The 8 best platforms to create and sell online courses in 2026

The article evaluates platforms for creating and selling online courses, emphasizing the difference between marketplaces like Udemy—which provide built-in audiences but take revenue shares—and creation software such as Zenler and Skillshare, which offer greater customization and fixed monthly fees. Marketplaces allow free course publication but deduct a percentage of sales, while software platforms typically charge recurring fees and may include transaction costs, catering to creators with existing audiences or specific branding needs.

Udemy is highlighted for its large student base of over 84 million and instructor community exceeding 90,000, requiring a minimum of 30 minutes of video and five lectures for paid courses. The platform supports diverse assessment tools like quizzes, coding exercises, and graded labs, and offers marketing support through email features, discounts, and affiliate programs, with revenue shares ranging from 3% to 63% depending on promotional channels.

Zenler is recommended for creators prioritizing assessment flexibility, offering multiple question formats including branching logic for quizzes, alongside broader course customization options. Skillshare is positioned as ideal for teaching creative skills, hosting courses on topics such as marketing, photography, cooking, and niche crafts like hand painting and wall hanging, appealing to entrepreneurs and artists.

The selection process involved testing nearly 80 platforms, narrowing to 30 for in-depth evaluation, and assessing core features like curriculum design, content formats, quiz creation, and marketing tools. Criteria included support for assessments, interactive tools, and marketing capabilities, with the final eight platforms chosen based on performance against these standards.