The 45 best online course creation tools & resources
There are dozens of free and paid educational resources out there that you can use to create a world-class online course from scratch. We've developed this guide to help you make sense of it all.
Heads up: We may earn a commission if you purchase through some of these links. However, we only recommend tools and resources we trust and would use in our own business.
Our recommended tech stack
These are the course creation tools we use to run ClickMinded, our online course business which has over 30k students and has generated more than $2m in revenue.
Teachable
Learning management system
Create and sell online courses and coaching services with the best online business platform used by entrepreneurs to sell $500m+ to over 18 million students worldwide.
Check out Teachable
WordPress
Content management system
The world’s most popular platform to create a website. Open-source software which you can use to easily create a beautiful website, blog, or app.
Check out WordPress
Thrivecart
Checkout software
Create high converting checkout pages, upsells, sales funnels & more with ThriveCart. Boost your revenue with the world's easiest and most powerful cart platform.
Check out Thrivecart
Drip
Email service provider
Drip is a marketing automation platform built for Ecommerce - utilizing email, SMS and tight 3rd-party integrations to help businesses drive revenue.
Check out Drip
Thrive Leads
List building tool
Your all-in-one WordPress lead generation solution for adding opt-in forms, 2-step opt-ins, exit-intent opt-ins - complete with our split testing engine.
Check out Thrive Leads
Screenflow
Recording and editing
A screencasting and video editing software for Mac. It can capture the audio and video from the computer, edit the captured video, add highlights or annotation, and output a number of different file types.
Check out Screenflow
Our comprehensive list of online course resources
Use the links below to a specific category.
Learning management systems (LMS)
Use an LMS to host your course (video, text, downloadables, quizzes, etc) and manage student access. Some of these also include built-in checkout and billing features.
Teachable
Create and sell online courses and coaching services with the best online business platform used by entrepreneurs to sell $500m+ to over 18 million students worldwide.
Check out Teachable
Thinkific
Thinkific's powerful, all-in-one platform makes it easy to share your knowledge, grow your audience, and scale the business you already love.
Check out Thinkific
Podia
Podia is your all-in-one digital storefront. The easiest way to sell online courses, memberships, and downloads, no technical skills required.
Check out Podia
Kajabi
Kajabi is an all-in-one business platform to create and scale your knowledge business.
Check out Kajabi
Thrive Apprentice
Thrive Apprentice is a WordPress plugin that gives you the flexibility to create video courses, text courses, and even simple one-page guides.
Check out Thrive Apprentice
LearnWorlds
LearnWorlds is a powerful, easy-to-use, and reliable training solution for individuals and enterprises.
Check out LearnWorlds
LearnDash
One of the most popular WordPress LMS plugins, created by learning industry professionals with Fortune 500 experience.
Check out LearnDash
Content management systems (CMS)
Use a CMS to create your "marketing site". This is where all your sales pages, and blog will live.
WordPress
The world’s most popular platform to create a website. Open-source software which you can use to easily create a beautiful website, blog, or app.
Check out WordPress
Webflow
Webflow empowers web designers to build professional, responsive, and custom websites in a completely visual canvas with no code.
Check out Webflow
Squarespace
Squarespace is the all-in-one solution for anyone looking to create a beautiful website. Domains, eCommerce, hosting, galleries, analytics, and 24/7 support.
Check out Squarespace
Wix
Create a professional website with the Wix website builder. Choose a customizable designer-made template and add the features you need.
Check out Wix
Checkout software
Create checkout funnels and manage affiliate programs. Use this if you need more than the checkout features included with your LMS.
Thrivecart
Create high converting checkout pages, upsells, sales funnels & more with ThriveCart. Boost your revenue with the world's easiest and most powerful cart platform.
Check out Thrivecart
SamCart
Create an eCommerce storefront with SamCart, an easy shopping cart software and 1-page funnel system, making it simple to sell online.
Check out SamCart
Gumroad
Gumroad is an online platform that facilitates the sale of products by creators directly to consumers.
Check out Gumroad
Email service providers (ESP)
To use as a customer-relationship management tool (CRM) and to send automated email marketing campaigns.
Drip
Drip is a marketing automation platform built for Ecommerce - utilizing email, SMS and tight 3rd-party integrations to help businesses drive revenue.
Check out Drip
Convertkit
ConvertKit helps you find your audience, turn them into true fans, and earn a living as a creator with our audience building and email marketing software.
Check out Convertkit
ActiveCampaign
A powerful email service provider, which combines email marketing, marketing automation, and sales automation.
Check out ActiveCampaign
MailChimp
Mailchimp is an all-in-one integrated marketing platform for small businesses, to grow your business.
Check out MailChimp
List building tools
Use these to collect leads on your website.
Thrive Leads
Your all-in-one WordPress lead generation solution for adding opt-in forms, 2-step opt-ins, exit-intent opt-ins - complete with our split testing engine.
Check out Thrive Leads
Sumo
One of the most popular email capture tools. Get proven sales and marketing strategies set up on your website in less than a minute.
Check out Sumo
RightMessage
Replace your “one-size-fits-all” forms with personalized opt-in forms that are guaranteed to turn more visitors into email subscribers.
Check out RightMessage
Video recording and editing software
To record and edit all of the video content for your online course.
Screenflow
A screencasting and video editing software for Mac. It can capture the audio and video from the computer, edit the captured video, add highlights or annotation, and output a number of different file types.
Check out Screenflow
Camtasia
Camtasia makes it simple to record and create professional-looking videos on Windows and Mac.
Check out Camtasia
Quicktime
A free Mac tool to record video and audio and make simple edits.
Check out Quicktime
Video recording equipment
To record high-quality video content without breaking the bank.
Logitech C920 HD Pro
An affordable webcam that records high-quality footage without the hassle of figuring out expensive DSLR cameras.
Check out Logitech C920 HD Pro
Audio-Technica ATR2100
A USB and XLR mic that features a dynamic capsule to reject background noise.
Check out Audio-Technica ATR2100
Other online course creation tools and resources
Just some of our favorite tools that we couldn't fit into any of the other categories.
Google Domains
A domain name registrar operated by Google. Unlike GoDaddy, Google Domains offers a simple interface and transparent pricing.
Check out Google Domains
Dreamhost
An affordable web hosting provider with great customer support. Great for getting started.
Check out Dreamhost
Google Slides
We use Google Slides to create all of the slide content for our courses. It’s easier to use than PowerPoint or Keynote, and offers powerful collaboration features.
Check out Google Slides
Accredible
Use Accredible to issue certificates, diplomas, and badges. Many students have put our certification on their social media manager resume.
Check out Accredible
Google Forms
You can use Google Forms to survey your users, or create quizzes and tests.
Check out Google Forms
Typeform
If you want more advanced features beyond those offered by Google Forms, you can use Typeform.
Check out Typeform
WebinarJam
WebinarJam allows you to host live webinars with flexible options: live chat, question and answer, private comments, moderation capabilities, highlighted comments, and more.
Check out WebinarJam
Zoom
Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars.
Check out Zoom
Upwork
Upwork is a talent marketplace where you can easily outsource all sorts of tasks to freelancers around the globe.
Check out Upwork
Zapier
Our favorite automation tool. Zapier allows you to automatically pass data between apps and save hundreds of hours in manual tasks.
Check out Zapier
Slack
Slack is a new way to communicate with your team. It's faster, better organized, and more secure than email.
Check out Slack
Asana
Asana is a web and mobile application designed to help teams organize, track, and manage their work.
Check out Asana
HelpScout
A simple customer service inbox for your company.
Check out HelpScout
Course marketplaces
We actually recommend against hosting your course in a marketplace — we’ve explained why it’s usually a bad deal for course creators who want to build a sustainable business. If you’re still interested in checking them out, here are some of the most important ones.
LinkedIn Learning
Formerly known as Lynda, LinkedIn Learning offers video courses taught by industry experts in software, creative, and business skills.
Check out LinkedIn Learning
Skillshare
Skillshare is a learning platform with online classes on creative and business topics.
Check out Skillshare
Udemy
This is the biggest online learning marketplace with over 130000 courses and 35 million students.
Check out Udemy
Massive open online courses (MOOC)
MOOCs are usually taught by instructors at established universities, so these platforms are not usually accessible to most course creators.
Coursera
Coursera is a massive open online course provider with courses from top universities like Yale, Michigan, Stanford, and leading companies like Google and IBM.
Check out Coursera
edX
edX allows students to access 2000 free online courses from 140 leading institutions worldwide. Gain new skills and earn a certificate of completion.
Check out edX
Khan Academy
Khan Academy is a non-profit organization where students can learn for free about math, art, computer programming, economics, physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, finance, history, and more.
Check out Khan Academy
