The best e-learning marketplaces to sell courses online offer more than just a place to host your content-they provide built-in audiences, marketing tools, and payment processing. After researching dozens of platforms and speaking with successful course creators, I’ve narrowed down the top 7 options that can help you turn your knowledge into a profitable online business.

Udemy

Udemy stands as one of the most popular e-learning marketplaces with over 62 million students and nearly 75,000 instructors worldwide. This massive reach makes it an excellent starting point for new course creators looking to gain exposure.

Key Features:

• Enormous built-in audience of eager learners
• Straightforward course creation process
• Extensive instructor support and feedback
• Optional marketing programs including email features
• Marketplace insights to help choose profitable course topics

Pricing:

Udemy operates on a revenue-sharing model:

• 97% revenue share for sales you generate through your own promotions (using instructor coupons)
• Only 37% revenue share for sales Udemy generates through their platform
• 3% transaction fee on instructor coupon sales

Pros:

• Massive existing audience means potential for high student numbers
• No upfront costs to create and publish courses
• Handles all payment processing and customer service
• Provides valuable data on trending topics and student interests
• Mobile app for students increases accessibility

Cons:

• High commission rates on platform-generated sales (63%)
• Limited control over pricing during Udemy promotions
• No access to student email addresses for marketing
• Competitive marketplace with thousands of similar courses
• No ability to build your own branded learning environment

Best For:

Udemy works best for instructors who want to reach a large audience quickly without building their own marketing infrastructure. It’s ideal for first-time course creators testing the waters or those with niche expertise who can benefit from Udemy’s discovery features.

Skillshare

Skillshare focuses primarily on creative skills and operates on a membership model rather than individual course sales. With over 35,000 premium courses and a community-oriented approach, it’s particularly strong for visual arts, design, photography, and creative writing.

Key Features:

• Membership-based platform giving students access to all courses
• Focus on project-based learning with practical outcomes
• Community discussion sections for student interaction
• Structured format with 20-60 minute video lessons
• Royalty payment system based on watch time

Pricing:

• Free to create and publish courses
• Instructors earn through a royalty system based on minutes watched
• $10 referral bonus for each premium membership you bring to the platform

Pros:

• Lower barrier to entry than some other platforms
• Community-focused learning environment
• No need to handle individual sales or pricing strategies
• Passive income potential once courses are published
• Excellent for creative and practical skills

Cons:

• Earnings depend on watch time, which can be unpredictable
• Less control over monetization compared to direct sales platforms
• Primarily focused on creative niches, less suitable for technical topics
• Limited marketing tools for promoting your specific courses
• No certificates or formal credentials for students

Best For:

Skillshare is perfect for creative professionals who want to share their expertise without managing complex sales funnels. It works especially well for visual and creative topics where students benefit from seeing the process and completing projects.

LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com) offers high-quality, professional development courses with the added benefit of integration with the world’s largest professional networking platform. This connection creates unique opportunities for career-focused education.

Key Features:

• Direct integration with LinkedIn professional profiles
• High production quality standards for all courses
• Focus on business, technology, and career development
• Certificates that can be displayed on LinkedIn profiles
• Structured learning paths for comprehensive skill development

Pricing:

• Instructors must apply and be accepted to teach
• Custom payment arrangements for instructors
• Students access through monthly subscription ($39.99) or individual course purchases

Pros:

• Association with LinkedIn brand adds credibility
• Professional production support for course creators
• Courses reach professionals actively looking to advance careers
• Certificates integrate directly with LinkedIn profiles
• Well-structured for both online and offline viewing

Cons:

• Highly selective instructor application process
• Less flexibility in course structure and presentation
• Limited to professional and career-focused topics
• Smaller audience than Udemy (27+ million vs 52+ million)
• Less control over course marketing and promotion

Best For:

LinkedIn Learning is ideal for industry experts and professionals with proven credentials who want to teach business, technology, or career advancement skills. It’s particularly valuable for instructors who already have an established LinkedIn presence and want to leverage that professional network.

Domestika

Domestika has carved out a unique position in the e-learning marketplace by focusing exclusively on creative and artistic skills with exceptionally high production values. The platform has a distinctly artistic aesthetic and community.

Key Features:

• Beautiful, highly-produced course content
• Focus on creative skills and artistic disciplines
• Strong emphasis on visual quality and presentation
• International audience with courses in multiple languages
• Community of creative professionals and enthusiasts

Pricing:

• Instructors are typically invited to create courses
• Revenue sharing model with custom arrangements
• Students purchase individual courses (typically $10-$60)

Pros:

• Exceptional production quality elevates your teaching
• Highly engaged creative community
• Curated course selection means less competition
• Strong brand recognition in creative industries
• Growing international audience

Cons:

• Invitation-only for most instructors
• Less flexibility in course structure and presentation
• Smaller overall audience than major platforms
• Limited to creative and artistic topics
• Less control over pricing and promotions

Best For:

Domestika works best for established creative professionals and artists with unique techniques or approaches to share. It’s ideal for visual artists, designers, illustrators, photographers, and other creative practitioners who value high production quality and artistic community.

PluralSight

PluralSight specializes in technology and IT training, making it the go-to platform for teaching coding, software development, cybersecurity, and other technical subjects. It’s known for its depth and technical rigor.

Key Features:

• Focus on technology, IT, and software development
• Skill assessments and learning paths
• Interactive coding environments for practice
• Enterprise solutions for team training
• In-depth technical content with practical applications

Pricing:

• Selective application process for authors
• Royalty-based payment system
• Students access through monthly subscription or business plans

Pros:

• Highly respected in the technology industry
• Less competition than general platforms
• Attracts serious learners committed to skill development
• Potential for enterprise and business customers
• Strong support for technical content creation

Cons:

• Limited to technology and IT-related topics
• Rigorous quality standards require significant preparation
• Competitive application process for instructors
• Less control over course pricing and presentation
• Smaller overall audience than general platforms

Best For:

PluralSight is ideal for technology professionals with deep expertise in programming languages, software development, IT infrastructure, data science, or cybersecurity. It works best for instructors who can teach practical, hands-on technical skills with real-world applications.

Fiverr

Fiverr might be better known for freelance services, but its Fiverr Learn platform has become a significant player in the e-learning marketplace, particularly for business and entrepreneurial skills. With 4.1 million monthly visitors, it offers excellent exposure.

Key Features:

• Integration with Fiverr’s freelance marketplace
• Focus on practical, business-related skills
• Direct connection to freelance opportunities
• Emphasis on quick, actionable learning
• Built-in audience of entrepreneurs and small businesses

Pricing:

• 20% commission on course sales
• Instructors set their own prices
• Students purchase individual courses

Pros:

• Natural audience of entrepreneurs and freelancers
• Synergy with freelance service offerings
• Less saturated than major platforms
• Opportunity to convert students into service clients
• Practical, results-oriented learning focus

Cons:

• Less established as a learning platform
• Limited course creation tools compared to dedicated platforms
• Smaller audience than major e-learning marketplaces
• Primarily focused on business and entrepreneurial topics
• Less structured learning paths for students

Best For:

Fiverr works best for instructors who also offer related freelance services or consulting. It’s particularly effective for teaching business skills, marketing, entrepreneurship, and other practical topics that appeal to Fiverr’s audience of entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Udacity

Udacity focuses on cutting-edge technology skills with its “Nanodegree” programs, which are comprehensive learning paths designed in partnership with industry leaders. It’s known for high-quality, project-based learning in emerging tech fields.

Key Features:

• Focus on emerging technologies and in-demand skills
• Nanodegree programs with comprehensive curricula
• Project-based learning with real-world applications
• Industry partnerships with leading tech companies
• Career services and job placement assistance

Pricing:

• Selective instructor application process
• Custom payment arrangements for course creators
• Students pay for Nanodegree programs (typically $399/month)

Pros:

• Association with leading technology companies
• High-quality, structured learning experiences
• Students willing to invest in premium education
• Focus on cutting-edge, in-demand skills
• Potential for industry recognition and partnerships

Cons:

• Highly selective instructor vetting process
• Significant time investment to create comprehensive content
• Limited to technology and business topics
• Smaller audience than general platforms
• Less flexibility in course structure and presentation

Best For:

Udacity is ideal for industry experts in cutting-edge technology fields like artificial intelligence, data science, autonomous systems, blockchain, and cloud computing. It works best for instructors who can create comprehensive, project-based learning experiences with practical applications in emerging tech industries.

Comparison Table:

Finding the best e-learning marketplaces to sell courses online depends largely on your subject matter, teaching style, and business goals. Each platform offers unique advantages, from Udemy’s massive reach to Skillshare’s creative community to LinkedIn Learning’s professional network. By strategically choosing the right marketplace-or combination of marketplaces-for your specific expertise, you can build a sustainable teaching business that reaches students worldwide and generates meaningful income from your knowledge.