So You Want to Sell an Online Course? Here Are the 12 Best Platforms in 2026

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So. You’ve decided to turn all the knowledge in your brain into an online course, so you can profit from it… unlimitedly.

Now you’re staring at 47 tabs open, comparing the best platforms to sell online courses and wondering:

• Do I need a website?
• Who handles taxes?
• Why does everyone charge “just 5%” but somehow it feels like 37%?
• Is a marketplace easier?
• Do I actually need funnels, or is that just marketing bros being dramatic?

Take a breath.

Let’s make this post fluff-free and chaos-free.
We’re going to break this down like organized creators who want to build an online income fast.

We’ll cover:

• Hosted vs marketplace platforms to sell online courses
• Fees (real ones, not just the cute ones)
• Tax handling
• Profit potential
• Who each platform is actually for
• And what to avoid if you don’t want regret emails at 2 a.m.

Let’s go.

As an affiliate partner of various brands & sponsored content, Be Productive Every Day may earn commission on qualifying purchases. Disclosure.

Before the List: 3 Mindsets That Will Save Your Online Course Side Hustle Money

(Yes, we’re doing the mindset thing. No, it’s not woo. It’s practical, and your bank account will thank you later.)

1️⃣ You’re Choosing a Business Model — Not Just a Platform to Sell Online Courses

There are two main paths:

Marketplace Platforms

They:

• Have built-in traffic
• Handle payments & taxes
• Take a revenue cut
• Control pricing culture

You sacrifice control for exposure.

Hosted Platforms

They:

• Give you full ownership
• Let you control pricing
• Require you to bring traffic
• Usually charge subscription fees

You sacrifice convenience for margins.

If you’re coming from freelancing, this is often your first scalable move.

Ownership compounds. Convenience rarely does.

2️⃣ Your Online Course Format Changes Everything

Are you creating:

• A $29 mini-course?
• A structured 12-module transformation?
• A cohort program?
• A certification?
• A community-based experience?

Different platforms are optimized for different formats.
Choosing wrong isn’t fatal. It’s just… annoying.

3️⃣ Taxes & Fees Are Not Sexy — But They Matter

Things most creators forget:

• Stripe takes ~2.9% + processing fees.
• Some platforms take 5–10% on top.
• Marketplaces may discount your course.
• EU VAT is real.
• US sales tax automation varies.

This is a business decision. Not a vibes decision.
But think of the positives: if we’re having The Tax Talk (™), it means your side hustle idea has everything to become your next online income stream.

The 12 Best Platforms to Sell Online Courses in 2026

I cut this to 12. No fluff. No “random tool that technically can host a PDF.”

Each includes:

• Best for
• Pricing model
• Fees
• Tax handling
• Profit potential
• Watch-outs

Quick Comparison: Best Online Course Platforms in 2026

If you’re the “just tell me the difference” type, here you go:

1. Teachable

Best for: Structured courses without tech overwhelm
Pricing: Monthly subscription tiers
Transaction fees: 0–5% depending on plan
Taxes: Stripe-based, some built-in tools

Good for:

• Multi-module courses
• Creators transitioning from services
• Clean student experience

Profit potential: High — you control pricing.

Watch out: Gets pricey as you scale features.

If you want “professional but not corporate nightmare,” this is solid.

2. Thinkific

Best for: Customization lovers
Pricing: Tiered subscription
Transaction fees: 0%
Taxes: Stripe integration

More flexible than Teachable.

Good for:

• Certification-style programs
• Advanced curriculum structure
• Creators who like tweaking

Profit potential: Strong for mid to high-ticket offers.

Less “plug and play,” more “I want control.”

3. Kajabi

Best for: All-in-one business builders
Pricing: Premium
Transaction fees: 0%
Taxes: Through payment processor

Kajabi is the “I want my empire in one place” platform.

Good for:

• High-ticket courses
• Funnels
• Email marketing
• Membership + course combo

Profit potential: Very high — especially $997+ programs.

Watch out: Expensive if you’re just testing.

4. Podia

Best for: Simplicity
Pricing: Subscription
Fees: Low, depending on plan

Great for:

• Courses + digital downloads
• Beginner creators
• No-fuss setup

Profit potential: Solid for low to mid-ticket.

Minimalist energy. ADHD-friendly.

5. Gumroad

Best for: Mini courses & lightweight launches
Pricing: No monthly fee, higher transaction percentage
Taxes: Handles EU VAT

Good for:

• Low-ticket offers
• Quick validation
• Audience-first creators

Watch out: Not ideal for deep learning systems.

Great for testing, especially if you’re trying different digital product pricing strategies.
Not ideal for building a full academy.

6. Udemy

Best for: Built-in traffic
Model: Marketplace
Revenue split: Varies depending on acquisition

Good for:

• Volume strategy
• Exposure
• Lead generation

Profit potential: Moderate unless you sell at scale.

Watch out: Heavy discounting culture.

You don’t control pricing psychology here.

7. Skillshare

Best for: Creative micro-lessons
Revenue: Based on watch time

Better for exposure than high-ticket income.

If you’re teaching design, writing, or illustration, it works.
If you want $1,000 per sale? Not ideal.

8. LearnWorlds

Best for: Interactive experiences
Advanced features for engagement.

Great for:

• Professional training
• Corporate-style programs

More complex, but powerful.

9. Mighty Networks

Best for: Community-first creators

Courses + memberships + engagement.

High retention potential.

Best if your course is transformation + interaction.

10. Systeme.io

Budget-friendly funnel builder.

Good for:

• Beginner creators
• Low startup cost
• Sales-focused offers

Less premium branding, more practicality.

11. Circle

Community-first, sleek design.

Great for:

• Cohort programs
• Group learning
• High-ticket mentorship

Not ideal for simple self-paced courses.

12. WordPress (with LMS plugins)

Best for: Full ownership

You control:

• Branding
• Pricing
• Data
• SEO

Best for:

• Long-term asset builders
• Creators already blogging

More setup, but also more power and more long-term upside.

So… Which Platform Should You Choose to Sell Your Online Course?

If you:

• Want simple & fast → Podia or Gumroad
• Want scalable authority → Teachable or Thinkific
• Want all-in-one empire → Kajabi
• Want built-in traffic → Udemy
• Want community-first → Mighty Networks or Circle
• Want full ownership → WordPress

Match the platform to your current level.
Not your future fantasy self.

Selling Courses Online: Profit Potential Per Platform (Realistically)

→ Low-ticket ($19–$49):

• Works well on Gumroad, marketplaces

→ Mid-ticket ($99–$499):

• Hosted platforms win

→ High-ticket ($997+):

• Kajabi, Thinkific, Teachable, community models

Money-wise, selling courses makes more sense than freelancing because:

• You build once
• You refine
• You sell repeatedly.

Final Thoughts on The Best Platforms to Sell Online Courses

Your platform is not your business; the skills used to build your online course are.

Choose the platform that supports the stage you’re in.
Then build → refine → stack income streams.

You can test different platforms, try a few at the same time, and take some time to decide which platform brings the most profit to your online course business.

FAQ: Selling Online Courses in 2026

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