An in-depth comparison of the six best platforms to create, host, and sell online courses this year. Pricing, features, pros & cons, and expert picks for every type of creator.
Last updated: June 5, 2026
| Platform | Best For | Rating | Free Plan | Starting Price | Transaction Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kajabi | All-in-one everything | 4.8/5 | No (14-day trial) | $149/mo | $0 |
| Thinkific | Best free plan | 4.7/5 | Yes (1 course) | $49/mo | $0 |
| Teachable | Beginners | 4.6/5 | Yes (1 course) | $59/mo | $0 (paid plans) |
| LearnWorlds | Interactive learning | 4.6/5 | 30-day trial | $89/mo | $0 |
| Podia | Budget creators | 4.5/5 | Yes (limited) | $39/mo | $0 (paid plans) |
| Systeme.io | Free all-in-one | 4.4/5 | Yes (generous) | $27/mo | $0 |
Kajabi is the premium all-in-one platform that lets you build your entire online knowledge business in one place. It combines course creation, website building, email marketing, landing pages, CRM, podcasts, coaching, and community — eliminating the need for multiple separate tools.
Thinkific is one of the most popular course platforms, trusted by over 50,000 creators. It stands out for its generous free plan — 1 course, unlimited students, zero transaction fees — and a powerful course builder that handles everything from text lessons to complex multimedia with quizzes, assignments, and certificates.
Teachable is the go-to platform for beginners who want to get their first course online quickly. Its intuitive interface and streamlined course builder mean you can go from idea to published course in hours, not weeks.
LearnWorlds is built for educators who want to create engaging, interactive learning experiences. Its standout feature is the interactive video player that lets you add quizzes, annotations, and branching scenarios directly within videos.
Podia is the budget-friendly platform that doesn't skimp on features. At just $39/month, you get course hosting, digital downloads, memberships, webinars, and email marketing — a combination that would cost $100+ on other platforms.
Systeme.io is the French-founded all-in-one platform that offers an incredibly generous free plan. You get courses, email marketing, sales funnels, blog, automation, and affiliate management — all for free, forever.
| Feature | Kajabi | Thinkific | Teachable | LearnWorlds | Podia | Systeme.io |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course Builder | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Excellent | Basic | Basic |
| Video Hosting | Excellent | Very Good | Excellent | Excellent | Very Good | Basic |
| Quizzes & Assessments | Very Good | Excellent | Very Good | Excellent | None | Basic |
| Certificates | Very Good | Excellent | Very Good | Excellent | None | Basic |
| Email Marketing | Excellent | Basic | None | Basic | Very Good | Excellent |
| Website Builder | Excellent | Basic | Basic | Very Good | Basic | Basic |
| Landing Pages | Excellent | Basic | Basic | Very Good | Basic | Excellent |
| Memberships | Excellent | Very Good | Basic | Very Good | Very Good | Very Good |
| Payment Processing | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Affiliate Management | Excellent | Very Good | Very Good | Very Good | Basic | Excellent |
| Custom Domain | All paid | All paid | All paid | All paid | Mover+ | Mover+ |
| SCORM Support | None | None | None | Full | None | None |
| Mobile App | Branded | Basic | Basic | Branded | None | None |
| Student Analytics | Excellent | Excellent | Very Good | Excellent | Basic | Basic |
Pick: Teachable — Its simplicity and free plan make it the fastest way to get your first course online. You won\'t get overwhelmed by features you don\'t need yet.
Pick: Kajabi — If you\'re currently paying for Mailchimp, a website host, and a separate course platform, Kajabi at $149/month replaces all three. The time savings and simplified tech stack are worth it for established creators.
Pick: Thinkific Free — With 1 course, unlimited students, zero transaction fees, and no time limit, Thinkific\'s free plan is the best no-risk starting point. Scale to paid plans only when you\'re earning revenue.
Pick: LearnWorlds — The interactive video player with embedded quizzes and CTAs, SCORM compliance, and 16+ assessment question types make LearnWorlds the choice for professional educators and corporate training.
Pick: Podia — At $39/month including email marketing, Podia gives you course hosting, digital downloads, memberships, webinars, and email broadcasts in one affordable package.
Pick: Systeme.io — Its free plan includes courses, email marketing (2,000 contacts), sales funnels, blog, and affiliate management. Nothing else comes close for free.
Teachable is the best platform for beginners thanks to its intuitive drag-and-drop course builder, simple pricing, and free plan. You can create and launch your first course within hours with zero technical skills.
Thinkific offers the most generous free plan with 1 course, unlimited students, quizzes, and no transaction fees. Systeme.io also has a strong free plan with courses, email marketing, and funnel building included.
Kajabi is worth it if you need an all-in-one platform that replaces your website builder, email marketing tool, course host, and CRM. At $149/month it seems expensive, but if you\'re paying $50+ for separate tools, Kajabi can actually save money while simplifying your tech stack.
It varies by platform. Thinkific and Systeme.io charge zero transaction fees on all plans. Teachable charges 5% on the free plan but $0 on paid plans. Podia charges no transaction fees on paid plans.
Yes, most platforms support course migration through CSV imports, SCORM packages, or manual content transfer. Student data and progress typically don\'t transfer, so plan your migration during a quiet enrollment period.
Key features include: an easy-to-use course builder, video hosting, quiz and assessment tools, payment processing, student analytics, email marketing integration, custom domain support, and mobile responsiveness.
Kajabi is the best for membership sites thanks to its built-in community features, recurring payment handling, and marketing automation. Podia also offers solid membership functionality at a lower price point.
Yes, all six platforms in our comparison support custom domain names on their paid plans. Some, like Thinkific and Kajabi, include custom domains on all paid tiers.
This article is researched and written following toolkit.ctbzai.com editorial standards. We evaluate online course platforms on: freshness (pricing verified June 2026), scope (independent creators and solopreneurs), ratings (1-5 stars weighted toward course quality, pricing transparency, and platform reliability), and independence (rankings not influenced by affiliate partnerships). This article is reviewed and updated quarterly.