7 Best LMS for Selling Courses (2025): Which One Is Best for You?

If you’re planning to sell an online course in 2025, one of the most important choices you’ll make is which LMS (Learning Management System) to use.

Your LMS is more than just a website, it’s your course home, your marketing engine, and your student’s classroom all rolled into one.

But with so many options out there, it can feel impossible to figure out which one is truly the best for you.

In this article, we’ll break down what to look for in an LMS, compare the top platforms for selling online courses in 2025, and help you decide which one fits your goals, budget, and audience.

What Is an LMS?

An LMS, or Learning Management System, is the software that powers your online course.

It handles everything from hosting your videos and PDFs, to enrolling students, collecting payments, tracking progress, and delivering certificates.

A great LMS makes your life easier, helps students learn better, and lets you sell courses more efficiently.

Here’s what it can do for you:

• Host and organize your course content
• Collect payments automatically
• Provide student dashboards and progress tracking
• Automate email notifications and enrollments
• Offer quizzes, certificates, and community areas

When you choose the right platform, you’re not just buying software, you’re setting up the foundation of your course business.

What to Look for in an LMS (2025 Checklist)

Before jumping into recommendations, it helps to know what actually matters.

Here are the most important features to look for when choosing an LMS to sell courses this year:

1. Ease of Use

Your LMS should be intuitive enough that you can create and launch a course in a few hours, not a few weeks.

If you’re not tech-savvy, look for drag-and-drop builders and pre-made templates.

2. Sales & Marketing Tools

An LMS should help you sell, not just teach.

Look for built-in landing pages, checkout options, discount codes, and email marketing tools.

3. Payment Flexibility

Make sure it supports multiple payment options like Stripe, PayPal, and local currency processing. Bonus points for one-click upsells and payment plans.

4. Student Experience

A clean interface and smooth navigation can keep students engaged longer.

Look for features like progress tracking, discussion boards, and certificates.

5. Automation

Automations save time. Choose an LMS that can send welcome emails, unlock lessons on a schedule, or integrate with tools like Zapier, ConvertKit, or Make.

6. Scalability

If you plan to expand, adding coaching programs, memberships, or multiple courses, make sure your LMS can grow with you.

7. Pricing

Don’t overspend early on. Pick a plan that fits your current stage, but can scale later when your sales increase.

Best LMS Platforms for Selling Courses

Let’s look at the top LMS platforms creators, coaches, and training companies are using this year, and what makes each one shine.

1. SchoolMaker: Best for Creators and Coaches

Best for: Course creators, educators, and coaches who want a complete all-in-one solution.

Overview:
SchoolMaker has become one of the fastest-growing LMS platforms in recent years. It is designed specifically for creators who want to sell courses and build communities on one platform. It also provides features to help users sell more courses.

Key Features:

• Course, community, and coaching in one platform
• Customizable student dashboards
• Integrates easily with Stripe, Zapier, and Make

Pros:

• Beautiful interface for both students and creators
• Scales easily from one course to a full academy
• Optimizes for the best learning experience
• No transaction fees

Cons:

• Slightly pricier than basic platforms
• Limited website customization

Pricing: Starts from around $29/month.

Best for you if: You want to sell more courses and give your students the best learning experience

2. Teachable: Best for Beginners

Best for: New course creators looking for simplicity.

Overview:
Teachable is one of the easiest LMS platforms to use, perfect if you’re just starting out. It lets you upload your course, set up payments, and launch in a single day.

Key Features:

• Drag-and-drop course builder
• Integrated payment system (Teachable Payments)
• Coupons and affiliate tools
• Basic email marketing

Pros:

• Extremely beginner-friendly
• Built-in checkout and tax handling
• Free plan available

Cons:

• Limited design customization

Pricing: Starts at $89/month.

Best for you if: You want to get your course live quickly without learning complex software.

3. Thinkific: Best for Structured, Professional Courses

Best for: Educators, consultants, and schools.

Overview:
Thinkific is built for structure and professionalism. It is perfect if you want to design multi-module courses with quizzes, certifications, and progress tracking.

Key Features:

• Drag-and-drop course builder
• Built-in website builder
• Certificates and quizzes
• Cohort or self-paced options

Pros:

• Polished student experience
• No transaction fees

Cons:

• Limited marketing tools
• Few automations 

Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans start at $49/month.

Best for you if: You want your course to feel like a professional learning program.

4. Kajabi: Best for All-in-One Marketing & Sales Automation

Best for: Coaches and online entrepreneurs building full businesses.

Overview:
Kajabi is known as the powerhouse for knowledge-based businesses. It doesn’t just host your course, it helps you sell, market, and scale with ease.

Key Features:

• Website and landing page builder
• Email sequences and funnels
• Automations and analytics
• Podcast and membership support

Pros:

• Handles everything from sales to delivery
• Beautiful page designs
• Advanced analytics

Cons:

• Premium pricing
• Can feel overwhelming for beginners

Pricing: Starts at $89/month

Best for you if: You’re serious about turning your course into a full-scale business.

5. Podia: Best Budget-Friendly All-in-One Option

Best for: Independent creators and freelancers.

Overview:
Podia offers everything you need to sell courses, digital downloads, and memberships, at a much lower price point.

Key Features:

• Courses, downloads, and webinars
• Built-in email marketing
• Instant messaging with students

Pros:

• Affordable
• Clean and simple interface
• Great for selling multiple product types

Cons:

• Fewer advanced automation features
• Limited course customization

Pricing: Starts at $39/month 

Best for you if: You want an affordable, all-in-one platform.

6. LearnWorlds, Best for Interactive & Engaging Learning

Best for: Corporate training and interactive online academies.

Overview:
LearnWorlds focuses on interactivity, turning your lessons into engaging experiences with videos, notes, and quizzes built directly into the platform.

Key Features:

• Interactive videos with in-video questions
• Certificates and analytics
• White-label and corporate options
• Mobile-friendly learning app

Pros:

• Excellent engagement features
• Great for professional training organizations
• Scalable and flexible

Cons:

• Slightly steeper learning curve
• Pricier for advanced features

Pricing: Starts at $29/month.

Best for you if: You teach teams, schools, or want to create rich, interactive courses.

7. LearnDash: Best for WordPress Users

Best for: Website owners who prefer full control.

Overview:
LearnDash is a WordPress plugin that turns your website into a full LMS. It is perfect for creators who already have hosting and want total flexibility.

Key Features:

• Quizzes, assignments, and certificates
• Full design control
• Integrations with WooCommerce and CRMs
• One-time or recurring payments

Pros:

• Full ownership of your data
• Customizable with WordPress themes and plugins
• Great for multi-instructor setups

Cons:

• Requires WordPress hosting and maintenance
• Setup can be technical for non-developers

Pricing: Starts at $199/year.

Best for you if: You’re comfortable with WordPress and want complete control over your LMS.

Comparison Table

Conclusion: The Best LMS Is the One That Fits You

There’s no one-size-fits-all platform when it comes to selling online courses. The best LMS is the one that aligns with your goals, your workflow, and your students.

If you’re just starting, focus on simplicity, launch your first course with something easy like SchoolMaker

If you’re scaling or automating your course business, tools like SchoolMaker, Thinkific or Kajabi give you the control and marketing power you need. At the end of the day, your platform is just the vehicle, what truly matters is the value you deliver through your teaching.

So pick your LMS, upload your course, and start transforming lives, one lesson at a time.