Best Online Course Platform for Creators and Small Businesses (2026)
Shortlist Software is reader-supported. If you sign up through links on this page, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How we make money.
Prices last checked October 30, 2026. Prices below were checked against each company’s own pricing page on this date. We re-check the prices in every guide at least once a month.
An online course platform lets you package what you know into a course, take payments and deliver lessons to students, all in one place. For many creators and service businesses, a course is the step from trading hours for money to selling something that scales.
We compared three popular platforms on what they cost, what’s included and who each one is not right for. The biggest difference is how they charge: flat monthly plans versus per-enrollment fees.
Our quick picks
- Best all-in-one: Kajabi. Courses, community, email marketing and checkout in one subscription, with no revenue share.
- Best for course-focused businesses: Thinkific. Unlimited courses and full commerce tools from the first plan.
- Lowest entry price: LearnWorlds. Start from $44 a month, with a fee per enrollment on the entry plan.
Online course platforms compared
| Platform | Best for | Starting price* | Fees on sales | Free trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kajabi | All-in-one creator business | $143/mo (Basic) | No revenue share | 14 days |
| Thinkific | Course-focused businesses | $82/mo (Start) | See Thinkific | Yes |
| LearnWorlds | Lowest entry price | $44/mo | $5 per enrollment on entry plan | Yes |
*Billed annually. Monthly billing costs more. Payment processors such as Stripe and PayPal also charge their own fees on each sale.
Kajabi: Best all-in-one
Kajabi bundles courses, a private community, email marketing, landing pages, funnels and checkout into one subscription. If you’d otherwise pay for a course platform, an email tool and a website builder separately, Kajabi replaces all three.
Pricing
Billed annually, Basic is $143 a month ($1,716 a year) and includes 2,500 contacts with unlimited email sends. Growth is $199 a month for 25,000 contacts and adds advanced automations, live cohort courses and your own affiliate program. Pro is $399 a month. Kajabi takes no revenue share, and there’s a 14-day free trial plus a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Why we like it
- Courses, community, email and checkout in one plan
- No revenue share on your sales
- Unlimited email sends
Who it’s not for
Creators just testing an idea: at $143 a month billed annually, Kajabi is the most expensive way to start. LearnWorlds or Thinkific cost less to try a first course.
Thinkific: Best for course-focused businesses
Thinkific is built around courses: unlimited courses, video lessons, quizzes, student discussions and live cohorts, with commerce tools included from the first plan.
Pricing
Billed annually, Start is $82 a month and includes unlimited courses and full commerce tools. Grow is $164 a month and removes Thinkific branding and adds more selling power and analytics. Expand is $374 a month for established teams. Annual billing saves 25%, and there’s a free trial.
Why we like it
- Unlimited courses on every plan
- Commerce tools from day one
- Live cohorts and student discussions
Who it’s not for
Creators who want email marketing and a community built in at the entry price; you may still need a separate email tool like Kit.
LearnWorlds: Lowest entry price
LearnWorlds focuses on interactive course delivery and branded academies, with a low entry plan for launching your first paid course.
Pricing
Billed annually, the entry plan is $44 a month plus $5 per course enrollment, built for launching your first paid course. The next plan is $79 a month with no enrollment fees, and the plan for branded academies and training teams is $249 a month. Custom plans are available. There’s a free trial.
Why we like it
- The lowest monthly price to start
- No enrollment fees from the $79 plan
- Strong interactive course tools
Who it’s not for
Creators expecting many sales on the entry plan: at $5 per enrollment, the $79 plan becomes cheaper once you pass about 7 enrollments a month.
How to choose the right course platform
- Count your tools. If you’d also pay for email marketing and a website, an all-in-one like Kajabi may cost less overall.
- Watch per-sale fees. Per-enrollment fees are fine while you test, but flat plans win once sales pick up.
- Start with one course. Use the free trial to build one module and a checkout page before committing to a year.
- Own your audience. Make sure you can export your students’ emails if you ever switch.
How we chose
We compared each platform’s current pricing pages and plan contents as of October 30, 2026. This guide is based on research, not hands-on testing. Prices change often, so confirm the current price on the provider’s site before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest online course platform?
LearnWorlds starts at $44 a month billed annually, plus $5 per enrollment on that plan. Thinkific starts at $82 a month billed annually.
Does Kajabi take a cut of my sales?
No. Kajabi takes no revenue share, though payment processors charge their own transaction fees.
Do I need a separate email tool?
With Kajabi, no; email is built in. With Thinkific or LearnWorlds, many creators pair the platform with an email tool. See our email platforms for creators.
Get the Small Business Software Pricing Cheat Sheet
Real prices, renewal costs and catches for 25 popular tools on one page, plus an email when prices change or we publish a new comparison.