Best Platforms to Sell Online Courses in 2026
Best-of Roundup · Online Course Platforms
Best Platforms to Sell Online Courses in 2026 — 5 Options Ranked
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. We earn a commission if you sign up through our links at no extra cost to you. See our full disclosure.
Quick picks
Best overall: Teachable
Best free plan: Teachable
Best all-in-one: Kajabi
Best for communities: Thinkific
Best for memberships: Podia
Most affordable: Teachable free
Choosing the right platform to sell your online course is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as a creator. The platform you pick determines how your students experience your content, how you get paid, and how much of your revenue you keep. Get it wrong and migrating thousands of students to a new platform is a painful process.
We evaluated 8 platforms. Here are the 5 best options for independent course creators in 2026.
| Platform | Rating | Free plan | Starting price | Transaction fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teachable | 8.9/10 | Yes | $39/mo (Basic) | 0% on Pro+ |
| Thinkific | 8.7/10 | Yes | $36/mo | 0% on all plans |
| Kajabi | 8.6/10 | No (14-day trial) | $119/mo | 0% on all plans |
| Podia | 8.4/10 | No | $33/mo | 0% on all plans |
| LearnDash | 7.9/10 | No | $199/yr | 0% (WordPress plugin) |
Best overall
1. Teachable
8.9/10
Teachable is the most popular course platform for independent creators for good reason — it balances ease of use, student experience, and pricing better than any competitor. The free plan is genuinely functional, the course builder is the most intuitive available, and the student mobile app keeps completion rates high. Built-in affiliate programs on Pro plans let your students become your marketing team. For most first-time course creators, Teachable is the clear starting point.
Try Teachable Free →
Best for communities
2. Thinkific
8.7/10
Thinkific’s biggest advantage over Teachable is zero transaction fees on every plan including free — meaning you keep 100% of revenue from day one. Thinkific Communities lets you build an engaged student community alongside your courses. Slightly less intuitive than Teachable’s builder but more flexible for creators who want community as a core product feature.
Try Thinkific Free →
Best all-in-one
3. Kajabi
8.6/10
Kajabi is the premium all-in-one platform — courses, email marketing, website, landing pages, community, and podcast hosting under one roof. If you want to eliminate every other tool subscription and run your entire creator business from one platform, Kajabi delivers. The price is significantly higher than Teachable but justified if you’re currently paying for multiple separate tools.
Try Kajabi →
Best for digital products
4. Podia
8.4/10
Podia handles courses, digital downloads, memberships, and coaching in one platform with no transaction fees. The interface is clean and beginner-friendly. Particularly strong for creators who sell multiple types of digital products alongside courses — ebooks, templates, and memberships all live in the same storefront.
Try Podia →
Best for WordPress users
5. LearnDash
7.9/10
LearnDash is a WordPress plugin that turns your existing WordPress site into a powerful course platform. If you already have a WordPress site with an established audience, LearnDash is the lowest-friction path to adding courses. You own all your data and pay no transaction fees. Less polished than Teachable out of the box but highly customizable with the right setup.
Try LearnDash →
How to Choose the Right Platform
- First-time course creator? Start with Teachable free — launch your course, validate demand, then upgrade when revenue justifies it.
- Want zero transaction fees from day one? Thinkific’s free plan takes 0% — every dollar of revenue is yours.
- Running a full creator business? Kajabi replaces email marketing, website, and course platform in one subscription.
- Selling multiple types of digital products? Podia handles everything in one clean storefront.
- Already on WordPress? LearnDash keeps everything on your existing platform.
Our top pick: Start with Teachable free
Free plan. No upfront cost. Launch your course today and only pay when you start making sales.
Try Teachable Free →