Choosing the right platform to host and sell online courses is crucial for success in course co-production. The platform you choose will impact:
✅ Course delivery and student experience
✅ Sales and marketing capabilities
✅ Revenue and profit margins
In this guide, we’ll explore the best platforms for course hosting, their pros and cons, and how to pick the right one for your needs.
What to Look for in a Course Hosting Platform
Before selecting a platform, consider these key factors:
1. Ease of Use 🖥️
- Can you easily upload and organize course content?
- Is the interface user-friendly for students?
2. Payment & Pricing Flexibility 💰
- Does the platform allow one-time payments, subscriptions, or installment plans?
- How much commission does the platform take from each sale?
3. Marketing & Sales Tools 🚀
- Can you create landing pages, sales funnels, and email campaigns?
- Does it integrate with Facebook Ads, Google Analytics, and affiliate programs?
4. Student Experience & Engagement 📚
- Can students track progress and receive certificates?
- Are there quizzes, forums, or live Q&A features?
5. Pricing & Profit Margins 💵
- Are there monthly fees or transaction commissions?
- Does it allow you to keep more of your revenue?
Now, let’s explore the top platforms for hosting and selling online courses.
1️⃣ Teachable – Best for Beginners & Easy Course Setup
⭐ Best for: Course creators who want an easy-to-use platform with strong student engagement tools.
Pros:
✅ Simple drag-and-drop course builder
✅ Built-in payment processing (Stripe & PayPal)
✅ Certificates of completion for students
✅ Email marketing tools included
✅ Mobile-friendly course player
Cons:
❌ 5% transaction fee on the Basic plan
❌ Limited customization for sales pages
❌ No advanced automation features
💰 Pricing: Starts at $39/month (Basic Plan)
📌 Ideal for: First-time course creators, personal brand educators, and small businesses.
2️⃣ Thinkific – Best for Customization & No Transaction Fees
⭐ Best for: Course creators who want full control over their course layout, branding, and pricing.
Pros:
✅ No transaction fees on any plan
✅ Highly customizable landing pages
✅ Flexible pricing options (one-time, subscriptions, and bundles)
✅ Integrates with Zapier, email marketing tools, and payment gateways
✅ Supports quizzes, certificates, and memberships
Cons:
❌ No built-in email automation
❌ Limited advanced analytics on lower plans
💰 Pricing: Starts at $49/month (Basic Plan)
📌 Ideal for: Entrepreneurs and businesses looking for a platform with no hidden fees and full customization.
3️⃣ Kajabi – Best for All-in-One Marketing & Automation
⭐ Best for: Course creators who need powerful marketing automation, sales funnels, and memberships.
Pros:
✅ Built-in sales funnels & email marketing automation
✅ Webinar and coaching integration
✅ Advanced analytics and reporting
✅ No need for third-party tools like ClickFunnels
Cons:
❌ Expensive for beginners
❌ Steep learning curve for non-marketers
💰 Pricing: Starts at $149/month
📌 Ideal for: Coaches, high-ticket course creators, and entrepreneurs who want an all-in-one platform.
4️⃣ Podia – Best for Selling Digital Products & Memberships
⭐ Best for: Creators who sell courses, memberships, and digital downloads (eBooks, templates, webinars).
Pros:
✅ No transaction fees
✅ Unlimited students & courses on all plans
✅ Built-in email marketing & live chat support
✅ Membership site features
Cons:
❌ Limited course customization options
❌ No advanced funnel-building tools
💰 Pricing: Starts at $39/month
📌 Ideal for: Digital creators, membership site owners, and bloggers selling multiple product types.
5️⃣ Udemy – Best for Passive Income with High Traffic
⭐ Best for: Instructors who want exposure to millions of students but are okay with lower pricing.
Pros:
✅ Huge built-in audience (over 50 million students worldwide)
✅ Marketing & promotion handled by Udemy
✅ Easy-to-use course builder
✅ Global payment system (students worldwide can buy)
Cons:
❌ Udemy sets the course prices (often discounts heavily)
❌ Revenue split: Udemy takes 50%+ of sales
❌ No email list access (Udemy owns the customer data)
💰 Pricing: Free to publish, but Udemy takes a revenue cut
📌 Ideal for: Educators who want exposure but don’t mind lower prices and limited control.
6️⃣ Gumroad – Best for Selling Courses as Digital Downloads
⭐ Best for: Creators who want a simple way to sell courses without needing a full learning platform.
Pros:
✅ One-time purchase model (no subscriptions needed)
✅ Great for selling PDFs, video courses, and coaching
✅ Simple checkout process
Cons:
❌ No course player (students download materials)
❌ No quizzes, forums, or interactive learning features
💰 Pricing: Free to start, but charges 10% per sale
📌 Ideal for: Creators who prefer selling one-time downloads instead of interactive courses.
Which Platform is Best for You?
🔹 Best for Beginners: Teachable
- Easy to set up
- Built-in student engagement features
- Affordable pricing
🔹 Best for Customization & No Transaction Fees: Thinkific
- Full branding control
- No hidden fees
- Flexible pricing options
🔹 Best for All-in-One Marketing & Funnels: Kajabi
- Advanced automation tools
- High-ticket sales optimization
- Includes email marketing & sales funnels
🔹 Best for Selling Multiple Digital Products: Podia
- Sell courses, memberships, and downloads
- No transaction fees
- Simple setup
🔹 Best for Passive Income & Large Audiences: Udemy
- Millions of students searching for courses
- Udemy promotes your course
- Great for exposure, but lower pricing
🔹 Best for Selling Digital Downloads (Without a Course Player): Gumroad
- No need for a course platform
- Perfect for selling eBooks, PDFs, and mini-courses
Final Thoughts – Choosing the Right Course Hosting Platform
The best platform depends on your goals:
✔️ Need an all-in-one marketing solution? → Kajabi
✔️ Want full control with no fees? → Thinkific
✔️ Prefer an easy setup for beginners? → Teachable
✔️ Looking to sell memberships & downloads? → Podia
✔️ Want to leverage Udemy’s audience? → Udemy
✔️ Selling simple courses without interactivity? → Gumroad
By choosing the right platform, you’ll maximize student experience, revenue, and long-term success in course co-production. 🚀