IT courses in 2024: The best platforms

After the rapid growth of e-learning during the Covid-19 pandemic, online education platforms have had to adapt, becoming more functional and creative to attract educators. However, choosing the right platform has become much more difficult. To make the right choice, it's important to consider your needs and budget, as there is a long-term value behind it that affects customer satisfaction.

What is an e-learning platform

An eLearning platform is software that helps you create and organise training courses, including structure and media content. Using a drag-and-drop system simplifies the course creation process, improving the student experience. The main purpose of the platform is to provide access only to those who have paid for the course, with a password assigned to each customer.

Best platforms in 2024

The online learning market is booming and many companies are looking to take the lead in this lucrative niche. However, as the number of platforms increases, it becomes more difficult to choose the right one for your needs. It is important to consider the long-term costs and functionality of the platform before making a decision.

Many trainers offer ‘lifetime’ access to their trainings, which makes choosing a platform even more important. However, it is important to remember that some platforms charge monthly or annual fees that can amount to a significant amount in the long run. This article will look at the best tools for e-learning in 2024.

1. System.io

System.io offers a complete online learning and marketing solution. Its main strength is its price: the free version allows you to post your first course at no cost. This is especially useful for those who are just starting out and are not sure about the attractiveness of their product.

System.io allows you to manage all aspects of marketing, including creating email sequences, sales and payment pages. The platform also offers the ability to set up an affiliate system to promote courses. The only drawback is the limited interface for students, which doesn't look very attractive and offers basic features.

2. Schoolmaker

Schoolmaker is a premium platform that offers excellent ergonomics and ease of use. The programme is structured in such a way that each lesson is broken down into steps, which helps users achieve goals and stay motivated. Schoolmaker also provides an automated video consultation feature, allowing coaches to answer students' questions in a video format.

Group coaching sessions can be organised through the platform, bringing all the tools together in one place. However, the cost of Schoolmaker starts at €99 per month, which can be a significant amount for beginners. The limit on the number of participants on the basic package can also lead to additional costs when the number of users increases.

3. ThriveCart

ThriveCart is a high-performance online payment solution that is also great for e-learning. The main advantage of the platform is a one-time licence fee that provides lifetime access with no additional monthly fees. ThriveCart offers an integrated affiliate system and easy-to-use templates for creating sales and payment pages.

The learner interface is intuitive and not cluttered with unnecessary elements. However, posting videos requires the use of third-party services such as YouTube or Vimeo, which can add extra steps to the course creation process.

4. Circle.co

Circle.so is a platform focused on creating online communities with the ability to integrate training courses. It allows you to offer monthly packages to customers with access to various features, as well as host live events and manage payments centrally. The modern and easy-to-use interface makes Circle.so one of the best tools for community management.

However, Circle.so subscriptions start at $49 per month, and the platform charges up to 4% transaction fees. To get the full range of features, it is recommended to opt for the $99 per month package, which includes more storage for videos and live features.

5. Kajabi

Kajabi is one of the most popular tools for creating and marketing online courses. The platform offers a stylish and functional interface that allows you to customise media and lessons without compromising on design. Inbuilt marketing tools such as sales page creation and payment modules make Kajabi particularly attractive to trainers.

However, Kajabi starts at $149 per month, making it an expensive option for long-term use. In addition, the basic package limits the number of active clients and products, which may require upgrading to a more expensive plan.

6. Podia

Podia is an affordable alternative that offers all the basic features for creating and marketing online courses. The platform allows you to create websites, sales pages, ebooks, webinars, and more. Customer support is top-notch and the interface is simple and intuitive even for beginners.

Podia offers a free version for pre-sales, but transaction fees for free packages can be as high as 10%. In addition, the trainer interface is only available in English and the sales tunnels functionality is limited compared to competitors.

Conclusion

In choosing an e-learning platform, a lot depends on your goals and budget. For beginners, System.io offers the best price-to-functionality ratio, while more experienced users can evaluate the features of Schoolmaker and Circle.so. ThriveCart stands out with its lifetime licence, while Kajabi and Podia offer highly effective tools for course creation and marketing. Ultimately, it's important to consider both current and long-term needs in order to choose the platform that best suits your objectives.