Your guide to the best online course platforms

Overview

Kajabi is a premium all-in-one platform designed for course creators who want sophisticated marketing tools without juggling multiple software subscriptions. You can build and host multiple courses, set up email sequences, create landing pages, manage your customer database, and run webinars—all from one dashboard.

Best Features

It's a particularly good choice for coaches who are serious about scaling. The platform includes advanced marketing automation features (think: automated email sequences triggered by student behavior, abandoned cart recovery, segmented broadcasts), customizable course templates, and a native mobile app so your students can learn on the go.

What Reviews Say

Kajabi reviews consistently highlight the platform's polish and professional feel, though the learning curve is steeper than simpler alternatives. If you're ready to invest in a robust system and want to consolidate your tech stack, it's worth the premium price point.

Pros

• Everything you need in one place—no third-party integrations required
• Powerful marketing automation saves time on launches and evergreen funnels
• Professional templates make your courses look polished from day one
• Native mobile app enhances student experience
• Excellent customer support and extensive knowledge base

Cons

• Less beginner-friendly, with a steeper learning curve due to extensive features
• Higher price point than competitors (regular pricing starts at $71/month on the annual plan)
• Can feel like overkill if you're just starting out or running a simple course model

Overview

Thinkific is built specifically with course creation in mind, making it one of the most straightforward platforms to learn. The drag-and-drop course builder lets you organize content into modules and lessons without any technical skills. Choose from multiple course formats including drip content, self-paced, cohort-based, or membership models.

Best Features

Unlike all-in-one platforms, Thinkific focuses on doing one thing really well: hosting and delivering courses. You'll need to integrate with other tools for email marketing and payment processing, but many coaches appreciate the flexibility of not being locked into proprietary systems.

What Reviews Say

Thinkific reviews often praise the platform's clean interface and reliable student experience. The free trial lets you test the platform risk-free before committing, and paid plans scale affordably as your business grows. It's an especially strong choice if you want a course platform that avoids unnecessary complexity and lets you focus on teaching.

Pros

• Easy to learn—most coaches are up and running within a day
• Free trial available to test before committing
• Flexible course structures support different needs and teaching styles
• Clean, professional student experience
• Integrates with most popular marketing and payment tools

Cons

• Email features focus on course delivery, not full marketing campaigns
• Limited customization compared to more robust platforms
• Transaction fees on lower-tier plans
• Marketing automation requires workarounds or additional tools

Overview

Teachable is designed to get you from idea to launched course as quickly as possible. The setup is genuinely straightforward—you can have a course live in a matter of hours, not days. The platform handles payment processing, student management, and basic course delivery without requiring technical knowledge or design skills.

Best Features

While not as feature-rich as Kajabi or as customizable as Thinkific, Teachable includes what most new course creators actually need: a simple course builder, automated student enrollment, basic email notifications, and sales pages. You can also create quizzes, offer completion certificates, and drip content over time.

What Reviews Say

Teachable reviews frequently mention how beginner-friendly the platform is. It's built for coaches who want to test a course idea without getting bogged down in technical setup. The interface is clean and intuitive, and the learning curve is minimal. If you're launching your first course and want to focus on content rather than technology, Teachable removes most of the friction.

Pros

• Fastest platform to launch your first course
• No technical skills required
  Payment processing built in (supports multiple currencies)
• Affordable entry point for new course creators
• Simple, uncluttered interface

Cons

• Limited customization options compared to competitors
• Transaction fees on lower-tier plans
• Basic email features—no advanced automation
• Fewer integrations than Thinkific or Kajabi
• May outgrow the platform as your business scales