If you’ve ever Googled, “what tools do online creators actually use?” you’re not alone. With new platforms popping up every month and everyone claiming to be “#1,” it’s tough to know what really works. That’s where this guide steps in.

We’ve compiled a list of the best course platforms, digital marketing tools, and productivity enhancers for 2025. Whether you’re a solopreneur creating a course, a SaaS firm optimizing funnels, or an instructor looking to teach without tech issues, there’s something here for you.

Best Course Platforms & Digital Tools for Creators, Educators & Entrepreneurs

Course Creation & Learning Platforms

Let’s start with where the magic happens: learning platforms. These are ideal if you’re creating online courses, teaching skills, or upskilling your team.

1. Teachable

Teachable

Teachable is an integrated system that allows you to design and sell courses with no technical knowledge required. It’s user-friendly but powerful, with features such as bespoke branding and straightforward payment processing. Teachable is used by over 100,000 creators, and with good reason. It’s like Shopify for educators, but without the warehouse.

2. Thinkific

Thinkific is known for flexibility and control. Unlike Teachable, it gives you more tools to customize the learning experience, great for cohort-based programs or community-driven education. Think of it as Teachable’s cousin with a DIY streak.

3. LearnWorlds

If interactive elements and sleek design are your vibe, LearnWorlds delivers. Features like quizzes, certificates, and video transcripts are built-in. It’s basically the Apple of course platforms, shiny, elegant, and a little fancy.

6. Podia

Podia isn’t just for courses. it also handles memberships, webinars, and digital downloads. Basically, your digital content Swiss Army knife.

4. Pluralsight

For technical learners, Pluralsight is a goldmine, especially in cloud computing, DevOps, and cybersecurity. Trusted by teams at Adobe, Fujitsu, and VMware. If YouTube tutorials had a mentor, this would be it.

5. edX

Built by Harvard and MIT, edX is great for formal education seekers. Courses cover everything from data science to soft skills, often with accredited certification. Ivy League vibes, without the Ivy League price.

Marketing, SEO & Funnel Tools

No point having a great course if no one finds it. These tools help you build traffic, convert leads, and automate the boring stuff.

1. Semrush

A beast in the SEO world. Semrush helps with keyword research, backlink tracking, content audits, and even ad planning. Used by 10M+ marketers globally. Basically, it’s like Google with superpowers, but only for your site.

2. ThriveCart

ThriveCart is a cart and funnel builder that lets you sell products, upsells, and subscriptions with ease. One-time pricing makes it a rare gem. If Shopify and ClickFunnels had a minimalist baby, it’d be ThriveCart.

5. ConvertKit

Creators love ConvertKit for its clean email automation and tagging system. Great if you’re growing a newsletter or launching courses. It’s like Mailchimp, if Mailchimp had a personal trainer and cut the fluff.

3. Leadpages

Need landing pages that convert like crazy? Leadpages has templates that are built for conversions, especially for email list growth. Think of it as your persuasive best friend in webpage form.

4. Unbounce

A/B testing nerds, rejoice. Unbounce is ideal for testing variations of your sales pages without touching code. It’s like a scientific lab for marketers, but without the goggles.

Writing & Productivity Tools

Good writing = better sales. Whether you’re publishing blog posts, drafting landing pages, or emailing your list, these tools help you write smarter, not harder.

1. Grammarly

Grammarly is a writing assistant that checks grammar, punctuation, clarity, and tone in real-time. Think of it as the teacher who actually likes helping you, and won’t judge you for a rogue comma.

Jasper AI

Jasper is an AI writing tool that helps you generate content fast, ads, blog posts, product descriptions, you name it. It’s like having a caffeine-fueled intern who doesn’t sleep (or complain).

Notion

Notion is the all-in-one workspace for notes, tasks, wikis, and calendars. Whether you’re planning a launch or outlining a course, it keeps your brain from melting.

Skillshare

Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of creative and business classes. You can learn everything from storytelling to UX design, without falling asleep. Great for when YouTube just isn’t cutting it.

Hosting, Development & Design Tools

These are the tools running behind the scenes, powering your websites, improving workflows, and helping you avoid tech headaches.

1. Linux Foundation

Linux Foundation

The Linux Foundation offers certifications and training on open-source, cloud-native, and DevOps technologies. If IT certifications were badges, these would be the shiny ones everyone wants on their LinkedIn profile.

Hostinger

Hostinger provides reliable, lightning-fast web hosting at budget-friendly prices. It’s like giving your website rocket fuel, on a ramen-noodle budget.

KodeKloud

KodeKloud provides hands-on DevOps labs, certifications, and practice environments. It’s like gym training, but for your Linux and Kubernetes muscles.

Crocoblock

Crocoblock supercharges your WordPress site with dynamic content, templates, and Elementor widgets. Basically, it’s Elementor’s cooler, more capable sidekick.

Elementor Pro

Elementor Pro is the go-to visual page builder for WordPress users. With over 10 million installs, it’s the drag-and-drop hero of non-coders everywhere. Design without breaking a sweat, or your site.

eCommerce & Amazon Seller Tools

Running an online store or selling on Amazon? These tools are your behind-the-scenes powerhouse.

Helium 10

Helium 10 helps Amazon sellers with product research, keyword tracking, listing optimization, and more. Think of it as your private detective, but instead of solving crimes, it’s solving profit problems.

Publisher Rocket

Publisher Rocket helps authors optimize their Amazon book listings by finding the best keywords and categories. It’s like SEO for self-publishers, but without needing a PhD in metadata.

Jungle Scout

Jungle Scout lets FBA sellers discover high-demand, low-competition products. It’s like a treasure map for Amazon entrepreneurs, X marks the niche.

Sale Samurai

Sale Samurai is designed for Etsy sellers who want better keyword insights, SEO, and pricing strategies. Basically, Etsy analytics, without the guesswork.

Honorable Mentions

  1. Typeform: If you want beautiful, engaging surveys or quizzes, Typeform has the best UI hands-down.
  2. Canva: Still the easiest way to make anything visual, from social graphics to lead magnets.
  3. Zapier: The glue that connects everything. Automate tasks across apps like Google Sheets, ConvertKit, and Slack.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the best platform to sell online courses in 2025?

The best platform depends on your goals. If you’re looking for simplicity and quick setup, Teachable is a great choice. If you want more customization or community features, try Thinkific or LearnWorlds. For creators selling memberships or webinars, Podia is a solid option.

Which SEO tool is better: Semrush or Ahrefs?

Both are excellent, but Semrush offers more features like PPC tools, local SEO, and a content marketing toolkit — making it ideal for creators and bloggers. If backlink analysis is your main focus, Ahrefs is also a strong contender.

Is Grammarly worth it for students or writers?

Yes, Grammarly helps catch grammar, spelling, and clarity issues in real-time. For students or content creators, it speeds up editing and improves writing quality. The free version is helpful, but the premium upgrade adds serious power.

Can I use Skillshare to learn digital marketing or design?

Absolutely. Skillshare has thousands of short, high-quality courses on topics like branding, SEO, copywriting, and graphic design. It’s great for beginners and creatives who prefer self-paced video lessons.

What’s the difference between ThriveCart and Leadpages?

ThriveCart is a checkout and sales funnel tool, perfect for selling products and handling upsells. Leadpages focuses on building landing pages to grow your email list or promote offers. Use both together for best results.

What tools do Amazon sellers use to find products?

Popular tools include Helium 10 and Jungle Scout. Both help you discover product opportunities, research keywords, and track sales trends on Amazon.

Is Elementor Pro good for beginners?

Yes, Elementor Pro is perfect for non-coders. It lets you build beautiful websites with drag-and-drop widgets. It’s also used by pros who want advanced design flexibility without custom coding.

Which is the most affordable web hosting for beginners?

Hostinger is one of the most affordable and reliable options for new websites. It offers good speed, 24/7 support, and free SSL — perfect for creators launching blogs or course sites.

Can you automate tasks between tools like ConvertKit and Notion?

Yes, tools like Zapier let you automate workflows. For example, you can connect Notion with ConvertKit to log subscribers, send updates, or sync data automatically.

What’s a good AI tool for writing content faster?

Jasper AI helps generate content outlines, product descriptions, blog intros, and more. It’s a time-saver for marketers, bloggers, and creators who publish often.

Conclusion

So, what’s the “best” tool? That depends on what you’re building. If you’re launching a course, start with Teachable or Thinkific. If you’re writing a blog, get Grammarly and Jasper. If you’re selling anything online, Semrush, ThriveCart, and ConvertKit will be your MVPs.

All the tools here are ones we genuinely recommend, and in many cases, link to via affiliate partnerships (which help keep this site running, at no extra cost to you). I suggest you to pick 2-3 tools and take action, that’s how creators win in 2025.