Do you have a unique skill you want to teach to the world? If you’re thinking about the best online course platforms in 2022, we have got you covered. In this article, we’ll give you an overview of the top platforms and what they have to offer.
The options for online course platforms are growing by the day. With so much variety, it can be difficult to choose the right one. Ultimately, you’ll want the platform you choose to serve you and your audience both now and in the future.
Ideally you will want a platform that’s easy to use, customisable, scalable and importantly, affordable. Luckily, there’ are so many options these days that suit a range of budgets, educational needs and different industries.
Now, let’s get started. Here are some of the best online course platforms for 2022.
What is the best online course platform?
Here we dive right into some of the best value, sophisticated and user-friendly online learning platforms available today. Also, with so much variety, you’ll be sure to find one that suits your teaching needs. Let’s go!
Udemy
Overview
Udemy is one of the most popular online course platforms available. They offer a wide variety of courses, and always add new ones. Basically it’s both a learning and teaching hub combined in one platform. Whatsmore, this platform is very user-friendly, so you will be able to get started quickly and efficiently. When you sign up as a Udemy teacher, you will gain instant access to all course creation resources on their website.
Benefits and Features
Here’s some of the best features of Udemy:
- Free to create and publish a course and perfect for beginner online course users
- Internal marketing support to expand your reach to students
- You own 100% of your content and simply use Udemy to host and deliver it to your audience.
- Online teaching on Udemy offers flexibility and scalability as a profitable career move
- Access to the support team with helpful resources on how to create your online courses and deliver them smoothly
Are there cons to using Udemy?
Some users say that Udemy doesn’t have the same high-quality video production value as many other competitors.
Pricing
It’s completely free to be an instructor on Udemy. Instead, Udemy Instructors are paid according to a revenue share model.
As long as you have a Paypal or Payoneer account to get paid for the courses you sell, you are good to go. Then, once you sign up, you can publish as many classes as you like.
Bottom Line
At first glance, Udemy may not seem like a standard online course-building platform, but it’s worth a look if you have dreams of teaching big. Udemy helps with every part of delivering your online course. From planning, recording, publishing and marketing, they guide every step. It’s a great platform for beginners in both the course creation world and the online learning world. Also, it provides a unique marketplace vibe where both teachers and students are valued equally.
Thinkific
Overview
Thinkific is a great all-rounder when it comes to the online course platforms of 2022. Not only does Thinkific offer a wide range of courses, but they also make it easy for you to create your own. Due to their platform also being reasonably priced and very user-friendly, so you’ll be able to get started without any issues.
Benefits and Features
Here are some of the key advantages of using Thinkific:
- Done-for-you website themes to create the brand and business design you need
- Optimised course platforms that allow users to scale up easily
- Membership areas to connect with students in real-time
- The ability to deliver course content live to students from anywhere in the world
Are there cons to using Thinkific?
Overall, Thinkific is an impressive online learning platform. However, there are a few cons to consider. One thing is their integrations with social media platforms are lacking. Secondly, Thinkific is slightly more complex to navigate as a beginner and may be overwhelming to some new users.
Pricing
Thinkific offers a variety of pricing options, depending on the features you need.
You can get started easily with a 14-day free trial option on Thinkific.
Then, there are the packaged plans:
- Start Plan from $74/month
- Grow Plan from $149/month
- Expand Plan from $299/month
Lastly, Thinkific has a Plus plan, which is designed for maximum business scalability and has a top-tier range of features.
Bottom Line
Thinkific is best suited for budding entrepreneurs or course creators who are looking for an easy way to build content and expand in the future. Once you get used to it, Thinkific’s platform is user-friendly with pricing options to suit most people. For this reason, if you’re a business that needs a full suite of advanced features, Thinkific could be a great online course platform choice.
Teachable
Overview
Teachable could be one of the better-known learning platforms available. It boasts customisable courses with high-quality designs and finishes. Furthermore, Teachable is incredibly affordable and interactive and is great for first-time online course creators.
Benefits and Features
Here’s why Teachable is a top online course platform choice:
- Easy set-up to get you creating and delivering your content
- A range of plans from simple to pro for all your teaching needs
- Flexible, customisable courses and certificates
- Beautifully designed interface
- Perfect for first-time online course creators
Are there cons to using Teachable?
Some users say that this platform can be slow to respond when loading content. Also, there’s limited scope for video-only based courses, which other online course platforms offer. Additionally, some also describe the website navigation as difficult upon first use.
Pricing
Teachable’s pricing is subscription-based with three main tiers for membership.
Teachable’s plans billed annually include:
- Free: (unlimited courses for up to 10 students)
- Basic Plan: $29/month
- Professional Plan: $99/month
- Business Plan: $249/month
Teachable also offers a highly customisable Enterprise option for those looking to take advantage of all the pro features with plenty of bonus material and support.
Bottom Line
Teachable is a highly trusted online learning platform used by millions of people worldwide. It’s superb for beginners looking to start simply and grow. Because it makes creating and delivering your content super easy, you can make the most of sharing your knowledge. Teachable is a top-choice course builder platform at an affordable price point.
Xperiencify
Overview
For something a little different, Xperiencify makes online courses a whole lot of fun. Instructors using this platform can create exciting and rewarding courses that make learning more engaging for their users. Essentially, courses are ‘gamified’, by incentivising students’ learning. In this way, they can earn points and celebrate their achievements as they continue with their learning.
Benefits and Features
Here’s why Xperiencify is ideal as a cool and interesting online course platform:
- It’s unlike other courses, as it’s interactive and rewarding for users
- It uses the latest research on learning psychology for optimum student engagement
- The interface for course creators is fun and easy to use
- Plans are suitable for beginners, small businesses and larger companies alike
Are there cons to using Xperiencify?
Possibly the biggest drawback of this platform is that it’s distinctly more expensive than competitor platforms. Some online users have said it lacks design flexibility and the organisation of course materials could be improved.
Pricing
Xperiencify has three main pricing options for course creation.
While their prices are slightly higher compared to other online learning platforms, their offerings are truly unique.
Xperiencify has 3 plans:
- Launch: $42/month
- Growth: $125/month
- Enterprise: $500/month
Bottom Line
At a higher price point, Xperiencify is not like other online course platforms. It creates a unique user experience and is well suited to teachers and creators looking to add a fun edge to delivering their content. They focus on making the learning experience enjoyable, which means students are more likely to finish their course and begin others. This ultimately benefits you as a course creator and your bank balance.
Kajabi
Overview
Here’s one of the more prominent and comprehensive online course-building platforms: Kajabi. This platform covers pretty much everything. It’s geared toward well-established, big-ticket businesses rather than small startups or individuals. The price reflects its offerings and you can expect the entire gamut of features too.
Benefits and Features
Here’s why Kajabi is a top-notch platform for big course creators:
- Extensive offerings including podcasting, email automation and course building
- Option to build membership sites,
- Ideal for high-end companies and enterprises with premium features to suit
- It offers high quality video hosting
- Built-in blogging and payment integrations
Are there cons to using Kajabi?
The main disadvantages of using Kajabi are that it’s really not suited for small businesses and it’s significantly more expensive than other comparable online course platforms.
Pricing
Kajabi has a 14-day free trial if you want to get started today.
The pricing for Kajabi scales up as your members and courses also expand:
- Basic: $119/month
- Growth: $159/month
- Pro: $319/month
Bottom line
Kajabi is a premium platform that’s best for large enterprises and organisations. As such, this platform isn’t going to suit you if you’re in the start-up phase of your business. However, if your sights are set for expansion, or you’re already a top-tier business, there’s an abundance of features to help get your online courses into the world.
What Is An Online Course Platform?
An online course platform is a website where you can sign up for and take courses on a variety of topics. Also known as a learning management system (LMS), these platforms can be stand-alone or integrated into websites. Most platforms offer both free and paid courses, and some offer certificates or degrees from top universities.
The idea is that the entire learning experience happens completely online. It’s usually self-paced and you can interact with other students and instructors in the relevant online community or learning hub. You can engage in a virtual class using all the educational materials you’d usually receive in a traditional learning setting. Some of the related learning materials include videos, text files, downloadable PDF files and audio files.
You can learn just about anything online. Almost every conceivable topic is available on many different online learning platforms. Everything from cooking, business, art, graphic design and web development can easily be found on most platforms.
Would you believe that there are even courses on how to create your own online course?
Not only can you make a difference by creating an online course, but you can also generate income by doing something you love.
Choosing the best online learning platform
There are so many great online course platforms these days that cater to a range of teaching methods as well as educational needs. So how do you go about choosing the right one?
Well, if you’re brand new to online course creation, there are some basic criteria you’ll want to consider. You’ll want to know about the ease of use, functionality and scalability of each platform as a start.
To help with the decision-making process, ask yourself these questions:
- How much do I want to spend on creating online courses?
- Do I need extra features to scale up my business in the future?
- What’s my target audience and how best can I connect with them?
So first, your budget comes into play. If you’re a start-up or entrepreneur, you’ll know how every dollar counts when getting set up in business. So, online learning platforms like Teachable or Udemy are incredibly affordable (or, actually, free), which makes them ideal for budget-conscious businesses.
Now, if you’re more advanced on your business journey and have a bit more money to spend, perhaps Thinkific or Kajabi are worth checking out. They both offer premium plans with plenty of added features to meet your business’s growing needs.
And of course, if you want an entertaining and engaging tone in your content, Xperiencify is a rather unique option for developing online courses.
Truthfully, it comes down to you. The best online course platform for you is the one that most meets your needs.
So, here are some of the best online course platforms for 2022. Which one will you choose for your course creation venture?
If you have an idea for an online course to boost your business, contact Virtuzone today for more information on getting started.
