user-friendly site builder. Kajabi offers robust email marketing tools and a powerful sales funnel builder, making it great for those serious about scaling their business. Meanwhile, Podia is praised for its simplicity and no transaction fee policy, perfect for beginners diversifying their digital products.
If you’re looking for a course creation platform with a strong focus on delivering an engaging learning experience, LearnWorlds is definitely worth considering. I’ve found their interactive video player and built-in social features to be particularly impressive.
One thing that sets LearnWorlds apart is the ability to add interactions, questions, and downloadable attachments directly within your course videos. This keeps students engaged and reinforces key concepts as they watch. You can also enable discussions and comments on each lesson, fostering a sense of community among your learners.
When it comes to marketing your courses, LearnWorlds offers a range of built-in features like customizable landing pages, coupons and promotions, and affiliate management. While not as comprehensive as some other platforms, these tools can still help you effectively promote your courses and drive sales.
LearnWorlds pricing starts at $24 per month for their Starter plan, which includes basic features like unlimited paid courses and custom domain. To access more advanced functionality like memberships, certificates, and affiliate management, you’ll need to upgrade to a higher-tier plan starting at $79 per month. They also offer a free 30-day trial to test out the platform.
Overall, if delivering a top-notch learning experience is your primary goal, LearnWorlds is a strong contender. Just be aware that unlocking all of their features will require a higher monthly investment compared to some other platforms.
As one of the largest and most well-known online learning marketplaces, Udemy offers a massive potential audience for your courses. With over 40 million students worldwide, you have the opportunity to reach learners across the globe.
Creating a course on Udemy is fairly straightforward. You’ll need to meet their minimum requirements of at least 30 minutes of video content and 5 lectures or learning modules. Once your course is submitted and approved, it will be available for purchase on the Udemy marketplace.
One potential drawback of Udemy is the limited control you have over pricing and promotions. Udemy frequently runs site-wide discounts, which can impact your earnings per sale. They also keep a significant portion of the revenue, with instructors earning just 37% on organic Udemy sales (though you keep 97% on sales from your own marketing efforts).
That said, the sheer size of Udemy’s user base means even a small slice of the pie can translate to significant earnings for popular courses. And with their robust marketplace insights, you can get valuable data on student demand, search volume, and competitor benchmarking to help optimize your course.
So while you may sacrifice some control and revenue share compared to self-hosted platforms, Udemy can be a great option if your primary goal is reaching the widest possible audience. Especially if you’re just starting out and don’t yet have a large following of your own, Udemy’s built-in student base can help jumpstart your online course journey.
For creatives and artists looking to share their skills, Skillshare is an online learning community that’s definitely worth checking out. With a focus on creative topics like graphic design, illustration, photography, and more, it attracts a specific niche of learners passionate about arts and creativity.
One unique aspect of Skillshare is their membership model. Rather than purchasing individual courses, students pay a monthly or annual fee for unlimited access to the entire course library. As a teacher, you earn revenue based on the number of minutes watched in your classes each month.
This model can be both a pro and a con. On one hand, you have the potential to earn recurring revenue from students who continue engaging with your content over time. But on the flip side, your earnings may be less predictable compared to platforms with a one-time purchase model.
When it comes to course creation, Skillshare classes tend to be on the shorter side, with most ranging from 20-60 minutes in total length. The emphasis is on bite-sized, actionable lessons that students can easily fit into their day. You’ll also need to include a class project to help students apply what they’ve learned.
One thing to note is that Skillshare is a curated platform, meaning not all submitted courses are automatically accepted. They have a review process to ensure classes meet their quality standards and fit their creative niche.
But if you’re a creative professional with skills to share, Skillshare can be a great way to reach an engaged community of fellow creatives. With a built-in audience and the potential for recurring revenue, it’s definitely an online learning platform to consider.
Key Takeaway:
LearnWorlds shines for those aiming to create an immersive learning journey with interactive videos and community features. Just note, full access costs more.
Udemy is your go-to for massive reach despite less control over pricing. It’s ideal for newbies wanting to tap into a large student base quickly.
Skillshare stands out for creatives seeking to share their expertise in a membership model, offering both challenges and opportunities in earning recurring revenue.
LinkedIn Learning
If you’re looking for a platform that offers a wide range of professional courses,LinkedIn Learning might be the perfect fit. For working professionals hungry to level up, this platform is the spot with its massive library of over 16,000 courses available in seven different languages. When diving into LinkedIn Learning, expect nothing less than premium stuff – that’s their main gig.
To become an instructor, you’ll need to apply and demonstrate your expertise in your subject area. So you see, learners are constantly fed with premium content crafted by some of the sharpest brains around. LinkedIn Learning is particularly well-suited for courses related to business and technology, such as project management, digital marketing, leadership, customer service, finance, and accounting. If mastering any of these skills is your thing, this could be just the stage you need to broadcast that knowledge far and wide among peers who are all ears.
Pros and Cons
On the plus side, it’s free to apply to become an instructor on LinkedIn Learning. If accepted, you’ll earn royalties based on how popular your course is. The more time students spend watching your content, the more you’ll earn. LinkedIn Learning also offers some unique benefits for instructors, such as the opportunity to be featured on the homepage, collaborate with industry professionals, and connect with other instructors in an active community.
However, there are a few drawbacks to keep in mind. LinkedIn Learning‘s class content is limited to just four categories, and there’s no certificate of completion or other formal recognition for students who finish a course.
Coursera
Coursera is another popular online learning platform that partners with top universities and organizations to provide a wide variety of courses, specializations, and degrees. What sets Coursera apart is its focus on academic-level content. Many of the courses are taught by professors from prestigious institutions like Stanford, Yale, and Duke.
You’ll love this if what you’re after is an educational journey grounded in tried-and-true methods. Coursera offers a mix of free and paid courses, with pricing varying depending on the specific offering. Some courses can be audited for free, while others require a one-time fee or subscription.
For instructors, Coursera has a slightly different model than some other platforms. Rather than allowing individual instructors to create and sell courses, Coursera partners with institutions and organizations to develop content.
Becoming a Coursera Instructor
If you’re affiliated with a university or organization, you may be able to work with Coursera to create a course or specialization. It’s not as simple as eeny, meeny, miny, moe – this selection process will eat up some serious clock. Instructors on Coursera are typically compensated through their institution, rather than directly through the platform.
The exact compensation model can vary depending on the specific partnership agreement. Teaching your own class? Coursera probably won’t be your jam. But if high-level learning is what you’re after, this platform has got the goods that echo university quality. And for educators affiliated with institutions, it can be a powerful way to reach a global audience.
Academy of Mine
Academy of Mine is a lesser-known but feature-rich online course platform that offers a range of tools for creating and selling courses. When you’re diving into creating courses, the toolkit offered by Academy of Mine stands out big time. The platform offers a drag-and-drop course builder, making it easy to structure your content and add multimedia elements like videos, quizzes, and assignments. Academy of Mine also offers some advanced features that you won’t find on every platform, such as the ability to create learning paths, issue certificates, and offer live training sessions.
Marketing and Monetization
When it comes to marketing and monetizing your courses, Academy of Mine has a lot to offer. The platform includes tools for creating coupons and promotions, managing affiliates, and integrating with email marketing platforms. You can also set up a variety of pricing models, including one-time purchases, subscriptions, payment plans, and bundles.
Academy of Mine charges a monthly fee based on the number of active students, plus a 4.9% transaction fee. Even if Academy of Mine doesn’t ring as many bells as its competitors, it stands out for teachers looking for a platform packed with advanced tools to market and make money from their courses. The monthly pricing can get a bit steep as you scale, but for instructors with a small to medium-sized audience, it’s a platform worth considering.
Key Takeaway:
LinkedIn Learning shines for pros looking to teach business or tech skills, offering a shot at reaching thousands while earning through student engagement. Coursera partners with institutions for high-level courses, ideal for academic educators. Academy of Mine caters to creators wanting advanced tools and flexible pricing options.
FAQs in Relation to Online Course Platforms
What is the best online course platform?
Kajabi shines for creators aiming to sell courses, thanks to its robust marketing tools and all-in-one approach.
Which is best online education platform?
Coursera tops the chart with university-backed courses and partnerships offering a wide range of accredited options.
Which is the best website for courses?
Udemy leads due to its vast library, allowing learners to explore almost any topic under the sun.
What is the best website to create an online course?
Thinkific wins for those creating their first course, providing ease of use without sacrificing powerful features.
Conclusion
Online course platforms are the secret sauce to turning your expertise into a thriving online business. From user-friendly course creation to powerful marketing tools, these platforms have your back every step of the way.
But here’s the thing: with so many options out there, it’s easy to get stuck in analysis paralysis. Don’t let that happen to you. Take action, choose a platform that feels right, and start building that course!
Remember, the world needs what you have to offer. Your unique knowledge, your passion, your perspective – that’s what will make your course stand out in a sea of sameness. So go forth and create, my friend. Your online course success story starts now.
