Starting an online course business is exciting — and overwhelming. There are hundreds of tools claiming to be the best, and the wrong choices can cost you thousands of dollars and months of wasted time.
After testing dozens of platforms and talking with hundreds of course creators, coaches, and consultants, I’ve narrowed down the tools that actually deliver results. These are the ones I recommend to my audience — and in most cases, use myself.
The Platform Question
The first decision most course creators face is whether to use an all-in-one platform like Kajabi or piece together individual best-in-class tools. There’s no universal right answer — it depends on your budget, technical comfort level, and business model.
If you’re just starting out and want simplicity, an all-in-one is usually the smarter move. You’ll pay more per month, but you’ll save enormous time and avoid the headache of making disconnected tools work together.
Email Marketing Is Non-Negotiable
No matter what platform you use to host your course, you need an email list. Your email list is the one marketing asset you truly own — your social media following can disappear overnight, but your subscribers are yours.
Kit (formerly ConvertKit) is my top recommendation for creators at every stage. The free plan is generous, the automation builder is genuinely powerful, and the interface doesn’t try to be everything to everyone.
Design Without a Designer
You don’t need to hire a designer to create professional visuals for your course business. Canva has democratized design in a way that was unimaginable a decade ago. With their template library and brand kit features, you can produce social graphics, course workbooks, and presentation slides that look like they were made by a professional.
The Bottom Line
The best tool is the one you’ll actually use consistently. Start with the essentials — a platform to host your content, an email service provider, and a design tool — and add complexity only when your business demands it.
Browse the full directory to explore all the tools I recommend, with honest reviews, pricing breakdowns, and details on what each tool does best.