A Practical Guide to the Best Platforms to Sell Online Courses in 2024

The best platforms to sell online courses are more than video hosts. They are complete systems for running a learning business, combining course creation, community, and payments in one place. Top platforms like Kampunity, Teachable, Kajabi, and Thinkific let you stop juggling a dozen apps, which means a better experience for your students and a simpler business for you.

The right platform lets you build and run your entire learning business from a single dashboard.

Why Your Platform Choice Matters

Picking a platform is the most critical decision you'll make. It’s not just where you upload videos; it’s where you build an ecosystem for your students to connect with you, the material, and each other.

In a crowded market, the learning experience is your key differentiator. Trying to tape together separate tools for courses, community chat, and payments creates a clunky, disjointed experience for students. This friction leads to low course completion rates and makes building a loyal community nearly impossible.

The Power of an All-in-One Solution

Successful creators are moving to integrated platforms for a reason. Having everything in one place isn't a convenience; it's a strategic advantage.

• A Seamless Student Experience: Students can watch a lesson, join a discussion, and attend a live event without leaving your branded space.
• Built-in Engagement: Features like gamification (levels, badges) and integrated live events encourage participation without constant manual effort.
• Simple Monetization: Set up monthly subscriptions, one-time course payments, or product bundles through a single, unified system.
• Less Admin, More Creating: A single subscription replaces multiple software tools, saving you money and the headache of managing them.

The trend is clear: creators are moving from selling one-off courses to building sustainable learning communities with recurring revenue. An all-in-one platform is the engine for this modern business model.

The growth of online learning highlights this need. The global e-learning market is projected to reach $325 billion by 2025, up from $165 billion in 2014. This growth, fueled by a 900% increase since 2000, shows how vital the right platform is for any serious creator.

Top Online Course Platforms at a Glance

So, where should you start? Here is a quick overview of the leading platforms. Each is designed for a slightly different type of creator and business goal.

For a more exhaustive list of options, including enterprise-level solutions, this guide to the 16 Best Learning Management Systems for 2024 is a fantastic resource.

This table provides a starting point. Let's dive deeper to see what makes each platform a better fit for specific business models.

A Head-to-Head Feature Comparison

To pick the right platform, you need to look past the sales pages and evaluate the features that actually help students learn and help you earn. A good course builder is a basic requirement. The best platforms excel at blending courses, community, and commerce into one cohesive experience.

Let's break down five key areas to see how the top contenders compare.

The goal is to find a platform where these elements work together seamlessly, creating a smooth journey for both you and your students.

Course Creation and Content Delivery

Every platform lets you upload videos and PDFs. The best ones provide tools that improve the learning experience. The goal isn't just to provide content; it's to structure it in a way that keeps students engaged and making progress.

Teachable is known for its simplicity. Its drag-and-drop course builder is highly intuitive, making it a popular choice for first-time creators. If you want to get a straightforward video-and-quiz course online with no technical headaches, it’s a solid option.

Thinkific offers a similar user-friendly experience but adds more advanced features like live lessons, assignments, and surveys. This allows you to build more interactivity and gather feedback directly within your course.

Key Differentiator: While Teachable and Thinkific focus on traditional course delivery, platforms like Kampunity integrate gamification directly into the learning experience. As students complete lessons, they earn points, unlock badges, and climb leaderboards. This simple feature has been shown to dramatically increase course completion rates.

This approach transforms passive viewing into an active, rewarding journey. For a deeper look at how different platforms serve specific needs, check out our guide on the best learning management systems for small business.

Community Engagement and Interaction

A course without interaction is a recipe for low completion rates. Real learning happens when students can connect, ask questions, and share progress. This is where platforms differ significantly.

On many platforms, community feels like an add-on. Teachable and Thinkific provide basic comment sections under each lesson. While fine for quick questions, they don't foster a real sense of community. This often forces creators to manage a separate Facebook Group or Discord server, splitting their audience's attention.

Kajabi offers a better approach with its "Community" product, which functions like a private forum. It’s a step up, but it can still feel separate from the courses themselves.

In contrast, Kampunity is built around community. It seamlessly integrates discussion channels, live chat, and member profiles right alongside your course content. Everything happens in one place.

• Integrated Discussions: Conversations are tied directly to specific lessons, keeping discussions focused and on-topic.
• Live Events: Host workshops and Q&A sessions inside the community, where your members already are.
• Member Connections: Students can connect with one another, building relationships that increase the value of their membership.

This all-in-one model is the reason community-first platforms see such high engagement and retention.

Monetization Models and Flexibility

How you get paid is as important as the content you create. Flexible payment options make it easier to meet your audience's needs and scale your business. While most platforms handle one-time payments, long-term value comes from recurring revenue.

Here’s a practical comparison:

1. Teachable and Thinkific: Both are excellent for one-time course sales and payment plans. They have added subscription features, but their core design is still centered on selling individual products.
2. Kajabi: This platform is ideal for selling a suite of digital products. It handles subscriptions, memberships, and one-off sales effectively, tying them into its powerful marketing automation tools.
3. Kampunity: This platform offers the most flexibility. You can create tiered membership plans that grant access to different combinations of courses, community channels, and live events. You can sell a standalone course, a community-only pass, or a premium bundle.

Data shows why this matters. Cohort-based courses on community platforms can achieve 85-90% completion rates, compared to 10-15% for traditional, self-paced courses. Flexible, community-centric monetization is the clear path forward.

Live Events and Webinars

Live interaction is invaluable for teaching complex topics, running coaching calls, or building a genuine connection with your audience. Hosting these events without sending members to a third-party app is a major advantage.

• Kajabi has a dedicated "Events" feature to schedule and promote webinars, linking them to your marketing funnels.
• Thinkific uses a Zoom integration to embed live lessons within a course, which helps keep students in one place.
• Kampunity offers a native events system with a shared community calendar, automated reminders, and access controls tied to membership tiers, making events an integrated part of the community experience.

The best platform is the one that removes friction. When you evaluate course tools, community, monetization, and live events, a clear picture emerges of which platform is truly built to help you grow.

Uncovering the True Cost of Each Platform

When choosing a platform, the monthly price is just the starting point. The true cost includes subscription tiers, transaction fees, and the price of other tools you need to fill the gaps. These hidden expenses can eat into your profits.

A platform might offer a low monthly fee but take a percentage of every sale. Those transaction fees add up quickly as your business grows. To build a sustainable business, you must look at the total cost of ownership.

Breaking Down Subscription Tiers and Transaction Fees

Most platforms use tiered pricing. A "basic" plan may seem affordable but often comes with high transaction fees and strict limits on students or courses. Your own success can force you into an expensive upgrade just to lower fees and unlock necessary features.

For example, Teachable's entry-level paid plan charges a 5% transaction fee on top of standard payment processing fees. While this might seem small at first, it becomes a significant expense as your revenue increases.

The Real Cost: Don't just focus on the monthly fee. An all-in-one platform often provides more value. A higher subscription can save you hundreds by eliminating the need for separate community, email, and event tools. Predictable costs allow you to scale with confidence.

A Real-World Cost Comparison

Let's look at a practical scenario. Imagine you have 500 members paying $20/month for your course and community, generating $10,000 in monthly revenue.

Here’s how the costs would compare for a business of this size.

Platform Cost Breakdown for 500 Members

The numbers show that while some platforms eliminate transaction fees on higher tiers, you often pay more with a steeper monthly subscription. You also have to factor in the cost and hassle of a separate community platform like Circle.so, which can add another $99/month or more.

With Kampunity, the total cost in this scenario is lower, and everything is included. You save money and avoid the complexity of managing separate tools, logins, and customer experiences. This same logic applies to any digital offering, as you can learn in our guide on the best platforms to sell digital products.

The Value of Free Plans

If you're just starting, a free plan is a great way to test your course idea without a financial commitment. Platforms like Teachable and Thinkific offer free options to build a course and see if it sells.

However, these free plans typically come with high transaction fees (often 10% or more) and limited features. Think of them as a launchpad, not a long-term solution. Once you start generating revenue, upgrading to a paid plan is almost always the more profitable choice.

Matching the Platform to Your Creator Type

There is no single "best" platform. The right choice depends on your teaching style and business model. What works for a coach running a high-touch program may not work for a creator selling a digital download to thousands.

Match the platform's core strengths to your specific needs. This helps you avoid paying for features you'll never use or discovering a critical tool is missing.

For Coaches and Cohort-Based Programs

If your business is built on live interaction, feedback, and group coaching, you need more than a simple course library. Your success depends on fostering connections and facilitating learning in real time.

For this model, a platform with integrated community and live event features is essential. This is where an all-in-one solution like Kampunity excels. It was designed to support high-touch, cohort-based learning by weaving courses, live events, and community into one seamless experience.

• Integrated Live Events: Schedule, promote, and host all your coaching calls and workshops from the community calendar without sending members off-platform.
• Structured Community Channels: Create dedicated channels for different cohorts, Q&A sessions, or accountability groups to keep conversations organized.
• Direct Member Interaction: Features like direct messaging and member profiles encourage students to connect, which is vital for successful cohort programs.

When your business is about transformation, your platform must support that relationship-driven model. Blending scheduled live sessions with ongoing discussions is a non-negotiable.

For Creators with a Large Audience

If you have a large audience and your main goal is to sell a signature course at scale, you need sophisticated marketing and sales funnels. Your platform should be a machine for converting followers into customers.

This is the ideal use case for a platform like Kajabi. Its greatest strength is its built-in marketing automation. Kajabi allows you to build entire sales funnels—from landing pages and email sequences to checkouts and upsells—all within the platform.

For example, a creator could build a funnel offering a free PDF. When a user opts in, Kajabi can trigger an automated email sequence to nurture the lead before pitching the main course. This level of automation is essential for monetizing a large audience efficiently.

For Beginners and Solopreneurs

If you're just starting, your priority is to get your first course online as simply as possible. You should spend your time creating content, not wrestling with complex software.

Platforms like Thinkific are great for this. They offer clean, intuitive course builders that let you upload content and structure lessons without a steep learning curve. The drag-and-drop interface makes curriculum building approachable, even for non-technical users.

This "get it done" approach is perfect for launching a minimum viable product. However, every solopreneur should be aware of the shift toward recurring revenue. The subscription market is projected to hit $50 billion globally by 2026.

This trend makes all-in-one platforms like Kampunity a strong long-term choice. Features like tiered memberships can dramatically boost retention. While traditional course completion rates are often 10-15%, community-driven programs can see engagement soar to 70-90%. Starting simple is smart, but choose a platform that can grow with you. Many creators eventually migrate from a basic course platform to an all-in-one solution to build a more sustainable, community-first business. Learn more in our guide on the best membership site platforms.

Your Platform Decision-Making Checklist

Choosing a platform for your online course comes down to asking the right questions. This checklist provides a practical way to make your final choice, helping you select a platform that works for you today and can grow with you tomorrow.

Use these questions to move from research to a confident decision.

You are balancing your budget, technical comfort, community goals, and monetization plan.

Your Core Requirements

First, determine your non-negotiables. This will quickly narrow your options and prevent you from choosing a platform that doesn't fit your practical needs.

• Budget: What is your realistic monthly budget? Consider the subscription fee, transaction fees, and any other tools you’ll need.
• Technical Skill: Be honest about your tech-savviness. Do you need a simple drag-and-drop builder, or are you comfortable with more complex customizations?
• Time Commitment: How much time do you want to spend managing the platform versus creating content? An all-in-one solution can save hours each month by eliminating the need to manage multiple tools.

Answering these questions will help you filter out platforms that are too expensive, too complicated, or too time-consuming.

Community and Engagement Goals

Next, define the experience you want to create. This is how you move from selling content to building a business people feel part of. The future of online learning is interactive, not passive.

Successful creators no longer just sell information; they sell transformation and belonging. This requires a platform where community is the central hub of the student experience, not an afterthought.

Ask yourself these key questions:

1. Is Community Essential? Do you need a space for students to connect, ask questions, and share wins? If so, a simple comment section isn't enough. You need dedicated discussion channels.
2. Will You Host Live Events? Are live coaching calls or Q&As a core part of your teaching? An integrated event system is crucial for driving attendance.
3. How Will You Motivate Students? What is your plan for keeping students engaged? Gamification features like points, badges, and leaderboards can significantly boost motivation and success.

If these points resonate, prioritize platforms where courses, community, and events are seamlessly integrated.

Monetization and Scalability Strategy

Finally, consider your financial goals and long-term vision. The platform you choose will directly impact your earning potential and ability to grow.

• How will you charge? Will you offer one-time courses, tiered subscriptions, or product bundles? Ensure the platform supports your ideal model without requiring clunky workarounds.
• What are your long-term goals? Do you plan to expand into coaching, run a membership, or offer corporate training? Choose a platform that can scale with your ambitions.

For most creators, a loyal community providing recurring revenue is the key to a sustainable business. It is a more stable model than constantly seeking new one-time course buyers.

This is why an integrated community platform like Kampunity is an ideal fit. It was built to support the shift from selling static courses to building active, paid learning communities, making it a solid, future-proof choice for any serious creator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Choosing an online course platform raises many questions. Getting clear answers is essential before you commit to a platform that will be the foundation of your business. Here are some of the most common questions from creators.

Understanding these details, from content ownership to migration, is key to making the right choice.

Do I Own My Content on These Platforms?

Yes. On dedicated course platforms like Kampunity, Teachable, Kajabi, or Thinkific, you retain 100% ownership of your course content and student data. This is a significant difference from some course marketplaces where ownership rules can be unclear.

Your intellectual property—your videos, worksheets, and community discussions—belongs to you. The platform is simply the technology used to host and deliver it. This ensures you can move to another provider at any time, taking your work with you.

It's always wise to read the terms of service, but content ownership is standard for any reputable course creation software. You are licensing their technology, not giving away your work.

Is It a Nightmare to Migrate from Another Platform?

Switching platforms can seem daunting, but it is usually more straightforward than you think. The best platforms understand that creators' needs evolve and have made the process as simple as possible.

Here's a step-by-step overview of the migration process:

1. Export Your Data: Download your student lists (names and emails) and all your course content (videos, PDFs) from your current platform.
2. Set Up Your New Home: Build the basic structure for your courses and community on the new platform.
3. Upload Content: Use the platform's tools to bulk-upload your course materials into the new structure.
4. Import Students: Manually add or bulk-import your student list and grant them access to the appropriate courses.

While it requires some planning, it is a common process for successful creators. Platforms with strong support teams can guide you through each step.

How Important Are Marketing and Sales Integrations?

They are critical. Your course platform must connect with the other tools that run your business, such as email marketing services, analytics software, and payment gateways.

For example, connecting to your email provider allows you to automatically add new students to a welcome sequence. A reliable payment gateway integration ensures a smooth checkout experience for your customers. An all-in-one platform like Kampunity simplifies this by building many marketing and payment tools directly into the system, reducing the cost and complexity of managing multiple apps.

Ready to stop juggling disconnected tools and start building a thriving learning community? Kampunity brings your courses, community, events, and payments together in one seamless platform. Build your community and start selling today.