The coaching industry is booming. Research and markets report that the e-learning industry will be worth $2.2 Billion by 2035, representing an increase of 18.32% CAGR. And here’s the kicker, coaches who leverage online courses are seeing 3x higher revenue streams than those stuck in the traditional one-on-one model.
But most coaches get stuck at the most critical juncture of their journey: choosing the right platform to create and sell their courses.
We’ve spent countless hours testing, comparing, and analyzing what could be some of the best platforms to sell online courses and coaching programs. We’ve talked to successful coaches, and dug through user reviews of each platform to see what works (and what doesn’t).
The result? This comprehensive guide that’ll help you pick the perfect platform to scale your coaching business.
Course Platforms vs. Marketplaces: What Coaches Need to Know
Before we dive into the platforms, let’s clear up a common confusion.
Course Marketplaces (like Udemy, Skillshare) are like Amazon for courses. You list your course in their catalog, and they handle the marketing and sales. The trade-off? You give up control over pricing, branding, and customer relationships. Plus, they take a significant cut of your revenue.
Course Platforms (like Knorish) are like building your own store. You have complete control over branding, pricing, and customer data. You pay a monthly fee instead of revenue sharing.
For most coaches, platforms win because you’re building an asset – your own branded course business.
TL;DR – Quick-Scan Online Coaching Platforms Comparison Table
Here’s a quick table to understand which is the best platform to sell online courses.
| Online Teaching Platform | Best For | Pros | Pricing |
| Knorish | All-in-one growth engine for coaches, trainers, experts | WhatsApp Thought Avatar—AI clone sells & supports 24×7 Automated sales funnels (WhatsApp + email) for upsells & cross-sells Custom branded website & branded mobile apps High-converting landing pages templates & page builder Unlimited courses, sessions, students on every plan Conduct unlimited live sessions, webinars and meetings with native live streaming 0% transaction fees Native Community (coming soon) | 14-day Free Trial – no credit card required Basic Plan ($39/ month) Professional Plan ($67? month) Power ($420/ month) |
| Udemy | Testing course ideas with built-in traffic | 73 M+ students marketplace Udemy hosts everything Passive sales from site-wide promos | Free to publish Up to 67% Platform fees as revenue split |
| Skillshare | Building brand awareness via creative courses | Royalty pool pays monthly on minutes-watched Discovery engine for creative/lifestyle topics Dead-simple upload workflow | Free to teach Royalty pool sharing model |
| Adobe Learning Manager | Enterprise-grade certification programs | SCORM/AICC compliant for corporate clients Analytics & badges Syncs with Adobe Experience Cloud | Starts ≈$4/user/mo (registered-user/ per-student pricing model) Enterprise based custom quotes |
| Skool | Community-first cohort courses | One-click “classroom + forum” layout Gamified leaderboard & prompts boost engagement Flat, predictable pricing | Single plan: $99/month |
| Thinkific | DIY coaches who want to grow while using custom tools integrations | Drag-drop site builder App store No transaction fees Live lessons Communities | Basic ($49/month) Start ($99/month) Grow ($199/month) |
| Teachable | Absolute beginners launching first course fast | Integrate tools you wish to use Handles EU VAT & US sales tax for you iOS only Teachable mobile app for students | Starter ($39/month + 7.5% transaction fee) Builder ($89/month) Growth ($189/month) Advanced ($399/month) |
| Podia | Solopreneurs selling courses and downloads | One storefront for courses, ebooks, digital downloads and webinars Built-in community & email broadcasts No fees on the higher paid plan | Mover ($39/month + 5% transaction fee) Shaker ($89/month) |
| Kajabi | Established coaching brands scaling funnels okay with expensive pricing | All-in-one: website, email, funnels and podcasts Automations & blueprints | Kickstarter ($89/month) Basic ($149/month) Growth ($199/month) Pro ($399/month) |
| LearnWorlds | White-label academies with interactive videos | Interactive video quizzes & e-books Custom branding control Social learner hub | Starter ($29/month +$5/sale revenue share) Pro ($99/month) Learning Center $299 |
10 Best Platforms to Sell Online Courses for Coaches In 2025
Knorish
Knorish isn’t just another course platform – it’s specifically built for coaches who want to scale their business without losing the personal touch that makes coaching effective.
What sets Knorish apart is its focus on the entire coaching journey, not just course delivery. While other platforms treat courses as standalone products, Knorish understands that courses are part of a larger coaching ecosystem.
The automated WhatsApp and email funnel builder is a game-changer. Instead of manually following up with prospects, Knorish helps you automate the entire sales process in your coaching business. You can set up sequences that nurture leads from free content to high-ticket coaching programs.
The mobile app feature is crucial in today’s mobile-first world. Your clients get a branded app with your courses, creating a premium experience that positions you as a serious coaching business.
Live sessions and webinars are seamlessly integrated, so you can combine self-paced learning with real-time coaching. This hybrid approach is what modern clients expect from premium coaching programs.
Key Features for Coaches:
- Automated WhatsApp Marketing (huge for engagement)
- Custom mobile apps for your coaching brand
- Landing page builders that convert
- Content piracy prevention (protect your IP)
- Multiple payment gateway integrations
- Built-in community features
- Live session & webinars integration
- Advanced analytics and reporting
Pricing: Plans start at $49/month with no transaction fees, making it cost-effective as you scale.
Udemy
Udemy is the Amazon of online courses, and for good reason. With millions of students, it’s the fastest way to get your coaching content in front of a massive audience.
But here’s the reality about Udemy that most coaches don’t understand: it’s a race to the bottom on pricing, and the platform’s algorithm favors courses with the highest ratings and lowest prices. This means you’ll likely need to price your course between $20-$200, which works for volume but not for premium coaching content.
The revenue share structure is where many coaches get frustrated. If students find your course through Udemy’s marketing efforts (which is most sales), Udemy takes up to 63% of the revenue. Only when you drive your own traffic do you keep 97% of the sale.
But here’s why some coaches still love Udemy: validation. It’s a low-risk way to test if your content resonates with your target market before investing in your own platform.
Pros:
- Massive built-in audience (57M+ students)
- Zero upfront costs to publish
- Great for market validation
Cons:
- Revenue share can be as high as 63%
- No control over pricing or branding
- Race-to-the-bottom pricing pressure
- Can’t collect student email addresses
- Platform owns the customer relationship
Pricing: Free to publish, but Udemy takes 3-63% revenue share depending on traffic source.
Skillshare
Skillshare has carved out a unique niche in the creative space. If your coaching focuses on design, photography, writing, or other creative skills, this platform offers an engaged community that’s specifically looking for creative education.
The platform operates on a subscription model for students, which means they’re not evaluating individual course prices. This removes price as a barrier and lets you focus on creating quality content.
However, the royalty system is complex and doesn’t favor new creators. You’re paid based on minutes watched by premium subscribers, which means you need significant viewership to generate meaningful income.
Pros:
- Engaged creative community
- No individual course pricing pressure
- Simple course creation process
Cons:
- Limited to creative topics
- Complex royalty calculation system
- Difficult to generate income without massive viewership
- No direct student communication
- Platform controls all marketing and promotion
Pricing: Free to publish; earnings based on premium subscriber watch time.
Adobe LMS (formerly Adobe Captivate Prime) is designed for enterprise-level training and compliance programs. If you’re coaching corporate clients or need sophisticated tracking and reporting for professional development programs, Adobe delivers enterprise-grade features.
The platform excels in compliance training, skill gap analysis, and integration with existing HR systems. However, it’s overkill (and overpriced) for most independent coaches.
Pros:
- Enterprise-grade features and security
- Advanced reporting and analytics
- Compliance and certification tracking
Cons:
- Extremely expensive for individual coaches
- Complex setup and management
- Designed for corporate training, not coaching
- Poor user experience compared to modern platforms
- Requires technical expertise to manage
Pricing: Custom enterprise pricing (typically $1000s per month).
Skool
Skool takes a unique approach by combining courses with gamified community features. If building an engaged community around your coaching is important, Skool’s approach is worth considering.
The platform includes leaderboards, achievement systems, and social features that encourage student interaction. This can lead to higher engagement and course completion rates.
However, Skool is relatively new and lacks many features that established platforms offer. The course creation tools are basic compared to dedicated course platforms.
Pros:
- Strong community and gamification features
- Simple, clean interface
- Good for building engaged communities
Cons:
Pricing: $99/month. Only one plan available.
- Limited course creation features
- New platform with fewer integrations
- Higher pricing for what you get
- Basic marketing and sales tools
- No mobile app
Thinkific
Thinkific gives you the building blocks to create a truly customized learning experience. The drag-and-drop course builder is intuitive, and the design customization options let you match your brand perfectly.
The platform shines in assessment and certification features. If your coaching requires formal testing or certification (like business coaching or professional development), Thinkific’s robust quiz and assignment system delivers.
Where Thinkific struggles is in marketing automation. While you can create beautiful courses, you’ll need to integrate with external tools for advanced email marketing and sales funnels.
Pros:
- Extensive design customization
- Robust assessment and certification tools
- Good white-label options
Cons:
- Limited built-in marketing automation
- Basic email marketing features
- Transaction fees on lower-tier plans
- Steep learning curve for advanced features
Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans from $49/month.
Teachable
Teachable has built a reputation as the go-to platform for creators who want to own their marketing game. The built-in affiliate program management is particularly strong, making it easy to recruit others to promote your courses.
The platform’s strength lies in its marketing integrations and analytics. You get detailed insights into student behavior, conversion rates, and revenue metrics that help you optimize your courses for better performance.
However, many users report that the platform can feel overwhelming for beginners. The abundance of features and settings can paralyze new course creators who just want to get started quickly.
Pros:
- Advanced marketing and affiliate tools
- Detailed analytics and reporting
- Strong integration ecosystem
Cons:
- Overwhelming interface for beginners
- Limited design customization options
- Higher pricing compared to competitors
- No built-in community features
- Transaction fees on all plans
Pricing: Basic plan starts at $59/month with 5% transaction fees.
Podia
Podia positions itself as an all-in-one digital storefront, and it delivers on that promise. You can sell courses, digital downloads, coaching sessions, and memberships all from one platform.
The simplicity is Podia’s biggest strength. The interface is clean, and you can have a course published in under an hour. For coaches who want to focus on content creation rather than platform management, this approach works well.
The downside is limited customization. While the simplicity is appealing, you’re restricted in how much you can customize the look and feel of your course site.
Pros:
- Simple, intuitive interface
- Multiple product types (courses, downloads, coaching)
- Good email marketing features
Cons:
- Limited design customization options
- No mobile app for students
- Transaction fees (5%)
- Limited assessment and quiz options
Pricing: Plans start at $33/month with 5% transaction fees.
Kajabi is the heavyweight of course platforms. It’s not just about courses – it’s a complete business platform with CRM, email marketing, sales funnels, and even website building capabilities.
The marketing automation features are impressive. You can create complex sales funnels that guide prospects from free lead magnets to high-ticket coaching programs. For established coaches with complex business models, Kajabi provides the tools to automate almost everything.
The major drawback? Price and complexity. At $149/month minimum, it’s expensive for new coaches. Plus, the learning curve is steep – you’ll need time to master all the features.
Pros:
- Comprehensive all-in-one business platform
- Advanced marketing automation
- Built-in CRM and pipeline management
Cons:
- Expensive pricing (starts at $149/month)
- Steep learning curve
- Overkill for simple course creation
- Limited course interaction features
- Can feel overwhelming for beginners
Pricing: Plans start at $149/month.
LearnWorlds focuses heavily on creating engaging, interactive learning experiences. The platform includes features like interactive videos, social learning tools, and advanced assessment options that can significantly boost course completion rates.
The customization options are extensive – you can create a truly unique learning environment that reflects your coaching brand. The built-in social features also help create community around your courses.
However, the pricing structure can get expensive quickly, especially with the per-course-sale fee on lower tiers. For high-volume course sales, these fees add up.
Pros:
- Advanced interactive learning features
- Extensive customization options
- Strong social learning tools
Cons:
- Complex pricing with per-sale fees
- Learning curve for advanced features
- Limited marketing automation
- No native mobile app
- Higher costs as you scale
Pricing: Plans start at $29/month plus $5 per course sale.
How to Choose the Best Online Learning Platform for Your Business
Start with the money—because platform fees quietly erase profit faster than a leaky funnel.
1. Total Cost of Ownership
| Expense Bucket | Why It Matters | Red-Flag Scenario |
| Subscription vs. Revenue -Sharing | A fixed monthly or annual subscription is predictable; revenue share compounds as you increase sales. | Selling a $99 program on a “free” platform that takes 10% means coughing up almost $1,200 on just 120 enrollments -far more than a $60/mo flat fee. |
| Add-on Tools | Emails, WhatsApp automation, funnel builders, community, webinars – do you pay for each or rather take an all-in-one platform to save costs? | A “cheap” $39 platform + Mailchimp ($34), Webinar tool ($99), Zapier ($20) + Funnel Builder ($99)= $291/mo—suddenly more than an all-in-one. |
Rule of thumb: As soon as projected course revenue crosses $1,000 a month, a flat-fee/zero-commission platform is almost always cheaper long-term than any revenue-sharing deal—no matter how tempting the “free to start” hook.
2. Clarity of Goal
- Business model. Flagship course? Membership empire? Corporate certification? Your model dictates the feature set you genuinely need.
- Teaching format. Self-paced, live cohort, hybrid—make sure the platform’s core delivery flow matches how you coach 80 % of the time.
3. Learner Experience
- Navigation & speed. Test as a student on desktop and mobile—confusion kills completion rates.
- Engagement levers. Quizzes, certificates, communities, gamification—interaction turns content into transformation.
4. Creator Workflow & Automations
- Content pipeline. Bulk uploads, easy replacements, version control.
- Time-savers. Drip schedules, prerequisite gating, auto emails on milestones—small automations equal big sanity.
5. Marketing & Monetization Muscle
- Built-in funnels. Landing pages, upsells, order bumps.
- Audience ownership. Full access to student email data = lifetime upsell potential.
- Checkout flexibility. Multiple gateways, currencies, subscriptions, payment plans—don’t leave money on the table.
6. Community & Support Ecosystem
- Native vs. external. Decide if conversations live inside your platform or on Slack/Facebook.
- Real-time support. Live chat beats 48-hour ticket queues—especially on launch day.
- Integrations & API. Future-proof your tech stack.
7. Data, Compliance & Security
- Deep analytics. Revenue is nice; lesson-level drop-off heat-maps are nicer.
- Regulatory peace-of-mind. GDPR, PCI, SSL covered by default.
- Export options. If you ever pivot, you should take students and sales data with you—no hostage situations.
Our Recommendation: Start with Knorish
After testing all these platforms, we consistently recommend Knorish for most coaching businesses. Here’s why:
It’s built specifically for coaches, trainers, experts and coaching businesses. While other platforms serve general course creators, Knorish understands the unique needs of coaching businesses – the need to nurture relationships, provide ongoing support, and seamlessly blend courses with live coaching.
The automation actually works. The WhatsApp and email funnel builder isn’t just a feature – it’s a complete system that can help you scale lead generation for your coaching business and nurture potential clients on autopilot.
Pricing makes sense at scale. No transaction fees means your costs are predictable as you grow. Many coaches find they save money switching from percentage-based platforms as their revenue increases.
You own the relationship. Unlike marketplaces, you get complete access to your student data and can build direct relationships with your audience.
Conclusion
The online course market is exploding, and coaches who get in now have a massive opportunity. But your success won’t just depend on having great content – it depends on choosing a platform that amplifies your strengths and supports your business model.
We’ve seen too many great coaches struggle because they chose a platform that fought against their natural coaching style or business goals. The key is matching your platform choice to your specific situation.
For most coaches reading this, Knorish offers the best combination of coaching-specific features, automation capabilities, and growth potential. But if you’re just starting out and want to test the waters, beginning with Udemy for market validation isn’t a bad strategy.
The most important thing? Stop researching and start creating. The perfect platform is the one you’ll actually use to get your coaching content out into the world.
Your expertise can change lives – now you have the tools to scale that impact.
Ready to start building your coaching course empire? Pick your platform and take action today. Your future students are waiting.
