Best course platform for communities and memberships
A place for students to talk to each other and to you — not just a video library.
| # | Tool | Starting price | Best for | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| =1 | LearnWorlds Joint top pick | €29/mo | Course businesses and training teams that want an interactive, branded academy with community built in. | | Visit |
| =1 | Thinkific Joint top pick | £46/mo | Creators who want courses and a community together without paying top-tier prices. | | Visit |
| =3 | Kajabi | $179/mo | Established creators with revenue, for whom one tool replacing five is worth the price. | | Visit |
| =3 | Podia | $49/mo | Creators selling a mix of courses, downloads and coaching who want it all in one simple storefront. | | Visit |
| 5 | Teachable | $39/mo | Course creators who want a proven, course-first platform and will outgrow Starter quickly. | | Visit |
Ranked on weighted capability scores, weighted most heavily towards community features and course hosting. Commission is not an input — see methodology.
How this ranking was weighted
| Dimension | Weight | LearnWorlds | Thinkific | Kajabi | Podia | Teachable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community features | ×4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 |
| Course hosting | ×2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
| Value for money | ×1 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Weighted total | 86 | 86 | 80 | 80 | 49 |
Capability scores are 1–5 per dimension. Weights reflect what matters for this use case. A tool we have not assessed on a dimension scores 3, not 0.
The case for LearnWorlds
Strengths
- +Every plan includes an AI course builder, unlimited video hosting, a built-in community and selling on your own domain.
- +Pro Trainer, at €99 a month, removes enrolment fees and allows 5 admins and 2,000 active learners a month.
- +Coupons, discounts and order bumps on every plan.
Limitations
- −Starter charges €5 on every paid enrolment on top of the €29 monthly fee.
- −Prices are in euros and exclude VAT.
- −Starter allows one admin and 1,000 active learners a month.
The case for Thinkific
A course platform with unlimited courses and a built-in community on every plan, including the cheapest. Creators who want courses and a community together without paying top-tier prices.
Full LearnWorlds vs Thinkific comparison →
Common questions
Best course platform for communities and memberships?
LearnWorlds and Thinkific are level on 86 out of 100 for community and membership when weighted for community features and course hosting — neither is ahead on the total, so the better choice depends on which matters more to you. Kajabi and Podia are next on 80.
Why is the pick here different from your overall ranking?
Our overall ranking for course platforms puts Kajabi first, because it averages every use case. Weighted specifically for community and membership, LearnWorlds and Thinkific come out ahead — a place for students to talk to each other and to you — not just a video library.
Sources & verification
- kajabi.com — checked 23 September 2026No free plan listed on the pricing page.
- learnworlds.com — checked 24 September 2026No free plan; a free trial.
- podia.com — checked 23 September 2026No free plan; a 14-day free trial instead.
- teachable.com — checked 23 September 2026No free plan listed; a 7-day free trial and 30-day money-back guarantee instead.
- thinkific.com — checked 23 September 2026No free plan listed; a free trial on every paid plan.