Psst, this blog post contains a few affiliate links. I will only EVER recommend products (in this case Learning Management Systems) I believe in and have used before. Affiliate links help my business stay afloat and I appreciate you trusting me!
When you’re ready to share all that juicy knowledge with the world, you don’t want anything slowing you down. If the multitude of tech is what’s holding you back from getting started with course creation, an all-in-one Learning Management System (LMS) may be your best bet, but others may suit your business a bit better.
There are a lot of similarities between the most popular LMS available now. Marketed as “all-in-one” platforms, at their core, every LMS allows you to create and sell online courses and training programs. They also feature page builders to create a website or storefront and should provide you with at least some basic tools to market your offerings, track analytics, and enhance your sales process with integration options.
Truth is, all-in-ones are generally only really good at one or two of their functions. So, while technically any platform could get the job done, some will be more capable than others. If the thought of migrating platforms gives you a migraine, you’ll want to find an LMS aligned with your course creation needs.
Focusing on their strengths, weaknesses, ease of use (and style) I’m here to share five LMS that I recommend, breaking down the key factors that can make all the difference.
This blog post will cover the following 5 platforms:
1. Thrivecart
2. Thinkfic
3. Teachable
4. Kajabi
5. Podia
Since automation is my game (meaning I’m all about saving time) I’ll hit you with my top choice right out of the gates.
Thrivecart Learn
We all know Thrivecart as one of the most powerful shopping cart platforms. But they shook up the e-learning space with the launch of Thrivecart Learn in 2021. Not even a year old, and it’s already making waves as a rock-solid LMS in combination with Thrivecart’s existing tools. This is the best platform I can recommend if you’re looking for the most value possible
Automated follow-ups, coupon codes, discount URLs, membership migration, product upgrades, and more useful data than you can swing a broomstick at with funnel stats, link tracking, and predicted revenue. For all of your integration and automation needs, no LMS that is better connected.
Trust me when I say this is just the tip of the iceberg. Being a shopping cart at heart, Thrivecart has excellent upsell features to tap into that conversion magic, and of course, you’ll have access to arguably the most powerful affiliate platform available.
Versatile and packed with features, what I love most is that this is the only LMS that isn’t subscription based. With their Lifetime Membership, just one payment keeps you covered from your first course to your last. Thrivecart puts in so much work so that you don’t have to, and we love that.
This is for you if you want the most value and versatility and want the best marketing and conversion tools at your disposal. (Also, if you’re a fan of one-time pricing.)
Psst! I’m offering FREE access to my Thrivecart Tutorial Course to new users who use my affiliate link!
If you’re not ready to make a large investment upfront, I’ve still got four great platforms for you to consider, each with monthly payment options.
Thinkific
The longest-running LMS on this list, Thinkific serves up the classroom feel with its focus on deep learning. Great options for student engagement with the built-in communities to keep communication well organized. Plus you can keep students on their toes with progression emails, and robust grading in quizzing features to ensure they’re retaining that information.
Thinkific’s keen focus does come with a few blindspots worth noting. In comparison to the other platforms on this list, it is the least user-friendly. Plus, marketing features are not their strong point. So if you’re looking for must-haves like email marketing automation features, you won’t find them here.
Lastly, customization possibilities are low without some heavy-handed HTML and CSS magic.
This is for you if you already have a dedicated audience (and don’t need marketing tools to expand your reach) that’s eager to sink their teeth in your course and connect with fellow students.
Check out Thinkfic’s pricing plans here.
Teachable
We all know and love her, Teachable is balanced and approachable, with an easy-to-use interface that makes this LMS liked by many.
In truth, there’s not too much to say here. Teachable and Thinkific are remotely the same aside from a few key differences. Teachable is more flexible when it comes to page building and course creation options, and its overall interface is less rigid.
One of the bigger drawbacks of Thinkific is its 2-step checkout process, requiring purchasers to signup for a Thinkific account and then proceed to another page to complete their checkout. Teachable has it beat with a streamlined checkout that results in higher conversion rates.
Regardless, Teachable and Thinkific will get the job done, so mostly I recommend that you pick the one you like the feel of better.
This is for you if you need a well-balanced starting point that gives you a little bit of everything and you prefer to work with widely used, well-documented platforms.
Check out Teachable’s pricing plans here.
Kajabi
Boldly declaring love it or leave it, Kajabi is the only tiered-pricing LMS on this list that doesn’t offer a free plan. It also sports the highest monthly fee on this list, but they provide a 14-day free trial to give you a little taste.
Kajabi has a simple-chic interface with a bit more flair than you’ll find in Podia. But despite being a platform for creating courses, Kajabi lacks some student-facing basics like completion certificates and standard course compliance features that one would expect from an LMS, especially for the price.
They make up for it with their focus on marketing, which may be second only to Thrivecart. A bonus for the audiophiles out there, Kajabi users love its built-in podcast creation tools.
This is for you if you’re looking for a chic course platform with strong marketing tools, but also really need to make a podcast too.
Check out Kajabi’s pricing plans here.
Podia
Minimalist and beginner-friendly, Podia centers itself on simplicity but still manages to provide a capable platform for getting your courses out there. Functional? Yes. Bare bones? Definitely.
Their goal of simplicity results in a substantial lack of customization. If you’re looking for a bit more freedom to flex your design muscles or express your brand, you’ll be left underwhelmed as you find yourself confined to the Podia aesthetic.
Not the strongest “all-in-one” in the bunch, if you don’t mind some third-party supplementation for the features that Podia lacks, or if their no-frills approach suits your style, then Podia is worth considering.
This is for you if you plan to keep it casual, with no bells and whistles, and just want your course out there right now.
Check out Podia’s pricing plans here.
Conclusion
Definitely a ‘different strokes for different folks’ type of situation, but if it’s still too hard to choose, let’s have a chat.
Book an hour-long Techy Potion Consultation with yours truly, where we can cut through the technical technicalities and discuss your courses and which LMS will help them shine.