Best platform for your first online course
Getting one course live quickly and cheaply, without learning five tools or giving away a big slice of each sale.
| # | Tool | Starting price | Best for | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| =1 | Podia Joint top pick | $49/mo | Creators selling a mix of courses, downloads and coaching who want it all in one simple storefront. | | Visit |
| =1 | Thinkific Joint top pick | £46/mo | Creators who want courses and a community together without paying top-tier prices. | | Visit |
| 3 | Teachable | $39/mo | Course creators who want a proven, course-first platform and will outgrow Starter quickly. | | Visit |
| 4 | Kajabi | $179/mo | Established creators with revenue, for whom one tool replacing five is worth the price. | | Visit |
Ranked on weighted capability scores, weighted most heavily towards ease of use and value for money. Commission is not an input — see methodology.
How this ranking was weighted
| Dimension | Weight | Podia | Thinkific | Teachable | Kajabi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ease of use | ×3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Value for money | ×3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Course hosting | ×2 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Low transaction fees | ×1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
| Weighted total | 84 | 84 | 76 | 73 |
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 Podia
Strengths
- +One subscription covers courses, digital downloads, coaching, community, events and email marketing.
- +Shaker and Earthquaker charge no transaction fees.
- +Annual billing brings the Mover plan to $42 a month.
Limitations
- −Built-in email is capped low — 100 subscribers on Mover, and only 1,000 even on the top plan.
- −The entry Mover plan takes a 5% transaction fee.
- −Running an affiliate programme for your own products needs Shaker or above.
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 Podia vs Thinkific comparison →
Common questions
Best platform for your first online course?
Podia and Thinkific are level on 84 out of 100 for a first course when weighted for ease of use and value for money — neither is ahead on the total, so the better choice depends on which matters more to you. Teachable is next on 76.
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 a first course, Podia and Thinkific come out ahead — getting one course live quickly and cheaply, without learning five tools or giving away a big slice of each sale.
Sources & verification
- kajabi.com — checked 23 September 2026No free plan listed on the pricing page.
- 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.