Okay, so I’m trying to decide where to host my online course. I’ve spent ages developing the curriculum and I’m really excited about launching, but I’m completely overwhelmed by the sheer number of platforms available! I keep seeing different ads and recommendations, and I don’t know which ones are actually popular and reliable versus just heavily marketed.
Specifically, I’m looking for platforms that are well-known and trusted, so students feel comfortable enrolling. Good customer support for me (the instructor) is also a big plus. Beyond that, things like good integration with marketing tools (like email lists) and a decent amount of control over the branding/look-and-feel of my course pages would be great.
So, what are the big players? I’m talking about the platforms that most people have heard of and that have a solid reputation for hosting high-quality online courses. I guess I’m also vaguely curious about which platforms might be better suited to specific types of courses (e.g., creative arts vs. business/tech skills). Any thoughts would be super helpful!
Answer
The popularity of online course platforms is constantly shifting based on factors like pricing, features, marketing efforts, and emerging technologies. However, some platforms consistently rank high in terms of user base, course offerings, and overall recognition. Here’s a detailed look at some of the most popular online course platforms, categorized by their primary focus and strengths:
Marketplace Platforms (Open to All Instructors):
-
Udemy: This is arguably the largest online learning marketplace, boasting a massive catalog of courses on almost every imaginable topic. Udemy’s accessibility is a major draw:
- Strengths: Huge course selection, global reach, affordability (frequent sales and discounts), easy for instructors to start teaching (no approval process), revenue sharing model.
- Course Range: Covers everything from technical skills (programming, data science) to creative arts (music, photography) and personal development (communication, productivity).
- Instructor Flexibility: Instructors have a high degree of autonomy over their course content and pricing.
- Marketing: Udemy invests heavily in marketing, attracting a large user base.
- Drawbacks: High competition among instructors, lower revenue per course due to price competition, less control over branding, and a lack of advanced features like membership sites or sophisticated marketing tools.
-
Skillshare: Focuses primarily on creative skills and practical skills. It’s a subscription-based platform:
- Strengths: Strong emphasis on creative arts and practical skills, project-based learning, subscription model provides recurring revenue for instructors, a vibrant community.
- Course Range: Design, illustration, photography, video editing, writing, animation, and business skills relevant to creative professionals.
- Subscription Model: Students pay a monthly or annual subscription for access to all courses. Instructors earn royalties based on minutes watched.
- Community Focus: Encourages student interaction through projects and discussions.
- Drawbacks: Revenue per minute watched can be low for some instructors, requires high-quality video production, and less suited for in-depth, academic subjects.
-
Coursera: Partners with universities and institutions to offer courses, Specializations, and degrees. It emphasizes academic rigor and career-oriented learning:
- Strengths: High-quality content from top universities and institutions, course certificates with university branding, Specializations offer in-depth knowledge in a specific field, degree programs, strong emphasis on academic subjects and professional development.
- Course Range: Computer science, business, data science, humanities, social sciences, engineering, and more.
- Partnerships: Collaborates with leading universities like Stanford, Yale, and the University of Michigan.
- Certificates & Degrees: Offers certificates upon completion of courses and Specializations, as well as full online degree programs.
- Drawbacks: More selective for instructors (requires affiliation with a partner institution), can be more expensive than other platforms, and a more structured learning experience.
-
edX: Founded by Harvard and MIT, edX is similar to Coursera in its focus on university-level courses and academic rigor:
- Strengths: High-quality courses from renowned universities, open-source platform, offers professional certificates and MicroMasters programs, a focus on STEM fields.
- Course Range: Computer science, engineering, business, humanities, and more.
- Open Source: The edX platform is open source, allowing institutions to customize and adapt it.
- MicroMasters Programs: Offers credential programs that can be applied towards a master’s degree.
- Drawbacks: Similar to Coursera, instructor access is typically limited to partner institutions, cost can be a barrier for some learners, and a more academically focused experience.
-
FutureLearn: A social learning platform that partners with universities and cultural institutions to offer courses:
- Strengths: Emphasizes social learning and discussion, partners with universities and cultural institutions, and a wide range of subjects, with a focus on UK institutions.
- Course Range: Business, creative arts, health, history, languages, law, nature & environment, science, and technology.
- Social Learning: Encourages student interaction through discussion forums and social media integration.
- Partnerships: Collaborates with universities, museums, and libraries.
- Drawbacks: Content quality can vary, monetization options may be limited, and a smaller user base compared to Udemy or Coursera.
Platforms for Creating & Selling Your Own Courses (More Control, More Responsibility):
-
Teachable: A popular platform for individual creators and businesses to build and sell their own online courses:
- Strengths: User-friendly interface, marketing and sales tools, customizable course pages, membership options, integrated payment processing, and no coding required.
- Course Range: Any topic the instructor is knowledgeable in, from business and marketing to creative arts and personal development.
- Branding Control: Instructors have full control over their branding and course pricing.
- Marketing Tools: Offers features like email marketing, coupons, and affiliate programs.
- Drawbacks: Monthly fees can be a barrier for some instructors, less built-in audience than marketplace platforms, and requires more effort in marketing and promotion.
-
Thinkific: Similar to Teachable, Thinkific provides tools for creating and selling online courses and memberships:
- Strengths: Robust course builder, flexible pricing options, advanced marketing features, supports multiple instructors, and a user-friendly interface.
- Course Range: Wide range of topics, similar to Teachable.
- Flexibility: Offers more customization options than some other platforms.
- Marketing & Sales: Strong marketing and sales features, including coupons, bundles, and subscriptions.
- Drawbacks: Similar to Teachable, monthly fees, and requires effort in marketing and promotion.
-
LearnDash: A WordPress plugin that transforms your WordPress website into a learning management system (LMS):
- Strengths: Full control over your website and branding, integration with WordPress plugins, flexible course structure, membership options, quizzes and assessments, and the ability to create advanced learning experiences.
- Course Range: Suitable for any topic, particularly if you already have a WordPress website.
- Control & Customization: Maximum control over design, functionality, and marketing.
- Integration: Integrates seamlessly with other WordPress plugins.
- Drawbacks: Requires a WordPress website and some technical knowledge, responsible for all website maintenance and security, and a steeper learning curve compared to simpler platforms.
-
Kajabi: An all-in-one platform for creating and selling online courses, memberships, and digital products:
- Strengths: Combines course creation, marketing automation, email marketing, website building, and payment processing into a single platform, no coding required, and is designed for entrepreneurs and small businesses.
- Course Range: A wide range of topics, particularly suited for business, marketing, and personal development.
- All-in-One: Streamlines the process of creating and selling online products.
- Marketing Automation: Powerful marketing automation features.
- Drawbacks: More expensive than other platforms, can be overwhelming for beginners, and may have more features than some users need.
Choosing the Right Platform:
The best platform for you depends on several factors:
- Your Budget: Some platforms have monthly fees, while others take a percentage of your sales.
- Your Technical Skills: Some platforms are easier to use than others.
- Your Audience: Where is your target audience most likely to find your course?
- Your Course Content: Does the platform support the type of content you want to create?
- Your Marketing Strategy: Does the platform offer the marketing tools you need to promote your course?
- The degree of control you need.
It’s crucial to research and compare platforms carefully before making a decision. Many platforms offer free trials or demos, so take advantage of those opportunities to see which platform is the best fit for your needs.
