“What’s the Best Platform to Create an Online Course for Free?”
We’ll cut through the noise, clarify what LMS really means, rank the truly free options (not freemium traps), and show you exactly where to start — with real-world pros, cons, and next steps.
Stop Paying for Tools You Don’t Need — Start Teaching for Free Today
💡 What Is an LMS? (And Why It Matters for Your Course)
Before we dive into platforms, let’s clear up a common confusion:
✅ LMS = Learning Management System
A software platform that hosts, delivers, tracks, and manages online courses — like a digital classroom.
Think of it as: WordPress for courses. YouTube + quizzes + certificates + student dashboards
You don’t need to code. You don’t need a website. You just need the right tool to turn your knowledge into a structured learning experience.
But here’s the catch:
👉 Most “free” course platforms are freemium.
They offer a basic plan… then lock away analytics, branding, payments, or students behind paywalls.
So we’ve tested dozens. We’re only recommending platforms that are truly free forever — no credit card required, no hidden upsells.
🏆 The 7 Best Truly Free Platforms to Create an Online Course
1. Moodle
Advanced users, schools, nonprofits
Full LMS, quizzes, forums, grading, certificates, SCORM support
Requires hosting (you set it up) — technical learning curve
2. Canvas (Free for Teachers)
Educators, K–12, universities
Course creation, assignments, discussions, and gradebook
Only for educators; limited customization
3. Google Classroom
Simple, quick, no-tech-needed
Assignments, announcements, Google Drive integration
No quizzes, no certificates, no monetization — pure teaching tool
4. Schoology Basic
Schools & small teams
Course pages, assignments, calendars, basic analytics
No custom domains, no payment features
5. ILIAS
Nonprofits, government, higher ed
Full LMS with SCORM, assessments, group work
Steep learning curve; needs self-hosting
6. OpenEd
Beginners wanting drag-and-drop
Easy video + PDF uploads, quizzes, student progress
Very new; limited community support
7. Neoserra (formerly NEO LMS)
Small organizations
Free tier includes 5 users, 3 courses, basic reporting
Limited storage; upgrade needed for more
✅ Winner for Most Powerful Free LMS: Moodle
✅ Winner for Easiest Free Setup: Google Classroom
✅ Winner for Educators: Canvas (Free for Teachers)
🔍 Deep Dive: Top 3 Free Platforms Compared
1. Moodle — The Open-Source Powerhouse
(Best for: Serious educators, trainers, nonprofits)
✅ 100% free forever self-hosted (you rent hosting from SiteGround, Bluehost, etc., ~$3–5/month)
✅ Full LMS features: Quizzes, badges, forums, SCORM, attendance tracking
✅ Supports certifications, group work, peer reviews
❌ Not drag-and-drop — requires setup (but tutorials abound)
💡 Pro Tip: Use MoodleCloud (free tier) — no hosting needed!
→ https://moodlecloud.com
Free for up to 50 users, 5 courses, 500MB storage.
🎯 Perfect if: You want full control, long-term scalability, and zero recurring fees beyond hosting.
2. Google Classroom — The Simplicity King
(Best for: Teachers, coaches, workshop leaders)
✅ Completely free with a Google account
✅ Instant setup — invite students via email or class code
✅ Integrates with Docs, Slides, Forms, YouTube
✅ Automatic grading for multiple-choice quizzes
❌ No certificates, no payments, no branding
❌ Can’t sell courses — only teach for free
🎯 Perfect if: You’re offering free mini-courses, tutoring, or training to a closed group. Ideal for starting simple.
3. Canvas (Free for Teachers) — The Academic Favorite
(Best for: K–12 teachers, college instructors, university staff)
✅ Free for verified educators (apply with school email)
✅ Beautiful interface, mobile app, rubrics, discussion boards
✅ Built-in calendar, assignment tracker, speed grader
❌ Cannot monetize — no store, no payments
❌ Not available to private coaches or businesses without institutional affiliation
🎯 Perfect if: You’re already in education and want a polished, professional environment.
⚠️ Beware These “Free” Platforms That Aren’t Really Free
Many popular names sound free — but they’re freemium traps:
Teachable
Free plan has 5% transaction fee + “powered by Teachable” branding
Thinkific
Free plan limits to 3 courses and 10 students
Podia
No free plan — 14-day trial only
Kajabi
Starts at $119/month — not even close
Skillshare
You earn money if students watch YOUR course — you don’t own it
Coursera / Udemy
They take 50–75% of revenue; you’re a vendor, not an owner
👉 These are marketplaces — not platforms you own.
If you want to build your own brand, avoid them until you’re ready to invest.
🛠️ Bonus: Free Tools to Build Your Course Content (Without Paying)
Even on a free LMS, you’ll need tools to create videos, slides, quizzes, and graphics. Here are the best 100% free tools:
Canva
Design course covers, worksheets, and infographics
canva.com(Free plan = tons of templates)
Veed.io
Edit videos, add captions, remove background noise
veed.io(Free: 10 mins/video, 720p)
OBS Studio
Record screen + webcam (professional quality)
obsproject.com(100% free, open-source)
Quizizz / Kahoot!
Create interactive quizzes
quizizz.com(Free for teachers)
Notion
Organize course modules, syllabus, resources
notion.so(Free plan = unlimited pages)
CapCut
Mobile video editing (great for TikTok-style lessons)
capcut.com
Google Forms
Surveys, pre/post-course assessments
Built into Gmail
💡 Pro Workflow:
Record with OBS → Edit in Veed → Design slides in Canva → Upload to Moodle → Quiz with Quizizz → Track progress with Moodle reports.
🧭 How to Choose the Right Free Platform for YOU
Ask yourself these 5 questions:
Do I want to sell my course later?
→ Skip Google Classroom. Use MoodleCloud or ILIAS (easier to upgrade).
Am I a teacher in a school?
→ Canvas or Google Classroom
Do I hate tech? Just want to upload videos and call it a day?
→Google Classroom
Do I care about branding and owning my audience?
→MoodleCloud(then migrate to paid later)
Do I have a team or a nonprofit?
→ILIAS or Chamilo (enterprise-grade free LMS)
💬 Final Thoughts: Free Doesn’t Mean Low Quality. The myth is: “You need to spend $1,000 to build a course.”
Reality?
✅ Thousands of people teach high-quality courses on free platforms every day.
✅ Many startups began with Moodle or Google Classroom before scaling.
✅ Your expertise matters more than your platform.
Start small. Stay consistent. Grow organically.
When you have 500 students? Then upgrade to Thinkific or Teachific.
Until then? Use free tools wisely — and own your content.
🔗 Resources You Need Now
✅ Full LMS features: Quizzes, badges, forums, SCORM, attendance tracking
✅ Supports certifications, group work, peer reviews
❌ Not drag-and-drop — requires setup (but tutorials abound)
💡 Pro Tip: Use MoodleCloud (free tier) — no hosting needed!
→ https://moodlecloud.com
Free for up to 50 users, 5 courses, 500MB storage.
🎯 Perfect if: You want full control, long-term scalability, and zero recurring fees beyond hosting.
2. Google Classroom — The Simplicity King
(Best for: Teachers, coaches, workshop leaders)
✅ Completely free with a Google account
✅ Instant setup — invite students via email or class code
✅ Integrates with Docs, Slides, Forms, YouTube
✅ Automatic grading for multiple-choice quizzes
❌ No certificates, no payments, no branding
❌ Can’t sell courses — only teach for free
🎯 Perfect if: You’re offering free mini-courses, tutoring, or training to a closed group. Ideal for starting simple.
3. Canvas (Free for Teachers) — The Academic Favorite
(Best for: K–12 teachers, college instructors, university staff)
✅ Free for verified educators (apply with school email)
✅ Beautiful interface, mobile app, rubrics, discussion boards
✅ Built-in calendar, assignment tracker, speed grader
❌ Cannot monetize — no store, no payments
❌ Not available to private coaches or businesses without institutional affiliation
🎯 Perfect if: You’re already in education and want a polished, professional environment.
⚠️ Beware These “Free” Platforms That Aren’t Really Free
Many popular names sound free — but they’re freemium traps:
Teachable
Free plan has 5% transaction fee + “powered by Teachable” branding
Thinkific
Free plan limits to 3 courses and 10 students
Podia
No free plan — 14-day trial only
Kajabi
Starts at $119/month — not even close
Skillshare
You earn money if students watch YOUR course — you don’t own it
Coursera / Udemy
They take 50–75% of revenue; you’re a vendor, not an owner
👉 These are marketplaces — not platforms you own.
If you want to build your own brand, avoid them until you’re ready to invest.
🛠️ Bonus: Free Tools to Build Your Course Content (Without Paying)
Even on a free LMS, you’ll need tools to create videos, slides, quizzes, and graphics. Here are the best 100% free tools:
Canva
Design course covers, worksheets, and infographics
canva.com(Free plan = tons of templates)
Veed.io
Edit videos, add captions, remove background noise
veed.io(Free: 10 mins/video, 720p)
OBS Studio
Record screen + webcam (professional quality)
obsproject.com(100% free, open-source)
Quizizz / Kahoot!
Create interactive quizzes
quizizz.com(Free for teachers)
Notion
Organize course modules, syllabus, resources
notion.so(Free plan = unlimited pages)
CapCut
Mobile video editing (great for TikTok-style lessons)
capcut.com
Google Forms
Surveys, pre/post-course assessments
Built into Gmail
💡 Pro Workflow:
Record with OBS → Edit in Veed → Design slides in Canva → Upload to Moodle → Quiz with Quizizz → Track progress with Moodle reports.
🧭 How to Choose the Right Free Platform for YOU
Ask yourself these 5 questions:
Do I want to sell my course later?
→ Skip Google Classroom. Use MoodleCloud or ILIAS (easier to upgrade).
Am I a teacher in a school?
→ Canvas or Google Classroom
Do I hate tech? Just want to upload videos and call it a day?
→Google Classroom
Do I care about branding and owning my audience?
→MoodleCloud(then migrate to paid later)
Do I have a team or a nonprofit?
→ILIAS or Chamilo (enterprise-grade free LMS)
💬 Final Thoughts: Free Doesn’t Mean Low Quality. The myth is: “You need to spend $1,000 to build a course.”
Reality?
✅ Thousands of people teach high-quality courses on free platforms every day.
✅ Many startups began with Moodle or Google Classroom before scaling.
✅ Your expertise matters more than your platform.
Start small. Stay consistent. Grow organically.
When you have 500 students? Then upgrade to Thinkific or Teachific.
Until then? Use free tools wisely — and own your content.
🔗 Resources You Need Now
🌐 MoodleCloud (Free LMS)
🎓 Canvas for Teachers
🖥️ Google Classroom
🎨 Canva for Education
📹 OBS Studio Download
👇 Ready to Get Started?
Comment below with:
“I will be launching my free course on https://academy.startbod.com.”
Let’s build a community of free-course creators with no paywalls, no gatekeeping.
🎓 Canvas for Teachers
🖥️ Google Classroom
🎨 Canva for Education
📹 OBS Studio Download
👇 Ready to Get Started?
Comment below with:
“I will be launching my free course on https://academy.startbod.com.”
Let’s build a community of free-course creators with no paywalls, no gatekeeping.
