As a creative—whether you’re a designer, filmmaker, or musician—your unique skills are valuable to people eager to learn. Creating online courses lets you share your process, inspire others, and build a new stream of income along the way. The best part? You don’t need a fancy studio or a massive following to get started.
In this blog post, we’ll walk you through what kind of courses you can create, where to host and sell them, and how to make your mark in the growing world of online education.
What types of Online Courses can I sell?
Creating an online course is more than just sharing knowledge—it’s about offering real value in a way that resonates with your audience. With so many topics and teaching styles out there, the key to success is understanding what learners actually want. Start by exploring the platforms featured below. Browse through the top-selling courses, pay attention to what’s consistently in demand, and observe how others present their content. Then, dig a little deeper—spot the gaps, the underserved niches, or areas where your unique voice could shine. While there’s no promise of overnight success, doing your homework before building your course gives you a stronger foundation—and a better shot at creating something people are eager to learn from.
Where can I sell Online Courses online?
To successfully sell your online courses, it’s important to choose platforms where people are actively looking to learn. Instead of trying to reach everyone, focus on selling your course where your ideal students already are. These platforms are designed for course creators and attract users who are specifically seeking educational content—giving you a better chance at making sales.
There are a variety of websites that let you publish and sell your courses, whether you’re offering a one-off class or a full learning series. Many platforms give you the option to price your course, customize your content, and even track student progress. To help you get started, we’ve rounded up some of the top online course platforms available today. Since most of them are non-exclusive, you can experiment with a few to see which one fits your teaching style and goals best.
1. Udemy
Udemy is one of the largest online learning platforms, offering a massive marketplace for both instructors and students. It allows anyone to create and sell courses on a wide range of topics—from business and tech to creative skills and personal development. With over 60 million learners worldwide, Udemy gives educators access to a global audience. The platform handles hosting, marketing (to an extent), and delivery of content, making it beginner-friendly. Instructors earn revenue through course sales, and while Udemy often runs promotions and discounts, it’s a solid starting point for reaching a broad base of learners quickly.
2. Skillshare
Skillshare is an online learning community designed for creatives and curious minds. It offers thousands of video-based classes across a wide range of topics, including illustration, design, photography, video, freelancing, and more. Members can explore hands-on classes taught by industry leaders, engage in projects, and connect with a global community of learners. Skillshare provides a platform for both learning new skills and sharing expertise by teaching classes.
The platform operates on a subscription model, granting unlimited access to its extensive library of classes. New members can start with a 7-day free trial to explore the offerings. Skillshare emphasizes project-based learning, allowing students to apply what they’ve learned and share their work for feedback.
For educators and professionals, Skillshare offers an opportunity to create and publish their own classes, reaching a broad audience and earning income through the platform’s teacher programs.
Whether you’re looking to develop a new hobby, enhance your professional skills, or share your knowledge with others, Skillshare provides a supportive environment to achieve your creative goals.
3. Podia
Podia is an all-in-one platform designed for creators, educators, and entrepreneurs to seamlessly build, market, and sell digital products—all without the need for multiple tools or complex integrations.
???? Key Features
- Digital Product Sales: Sell online courses, digital downloads, webinars, coaching sessions, and memberships.
- Website Builder: Create a professional website with customizable templates and built-in SEO tools.
- Email Marketing: Engage your audience with newsletters, automated campaigns, and segmentation tools.
- E-commerce Tools: Utilize features like fast checkout, upsells, coupons, and product bundles to enhance sales.
- Community Building: Foster engagement through memberships and community features.
4. LinkedIn Learning
LinkedIn Learning is an online educational platform offering a vast library of courses aimed at enhancing professional skills across various domains. With over 24,900 courses and learning paths, the platform covers a wide array of topics, including business, technology, creative fields, and more. These courses are taught by industry experts and are available in multiple languages, catering to a global audience.
A notable feature of LinkedIn Learning is its integration with LinkedIn’s professional network, allowing users to add completed courses and acquired skills directly to their LinkedIn profiles. This seamless integration helps users showcase their learning achievements and enhance their professional presence.
Additionally, LinkedIn Learning provides personalized learning experiences through AI-powered coaching, role guides, and skill evaluations, assisting learners in aligning their educational pursuits with their career goals.
Whether you’re aiming to acquire new skills, advance in your career, or explore diverse subjects, LinkedIn Learning offers a comprehensive and user-friendly platform to support your professional development journey.
Start Selling On LinkedIn Learning
5. Appsumo
AppSumo is a digital marketplace that offers lifetime deals on software tools and online services, primarily targeting entrepreneurs, startups, and small business owners. Founded in 2010 by Noah Kagan, AppSumo partners with emerging software companies to provide significant discounts—often up to 95% off—on various digital products. These offerings include SaaS applications, productivity tools, educational courses, and more.
For creators and educators, AppSumo presents an opportunity to reach a vast audience by listing their digital products or courses on the platform. By doing so, they can gain exposure, receive user feedback, and generate revenue through AppSumo’s extensive user base.
One of AppSumo’s standout features is its focus on lifetime deals, allowing users to make a one-time purchase for perpetual access to software, eliminating recurring subscription fees. Additionally, the platform offers a 60-day money-back guarantee, ensuring customer satisfaction and reducing the risk associated with trying new tools.
Start selling your Online Courses
Selling online courses is one of the most effective ways to turn your knowledge into income, especially if you’re looking to build a long-term digital business. To get started, think about the skills or topics you’re confident teaching—whether it’s design, writing, marketing, coding, or something more niche. Once you’ve outlined your course, create high-quality videos, resources, and lesson plans that offer real value. After that, pick a course platform that fits your needs—Podia, Thinkific, or Skillshare are all great places to begin. Don’t expect instant results; success takes time, testing, and tweaking. But with consistent effort and a focus on helping your students, your course can become a reliable source of passive income.
Sell more than just Online Courses
Online courses are just the beginning when it comes to monetizing your skills. If you have more to offer, why stop there? Think about turning your knowledge into digital downloads, printables, ebooks, or even one-on-one consultations. By branching out, you open up new ways to connect with your audience and increase your earning potential. Want more inspiration? Head over to our categories page to explore a variety of other digital products you can start selling and build multiple streams of passive income.