Online courses aren’t just booming—they’re exploding. With more people turning to the internet to upskill, switch careers, or simply learn something new, there’s never been a better time to become a course creator.
But here’s the thing: creating a course in 2025 isn’t just about having knowledge. It’s about having the right tools. The tech you use can make or break the student experience—and your sanity.
If you’re looking to create, market, and scale your online course like a pro, I’ve got you. Whether you’re a first-timer or looking to upgrade your toolkit, here are the 10 must-have tools for course creators in 2025.
Let’s go 💻🔥
1. InVideo (for Pro-Quality Video Content)
🎯 Use it for: Creating course videos, promo clips, YouTube content, and social media marketing.
Let’s be real—video is king. And in 2025, it’s not enough to have content… it has to look good. Think YouTube-quality intros, polished lessons, branded tutorials, and even engaging social media clips.
Enter InVideo. This is that tool that sneaks into your workflow and makes you look like a full-time video editor—without the stress. You can:
- Choose from 5,000+ ready-made templates
- Use AI to auto-create videos from scripts
- Customize everything (colors, music, transitions)
- Add subtitles, stock videos, and more
It’s fast, intuitive, and honestly? It makes Canva look like a slideshow maker when it comes to video.
🎥 Pro tip: Use it to create your course trailer and promo videos on autopilot.
👉 Try it here: InVideo
2. Thinkific (for Hosting Your Course)
🎯 Use it for: Creating, hosting, and selling your online course
Thinkific continues to dominate in 2025. Why? Because they make it easy to go from zero to full-fledged online academy—no coding, no stress. Their platform lets you:
- Upload videos, PDFs, quizzes, and surveys
- Drip content over time
- Offer certificates
- Create a custom landing page for your course
- Accept payments seamlessly
They’ve also upped their game with AI-based insights and student analytics, helping you improve course engagement and completion rates.
3. Notion (for Course Planning & Organization)
🎯 Use it for: Structuring course content, tracking progress, and organizing research
Notion is that all-in-one productivity tool that’s become a staple for creators of all kinds. If you’re planning a course, you need structure—and Notion gives you that.
You can:
- Plan your curriculum module by module
- Collaborate with your team
- Embed videos, links, files, and templates
- Create a dashboard to track your content creation flow
Whether you’re solo or working with VAs and editors, Notion keeps everything tidy and transparent.
4. Descript (for Editing Audio + Video + Transcriptions)
🎯 Use it for: Recording and editing your lessons and turning them into text
Descript is a game-changer for editing. You record a video or audio lesson, and it gives you a transcript. Then, you can edit your video just like a Word doc—delete text, and the video/audio cuts with it. Magic.
Perfect for polishing up lessons, cutting out mistakes, adding subtitles, and even creating audiograms. It’s one of those “how did I ever live without this?” tools.
5. Canva (for Slide Design, PDFs, and Branding)
🎯 Use it for: Creating course slides, thumbnails, worksheets, and marketing materials
Canva’s still the go-to for design in 2025. But it’s grown beyond just “drag and drop.” Now you can:
- Use AI tools to generate custom templates
- Create animated course slides
- Design branded PDFs and lead magnets
- Collaborate in real-time with your team
Whether you’re designing a workbook or a launch promo, Canva keeps your visuals on point.
6. Circle (for Community Building)
🎯 Use it for: Creating a private learning community for your students
Learning isn’t just about content—it’s about connection. That’s why many top course creators are using Circle to build vibrant student communities.
It’s like Slack + Facebook Group + online forum—all in one clean, distraction-free platform. You can:
- Host Q&A threads
- Create exclusive spaces for different cohorts
- Run live sessions and AMAs
- Encourage peer-to-peer support and feedback
And it all stays under your brand, not Mark Zuckerberg’s.
7. Tella (for Recording Beautiful Course Videos)
🎯 Use it for: Screencasts, tutorials, and camera + screen recording
Tella makes it insanely easy to record stunning videos with your webcam and screen at the same time. It’s tailor-made for online educators who want that clean “YouTube course creator” look.
You can:
- Record your screen + webcam simultaneously
- Choose layouts and styles
- Re-record parts without starting over
- Export in HD, ready to upload anywhere
Great for walkthroughs, software tutorials, and lessons that need that personal touch.
8. ChatGPT or Claude (for Content Brainstorming and Scripts)
🎯 Use it for: Writing scripts, lesson outlines, quizzes, and descriptions
AI is your co-pilot in 2025. Whether it’s ChatGPT or Claude, these tools can:
- Help you brainstorm lesson ideas
- Write YouTube descriptions
- Generate email sequences
- Draft blog posts or lead magnets
- Create quiz questions and answers
Think of it as your assistant that never sleeps. Just don’t forget to fact-check and personalize what it spits out.
9. Gumroad (for Selling Your Course Directly)
🎯 Use it for: A lightweight way to sell your course or related resources
Not ready for a full-blown platform like Thinkific? Gumroad is the minimalist’s dream. You can:
- Upload your files (video, PDF, etc.)
- Set a price (one-time or subscription)
- Embed it on your website or link directly
- Get paid instantly via PayPal or Stripe
It’s also perfect for selling mini-courses, eBooks, templates, or upsells alongside your main course.
10. MailerLite (for Email Marketing + Automation)
🎯 Use it for: Building your list, launching your course, nurturing leads
Email is not dead—it’s just automated now.
MailerLite gives you an intuitive way to manage your email list, send drip campaigns, and set up sales funnels. You can:
- Create landing pages and opt-ins
- Segment your audience
- Automate onboarding sequences
- Track open rates and click-throughs
And the best part? It’s way more affordable (and user-friendly) than Mailchimp or ConvertKit—perfect for solo creators.
Bonus: Combine the Tools Like a Boss 👇
Here’s a mini workflow you can steal:
- Use Notion to plan your course.
- Record videos with Tella or edit them with InVideo and Descript.
- Design workbooks in Canva.
- Host your course on Thinkific or sell directly through Gumroad.
- Build hype with MailerLite emails.
- Build your student tribe using Circle.
- Let ChatGPT help you with copy, quiz questions, and content ideas.
And remember, don’t overthink—just start. Your knowledge can literally change someone’s life.
Final Thoughts
Being a course creator in 2025 is like being a digital entrepreneur, teacher, editor, and marketer all rolled into one. But with the right tools? It becomes a whole lot easier.
Start small. Start smart. But most importantly—start now.
🎯 If you’re serious about making your course look and feel top-tier, start with your video.
💡 This tool right here will save you hours of editing and take your content from “meh” to “media house.”
👉 Check out InVideo here and thank me later.