If you’ve been thinking about turning your skills into a profitable online business, selling courses is one of the most scalable ways to generate income. With e-learning projected to keep booming well into 2030, the right online course platform can make all the difference in your success.

In this guide, we’ll explore the best platforms to sell online courses, who they’re for, and how to choose the one that fits your goals.

Check out our Passive Income Blueprint for a step-by-step plan to turn online courses into long-term income streams.

1. Teachable – Beginner-Friendly & Scalable

Best for: Creators who want an easy start without coding.

Teachable allows you to create, host, and sell your courses under your own brand. It’s user-friendly, supports video, quizzes, and downloadable resources, and integrates with payment processors like PayPal and Stripe.

Key Features

• Drag-and-Drop Builder: Easily create and customize your course pages.
• Multimedia Lectures: Include videos, quizzes, and downloadable files.
• Custom Domains: Use your own domain name to maintain your brand identity.
• Marketing Tools: Built-in affiliate marketing, email marketing, and coupon creation.
• Analytics: Track student progress and course performance with detailed reports.

Pricing

• Free Plan: Basic features with transaction fees.
• Basic Plan: $39/month, includes more advanced features and lower transaction fees.
• Pro Plan: $119/month, offers priority support, no transaction fees, and additional customization options.
• Business Plan: $299/month, includes advanced features for larger businesses.

Benefits

• Intuitive interface
• Extensive customization options
• Strong marketing tools
• Comprehensive analytics

2. Udemy – Huge Marketplace Exposure

Best for: Beginners who want instant access to a massive audience.

Udemy gives you access to millions of learners but takes a higher commission if the sale comes through their marketplace. It’s great for visibility but less ideal for brand control.

Key Features

• Marketplace Exposure: Access to millions of students worldwide.
• Course Creation Tools: Easy-to-use tools for creating video lectures, quizzes, and assignments.
• Marketing and Promotions: Udemy handles marketing and promotions to attract students.
• Revenue Sharing: Instructors earn a percentage of course sales.
• Instructor Support: Resources and support for course creation and marketing.

Pricing

• Free to Start: Udemy is free to join, but the platform takes a percentage of each sale (50% for organic sales, 97% for instructor-driven sales).

Benefits

• Large audience reach
• No upfront costs
• Comprehensive support and resources
• Automated marketing and promotions

3. Thinkific – Great for Branding Control

Best for: Entrepreneurs who value brand identity and customization.

Thinkific is popular for its flexibility—offering deep customization for course websites without complex coding. You can set up membership sites, drip content, and even run free trials to attract new students.

Key Features

• Customizable Course Site: Create a fully branded course site with Thinkific’s drag-and-drop editor.
• Multimedia Content: Support for videos, quizzes, assignments, and downloadable materials.
• Membership Sites: Create membership sites with subscription-based access to courses.
• Drip Content: Schedule content release to keep students engaged over time.
• Marketing Tools: Built-in email marketing, affiliate marketing, and advanced SEO options.

Pricing

• Free Plan: Basic features with limited courses.
• Basic Plan: $39/month, includes more customization and marketing tools.
• Pro Plan: $79/month, offers advanced features like memberships and certificates.
• Premier Plan: $399/month, includes priority support and extensive customization options.

Benefits

• Flexible pricing plans
• Extensive customization options
• Strong marketing and SEO tools
• Excellent customer support

4. Kajabi – All-in-One Business Solution

Best for: Established entrepreneurs who want one platform for courses, email marketing, and landing pages.

Kajabi goes beyond hosting—offering a complete business suite. It’s powerful but pricier, making it ideal if you’re serious about scaling fast.

Key Features

• Website Builder: Create a fully branded website with Kajabi’s drag-and-drop builder.
• Course Creation Tools: Include videos, quizzes, surveys, and downloadable content.
• Marketing Automation: Advanced email marketing, landing pages, and sales funnels.
• Membership Sites: Create and manage membership sites with recurring subscriptions.
• Analytics: Detailed analytics to track course performance and student engagement.

Pricing

• Basic Plan: $149/month, includes essential features and marketing tools.
• Growth Plan: $199/month, offers advanced automation and more customization options.
• Pro Plan: $399/month, includes priority support and extensive marketing features.

Benefits

• Comprehensive all-in-one solution
• Advanced marketing and automation tools
• High level of customization
• Strong community and support resources

5. Coursera

Overview

Coursera partners with universities and organizations to offer professional courses and certifications. It’s ideal for more formal and academic course offerings.

Key Features

• High-Quality Content: Courses created in partnership with top universities and organizations.
• Certificates and Degrees: Offer professional certificates and degree programs.
• Marketing and Distribution: Access to Coursera’s large audience and marketing resources.
• Learner Engagement: Interactive quizzes, peer-reviewed assignments, and community forums.
• Revenue Sharing: Instructors earn a percentage of course sales.

Pricing

• Partnership Model: Requires partnership approval, revenue-sharing model based on course sales.

Benefits

• High credibility and recognition
• Access to a large, global audience
• Professional certificates and degree programs
• Comprehensive support and resources

6. Podia – Affordable & Creator-Friendly

Best for: Budget-conscious creators who still want a polished platform.

Podia is known for its clean design and affordability. You can sell courses, memberships, and even digital downloads—all without transaction fees on most plans.

Key Features

• All-in-One Platform: Sell online courses, memberships, and digital products.
• Easy Course Creation: Drag-and-drop builder for creating course content.
• Membership Sites: Create and manage membership sites with subscription options.
• Email Marketing: Built-in email marketing tools for promoting your courses.
• No Transaction Fees: Podia doesn’t charge transaction fees on your sales.

Pricing

• Mover Plan: $39/month, includes essential features and email marketing.
• Shaker Plan: $79/month, offers additional features like memberships and affiliate marketing.

Benefits

• Simple and intuitive interface
• All-in-one platform with no transaction fees
• Strong support and resources
• Affordable pricing plans

Choosing the Right Platform

When deciding on a platform, ask yourself:

• Do I want brand control or marketplace exposure?
• Do I need an all-in-one solution or just course hosting?
• What’s my budget for monthly fees and transaction costs?

If you’re just starting out, Teachable or Udemy might be the simplest route. If you’re building a larger business, Kajabi or Thinkific could give you the customization and tools you need to scale.

Why Selling Online Courses Could Be Your Smartest Income Move in 2025

Selling online courses is one of the most lucrative and scalable ways to monetize your skills in 2025. With the rise of e-learning, millions of people are actively searching for courses to upgrade their careers, learn new hobbies, or improve personal skills—making it a prime opportunity for online entrepreneurs.

An online course can be as simple as a short video series or as detailed as a full certification program. The best part? Once created, your course can generate passive income for years with minimal updates. By choosing the right online course platform—whether it’s Teachable, Thinkific, Kajabi, Podia, or Udemy—you can:

• Host your content securely and professionally
• Accept payments from students worldwide
• Build a branded learning experience
• Market your course using built-in tools like email funnels and landing pages

E-learning also integrates well with other income strategies like affiliate marketing and digital product sales, allowing you to diversify your revenue. Whether you start small with a single workshop or scale up to a full online academy, selling courses can become a sustainable business model that works for you 24/7.

Explore our Side Hustle to Full-Time Business guide to learn how to grow your course sales into a steady income stream.

Conclusion

Choosing the right platform to sell your online courses is crucial for your success. Whether you’re looking for a user-friendly solution like Teachable, a large marketplace like Udemy, or an all-in-one platform like Kajabi, there’s a platform that suits your needs. Consider your goals, budget, and the features that are most important to you when making your decision. With the right platform, you can create, market, and sell your online courses effectively and reach a global audience.

Frequently Asked Questions – Selling Online Courses

1. Do I need a website to sell online courses?
Not necessarily. Many platforms like Teachable, Udemy, and Podia allow you to host and sell courses without a separate website. However, having your own site can give you more control over branding and marketing.

2. Which is the easiest platform for beginners?
Teachable and Podia are often considered the most beginner-friendly due to their simple setup, drag-and-drop editors, and built-in payment systems.

3. Can I sell courses internationally?
Yes! Most online course platforms accept payments from students around the world and handle currency conversion automatically.

4. How much does it cost to host an online course?
Costs vary—platforms like Udemy are free to join but take a percentage of sales, while Thinkific, Teachable, and Kajabi have monthly fees ranging from $29 to $199+.

5. How can I market my online course?
Popular strategies include social media promotion, email marketing, YouTube content, blog posts, and partnering with affiliates. Check out our Affiliate Marketing Basics guide for tips on boosting your course sales.