{"source":"CiteHawk AI Index","record":"online course platforms — 2026-09","url":"https://www.citehawk.com/leaderboards/editions/2026-09/online-course-platforms","immutable":true,"snapshotId":"26f66a42-4090-48d7-ac65-9516e9d2121c","capturedAt":"2026-09-01T06:59:36.622+00:00","contentHash":"e1d1dc5ae3b4288f90d8be6d5914a2d0f31f1917cc55d6f49a43c69d19b32639","contentHashSpec":"sha256-v1: hex SHA-256 of the UTF-8 bytes of the compact JSON array (no whitespace, non-ASCII characters unescaped, as JavaScript JSON.stringify emits) of [provider, run, model, text] tuples, one per captured answer, sorted by provider then run","region":"global","prompt":"What are the best online course platforms? Recommend the top brands or products that people actually use.","providers":["openai","claude","gemini","perplexity","deepseek","grok","bing_copilot","google_aio","google_ai_mode"],"models":{"grok":"grok-4.3","claude":"claude-sonnet-5","gemini":"gemini-3.5-flash","openai":"gpt-5.5-2026-04-23","deepseek":"deepseek-v4-flash","google_aio":"google_aio","perplexity":"sonar","bing_copilot":"bing_copilot","google_ai_mode":"google_ai_mode"},"runsPerProvider":1,"totalCalls":18,"ranking":[{"rank":1,"brand":"Coursera","domain":"coursera.com","score":46.8,"mentions":7,"recommendedBy":["openai","claude","perplexity","deepseek","grok","bing_copilot","google_ai_mode"],"averagePositionByProvider":{"grok":1,"claude":1,"openai":9,"deepseek":1,"perplexity":7,"bing_copilot":1,"google_ai_mode":2}},{"rank":2,"brand":"Udemy","domain":"udemy.com","score":46.6,"mentions":7,"recommendedBy":["openai","claude","perplexity","deepseek","grok","bing_copilot","google_ai_mode"],"averagePositionByProvider":{"grok":2,"claude":2,"openai":6,"deepseek":2,"perplexity":8,"bing_copilot":2,"google_ai_mode":1}},{"rank":3,"brand":"Skillshare","domain":"skillshare.com","score":44.5,"mentions":7,"recommendedBy":["openai","claude","perplexity","deepseek","grok","bing_copilot","google_ai_mode"],"averagePositionByProvider":{"grok":4,"claude":4,"openai":14,"deepseek":3,"perplexity":10,"bing_copilot":4,"google_ai_mode":3}},{"rank":4,"brand":"Thinkific","domain":"thinkific.com","score":38.9,"mentions":6,"recommendedBy":["openai","claude","perplexity","deepseek","grok","google_ai_mode"],"averagePositionByProvider":{"grok":11,"claude":5,"openai":1,"deepseek":8,"perplexity":2,"google_ai_mode":4}},{"rank":5,"brand":"Teachable","domain":"teachable.com","score":38.4,"mentions":6,"recommendedBy":["openai","claude","perplexity","deepseek","grok","google_ai_mode"],"averagePositionByProvider":{"grok":13,"claude":7,"openai":2,"deepseek":7,"perplexity":1,"google_ai_mode":7}},{"rank":6,"brand":"Kajabi","domain":"kajabi.com","score":38.4,"mentions":6,"recommendedBy":["openai","claude","perplexity","deepseek","grok","google_ai_mode"],"averagePositionByProvider":{"grok":12,"claude":6,"openai":3,"deepseek":9,"perplexity":3,"google_ai_mode":5}},{"rank":7,"brand":"LearnWorlds","domain":"learnworlds.com","score":37.7,"mentions":6,"recommendedBy":["openai","claude","perplexity","deepseek","grok","google_ai_mode"],"averagePositionByProvider":{"grok":16,"claude":10,"openai":5,"deepseek":11,"perplexity":4,"google_ai_mode":6}},{"rank":8,"brand":"LinkedIn Learning","domain":"linkedin.com","score":32.1,"mentions":5,"recommendedBy":["openai","perplexity","deepseek","grok","bing_copilot"],"averagePositionByProvider":{"grok":5,"openai":11,"deepseek":5,"perplexity":9,"bing_copilot":6}},{"rank":9,"brand":"MasterClass","domain":"masterclass.com","score":32,"mentions":5,"recommendedBy":["openai","claude","deepseek","grok","bing_copilot"],"averagePositionByProvider":{"grok":6,"claude":3,"openai":15,"deepseek":6,"bing_copilot":7}},{"rank":10,"brand":"Podia","domain":"podia.com","score":31.8,"mentions":5,"recommendedBy":["openai","claude","perplexity","deepseek","grok"],"averagePositionByProvider":{"grok":14,"claude":8,"openai":4,"deepseek":10,"perplexity":5}},{"rank":11,"brand":"edX","domain":"edx.org","score":26.4,"mentions":4,"recommendedBy":["openai","deepseek","grok","bing_copilot"],"averagePositionByProvider":{"grok":3,"openai":10,"deepseek":4,"bing_copilot":8}},{"rank":12,"brand":"DataCamp","domain":"datacamp.com","score":19.8,"mentions":3,"recommendedBy":["openai","grok","bing_copilot"],"averagePositionByProvider":{"grok":9,"openai":13,"bing_copilot":3}},{"rank":13,"brand":"Pluralsight","domain":"pluralsight.com","score":13.5,"mentions":2,"recommendedBy":["openai","grok"],"averagePositionByProvider":{"grok":8,"openai":12}},{"rank":14,"brand":"Mighty Networks","domain":"mightynetworks.com","score":13.3,"mentions":2,"recommendedBy":["perplexity","grok"],"averagePositionByProvider":{"grok":17,"perplexity":6}},{"rank":15,"brand":"Systeme.io","domain":null,"score":13.3,"mentions":2,"recommendedBy":["claude","grok"],"averagePositionByProvider":{"grok":15,"claude":9}},{"rank":16,"brand":"Circle","domain":null,"score":13.2,"mentions":2,"recommendedBy":["openai","grok"],"averagePositionByProvider":{"grok":18,"openai":8}}],"answers":[{"provider":"bing_copilot","run":1,"model":"bing_copilot","capturedAt":"2026-09-01T06:59:36.629Z","text":"Top online learning platforms include Coursera, Udemy, DataCamp, Skillshare, and Maven, each tailored to different learning goals ranging from career credentials to creative skills and live cohort-based learning SkillScouter+2 .\n\n1. Coursera\n\nBest for career-focused learners seeking employer-recognized credentials.\n\nPrice: $59/month (Coursera Plus) or $399/year\nCourses: 7,000+ including programs from Harvard, Stanford, Google, IBM, and Meta\nStrengths: Academic quality, professional certificates recognized by employers, structured multi-course programs, and career tracks in data, AI, marketing, and business.\nIdeal for: Career changers, professionals adding credentials, and anyone targeting tech or business roles 2 .\n\n2. Udemy\n\nBest for affordable, targeted skill learning.\n\nPrice: $10–20 per course (with frequent sales), no subscription required\nCourses: 210,000+ across nearly every category\nStrengths: Project-based, practical skills courses; ideal for developers, designers, or learners with a specific goal in mind.\nCertificates: Completion certificates only; generally not recognized by employers.\nIdeal for: Budget-conscious learners and those looking to gain a specific skill quickly 2 .\n\n3. DataCamp\n\nBest for data science, AI, and analytics learning.\n\nPrice: $25/month (annual plan)\nCourses: 400+ in Python, R, SQL, machine learning, AI, and Data Analyst/Scientist career tracks\nStrengths: Hands-on coding exercises in-browser, structured career tracks, skill assessments, certifications gaining recognition in data roles.\nIdeal for: Aspiring data analysts, data scientists, and professional pivoting into analytics or AI 2 .\n\n4. Skillshare\n\nBest for creative skills and portfolio development.\n\nPrice: $14/month (7-day free trial)\nCourses: 29,000+ in design, photography, writing, video, entrepreneurship, and coding\nStrengths: Project-based courses, practitioner instructors, community feedback mechanisms\nCertificates: Not formally recognized; emphasis is on portfolio-building.\nIdeal for: Designers, illustrators, photographers, creative entrepreneurs, and makers 2 .\n\n5. Maven\n\nBest for live, cohort-based professional learning.\n\nPrice: $199–$3,000/course\nCourses: 500+ in product management, leadership, marketing, AI, and career development\nStrengths: Live classes, structured multi-week courses, mentorship, networking opportunities with peers and instructors\nCertificates: Yes, completion recognized within professional communities\nIdeal for: Professionals seeking interactive, accountability-driven learning over pre-recorded content 1 .\n\nOther Notable Platforms\n\nLinkedIn Learning: Business, leadership, Microsoft Office skills; completion certificates link directly to LinkedIn profiles 1 .\nMasterClass: High-quality instruction from world-class practitioners; more inspirational than practical skills 1 .\nedX: Academic-style courses, MicroMasters, and Professional Certificates; ideal for rigorous STEM or business credentials 1 .\nBrilliant: Math, science, and computer science fundamentals; interactive problem-solving emphasis, not career-focused 1 .\n\nChoosing the Right Platform\n\nCareer credentials: Coursera or edX for university-backed certificates\nSpecific, practical skills: Udemy or DataCamp (depending on topic)\nCreative learning: Skillshare or MasterClass\nInteractive cohort experience: Maven or live workshops Consider a mixture of platforms depending on your goals: e.g., Coursera for career advancement, Udemy for supplementing technical skills, and Skillshare for creative projects 3 .","extractedBrands":[{"name":"Coursera","domain":"coursera.com","position":1},{"name":"Udemy","domain":"udemy.com","position":2},{"name":"DataCamp","domain":"datacamp.com","position":3},{"name":"Skillshare","domain":"skillshare.com","position":4},{"name":"Maven","domain":null,"position":5},{"name":"LinkedIn Learning","domain":"linkedin.com","position":6},{"name":"MasterClass","domain":"masterclass.com","position":7},{"name":"edX","domain":"edx.org","position":8},{"name":"Brilliant","domain":"brilliant.org","position":9}]},{"provider":"claude","run":1,"model":"claude-sonnet-5","capturedAt":"2026-09-01T06:59:36.628Z","text":"Here's a breakdown of the top online course platforms, split by what people actually use them for — learning a skill vs. building/selling a course:\n\n## For Learners (Taking Courses)\n\n- **Coursera** – A major player with massive reach; the US alone accounts for more than 17 million Coursera users, making it one of the best online course platforms for instructors and learners. Known for university-backed content and certificates.\n- **Udemy** – Udemy is a marketplace, not a builder; great for discoverability but restrictive on pricing. Best for cheap, one-off skill courses.\n- **MasterClass** – Known for celebrity-taught, high-production-value classes on creative and lifestyle topics.\n- **Skillshare** – Popular for creative skills (design, video, art) with a subscription model.\n\nResearch.com sums up the general consensus well: in 2026, top online course platforms include MasterClass, Coursera, Udemy, Teachable, and Skillshare, renowned for their diverse courses, intuitive user interfaces and instructional quality.\n\n## For Creators (Building & Selling Your Own Courses)\n\nIf you're the one making a course rather than taking one, the \"big three\" that dominate recommendations are:\n\n**1. Thinkific**\nWidely cited as a top all-around pick. The best online course platform in 2026 is Thinkific for first-time creators, and Thinkific starts at $40/month billed annually, with a 30-day free trial and no transaction fees when you use Thinkific Payments. It's also praised for ease of use — Thinkific is an online platform that has enjoyed meteoric success as a relative newcomer to this space, with useful functions such as the ability for educators to build a website, plus it can be used to issue certificates of completion and is used worldwide, accepting payments from learners in over 100 countries.\n\n**2. Kajabi**\nThe go-to for established creators who want an all-in-one business tool. Kajabi is best for established creators who want everything in one place, starting at $179/month, but it replaces your email marketing, sales funnels, and website tools, making it a better value than it looks if you're already paying for those separately. Note that Kajabi raised prices significantly in January 2026 and now starts at $179/month.\n\n**3. Teachable**\nA solid starter option, though it's become less budget-friendly recently: Teachable no longer offers a free plan — the entry-level Starter plan is $39/month with a 7.5% transaction fee, and zero transaction fees start at the Builder plan ($89/month).\n\n### Other notable mentions:\n- **Podia** – gives solid value for basic needs like email and memberships.\n- **Systeme.io** – Best free option: covers 1 course and email up to 2,000 contacts at no cost.\n- **LearnWorlds** – Frequently ranked for its polished, engaging course design at a free trial or $29/month.\n- **LearnDash / LifterLMS** – Top picks if you already run WordPress and want a plugin-based LMS.\n\n## Bottom Line\n- **Want to *learn* something?** → Coursera (structured/university content), Udemy (cheap and huge catalog), or Skillshare/MasterClass (creative, polished lessons).\n- **Want to *build and sell* a course?** → Thinkific or Kajabi are the most recommended, with Teachable and Podia as solid alternatives, and Systeme.io if you're on a tight budget.\n\nThe market is still expanding fast — the global online course platform market was estimated at USD 20 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 50 billion by 2033 — so expect continued feature battles (AI tools, community features, etc.) among these players.","extractedBrands":[{"name":"Coursera","domain":"coursera.org","position":1},{"name":"Udemy","domain":"udemy.com","position":2},{"name":"MasterClass","domain":"masterclass.com","position":3},{"name":"Skillshare","domain":"skillshare.com","position":4},{"name":"Thinkific","domain":"thinkific.com","position":5},{"name":"Kajabi","domain":"kajabi.com","position":6},{"name":"Teachable","domain":"teachable.com","position":7},{"name":"Podia","domain":"podia.com","position":8},{"name":"Systeme.io","domain":null,"position":9},{"name":"LearnWorlds","domain":"learnworlds.com","position":10},{"name":"LearnDash","domain":null,"position":11},{"name":"LifterLMS","domain":null,"position":12}]},{"provider":"deepseek","run":1,"model":"deepseek-v4-flash","capturedAt":"2026-09-01T06:59:36.629Z","text":"The best online course platform depends on whether you're **taking courses** or **creating/selling courses**. Here are the top brands people actually use, split by use case.\n\n---\n\n## 🎓 For Learners (Marketplaces & Subscription Sites)\n\nThese platforms have millions of users and offer courses from universities, experts, and independent instructors.\n\n| Platform | Best For | What People Like |\n|---|---|---|\n| **Coursera** | University-level courses, certificates, degrees | Partners with Yale, Stanford, Google, IBM. Accredited certificates, financial aid available. |\n| **Udemy** | Affordable, wide variety of practical skills | Huge catalog (200,000+ courses). Frequent sales ($10–$20). No subscription required, buy individual courses. |\n| **Skillshare** | Creative and hobby skills | Subscription-based. Great for design, illustration, writing, photography, productivity. |\n| **edX** | Free university courses | Founded by Harvard and MIT. Audit most courses free. Paid certificates available. |\n| **LinkedIn Learning** | Professional/business skills | Integrates with LinkedIn profile. Good for career tech, soft skills, project management. |\n| **MasterClass** | Learning from celebrities/experts | High-production classes from Gordon Ramsay, Serena Williams, Malcolm Gladwell. More entertainment + inspiration than deep skill-building. |\n\n---\n\n## 🛠️ For Creators (Course Hosting & Selling)\n\nIf you want to build, market, and sell your own online course, these are the most widely used platforms.\n\n| Platform | Best For | What People Like |\n|---|---|---|\n| **Teachable** | All-in-one course hosting | Simple to use. Supports videos, quizzes, coupons, email marketing. No transaction fees on paid plans. |\n| **Thinkific** | Flexible, feature-rich courses | Free plan available. Great for dropshipping, memberships, and advanced course structures. |\n| **Kajabi** | Online course + marketing funnel platform | Strong for building an entire business: landing pages, email marketing, pipelines, payment processing. Higher price, but all-in-one. |\n| **Podia** | Beginners & digital products | Cheap, easy. Sell courses, downloads, webinars, and memberships without tech headaches. |\n| **LearnWorlds** | Interactive learning experience | Highly interactive video, note-taking, live sessions, and powerful engagement features. Good for serious educators. |\n\n---\n\n## 🏢 For Companies / Corporate Training\n\n| Platform | Best For |\n|---|---|\n| **Docebo** | Enterprise LMS with AI and social learning |\n| **TalentLMS** | Small to mid-sized teams, easy setup |\n| **360Learning** | Collaborative learning, employee-generated courses |\n| **Moodle** | Free, open-source, highly customizable |\n\n---\n\n## Quick recommendation\n\n- **If you're a learner:** Start with **Coursera** for credibility, **Udemy** for cheap practical skills, **Skillshare** for creativity.\n- **If you're a creator:** Start with **Teachable** or **Thinkific** (best balance). Use **Kajabi** if you also want built-in marketing and email funnels.\n\nAll of these are widely used and trusted — just pick the one that matches your goal.","extractedBrands":[{"name":"Coursera","domain":"coursera.org","position":1},{"name":"Udemy","domain":"udemy.com","position":2},{"name":"Skillshare","domain":"skillshare.com","position":3},{"name":"edX","domain":"edx.org","position":4},{"name":"LinkedIn Learning","domain":"linkedin.com","position":5},{"name":"MasterClass","domain":"masterclass.com","position":6},{"name":"Teachable","domain":"teachable.com","position":7},{"name":"Thinkific","domain":"thinkific.com","position":8},{"name":"Kajabi","domain":"kajabi.com","position":9},{"name":"Podia","domain":"podia.com","position":10},{"name":"LearnWorlds","domain":"learnworlds.com","position":11},{"name":"Docebo","domain":"docebo.com","position":12},{"name":"TalentLMS","domain":"talentlms.com","position":13},{"name":"360Learning","domain":"360learning.com","position":14},{"name":"Moodle","domain":"moodle.org","position":15}]},{"provider":"gemini","run":1,"model":"gemini-3.5-flash","capturedAt":"2026-09-01T06:59:36.629Z","text":"","extractedBrands":[{"name":"Vertex AI","domain":null,"position":1}]},{"provider":"google_ai_mode","run":1,"model":"google_ai_mode","capturedAt":"2026-09-01T06:59:36.629Z","text":"The best online course platforms depend entirely on whether you want to learn something new (student marketplaces) or build and sell your own courses (creator platforms). The industry has clear leaders that people actually use daily, split into these distinct categories.\n\nA direct comparison of the top platforms reveals how they serve different needs:\n\n🎓 Best Platforms for Students & Learners\n\nIf you are looking to take a course to level up your career or learn a hobby, these are the massive marketplaces with millions of active users:\n\nUdemy: Best for practical, affordable, self-paced skills. It boasts a massive catalog of specialized topics, especially in tech and business. Courses are bought individually rather than on a subscription.\nCoursera: Best for accredited learning. They partner directly with top universities (like Harvard and MIT) and major corporations (like Google) to offer professional certificates and actual degree programs.\nSkillshare: Best for creatives. It runs on a subscription model focusing on creative fields like graphic design, photography, illustration, and video editing.\n\n🛠️ Best Platforms for Course Creators & Educators\n\nIf you want to build a business, upload your own videos, and sell your knowledge, these are the tools professionals rely on:\n\nThinkific: An incredibly reliable platform for hosting your content. It features a heavily praised AI assistant that auto-generates course outlines and landing pages. They do not charge transaction fees on your sales.\nKajabi: The gold standard for \"all-in-one\" business management. It handles your website hosting, course delivery, automated email marketing, and membership funnels under one roof. It is expensive but replaces multiple software subscriptions.\nLearnWorlds: Best for high-end student engagement. It allows you to build sophisticated online academies with interactive video features, automatic transcripts, certificates, and branching learning paths.\nTeachable: A highly popular competitor to Thinkific that focuses heavily on clean user experiences and advanced marketing/affiliate tools for creators.\n\n💬 What the Community Says\n\nReviewers from YouTube and tech blogs highlight a clear divide in quality depending on which platform you choose:\n\n“If you're more into casual learning, side hobbies, or picking up practical skills on a budget, Udemy is a fun, flexible platform... But because anyone can upload a course, the quality varies a lot.”\n\n“If you're aiming for career advancement and want certificates or degrees employers will respect, Coursera is a rock-solid choice.”\n\nTo narrow this down to the perfect choice, could you tell me:\n\nAre you looking at these platforms as a student looking to learn, or as a creator looking to sell a course?\nWhat specific subject matter or industry are you focusing on (e.g., tech, art, business)?\nWhat is your approximate budget or pricing preference?","extractedBrands":[{"name":"Udemy","domain":"udemy.com","position":1},{"name":"Coursera","domain":"coursera.com","position":2},{"name":"Skillshare","domain":"skillshare.com","position":3},{"name":"Thinkific","domain":"thinkific.com","position":4},{"name":"Kajabi","domain":"kajabi.com","position":5},{"name":"LearnWorlds","domain":"learnworlds.com","position":6},{"name":"Teachable","domain":"teachable.com","position":7}]},{"provider":"google_aio","run":1,"model":"google_aio","capturedAt":"2026-09-01T06:59:36.629Z","text":"","extractedBrands":[]},{"provider":"grok","run":1,"model":"grok-4.3","capturedAt":"2026-09-01T06:59:36.629Z","text":"**The top online course platforms that people actually use fall into two main categories: marketplaces for taking courses (with massive user bases like Coursera and Udemy) and tools for creating/selling your own courses (popular among independent creators).** Popularity is driven by enrollment numbers, reviews, and real-world adoption as of 2025–2026 data.[[1]](https://www.lingobright.com/statistics/online-education-platforms/)[[2]](https://gauravtiwari.org/online-education-statistics/)\n\n### Top Platforms for Taking Courses (Learners)\nThese are the most widely used based on registered users/learners and frequent mentions in comparisons:\n\n- **Coursera** — Best overall for career-focused learning and credentials. It partners with 300+ universities and companies (e.g., Stanford, Google, IBM) for courses, specializations, professional certificates, and even degrees. Coursera Plus subscription unlocks thousands of courses; certificates carry real weight with employers. It has one of the largest user bases (~148–197 million registered learners). Strong for structured paths and recognized credentials.[[3]](https://onlinecourseing.com/best-online-learning-platforms/)[[4]](https://skillscouter.com/best-online-learning-platforms/)\n\n- **Udemy** — Best value and widest selection. It offers 200,000+ courses on nearly any topic (tech, business, creative skills, etc.), often priced $10–20 on frequent sales with lifetime access. Huge variety from independent instructors; great for quick, practical skill-building. Tens of millions of users; acquired by Coursera in 2026 but platforms remain distinct for now.[[3]](https://onlinecourseing.com/best-online-learning-platforms/)[[5]](https://zapier.com/blog/online-course-platforms/)\n\n- **edX** — Strong for university-level and academic content. Founded by MIT and Harvard; offers courses, MicroMasters, and verified certificates from top institutions. Good free audit options and professional programs. Tens of millions of learners.[[3]](https://onlinecourseing.com/best-online-learning-platforms/)\n\n- **Skillshare** — Popular for creative skills (design, photography, illustration, writing). Subscription model with project-based classes; community-oriented. Millions of members.[[5]](https://zapier.com/blog/online-course-platforms/)\n\n- **LinkedIn Learning** — Excellent for professional development and soft/business skills. Integrated with LinkedIn profiles; certificates add to your resume. Subscription or often included with LinkedIn Premium. Strong corporate/enterprise use.[[6]](https://www.techradar.com/best/online-class-sites-do-these-online-courses-from-the-comfort-of-home)\n\n- **Others frequently used**: MasterClass (high-production classes from experts/celebrities, subscription); Khan Academy (free foundational/K-12 content, massive reach); Pluralsight or DataCamp (tech/data science specialists); Alison (free courses with paid certificates, 50M+ learners).[[1]](https://www.lingobright.com/statistics/online-education-platforms/)\n\n**Key trends**: Coursera and Udemy dominate by scale. Many platforms offer free/preview access or trials; paid options unlock certificates or full libraries. Completion rates are generally low industry-wide (~10–15%), so choose based on your goals (credentials vs. quick skills).[[7]](https://thepivotwave.com/blog/elearning-statistics-trends/)\n\n### Top Platforms for Creating and Selling Courses (Creators)\nIf you're an instructor or entrepreneur building/selling courses, these are the most recommended and used (based on creator reviews, market share mentions, and features like hosting, payments, and marketing):\n\n- **Thinkific** — Frequently tops lists for first-time or established creators. User-friendly with strong customization, no transaction fees on higher plans, community features, and marketing tools. Affordable starting around $40/month.[[8]](https://ddiy.co/online-course-platforms/)[[9]](https://bloggingwizard.com/online-course-platforms/)\n\n- **Kajabi** — All-in-one powerhouse for serious businesses (courses + email marketing + funnels + community). Ideal if you want to replace multiple tools, but pricier (starts ~$70–179/month after recent increases). Popular for automation and scaling.[[8]](https://ddiy.co/online-course-platforms/)[[5]](https://zapier.com/blog/online-course-platforms/)\n\n- **Teachable** — Beginner-friendly with solid marketing/affiliate tools and payment processing. Good for solopreneurs; plans from ~$29/month.[[5]](https://zapier.com/blog/online-course-platforms/)[[10]](https://www.deadlinefunnel.com/blog/best-online-course-platforms)\n\n- **Podia** — Simple all-in-one for courses, memberships, emails, and digital products. No transaction fees on paid plans; affordable (~$33–42/month). Great for creators selling a mix of offerings.[[5]](https://zapier.com/blog/online-course-platforms/)\n\n- **Others commonly used**: Systeme.io (strong free tier for beginners); LearnWorlds (advanced interactivity and branding); Mighty Networks or Circle (community-focused).[[11]](https://ezycourse.com/blog/best-online-course-platforms)\n\n**Note on creation platforms**: These often emphasize no/low transaction fees, branding control, and integrations vs. marketplaces like Udemy (which provide built-in audience but take a revenue share and limit pricing control).[[5]](https://zapier.com/blog/online-course-platforms/)\n\n### Quick Recommendations by Use Case\n- **Career credentials/structured learning** — Coursera or edX.\n- **Affordable, broad skills** — Udemy.\n- **Creative/hobby projects** — Skillshare or MasterClass.\n- **Building/selling your own courses** — Start with Thinkific (budget/customization) or Kajabi (all-in-one scale).\n- **Free options** — Khan Academy, Alison, or free tiers on the above.\n\n\"Best\" is subjective and depends on your needs (e.g., budget, topic, credentials vs. flexibility). Check current pricing/trials directly, as they evolve. User reviews consistently praise Coursera/Udemy for accessibility and the creator tools above for ease of use. For the latest specifics, search recent comparisons or platform sites.","extractedBrands":[{"name":"Coursera","domain":"coursera.com","position":1},{"name":"Udemy","domain":"udemy.com","position":2},{"name":"edX","domain":"edx.org","position":3},{"name":"Skillshare","domain":"skillshare.com","position":4},{"name":"LinkedIn Learning","domain":"linkedin.com","position":5},{"name":"MasterClass","domain":null,"position":6},{"name":"Khan Academy","domain":"khanacademy.org","position":7},{"name":"Pluralsight","domain":"pluralsight.com","position":8},{"name":"DataCamp","domain":"datacamp.com","position":9},{"name":"Alison","domain":"alison.com","position":10},{"name":"Thinkific","domain":"thinkific.com","position":11},{"name":"Kajabi","domain":"kajabi.com","position":12},{"name":"Teachable","domain":"teachable.com","position":13},{"name":"Podia","domain":"podia.com","position":14},{"name":"Systeme.io","domain":null,"position":15},{"name":"LearnWorlds","domain":null,"position":16},{"name":"Mighty Networks","domain":null,"position":17},{"name":"Circle","domain":null,"position":18}]},{"provider":"openai","run":1,"model":"gpt-5.5-2026-04-23","capturedAt":"2026-09-01T06:59:36.628Z","text":"If you mean **platforms to create/host/sell your own online course**, these are the brands people actually use most:\n\n## Best online course platforms for creators\n\n| Platform | Best for | Why pick it |\n|---|---|---|\n| **Thinkific** | Most creators, small businesses, training academies | Strong course builder, good student experience, solid for selling courses, memberships, and communities. Thinkific says 35,000+ customers have reached 200M+ people, so it’s a real, widely used platform. ([investors.thinkific.com](https://investors.thinkific.com/2026-05-04-Thinkific-Announces-First-Quarter-2026-Financial-Results?utm_source=openai)) |\n| **Teachable** | Beginners who want simple course selling | Easy to launch, creator-friendly, good checkout/sales tools. Teachable says it has served 100M+ students and is used in 180 countries. ([teachable.com](https://www.teachable.com/about?utm_source=openai)) |\n| **Kajabi** | Serious creators who want an all-in-one business system | Best if you want courses + website + email marketing + funnels + payments + community in one place. Kajabi reports 900K+ courses created, 25M+ students enrolled, and $8B+ made on courses. ([kajabi.com](https://www.kajabi.com/product/online-courses?utm_source=openai)) |\n| **Podia** | Simple creator businesses, digital downloads, memberships | Cleaner and simpler than Kajabi; good if you don’t want a complex funnel machine. Best for smaller creators selling courses, downloads, webinars, and community. ([help.podia.com](https://help.podia.com/en/articles/11370941-becoming-a-podia-affiliate?utm_source=openai)) |\n| **LearnWorlds** | More polished/interactive courses, training programs | Better when you need structured learning, quizzes, certificates, interactive video, or a more “school-like” experience. |\n| **Udemy** | Marketplace exposure | Best if you don’t have an audience yet and want distribution, but you give up pricing/control and compete in a crowded marketplace. Udemy had nearly 84M learners in its 2025 filing. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1607939/000160793926000034/udmy-20251231.htm?utm_source=openai)) |\n| **Skool** | Community-first courses/memberships | Good if the course is secondary and the real value is community, accountability, challenges, and recurring membership. |\n| **Circle** | Premium community + courses | More flexible and polished for communities than classic course platforms; good for paid memberships with courses attached. |\n\n### My quick picks\n\n- **Best overall for most creators:** **Thinkific**\n- **Best for beginners:** **Teachable**\n- **Best all-in-one business platform:** **Kajabi**\n- **Best simple low-fuss creator platform:** **Podia**\n- **Best for professional/interactive training:** **LearnWorlds**\n- **Best if you need a built-in audience:** **Udemy**\n- **Best community-first option:** **Skool** or **Circle**\n\n## If you mean platforms to *take* courses\n\n| Platform | Best for |\n|---|---|\n| **Coursera** | University-backed courses, certificates, professional credentials, degrees. Coursera reported 205M registered learners as of March 31, 2026. ([investor.coursera.com](https://investor.coursera.com/news/news-details/2026/Coursera-Reports-First-Quarter-2026-Financial-Results/default.aspx?utm_source=openai)) |\n| **Udemy** | Cheap practical courses on almost anything; great for software, business, hobbies, and tactical skills. |\n| **edX** | University-style learning, certificates, MicroMasters/MicroBachelors, and more academic programs. edX says it has reached 100M learners worldwide. ([edx.org](https://www.edx.org/resources/edx-reaches-100m-learners?utm_source=openai)) |\n| **LinkedIn Learning** | Workplace skills, business, management, software, and résumé-friendly learning tied to LinkedIn. ([learning.linkedin.com](https://learning.linkedin.com/products?utm_source=openai)) |\n| **Pluralsight** | Developers, IT, cybersecurity, cloud, and technical teams. |\n| **DataCamp** | Data science, Python, R, SQL, analytics, AI skills. |\n| **Skillshare** | Creative skills: design, illustration, photography, freelancing, creator skills. |\n| **MasterClass** | Inspirational celebrity-led classes; less practical/certificate-focused. |\n\nOne important 2026 update: **Coursera and Udemy combined as one company on May 11, 2026**, but they said the Coursera and Udemy learning experiences would remain separate initially. Together, they reported 290M+ learners, 18,000 enterprise customers, and 95,000 content creators. ([about.udemy.com](https://about.udemy.com/udemy-news/coursera-udemy-merger-skills-platform/?utm_source=openai))\n\n**Bottom line:**  \nIf you’re **selling your own course**, start with **Thinkific, Teachable, or Kajabi**. If you’re **buying/taking courses**, start with **Coursera, Udemy, edX, or LinkedIn Learning**.","extractedBrands":[{"name":"Thinkific","domain":"thinkific.com","position":1},{"name":"Teachable","domain":"teachable.com","position":2},{"name":"Kajabi","domain":"kajabi.com","position":3},{"name":"Podia","domain":null,"position":4},{"name":"LearnWorlds","domain":null,"position":5},{"name":"Udemy","domain":"udemy.com","position":6},{"name":"Skool","domain":null,"position":7},{"name":"Circle","domain":null,"position":8},{"name":"Coursera","domain":"coursera.com","position":9},{"name":"edX","domain":"edx.org","position":10},{"name":"LinkedIn Learning","domain":"linkedin.com","position":11},{"name":"Pluralsight","domain":null,"position":12},{"name":"DataCamp","domain":null,"position":13},{"name":"Skillshare","domain":null,"position":14},{"name":"MasterClass","domain":null,"position":15}]},{"provider":"perplexity","run":1,"model":"sonar","capturedAt":"2026-09-01T06:59:36.629Z","text":"The **best online course platforms** depend on whether you want to **sell your own courses** or **take courses as a learner**, but the most widely used creator platforms are **Teachable, Thinkific, Kajabi, LearnWorlds, Podia, and Mighty Networks**.[2][1][4]\n\nFor **course creators**, the strongest general-purpose picks are:\n\n- **Thinkific** — often ranked as a top overall choice for customizable course creation and add-ons.[2][6]\n- **Teachable** — a popular choice for beginners and creators who want a straightforward setup.[2][1]\n- **Kajabi** — best if you want an all-in-one platform with heavy marketing automation and sales tools.[2][4][19]\n- **LearnWorlds** — best for more polished, interactive, and customizable course experiences.[2][1]\n- **Podia** — good for selling courses plus digital products and memberships in one place.[2]\n- **Mighty Networks** — a strong option if your course is community-led or membership-based.[2][4][8]\n\nIf you mean **platforms people actually use to learn courses**, the biggest names in the results are:\n\n- **Coursera** — popular for academically backed and career-focused learning.[10][16]\n- **Udemy** — widely used for broad, practical topic coverage and first-time course launching.[2][20]\n- **LinkedIn Learning** — common for workplace and professional skill development.[10]\n- **Skillshare** — heavily used for creative and project-based classes.[2][12]\n\nA practical short list by use case:\n\n| Use case | Best picks |\n|---|---|\n| Start selling a course quickly | Teachable, Thinkific |\n| Build a branded online school | Kajabi, Thinkific |\n| Sell courses + memberships + downloads | Podia, Kajabi |\n| Community-first learning | Mighty Networks, Circle, Skool |\n| Highly interactive course design | LearnWorlds |\n| Large learner marketplace | Udemy, Coursera, Skillshare |\n\nIf you want the **best single recommendation for most creators**, **Thinkific** and **Teachable** are the safest mainstream choices, while **Kajabi** is the premium all-in-one option and **Udemy** is the easiest way to reach a large existing audience.[2][1][4]","extractedBrands":[{"name":"Teachable","domain":"teachable.com","position":1},{"name":"Thinkific","domain":"thinkific.com","position":2},{"name":"Kajabi","domain":"kajabi.com","position":3},{"name":"LearnWorlds","domain":null,"position":4},{"name":"Podia","domain":"podia.com","position":5},{"name":"Mighty Networks","domain":"mightynetworks.com","position":6},{"name":"Coursera","domain":"coursera.org","position":7},{"name":"Udemy","domain":"udemy.com","position":8},{"name":"LinkedIn Learning","domain":"linkedin.com","position":9},{"name":"Skillshare","domain":"skillshare.com","position":10}]}]}