Best Ways to Create an Online Course Website in 2024: Top Platforms Compared

Creating an online course website is a great way to share knowledge, reach a wider audience, and earn money. In 2024, several fantastic platforms are available to help you build and manage your online course website. This blog will discuss four popular options: WordPress/Hostinger, Thinkific, Teachable, and Kajabi. We’ll cover the pros and cons of each platform to help you decide which is the best fit for your needs.

WordPress/Hostinger

WordPress is a versatile and widely used website-building platform. When paired with Hostinger for hosting, it becomes an affordable and powerful solution for creating an online course website. To add course functionality, you must install a Learning Management System (LMS) plugin like LearnDash.

Pros

1. Affordability: WordPress and Hostinger are the most budget-friendly options on this list. Hostinger offers hosting plans that start at just a few dollars per month.
2. Customization: WordPress is known for its flexibility. You can customize your website extensively to fit your brand and needs. Thousands of themes and plugins are available to enhance your site.
3. Ownership: You have complete control over your website. This means you can move it to a different hosting provider, and you own all your content.
4. Plugins: Plugins like LearnDash allow you to add powerful course management features, including quizzes, certificates, and progress tracking.

Cons

1. Learning Curve: Setting up a WordPress site and configuring an LMS plugin requires some technical knowledge. If you’re not tech-savvy, there might be a learning curve.
2. Maintenance: You can handle website maintenance, such as updates and security, on your own or hire someone to do it for you.

 

 

 

 

Thinkific

Thinkific is a popular online course platform with over 50,000 course creators. It provides all the tools you need to create, market, and sell your courses.

Pros

1. Ease of Use: Thinkific is user-friendly and designed for beginners. You can set up your course quickly without needing technical skills.
2. Engagement Tools: Thinkific offers features to enhance student engagement, such as quizzes, surveys, discussions, and certificates.
3. Hosting Included: Thinkific hosts your courses, so you don’t need to worry about finding a separate hosting provider.
4. No Transaction Fees: Thinkific does not charge transaction fees on your course sales, which is great for maximizing your revenue.

Cons

1. Limited Customization: While Thinkific offers customization options, they are less extensive than what you can achieve with WordPress.
2. Marketing Tools: Thinkific’s marketing tools are less comprehensive than those of other platforms. You might need additional tools to market your courses effectively.

 

Thinkific Overview CTA

 

Teachable

Teachable is another popular platform for creating and selling online courses. It offers a free tier with limited features and paid plans that start at $39 per month.

Pros

1. Free Tier: Teachable offers a free plan, which is excellent for starting without any upfront costs.
2. Customization: Teachable allows for more customization than Thinkific, so you can create a unique look and feel for your course website.
3. User-Friendly: The platform is easy to use, even if you don’t have any technical skills.
4. Integrated Payment Processing: Teachable handles payment processing for you, making it easy to sell your courses.

Cons

1. Transaction Fees: Teachable charges a 5% transaction fee on course sales on the basic plan. This can add up, especially if you sell many courses.
2. Limited Features on Free Plan: The free plan has limited features, so you must upgrade to a paid plan to access more advanced tools.

 

Teachable Overview CTA

 

Kajabi

Kajabi is an all-in-one platform that hosts websites, creates courses, has marketing features, and creates sales funnels. It’s designed to be the most user-friendly option for creating and managing an online course website.

Pros

1. All-in-One Solution: Kajabi offers everything you need to create, market, and sell your courses in one platform. This includes website hosting, email marketing, and sales funnels.
2. User-Friendly: Kajabi is designed to be extremely easy to use, even for beginners.
3. Powerful Marketing Tools: Kajabi’s extensive marketing features allow you to create effective marketing campaigns to promote your courses.
4. No Transaction Fees: Kajabi does not charge transaction fees, which maximizes your profits.

 

Cons

1. Cost: Kajabi is the most expensive option on this list. While it offers many features, it might be out of reach for those on a tight budget.
2. Limited Customization: While Kajabi offers some customization options, they are not as extensive as those available with WordPress.

 

 

 

 

Choosing the Right Platform for You

When deciding which platform to use for your online course website, consider the following factors:

1. Budget: How much are you willing to spend? WordPress/Hostinger is the most affordable option, while Kajabi is the most expensive.
2. Technical Skills: Do you have the technical skills to set up and maintain a WordPress site, or would you prefer an easier, all-in-one solution like Kajabi?
3. Customization: How necessary is customization to you? WordPress offers the most customization options, while Thinkific and Kajabi offer more straightforward setups with fewer customization possibilities.
4. Features: What features are most important to you? Kajabi is an excellent choice for powerful marketing tools, while Thinkific might be the best fit for extensive engagement tools.
5. Transaction Fees: Consider the impact of transaction fees on your revenue. Platforms like Thinkific and Kajabi do not charge transaction fees, while Teachable does on its basic plan.

 

Conclusion

Creating an online course website in 2024 is easier than ever, thanks to the various platforms available. Whether you choose the affordable and customizable WordPress/Hostinger combo, the user-friendly Thinkific, the flexible Teachable, or the all-in-one Kajabi, each platform has its strengths and weaknesses.

Evaluate your needs, budget, and technical skills to choose the best platform for your online course website. You can share your knowledge and create a successful online course business with the right platform.