Best online course platforms
Tools for creating, selling and running online courses, from creator course platforms and community-course hybrids to school, university and corporate LMSs.
35 apps, ordered by visits from AppBreakup and how often our research lists each one as an alternative. Open any app to see its alternatives.
All online course platforms
- Alternatives to Moodle
The most widely used open-source LMS, for schools, universities and workplace training.
Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted, iOS, Android - Alternatives to Thinkific
Course platform for education businesses, with communities, commerce and branded apps.
PaidWeb, iOS, Android - Alternatives to Kajabi
All-in-one platform for creators selling courses, coaching, communities and memberships.
PaidWeb, iOS, Android - Alternatives to Teachable
Course and digital product platform for creators, with built-in checkout and student apps.
PaidWeb, iOS, Android - Alternatives to Podia
Simple storefront for creators selling courses, downloads, coaching and community access.
PaidWeb - Alternatives to Canvas LMS
Instructure's LMS for schools and universities, open source at its core and sold as a hosted service.
PaidOpen sourceSelf-hostableWeb, iOS, Android, Self-hosted - Alternatives to TalentLMS
Easy cloud LMS for employee, partner and customer training, with a free plan.
Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android - Alternatives to Open edX
Open-source platform behind many MOOCs, for universities and organisations running online courses at scale.
Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted, iOS, Android - Alternatives to Udemy
- Alternatives to Circle
Community platform for creators and brands, with courses, events, payments and branded apps.
PaidWeb, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android - Alternatives to Coursera
Online courses, certificates and degrees from universities and companies.
Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android - Alternatives to Skool
Community platform where creators run a paid group with courses, events and a leaderboard.
PaidWeb, iOS, Android - Alternatives to Docebo
Enterprise learning platform for large companies training employees, partners and customers.
PaidWeb, iOS, Android - Alternatives to 360Learning
Collaborative LMS where in-house experts build and update training courses.
PaidWeb, iOS, Android - Alternatives to LearnWorlds
White-label course platform for training providers, with interactive video and SCORM.
PaidWeb, iOS, Android - Alternatives to D2L Brightspace
Enterprise LMS for universities, schools and corporate learning from Canadian company D2L.
PaidWeb, iOS, Android - Alternatives to Google Classroom
Google's free class management tool for schools, built into Workspace for Education.
Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android - Alternatives to Chamilo
Free, open-source LMS focused on ease of use for schools, universities and training.
Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted - Alternatives to LinkedIn Learning
Professionally produced business, software and creative courses tied to LinkedIn.
PaidWeb, iOS, Android - Alternatives to iSpring Learn
Corporate LMS from iSpring, paired with its PowerPoint-based course authoring tools.
PaidWeb, iOS, Android - Alternatives to Mighty Networks
Community platform that combines member spaces, courses, events and branded mobile apps.
PaidWeb, iOS, Android - Alternatives to LifterLMS
Open-source WordPress LMS plugin with paid add-ons for selling courses and memberships.
Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted - Alternatives to edX
Online courses, certificates and degree programmes from leading universities.
Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android - Alternatives to ILIAS
Open-source LMS from Germany for universities, companies and public authorities.
Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted - Alternatives to Skillshare
- Alternatives to Teachfloor
- Alternatives to LearnDash
Popular WordPress LMS plugin for building and selling courses on your own site.
PaidSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted - Alternatives to Sakai
Community-built open-source LMS created by and for universities.
Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted - Alternatives to Tutor LMS
Free WordPress LMS plugin with a visual course builder and a paid Pro version.
Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted - Alternatives to Blackboard
Long-established institutional LMS from Anthology, used by universities and governments.
PaidWeb, iOS, Android - Alternatives to Khan Academy
Free, nonprofit lessons and practice for school subjects, with an AI tutor.
FreeWeb, iOS, Android - Alternatives to Ruzuku
- MaAlternatives to Maven
- Alternatives to Heights Platform
Course and community platform with no transaction fees and AI course-creation help.
PaidWeb, iOS, Android - Alternatives to Passion.io
Builds a branded mobile app for coaches to deliver courses and programmes.
PaidWeb, iOS, Android
Our picks by need
Popular comparisons
Common questions
What are the best online course platforms?
Based on how often our research lists them as alternatives and visits from AppBreakup, the leading online course platforms right now are Moodle, Thinkific, Kajabi, Teachable and Podia.
Are there free online course platforms?
Yes. Moodle (open source), TalentLMS (free plan + paid), Open edX (open source), Coursera (free plan + paid) and Google Classroom (free plan + paid) have a free option, out of 14 free or freemium apps we track.
Which online course platforms are open source?
Moodle, Canvas LMS, Open edX, Chamilo, LifterLMS and ILIAS, and 2 more.