Where can I create an online course?

There are many platforms available for creating online courses, each catering to different needs and levels of expertise. The best choice will depend on your specific goals, the type of content you want to deliver, and your audience.

Here’s a general guide, from my point of view, to help you navigate the options:

1. All-in-One Platforms If you want to build a comprehensive online course with tools for hosting, marketing, and selling, consider platforms like Teachable, Thinkific, or Kajabi. These are great for those looking to create full-fledged courses with features like quizzes, drip content, and customizable websites.

2. Content-Specific Platforms If your content is primarily video-based or consists of PDFs, and you need robust security features to protect your material, there are platforms designed specifically for this.

Taylora: Ideal for solopreneurs, freelancers, and consultants, Taylora makes it easy to securely share or sell video lessons, PDFs, and mixed content collections. It’s mobile-friendly and offers strong content protection with HLS for videos and HTML conversion for PDFs.

Podia: Another great option, especially if you’re selling memberships or digital downloads alongside your courses. It’s simple to use and provides built-in marketing tools.

3. DIY Approach For those who want complete control, tools like WordPress paired with plugins (e.g., LearnDash or LifterLMS) allow you to host courses on your own website. This requires more setup and maintenance but offers flexibility and ownership.

4. Marketplace Platforms If you prefer to reach a broad audience without worrying about marketing, platforms like Udemy or Skillshare are worth considering. They handle much of the promotion for you but often limit pricing and branding control.

Factors to Consider:

Ease of Use: How tech-savvy are you? Some platforms are more user-friendly than others.

Security: If your content needs protection from unauthorized sharing, choose a platform with strong security features.

Monetization Options: Consider whether the platform supports different pricing models (subscriptions, one-time payments, etc.).

Customization: Do you need a fully branded experience, or are you okay with a pre-built template?

Each platform has its strengths, so it’s important to test a few and see which one aligns best with your needs. Many offer free trials, so you can explore their features before committing.