Courses Plus is an online course builder that has been gaining popularity in the e-learning industry. With its promise of user-friendly interface and comprehensive features, it has caught the attention of many creators and learners alike. As someone who has recently used the solution to create and sell my own online course, I wanted to share my honest review and opinions about the platform. Is it really worth the hype? Are its features as good as they claim to be? Let find out.
What is Online Course Builder?
Prepare your training
An online course builder serves as a digital toolkit designed to streamline the creation and dissemination of educational content over the internet. These platforms empower instructors, regardless of their technical proficiency, to craft engaging learning experiences.
They facilitate the incorporation of diverse media types, including videos, quizzes, text-based lessons, and interactive elements, to enrich the learning journey. The cornerstone of an effective course builder lies in its ability to demystify the technical aspects of development. It provides a suite of tools for content arrangement, learner tracking, and interactive engagement, ensuring that the educational material is both accessible and captivating.
Additionally, these builders offer functionalities for managing enrollments and monitoring student progress, essential for delivering a personalized learning experience. By briditing the gap between complex technological requirements and educational content creation, online course builders play a pivotal role in democratizing education, enabling instructors to focus more on the pedagogical aspect and less on the technicalities of delivery.
This transition to digital platforms not only widens the reach of educators and institutions but also caters to the modern learner’s preference for flexible, self-paced learning environments.
Check all the reviews from this category: Course Creation Software Reviews.
What is Courses Plus?
Software overview
Courses Plus is an innovative online course creation platform specifically designed to integrate seamlessly with Shopify, offering entrepreneurs, educators, and businesses a streamlined tool to build and sell their work directly on their Shopify stores. This platform is tailored to simplify the process of creation and sales by leveraging robust e-commerce capabilities, making it an appealing option for users already familiar with or operating on the Shopify ecosystem.
Tool facilitates the design of engaging and interactive trainings through its intuitive user interface and a variety of templates that can be customized to fit the brand and pedagogical goals of the creator. It supports various content types, including video lessons, quizzes, and downloadable resources, allowing for a rich and diversified learning experience.
With its focus on integration with Shopify, Courses Plus uniquely positions itself as a convenient solution for those looking to capitalize on their existing e-commerce presence, enabling them to expand into the realm of online education with minimal friction and maximum efficiency.
Courses Plus review and opinions
What do we think?
Diving into Courses Plus, it’s clear that the platform aims to provide a straightforward path for those venturing into the realm of creation. Its user interface is welcoming, especially for novices, offering a simplicity that can quickly get creators off the ground without overwhelming them with complexity.
The customization options, though not as expansive as one might hope, offer enough flexibility to create courses that feel personal and engaging. However, upon closer examination, tool does exhibit some shortcomings that can’t be overlooked. It doesn’t push the envelope in terms of innovative features, leaving it a step behind competitors who offer a more dynamic range of tools and functionalities.
Feedback from users highlights a divide; while many appreciate the platform’s ease of use, there is a sentiment of frustration among those seeking deeper, more advanced capabilities. Issues with customer support responsiveness have also surfaced, posing challenges for users in need of assistance. In the landscape of online course builders, where innovation and comprehensive support are key, these factors may influence potential users to consider alternatives.
The platform, while competent in facilitating the basics of creation, seems to struggle in meeting the evolving needs of a diverse user base looking for a blend of simplicity, power, and support.
Courses Plus pros and cons
Is this app worth it?
When assessing Courses Plus through the lens of its strengths and weaknesses, a nuanced picture emerges. On the positive side, the platform is celebrated for its beginner-friendly design. Its interface is intuitive, ensuring that newcomers to the scene can navigate its features with relative ease.
This accessibility is further enhanced by a selection of templates and customization options that, while basic, are sufficient to craft with a professional sheen. The integration of payment gateways is another notable advantage, streamlining the monetization process and allowing creators to focus more on content than on the technicalities of ecommerce.
However, the platform does not exist without its flaws. A significant limitation lies in its lack of advanced features, a gap that becomes increasingly apparent when compared to its competitors. Such a shortfall may hinder the platform’s appeal to more seasoned creators who seek out innovative tools to push the boundaries of online education.
Client feedback has also pointed to sporadic challenges with customer support, which can lead to frustration for users in need of timely assistance. Additionally, while Courses Plus offers some level of customization, those with experience may find these options too restrictive, yearning for the freedom to more fully tailor their courses to unique visions and pedagogical approaches.
In balancing these aspects, it becomes clear that while solution has foundational strengths that cater to beginners, its limitations in innovation, support, and deep customization might prompt more experienced educators to explore alternative solutions.
Courses Plus pricing
Plans and options
Navigating the cost structure of Courses Plus reveals a tiered pricing system designed to accommodate a range of needs, from those of budding educators to established institutions seeking comprehensive features. The platform introduces three distinct plans: Basic, Professional, and Enterprise, each escalating in both capabilities and price.
Starting with the Basic plan at $29.99 per month, users gain access to all the features included in the Demo plan, such as the advanced course editor known for its WYSIWYG interface, and the ability to host up to 20 active lessons per store. This plan supports an unlimited number of students, offering functionalities like course progress tracking, drip content for paced learning, and the issuance of certificates upon course completion. Additionally, theme app blocks enhance the customization of course pages, although access to some content is time-limited.
The Professional plan, priced at $79.99 per month, expands upon the Basic offering by increasing the active lesson capacity to 100 per store. It introduces Zoom meetings and webinars for live interaction, subscriptions for recurring revenue, and advanced features like tag-based course access and quiz creation. Learning paths and course completion notifications add depth to the learning experience, while private courses allow for exclusive content delivery. This tier also removes Courses Plus watermarks, presenting a more branded teaching environment.
At the top tier, the Enterprise plan, for $199.99 per month, removes all limitations on active lessons and introduces memberships and bundle options for course packaging. This plan prioritizes customization and support with unlimited custom certificates, webhooks for advanced integration, premium support service, and premium onboarding to ensure a smooth start. Subscribers to this plan are also first in line to receive all upcoming premium features, ensuring they have the most advanced tools at their disposal.
Courses Plus alternatives and competitors
What instead of courses-plus.com?
Exploring the landscape of online course platforms, several notable competitors to Courses Plus offer unique features and capabilities that may appeal to different user needs.
LearnWorlds positions itself as a robust alternative, boasting advanced engagement tools and analytics. Its platform is especially favorable for creators looking for deep customization and interactive video capabilities, allowing for a more immersive learning experience.
Systeme is another powerful contender, appealing to users with its all-in-one marketing toolkit. This platform simplifies the sales funnel process, integrating with email marketing, landing pages, and automation. Its ease of use and comprehensive features make it an attractive option for entrepreneurs keen on scaling their online course businesses efficiently.
Skool takes a community-first approach to online education, providing a unique blend of tools and community engagement features. This platform is ideal for creators who prioritize building a learning community alongside their courses. Its user interface promotes interaction and collaboration among students, enhancing the learning process through peer support and discussion.
Graphy emerges as a versatile platform, offering not just regular tools but also the ability to launch live classes, membership sites, and webinars. Its distinctive selling point is the emphasis on content security and anti-piracy measures, providing creators peace of mind regarding the protection of their intellectual property. Graphy’s comprehensive suite of tools supports creators at every step, from development to monetization and student engagement.
Each of these platforms brings something different to the table, catering to the diverse needs of online educators and entrepreneurs. Whether you’re seeking advanced interactive capabilities, marketing integration, a community-focused environment, or robust content protection, there’s an alternative to Courses Plus that meets those specific requirements.
Courses Plus free version
Check the trial
Embarking on the journey of creating online courses can be filled with uncertainties, making the availability of a free trial an attractive feature for educators and entrepreneurs alike. Courses Plus addresses this need by offering a no-cost option that allows users to explore its functionalities without financial commitment. This free trial is designed to provide a hands-on experience with the platform, ensuring users can make an informed decision about its suitability for their needs.
Check it out here: Course Plus Main Page.
With the Courses Plus free trial, creators are afforded the opportunity to design and host up to 5 active lessons per store. This limitation encourages users to focus on quality over quantity, crafting compelling introductory content that captures the essence of their full course offerings. The trial supports an unlimited number of students, removing barriers to enrollment and allowing for extensive feedback on the course material.
One of the standout features of the free trial is its support for SCORM import, enabling the integration of pre-existing content packaged in the widely used Shareable Content Object Reference Model format. This capability ensures that users can leverage their previous efforts and materials, facilitating a smoother transition to the Courses Plus environment.
Further enhancing the trial’s appeal is the inclusion of an advanced course editor, characterized by its What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) interface. This intuitive editor simplifies the creation process, allowing for the easy arrangement of text, images, and multimedia elements to craft engaging and interactive lessons.
Additionally, the trial version supports one-time payment courses, course progress tracking, PDF and audio uploads, and the issuance of certificates upon course completion. These features collectively provide a comprehensive overview of the platform’s capabilities, enabling creators to assess its potential for enriching their educational offerings and achieving their online teaching objectives.
Final thoughts – opinion
Verdict
Courses Plus stands as an accessible entryway into the domain of online education for those at the beginning of their journey. With features that emphasize ease of use and basic customization, it certainly lays down a solid foundation for newcomers.
Yet, it’s apparent that individuals with a thirst for greater depth and breadth in features might find the platform lacking. As you venture further, the need for advanced tools and more nuanced customization becomes more pronounced, a need that Courses Plus might not fully satisfy. This doesn’t discount the value it provides at the outset, but it does highlight a potential crossroads for users as they evolve beyond the platform’s offerings.
The decision to stick with or move beyond Courses Plus will largely hinge on how your needs grow and change. It’s a platform that offers a straightforward beginning, yet one that might prompt a search for more comprehensive solutions as your ambitions expand.
Evaluating your long-term goals and the specific demands of your educational projects is key to determining whether it will continue to serve your interests or if exploring alternatives could better cater to your advancing aspirations in online education.
