5 Softwares to Consider for Hosting your Online Courses

Entering the world of online teaching can feel like stepping into a whole new universe—suddenly, you’re navigating video hosting, payment processing, community forums, and more. It’s an exciting time, but it can also be overwhelming. The good news? You have a growing number of user-friendly platforms that make the entire process easier, even if you’re a complete beginner. Whether you aim to create a simple mini-course or a comprehensive training program, choosing the right software can save you time, stress, and potentially a lot of money.

In this article, we’ll look at five excellent options for hosting your online courses. Each of these platforms has unique strengths, so by the end of this blog, you should have a much clearer idea of which might work best for you. If you’re searching for online course software for beginners, you’re in the right place.

Why Choosing the Right Online Course Software Matters

Before we delve into specific software platforms, let’s take a moment to explore why the right software is so crucial for your success:

1. Easy Setup and Maintenance
   If you’re new to the world of digital entrepreneurship, you may not have a technical background. An intuitive platform can make the setup process as simple as point-and-click. This helps you avoid headaches like complex code installations, server management, or plugin conflicts.
2. Branding and Design
   Your course website should reflect your personal or business brand. The look and feel of your course platform can impact how learners perceive you—professional and polished, or clunky and outdated. Many platforms now offer attractive templates and customization options without needing to touch any code.
3. Learner Engagement
   Courses do better when learners are engaged. Built-in engagement tools—like quizzes, community discussions, or progress tracking—can boost completion rates. The right software will include ways to interact with your students, answer questions, and provide feedback.
4. Monetization and Scalability
   As your enrollment numbers grow, you’ll want a software solution that can grow with you. Some platforms handle large volumes of students without issue, while others may become difficult or expensive to scale. Plus, a beginner-friendly solution should have clear, simple payment gateways and good marketing tools to help you monetize effectively.
5. Technical Support
   When you run into trouble or have questions, a dedicated support team is a godsend. Beginner-friendly software typically has ample tutorials, prompt customer support, and user communities that can help you navigate problems.

Given these points, it’s clear why your choice of online course software is critical. Now let’s explore five popular, beginner-friendly options that can handle your hosting needs effectively.

1. Teachable

Teachable has carved out a prominent spot in the online course industry. Over the past several years, it has become a go-to solution for many first-time course creators due to its combination of user-friendliness and robust functionality.Key Features

• Drag-and-Drop Builder
  Teachable’s course builder is straightforward: you can easily upload videos, PDFs, quizzes, and other materials without wrestling with complicated settings. You can also rearrange your content with a simple drag-and-drop interface.
• Built-In Payment Processing
  Teachable handles payment gateways (through Stripe and PayPal) and automatically manages payouts to instructors. You don’t need to juggle separate payment services.
• Student Analytics
  Knowing which lessons are popular or where learners drop off can inform how you tweak your courses. Teachable provides detailed analytics, so you can improve your course content and student experience over time.
• Marketing Tools
  Built-in sales pages, email marketing integrations, and coupon codes help you promote and sell your courses effectively.

Pros

1. Beginner-Friendly: Getting set up is quick, and most features are accessible even if you have no technical background.
2. Flexible Pricing: Offers multiple pricing tiers, including a free plan (though with transaction fees) for those just getting started.
3. Custom Branding: You can personalize your course pages with your own colors, logo, and text to maintain brand consistency.

Cons

1. Transaction Fees: Lower-tier plans come with transaction fees that can eat into your profits.
2. Limited Community Features: Teachable has discussion areas, but not as robust as some other platforms that focus heavily on community building.

Best For

• New Course Creators: If you want a fast and easy way to build and launch your first course without extra bells and whistles, Teachable is a fantastic choice.
• Growing Entrepreneurs: Teachable’s advanced plans are also suitable for established entrepreneurs who want more features like affiliate marketing and priority support.

2. Thinkific

Thinkific is another major player in the online course hosting arena. Its intuitive interface and range of features make it a top choice for those seeking online course software for beginners. If you’ve done any initial research, you’ve probably encountered rave reviews about Thinkific.Key Features

• Easy Course Builder
  Similar to Teachable, Thinkific provides a drag-and-drop interface, letting you design courses without coding knowledge. You can upload a variety of content forms—videos, quizzes, PDFs, surveys, and more.
• Website Builder
  Beyond hosting courses, Thinkific lets you create a fully-fledged website if you want one. Their site builder comes with a selection of sleek themes you can customize.
• Student Engagement Tools
  Built-in discussion forums, customizable certificates, and progress tracking can help you keep learners motivated. You can also set up drip schedules to release content over time.
• Multiple Payment Options
  Thinkific supports integrations with major payment gateways and offers the option for one-time payments, subscriptions, and payment plans.

Pros

1. No Transaction Fees: Unlike some other platforms, Thinkific does not charge transaction fees, even on its free plan.
2. Highly Customizable: If you want to brand your course platform to match your existing website or business, Thinkific offers numerous customization features.
3. Robust Course Tools: From quizzes to certificates, you’ll find plenty of built-in tools to enhance the learning experience.

Cons

1. Free Plan Limitations: While there’s a free option, it’s limited in terms of advanced marketing and community features.
2. Less Built-In Marketing: Thinkific has decent marketing integrations, but some users feel they have to rely on external tools for email marketing or advanced funnel building.

Best For

• Beginners with Branding Needs: If you want a beginner-friendly platform that also lets you heavily customize your site, Thinkific is an excellent choice.
• Course Creators Wanting Zero Transaction Fees: Thinkific’s approach to fees can be more cost-effective if you plan on selling many courses or high-priced programs.

3. Kajabi

Kajabi stands out as an all-in-one solution for creating and marketing online courses, membership sites, and even podcasts. It goes beyond just hosting course content; it aims to be your marketing powerhouse as well.Key Features

• All-in-One Platform
  Kajabi includes website building, email marketing, sales funnel creation, membership management, and more. Essentially, you can run your entire online business under one umbrella.
• Advanced Marketing Automation
  From targeted email campaigns to upsell pipelines, Kajabi excels at letting you automate your marketing efforts. This is especially useful once you grow and want to reach large audiences without manual work.
• Interactive Assessments
  Kajabi offers quizzes, assignments, and assessments, which can boost learner engagement. You can also track student progress and intervene when you see someone struggling.
• Community Features
  With Kajabi, you can build a community aspect around your courses. Learners can interact in dedicated community spaces, ask questions, and share experiences.

Pros

1. High-Level Support and Training: Kajabi has an extensive library of tutorials and guides, plus live training webinars. You can also leverage their community for tips and best practices.
2. Fully Customizable: Many professional course creators appreciate how deeply they can customize landing pages, funnels, and course layouts.
3. No Third-Party Tools Needed: Because it covers website creation, email marketing, and funnel building, you can reduce the number of separate subscriptions you maintain.

Cons

1. Price Tag: Kajabi is on the pricier side. Though it can replace multiple other tools, its monthly fee might be daunting for beginners on a tight budget.
2. Learning Curve: While user-friendly overall, Kajabi has so many features that some newbies might find it initially overwhelming.

Best For

• Entrepreneurs with Growth Plans: If you intend to scale quickly or want an all-in-one system from the start, Kajabi can be a worthwhile investment.
• Established Business Owners: If you already have a small audience or an existing business, Kajabi’s marketing tools can help you expand and monetize further.

4. Podia

If simplicity, community, and affordability are top priorities for you, Podia might be your ideal pick. Podia focuses on providing an all-in-one platform that remains straightforward enough for beginners to navigate comfortably.Key Features

• Online Course and Membership Hosting
  You can create courses, sell digital products, and manage membership subscriptions all within Podia’s streamlined system. Setup is quick, and the interface is intuitively designed.
• Webinars and Live Streams
  Podia integrates well with live video to help you run webinars, live Q&A sessions, or workshops, all of which can enrich your course offerings and build stronger connections with your learners.
• Email Marketing Tools
  While not as robust as Kajabi’s marketing suite, Podia still offers built-in email tools for newsletters, drip campaigns, and promotional emails.
• Community Feature
  Podia has a separate community area where students can interact, much like a private social media feed. You can set up multiple topic channels and encourage user-generated discussions.

Pros

1. User-Friendly Interface: The navigation and course setup process is straightforward, so you can focus on content creation rather than tinkering with technology.
2. No Transaction Fees: Podia doesn’t take a cut of your earnings, which is beneficial if you sell higher-priced courses.
3. Simple Pricing Tiers: Podia’s plans are relatively affordable compared to platforms like Kajabi, especially for beginners.

Cons

1. Limited Customization: While Podia offers some design flexibility, it’s more limited compared to Thinkific or Kajabi. If you want a highly unique look, you might find this restricting.
2. Less Advanced Automation: Its marketing tools cover the basics well, but you might need additional software if you want more complex sales funnels or analytics.

Best For

• Creators on a Budget: Podia is cost-effective, making it suitable for newcomers who want a reliable platform without hefty monthly bills.
• Community-Focused Courses: If you place a big emphasis on fostering a sense of community, Podia’s dedicated community features will appeal to you.

5. LearnWorlds

LearnWorlds is a feature-rich platform that emphasizes interactive learning and community engagement. While it’s not as universally recognized as Teachable or Thinkific, it offers a standout approach to course creation that some educators find invaluable.Key Features

• Interactive Video Editor
  One of LearnWorlds’ hallmark features is its interactive video editor. You can embed quizzes, clickable links, and other elements directly into your videos. This can significantly boost learner engagement.
• Customizable Course Player
  LearnWorlds offers a fully customizable course player, allowing you to brand every aspect of the learning experience. You can adjust the layout, fonts, and color scheme to align perfectly with your brand.
• Social Community
  LearnWorlds has strong community features, including social networking tools where learners can follow each other, like posts, and share course-related updates. This social aspect can increase course completion rates.
• Built-In Sales and Marketing Tools
  The platform offers built-in landing pages, checkout pages, affiliate management, and some email marketing functionality. You can also integrate other marketing tools if you wish.

Pros

1. Highly Engaging Learning Experience: Interactive videos and strong community features can set your course apart in a crowded market.
2. White-Label Options: If you want a fully branded experience (without any mention of LearnWorlds), higher-tier plans allow you to remove LearnWorlds branding altogether.
3. Advanced Analytics: LearnWorlds provides in-depth data on how students interact with your course content, letting you optimize for better results.

Cons

1. Steeper Learning Curve: All the customization options and advanced features can feel overwhelming for absolute beginners.
2. Price Tiers: While there is a relatively affordable Starter plan, many of the most appealing features—like the interactive video editor—are only available in higher plans.

Best For

• Educators Focusing on Engagement: If you prioritize interactive content and a social environment, LearnWorlds has unique features to support that.
• Creators Who Want White-Labeling: If you’re concerned about presenting a highly professional, fully branded front, LearnWorlds is a solid option.

How to Choose the Best Online Course Software for BeginnersSelecting the right platform ultimately depends on a few key factors that are unique to you and your business. If you’re still unsure, consider the following criteria:

1. Budget
   • Are you prepared to pay a monthly subscription fee right away, or do you want to start with a free plan?
   • Check transaction fees, as those can quickly add up if your course is successful.
2. Course Complexity
   • How elaborate are your course materials? If you plan on simple video lessons and PDFs, a more basic platform could work.
   • If you want advanced quizzes, interactive video, and gamified elements, consider a more feature-rich solution like Kajabi or LearnWorlds.
3. Branding and Customization
   • Do you need a fully branded experience from the start, or are you okay with a simpler design?
   • Think about whether you want to integrate your own logo, colors, and domain seamlessly.
4. Marketing Requirements
   • How do you plan to promote your course? If you’re looking for robust marketing automation, Kajabi might stand out.
   • Teachable and Thinkific integrate easily with many popular email marketing platforms, which might be enough for you.
5. Community Engagement
   • Are you looking to build a strong learner community with forums, social feeds, or live interactions?
   • Platforms like Podia and LearnWorlds excel in community-oriented features.
6. Scalability
   • Envision where your online teaching might be in a year or two. Will you add more courses, or expand into different types of digital products like memberships?
   • Make sure the platform can handle your growth without forcing you to migrate elsewhere.

Remember, the best online course software for beginners is the one that aligns with your unique needs, budget, and future goals. Sometimes, a simpler, cost-effective option is ideal at the start, and then you can upgrade or switch later once your business grows.Practical Tips for Getting Started

• Start Small: Don’t feel like you need to master every feature at once. Begin with a short pilot course to familiarize yourself with the platform.
• Leverage Free Trials: Many platforms offer free trials or a free plan. Take advantage of these to test out features, user interfaces, and support before committing.
• Gather Feedback: Once you have a beta version of your course, invite a few people to test it out. Their feedback can guide improvements and help you spot issues early.
• Use Available Tutorials: Most platforms offer extensive libraries of guides, tutorials, and sometimes webinars. Utilizing these resources can speed up your learning curve.
• Plan Your Marketing Strategy: Well before your official launch, start building an email list, teasing course content on social media, and collaborating with influencers in your niche. Good marketing can make or break your course’s success.
• Focus on Course Quality: Even the best software can’t compensate for weak content. Spend time planning engaging lessons, practical activities, and clear learning outcomes.

Conclusion

Launching a successful online course involves more than just recording a few videos and posting them somewhere on the internet. You need user-friendly course-building tools, reliable hosting, straightforward payment options, and—ideally—marketing and community features that support your long-term goals. The good news is, there are several excellent options when it comes to online course software for beginners.

• Teachable: Great for first-time creators seeking simplicity and a range of features on an easy-to-use interface.
• Thinkific: A versatile platform offering zero transaction fees and strong customization options.
• Kajabi: A premium solution designed for entrepreneurs who want a powerful all-in-one marketing and course platform.
• Podia: Affordable and user-friendly, with the added bonus of strong community features for student interaction.
• LearnWorlds: Ideal for those who want highly interactive course materials and a social learning environment.

Each platform has its own unique strengths, so take stock of your budget, technical comfort level, and specific course needs. Don’t rush—most offer free trials or at least a refund window. Dive in, experiment, and choose the software that feels right for you. Once you’ve settled on a platform, the real fun begins: shaping your knowledge into an engaging, valuable course that will help your students achieve their goals.

Whichever platform you pick, remember that your success hinges on delivering top-notch content and a supportive learning environment. The software is simply the vehicle—what really matters is the journey you create for your students. With the right combination of planning, persistence, and the best online course software for beginners, you’ll be well on your way to creating a rewarding, impactful online teaching business.

‍Ready to start your course creation journey? Take advantage of free trials, test out the features, and ask plenty of questions along the way. Every educator’s path is unique, but with today’s beginner-friendly platforms, launching a high-quality online course has never been more achievable.