Best Tools for Creating Online Courses in 2024

Learn which tools suit your needs, whether you're a beginner or an experienced course creator

In 2024, online education continues to grow at a rapid pace. More people than ever are taking and creating online courses. Whether you are a teacher, an entrepreneur, or someone with valuable knowledge to share, creating an online course is a great way to reach a global audience. The key to success is using the right tools to design, host, and manage your courses.

In this detailed guide, we will explore the best tools for creating online courses in 2024. These tools will help you structure your content, design engaging lessons, manage student progress, and even market your courses effectively.

1. Thinkific

Overview

Thinkific is one of the leading platforms for creating and selling online courses. It is a complete learning management system (LMS) that provides everything you need to create a course. With Thinkific, you can build courses, host content, track student progress, and monetize your content.

Key Features

Drag-and-drop course builder: Easily create courses without any coding knowledge. You can upload videos, PDFs, quizzes, and more.
Customizable themes: Thinkific allows you to design your course website to match your brand.
Built-in marketing tools: You can create landing pages, set pricing, and even integrate with email marketing platforms.
Student management: Track student progress, send automated emails, and manage certifications.
Community building: Thinkific also offers features to create communities around your course, including discussion forums and group assignments.

Best For

Thinkific is ideal for course creators who want an all-in-one solution with powerful customization options and a smooth user experience. It’s a great choice for those who want to build a branded course website.

2. Teachable

Overview

Teachable is another popular course creation platform that focuses on ease of use. It allows you to create and sell courses with minimal setup. Like Thinkific, Teachable provides the tools needed to build, host, and manage online courses.

Key Features

Easy course creation: Upload videos, create quizzes, and offer downloadable content with an intuitive course builder.
Sales and marketing tools: Teachable offers built-in features for pricing, marketing, and sales tracking.
Customization options: You can customize your course site with Teachable’s design options.
Student engagement tools: Offer certificates of completion, track progress, and interact with students via comments and Q&A sections.
Payment integrations: Teachable allows you to accept payments through various gateways, including PayPal and Stripe.

Best For

Teachable is best for creators who want a simple platform to build and sell courses. Its user-friendly interface and strong eCommerce features make it perfect for beginners and seasoned instructors alike.

3. Udemy

Overview

Udemy is one of the largest online course marketplaces. Instead of hosting your course on your own platform, Udemy allows you to publish it to millions of learners worldwide. It’s a marketplace where students search for and purchase courses across various subjects.

Key Features

Large audience: Udemy has millions of students, which gives your course visibility without heavy marketing efforts.
Course creation tools: Upload videos, create quizzes, and add assignments to structure your course.
Revenue sharing: While Udemy takes a commission, it provides marketing and exposure that can lead to increased enrollments.
Student interaction: Engage with students through messaging, Q&A sections, and course announcements.
Mobile access: Udemy courses can be accessed on any device, including mobile phones and tablets.

Best For

Udemy is ideal for creators who want to focus on creating content without worrying about building a platform or marketing heavily. If you want to reach a global audience quickly, Udemy offers the visibility you need.

4. Kajabi

Overview

Kajabi is a robust all-in-one platform for creating online courses, memberships, and marketing campaigns. It’s designed for creators who want more than just course hosting. Kajabi also includes powerful marketing automation tools to help grow your online business.

Key Features

Comprehensive course creation tools: Build courses with videos, quizzes, and assessments.
Email marketing: Kajabi comes with a built-in email marketing system, allowing you to send campaigns, newsletters, and promotional content.
Sales funnels: Create custom sales funnels to guide potential students through the enrollment process.
Membership sites: Kajabi lets you offer courses as part of a membership, with ongoing content and community interaction.
Analytics and reporting: Get detailed insights into student performance and sales data to refine your courses and marketing strategies.

Best For

Kajabi is best suited for entrepreneurs looking to build a complete online business around their courses. If you want advanced marketing tools and a platform to host membership sites or ongoing content, Kajabi is a great choice.

5. LearnDash

Overview

LearnDash is a WordPress plugin that turns your WordPress site into a full-fledged learning management system. It’s a powerful and flexible option for creators who want full control over their course content and website design.

Key Features

Course builder: LearnDash offers an easy-to-use course builder that integrates seamlessly with WordPress.
Drip content: You can schedule content delivery over time, allowing students to access new lessons or modules as they progress.
Quizzes and assignments: Create advanced quizzes, manage assignments, and offer certificates for completed courses.
Gamification: LearnDash allows you to add badges, points, and leaderboards to increase student engagement.
Membership integrations: Integrate with popular membership plugins to offer gated content or subscription-based access.

Best For

LearnDash is ideal for creators who already have a WordPress site and want maximum control over their course layout, design, and functionality. It’s also a good option for those looking to build membership-based courses.

6. Podia

Overview

Podia is a platform designed for creators who want to sell online courses, memberships, and digital downloads. It provides an easy way to manage and sell various types of content while maintaining a simple interface.

Key Features

Course creation tools: Build your course by uploading videos, quizzes, PDFs, and more.
Memberships: Podia allows you to create membership sites, where students can subscribe for ongoing content.
Sell digital products: In addition to courses, you can sell eBooks, guides, and other digital content.
Live webinars: You can offer live webinars or coaching sessions directly through Podia, making it a versatile tool for various content types.
No transaction fees: Podia does not charge transaction fees, allowing you to keep more of your revenue.

Best For

Podia is best for creators who want a simple platform that combines course creation, membership management, and digital product sales. It’s a great option if you want to offer a variety of content without using multiple tools.

7. Ruzuku

Overview

Ruzuku is an easy-to-use platform designed specifically for educators who want to teach courses online. It’s known for its simple setup and emphasis on creating a smooth experience for both course creators and students.

Key Features

Simple course setup: Ruzuku offers a streamlined process for creating courses. You can upload files, create quizzes, and design a course in a matter of hours.
Interactive courses: Ruzuku allows you to create live webinars, offer discussion forums, and interact with students through comments.
Student tracking: Easily track student progress and completion rates.
Payment processing: Ruzuku integrates with PayPal and Stripe for easy payment collection.
No technical knowledge required: The platform is designed to be accessible for creators with minimal technical skills.

Best For

Ruzuku is ideal for educators who want to focus on teaching without getting bogged down by complex technology. It’s a good fit for creators who prioritize simplicity and ease of use in setting up their courses.

8. Skillshare

Overview

Skillshare is a popular online learning platform where creators can publish courses on a wide range of topics. It’s a marketplace like Udemy but with a focus on creative skills, entrepreneurship, and personal development.

Key Features

Large user base: Skillshare has millions of students looking for courses in creative and business fields.
Simple course creation: You can easily upload video lessons and create class projects for students to complete.
Subscription model: Skillshare operates on a subscription model, meaning you earn money based on the number of minutes students watch your content.
Built-in community: Engage with students through discussions, class projects, and feedback.
Marketing support: Skillshare helps promote courses to its large user base, reducing the need for external marketing efforts.

Best For

Skillshare is perfect for creators who want to reach an audience interested in creative skills and personal development. It’s a great option if you want to teach short, focused courses and don’t want to worry about building your own platform.

9. Mighty Networks

Overview

Mighty Networks is a platform that allows creators to build communities around their courses. It’s a unique option because it combines online courses with community-building features, such as discussion groups, live events, and social networking.

Key Features

Course creation: Build and host courses with video, text, and quizzes.
Community integration: Create private communities where students can interact with each other and the course creator.
Live events: Host live webinars, workshops, or Q&A sessions within the platform.
Custom branding: You can customize the look and feel of your course and community to reflect your brand.
Mobile app: Students can access your course and community through a dedicated mobile app.

Best For

Mighty Networks is ideal for creators who want to foster a strong community around their courses. If you want to combine learning with community interaction and live events, this is a great choice.

10. Camtasia

Overview

While Camtasia is not a full course creation platform, it is one of the best tools for creating high-quality instructional videos. It’s a screen recording and video editing software that allows you to create engaging video content for your courses.

Key Features

Screen recording: Capture your screen to create tutorials, presentations, or software demos.
Video editing: Edit videos with ease, adding annotations, transitions, and effects.
Interactive quizzes: You can add quizzes to your videos to engage students and test their understanding.
Customizable templates: Camtasia offers templates that help you create professional-looking videos quickly.
Audio and video enhancements: Improve the quality of your video and audio with built-in tools.

Best For

Camtasia is perfect for course creators who need to create professional video content. If your course relies heavily on video lessons, Camtasia is a great tool for recording, editing, and enhancing your videos.

In 2024, there are many excellent tools available for creating online courses. Whether you need an all-in-one platform like Thinkific or Teachable, a marketplace like Udemy or Skillshare, or specialized tools like Camtasia, the options are vast.

The best tool for you depends on your specific needs. If you’re looking for simplicity, tools like Ruzuku or Podia are great choices. If you want advanced marketing features, Kajabi and Thinkific are excellent options. For creators focused on building a community, Mighty Networks is a top pick.

Evaluate your goals, technical skills, and budget, and choose the platform that aligns best with your vision. With the right tools, creating an online course in 2024 can be a rewarding and profitable experience.