15 Best Online Course Platforms for 2025

Technology has evolved at a nearly overwhelming pace following its major role in mitigating the impact of pandemic lockdowns on schools, government offices, and even nonprofit organizations. From business-specific platforms like bookkeeping software to education-focused systems like eLearning, technology has enabled individuals to continue pursuing personal and professional development and opportunities. Online course platforms are one of the forms of technology that encourages both.

According to UNESCO (2023), over 220 million students were enrolled in massive open online courses (MOOCs) in 2021. Additionally, higher education organizations have adopted technology the fastest and have continually transformed learning to become more accessible outside the four walls of the classroom. These trends have introduced more online course-hosting platforms into the market.

Our research team has collected credible public data and in-depth sources to create a guide on the best online course platforms available. This article will delve into the latest statistics within the industry, discuss relevant trends, and offer options for those interested in teaching through this technology.

The introduction of new online course platforms has redefined the limits of modern-day education. In addition to utilizing communication tools and even the best learning management system, educators have steadily made courses and degrees available online to encourage increased access to resources and enable distance learning. These statistics demonstrate the role of online course platforms in how today’s students learn:

• The MOOCs market is expected to achieve a 32.8% growth from 2021 to 2026 as more students take advantage of free online courses offered by universities and organizations in various industries (MarketDigits, 2021).
• There has been a 92% increase in hybrid and distance-only students from 2012 to 2020 (Diaz-Infante et al., 2022).
• The US accounts for more than 17 million Coursera users, one of the best online course platforms for instructors and learners (Wood, 2022).
• In 2022, 82% of students in the US say that selecting an online college is mostly due to their availability for their specific field of study. 74% reasons tuition and fees. (Statista, 2022).
• From 2020 to 2021, 74.7% of students at the undergraduate and postbaccalaureate levels were enrolled in at least one online course relevant to their degree (NCES, 2022a).
• Following the pandemic, 58% of teachers have adopted a more positive attitude toward online learning (McKenzie, 2021).
• 57% of schools are working with education content specialists to leverage technology in teaching and learning strategies (Gray et al., 2021).
• A total of 85% of faculty members have received online education training. 49% were full-time members, and 36% were part-time educators (BAU, 2020).
• 71% of undergraduate students in four-year private for-profit exclusively participated in distance education courses (NCES, 2022b).
• The top fields of study for graduate-level online learning are business (30%), computers and IT (19%), and health and medicine (11%) (BAU, 2020).

Current online education trends indicate that the growth of its market will only continue its upward movement following the experiences of both educators and students throughout the adoption period. Our research team has analyzed the relevant trends for online course platforms based on current studies and data. Here are some of them:

• Improving Attitudes. Educators have been one of the most resistant to the trend of online education and technology in teaching due to a lack of training (Fernandez-Batanero et al., 2021). Addressing this issue has made a difference in opinions as more educators report feeling optimistic about the intertwining paths of education and technology (McKenzie, 2021). There has also been an increased preference for completely online courses, from 5% in 2020 to 20% in 2022. These positive attitudes from both educators and students could encourage more transitions from in-person to online courses.
• Providing Access. One of the challenges of implementing online education is that not all students may have access to the technology necessary to access online courses or participate in classes. In response to this challenge, 94% of public schools have begun to provide digital devices to their students. More access may yield more demand for online courses, especially considering the students’ increasing preference for online education.
• Faculty Training. Training in using technology for education improves faculty attitudes and enables them to explore further possibilities in teaching. Some teachers might consider starting their own distance education schools by monetizing courses through online course platforms. In addition to business tools like bookkeeping software to keep track of subscriptions, educators now have more opportunities to nurture new and returning students in their specialties and preferred fields of study.
• Convenience. Given that 40.3% of postbaccalaureate students are exclusively online across all types of institutions in the US (NCES, 2022a), it may be inferred that one of the benefits of paid or free online course platforms is convenience. Online courses enable students to pace their learning and pursue personal development while building their careers. This need for convenience may also explain why higher education institutions have been the most transformed by the rise of online courses.
• New Technologies. Online courses gain more value as new technologies designed specifically for education are introduced. Automation, for instance, allows the top online course platforms to personalize how students move from one lesson to another based on their performance and knowledge level. Considering how technology is ever-evolving, the introduction of more tools can only enrich and popularize online courses.

A critical aspect of maximizing the potential of online course platforms is selecting the right one for your unique learning or teaching objectives. Each platform offers a variety of tools, features, and accessibility options tailored to different audiences. For students, considerations might include ease of navigation, affordability, availability of desired courses, and support for diverse learning styles. Meanwhile, course creators should prioritize features like interactive tools, customization capabilities, and integration with broader teaching ecosystems.

One important category of solutions to explore is the web based learning management system, which provides robust functionalities for managing and delivering courses online. These systems are designed to offer a seamless experience across devices while integrating essential tools for organizing instructional content, tracking learner performance, and facilitating collaboration. If you are an educator or a corporate trainer looking to scale educational initiatives, examining such systems could help streamline operations and enhance learner engagement. 

Ultimately, the selection process should align with your goals, whether it's shaping a custom learning experience, scaling your teaching practice, or empowering employees through professional training initiatives. Every platform has the potential to open new doors, but the key lies in finding one that meets your expectations while fostering accessible and impactful learning.

What types of support do online course platforms offer for content creators and educators?

When choosing an online course platform, educators and content creators benefit from understanding the types of support available. The quality and variety of support options can significantly impact the course creation experience and overall success. Here are some key support services commonly offered by online course platforms:

• Technical Support: Many platforms provide 24/7 customer service, often through chat, email, or phone, to assist with technical issues, such as site functionality, integration problems, and software updates. This support ensures that users can quickly resolve technical challenges that may arise.
• Knowledge Base and Tutorials: Platforms typically offer self-help resources like articles, FAQs, video tutorials, and step-by-step guides to assist users in navigating the platform and troubleshooting common issues independently.
• Onboarding and Training: Some platforms offer onboarding programs to help new users understand the features and get started with course creation. These programs may include live demos, personalized training sessions, and tutorials on advanced functionalities, making it easier for educators to create and manage their courses effectively.
• Community Support and Forums: Many platforms foster a community of course creators where users can share tips, advice, and experiences. Community forums, Facebook groups, and LinkedIn communities can be valuable resources for users to connect, collaborate, and solve common problems.
• Dedicated Account Managers: For high-tier or enterprise plans, some platforms provide dedicated account managers who offer personalized support, helping users optimize their platform usage, troubleshoot complex issues, and achieve their specific goals.
• Live Webinars and Workshops: Live training sessions and webinars on course creation, marketing, and student engagement strategies can help educators make the most of their platform’s capabilities. These sessions are usually hosted by platform experts and cover topics like maximizing engagement, building effective course structures, and using advanced marketing features.
• AI-Driven Suggestions: Certain platforms use AI tools to provide recommendations for course content, structure, and marketing strategies, helping creators enhance their course offerings and improve student engagement.

How Can Advanced Analytics Drive Success in Online Education?

Advanced analytics empowers educators to transform course delivery by monitoring engagement, assessing performance, and identifying key improvement areas. Utilizing data-driven insights streamlines the process of refining content and tailoring learning experiences to student needs while addressing trends in course participation and completion. Integration with BI software solutions further enhances the ability to consolidate performance metrics, forecast trends, and benchmark courses against industry standards. This focused approach supports strategic decision-making and enables continuous enhancements in course design and learner outcomes.

List of 15 Best Online Course Platforms for 2025

The increasing role of online course platforms emphasizes the changing landscape of education, which may require educators and institutions to adapt and see their best options in providing online education. We investigated current best-performing online course platforms based on their value propositions, features, and price to help you find the right fit for your requirements. Here is the list of online course platforms you can consider.

1. Coursera for Campus: Best Online Course Platform for Universities

Coursera is one of the best online course platforms for instructors, as it can partner with universities to offer courses to students all over the world. It prioritizes higher education students and professionals, offering recognized certifications once they have completed the course. Additionally, Coursera supports fully online, student- or instructor-led schedules for baccalaureate, graduate, and postgraduate degrees.

Key Features

• Offer free and paid courses to students worldwide
• Create instructor-designed courses and degrees
• Test student skills and knowledge through assessments
• Provide student assistance
• Tailor learning according to student progress
• Access courses and student records online and offline
• iOS and Android apps

Pricing

• Contact vendor for pricing on the Career Academy and Full Catalog plans

2. LearnWorlds: Best for Selling Online Courses

LearnWorlds is the top choice for creating, marketing, and selling online courses. It offers versatile teaching options with interactive tools like videos, assessments, and certificates. The platform stands out with innovative features like automatic video enhancements and a social-focused learning experience. Plus, it integrates seamlessly with various accounting and email marketing software, among others.

Key Features

• Create courses with media, quizzes, and course players
• Hold live classes, one-to-one and group sessions, and webinars
• Tailor learner pace through drip-feeding
• Implement various payment options, subscriptions, and installments
• Collaborate with a team and automate workflows
• Integrate other tools to centralize systems
• Access 24/7 support and a help center
• Generate actionable reports on courses and students

Pricing

• Starter $29 per month
• Pro Trainer $99 per month
• Learning Center $299 per month
• High Volume and Corporate Quote-based

3. Teachable: No-Code Course Builder for Teachers

Teachable is a user-friendly platform for course creation and customization, as it requires no coding knowledge. It provides a flexible course builder plus templates to tailor courses according to different learning preferences. Teachable simplifies payments with a secure checkout system, global currency support, and automatic payouts. It is also one of the online course platforms free of cost for those who want to sell a maximum of five courses.

Key Features

• Author courses, coaching guides, and downloadable content
• Monetize content and process payments
• Gain leads and clients through integrated email and affiliate marketing tools
• Use custom branding to promote and gain credibility
• Enable bulk student enrollment
• Collaborate on content with a team

Pricing

• Free
• Basic $59 per month
• Pro $159 per month
• Pro+ $249 per month
• Business $665 per month

4. Thinkific: Best for Solo Teachers

Thinkific enables users to create engaging learning experiences, including online courses, communities, live lessons, and memberships. It allows teachers-cum-entrepreneurs to establish a professional web storefront without coding skills, using customizable themes to align with a brand. Plus, Thinkific offers built-in marketing and e-commerce features for easy product promotion.

Key Features

• Drag-and-drop UI for building courses
• Create and promote communities for better learner engagement
• Leverage support for unlimited students
• Test knowledge through course quizzes and surveys
• Offer bundles, coupon codes, and affiliate selling
• Customize the learning experience through drip scheduling
• Integrate relevant systems through API

Pricing

• Free
• Basic $49 per month
• Start $99 per month
• Grow $199 per month
• Thinkific+ Quote-based

5. LinkedIn Learning: Best for Planning Student Careers

LinkedIn Learning offers valuable insights into graduate employment and current student skill gaps, facilitating tailored online learning opportunities. With a library of 16,000+ courses and new additions each week, learners benefit from a wealth of collaborative content in multiple languages. Additionally, institutions can host their own content and co-brand the platform.

Key Features

• Access and use the course library to help students gain additional skills and knowledge
• Upload additional media and content for students
• Utilize platform insights to determine student progress and readiness for the workforce
• Generate and determine relevant labor market insights
• Encourage community participation to build professional networks

Pricing

• Contact the vendor for pricing details

6. Kajabi: Best for AI-Assisted Course Creation

Kajabi is an all-in-one platform that streamlines the process of creating, marketing, and selling online courses. It offers free AI tools that simplify course structuring, lesson creation, and marketing campaign development, expediting the journey to selling and making courses available for interested students. Furthermore, Kajabi provides a hassle-free payment solution, allowing users to accept and manage customer payments directly within the platform.

Key Features

• Use AI to turn outlines into full courses
• Leverage templates and customize them to create additional content
• Set up marketing campaigns to promote courses
• Manage contacts to increase leads and reach more customers
• Assess and engage students through interactive quizzes
• Integrate business tools like Stripe and Zapier for efficiency

Pricing

• Basic $149 per month
• Growth $199 per month
• Pro $399 per month
• Custom Plan Quote-based

7. iSpring Suite: Best for Multi-Modal Delivery

iSpring Suite is one of the best online course platforms for educators who want to create and deploy courses on various platforms. It provides course templates to kickstart the process, supports PowerPoint effects to convert presentations into online courses, and offers a media library for photos and icons. It also offers versatile question types with detailed feedback options for assessments. iSpring Suite courses can be published over the web, LMS platforms, and mobile phones.

Key Features

• Build online courses with video and audio narrations
• Create characters to illustrate learning scenarios
• Test student knowledge through quizzes and role-plays
• Collaborate with teams and share courses
• Add voice-overs and enable language localization
• Attach additional resources to supplement learning

Pricing

• iSpring Suite Academic $470 per author per year
• iSpring Suite Max Academic $670 per author per year
• Custom Quote-based

8. LearnDash: Best for WordPress Users

LearnDash encourages educators to create courses, manage learner progress, reward students, and make content accessible through WordPress sites. It provides a drag-and-drop course builder, drip-feed capability, and course access prerequisites. It also allows educators to monetize courses through ecommerce tools, such as course bundling, flexible payment options, and integration with other business systems.

Key Features

• Build, customize, and duplicate courses for WordPress pages
• Support individual learning paths through prerequisites and rewards
• Manage assignments and provide feedback
• Provide options for buying courses like one-time purchases and subscriptions
• Award certifications for course completion
• Embed additional media in courses to enrich learning experiences

Pricing

• Ultimate Course Creator for 1 Site $299 per year
• Ultimate Course Creator for 10 Sites $599 per year
• Ultimate Course Creator for Unlimited Sites $1,399 per year
• Student Success for 1 Site $249 per year
• Student Success for 10 Sites $499 per year
• Student Success for Unlimited Sites $1,099 per year

9. Visme: Best for Creating Visual Courses

Visme is a comprehensive platform that encourages schools and universities to create visually captivating educational content. It supports animated icons, illustrations, and special effects to retain student attention. It also offers interactive presentations to engage learners. Visme offers analytics to track student engagement, various download options, and feedback management tools.

Key Features

• Help students visualize complex topics and scenarios through animations and effects
• Provide access to students to encourage creativity in projects and assignments
• Add voice-overs to explain lessons
• Manage resources, projects, and templates through folders
• Work with teams to create more online courses
• Use charts to help students visualize numerical data

Pricing

• Basic Free
• Starter $29 per month
• Pro $59 per month
• Visme for Teams Quote-based

10. Ventture: Best for Establishing Online Schools

Ventture is a versatile platform for creating online schools, membership sites, and deal stores. Users can establish multiple schools with unlimited courses and lectures, focusing on microlearning with the option to sell standalone lectures. Content scheduling allows for periodic release, and customers can choose between purchasing individual courses or subscribing to access multiple trainings. Users can also sell memberships, track subscriptions and revenue, and access valuable insights through smart reporting.

Key Features

• Create schools and courses for each topic
• Build a community through memberships
• Attract new learners through promotions and time-limited offers
• Schedule content release to pace learner progress
• Design sites and checkout pages to improve buying experiences
• Encourage customer feedback and discussions

Pricing

• Founders’ Platform $99 per month

11. Uteach: Best for Educator-Focused Business Tools

Uteach is a versatile platform for course creation and sales by offering tools for creating engaging courses with videos, quizzes, and certificates, among others. Its site builder simplifies website setup, allowing customization of designs, branding, and multiple languages. The platform streamlines education through automation. Additionally, Uteach supports effective marketing, bundles and memberships, an affiliate program for revenue generation, and communication features for student interaction.

Key Features

• Create courses and add media to engage students
• Build a site to sell online courses through a drag-and-drop editor
• Check student attendance, homework assignments, and learner progress
• Implement SEO to improve reach
• Communicate with students during and after sessions
• Access 24/7 support

Pricing

• Starter $39 per month
• Expert $99 per month
• Business $249 per month

12. Adobe Captivate: Best for Faster Course Creation

Adobe Captivate provides an intuitive interface for creating interactive content quickly. It offers ready-made slides, design options, and responsive features that adapt to various screen sizes. The platform’s widget gallery allows for the creation of engaging interactions without programming knowledge. Adobe Captivate caters to both beginners and experts, enabling the development of software simulations, responsive courses, interactive videos, and various types of interactive content with ease.

Key Features

• Start creating courses through pre-built layouts
• Add text, media, and questions to engage students
• Enable interactive learning through action triggers and conditions
• Implement closed captions and text-to-speech for better accessibility
• Manage resources and media files through the asset library
• Evaluate student progress through various question formats

Pricing

• Contact vendor to receive pricing information for teams, individuals, and institutions

13. Articulate 360: Best for Course Assets

Articulate 360 offers an array of valuable assets to enhance the course creation process. With templates spanning various topics, users can quickly build engaging courses, incorporate interactive elements, and add quizzes for learner engagement. It also has a vast library of over 12 million assets, including photos, characters, and videos, among others. Articulate 360 provides unlimited storage for additional resources.

Key Features

• Author courses that can be deployed to any device
• Leverage the asset library to add media and icons as well as interactive effects
• Work in teams and gather feedback to improve courses
• Manage teams and automate workflows
• Access vendor support through email and live chat
• Organize and manage licenses and billings through the admin console

Pricing

• Academic Personal Plan $549 per year
• Academic Teams Plan $699 per year

14. Easygenerator: Best for Creating Accessible Courses

Easygenerator is a comprehensive platform that simplifies content creation, localization, and sharing. It leverages the power of EasyAI to streamline course development, offering well-organized course structures with outline builders and pre-made templates. Users can convert PowerPoint presentations into interactive content and translate courses into 75 languages while enabling text-to-speech to improve accessibility. The platform also supports assistive technologies and content adjustments to cater to different learner needs.

Key Features

• Create and collaborate multi-device courses through the AI and outline builders
• Add video and voice recording, text-to-speech, and additional resources
• Create interactive assessments and reward certificates
• Localize course content to improve student understanding and engagement
• Publish in various formats, including SCORM, LTI, and PDF
• Assess student progress through course tracking and grade books

Pricing

• Pro $108 per month
• Team $541 per month
• Enterprise Quote-based

15. H5P: Best for Experienced Course Creators

H5P is one of the best online course platforms for educators with HTML5 experience. It streamlines the process of creating, sharing, and reusing HTML5 content and applications. It also empowers educators to efficiently craft interactive web experiences through videos and games. This content can be easily imported and exported. Additionally, H5P seamlessly integrates with education-focused platforms such as Blackboard and Moodle.

Key Features

• Create multi-modal HTML5 courses for accessibility and interactivity
• Add the H5P plug-in to deploy interactive tools like questions and fames
• Author presentations and embed videos to engage students
• Access demos, tutorials, and documentation to explore the capabilities of the platform
• Integrate LMS systems and other platforms like Canvas and WordPress

Pricing

• Contact vendor to get pricing for educational institutions

Making Education More Accessible

The role of technology in education is primarily to help individuals develop skills and build knowledge that will prepare them for the demands of the modern-day workforce in various industries. Online course platforms enable educators and institutions to use technology to reach and teach students worldwide. It also allows them to use and monetize their knowledge bases while encouraging students to gain the education they need to grab more opportunities and succeed in their individual interests. Our research team has created this online course platforms comparison in hopes of helping interested educators share their knowledge with aspiring students.

Key Insights

• Growth of Online Learning: The number of students enrolled in massive open online courses (MOOCs) reached over 220 million in 2021, indicating the significant impact and widespread adoption of online education platforms.
• Market Expansion: The MOOCs market is expected to grow by 32.8% from 2021 to 2026, driven by the increasing demand for free online courses offered by universities and organizations.
• Hybrid Learning Trends: There has been a 92% increase in hybrid and distance-only students from 2012 to 2020, reflecting the shift towards more flexible learning options.
• Student Preferences: In 2022, 82% of US students chose online colleges due to the availability of specific fields of study, and 74% considered tuition and fees as significant factors.
• Educator Adoption: Post-pandemic, 58% of teachers have a more positive attitude towards online learning, and 71% of undergraduate students in private for-profit institutions exclusively participated in distance education courses.
• Convenience and Accessibility: Online courses offer the convenience of learning at one's own pace, with 40.3% of postbaccalaureate students enrolled exclusively online.
• Technological Advancements: New technologies like AI and automation enhance online learning experiences by personalizing student progress and providing interactive and engaging content.

FAQ

What is the significance of online course platforms in education?

Online course platforms have revolutionized education by making learning accessible to a broader audience, enabling flexible learning schedules, and providing opportunities for personal and professional development.

How has the pandemic influenced the adoption of online learning?

The pandemic accelerated the adoption of online learning as schools, universities, and organizations sought ways to continue education and training amidst lockdowns and social distancing measures.

What factors contribute to the growing preference for online education among students?

Factors include the availability of specific fields of study, lower tuition and fees, the convenience of learning at one's own pace, and the flexibility to balance education with other responsibilities.

How do online course platforms benefit educators?

Educators benefit from online course platforms by reaching a global audience, monetizing their expertise, accessing tools for creating interactive content, and leveraging technology to enhance teaching and learning experiences.

What role does technology play in online course platforms?

Technology plays a crucial role by enabling features such as interactive multimedia content, automated assessments, personalized learning paths, and seamless integration with other educational tools and platforms.

Which fields of study are most popular in online education?

The most popular fields of study for graduate-level online learning include business, computers and IT, and health and medicine.

How do online course platforms ensure accessibility for all students?

Platforms ensure accessibility by providing digital devices, offering localized content, incorporating assistive technologies, and enabling multi-device compatibility.

What are some key trends impacting the future of online course platforms?

Key trends include improving attitudes towards online learning, increasing access to technology, ongoing faculty training, the demand for convenience, and the integration of new educational technologies.

How can educators and institutions choose the best online course platform?

Educators and institutions should consider factors such as ease of use, customization options, integration capabilities, student engagement features, and pricing when selecting an online course platform.

What are some of the best online course platforms available?

Some of the best online course platforms include Coursera, LearnWorlds, Teachable, Thinkific, LinkedIn Learning, Kajabi, iSpring Suite, LearnDash, Visme, Ventture, Uteach, Adobe Captivate, Articulate 360, Easygenerator, and H5P.

How do online course platforms support student engagement?

Platforms support student engagement through interactive content, quizzes, discussion forums, live sessions, personalized feedback, and gamified learning experiences.

What are the benefits of AI-assisted course creation?

AI-assisted course creation simplifies the process of structuring courses, generating content, and developing marketing campaigns, allowing educators to focus on delivering high-quality education.

References

• Bay Atlantic University (BAU). (2020). Online Learning Statistics: Is Online Education the Future? Retrieved from BAU.
• Diaz-Infante, N., Lazar, M., Ram, S., & Ray, A. (2022). Demand for online education is growing. Are providers ready? McKinsey & Company. Retrieved from McKinsey.
• Fernandez-Batanero, J. M., Roman-Gravan, P., Reyes-Rebollo, M. M., & Montenegro-Rueda, M. (2021). Impact of educational technology on teacher stress and anxiety: A literature review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(2), 548-561.
• Gray, L., Lewis, L., & Chapman, C. (2021). Use of Educational Technology for Instruction in Public Schools: 201920. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved from NCES.
• (2021). Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) Market Growing at a CAGR of 32.8% during 2021-2026, Growing Popularity, Booming Segments, Emerging Trends and Investors Seeking Growth, Top Players: Coursera, edX,Intellipaat, Udemy, LinkedIn, Simplilear. GlobeNewswire. Retrieved from GlobeNewswire.
• McKenzie, L. (2021 April 26). Students Want Online Learning Options Post-Pandemic. Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved from Inside Higher Ed.
• National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). (2022a). Number and percentage of students enrolled in degree-granting postsecondary institutions, by distance education participation, location of student, level of enrollment, and control and level of institution: Fall 2020 and fall 2021. Digest of Education Statistics. Retrieved from NCES.
• National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). (2022b). Distance learning. Retrieved from NCES.
• Robert, J. (2022 October 3). Modality Preferences. 2022 Students and Technology Report: Rebalancing the Student Experience. Retrieved from EDUCAUSE.
• Statista. (2022). Leading reasons for online college selection among students in the United States in 2022. Statista. Retrieved from Statista.
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). (2023). Technology in Education: A Tool on Whose Terms? Retrieved from UNESCO.
• Wood, J. (2022 January 27). These 3 charts show the global growth in online learning. World Economic Forum. Retrieved from WEF.