By 2027, the global online courses market is projected to surpass $200 billion, per Business Research Insights — and creators are cashing in right now. Whether you want to sell creative work online or build a full digital education business, choosing the right platform is the single most important decision you'll make. If you're also exploring funding your online business, pairing a grant with the right course platform can fast-track your launch. Here are the 10 best platforms to sell online courses in 2026 — let's get started!
Quick Answer
The top platforms to sell online courses in 2026 include Teachable, Thinkific, Kajabi, Udemy, and Podia, among others. The global online course market is projected to surpass $200 billion by 2027. Choosing the right platform depends on your budget, technical needs, and whether you want an existing audience or full control.
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Summary Table
| Item Name | Price Range | Best For | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thinkific | Free – $149/month | Best overall course creation | Visit Site |
| Teachable | Free – $119/month | Beginners building an online school | Visit Site |
| LearnWorlds | $29 – $299/month + $5/sale | Interactive & professional courses | Visit Site |
| Kajabi | $69 – $399/month | All-in-one course & marketing | Visit Site |
| Podia | Free – $89/month | Creators selling multiple content types | Visit Site |
| Udemy | Free to list; 37% revenue share | Reaching a massive built-in audience | Visit Site |
| Skillshare | Free to teach; royalty-based pay | Creative & project-based instructors | Visit Site |
| Mighty Networks | $41 – $360/month | Community-first course creators | Visit Site |
| FreshLearn | Free – $49/month | Budget-conscious solo creators | Visit Site |
| Systeme.io | Free – $97/month | All-in-one funnels on a budget | Visit Site |
10 Best Platforms to Sell Online Courses in 2026
Below you'll find detailed information about each option, including what makes them unique and their key benefits.
1. Thinkific
Thinkific is a dedicated platform for selling online courses, letting creators build, market, and deliver courses without technical expertise. It handles everything from course hosting to payment processing, making it a strong choice for educators who want full control over their content and pricing. The free plan supports up to three courses, while paid plans start at $36/month.
Key features:
- Drag-and-drop course builder with video, quiz, and survey support
- Built-in storefront with customizable sales pages
- No transaction fees on any paid plan
2. Teachable
Teachable focuses specifically on helping course creators monetize their knowledge through a polished storefront and built-in affiliate marketing tools. It's well-suited for coaches and educators who want integrated upsells, coupons, and email capture alongside their course sales. Paid plans begin at $39/month, with a free tier available that charges 10% transaction fees.
Key features:
- One-click upsells and order bumps to increase revenue per sale
- Built-in affiliate program management
- Supports courses, coaching sessions, and digital downloads
3. LearnWorlds
LearnWorlds is a course-selling platform built for creators who want interactive, high-engagement learning experiences alongside robust ecommerce tools. It supports selling individual courses, bundles, and subscriptions, with a built-in website builder included. Plans start at $24/month, though the Starter plan charges a $5 fee per course sale.
Key features:
- Interactive video tools with clickable overlays and in-video quizzes
- White-label options for branded course schools
- Built-in certificate builder for student completion credentials
4. Kajabi
Kajabi is an all-in-one platform built specifically for creators who want to sell online courses without stitching together separate tools. It combines course hosting, email marketing, landing pages, and payment processing under one roof, making it a strong choice for established creators who want full control over their brand and student experience.
Key features:
- Plans start at $69/month (Basic), rising to $199/month (Growth)
- Built-in email automation, pipelines, and affiliate tools
- Zero transaction fees on all plans
- Best for: Course creators wanting a complete business platform without third-party apps
5. Podia
Podia lets instructors host and sell digital courses, memberships, and downloads from a single storefront — no technical setup required. It's particularly well-suited for beginners entering the course creation market, offering a clean interface and built-in community features to support student engagement alongside course sales.
What you get:
- Free plan available; paid plans from $39/month
- 8% transaction fee on free plan; 0% on paid tiers
- Sell courses, webinars, and digital downloads together
- Best for: New creators who want a simple, low-cost starting point
6. Udemy
Udemy is a marketplace-style platform where instructors publish courses to an existing audience of 65+ million learners, removing the need to drive your own traffic. Unlike hosted platforms, Udemy sets its own pricing and takes a revenue cut (up to 63% on organic sales), but the built-in discoverability makes it a realistic option for instructors focused on reach over margin.
Notable details:
- Free to publish; Udemy keeps 37–63% of revenue depending on sale source
- Instructors keep 97% of sales from their own referral links
- No monthly fees — earn only when courses sell
7. Skillshare
Skillshare is a subscription-based course marketplace where instructors earn royalties based on minutes watched rather than direct course sales — making it a viable passive income channel for creators building a library of short, project-based lessons. It's best suited for creative and professional skill topics like design, photography, writing, and business.
Key details:
- Instructors earn based on watch time from ~$0.05 per minute watched
- No upfront fees — revenue tied to Skillshare's subscriber pool
- Best for: Creators who prefer royalties over setting individual course prices
Mighty Networks lets you sell courses bundled with a community, making it one of the stronger platforms for instructors who want to combine paid memberships, group coaching, and digital courses under one branded space. It's designed for creators building an engaged audience, not just selling one-off content.
Key details:
- Plans start at $41/month (Courses plan); higher tiers unlock communities and events
- Supports courses, memberships, live events, and group chat in one place
- Best for: Coaches and educators building ongoing membership communities
9. FreshLearn
FreshLearn is a creator-focused platform for launching and monetizing online courses with your own branded storefront, no technical setup required. It supports digital downloads, quizzes, certificates, and email marketing tools, giving independent educators a self-hosted-style experience without coding.
Key details:
- Free plan available; paid plans start around $29/month with zero transaction fees
- Includes built-in email campaigns and affiliate marketing tools
- Best for: Solo creators wanting an all-in-one solution at a lower price point
10. Systeme.io
Systeme.io is an all-in-one platform built specifically for creators who want to sell online courses without juggling multiple tools. It combines course hosting, email marketing, sales funnels, and affiliate management under one roof — making it a strong option for beginners and budget-conscious educators.
Key features:
- Free plan supports up to 1 course and 2,000 contacts — no credit card required
- Paid plans start at $27/month (Startup) with unlimited courses
- Built-in funnel builder, email automation, and membership site tools included on all plans
- Best for: Solo creators and coaches wanting an affordable Teachable or Kajabi alternative
Final Words
Your best bet depends on your budget, audience size, and how much control you want over pricing and branding — so match the platform to your goals, not the other way around.