Comparison
Best Online Course Platforms (2026)
We compared the leading course and academy platforms on price, free options, focus, and who each one fits.
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Course platforms range from simple ways to sell your first course to full branded academies and all-in-one creator businesses. The right pick depends on whether you want deep branding and learning tools, the quickest path to selling, or one platform for courses plus marketing and a website. This comparison looks at three leading options on the things that matter. Prices are shown in USD and were checked in August 2026; they vary by billing term and region, so follow each link for current pricing. We earn a commission on some tools at no extra cost to you, which never changes our assessment.
Our top picks
The deepest course-building and branding: your own domain, AI course builder, live sessions, SCORM, and full white-label on higher plans.
Try LearnWorldsA free plan and a low $29/mo entry make it the quickest, simplest way to launch and sell your first course.
Visit TeachableCourses plus marketing, email, a website, and a community in one premium platform - powerful, but priced for established creators.
Visit KajabiHow they compare
Prices in USD (monthly amounts, most billed annually). They vary by billing term and region; use each tool's link for current pricing.
| Tool | Free plan / trial | Starts from | Focus | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LWLearnWorlds | 30-day trial (no free plan) | $24/mo (Starter, annual) + $5/enrollment | Branded academy + AI + live sessions | Creators and teams building a branded academy | Try |
| Teachable | Free plan + 7-day trial | from $29/mo (Starter, annual) | Simple course creation and selling | Creators launching their first course quickly | Visit |
| Kajabi | Free trial (no free plan) | from $143/mo (Basic, annual) | All-in-one: courses + marketing + website | Established creators wanting one platform for everything | Visit |
The tools in detail
LearnWorlds
4.5Best for: Creators and teams building a branded academy. Starts from $24/mo (Starter, annual) + $5/enrollment; 30-day trial (no free plan); focus: branded academy + ai + live sessions.
Read our full LearnWorlds reviewTeachable
Researched for this comparison
Best for: Creators launching their first course quickly. Starts from from $29/mo (Starter, annual); free plan + 7-day trial; focus: simple course creation and selling.
Kajabi
Researched for this comparison
Best for: Established creators wanting one platform for everything. Starts from from $143/mo (Basic, annual); free trial (no free plan); focus: all-in-one: courses + marketing + website.
Also worth considering
Beyond the tools above, others worth researching include Thinkific, Podia, Skool. We will cover verified reviews of these separately.
Frequently asked questions
Which course platform is best for beginners?
Teachable is the easiest and cheapest way to start, with a free plan and a $29/mo Starter tier, so you can launch a course without a big commitment.
Which has the most branding and learning features?
LearnWorlds offers the deepest course-building and branding, including your own domain, an AI course builder, live sessions, SCORM uploads, and full white-label on higher plans.
Do any charge fees per sale?
LearnWorlds' Starter plan adds a $5 fee per paid enrollment (removed on higher plans). Teachable's Starter plan has a transaction fee that drops to 0% on higher tiers. Kajabi advertises no revenue sharing.
Which is the all-in-one option?
Kajabi bundles courses with marketing, email, a website, and a community, so you can run your whole business in one place - though it is the priciest of the three, starting at $143/mo.