A person working on a laptop with notebooks, planning an online course.
Your idea is ready. Now, where will it live? (Photo: Unsplash)

You have a skill to share, a passion to teach, and an audience waiting to learn. The creator economy is booming, and online courses are one of the most powerful ways to monetize your expertise. But one critical question stands in your way: Which platform should you use?

The platform you choose impacts everything from your earning potential and branding to the student experience. In 2025, the options are vast, but they generally fall into two categories: all-in-one platforms where you build your own school, and course marketplaces where you sell alongside other creators.

Let’s break down the best options so you can make the right choice.

All-in-One Platforms: Build Your Own Brand

These platforms give you the tools to create a fully independent, white-labeled website for your courses. You control the branding, student data, and pricing.

Pros:

  • Full Control: Your brand, your rules. No platform branding on your site.
  • Higher Profit Margins: You keep most of the revenue (minus payment processing fees).
  • Direct Student Relationships: You own the email list and can communicate directly.

Cons:

  • You Do All the Marketing: There’s no built-in audience. You are responsible for driving traffic.

1. Teachable

Teachable is one of the most popular and user-friendly platforms, making it perfect for first-time course creators. It focuses on the core features you need to build and sell a beautiful course without overwhelming you with options.

Best for: Beginners who want a simple, intuitive interface to get started quickly.

2. Thinkific

Thinkific is a powerful and flexible alternative to Teachable. It offers more advanced features like live lessons, assignments, and robust community-building tools. Its free plan is also one of the most generous, allowing you to build out a full course before committing to a paid plan.

Best for: Creators who want more control over their site design and need advanced features for a richer student experience.

A person making a payment online, representing selling a course.
All-in-one platforms give you direct control over your revenue. (Photo: Unsplash)

3. Kajabi

Kajabi isn’t just a course platform; it’s a complete online business solution. It includes a website builder, email marketing automation, sales pipeline funnels, and a checkout system. It’s the most expensive option, but it replaces many other tools (like Mailchimp, ClickFunnels, etc.).

Best for: Serious creators and businesses who want a single, powerful platform to run their entire online empire.

Course Marketplaces: Leverage a Built-in Audience

Marketplaces are large platforms that host thousands of courses from different instructors. They handle the marketing and bring a massive, existing student base to the table.

Pros:

  • Built-in Audience: Millions of potential students are already browsing the site.
  • Less Marketing Effort: The platform promotes your course for you (to some extent).

Cons:

  • Lower Profit Share: The platform takes a significant cut of your sales.
  • No Branding: You are building the marketplace’s brand, not your own.
  • Stiff Competition: You are listed right next to thousands of other courses.

4. Udemy

Udemy is the largest online course marketplace in the world. Its main advantage is its sheer size and reach. However, it’s known for its aggressive discounting model, which can devalue your content. A course you list for $100 might be sold for $10 during a sale.

Best for: Instructors who want maximum reach and are willing to play the volume game.

5. Skillshare

Skillshare focuses on creative and practical skills, with an emphasis on project-based learning. It operates on a subscription model, and instructors are paid based on the number of minutes their videos are watched by premium members. Courses are typically shorter and more focused than on Udemy.

Best for: Creatives and professionals who teach hands-on skills and prefer a royalty-based payment model.

How to Choose?

Ask yourself these questions:

  1. Do I want to build my own brand? If yes, choose an all-in-one platform.
  2. Do I already have an audience? If no, a marketplace like Udemy or Skillshare can help you get started.
  3. What is my budget? Start with Thinkific’s free plan or a low-cost option if money is tight. If you can invest, Kajabi offers the most power.
  4. What kind of content am I creating? For short, project-based classes, Skillshare is a great fit. For in-depth, signature courses, an all-in-one platform is better.

There is no one-size-fits-all answer. The best platform is the one that aligns with your business goals, budget, and vision for your brand. Start small, validate your course idea, and choose the platform that can grow with you.