Selecting the course builder software can be tricky because so many options are available in the current world. Whether you’re an educator, entrepreneur, or business owner hoping to build and sell courses, the right tool could prove to be the difference between success and failure. This blog gives a detailed course builder software price comparison so you can consider picking one based on your needs and budget. By the time we are done, you know which course creation platforms are right for you.
High Value vs. High Cost Online Course Platform Comparison
In learning platforms, however, the equation is about value vs cost! While some offer a plethora of features, they don’t always provide the expected return on investment. In-depth course builder software price comparison reveals others that, despite what they might charge with their competitors, can just as easily be overpriced.
Features, functionalities and cost are the three driving factors for the entrepreneurs in searching for their platform. We’re going to compare the platforms on usability, feature sets, and overall price points to give you the best solution to maximize your potential profit. You can compare free online course platforms and paid ones to find out what tools offer a great combination of price and features.
How to Evaluate Online Course Platforms: Criteria
In this online course platform comparison, we evaluate platforms on three key criteria: user experience, features, and pricing. That is, they directly affect the performance of your online courses and the satisfaction of your learners.
Both course creators and students need an easy-to-use interface. Gamification, quizzes, and interactive community features improve the learning experience. Finally, pricing structures and hidden fees can have a major impact on your bottom line as such features directly affect the cost with respect to the delivered value.
Creators and Learners — User-Friendly Interface
When choosing course creation platforms, look for intuitively designed course-building tools, making course creation a breeze for even the newest beginner. The smooth sign-up and login process for learners improves the course completion and user satisfaction rate. Thinkific, Podia, Keynote, and others do a great job of providing a user experience that is easy for everyone.
Engaging users with interactive content like videos, downloadable resources, and quizzes will also assist in your efforts to maintain interest. This not only ensures you can teach in different modalities, catering to different learning styles to improve knowledge retention, but also allows for diverse content formats on third-party platforms. Choose the platform after comparing online course platforms with easy-to-navigate and better user experience.
Course Creation and Engagement Essentials
The best course platforms excel by providing extensive features. Gamification, social communities, and assessments improve learner interaction. This is where platforms like LearnDash and Kajabi shine.
Owning your community space is essential for sustainable long-term growth vs. relying on external social networks. By having course creation platforms that build on community-building tools, course creators can build deeper relationships with their audience, resulting in greater course value and retention. All great online course creation platforms feature customization, allowing you to customize your courses in a way that your brand is well-reflected and users get engaged.
Value for Money and Pricing Structure
Course builder software price comparison relies on pricing as one of the primary factors. Some services even provide free tiers and, therefore, are accessible to absolute beginners, while others prioritize premium plans with lots of powerful features.
Like Teachable or Podia, platforms do have free plans with limited capabilities but others don’t start off at very high price points (such as Kajabi) but have plenty of tools for scaling. Assessing the value of each tier helps ensure that you are investing in a platform that can grow with your business without paying for features that you do not need. Even better, comparison websites like these make it easy to compare the platforms, providing a clear breakdown of the pricing model for each one.
8 Best Online Course Platforms Comparison
| Platform | Price (Starting) | Free Plan Available | Key Features | Price-to-Value Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thinkific | $39/month | Yes | Memberships, Communities | 8.3 |
| AccessAlly | $99/month | No | Advanced Integrations, Memberships, Automation | 7.9 |
| LearnDash | $199/year | No | WordPress Plugin, Multi-Site Licenses | 7.3 |
| Kajabi | $149/month | No | All-in-One Marketing Tools | 7.3 |
| LifterLMS | $120/year | No | Plugin-Based, Tiered Plans | 7.0 |
| LearnWorlds | $24/month | No | Advanced Engagement Features | 6.7 |
| Teachable | $39/month | Yes | Enhanced Marketing Tools | 6.3 |
| Podia | $33/month | Yes | Simplicity, All-in-One Platform | 7.0 |
Platform Descriptions
Thinkific
Thinkific is user-friendly and offers great community-building features. The free plan is ideal for beginners, giving creators the ability to take basic courses to market without any financial risk. The platform’s drag-and-drop course builder, along with features such as memberships and community forums, makes it well-suited for driving engagement. Premium plans reveal capabilities, including advanced analytics, marketing integrations, and white-label options, all offering scalability as businesses grow.
AccessAlly
AccessAlly is an online course and membership platform which is built on WordPress. It incorporates tools for creating interactive courses, handling memberships and automating marketing tasks. AccessAlly’s true differentiator is its tight integration with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools, like ActiveCampaign, Infusionsoft, and Ontraport, allowing for complex automation and personalization.
It supports functionalities like progress tracking, gamification, quizzes, and multimedia course materials. It also has 1-time payment, subscription, and upsell management tools so if you want to create a seamless learning and sales experience, this is also a great option.
AccessAlly, on the other hand, heavily builds on WordPress, so you have to have some technical know-how to take full advantage of it. It has more of a price point starting at $99/month thus applicable for businesses and creators who want to output courses in top-notch delivery along with marketing automation as well.
LearnDash
Being a WordPress plugin, LearnDash is sought after by site owners who prefer to house their course content on their own site. It can be used to create interactive learning experiences and offers numerous features, including but not limited to drip content, certificates, and advanced quizzes. While they don’t offer a free tier, LearnDash’s annual pricing is competitive if you want to leverage your WordPress site to create courses.
Kajabi
Kajabi is known for its all-in-one tools that go far beyond course creation, including email marketing, sales funnels, and website building. This all-in-one platform is perfect for entrepreneurs who are scaling up their online business. Its relatively higher entry cost may scare away the novice, but the investment pays off as it replaces several outed tools with a single, self-deriving solution. A strong community of users and versatile automation workflows and customization options support Kajabi.
LifterLMS
The plugin base for LifterLMS provides more freedom for WordPress users who want to integrate course functionality into their existing site. Its modular design allows users to buy individual parts or full plant suites. In addition, LifterLMS is scalable, so it’s an excellent choice for creators looking to start with minimal investment and build over time, but the total cost of add-ons can add up quickly.
LearnWorlds
Interactive videos, eBooks, and assessments make LearnWorlds stand out because they focus on learner engagement. With its competitive pricing structure and feature-rich environment, it is a strong candidate for educators whose focus is on creating content that is engaging. Although it doesn’t feature a free plan, LearnWorlds still offers a trial, letting users work with its features before they purchase.
Teachable
The learning curve for using Teachable and its free plan attracts newbies who want to launch their first course. With its user-friendly interface, key marketing functionalities and payment link, course creation is fast and easy on the platform. More advanced features become available at higher tiers, such as upsells, advanced reporting, and priority support, making Teachable ideal for scaling businesses.
Podia
Podia is popular for being simple and all-in-one. With the ability to offer webinars, memberships, and downloads in addition to courses, Podia works well for creators looking to diversify their revenue streams. Thus, its free plan is great for ice-breaking, and you can scale to paid plans for great features without transaction charges so that you get maximum profit capacity.
When exploring options to compare online course platforms, it’s essential to find the best fit for your needs. Course comparison website can also make this process easier by listing features, pricing, and customer reviews for different platforms. It used to be that you built your entire course on a course selling platforms like Teachable, Kajabi, or Thinkific, which was more intimidating for beginners, but you had to go with them for the rest of your course.
Many of the course platforms such as Udemy or Moodle offer free online course platforms with simple functionalities for those looking to keep costs down. They provide a lot of features that an individual educator would be able to design engaging course content such as video hosting, quizzes, student management, billing, and much more to provide a seamless training experience.
Conclusion
The most suitable course builder software for you depends on your aims, budget constraints, and technical know-how. Thinkific and Podia provide free plans and simple tools for beginners, while Kajabi and LearnDash include advanced tools for scaling businesses. Taking the time to evaluate the features, pricing, and user experience of various platforms will help you select one that can facilitate your growth and success in the online education market.
FAQ
What is the best software to create a course?
The best software for creating a course depends on your needs. Teachable and Thinkific are popular for their simplicity and ease of use, while Kajabi offers an all-in-one solution for course creation and marketing. Adobe Captivate is ideal for creating interactive and professional-level courses, and Canva is useful for designing visually appealing course materials.
How much does it cost to create a course?
The cost of creating a course varies widely. Basic courses can be created for $0–$500 using free tools and basic platforms. Intermediate courses, including professional software and video editing, may cost $500–$5,000. Advanced courses with high-quality production and outsourced development can exceed $5,000.
How much do online course platforms cost?
Online course platforms have varying subscription costs. Teachable starts at $39 per month, Thinkific offers premium plans starting at $49 per month, and Kajabi provides comprehensive features starting at $149 per month. The choice of platform depends on the scale and features required for your course.
What is the best price point for an online course?
Pricing depends on the audience and course value. General courses are typically priced between $50–$200 to remain accessible, while premium or niche courses, offering advanced or specialized knowledge, are priced at $500 or more.
Does Google have a course builder?
Google provides an open-source tool called Course Builder, which allows users to create and manage online courses. While it offers flexibility and customization, it requires some technical expertise to set up and operate effectively.
