10 Best Free Platforms to Create Online Courses

Creating an online course is an exciting way to share your expertise and build a passive income. But the cost of platforms can be a major roadblock. 

You have the passion to teach, but a hefty subscription can stop you before you even start.

The good news is that you don’t have to break the bank anymore. We’ve researched the 10 best free platforms for creating online courses, so you can build a professional course without spending a dime. 

We’ll break down the features, pros, and cons of each, helping you choose the perfect platform to launch your course with zero financial risk.

Top Free Platforms to Create Online Courses: A Quick Overview 

Platform Name	Best Feature	Commission
Klasio	AI-powered course building with free mobile app	0% (completely free of cost and commission)
Canvas Free-for-Teacher	Interactive course building with assignments, discussions, quizzes, and personalized learning paths	0% (completely free for educators)
Moodle	Open source LMS with complete customization, unlimited everything	0% (open source, but requires technical setup and hosting)
Ruzuku	Simple course creation with community features, unlimited courses, live meetings, and video conferences	0% (free plan limited to 5 students, no transaction fees)
TrainerCentral	Unlimited students, affordable paid plans, part of the Zoho family	0% (but no payment processing on free plan – for free courses only)
Tutor LMS	WordPress-based LMS with unlimited courses and students	0% (but requires WordPress hosting)
Coursify.me	Unlimited students and courses, customizable visual identity, mobile-responsive platform	8% transaction fee
Zenler	All-in-one platform with course creation, website building, blogging, funnel building, and email marketing	10% transaction fee on the free plan
Gumroad	Simple digital product sales with unlimited courses and students, custom domain support	10% transaction fee
Udemy	Massive marketplace with unlimited courses and students	63% commission (Udemy keeps 63%, instructor gets 37%)

Now, let’s get to know more about these free course creation platforms.

01. Klasio

Klasio is a fully managed SaaS platform for creating and selling online courses. With Klasio, you can start building and managing courses as soon as you sign up.

It provides a free mobile app so students can access lessons and materials on the go. You can structure courses into lessons, add quizzes, and monitor learner progress with built-in analytics. Marketing tools like coupon codes are included to help promote and retain students.

For live teaching, Klasio integrates with Zoom and Google Meet, letting you schedule and run synchronous sessions alongside your course content. Its AI-assisted course builder helps speed up the process of outlining and organizing material, reducing the time you spend on setup.

Pros

• Free plan available for up to 50 students.
• AI-assisted course designer saves time.
• Works well on mobile with its own app.
• Simple built-in tools like coupons and student analytics.
• Supports live classes through Zoom and Google Meet.

Cons

• Interface only available in English.
• Free plan limited to 50 students.
• Some features are still under development.

Read More: How to create an online course

02. Canvas Free-for-Teacher

Canvas Free-for-Teacher is the free version of the Canvas LMS that many universities use, but made available to individual educators. You get access to professional-grade course creation tools without paying anything up front.

The platform includes everything you need to create a complete learning experience – assignments, quizzes, discussion boards, and a gradebook. You can set up personalized learning paths that adapt based on how well your students are doing. 

This automatically directs struggling learners to extra materials or lets advanced students move ahead faster.

Students can access their courses through Canvas’s mobile app, making it easy for them to learn on phones or tablets. The platform connects with many third-party tools you might already use, and Canvas handles all the hosting and technical maintenance for you.

Pros

• Completely free with no hidden costs or transaction fees.
• Professional-grade tools used by major universities.
• Mobile app keeps students engaged on any device.
• Personalized learning paths adapt to student progress.
• Integrates with many external tools and apps.

Cons

• No built-in payment processing for selling courses.
• Limited customer support for free accounts.
• Designed for traditional education rather than commercial course creation.

03. Moodle

Moodle is a free, open-source learning management system that’s been around for decades and powers courses for millions of students worldwide. Unlike other platforms, you actually own and control everything when you use Moodle.

You can customize almost every aspect of your courses with thousands of available plugins and add-ons. The platform handles all the basics like lessons, quizzes, forums, and gradebooks, but you can extend it to do practically anything you need. 

It works just as well for a single course with a few students as it does for massive corporate training programs.

Students can access courses on any device thanks to Moodle’s mobile-friendly design, and there’s even offline functionality so they can download content and work without an internet connection. Since it’s open source, you have complete control over your data and can host it wherever you want.

Pros

• Completely free with no licensing fees or transaction costs.
• Thousands of plugins let you customize everything.
• You own your data and have full control over hosting.
• Scales from small courses to enterprise-level training.
• Mobile-friendly with offline learning capabilities.

Cons

• You need to handle installation, hosting, and maintenance yourself.
• Can feel overwhelming with so many features and options.
• No official customer support unless you pay for Moodle partners.

04. Ruzuku

Ruzuku is a platform designed specifically for building and selling online courses and memberships. It focuses on simplicity and community, making it easy to get your first course up and running quickly.

You can create unlimited courses, even on the free plan, and upload videos up to 2-4 GB each, depending on your subscription level. The platform includes tools for live video sessions and community discussion pages where your students can interact with each other. 

Ruzuku handles the technical side with integrated PayPal and Stripe payments, so you don’t need to worry about setting up separate payment systems.

What sets Ruzuku apart is their support approach – they provide 24/7 help not just for you as the instructor, but also for your students when they have technical questions. This takes a lot of pressure off you since you won’t be fielding basic tech support requests.

Pros

• The free plan lets you test the platform with up to 5 students.
• Unlimited course creation even on the free tier.
• No transaction fees on any plan when students purchase.
• 24/7 support is included for both instructors and students.
• Simple setup process with integrated payment processing.

Cons

• The free plan is limited to just 5 students total.
• Advanced features like custom domains require the expensive Pro plan.
• Monthly costs ($99-$199) can be steep for beginning course creators.

05. TrainerCentral

TrainerCentral is Zoho’s all-in-one training platform that combines course creation, website building, and payment processing in a single package. It’s designed for educators and trainers who want everything handled in one place rather than juggling multiple tools.

The platform includes a built-in virtual classroom where you can host live sessions and workshops without needing external software like Zoom. You can create both self-paced courses and live training programs, with community forums to keep students engaged between sessions. 

TrainerCentral supports multiple languages and lets you set country-specific pricing, which is helpful if you’re targeting international audiences.

You’ll get detailed analytics showing how students are progressing through your courses, along with sales and subscription data. The platform handles all the technical aspects of running an online training business, from hosting your content to processing payments from students around the world.

Pros

• Everything is integrated into one platform, including the website and payments.
• Built-in virtual classroom eliminates the need for external meeting tools.
• Community forums help build engagement among your students.
• Supports multiple languages and international pricing options.
• Detailed analytics track student progress and business metrics.

Cons

• The free plan doesn’t include payment processing for selling courses.
• No support for importing SCORM-formatted training content.
• Limited to just 3 courses on the free plan before requiring an upgrade.

06. Tutor LMS

Tutor LMS is a WordPress plugin that transforms your existing WordPress website into a full-featured learning management system. Instead of using a separate platform, you add course functionality directly to your own site.

You can create unlimited courses using their drag-and-drop builder, which makes it easy to organize lessons, add quizzes, and set up assignments. The plugin includes features like certificates, gradebooks, and even live video classes. If you want to build a course marketplace with multiple instructors, Tutor LMS supports revenue sharing and multi-instructor setups.

Since it runs on WordPress, you have complete control over your site’s design and can customize everything to match your brand. The built-in ecommerce features handle payments, subscriptions, and course bundles, though you might need additional plugins like WooCommerce for more advanced selling features.

Pros

• Create unlimited courses and enroll unlimited students.
• Drag-and-drop builder makes course creation straightforward.
• Includes advanced features like assignments, certificates, and live classes.
• Built-in ecommerce handles payments and subscriptions.
• Supports multi-instructor marketplaces with revenue sharing.

Cons

• Requires you to have and maintain your own WordPress website.
• Many advanced features are only available in the paid Pro version.
• May need additional plugins for full functionality, adding complexity.

07. Coursify.me

Coursify.me is a straightforward platform that lets you create and host online courses without getting bogged down in complicated features. You can customize your online school with your own branding, colors, and logo to create a professional-looking learning environment.

The platform includes everything you need to structure courses into sections and lessons, add videos, text, and other materials, and track how your students are progressing. You can integrate content from popular services like YouTube, Vimeo, and Dropbox, making it easy to pull in existing materials you’ve already created.

Students get their own dashboard where they can manage their courses and see their progress, while you get access to growth charts and analytics to understand how your business is performing. The platform handles hosting and technical maintenance, so you can focus on creating content rather than managing servers.

Pros

• Completely free plan with unlimited courses and students.
• Easy customization with your own branding and color schemes.
• Integrates with popular services like YouTube and Dropbox.
• Includes student management and progress tracking tools.
• Responsive design works well on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.

Cons

• Free plan includes 8% transaction fee on all sales.
• Interface and support are only available in English and Portuguese.
• Limited advanced features compared to more established platforms.

08. Zenler

Zenler is an all-in-one platform that tries to replace multiple tools by combining course creation with marketing, website building, and community features. Instead of juggling separate services for email marketing, course hosting, and sales funnels, you get everything in one place.

You can build courses with unlimited video content, quizzes, and surveys, then use the built-in marketing tools to promote them. The platform includes email automation, sales funnels, and even a drag-and-drop website builder so you can create your entire online presence within Zenler. For live teaching, it integrates with Zoom to handle webinars and real-time classes.

The idea is appealing – having everything under one roof means less complexity and fewer monthly subscriptions to manage. You can build membership sites, set up affiliate programs, and track detailed analytics all from the same dashboard.

Pros

• All-in-one solution combines courses, marketing, and website building.
• Unlimited video hosting and course content creation.
• Built-in email marketing and sales funnel tools.
• Supports live classes and webinars through Zoom integration.
• Membership sites and community features included.

Cons

• No free plan available – requires a monthly subscription from the start.
• Can feel overwhelming with so many features to learn.
• You’re locked into their platform with limited export options.

09. Gumroad

Gumroad is primarily an e-commerce platform for selling digital products, but many course creators use it as a simple way to sell video lessons and course materials. It’s designed for creators who want to start selling quickly without dealing with complex course platforms.

You can upload your course files, set a price, and start selling immediately. Gumroad handles all the payment processing, file delivery, and even manages sales tax collection worldwide. You can either use their hosted storefront or embed purchase links directly on your own website.

The platform works well if you’re selling straightforward digital products like video courses, PDFs, or downloadable resources. However, it’s not a learning management system, so you won’t get features like student progress tracking, quizzes, or certificates – it’s purely focused on the selling and delivery aspect.

Pros

• No monthly fees – you only pay per transaction.
• Quick setup process to start selling immediately.
• Handles global tax collection and compliance automatically.
• Works with both hosted storefronts and your own website.
• Supports various payment options and currencies.

Cons

• High transaction fee of 10% plus $0.50 per sale.
• No learning management features like progress tracking or quizzes.
• Limited customization and branding options for your storefront.

10. Udemy

Udemy is the world’s largest online course marketplace, with over 50 million students browsing courses on virtually every topic imaginable. Instead of building your own course website, you upload your content to their platform and tap into their massive existing audience.

The platform handles everything technical – video hosting, payment processing, student management, and even certificates of completion. You create your course content (videos, quizzes, assignments) and Udemy takes care of the rest, including marketing your course to their global student base.

While the built-in audience is attractive, you’re essentially renting space on someone else’s platform. Udemy controls pricing, runs frequent sales and promotions, and takes a significant cut of your revenue. You’re trading control and profit margins for access to their established marketplace and student base.

Pros

• Access to over 50 million potential students worldwide.
• No upfront costs or monthly fees to host your course.
• Platform handles all technical aspects and student support.
• Built-in tools for quizzes, assignments, and certificates.
• Udemy actively promotes courses to drive enrollment.

Cons

• High commission rates, especially for Udemy-acquired students.
• Limited control over pricing and promotional strategies.
• Intense competition with thousands of other instructors in most topics.

Tips for Choosing the Best Free Platforms to Create Online Courses

Choosing a free platform is about balancing what you need now with what you’ll need as you grow. Start with the essentials, then test a few options to see which one feels right.

• Make a short list of must-have features (quizzes, video hosting, drip content, certificates, live classes) before you start.

• Check free-plan limits carefully: student caps, file-size limits, storage space, and how long the free tier lasts.

• See how payments work — does the platform process payments, or will you need Stripe/PayPal and accept a commission?

• Confirm ownership and export options so you can download course files and student data if you move later.

• Test integrations for email, analytics, and Zoom so you can run marketing and live sessions without extra trouble.

• Try the mobile experience; many students use phones, so lessons, quizzes, and videos should work well on small screens.

• Compare support options: documentation, community forums, email help, or paid support if you expect fast answers.

• Run a short pilot course to check setup time, upload speed, student onboarding, and real user feedback.

• Look at branding limits; can you use your own domain, logo, and design, or will the platform add its name?

• Think ahead about costs: free today may mean upgrade fees, transaction cuts, or hosting expenses as you grow.

Pick the platform that helps you launch and keeps you focused on teaching, not wrestling with tech. Revisit your choice after a few months; your needs will change as your audience grows.

Create Your First Online Course With Klasio for FREE

Klasio makes it easy to launch your first course without paying up front. Its AI-assisted builder helps you draft a course outline and fill lessons fast, so you spend less time planning and more time teaching. 

The free tier gives you a functioning site, one course, and room for up to 50 students, enough for a pilot or early cohort. 

Klasio also offers mobile access and integrations (Stripe, PayPal, Zoom, Google Meet) so you can take payments and run live sessions without extra setup. If you want a simple, no-code start that still includes useful tools, Klasio is a strong free option.

FAQs

What is drip course content?

Drip course content is when lessons are released to students on a set schedule instead of all at once. This keeps learners engaged and prevents them from feeling overwhelmed.

How many hours to create an online course?

Creating an online course usually takes 30–100+ hours, depending on length, research, video production, and editing. Shorter courses take less time, while detailed, high-quality programs require more.

How hard is it to create an online course?

Creating an online course can be moderately hard because it involves planning, recording, editing, and setting up a platform. The difficulty depends on your technical skills and how polished you want the course to be.

What is the ideal length of an online course?

The ideal length of an online course is usually 2–10 hours of content, split into short lessons of 5–15 minutes each. This makes learning easier and keeps students motivated.

How big is the market for online courses?

The market for online courses is worth hundreds of billions of dollars and continues to grow each year. It’s driven by demand for flexible, skill-based learning worldwide.