Choosing the right Learning Management System (LMS) for your online course can be a real game-changer in your business. With so many options out there, it can be tricky to decide which one fits your needs best. Here are my top LMS platforms for 2024:
Best for an All-in-One Solution: Kajabi
Why I Love Kajabi:
If you’re looking for a comprehensive platform that does it all, Kajabi is your best bet. It’s perfect for course creators and business owners who want to manage everything from courses to marketing, podcast hosting and more under one roof. With Kajabi, you can build, market, and sell your online courses effortlessly. Plus, its robust features include email marketing, customisable templates, and a super user-friendly interface.
My favourite Kajabi features:
- All-in-one platform for websites, courses, marketing, and sales
- Built-in email marketing tools
- There are so many customisable templates and themes
- Comprehensive analytics and reporting for all your contacts
- Host your podcast and manage your coaching clients
- Marketing automation built in
What I don’t like about Kajabi:
- It’s a beast. There is SO much to unpack and setup it can be extremely overwhelming
- It’s expensive. Starting at $149 a month, if you aren’t using all the features (which most biz owners aren’t) it’s usually not worth it just for course management
- The page builder is from the dark ages. Honestly, this is my biggest gripe with Kajabi and I find it not very intuitive
- Even though the automation is great, it’s a little clunky. Connecting events, offers and automations can be confusing and time consuming.
Who should be using Kajabi:
I usually recommend Kajabi for high-level coaches who want an all-in-one business, website and marketing solution where they can easily scale their business.
Best for a one off payment & easy setup (and My Personal Favourite): Thrivecart Learn+
Why I Love Thrivecart Learn+:
It is hands down the best for a one-time payment model, making it an excellent choice for those who want to avoid recurring monthly fees (I’ve got too many subscriptions to count). This platform is not only great value but also powerful, offering features like high-converting checkout pages (that connect straight to your Learn+ Course), upsells, and affiliate management. Thrivecart is perfect for biz owners who want a reliable, cost-efficient and easy setup.
The best features and Pros Thrivecart and Learn+
- One-time payment, no recurring fees (the best!!!)
- High-converting checkout pages
- Bump, Upsell and downsell options
- Unlimited course options and no caps on students
- Projects & Bundles in Learn+. Great for selling multiple courses and products under one product
- Seamless integration between checkout and course
- Great integration and automation options
- Easy affiliate management so you can leverage your community
What I don’t love:
- The stats on students and progress are not very detailed. There is definitely room for improvement in this area so if stats are important to you I would avoid it.
- The course builder is simple but does not save brand colours and fonts so it can be frustrating when creating new products. I have a template called ‘Brand Template’ that I use every time I create a new product.
- No built in email marketing. For me this isn’t a huge deal breaker as it’s easy to integrate with flodesk via zapier but it may be frustrating for those looking to easily manage student communication inside the one program
Who should be using Thrivecart Learn+:
If you are a business owner starting out with digital products and courses I would highly recommend it, especially if you already have an email marketing system as you could easily integrate it. I would also recommend it If you are already using Thrivecart checkouts in your business and have an online course outside of Thrivecart, it might be worth making use of the features you’ve already paid for. Need some help with moving over? I’m here.
Best Free Option: Teachable
Why I Love It
Teachable offers a fantastic free plan that makes it accessible for anyone looking to start teaching online without an upfront investment. Its intuitive platform allows you to create and sell engaging online courses quickly. The free plan includes unlimited students and access to core features, making it a great starting point for new educators and small businesses.
Key Features & Pros of Teachable
- Free plan with unlimited students
- Easy-to-use course creation tools
- Integrated payment processing (although can be high on the free plan)
- Customisable templates
- Marketing and sales tools
Cons & what I don’t like
- While Teachable’s free plan is great for beginners, it charges high transaction fees on sales and fewer customisation options compared to paid plans.
- Graded quizzes and certificates are only available on higher-tier plans
- Custom domains only on the higher paid plans
Who Should Be Using Teachable
Teachable is ideal for small business owners who are just getting started with online teaching and want to test the waters without committing to a paid plan. It’s also a good fit for those who want an easy-to-use platform that can grow with them as their needs evolve.
Best for All Types of Digital Products: Podia
Why I Love Podia:
Podia is a versatile platform that’s perfect for creators who offer a range of digital products, including online courses, memberships, and digital downloads. Its simplicity and affordability make it a great choice for those who want to manage all their digital products in one place.
Best Features of Podia:
- Supports digital products in different formats such courses, memberships, and digital downloads
- Easily pre-sell and drip your products. Great for those that are selling an idea but are
- Websites & landing pages included
- Built in email marketing
- Very competitive pricing, especially if you only have 1 course and 1 digital product
- Excellent customer support
Cons & What I don’t like
- The website and landing page templates are pretty basic and hard to customise. If you need something simple to start selling your products it’s definitely a good option
- The built in email marketing is fine, but if you have other channels using it as a stand alone option probably isn’t worth it and there are better email marketing software like Flodesk.
Who should be using Podia:
If you are a digital content creator who is selling lots of types of digital products I would definitely recommend it for you. It’s easy to integrate with all your social channels and takes the guesswork of having a separate website.
Best for Detailed Stats on Your Students: Thinkific
Why I Love Thinkific:
Thinkific is the go-to platform if you need detailed analytics and insights into your students’ progress. It offers robust reporting features that help you track student engagement, completion rates, and more. This level of detail is invaluable for educators who want to continually improve their courses and ensure student success.
Key features & Pros of Thinkific:
- Detailed analytics and reporting
- Unlimited video hosting
- Customisable course creation tools
- Flexible pricing plans (great free option
- Strong community and support resources. Thinkific has been around for a long time and it does this really well
Cons & What I don’t like
- Landing pages can be difficult to create and some of the formatting just does not display well
- Usability for students can definitely be modernised. It’s been around for a while so it doesn’t surprise me that it hasn’t.
- The affiliate interface is not very robust, so if you are looking for something to really leverage your community I would not recommend it.
Who should be using Thinkific:
To be honest I would recommend Thinkific to most people as it’s one of those programs that has been around for a while and would suit most courses. If you are a biz owner who really values stats and reporting, you will love Thinkific.
Best for AI Options: Mindsmith.ai
Why I love Mindsmith.ai
Mindsmith.ai is at the forefront of integrating AI into the learning experience. This innovative platform leverages artificial intelligence to personalise learning paths, provide intelligent tutoring, and offer real-time feedback. It’s an excellent choice for those who want to stay ahead of the curve and provide a cutting-edge learning experience.
Key Features & Pros of Mindsmith.ai
- AI-powered personalised learning paths
- Intelligent tutoring systems
- Real-time feedback and analytics
- Advanced content creation tools
Cons of Mindsmith.ai
- Although the AI features are impressive, it can be overwhelming for users who are not tech-savvy.
- It has a pretty big learning curve, especially if you aren’t familiar with AI
- It’s definitely more expensive compared to other LMS options that don’t offer AI capabilities.
Who Should Be Using It
Mindsmith.ai is perfect for forward-thinking biz owners that want to leverage the latest in AI technology to enhance the learning experience. It’s ideal for those who are comfortable with tech and are looking to provide a highly personalised and innovative educational environment.
Best for larger organisations: Talent LMS
Why I Love Talent LMS:
For those managing larger teams or educational institutions, Talent LMS is a fantastic option. It’s a cloud-based platform that offers great flexibility and ease of use. Talent LMS supports a variety of content types and provides excellent customer support, making it a reliable choice for larger organisations that need to scale their training programmes efficiently.
Best features of Talent LMS:
- Cloud-based and easy to use
- Supports diverse content types (videos, documents, quizzes and live sessions)
- Great for community building – host video conferences, discussions and send messages
- Easily manage employee and compliance training
What I don’t love
- It really needs an upgrade in the design department. If design and brand recognition is important to you, I would avoid
- It’s catered towards bigger organisations so If you are a small biz owner this option might not be the best option
- Cost is definitely on the higher side for the features it offers
- Uploading content and modules can be clunky
Who should be using Talent LMS:
If you are a larger organisation wanting to host your employee training, Talent LMS is for you
Each of these LMS platforms has its unique strengths, catering to different needs and preferences. Whatever kind of LMS system you need in your biz, there’s a perfect solution out there for you.
If you need help setting up your LMS platform, give me a shout.
With Love and whole lot of Hart,
Amy
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