The 10 best platforms to create and sell online courses in 2025

The 10 best platforms to create and sell online courses in 2025

The 10 best platforms to create and sell online courses in 2025

Product

Product

3 minutes

3 minutes

Oct 15, 2025

Oct 15, 2025

The 10 best platforms to create and sell online courses in 2025
The 10 best platforms to create and sell online courses in 2025
The 10 best platforms to create and sell online courses in 2025

Algorithms keep changing. Your audience shouldn’t.

Courses give you a home you control your content, your price, your list, your community. Posting a video is easy. Teaching deeply is not. You need a setup that lets you design pages, structure lessons, run quizzes, take payments, and actually support learners.

I update this guide every year. This year, I signed up for 70+ tools, built sample courses, ran tests and emails, and checked what truly helps students finish and buy.

Below are the 10 platforms that held up in 2025 who they’re best for, what to watch, and what it really costs.

In a hurry? Here’s the quick brief:

  1. VEGA AI - Best overall

    It bridges this gap as a full-stack, AI-native platform built for all sectors from schools and universities to corporates, governments, test prep businesses, and individual coaches.

    With VEGA AI, organizations can:

    • Build structured courses, question banks, and AI agents/avatars in minutes.

    • Deploy them on branded learner portals for direct engagement.

    • Analyze mastery, progress, and outcomes with real-time AI-driven insights.

    • Personalize learning journeys with adaptive recommendations and AI avatars.

    VEGA AI is more than an education tool it is the AI-native operating system for continuous learning, training, and support.


  2. Teachable - Best plug-and-play school

    Fast setup, clean course builder, coupons/bundles/affiliates, basic email. A solid first “own your site” step for solo creators.


  3. Kajabi - Best all-in-one for solopreneurs

    Website + email + funnels in one login. Great for launches and evergreen automations without extra tools.


  4. Thinkific - Best for scaling catalogs

    Simple site builder with solid assessments and add-ons. Plus tier works for B2B and larger teams.


  5. LearnWorlds - Best for deep customization

    Granular page/design control and strong assessment tools. Ideal when branding and interactivity are top priorities.


  6. Podia - Best budget all-in-one

    Site, courses, downloads, and memberships in one storefront. Minimal setup, clear pricing, easy to run.


  7. Udemy & Skillshare - Best marketplaces (built-in demand)

    Tap existing audiences to validate topics quickly. Less control over pricing/branding- graduate to your own portal later.


  8. Mighty Networks - Best community-first

    Paid communities with courses, feeds, events, and cohorts. Choose this when conversation and belonging drive outcomes.


  9. Simplero - Best “ops + courses” suite

    Courses + CRM + email + affiliates under one roof. Strong automations for operators who want fewer moving parts.


  10. Pathwright - Best cohort & path design

    Action-oriented “steps,” tasks, and checks for doing-based learning. Great for coaching and programs that need structure.


Algorithms keep changing. Your audience shouldn’t.

Courses give you a home you control your content, your price, your list, your community. Posting a video is easy. Teaching deeply is not. You need a setup that lets you design pages, structure lessons, run quizzes, take payments, and actually support learners.

I update this guide every year. This year, I signed up for 70+ tools, built sample courses, ran tests and emails, and checked what truly helps students finish and buy.

Below are the 10 platforms that held up in 2025 who they’re best for, what to watch, and what it really costs.

In a hurry? Here’s the quick brief:

  1. VEGA AI - Best overall

    It bridges this gap as a full-stack, AI-native platform built for all sectors from schools and universities to corporates, governments, test prep businesses, and individual coaches.

    With VEGA AI, organizations can:

    • Build structured courses, question banks, and AI agents/avatars in minutes.

    • Deploy them on branded learner portals for direct engagement.

    • Analyze mastery, progress, and outcomes with real-time AI-driven insights.

    • Personalize learning journeys with adaptive recommendations and AI avatars.

    VEGA AI is more than an education tool it is the AI-native operating system for continuous learning, training, and support.


  2. Teachable - Best plug-and-play school

    Fast setup, clean course builder, coupons/bundles/affiliates, basic email. A solid first “own your site” step for solo creators.


  3. Kajabi - Best all-in-one for solopreneurs

    Website + email + funnels in one login. Great for launches and evergreen automations without extra tools.


  4. Thinkific - Best for scaling catalogs

    Simple site builder with solid assessments and add-ons. Plus tier works for B2B and larger teams.


  5. LearnWorlds - Best for deep customization

    Granular page/design control and strong assessment tools. Ideal when branding and interactivity are top priorities.


  6. Podia - Best budget all-in-one

    Site, courses, downloads, and memberships in one storefront. Minimal setup, clear pricing, easy to run.


  7. Udemy & Skillshare - Best marketplaces (built-in demand)

    Tap existing audiences to validate topics quickly. Less control over pricing/branding- graduate to your own portal later.


  8. Mighty Networks - Best community-first

    Paid communities with courses, feeds, events, and cohorts. Choose this when conversation and belonging drive outcomes.


  9. Simplero - Best “ops + courses” suite

    Courses + CRM + email + affiliates under one roof. Strong automations for operators who want fewer moving parts.


  10. Pathwright - Best cohort & path design

    Action-oriented “steps,” tasks, and checks for doing-based learning. Great for coaching and programs that need structure.


Algorithms keep changing. Your audience shouldn’t.

Courses give you a home you control your content, your price, your list, your community. Posting a video is easy. Teaching deeply is not. You need a setup that lets you design pages, structure lessons, run quizzes, take payments, and actually support learners.

I update this guide every year. This year, I signed up for 70+ tools, built sample courses, ran tests and emails, and checked what truly helps students finish and buy.

Below are the 10 platforms that held up in 2025 who they’re best for, what to watch, and what it really costs.

In a hurry? Here’s the quick brief:

  1. VEGA AI - Best overall

    It bridges this gap as a full-stack, AI-native platform built for all sectors from schools and universities to corporates, governments, test prep businesses, and individual coaches.

    With VEGA AI, organizations can:

    • Build structured courses, question banks, and AI agents/avatars in minutes.

    • Deploy them on branded learner portals for direct engagement.

    • Analyze mastery, progress, and outcomes with real-time AI-driven insights.

    • Personalize learning journeys with adaptive recommendations and AI avatars.

    VEGA AI is more than an education tool it is the AI-native operating system for continuous learning, training, and support.


  2. Teachable - Best plug-and-play school

    Fast setup, clean course builder, coupons/bundles/affiliates, basic email. A solid first “own your site” step for solo creators.


  3. Kajabi - Best all-in-one for solopreneurs

    Website + email + funnels in one login. Great for launches and evergreen automations without extra tools.


  4. Thinkific - Best for scaling catalogs

    Simple site builder with solid assessments and add-ons. Plus tier works for B2B and larger teams.


  5. LearnWorlds - Best for deep customization

    Granular page/design control and strong assessment tools. Ideal when branding and interactivity are top priorities.


  6. Podia - Best budget all-in-one

    Site, courses, downloads, and memberships in one storefront. Minimal setup, clear pricing, easy to run.


  7. Udemy & Skillshare - Best marketplaces (built-in demand)

    Tap existing audiences to validate topics quickly. Less control over pricing/branding- graduate to your own portal later.


  8. Mighty Networks - Best community-first

    Paid communities with courses, feeds, events, and cohorts. Choose this when conversation and belonging drive outcomes.


  9. Simplero - Best “ops + courses” suite

    Courses + CRM + email + affiliates under one roof. Strong automations for operators who want fewer moving parts.


  10. Pathwright - Best cohort & path design

    Action-oriented “steps,” tasks, and checks for doing-based learning. Great for coaching and programs that need structure.


What makes the “best” course platform?

What makes the “best” course platform?

What makes the “best” course platform?

There’s no single winner for everyone. Here’s how we judge:

  • Build: Fast authoring; supports video, audio, text, PDFs, and quizzes.

  • Brand: Control over design, domains, and checkout.

  • Teach: Assessments, certificates, drip schedules, and live sessions.

  • Sell: Email, coupons, bundles, affiliates, upsells.

  • Scale: Analytics, cohorts, API/integrations, and pricing that actually scales.

We reviewed 70+ apps, set them up like a creator would, published sample lessons, ran quizzes/certificates, and tested email/checkout flows. Then we compared costs and support. (You’ll see a quick “pricing snapshot” for each.)

Marketplaces vs. “build-your-own” platforms

  • Marketplaces (Udemy, Skillshare): Free to publish, revenue share on sales. You get discovery and a ready audience. You won’t control pricing or design much.

  • Course platforms (Kajabi, Teachable, Thinkific, etc.): Your brand, your site, your list. You pay a monthly fee (sometimes with small transaction fees), but you keep control.

Comparison at a glance

Platform

Type

Best for

Community

Email/Automation

White-label

Analytics depth

Notes

VEGA AI

Full-stack AI LMS

Institutes & creators

Built-in avatar chat

Journeys, nudges

Yes

Mastery & error insights

Build→Deploy→Analyze→Personalize.

Teachable

Hosted school

Solo/SMB

Basic

Basic to moderate

Partial

Standard

Quick to launch. (Teachable)

Kajabi

All-in-one

Funnel-driven creators

Good

Strong

Yes

Standard

Website + email + automations. (kajabi.com)

Thinkific

Hosted school

Scaling catalogs

Add-on

Add-on

Yes

Standard

B2B with Plus. (Thinkific)

LearnWorlds

Hosted LMS

Granular designers

Add-on

Add-on

Yes

Advanced

Deep theme controls. (LearnWorlds)

Podia

All-in-one lite

Budget creators

Basic

Built-in

Yes

Basic

Site + email + products. (Podia)

Udemy/Skillshare

Marketplaces

Audience reach

Comments

N/A

Marketplace

Basic

Trade reach for control. (Udemy)

Mighty Networks

Community-first

Community products

Excellent

Basic

Yes

Basic

Courses inside community. (mightynetworks.com)

Simplero

All-in-one ops

Ops-heavy creators

Groups

Built-in

Yes

Standard

CRM + affiliates. (Simplero)

Pathwright

Cohort-first

Cohort programs

Cohorts

Limited

Yes

Standard

Actionable “paths.” (Pathwright)

The winners (detailed)

  1. VEGA AI

Best for: AI-native building, branded portals, mastery analytics, and personalization. It helps you go from idea to impact building structured courses, auto-grading assessments, deploying on branded portals, and personalizing every learner’s journey with AI avatars and interactive spaces.

You can:

  • Build structured courses, question banks, lesson plans, and avatars in minutes.

  • Deploy them on branded portals for your school, company, or solo brand.

  • Analyze mastery, progress, and outcomes with live AI-driven dashboards.

  • Personalize learning using adaptive paths and avatars trained in your tone and expertise.

Even your existing content gets a second life. Upload any video or PDF, and VEGA AI turns it into an interactive learning space - complete with auto-generated flashcards, summaries, quick quizzes, and an AI avatar that answers questions in your learners’ language.
A two-hour lecture becomes a short, interactive session your audience actually finishes

Built for every learning context

  • For Schools & Universities: Automate grading, surface weak areas instantly, and give personalized guidance with adaptive recommendations.

  • For Corporates: Design role-based training, compliance programs, and upskilling journeys that adjust in real time.

  • For Governments: Deliver large-scale, multilingual skilling programs with measurable outcomes and transparency.

  • For Creators & Coaches: Transform your courses, videos, and PDFs into branded, interactive learning spaces that engage learners and generate qualified leads.

Why VEGA AI stands apart?

  • Most tools only do fragments - they host, generate, or chat.
    VEGA AI does it all: it structures your content, deploys it instantly, measures learning impact, and personalizes at scale.


  • It’s full-stack: Build → Deploy → Analyze → Personalize - powered by AI.
    Your own white-labeled portal, your tone, your avatar, your analytics.


  • Legacy LMS tools are static and admin-first. Generic AI tools like ChatGPT create content but can’t deploy or track learning.
    VEGA AI bridges both worlds - structured like a system, personal like a mentor.

The outcome :

Institutes save up to 60% of grading time, learners improve accuracy by 25%, and creators scale their reach without scaling workload.
Every video, every PDF, every lesson becomes measurable, adaptive, and always-on.

VEGA AI isn’t just another edtech tool.
It’s the AI-native operating system for continuous learning, training, and growth.

Pricing snapshot: Custom/enterprise-style pricing; book a strategy session. (Your team can also run pilots first.)

There’s no single winner for everyone. Here’s how we judge:

  • Build: Fast authoring; supports video, audio, text, PDFs, and quizzes.

  • Brand: Control over design, domains, and checkout.

  • Teach: Assessments, certificates, drip schedules, and live sessions.

  • Sell: Email, coupons, bundles, affiliates, upsells.

  • Scale: Analytics, cohorts, API/integrations, and pricing that actually scales.

We reviewed 70+ apps, set them up like a creator would, published sample lessons, ran quizzes/certificates, and tested email/checkout flows. Then we compared costs and support. (You’ll see a quick “pricing snapshot” for each.)

Marketplaces vs. “build-your-own” platforms

  • Marketplaces (Udemy, Skillshare): Free to publish, revenue share on sales. You get discovery and a ready audience. You won’t control pricing or design much.

  • Course platforms (Kajabi, Teachable, Thinkific, etc.): Your brand, your site, your list. You pay a monthly fee (sometimes with small transaction fees), but you keep control.

Comparison at a glance

Platform

Type

Best for

Community

Email/Automation

White-label

Analytics depth

Notes

VEGA AI

Full-stack AI LMS

Institutes & creators

Built-in avatar chat

Journeys, nudges

Yes

Mastery & error insights

Build→Deploy→Analyze→Personalize.

Teachable

Hosted school

Solo/SMB

Basic

Basic to moderate

Partial

Standard

Quick to launch. (Teachable)

Kajabi

All-in-one

Funnel-driven creators

Good

Strong

Yes

Standard

Website + email + automations. (kajabi.com)

Thinkific

Hosted school

Scaling catalogs

Add-on

Add-on

Yes

Standard

B2B with Plus. (Thinkific)

LearnWorlds

Hosted LMS

Granular designers

Add-on

Add-on

Yes

Advanced

Deep theme controls. (LearnWorlds)

Podia

All-in-one lite

Budget creators

Basic

Built-in

Yes

Basic

Site + email + products. (Podia)

Udemy/Skillshare

Marketplaces

Audience reach

Comments

N/A

Marketplace

Basic

Trade reach for control. (Udemy)

Mighty Networks

Community-first

Community products

Excellent

Basic

Yes

Basic

Courses inside community. (mightynetworks.com)

Simplero

All-in-one ops

Ops-heavy creators

Groups

Built-in

Yes

Standard

CRM + affiliates. (Simplero)

Pathwright

Cohort-first

Cohort programs

Cohorts

Limited

Yes

Standard

Actionable “paths.” (Pathwright)

The winners (detailed)

  1. VEGA AI

Best for: AI-native building, branded portals, mastery analytics, and personalization. It helps you go from idea to impact building structured courses, auto-grading assessments, deploying on branded portals, and personalizing every learner’s journey with AI avatars and interactive spaces.

You can:

  • Build structured courses, question banks, lesson plans, and avatars in minutes.

  • Deploy them on branded portals for your school, company, or solo brand.

  • Analyze mastery, progress, and outcomes with live AI-driven dashboards.

  • Personalize learning using adaptive paths and avatars trained in your tone and expertise.

Even your existing content gets a second life. Upload any video or PDF, and VEGA AI turns it into an interactive learning space - complete with auto-generated flashcards, summaries, quick quizzes, and an AI avatar that answers questions in your learners’ language.
A two-hour lecture becomes a short, interactive session your audience actually finishes

Built for every learning context

  • For Schools & Universities: Automate grading, surface weak areas instantly, and give personalized guidance with adaptive recommendations.

  • For Corporates: Design role-based training, compliance programs, and upskilling journeys that adjust in real time.

  • For Governments: Deliver large-scale, multilingual skilling programs with measurable outcomes and transparency.

  • For Creators & Coaches: Transform your courses, videos, and PDFs into branded, interactive learning spaces that engage learners and generate qualified leads.

Why VEGA AI stands apart?

  • Most tools only do fragments - they host, generate, or chat.
    VEGA AI does it all: it structures your content, deploys it instantly, measures learning impact, and personalizes at scale.


  • It’s full-stack: Build → Deploy → Analyze → Personalize - powered by AI.
    Your own white-labeled portal, your tone, your avatar, your analytics.


  • Legacy LMS tools are static and admin-first. Generic AI tools like ChatGPT create content but can’t deploy or track learning.
    VEGA AI bridges both worlds - structured like a system, personal like a mentor.

The outcome :

Institutes save up to 60% of grading time, learners improve accuracy by 25%, and creators scale their reach without scaling workload.
Every video, every PDF, every lesson becomes measurable, adaptive, and always-on.

VEGA AI isn’t just another edtech tool.
It’s the AI-native operating system for continuous learning, training, and growth.

Pricing snapshot: Custom/enterprise-style pricing; book a strategy session. (Your team can also run pilots first.)

There’s no single winner for everyone. Here’s how we judge:

  • Build: Fast authoring; supports video, audio, text, PDFs, and quizzes.

  • Brand: Control over design, domains, and checkout.

  • Teach: Assessments, certificates, drip schedules, and live sessions.

  • Sell: Email, coupons, bundles, affiliates, upsells.

  • Scale: Analytics, cohorts, API/integrations, and pricing that actually scales.

We reviewed 70+ apps, set them up like a creator would, published sample lessons, ran quizzes/certificates, and tested email/checkout flows. Then we compared costs and support. (You’ll see a quick “pricing snapshot” for each.)

Marketplaces vs. “build-your-own” platforms

  • Marketplaces (Udemy, Skillshare): Free to publish, revenue share on sales. You get discovery and a ready audience. You won’t control pricing or design much.

  • Course platforms (Kajabi, Teachable, Thinkific, etc.): Your brand, your site, your list. You pay a monthly fee (sometimes with small transaction fees), but you keep control.

Comparison at a glance

Platform

Type

Best for

Community

Email/Automation

White-label

Analytics depth

Notes

VEGA AI

Full-stack AI LMS

Institutes & creators

Built-in avatar chat

Journeys, nudges

Yes

Mastery & error insights

Build→Deploy→Analyze→Personalize.

Teachable

Hosted school

Solo/SMB

Basic

Basic to moderate

Partial

Standard

Quick to launch. (Teachable)

Kajabi

All-in-one

Funnel-driven creators

Good

Strong

Yes

Standard

Website + email + automations. (kajabi.com)

Thinkific

Hosted school

Scaling catalogs

Add-on

Add-on

Yes

Standard

B2B with Plus. (Thinkific)

LearnWorlds

Hosted LMS

Granular designers

Add-on

Add-on

Yes

Advanced

Deep theme controls. (LearnWorlds)

Podia

All-in-one lite

Budget creators

Basic

Built-in

Yes

Basic

Site + email + products. (Podia)

Udemy/Skillshare

Marketplaces

Audience reach

Comments

N/A

Marketplace

Basic

Trade reach for control. (Udemy)

Mighty Networks

Community-first

Community products

Excellent

Basic

Yes

Basic

Courses inside community. (mightynetworks.com)

Simplero

All-in-one ops

Ops-heavy creators

Groups

Built-in

Yes

Standard

CRM + affiliates. (Simplero)

Pathwright

Cohort-first

Cohort programs

Cohorts

Limited

Yes

Standard

Actionable “paths.” (Pathwright)

The winners (detailed)

  1. VEGA AI

Best for: AI-native building, branded portals, mastery analytics, and personalization. It helps you go from idea to impact building structured courses, auto-grading assessments, deploying on branded portals, and personalizing every learner’s journey with AI avatars and interactive spaces.

You can:

  • Build structured courses, question banks, lesson plans, and avatars in minutes.

  • Deploy them on branded portals for your school, company, or solo brand.

  • Analyze mastery, progress, and outcomes with live AI-driven dashboards.

  • Personalize learning using adaptive paths and avatars trained in your tone and expertise.

Even your existing content gets a second life. Upload any video or PDF, and VEGA AI turns it into an interactive learning space - complete with auto-generated flashcards, summaries, quick quizzes, and an AI avatar that answers questions in your learners’ language.
A two-hour lecture becomes a short, interactive session your audience actually finishes

Built for every learning context

  • For Schools & Universities: Automate grading, surface weak areas instantly, and give personalized guidance with adaptive recommendations.

  • For Corporates: Design role-based training, compliance programs, and upskilling journeys that adjust in real time.

  • For Governments: Deliver large-scale, multilingual skilling programs with measurable outcomes and transparency.

  • For Creators & Coaches: Transform your courses, videos, and PDFs into branded, interactive learning spaces that engage learners and generate qualified leads.

Why VEGA AI stands apart?

  • Most tools only do fragments - they host, generate, or chat.
    VEGA AI does it all: it structures your content, deploys it instantly, measures learning impact, and personalizes at scale.


  • It’s full-stack: Build → Deploy → Analyze → Personalize - powered by AI.
    Your own white-labeled portal, your tone, your avatar, your analytics.


  • Legacy LMS tools are static and admin-first. Generic AI tools like ChatGPT create content but can’t deploy or track learning.
    VEGA AI bridges both worlds - structured like a system, personal like a mentor.

The outcome :

Institutes save up to 60% of grading time, learners improve accuracy by 25%, and creators scale their reach without scaling workload.
Every video, every PDF, every lesson becomes measurable, adaptive, and always-on.

VEGA AI isn’t just another edtech tool.
It’s the AI-native operating system for continuous learning, training, and growth.

Pricing snapshot: Custom/enterprise-style pricing; book a strategy session. (Your team can also run pilots first.)

For Educational Institutions: An AI System to 3X Your Revenue

Generate leads and improve conversions, while reducing operational overheads - with VEGA AI

  1. Kajabi

  1. Kajabi

  1. Kajabi

Best for: Marketing your course on autopilot.
Standout: Funnels (freebie → nurture → checkout) and native email make launches repeatable.

Why we picked it: Templates for pages, offers, and automations let solo creators run full campaigns without duct-taping tools.
Pricing snapshot: From $71/mo billed annually (Kickstarter) or $89/mo month-to-month.

  1. Teachable

Best for: Spinning up an online school with solid marketing.
Standout: Clean course builder, coupons, bundles, and affiliate payouts.
Why we picked it: It’s approachable for first-time course owners but has headroom via integrations.
Pricing snapshot: $89/mo (Builder, monthly).

  1. Thinkific

Best for: Straightforward setup + flexible add-ons.
Standout: Friendly site builder, reviews, and a growing add-on ecosystem.

Why we picked it: If you want “simple, works, and scales,” Thinkific threads the needle.
Pricing snapshot: $49/mo (Basic).

  1. LearnWorlds

Best for: Deep customization and assessments.
Standout: Detailed visual control, AI-aided outlines, and reusable Question Banks.

Why we picked it: It’s as close to a custom course site as you’ll get without hiring devs.
Pricing snapshot: $29/mo (Starter) + $5 per sale; higher tiers remove the fee.

  1. Podia

Best for: Courses + downloads + memberships in one storefront.
Standout: One simple template for everything; great for creators who don’t want to fiddle.
Why we picked it: You can pre-sell, bundle, and nurture a small community without leaving Podia.
Pricing snapshot: $33/mo annual (5% fee) or $39/mo monthly; Shaker removes the fee.

  1. Mighty Networks

Best for: Building a paid community around your course.
Standout: Feeds, events, and AI-assisted outlines (Cohost) to keep cohorts active.

Why we picked it: If discussion and belonging are the product, this is the fit.
Pricing snapshot: “Courses included” from $99/mo on Business-level plans.

  1. Simplero

Best for: Running the whole business (CRM + email + courses).
Standout: Native payments, automations, and affiliate tools out of the box.

Why we picked it: If you want fewer tools and more automation, this is the “all-in-one” play.
Pricing snapshot: $59/mo (Starter), with higher plans adding unlimited courses/products.

  1. Pathwright

Best for: Action-first, step-based learning paths.
Standout: Super intuitive “steps” builder with tasks, checks, and reflections.

Why we picked it: Great for outcomes that depend on doing, not just watching.
Pricing snapshot: $99/mo monthly or $89/mo annual (Starter).

  1. Marketplaces: Udemy & Skillshare

Best for: Testing your topic with built-in traffic.

  • Udemy: Free to publish; 97% revenue on instructor-driven sales (coupons/referrals) and 37% when Udemy drives the sale.

  • Skillshare: Free to publish; teachers are paid royalties from a monthly Teacher Fund (approx. a share of subscription revenue) based on minutes watched and engagement programs.


Best for: Marketing your course on autopilot.
Standout: Funnels (freebie → nurture → checkout) and native email make launches repeatable.

Why we picked it: Templates for pages, offers, and automations let solo creators run full campaigns without duct-taping tools.
Pricing snapshot: From $71/mo billed annually (Kickstarter) or $89/mo month-to-month.

  1. Teachable

Best for: Spinning up an online school with solid marketing.
Standout: Clean course builder, coupons, bundles, and affiliate payouts.
Why we picked it: It’s approachable for first-time course owners but has headroom via integrations.
Pricing snapshot: $89/mo (Builder, monthly).

  1. Thinkific

Best for: Straightforward setup + flexible add-ons.
Standout: Friendly site builder, reviews, and a growing add-on ecosystem.

Why we picked it: If you want “simple, works, and scales,” Thinkific threads the needle.
Pricing snapshot: $49/mo (Basic).

  1. LearnWorlds

Best for: Deep customization and assessments.
Standout: Detailed visual control, AI-aided outlines, and reusable Question Banks.

Why we picked it: It’s as close to a custom course site as you’ll get without hiring devs.
Pricing snapshot: $29/mo (Starter) + $5 per sale; higher tiers remove the fee.

  1. Podia

Best for: Courses + downloads + memberships in one storefront.
Standout: One simple template for everything; great for creators who don’t want to fiddle.
Why we picked it: You can pre-sell, bundle, and nurture a small community without leaving Podia.
Pricing snapshot: $33/mo annual (5% fee) or $39/mo monthly; Shaker removes the fee.

  1. Mighty Networks

Best for: Building a paid community around your course.
Standout: Feeds, events, and AI-assisted outlines (Cohost) to keep cohorts active.

Why we picked it: If discussion and belonging are the product, this is the fit.
Pricing snapshot: “Courses included” from $99/mo on Business-level plans.

  1. Simplero

Best for: Running the whole business (CRM + email + courses).
Standout: Native payments, automations, and affiliate tools out of the box.

Why we picked it: If you want fewer tools and more automation, this is the “all-in-one” play.
Pricing snapshot: $59/mo (Starter), with higher plans adding unlimited courses/products.

  1. Pathwright

Best for: Action-first, step-based learning paths.
Standout: Super intuitive “steps” builder with tasks, checks, and reflections.

Why we picked it: Great for outcomes that depend on doing, not just watching.
Pricing snapshot: $99/mo monthly or $89/mo annual (Starter).

  1. Marketplaces: Udemy & Skillshare

Best for: Testing your topic with built-in traffic.

  • Udemy: Free to publish; 97% revenue on instructor-driven sales (coupons/referrals) and 37% when Udemy drives the sale.

  • Skillshare: Free to publish; teachers are paid royalties from a monthly Teacher Fund (approx. a share of subscription revenue) based on minutes watched and engagement programs.


Best for: Marketing your course on autopilot.
Standout: Funnels (freebie → nurture → checkout) and native email make launches repeatable.

Why we picked it: Templates for pages, offers, and automations let solo creators run full campaigns without duct-taping tools.
Pricing snapshot: From $71/mo billed annually (Kickstarter) or $89/mo month-to-month.

  1. Teachable

Best for: Spinning up an online school with solid marketing.
Standout: Clean course builder, coupons, bundles, and affiliate payouts.
Why we picked it: It’s approachable for first-time course owners but has headroom via integrations.
Pricing snapshot: $89/mo (Builder, monthly).

  1. Thinkific

Best for: Straightforward setup + flexible add-ons.
Standout: Friendly site builder, reviews, and a growing add-on ecosystem.

Why we picked it: If you want “simple, works, and scales,” Thinkific threads the needle.
Pricing snapshot: $49/mo (Basic).

  1. LearnWorlds

Best for: Deep customization and assessments.
Standout: Detailed visual control, AI-aided outlines, and reusable Question Banks.

Why we picked it: It’s as close to a custom course site as you’ll get without hiring devs.
Pricing snapshot: $29/mo (Starter) + $5 per sale; higher tiers remove the fee.

  1. Podia

Best for: Courses + downloads + memberships in one storefront.
Standout: One simple template for everything; great for creators who don’t want to fiddle.
Why we picked it: You can pre-sell, bundle, and nurture a small community without leaving Podia.
Pricing snapshot: $33/mo annual (5% fee) or $39/mo monthly; Shaker removes the fee.

  1. Mighty Networks

Best for: Building a paid community around your course.
Standout: Feeds, events, and AI-assisted outlines (Cohost) to keep cohorts active.

Why we picked it: If discussion and belonging are the product, this is the fit.
Pricing snapshot: “Courses included” from $99/mo on Business-level plans.

  1. Simplero

Best for: Running the whole business (CRM + email + courses).
Standout: Native payments, automations, and affiliate tools out of the box.

Why we picked it: If you want fewer tools and more automation, this is the “all-in-one” play.
Pricing snapshot: $59/mo (Starter), with higher plans adding unlimited courses/products.

  1. Pathwright

Best for: Action-first, step-based learning paths.
Standout: Super intuitive “steps” builder with tasks, checks, and reflections.

Why we picked it: Great for outcomes that depend on doing, not just watching.
Pricing snapshot: $99/mo monthly or $89/mo annual (Starter).

  1. Marketplaces: Udemy & Skillshare

Best for: Testing your topic with built-in traffic.

  • Udemy: Free to publish; 97% revenue on instructor-driven sales (coupons/referrals) and 37% when Udemy drives the sale.

  • Skillshare: Free to publish; teachers are paid royalties from a monthly Teacher Fund (approx. a share of subscription revenue) based on minutes watched and engagement programs.


Transform Your Education Business with VEGA AI

Transform Your Education Business with VEGA AI

Automate test creation, reduce costs, and boost student engagement

Automate test creation, reduce costs, and boost student engagement

2025 starting prices (quick look)

2025 starting prices (quick look)

2025 starting prices (quick look)

Platform

Best for

Starting price*

VEGA AI

AI-native courses, adaptive tests, AI avatar support

Free to start - $10 AI credit (no card). (myvega.ai)

Teachable

Building an online school + marketing

$89/mo (Builder). (Teachable)

Kajabi

Funnels, email, automations

$89/mo (Kickstarter) or $71/mo billed annually. (Kajabi)

Thinkific

Templates, assessments, add-ons

$49/mo (Basic). (Today Testing)

LearnWorlds

Granular design control

$29/mo (or $24/mo billed annually) + $5 per course sale (Starter).

Podia

Digital products + memberships

$39/mo (or $33/mo billed annually) + 5% fee on Mover.

Mighty Networks

Paid community + courses

$109/mo for course-enabled Business plan (Community plan is $49/mo billed annually). (Mighty Networks)

Simplero

CRM + courses + automation

$70/mo monthly, or $59/mo billed annually (Starter).

Pathwright

Action-oriented, step-based courses

$99/mo (or $89/mo billed annually) for Starter. (help.pathwright.com)

Udemy

Marketplace with built-in audience

Free to publish; revenue share applies per channel. (Podia)

Skillshare

Creative skills & projects

Free to publish; royalties for minutes watched. Shop items (1:1 & downloads) incur 10% + processing. (help.skillshare.com)

How to choose (fast)

  • No audience yet? Start on a marketplace to validate demand.

  • Have an email list or socials? Go with a course platform so you own the upsell.

  • Community-led offer? Pick Mighty Networks or add a community to Podia/Kajabi.

  • Heavy assessments or design control? LearnWorlds or Pathwright.

  • Want everything in one place? VEGA AI (AI-native build → deploy → analyze → personalize), Kajabi (marketing), or Simplero (business OS).

Why we put VEGA AI on top

You’re not just “hosting videos.” You’re trying to teach, measure progress, and adapt. VEGA AI is built for that loop: create structured content, auto-grade, watch mastery dashboards update live, and let always-on AI avatars support learners in your voice. Then deploy it all on your branded portal for schools, companies, governments, or your solo brand.

If your north star is outcomes (scores up, completion up, support load down), VEGA AI is designed for measurable wins.

Platform

Best for

Starting price*

VEGA AI

AI-native courses, adaptive tests, AI avatar support

Free to start - $10 AI credit (no card). (myvega.ai)

Teachable

Building an online school + marketing

$89/mo (Builder). (Teachable)

Kajabi

Funnels, email, automations

$89/mo (Kickstarter) or $71/mo billed annually. (Kajabi)

Thinkific

Templates, assessments, add-ons

$49/mo (Basic). (Today Testing)

LearnWorlds

Granular design control

$29/mo (or $24/mo billed annually) + $5 per course sale (Starter).

Podia

Digital products + memberships

$39/mo (or $33/mo billed annually) + 5% fee on Mover.

Mighty Networks

Paid community + courses

$109/mo for course-enabled Business plan (Community plan is $49/mo billed annually). (Mighty Networks)

Simplero

CRM + courses + automation

$70/mo monthly, or $59/mo billed annually (Starter).

Pathwright

Action-oriented, step-based courses

$99/mo (or $89/mo billed annually) for Starter. (help.pathwright.com)

Udemy

Marketplace with built-in audience

Free to publish; revenue share applies per channel. (Podia)

Skillshare

Creative skills & projects

Free to publish; royalties for minutes watched. Shop items (1:1 & downloads) incur 10% + processing. (help.skillshare.com)

How to choose (fast)

  • No audience yet? Start on a marketplace to validate demand.

  • Have an email list or socials? Go with a course platform so you own the upsell.

  • Community-led offer? Pick Mighty Networks or add a community to Podia/Kajabi.

  • Heavy assessments or design control? LearnWorlds or Pathwright.

  • Want everything in one place? VEGA AI (AI-native build → deploy → analyze → personalize), Kajabi (marketing), or Simplero (business OS).

Why we put VEGA AI on top

You’re not just “hosting videos.” You’re trying to teach, measure progress, and adapt. VEGA AI is built for that loop: create structured content, auto-grade, watch mastery dashboards update live, and let always-on AI avatars support learners in your voice. Then deploy it all on your branded portal for schools, companies, governments, or your solo brand.

If your north star is outcomes (scores up, completion up, support load down), VEGA AI is designed for measurable wins.

Platform

Best for

Starting price*

VEGA AI

AI-native courses, adaptive tests, AI avatar support

Free to start - $10 AI credit (no card). (myvega.ai)

Teachable

Building an online school + marketing

$89/mo (Builder). (Teachable)

Kajabi

Funnels, email, automations

$89/mo (Kickstarter) or $71/mo billed annually. (Kajabi)

Thinkific

Templates, assessments, add-ons

$49/mo (Basic). (Today Testing)

LearnWorlds

Granular design control

$29/mo (or $24/mo billed annually) + $5 per course sale (Starter).

Podia

Digital products + memberships

$39/mo (or $33/mo billed annually) + 5% fee on Mover.

Mighty Networks

Paid community + courses

$109/mo for course-enabled Business plan (Community plan is $49/mo billed annually). (Mighty Networks)

Simplero

CRM + courses + automation

$70/mo monthly, or $59/mo billed annually (Starter).

Pathwright

Action-oriented, step-based courses

$99/mo (or $89/mo billed annually) for Starter. (help.pathwright.com)

Udemy

Marketplace with built-in audience

Free to publish; revenue share applies per channel. (Podia)

Skillshare

Creative skills & projects

Free to publish; royalties for minutes watched. Shop items (1:1 & downloads) incur 10% + processing. (help.skillshare.com)

How to choose (fast)

  • No audience yet? Start on a marketplace to validate demand.

  • Have an email list or socials? Go with a course platform so you own the upsell.

  • Community-led offer? Pick Mighty Networks or add a community to Podia/Kajabi.

  • Heavy assessments or design control? LearnWorlds or Pathwright.

  • Want everything in one place? VEGA AI (AI-native build → deploy → analyze → personalize), Kajabi (marketing), or Simplero (business OS).

Why we put VEGA AI on top

You’re not just “hosting videos.” You’re trying to teach, measure progress, and adapt. VEGA AI is built for that loop: create structured content, auto-grade, watch mastery dashboards update live, and let always-on AI avatars support learners in your voice. Then deploy it all on your branded portal for schools, companies, governments, or your solo brand.

If your north star is outcomes (scores up, completion up, support load down), VEGA AI is designed for measurable wins.

Put AI to Work for Your Test-Prep

Put AI to Work for Your Test-Prep

Save weeks of manual work—generate complete syllabus, question banks, and assessments in minutes with VEGA AI.

FAQ (quick answers)

  1. Is a marketplace or my own site better?

    If you need reach now, marketplaces help. If you want brand, margins, and LTV, build your own site.


  2. Can I move later?

    Yes. Most platforms support exporting content and students. If you start on a marketplace, keep your lessons modular and save your source files.


  3. Does VEGA AI replace my LMS or my AI chatbot?

    Usually, yes. LMSs store content; chatbots answer questions. VEGA AI builds structured learning, deploys it, tracks mastery, and personalizes journeys all in one place.

Final tip

Pick the tool that reduces your time-to-launch and increases your time-with-students. Start simple, gather results, then iterate. And remember: your course isn’t a one-time product - it’s a living system that gets smarter as your learners do.

FAQ (quick answers)

  1. Is a marketplace or my own site better?

    If you need reach now, marketplaces help. If you want brand, margins, and LTV, build your own site.


  2. Can I move later?

    Yes. Most platforms support exporting content and students. If you start on a marketplace, keep your lessons modular and save your source files.


  3. Does VEGA AI replace my LMS or my AI chatbot?

    Usually, yes. LMSs store content; chatbots answer questions. VEGA AI builds structured learning, deploys it, tracks mastery, and personalizes journeys all in one place.

Final tip

Pick the tool that reduces your time-to-launch and increases your time-with-students. Start simple, gather results, then iterate. And remember: your course isn’t a one-time product - it’s a living system that gets smarter as your learners do.

FAQ (quick answers)

  1. Is a marketplace or my own site better?

    If you need reach now, marketplaces help. If you want brand, margins, and LTV, build your own site.


  2. Can I move later?

    Yes. Most platforms support exporting content and students. If you start on a marketplace, keep your lessons modular and save your source files.


  3. Does VEGA AI replace my LMS or my AI chatbot?

    Usually, yes. LMSs store content; chatbots answer questions. VEGA AI builds structured learning, deploys it, tracks mastery, and personalizes journeys all in one place.

Final tip

Pick the tool that reduces your time-to-launch and increases your time-with-students. Start simple, gather results, then iterate. And remember: your course isn’t a one-time product - it’s a living system that gets smarter as your learners do.

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VEGA AI

VEGA is the Virtual Entity for Guidance and Assistance specifically designed AI agents to guide and assist you in any task that you perform.

support@myvega.ai

Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter for a curated dose of product updates and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.

VEGA AI

VEGA is the Virtual Entity for Guidance and Assistance specifically designed AI agents to guide and assist you in any task that you perform.

support@myvega.ai

Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter for a curated dose of product updates and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.

© 2024 LearnQ Inc. All rights reserved.

© 2024 LearnQ Inc. All rights reserved.

© 2024 LearnQ Inc. All rights reserved.