One of my coaching students asked me something this week that I hear over and over again:
“Which platform is the best for me to set up my new business?”
It’s a brilliant question because it gets to the heart of what so many creators, coaches and digital entrepreneurs struggle with. There are so many options out there that it’s easy to get stuck choosing tools instead of building the business itself.
So I decided to dedicate this post to the question I wish more people asked…
Which platform is right for where you are right now?
If You’re Just Starting Out – Systeme.io
If you’re new to online business or launching your first offer, I almost always suggest starting with Systeme.io.
It’s simple, affordable and surprisingly powerful. You can build a website, create funnels, send emails and even host courses or memberships, all from one dashboard. There’s a generous free plan and the setup is intuitive enough that you can launch something within a day.
It may not win design awards, but it does the job beautifully.
https://systeme.io
If You’re Ready to Look More Polished – Podia
Once you’ve validated your idea and have paying customers, Podia is the natural next step.
It’s an all-in-one platform that gives you a cleaner, more professional website, built-in email marketing and a smooth system for selling digital products, memberships and coaching sessions.
Podia also includes community tools so you can engage your audience and build a space for loyal customers. It’s the perfect balance between simplicity and professionalism.
If You’re Scaling and Want a Premium Experience – Kajabi
When you’ve got multiple offers, recurring income and you’re ready to treat your online business as a full-scale brand, Kajabi is the platform that gives you everything under one roof.
It’s polished, powerful and integrates beautifully, offering funnels, automations, communities, analytics, websites and even podcast hosting.
Kajabi is the platform most seven-figure educators and coaches use for a reason. It’s also expensive and takes longer to learn, so I recommend moving to Kajabi once you’re earning consistently or ready to scale.
If You’re Course-Focused – Thinkific or Teachable
If your business revolves around structured lessons and progress tracking rather than funnels, then Thinkific, https://www.thinkific.com or Teachable https://www.teachable.com might fit best.
Both are solid, reliable course platforms that deliver a great student experience.
If You Already Have a Website – MemberPress or MemberSpace
If your website already exists on WordPress, MemberPress https://memberpress.com is an excellent plugin for adding memberships, paid content or courses.
If your site is on Squarespace, Webflow or Notion, MemberSpace https://www.memberspace.com lets you add membership functionality without moving platforms. These are great bolt-on options if you love your current site and don’t want to rebuild.
If You’re a Video-First Creator – Uscreen
If you create fitness classes, tutorials, or any video-based content, Uscreen https://www.uscreen.tv could be ideal.
It’s like having your own Netflix channel. You can host videos, charge subscriptions and even launch your own app, all under your brand.
How I’d Approach It
If I were starting again today, here’s exactly what I’d do:
1. Start with Systeme.io or Podia to validate the idea quickly and build early momentum.
2. Move to Podia full-time as revenue grows to polish the brand and automate more.
3. Upgrade to Kajabi once the systems and income justify it and you’re ready to scale.
It’s tempting to start with the platform that looks the most professional, but remember professional doesn’t pay the bills – traction does. Get something live, learn what works and polish later.
Useful Resources to Explore
EmailToolTester:
https://www.emailtooltester.com/en/blog/best-membership-platforms
Podia’s Comparison:
https://www.podia.com/articles/best-membership-platforms
Thinkific’s Guide:
https://www.thinkific.com/blog/best-membership-site-platforms
Before you commit to any platform, take 15 minutes to watch yourTED Talk for this week:
Osterwalder’s message is simple but powerful: build your business model first, and let the tools serve that, not the other way around. It’s the best mindset you can have before investing in new tech.
Platforms are containers. They can help you grow, but they can’t replace clarity, consistency or a great offer. Start where you are, use what you have and build momentum first. The tech can catch up later.
