The Best Online Teaching Platforms (Free & Paid)
Are you looking for the best online learning platforms? You are in the right place.
Teaching an online course is one of the best ways to build a profitable online business.
While setting up an online shop is still a popular option for those who want to participate in digital sales, online learning is rapidly gaining in importance. The market is currently valued at around $190 billion and is growing at an annual rate of 7%!
Unfortunately, it is not enough to have only the knowledge that your customers want to share. You need a way to cultivate this knowledge and place it in an environment where your customers can use it. This is where online learning platforms come into play.
Today’s online learning platforms provide you with the tools you need to not only share your knowledge, but also to involve your students.
We will examine some of the best online learning tools you can access today if you want to make your voice heard.
What makes an online learning platform great?
Before we jump into our assessments, let’s examine some of the key features of an online learning tool. There are many different options when you enter a search in Google Udemy and live to Skillshare, Coursera and Teach Bar.
But how do all these options work when it comes to teaching new skills to your audience?
Just like Content Management Systems (CMS), Learning Management Systems (LMS) come in different styles and offer a collection of different tools. If you are looking for the best options online, you usually have two different ways to generate your learning experience:
- Online learning platforms and marketplaces
- Online course creation software for creating and selling online courses
It is worth being aware of the difference between these two solutions. In the market environment for courses, you add your educational offer to an album with other tools. The main advantage is that you don’t have to do your marketing alone, as you already benefit from a thriving audience. On the other hand, you cannot create much of a brand for your online learning experience.
On the other hand, with the course creation software you can create full branded landing pages and host your own solution online. This means that you have the freedom to be truly detailed with the individual impact of your course.
There is no single solution here, but many people find it helpful to start with a marketplace before expanding to a course creation platform.
Some points to look for in a marketplace are
- A large audience of people who can sell your course
- Good earning potential (make sure that the platform does not cost too much money)
- Create a course creation software
- Support for various media such as video, audio and PDF
- Many ways to motivate your students through quizzes, interaction and more
- Brand potential if possible
- Some points to consider in a course creation software are
- Support for web hosting
- Basic payment and marketing tools
- Extended put options
- Backups and security
- User defined domains
- web hosting
- Many ways to interact with pupils
- Marketing tools (if possible)
Top online learning platforms
The following platforms are not really designed for creating courses. Although you may be able to work with companies if you are already involved in a large learning institution such as Stanford, these solutions are more suitable for students than for teachers.
Coursera
Coursera is one of the best online learning solutions for those who want to learn about STEM and Data Science. Originally, the service was focused on science, engineering, technology and mathematics. Now, of course, there are hundreds of courses in many different fields. The company works with hundreds of leading companies and learning institutions, making it a big name in the industry.
What makes Coursera different from the other tools we have looked at so far is that it does not allow you to create and host your own online course experience with all the custom branding you like. Instead, you join a community and send your courses to
It is often very difficult to become involved as a creator on Coursera. You have to contact the company as part of a business or online learning facility. However, the good news is that there are many ways to learn on Coursera if you want to improve your knowledge.
LinkedIn Learning is another fantastic course market that is designed to help business people accelerate and improve their skills. You cannot be an online educator on this platform, but you can learn a lot. There are more than 1,000 business courses to choose from, from leading topics from project management to web development.
LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com)
LinkedIn Learning is another fantastic course market designed to help business people accelerate and improve their skills. You cannot be an online educator on this platform, but you can learn a lot. There are more than 1,000 business courses to choose from, from leading topics from project management to web development.
Linkedin Learning was formerly known as Lynda, one of the leading solutions for digital learning on the web. The company is characterised by an easily accessible environment for students. In addition, you can purchase certificates to add directly to your LinkedIn profile. If you are looking for a way to increase the value of your CV, LinkedIn Learning can help.
Skillshare is another solution for online education that takes a slightly different approach to online content exchange. If you want to teach your craft online, you can register for free with SkillShare and create various unique course experiences.
One point to keep in mind is that if you want to get paid for your Skillshare courses, you must make sure that your lessons are part of the Skillshare premium catalogue. Anyone can sign up and share a course with their friends and colleagues, but you can only earn money in the premium environment. The good news is that paying for a premium class is often quite affordable. You will receive money for premium membership recommendations and royalties for the minutes you have seen in your classes.
Most skillshare courses include video courses, community discussions and projects. Instead of focusing on certificates and final results, Skillshare is about sharing your progress and getting feedback. This is great if you are involved in the creative environment.
Unfortunately, the earning potential of Skillshare is quite limited, so you probably won’t make a fortune using this platform.
Pricing: Free to get started, but your earning potential is also very low.
EDX
EDX is another course solution that is similar in style to Coursera. It offers many first-class and free online courses designed for dedicated academics. EDX offers customers numerous ways to consume training materials, from XSeries programmes that address specific topics to various professional certification programmes.
Compared to some other solutions in the online learning market, the EdX experience seems a little simple and low-tech. However, it is very clear to see how relevant this website is. There are many trust marks on the website, showing that there are educators from Berkeley, Harvard and other countries.
Like CourseraIt is not really possible to start an EDX course if you are not part of a learning institution. However, you can access the EdX for Business platform, which allows you to teach and train other team members in your community. This can be a good option if you are looking for a new learning solution that does not involve personal tuition for your company.
Pricing: Not a great option for course creators as Edx only works with other leading educators.
MOOC
On the other side of the EDX.org medal is Mooc.org.
Massive Open Online Courses is a term often used for free online learning opportunities that anyone can sign up for online. However, there is also a company called Mooc.org that works as an extension of EdX. This solution offers Edx a slightly different learning experience with flexible tools for growth.
Again this is not a great option for course creators, but you can use MOOC to discover things like professional certificates and online master’s degrees if you want to expand your skills.
Udacity
Udacity comes from Silicon Valley, which is characterised by serious partnerships with Google and other technology giants. There is a strong focus on current issues and learning about machine learning, deep learning, artificial intelligence and other disruptive technologies.
Although there are many different ways to learn on Udacity, you cannot start your own online courses on the platform, which is a shame for course makers. This means that we can only really recommend this course solution as a learning environment for learners.
Docebo
Docebo is another LMS that is only suitable for partners. You can access Docebo at an affordable price, starting from about 3.33 USD per user per month. However, this is for educational purposes only. If you want to start your own learning solution through Docebo, you need to enter into a partnership with the brand.
One good thing about Docebo for business owners who want to access training for their teams is that the service is full of things like gamification and community collaboration. There are also a variety of third party integrations to explore.
Best online course platforms
Let’s go ahead and look at some of the largest quote generation tools currently available on the market.
Thinkific
Denkwürdig offers an excellent experience compared to other course creation platforms for several reasons. First and foremost, the course designer is one of the most advanced on the market today. If you are not a great coding expert or have not used code before, Thinkific is a good choice.
All the content you need to build a successful “educational empire”, as the company calls it, is available via a drag and drop editor. You can add your own branding to the mix to make a name for yourself online.
To reach your audience, there are a number of great features such as downloads, quizzes, surveys, discussions and more. In addition, unlike many competitors online course platformsThe Thinkific solution is initially available free of charge.
Especially suitable for: If you are looking for a way to create a new learning experience from scratch, Thinkific is the right tool for you. With many fantastic features for engagement and a handful of customisation tools, Thinkific is a great choice for any business owner.
Pricing: There is a free option to get started, or you can pay $49 per month for the base platform. There is also a pro platform for $99 per month or a premiere for $499 per month. If you need additional features, you can purchase add-ons such as the Growth Package or Thinkific Plus.
Teachable
Teachable is probably one of the most popular learning platforms ever to emerge in the digital educational landscape. It was originally developed to solve the problems people saw with other basic online learning markets, such as limited branding.
For this reason, Teachable offers numerous options to make it easy to customise your website. You can remove some of the most common cookie cutter templates that come with options like Udemy. Multilingual support is a plus for Teachable, as is the fact that you can access things like SEO, discussion forums, quizzes and more. Getting your audience involved is a breeze.
Other features of Teachable include a drag-and-drop builder for your course delivery solution, support for a wide range of files and more.
Especially suitable for: Teachable is ideal for those who want access to fantastic course creation features at a low price. The monthly rates are very reasonable, especially considering all the amazing built-in features. Marketing and Analytics are also great. There is even integration with things like Ontraport, Mailchimp and lots of e-commerce tools as well.
Pricing: Starts at $29 per month for the smaller package and goes up to $299 per month, depending on what you need. A free plan is also available but is limited to 10 students
Podia
Podia is a solution that allows you to create a site with as little effort as possible. It is designed to build your learning experience in digital downloads, online courses or membership sales.
If you don’t want to deal with things like e-commerce and selling from a traditional perspective, Podia is for you. It has a clear and user-friendly interface and a range of options to customise your website. Podia is easy for beginners, but also has very limited functionality when it comes to advanced tools.
Especially suitable for: The Podia experience is ideal for those who found Gumroad and other competitors in the learning environment too complicated or too expensive. Podia makes online knowledge sharing as easy as possible.
Pricing: Podia’s pricing is quite simple: The Mover package costs 39 USD per month or the Shaker option 79 USD per month.
Academy of Mine
Another brilliant online learning solution, Academy from me Enables users to access an all-in-one solution for a private label online course experience. With Academy of Mine, you don’t have to settle for a one-size-fits-all experience. One of the things that makes this solution so valuable is that you can really deepen your customisation options.
If you need help getting started, you can choose a fully hosted template with galleries, landing pages and offer pages. The Academy of Mine is a good choice as the solution includes a complete course creation and learning management service. It is also possible to accept PayPal and credit cards when selling your courses.
If you want to increase your chances of earning learners, Academy also offers various marketing functions, such as partner programmes and e-mail marketing.
Especially suitable for: The Academy of Mine solution comes with a complete Learning Management System (LMS), so you really do get everything you need to create massive open online courses. If you want to sell your course content in advance and ensure that your brand is the focus, Academy of Mine can help you. However, the prices are quite high.
Pricing: Prices start at $499 per month, although you get two months free if you pay annually. There is also a “professional” plan for 899 USD per month with some extra development hours and features. If you need a higher level plan, you will need to contact the team to get a quote.
Teachery
Teachery is another online learning platform that aims to make online selling as easy and seamless as possible. With this amazing service you can help create and sell your online courses No fees. Which is a great bonus. The absence of a transaction fee means that you can focus as much as possible on developing your sales strategy.
Teacher It includes a number of features to get you started, including access to unlimited courses, lessons and student access. There is also the option of duplicating existing courses at the touch of a button and making changes using the live course editor integrated into the platform.
Not only can you upload PDF text and other content to your course, you can also embed video, audio, image and slide presentations. In Teachery, however, your video, audio and other content is not hosted for you
Especially suitable for: Anyone who is serious about selling courses online will love the selection of great tools that come from teaching. There are many features available on this platform and you don’t have to worry about transaction fees affecting your earning potential.
Pricing: The price for teaching starts at around 49 USD per month or 470 USD per year. It is the simplest pricing we have ever seen.
Ruzuku
Ruzuku is another leading online course solution with amazing features. Firstly, the course management for this service is quick and easy to learn. You can upload virtually any type of learning material to sell it quickly to your customers. You can also help your customers to track their success on your online education platforms with certificates and milestones.
One thing we particularly like about Ruzuku is that you can give your customers the opportunity to really engage with their community. As they progress through the learning paths you have set up for them, your students can connect with other online learners in forums and chat.
To improve your engagement strategies, you can integrate Ruzuku with email marketing tools such as Mailchimp and set up automated emails to inform your customers of the next steps.
Especially suitable for: This is one of the best online learning platforms for those who want to connect with their learners at a deeper level. Various types of media are supported on the Ruzuku platform and you can conduct webinars as you wish. Ruzuku is also well suited for delivering drip content based on different schedules. You don’t even need much technical knowledge to get started.
Pricing: Ruzuku’s price starts at around $74.75 USD per month for the lower level and increases to $125 USD if you pay annually. You pay a little more if you use a monthly plan.
Udemy
Udemy is probably one of the most popular solutions we have seen online when it comes to selling learning courses. The solution has mixed online ratings, probably due to the enormous amount of money you pay to Udemy to attract customers to your online courses.
Although there is a large fee to consider, it is also worth noting that Udemy’s online education network is second to none in terms of attracting sales opportunities. If you want to hear your subject matter experts online, this could be one of the reasons best online course platforms for you.
With Udemy you can create an online course using all the different media you like. However, you must bear in mind that Udemy will retain up to 50% of your revenue if you help to promote the course you have created to another student. However, if you earn students without Udemy’s help, you keep the profits.
Particularly suitable for: If you are not sure if you want to create a website and sell your courses from scratch, Udemy may be the better choice for you. You will lose some of your earnings if you rely heavily on Udemy’s help, but you can massively increase your online presence with this service.
Pricing: Use of the Udemy platform is free (it is a learning market). However, you pay up to 50% of your turnover to Udemy for each student that the company helps you earn.
Kajabi
Kajabi is another truly market leading tool in the world of online course creation. If you are looking for the best online learning platforms, but also want something that will help you create sales funnels and landing pages, Kajabi is the right option for you.
Kajabi is ideal for those who need extra help turning their leads into paying customers. It offers everything from email marketing campaigns managed through your dashboard to integration with leading services such as Active Campaign and MailChimp.
Kajabi also offers a pretty solid blogging platform. For example, it’s not as good as WordPress, but compared to some other blogging tools available on online learning platforms on the Internet, it offers many features.
Especially suitable for: Kajabi is the first choice for anyone who needs a sophisticated online learning solution. Kajabi appeals to solo preneurs, trainers and speakers alike and offers an amazing potential. It is also available at a relatively reasonable price. Furthermore, Kajabi is surprisingly beginner-friendly. You don’t have to become a code expert to get started. There are templates that allow you to offer everything from evergreen training to membership products.
Pricing: Prices start at around $119 USD per month, making Kajabi one of the more expensive options on the market today. However, it is worth noting that Kajabi may prevent you from accessing additional features and tools elsewhere, saving you money in this regard.
Flora LMS (now iSpring)
Flora LMS (Learning Management System) is a service that many companies and entrepreneurs are not yet fully aware of. Compared to other market leaders such as Lynda.com and Kajabi, it is very new but offers many great features.
Flora LMS has been developed for entrepreneurs and business trainers alike and is one of the latest developments on the market. It contains numerous components that allow you to share your knowledge with a wider audience. If you are looking for a system that contains everything you need to host an expensive online learning website, look elsewhere. This LMS takes a different approach.
Flora LMS is a cost-effective platform that gives you access to a simplified set of tools to create a simple but attractive storefront for your online course. The courses are arranged on separate pages, each displaying user ratings and other information.
You can upload your content in various formats, from JPG to MP4. There is also the possibility to do evaluations, tests and other things to gamify your course experience. With Flora LMS you can even access the latest SEO features.
Especially suitable for: Flora LMS is a breath of fresh air for those looking for the best online learning platforms. If you want to quickly set up your own centre for online training and monetize your e-learning strategies, this is the right system for you. There is even a wide choice of payment options and currencies, so you know you can reach a wide audience.
Pricing: Floral LMS starts at $37 for 247 users. The more people you add to your platform for course creation, the more you have to pay. You can pay up to $300 for XNUMX users or get a custom price if you already have a very large course presence.
WizIQ
WizIQ is a user-friendly and cost-effective solution for classroom and LMS software. WizIQ was developed to simplify the creation of online courses. It provides access to everything from tests and assessments for your customers to e-commerce functions and detailed analysis.
With WizIQ you can create MOOCs to increase your revenue streams, enroll students from around the world and create new sources of funding. You can also offer live training, learn on the go via smartphone apps and much more. You can create and sell your online courses through a complete system or run a virtual classroom that is great for teaching internal staff and partners. While this solution includes many of the market leading tools we have covered on other leading platforms, it is the little extras that make WizIQ stand out.
Things like the ability to deliver course content via smartphones and use an interactive whiteboard to demonstrate your knowledge to students are amazing. There are also many ways to interact with your students through chat, forums and surveys.
Especially suitable for: WizIQ is ideal for the modern course creator who wants to stay one step ahead of the curve. With this solution you can access all the features you need to teach clients online, train your partners and much more. As the service comes with a free tariff, getting started is very easy.
Pricing: There is a free plan with the basics, or you can have a free trial and see how you feel first with the software. The average plan starts at $83 per month, which is quite reasonable for a premium service.
Learndash
Learndash is a popular online course platform whose features and functions are constantly growing. Learndash is used by countless large universities and Fortune 500 companies and offers course creators a wide range of features and speed. The platform includes many of the tools associated with a traditional online learning website, including content drip, learner rewards and more.
Learndash prices are delivered on an annual basis, which means that some discounts are given, but you are also fairly bound to the environment. Learndash supports professional training opportunities, higher education, WordPress projects and more. You can even hand out certificates and ID cards to learners and access a range of engagement triggers to interact with your customers.
One point to keep in mind with Learndash is that it is available as a kind of WordPress LMS plugin. This means that you can embed it into your existing WordPress website. If you have already started building your presence online and do not want to start from scratch, this could make Learndash a more attractive option for you.
Pricing: Pricing starts at $159 per year for a website. If you upgrade and want more sites to play on, you can pay $10 for 189 sites, which is a reasonable price increase. Unfortunately, there is no free trial version to get you started. It is therefore difficult to test the functionality of this service before you hand over your money.
What are online course platforms?
An online course platform can be difficult to define in today’s landscape. Some people see online course platforms as websites full of learning opportunities such as Coursera.com or Udemy. Other people think that course platforms are LMS or learning management systems designed for people who want to share their knowledge with the world.
Tools like Kajabi, Teachable, Memorable, and Podia are all great for course creators. On the other hand, Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, and EDX are more for people looking for quick ways to learn and develop their skills online.
If you want to create a course and make money from your educational solutions, you must be prepared to find the best LMS platform with e-commerce and membership features. If you can use marketing and excellent customer support, for example, this can also be very helpful.
How do I create and sell online courses?
If the reason you are interested in things like open source educational platforms rather than learning tools like Khan Academy and Codecademy is because you want to sell courses, you need a plan.
First, think about what your students really want to learn. They can look at places like Quora and Reddit for inspiration, or use social media and hashtags to see what’s being talked about in your industry. Remember that you need to focus on a topic you are already familiar with to make the most of your skills.
Once you know what your students want to learn
- Choose the best online learning platforms for you: Use the guide above to find an online learning platform that offers the right tools at the right price. Remember, the more detailed you want to be in your online learning environment, the more you may have to pay. Think about the features you want, from email automation and market research to webinar software and advertising tools.
- Find the right software and equipment: Creating a course takes time and effort. You need to create amazing content that engages and informs your students. That means investing in a good microphone and video system so you can record your courses. You may also need to look into software for editing your videos or presentation tools for slides and powerpoints. If you want to present live and want to use the same information again later, contact a screen recording service.
- Create your valuable content: Make sure you know exactly what type of training you offer and the audience you are talking to. If you understand your students, you will gain a better insight into the language you need to use to reach them. Make sure that you address all the weaknesses of your audience and that you take an in-depth look at your education. Don’t just scratch the surface.
- Engage your audience: One of the most important things you can look for in the best learning platforms is tools that allow you to engage your audience. You need to interact with your learners to keep them excited. This may mean conducting surveys and tests or live webinars from time to time. It is also helpful if you can reward your learners with certificates and badges.
- Deliver a great experience: Even if you have valuable information to share with the world, it is worth mentioning that there is a lot of competition out there. You must deliver the best possible learning experience if you want your audience to stay with you. To ensure that you are moving in the right direction, look for a learning platform that can be integrated with external tools. By tracking your performance with Google Analytics, for example, you can better plan future lessons.
- Highlight your brand: you won’t be able to do much of it if you use a learning platform that only places your course in a marketplace. However, if you use a complete LMS system, you can enhance your branding. Make sure that your colours and logo stand out where they are needed. Your brand will help to differentiate you from other competitors in your industry.
- Promote your courses: Just as you need to promote an e-commerce shop or blog, you need to attract people to your online courses. Ideally, your online learning platform can be integrated with email marketing and social media tools so you can promote leads. However, you can also use other methods to promote your courses, such as designing your own website, blogging and more.
- Remember, if you need additional help to get started creating your online course, many of today’s leading platforms have knowledge bases.
Read the blogs and documentation available online from your platform provider. Don’t forget to also participate in community forums for educators.
Making the most of online learning
The online learning industry is growing rapidly.
Today, with Profit you can teach students everything from computer science to Javascript. But you need the right online platforms to get started.
Just like you need an e-commerce platform For your online shop, you need the right learning management system for your digital education company.
There are many different options, from high quality partnerships with Stanford and Harvard to tools that allow you to teach about something as simple as a mobile app. The key to success is to find something that suits your individual needs without forcing you to learn all about web development.
Remember, while every platform has its advantages and disadvantages, you are the most important factor. The success of your course depends heavily on the quality of the content you can share and how you market yourself. Choosing the best online learning platforms is only the first step.
Online Teaching Platforms, In Conclusion
Online courses are an excellent way to launch a side-business, grow your reach, educate others and to really boost your credibility on a subject.
When choosing between the best online course platforms, consider what you need and if your chosen platform provides for you.
Always consider the pricing and whether it is in your budget and the marketing features, as you do not want roadblocks further along in your online teaching career.
Each plaform listed above covers the basics and are all valid choices. They will help you get started and provide all you’ll need, especially when starting out.
And remember, this is just the platform. The most important part of this journey is YOU.
The quality of your content and how well you can market yourself.
So, to wrap up, there are endless amounts of topics and millions of potential students out there. Plus, the online learning industry is in rapid growth and is really a truly excellent business model or brand booster for you.
So why not get started today.