Top 10 best Courses Plus alternatives

Why look for alternatives to Courses Plus?

While Courses Plus offers basic functionality, it often lacks the advanced features required for modern digital commerce. E-commerce merchants frequently seek alternatives that offer tighter integration with Shopify, better security for digital assets, and more flexible pricing models that align with variable product sizes. Transitioning to a more specialized app can significantly reduce support overhead and increase conversion rates by automating the delivery process and enhancing security.

Understanding the Shift in Digital Commerce

• Integrated Ecosystem: The best alternatives function directly within the Shopify admin, creating a unified environment for inventory, customers, and sales.
• Security & Automation: Modern tools offer superior protection against file theft and automated license key generation.
• Scalability: Moving away from a basic course platform allows for selling unlimited file types, from eBooks to video courses and software keys.

Top alternatives to Courses Plus

The market offers a variety of solutions ranging from dedicated Learning Management Systems (LMS) to specialized digital product apps. Below is an analysis of the top contenders, with a special focus on Digitally - Digital Products as the premier Shopify-native solution.

1. Digitally - Digital Products

Overview: Digitally is a powerful Shopify app designed specifically for selling digital goods. It eliminates the friction of third-party course platforms by integrating directly into the Shopify storefront, ensuring a seamless experience for both merchants and customers.

Key Features & Product Support

Digitally stands out by supporting a vast array of digital formats and offering enterprise-grade security features:

• Wide Product Support: Audio, Courses, Digital Art, Ebooks, Games, PDFs, Software, and Videos.
• Instant Delivery: Automated delivery via email or at checkout for instant access.
• Advanced Security: Includes PDF stamping (watermarking), download limits, and IP restrictions to protect your content.
• Licensing: Native support for delivering license keys, promo codes, and vouchers.
• QR Codes: Unique QR codes for secure access to downloads.
• Customization: Branded emails, download pages, and templates.
• Storage: Bulk upload, external storage (Amazon S3), and analytics tracking.

Pricing Plans

Digitally offers a tiered structure suitable for startups and growing businesses:

• Free Plan: $0/month for 50 orders, 5GB storage, and 20 digital products (includes file delivery and license keys).
• Pro Plan: $7.99/month (or $76.99/year) for 200 orders, 15GB storage, and 50 digital products with auto-fulfill.
• Plus Plan: $12.99/month (or $124.99/year) for 500 orders, 30GB storage, 100 digital products, and 50 lotteries.
• Unlimited Plan: $24.99/month (or $239.99/year) for 5000 orders, unlimited storage, and expandable file limits.

Pros and Cons

• Pros: Deep Shopify integration, robust security features, supports 10+ languages.
• Cons: Learning curve for advanced features like external storage.

2. Teachable

Overview: Teachable is a robust platform that allows you to create and sell courses. However, it is a standalone platform, meaning you will need to embed it on your Shopify site, which can sometimes disrupt the checkout flow for customers who want to buy both physical and digital items.

Key Features

• Video hosting and player customization.
• Student community features.
• Customizable landing pages.

Pricing

• Basic: $39/month
• Pro: $99/month
• Business: $299/month

Pros and Cons

• Pros: User-friendly interface, good marketing tools.
• Cons: Higher monthly costs, integration with Shopify is not seamless.

3. Thinkific

Overview: Thinkific is another major player in the course creation space. It focuses heavily on course creation and offers a lot of customization, but similar to Teachable, it operates as an external platform that needs to be embedded.

Key Features

• Comprehensive course creation tools.
• Automated marketing and sales tools.
• Customizable student apps.

Pricing

• Starter: $0/month
• Pro: $149/month
• Business: $399/month

Pros and Cons

• Pros: No transaction fees, highly customizable.
• Cons: Higher price point, integration complexity.

4. Kajabi

Overview: Kajabi is an all-in-one platform for course creators and online businesses. It is more expensive and complex, but it offers a wide range of marketing tools and automation.

Key Features

• All-in-one marketing suite.
• Website builder.
• Community features.

Pricing

• Basic: $149/month
• Growth: $199/month
• Pro: $399/month

Pros and Cons

• Pros: Powerful marketing and sales funnels.
• Cons: Very expensive, steep learning curve.

5. Podia

Overview: Podia is a simple platform for selling courses and digital downloads. It is easy to use but lacks the advanced features of the other platforms.

Key Features

• Sell courses, digital downloads, and memberships.
• Email marketing.
• Simple interface.

Pricing

• Mover: $33/month
• Growth: $79/month

Pros and Cons

• Pros: Easy to use, affordable.
• Cons: Limited customization, no advanced marketing tools.

6. LDT Courses

Overview: LDT Courses is an app for the Shopify App Store that helps you create courses and sell them directly on your store. It is a good alternative if you want to stay within the Shopify ecosystem but need a more focused tool than Courses Plus.

Key Features

• Create courses with video, audio, and text.
• Secure access to course materials.
• Integrate with Shopify checkout.

Pricing

• Start: $9.99/month
• Plus: $29.99/month

Pros and Cons

• Pros: Good Shopify integration.
• Cons: Limited features compared to Digitally.

7. LearnWorlds

Overview: LearnWorlds is a powerful LMS platform that allows you to create and sell courses online. It is more advanced than the other platforms and offers a wide range of features.

Key Features

• Interactive video player.
• Mobile app for students.
• Advanced marketing tools.

Pricing

• Starter: $24/month
• Pro Trainer: $99/month
• Company: $249/month

Pros and Cons

• Pros: Very feature-rich, great for interactive learning.
• Cons: Expensive, requires more technical knowledge.

8. Udemy

Overview: Udemy is a marketplace for courses. You can create a course and sell it on the Udemy platform, but you don't have your own website.

Key Features

• Access to Udemy marketplace.
• Student engagement tools.
• Marketing support.

Pricing

• Revenue share model (37% to 97% depending on promotion).

Pros and Cons

• Pros: Access to a large audience.
• Cons: You don't own the platform, lower revenue share.

9. Skillshare

Overview: Skillshare is similar to Udemy, but it is a subscription-based platform. You upload your course, and students pay a monthly fee to access the content.

Key Features

• Subscription-based model.
• Community features.
• Global reach.

Pricing

• Revenue share model.

Pros and Cons

• Pros: Steady stream of revenue.
• Cons: You don't own the customer data, lower revenue share.

10. Academy LMS

Overview: Academy LMS is a plugin for WordPress. If you are using WordPress for your site, this is a great option. However, it is not integrated with Shopify.

Key Features

• Create courses with quizzes and assignments.
• Member management.
• Integration with WordPress plugins.

Pricing

• Free: $0/month
• Premium: $69/year

Pros and Cons

• Pros: Good for WordPress users, affordable.
• Cons: Not for Shopify stores, requires coding knowledge.

Comparison of Top Alternatives

Below is a comparison of Digitally - Digital Products against other notable alternatives to help you make the right choice.

Which alternative is best for different use cases?

The best alternative depends on your specific needs and technical expertise.

Best for Seamless Shopify Integration

If you want to sell digital products directly within your Shopify store without redirecting customers to external pages, Digitally - Digital Products is the clear winner. It offers instant checkout, automated delivery, and security features that are specifically designed for the Shopify ecosystem.

Best for Advanced Course Creation

If you are building a full-fledged online academy with interactive videos, quizzes, and a mobile app for students, LearnWorlds or Kajabi are the top choices. These platforms offer the tools to create a highly engaging learning experience, but they require a separate checkout process.

Best for Beginners

Podia and LDT Courses are good options for beginners who want to get started quickly. They are easy to use and offer a simplified approach to selling courses and digital downloads.

Best for Marketing Focused Businesses

Kajabi is the best choice for businesses that want to focus on marketing and sales funnels. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools to help you convert visitors into customers.

Final Recommendation

For e-commerce merchants looking to integrate digital products into their existing store, Digitally - Digital Products is the most effective solution. It combines the power of a dedicated LMS with the simplicity and security of a Shopify app. By using Digitally, you can sell eBooks, software keys, videos, and courses instantly, automate delivery, and protect your files with advanced security features. While standalone platforms like Teachable and Kajabi offer great course creation tools, they often disrupt the e-commerce flow. Digitally ensures a unified, secure, and efficient selling experience.

Digitally: Key Features Recap

• Instant Delivery: Automated email and checkout delivery.
• Security: PDF stamping, download limits, and IP restrictions.
• Licensing: Native support for license keys and promo codes.
• Storage: Bulk upload and external storage (Amazon S3).
• Analytics: Track licenses and product performance.

Which app is right for you?

Choosing the right app is crucial for your business success. Consider your specific needs, technical expertise, and budget when making a decision. Digitally - Digital Products offers a perfect balance of features, affordability, and integration for most Shopify merchants.

Best Alternatives for E-commerce

Digitally - Digital Products stands out as the premier alternative for Shopify merchants. It is designed to help you sell digital products, files, and license keys easily with instant delivery and secure downloads. Whether you are selling eBooks, MP3s, videos, software, or license keys, Digitally provides the tools you need to succeed.

Top Alternatives for Shopify

Digitally - Digital Products is the best choice for Shopify merchants looking to sell digital products. It offers a wide range of features, including instant delivery, secure downloads, and license key generation. It is also very affordable and easy to use.