Thinkific is the best online course platform for most course businesses in 2026, and Teachable is the best pick on a small budget. Thinkific gives you courses, live cohorts, and communities on every plan, while Teachable gets a first course live for $29 a month on annual billing.
The right choice depends on how you sell. Creators who want email, funnels, and coaching in one login should look at Kajabi. Training companies that need interactive video and assessments fit LearnWorlds. Podia keeps things simple for people who sell downloads alongside courses, and Mighty Networks suits courses built around a community.
Read the fee table before you sign up. The entry plans on Teachable, Podia, LearnWorlds, and Mighty Networks take a cut of each sale or enrollment, and once revenue picks up that cut can cost more than the upgrade that removes it.
Our top pick
Thinkific
Courses, cohorts, and communities on every plan, with room to grow.
Quick picks
Best overall
Best all-in-one
Best on a budget
Best for interactive training
Best for community-led courses
How we ranked these tools
We scored each platform on five criteria: fit for its intended buyer, depth of features, pricing and value, ease of use, and support. We weighted transaction fees heavily, because they change the real cost of a plan as sales grow. We based the scores on vendor documentation, published pricing, and public user reviews. We did not accept payment for placement. Prices reflect published rates as of October 2026, so confirm the current price with the vendor.
The 6 best online course platforms
1. Thinkific
Best for course businesses that plan to grow
Our rating4.7 / 5
Starting price$82 / month (billed annually)
Free planFree trial (30 days)
Thinkific is a course platform for creators and training businesses that want room to grow. Every plan covers courses, live cohorts, quizzes, certificates, memberships, and a custom domain, plus at least one community. The Start plan costs $82 a month on annual billing or $109 month to month, and paid plans come with a 30-day free trial. There is no free plan. Start keeps Thinkific branding and leaves out analytics and bulk email, so most growing businesses end up on Grow at $164 a month billed annually.
Pros
- Communities and live cohorts on every plan
- No extra gateway fee with Thinkific Payments
- 30-day free trial
Cons
- Start plan keeps Thinkific branding
- Analytics and bulk email need the Grow plan
- Costs more than Teachable or Podia at entry level
Key features
- Course builder with quizzes and certificates
- Live cohorts
- Communities and spaces
- Memberships and bundles
2. Kajabi
Best for creators who want marketing and courses in one system
Our rating4.6 / 5
Starting price$143 / month (billed annually)
Free planFree trial
Kajabi puts courses, coaching, communities, email marketing, landing pages, and checkout in one system. It suits creators who want to run the whole business from one login. Basic costs $143 a month on annual billing ($179 monthly) and covers 5 products and 2,500 contacts. Growth raises the limit to 50 products for $199 a month billed annually. Every plan has a free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee. It is the most expensive starting point here, and third-party gateways add a 2% fee on Basic.
Pros
- Email, funnels, and courses in one login
- Coaching and community tools included
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Highest entry price on this list
- Basic caps you at 5 products
- 2% fee on third-party gateways on Basic
Key features
- Email marketing
- Landing pages and funnels
- Coaching programs
- Communities
3. Teachable
Best for first-time creators on a budget
Our rating4.5 / 5
Starting price$29 / month (billed annually)
Free planFree trial (7 days)
Teachable is the simplest low-cost way to get a first course online. The Starter plan costs $29 a month on annual billing ($39 monthly) and allows up to 5 products, but it takes a 7.5% transaction fee on each sale. Builder, at $69 a month billed annually, drops that fee to 0% when you use Teachable Payments and raises the limit to 10 products. A 7-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee come standard. Card processing fees still apply on every plan.
Pros
- Lowest entry price on this list
- Simple course builder for beginners
- 0% platform fee from Builder up with Teachable Payments
Cons
- 7.5% transaction fee on Starter
- Product limits on every self-serve plan
- Short 7-day trial
Key features
- Course builder
- Coaching products
- Digital downloads
- Built-in checkout
4. LearnWorlds
Best for training companies and interactive courses
Our rating4.4 / 5
Starting price$44 / month (billed annually)
Free planFree trial (30 days)
LearnWorlds is built for interactive learning. You can add questions and notes to video, build assessments, and issue certificates, which makes it a strong choice for training companies and educators who sell to businesses. Starter costs $44 a month billed annually ($49 monthly) but charges $5 per course enrollment. Pro Trainer, at $79 a month billed annually, removes that fee. Every self-serve plan has a 30-day trial with the core features. The number of settings takes longer to learn than Teachable or Podia.
Pros
- Interactive video and assessments
- No enrollment fee from Pro Trainer up
- 30-day trial
Cons
- $5 per enrollment fee on Starter
- Steeper learning curve than simpler tools
Key features
- Interactive video
- Assessments and certificates
- Website builder
- Learner analytics
5. Podia
Best for selling courses alongside downloads and coaching
Our rating4.3 / 5
Starting price$42 / month (billed annually)
Free planFree trial (14 days)
Podia sells courses, digital downloads, webinars, and coaching from one simple storefront. It fits solo creators who want a clean site and checkout without a long list of settings. Mover costs $42 a month billed annually and takes a 5% transaction fee. Shaker, at $84 a month billed annually, removes Podia’s fee. You can try every feature free for 14 days with no card needed. Course tools are lighter than Thinkific or LearnWorlds, so it is a weaker fit for complex curricula or corporate training.
Pros
- Courses, downloads, and coaching in one store
- Very quick setup
- 14-day trial without a card
Cons
- 5% transaction fee on Mover
- Lighter course tools for complex programs
Key features
- Digital downloads
- Webinars
- Email marketing
- Website builder
6. Mighty Networks
Best for courses built around a community
Our rating4.2 / 5
Starting price$79 / month
Free planFree trial (14 days)
Mighty Networks starts with the community and adds courses, events, and memberships around it. It suits cohort programs and paid membership groups where students learn from each other. The Launch plan costs $79 a month and charges a 2% transaction fee. Scale costs $179 a month with a 1% fee. The 14-day free trial runs on the Growth plan and needs no credit card. Course tools are simpler than on a dedicated course platform, so content-heavy programs may feel cramped.
Pros
- Community-first design
- Courses, events, and memberships together
- 14-day trial without a card
Cons
- 2% transaction fee on Launch
- Simpler course builder than dedicated platforms
Key features
- Community feeds
- Cohort and self-paced courses
- Live events
- Paid memberships
Compare the top online course platforms
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thinkific | Course businesses that plan to grow | $82 / month (billed annually) | Free trial (30 days) | 4.7 |
| Kajabi | Creators who want marketing and courses in one system | $143 / month (billed annually) | Free trial | 4.6 |
| Teachable | First-time creators on a budget | $29 / month (billed annually) | Free trial (7 days) | 4.5 |
| LearnWorlds | Training companies and interactive courses | $44 / month (billed annually) | Free trial (30 days) | 4.4 |
| Podia | Selling courses alongside downloads and coaching | $42 / month (billed annually) | Free trial (14 days) | 4.3 |
| Mighty Networks | Courses built around a community | $79 / month | Free trial (14 days) | 4.2 |
How to choose an online course platform
Do the fee math at your expected revenue
A 5% to 7.5% transaction fee looks small on a first launch. At $3,000 a month in sales, a 7.5% fee costs $225, which is more than the price gap to a plan without one. Estimate a realistic month of revenue and price each plan against it.
Decide how much marketing you want built in
Kajabi includes email, funnels, and landing pages. Thinkific and Teachable focus on the course and connect to the email tool you already use. Paying for built-in marketing only makes sense if you will cancel the separate tools.
Match the platform to how students learn
Self-paced video courses work on any of these platforms. Cohort programs and memberships fit Mighty Networks or Thinkific’s communities. Business buyers often expect interactive video, assessments, and certificates, which is where LearnWorlds stands out.
Frequently asked questions
What is an online course platform?
An online course platform is software that hosts your lessons, takes payment, and gives students a place to learn. Most also include sales pages, quizzes, certificates, and email tools, so you can run a course business without building a website from scratch.
How much does an online course platform cost?
Entry plans range from about $29 to $143 a month on annual billing. Teachable starts at $29, Podia at $42, LearnWorlds at $44, Thinkific at $82, and Kajabi at $143. Mighty Networks starts at $79 a month. Transaction fees on entry plans can add more.
Can you sell courses without transaction fees?
Yes, on the right plan. Thinkific charges no platform fee on its own payments, Teachable drops its fee from Builder up with Teachable Payments, Podia removes it on Shaker, and LearnWorlds removes it on Pro Trainer. Standard card processing fees of around 2.9% plus 30 cents still apply.
Which online course platform is best for beginners?
Teachable is the easiest low-cost start, at $29 a month billed annually with a simple course builder. Podia is equally easy and suits creators who also sell downloads. Both take a fee on their entry plans, so plan to upgrade once sales are steady.
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