11 Best Platforms to Sell Online Courses Besides Udemy

Udemy is one of the biggest online course marketplaces in the world, but it’s far from the only option. And for many creators, Udemy isn’t even the best option. While it offers a massive audience, it also comes with significant limitations: heavy discounting, limited pricing control, strict guidelines, and little ownership over your student data.

Fortunately, the online course industry in 2025 is booming with alternatives that give you more control over your brand, your pricing, your marketing, and your student experience.

Whether you want a simple drag-and-drop setup, a full-scale learning platform, or a combined course + community environment, there is a perfect option out there for you.

This guide explores the best platforms to sell online courses besides Udemy, breaking down what each platform excels at, who it’s best for, and what makes it worth considering.

Why You Should Consider Udemy Alternatives

Before getting into the list, it’s important to understand why many creators look beyond Udemy today.

1. You Want Full Control Over Pricing

Udemy heavily discounts courses, often selling $200 courses for $9.99. Creators who want to charge premium prices need a platform that lets them stay in control.

2. You Want Ownership of Your Student Data

On Udemy:

• You cannot export student emails
• You have limited direct communication
• You don’t fully “own” the relationship

Alternative platforms give you 100% ownership and control.

3. You Want a Branded, Professional Experience

Udemy imposes its own design, layout, branding, and structure. If you want a unique student experience, alternative platforms are much more flexible.

4. You Want to Build a Long-Term Business

Udemy is great for exposure, not great for building a scalable education business with:

• Memberships
• Communities
• Coaching
• Hybrid programs
• Funnels and email automation

Alternatives let you build your full ecosystem.

1. SchoolMaker

SchoolMaker is one of the most powerful platforms for selling online courses in 2025, especially if your goal is to create a results-driven learning environment.

Why SchoolMaker Is a Great Udemy Alternative

Unlike traditional course platforms, SchoolMaker is built around progressive learning and student success. It is also one of the most affordable tools in the market with pricing starting at $29/month and zero transaction fees.

Features include:

• Step-based learning
• Beautiful structured lessons
• Powerful community tools
• Built-in accountability
• Coaching and mentorship features
• Student progress tracking
• Templates and challenges
• Support ticketing system built in

Best For

• Creators who want a transformation-focused course
• Coaches and experts who want to add support systems
• Hybrid programs combining courses + community
• Creators who want high engagement and completion rates

What Makes It Stand Out

SchoolMaker isn’t just a course platform, it’s a learning ecosystem designed to keep students moving forward.

2. Kajabi

Kajabi has long been the go-to all-in-one platform for creators who want everything under one roof.

Why Kajabi Is a Strong Udemy Alternative

Kajabi includes:

• Course hosting
• Website builder
• Email marketing
• Landing pages
• Automations
• Webinars
• Coaching features
• Memberships and communities

This makes it ideal if you want your entire business on one platform.

Best For

• Creators who want an all-in-one tool
• Coaches and consultants
• Businesses wanting complete control
• High-ticket course creators

What Makes It Stand Out

Kajabi reduces the number of tools you need. Instead of juggling five different platforms, you can run everything from a single dashboard.

3. Thinkific

Thinkific is one of the most popular alternatives to Udemy because it’s beginner-friendly but still powerful.

Why Thinkific Works as an Alternative

Thinkific offers:

• Clean course builder
• Custom branding
• Website hosting
• Drip content
• Assessments and quizzes
• Communities
• Bulk student import

It is easy to use and doesn’t require coding skills.

Best For

• New creators building their first course
• Small businesses
• Coaches who want simple setup
• Creators who want a clean, branded experience

What Makes It Stand Out

Thinkific offers a good balance between simplicity, design, and customization, without overwhelming beginners.

4. Teachable

Teachable is another major alternative for creators who want simplicity without sacrificing features.

Why Teachable Works Well

Key features include:

• Easy course setup
• Drag-and-drop builder
• Secure payments
• Automatic tax handling
• Certification tools
• Basic email features

Best For

• Beginners
• Creators finding their first 100–200 students
• Educators who want a clean interface

What Makes It Stand Out

Teachable’s strength lies in ease of use. You can build a full course and start selling within a few hours.

5. Skool

Skool has exploded in popularity thanks to its focus on community-driven learning.

Why Skool Is a Popular Udemy Alternative

Skool flips the traditional model by making the community the center of the experience.

You get:

• Community groups
• Courses built into the same space
• Gamification (levels, badges, leaderboards)
• Calendar for events
• Simple UI that encourages participation

Best For

• Creators who want high engagement
• Community-focused programs
• Mentorship groups
• Hybrid coaching + course offers

What Makes It Stand Out

Skool is addictive, in the best way. The gamification features dramatically increase student activity and accountability.

6. Circle

Circle is a community-first platform that now offers beautiful course hosting inside its ecosystem.

Why Circle Is a Solid Alternative

Circle offers:

• Courses + community in one place
• Clean, modern design
• Member profiles
• Spaces for discussions
• Events and livestreaming
• AI-powered engagement tools

Best For

• Creators who want community-led learning
• Membership models
• Multi-cohort programs
• Group-based challenges

What Makes It Stand Out

Community tools are Circle’s superpower. Their course builder is designed to create a social layer around learning, something Udemy does not support.

7. Podia

Podia is one of the easiest and most affordable platforms for new course creators.

Why Podia Works

Podia includes:

• Course hosting
• Digital product sales
• Website builder
• Email marketing
• Webinars

All at a budget-friendly price.

Best For

• Beginners
• Small creators
• Budget-conscious entrepreneurs

What Makes It Stand Out

Podia simplifies everything. It’s great if you want to sell courses without advanced features or a big learning curve.

8. LearnWorlds

LearnWorlds is a more advanced option for creators who want interactive learning experiences.

Why LearnWorlds Is a Strong Udemy Alternative

LearnWorlds offers:

• Interactive video tools
• Built-in note-taking
• Assessments
• Certificates
• White-label branding
• Student analytics

Best For

• Corporate training
• Skill-based courses
• Creators who love interactive learning
• Schools and training institutions

What Makes It Stand Out

LearnWorlds shines because of its interactive video editing, something most other course platforms lack.

9. WordPress + LMS Plugins (LearnDash, Tutor LMS, LifterLMS)

If you want total freedom and control, WordPress + an LMS plugin may be the best choice.

Why WordPress Is a Great Alternative

When combined with an LMS plugin, WordPress becomes a powerful course platform.

Popular LMS plugins include:

• LearnDash
• Tutor LMS
• LifterLMS
• Sensei LMS

Best For

• Creators who want full control
• Businesses building custom learning experiences
• Anyone who wants to own their platform completely

What Makes It Stand Out

WordPress gives you:

• Unlimited customization
• Total ownership
• Full control over design
• Flexible integrations
• Advanced scalability

The tradeoff is a steeper setup process.

10. Mighty Networks

Mighty Networks specializes in community-driven learning environments.

Why Mighty Networks Works

Features include:

• Courses
• Community groups
• Events
• Cohorts
• Mobile app
• Membership tiers

Best For

• Group-based learning
• Coaches
• Membership models
• Creators building a “home base”

What Makes It Stand Out

The platform feels like a social network built around your content, great for engagement and retention.

11. Gumroad

While not a full LMS, Gumroad is a simple, fast way to sell digital products, including courses.

Why Gumroad Works

You can:

• Sell courses
• Sell memberships
• Offer downloads
• Build a simple storefront

Best For

• Creators who want a minimalist solution
• People selling simple courses without complex features

What Makes It Stand Out

Gumroad is extremely easy to use, ideal for quickly validating a course idea.

How to Choose the Best Udemy Alternative for You

With so many options, how do you choose the best one?

Choose Based on Your Goals

If you want community:

SchoolMaker, Skool, Circle

If you want all-in-one simplicity:

Kajabi, Podia

If you want full customization:

WordPress + LMS

If you want interactive learning:

LearnWorlds

If you want a fast, budget-friendly option:

SchoolMaker, Podia, Gumroad

If you want a coaching + course hybrid:

SchoolMaker

If you want advanced marketing tools:

Kajabi

Conclusion

Udemy is great for exposure, but it’s not ideal if you want to:

• Build a long-term business
• Control your pricing
• Own your student data
• Create a community
• Build a custom experience
• Sell premium programs

The good news is that you have many powerful alternatives in 2025.

Whether you’re a new creator building your first course or an experienced educator scaling your business, the platforms above give you the flexibility, control, and tools to build something truly professional, and profitable.