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Creating and selling online courses has become a cornerstone of digital entrepreneurship, with creators worldwide seeking platforms that combine ease of use with powerful marketing tools. Our comprehensive review examines five leading course hosting platforms, evaluating their features, pricing, and suitability for different creator needs.
Leading Platforms for Course Creation
The course creation market offers numerous solutions, each targeting different creator requirements from simple course delivery to comprehensive business management. We tested each platform extensively, examining their course building tools, marketing capabilities, student experience, and value proposition. Our evaluation considered factors including ease of setup, customisation options, payment processing, and ongoing support quality.
LearnWorlds emerges as our top choice for its exceptional balance of advanced features and user accessibility, whilst Kajabi provides remarkable comprehensive business management capabilities for established creators.
Summary of Course and LMS Platform Recommendations
| Platform | Best For | Link |
|---|---|---|
| LearnWorlds | Best Overall | Try LearnWorlds → |
| Kajabi | Most Comprehensive Business Suite | Try Kajabi → |
| Systeme.io | Best Value All-in-One Solution | Try Systeme.io → |
| Kartra | Best Advanced Marketing Features | Try Kartra → |
| Thinkific | Best for Beginners | Try Thinkific → |
Best Overall Course and LMS Platform: LearnWorlds
Best Features:
- Interactive video player with in-video quizzes and notes
- Advanced white-label customisation options
- Built-in social learning community features
- Comprehensive analytics and reporting
- Mobile app creation for branded course delivery
LearnWorlds stands out for its sophisticated approach to online education, combining powerful course creation tools with advanced student engagement features. The platform’s interactive video capabilities allow creators to embed quizzes, notes, and calls-to-action directly within video content, significantly improving completion rates and learning outcomes.
The platform excels in customisation, offering extensive white-label options that allow creators to build truly branded learning experiences. Its built-in community features foster student interaction, whilst comprehensive analytics provide detailed insights into student progress and course performance.
| Feature | Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Course Creation | Drag-and-drop builder with multimedia support | Intuitive interface suitable for all skill levels |
| Video Features | Interactive player with quizzes and annotations | Industry-leading engagement tools |
| Customisation | Full white-label with custom domains | Professional branding capabilities |
| Community Tools | Built-in forums and social learning features | Enhances student retention significantly |
| Mobile Access | Native mobile app creation | Branded apps available on higher plans |
| Payment Options | Multiple gateways with instalment plans | Flexible pricing structures for students |
| Analytics | Detailed reporting on student progress | Comprehensive insights for course optimisation |
| Customer Support | 24/7 live chat with dedicated success manager | Exceptional support quality across all plans |
LearnWorlds offers the most comprehensive feature set for serious course creators looking to build a professional online education business.
Get Started With LearnWorlds →
Most Comprehensive Business Suite: Kajabi
Best Features:
- Complete all-in-one business platform
- Advanced marketing automation and funnels
- Professional website builder included
- Comprehensive email marketing tools
- Built-in CRM and customer management
Kajabi positions itself as more than a course platform, offering a complete business ecosystem for digital entrepreneurs. Beyond course creation, it provides sophisticated marketing automation, website building, and customer relationship management tools that eliminate the need for multiple separate services.
The platform’s strength lies in its marketing capabilities, with advanced funnel builders, email sequences, and conversion tracking that help creators maximise revenue from their educational content. Kajabi’s premium pricing reflects its comprehensive feature set, making it most suitable for established creators ready to scale their operations.
| Feature | Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Course Creation | Standard builder with basic customisation | Functional but less advanced than competitors |
| Website Builder | Professional templates with full customisation | Eliminates need for separate website service |
| Marketing Automation | Advanced email sequences and triggers | Industry-leading marketing capabilities |
| Sales Funnels | Pre-built templates for various goals | Optimised for conversion and revenue growth |
| CRM Integration | Built-in customer management system | Comprehensive business relationship tracking |
| Analytics | Detailed business and marketing metrics | Exceptional insights for scaling operations |
| Mobile App | Branded iOS and Android apps | Professional mobile presence included |
| Pricing Structure | Higher cost but includes everything | Best value for creators needing all features |
Kajabi excels as a business platform rather than purely an educational tool, ideal for creators building comprehensive digital enterprises.
Best Value All-in-One Solution: Systeme.io
Best Features:
- Extremely affordable pricing with generous features
- Complete marketing funnel builder
- Email marketing automation included
- Affiliate programme management
- Unlimited courses and students on all plans
Systeme.io delivers exceptional value by combining course creation, email marketing, sales funnels, and affiliate management in a single affordable package. Starting at a fraction of competitors’ prices, it provides features typically found in premium platforms without the associated costs.
The platform’s strength lies in its integration of marketing tools with course delivery, allowing creators to build complete customer journeys from initial contact through course completion. Whilst the interface may lack the polish of more expensive alternatives, Systeme.io’s functionality and pricing make it attractive for budget-conscious creators seeking comprehensive capabilities.
| Feature | Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Starting from $27/month with most features | Outstanding value proposition |
| Course Builder | Basic but functional creation tools | Adequate for most course types |
| Email Marketing | Unlimited emails with automation | Significant cost savings over separate services |
| Sales Funnels | Complete funnel builder with templates | Professional marketing capabilities included |
| Affiliate Management | Built-in programme management | Revenue expansion through partners |
| Website Builder | Simple landing page creator | Basic but effective for course promotion |
| Payment Processing | Multiple gateway integrations | Flexible transaction handling |
| Student Limits | Unlimited across all pricing tiers | Exceptional scalability for growing businesses |
Systeme.io provides remarkable value for creators seeking comprehensive functionality without premium pricing.
Best Advanced Marketing Features: Kartra
Best Features:
- Sophisticated marketing automation platform
- Advanced split testing capabilities
- Comprehensive analytics and tracking
- Built-in video hosting and streaming
- Professional checkout and payment processing
Kartra combines course hosting with powerful marketing automation, creating a platform designed for creators who prioritise advanced promotional capabilities. Its sophisticated funnel building and automation tools rival dedicated marketing platforms, whilst maintaining solid course delivery functionality.
The platform excels in conversion optimisation, offering detailed split testing, advanced tracking, and comprehensive analytics that help creators maximise their marketing effectiveness. Kartra’s complexity makes it most suitable for experienced marketers comfortable with advanced automation workflows and detailed campaign management.
| Feature | Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing Automation | Advanced workflows with complex triggers | Professional-grade automation capabilities |
| Course Delivery | Solid hosting with basic customisation | Functional but not the primary focus |
| Split Testing | Comprehensive A/B testing across funnels | Exceptional optimisation tools |
| Video Hosting | Built-in streaming with bandwidth included | Cost-effective content delivery |
| Analytics | Detailed conversion and behaviour tracking | Superior insights for marketing optimisation |
| Payment Processing | Advanced checkout with upsells | Revenue maximisation features |
| Email Marketing | Sophisticated segmentation and automation | Professional email campaign management |
| Learning Curve | Steep initial setup and configuration | Best suited for experienced marketers |
Kartra serves creators who prioritise marketing sophistication over educational features, ideal for conversion-focused campaigns.
Best for Beginners: Thinkific
Best Features:
- Extremely user-friendly course builder
- Excellent free plan with unlimited students
- Pre-built course templates and themes
- Simple drag-and-drop interface
- Built-in student management tools
Thinkific removes the complexity from course creation with its intuitive interface and straightforward approach to online education. New creators can launch their first course within hours, thanks to pre-built templates and a guided setup process that requires no technical expertise.
The platform’s generous free plan allows unlimited students and courses, making it ideal for creators testing the waters of online education. Thinkific’s focus on simplicity doesn’t compromise functionality, offering essential features like quizzes, certificates, and basic marketing tools that meet most creators’ initial needs.
| Feature | Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Course Builder | Simple drag-and-drop with templates | Perfect for non-technical users |
| Free Plan | Unlimited students and courses | Exceptional value for beginners |
| Content Types | Video, audio, text, PDF, and presentations | Supports all common formats |
| Student Management | Basic progress tracking and communication | Adequate for smaller audiences |
| Marketing Tools | Basic landing pages and coupons | Limited but sufficient for new creators |
| Payment Processing | Thinkific Payments with competitive rates | Streamlined transaction handling |
| Mobile Experience | Responsive design across devices | Good mobile accessibility |
| Support Resources | Extensive knowledge base and tutorials | Strong learning resources for beginners |
Thinkific provides the perfect entry point for creators new to online course creation without overwhelming complexity.
How Our Tests Were Performed
We evaluated each platform through hands-on testing, creating sample courses and testing all major features over a three-month period. Our assessment focused on real-world usage scenarios, examining both creator and student experiences across different device types.
- Course creation workflow and ease of use testing
- Student experience evaluation across multiple devices
- Marketing tool effectiveness and integration testing
- Customer support response times and quality assessment
- Pricing analysis including hidden costs and value comparison
- Technical performance and reliability monitoring
Frequently Asked Questions
Which platform is best for complete beginners? Thinkific offers the gentlest learning curve with its intuitive interface and generous free plan, allowing new creators to experiment without financial commitment.
Can I migrate my existing course to a different platform? Most platforms support content import, though the process varies in complexity. LearnWorlds and Kajabi offer the most comprehensive migration assistance.
Which platform provides the best value for money? Systeme.io delivers exceptional value by including marketing automation, email tools, and unlimited students at significantly lower prices than competitors.
Do I need technical skills to use these platforms? All reviewed platforms offer drag-and-drop builders requiring no coding knowledge, though Kartra has the steepest learning curve due to its advanced features.
Which platform is best for selling high-priced courses? LearnWorlds and Kajabi excel for premium courses, offering advanced features, professional branding, and sophisticated marketing tools that justify higher price points.
Can I create mobile apps for my courses? LearnWorlds, Kajabi, and Kartra offer branded mobile app creation, whilst Thinkific and Systeme.io provide responsive web access optimised for mobile devices.
