Quick Summary
Choosing the best platforms to host an online course comes down to four factors: transaction fees, content ownership, built-in marketing tools, and how quickly you can launch. This guide compares the top options side-by-side with real numbers so you can pick the right fit for your budget and goals. Whether you're launching your first mini-course or scaling to six figures, the platform you choose will directly impact your profit margins and growth potential.
Can you really make money with this in 2026?
As of early 2026, online course creators are generating over $400 billion annually in a market that continues to grow at roughly 14% year-over-year. The opportunity isn't theoretical—it's one of the most proven digital income streams available to creators right now.
Here's what makes this moment particularly interesting: platform competition has driven down fees significantly. Five years ago, creators commonly paid 10-15% of every sale to their hosting platform. Today, most serious platforms offer plans with zero transaction fees, meaning you keep more of what you earn.
The realistic picture? First-time course creators with modest audiences (1,000-5,000 email subscribers) typically generate $3,000-$15,000 on their initial launch. Those who build systems for ongoing sales—evergreen funnels, affiliate partnerships, paid traffic—scale to $10,000-$50,000 monthly within 12-24 months. The platform you choose won't make or break your success, but it will affect your margins by 5-15% and determine how much friction exists between you and your students.
How hosting an online course actually works
Before diving into the course platform comparison, let's clarify what these platforms actually do—because the mechanics matter more than most creators realize.
A course hosting platform handles four core functions:
Video hosting and delivery. Your lesson videos need to stream reliably without buffering, be protected from unauthorized downloads, and work across devices. This alone justifies using a platform rather than cobbling together YouTube unlisted links.
Payment processing. The platform connects to Stripe or PayPal, handles checkout pages, processes refunds, manages failed payments, and sends receipts. You receive payouts on a schedule (typically weekly or monthly).
Student management. When someone purchases, they automatically get account access, can track their progress, receive completion certificates, and access any bonuses you've included. The platform handles login credentials, password resets, and enrollment records.
Content drip and structure. You organize lessons into modules, set release schedules (all at once vs. weekly drip), create quizzes, and gate content behind progress milestones.
Beyond these basics, platforms differentiate on marketing features: email tools, affiliate programs, upsell pages, landing page builders, and community forums. This is where the Teachable vs Kajabi debate gets interesting—and where your specific needs should drive your choice.
Step-by-step: how to start
Step 1: Define your course format and price point
Before selecting where to sell courses, know what you're selling. A $47 mini-course has different platform needs than a $997 signature program with coaching calls.
Mini-courses ($27-$97): Volume matters. You need low transaction fees and simple checkout. Platforms with percentage-based fees hurt you here—paying $5-10 per sale on a $50 course stings.
Mid-tier courses ($197-$497): Balance of features and cost. You'll want solid sales pages, email integration, and possibly payment plans.
Premium programs ($997+): Marketing tools become crucial. Webinar integration, advanced funnels, affiliate management, and community features justify higher platform costs.
Step 2: Compare the top platforms on what actually matters
Here's an honest breakdown of the leading options:
Teachable remains the most popular starting point. The free plan lets you launch immediately, though you'll pay 10% plus $1 per transaction. The Basic plan ($59/month) drops transaction fees to 5%. Pro ($159/month) eliminates them entirely and adds affiliate marketing. Best for: creators who want simplicity and plan to scale.
Thinkific matches Teachable's ease of use with a genuinely free tier that charges zero transaction fees (they monetize through paid upgrades). The catch: free limits you to one course and basic features. Paid plans run $49-$99/month for most creators. Best for: budget-conscious beginners who want to test without fees eating into early sales.
Kajabi is the premium all-in-one option starting at $149/month. No transaction fees ever. Includes email marketing, website builder, community features, and advanced automation. The Teachable vs Kajabi decision usually comes down to this: do you want a course platform or a complete business operating system? Best for: established creators ready to consolidate tools and invest in growth.
Podia positions itself as the friendly middle ground at $39-$89/month with no transaction fees. Includes email, community, and digital downloads alongside courses. Simpler than Kajabi, more featured than basic Teachable. Best for: creators selling multiple product types who want decent features without complexity.
Skool has emerged as a community-first option at $99/month. Courses live inside a community structure rather than the reverse. No transaction fees. Best for: creators whose value proposition centers on ongoing community access rather than one-time course consumption.
Step 3: Set up your course structure
Once you've chosen a platform, the build-out follows a standard pattern:
- Create your course container (title, description, pricing)
- Build modules and upload lesson videos
- Add supplementary materials (PDFs, worksheets, templates)
- Configure drip schedule if applicable
- Set up payment options (one-time, payment plan, subscription)
- Create your sales page
Every major platform makes steps 1-5 straightforward. Step 6—the sales page—is where many creators struggle. If your platform's page builder feels limiting, you can build dedicated sales pages externally using Site Engine and simply link to your platform's checkout. This gives you more design control while keeping enrollment automated.
Step 4: Build your email marketing system
Regardless of which platform you choose, email remains your primary sales channel. Some platforms (Kajabi, Podia) include email tools. Others (Teachable, Thinkific) require external integration.
The platform you host on matters less than the email list you build around it. A mediocre course with a great email strategy outsells a great course with no list every single time.
If your platform lacks built-in email marketing—or if the built-in tools feel limited—you need an external solution. Email Engine handles the heavy lifting of writing launch sequences, nurture campaigns, and promotional broadcasts that actually convert subscribers into students.
Step 5: Connect payment processing and test everything
Before launching, complete these technical essentials:
- Connect Stripe and/or PayPal
- Set your payout schedule
- Configure tax settings (most platforms integrate with TaxJar or handle this automatically)
- Purchase the course yourself to test the entire student experience
- Verify email confirmations deliver correctly
- Check video playback on mobile devices
Step 6: Build your launch assets
Your platform provides the infrastructure. You provide the marketing. Essential launch assets include:
- Sales page (on-platform or external)
- Email launch sequence (typically 5-10 emails over 7-14 days)
- Social proof elements (testimonials, case studies, credentials)
- FAQ section addressing objections
- Bonus materials to increase perceived value
A strong sales page makes or breaks your conversion rate. If design isn't your strength, Site Engine can generate a complete sales page structure you can customize, rather than starting from a blank template.
Realistic earnings & timeline
| Stage | Timeline | Typical Earnings | Key Factor |
|---|---|---|---|
| First launch | Month 1-2 | $500-$5,000 | Existing audience size |
| Optimization phase | Month 3-6 | $1,000-$8,000/month | Email list growth + testimonials |
| Scaled operations | Month 6-12 | $5,000-$25,000/month | Paid traffic + affiliates |
| Mature business | Year 2+ | $15,000-$100,000+/month | Multiple courses + backend offers |
These numbers assume you're actively marketing, not just uploading content and hoping. Passive income from courses requires active setup—evergreen funnels, SEO content, affiliate partnerships, or paid advertising. The platform enables this but doesn't create it.
Platform costs as a percentage of revenue:
- At $1,000/month revenue: Teachable Free costs you ~$110/month (fees), Thinkific Free costs $0, Kajabi costs $149/month
- At $10,000/month revenue: Teachable Pro costs $159/month (no fees), Kajabi costs $149/month, Podia costs $89/month
- At $50,000/month revenue: Platform costs become negligible (under 0.5% of revenue) on any paid plan
Mistakes that kill beginners
Choosing based on features you won't use. Kajabi's advanced automations mean nothing if you're launching your first $97 course to a 500-person email list. Start simple. Upgrade when you hit limitations, not before.
Ignoring transaction fees on low-ticket offers. A 10% fee on a $47 course means you're paying $4.70 per sale—roughly $470 for every 100 students. On thin margins, this kills profitability. Either price higher or choose a plan without percentage fees.
Building your entire business on rented land. Your course platform controls student access. If they raise prices, change policies, or shut down, you're exposed. Always export your student email list regularly and maintain an independent relationship with your audience through external email marketing.
Overcomplicating the first course. Platforms offer memberships, communities, coaching portals, certificates, and gamification. For your first course, use 20% of available features. Add complexity only when students request it or data justifies it.
Neglecting mobile experience. Over 40% of students consume courses on phones and tablets. Test your videos, quizzes, and downloads on mobile before launching. Some platform themes look polished on desktop but break on smaller screens.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best platform to host an online course for beginners?
Teachable is generally the best starting point for beginners due to its intuitive interface, free plan option, and straightforward course builder. You can launch your first course without technical skills or upfront investment, then upgrade as you grow.
How much do course hosting platforms charge in fees?
Platform fees range from 0% to 10% of sales depending on your plan. Teachable's free plan takes 10% plus payment processing. Thinkific's free tier takes 0% but limits features. Kajabi charges no transaction fees but costs $149-$399 per month. Most paid plans eliminate percentage-based fees entirely.
Should I host my course on my own website or use a platform?
Use a dedicated platform unless you have technical expertise and want full control. Self-hosting with WordPress plugins requires more maintenance, security management, and technical troubleshooting. Platforms handle video hosting, payment processing, and student management automatically.
What's the difference between Teachable and Kajabi?
Teachable focuses specifically on course hosting with simpler pricing starting free, while Kajabi is an all-in-one business platform including email marketing, website building, and community features starting at $149/month. Choose Teachable for courses only, Kajabi if you want everything integrated.
Can I switch course platforms later without losing students?
Yes, but it requires work. Most platforms let you export student emails and course content. You'll need to re-upload videos, rebuild your course structure, and migrate students manually. Some platforms offer migration assistance. Plan your choice carefully to avoid this hassle.
The bottom line
The best platforms to host an online course in 2026 all work—the differences are in pricing structure and feature depth, not fundamental capability. Start with Thinkific or Teachable if you want low-risk validation, move to Kajabi or Podia when you're ready to scale, and remember that your marketing effort matters ten times more than which button you click to upload your videos.
