Which App Should I Use to Teach Online? Top Picks for Every Teacher

Let’s face it—teaching online can be overwhelming if you’re stuck picking between a dozen apps that all swear they’re the “best.” What you actually want is something that’s easy to set up, reliable, and makes your students’ lives (and yours) way simpler. You don’t need another confusing tech headache—you need a platform that just works.

Here’s the thing most people won’t tell you: different apps shine in different situations. Teaching a five-year-old piano over video? You'll need low lag and good audio, like on Zoom. Running big classes where you want to sell material afterward? That’s where something like Teachable or Thinkific steps in. Instead of wasting weeks “testing” everything, let’s cut through the noise. I’ll show you what real teachers choose, why it matters, and which features actually help—not just look good on a sales page.

• Why Your Choice of App Matters
• Zoom vs. Google Meet: Which Feels More Like a Real Classroom?
• All-in-One Teaching Platforms: The Case for Thinkific and Teachable
• Want to Sell Courses? Check Udemy, Skillshare, and Gumroad
• Engagement Tools: How to Keep Students Awake
• Quick Tips and Real-World Hacks to Get Started

Why Your Choice of App Matters

If you think all e-learning tools are basically the same, think again. The app you use shapes your whole teaching experience—from how smooth your classes run, to how happy (or confused) your students feel. It’s not just about having a video call; it’s about having the right tools for your teaching style and goals.

Here’s what can go sideways with the wrong app:

• Your students can’t join easily, or the link keeps breaking.
• Video and audio lag ruin your lesson flow, especially in music or language classes.
• You can’t collect payments directly, so you’re chasing invoices after every class.
• There’s no chat or interactive features—so students zone out.
• You end up spending hours troubleshooting instead of teaching.

Not every platform is made equal, especially if you care about stuff like screen sharing, class recordings, or privacy. For example, Zoom and Google Meet are popular because almost everyone already knows how to use them. But here’s a rough breakdown from 2024 user stats (thousands of teachers were surveyed across North America):

So even though you’ll hear about dozens of platforms, e-learning pros often stick to just a few that work well under pressure. The goal? Pick something that solves more problems than it creates.

If you want teaching to feel less like a tech support job, be picky about what you use. Your app will either boost your reputation—or annoy your students enough to bail on your class.

Zoom vs. Google Meet: Which Feels More Like a Real Classroom?

If you’re teaching live online, you’ve probably heard this debate a thousand times: should you pick Zoom or Google Meet for your virtual classroom? Both are popular, both get the job done, but they work a bit differently when the pressure’s on and you’re staring at a wall of students’ faces.

Zoom usually gets the spotlight, and honestly, it’s for good reason. You get features like multiple breakout rooms, polls, a handy waiting room to control who comes in, the ability to record in high quality, and even screen sharing with annotations. If you’re running classes more than once a week or need students to split into small groups, Zoom feels closer to a traditional classroom vibe. The video and audio quality can handle anywhere from casual chats to serious lectures.

On the flip side, Google Meet is dead simple. It’s built right into Google Workspace, which is perfect if your students already use Gmail or Google Docs. You just send a link and nobody gets lost. There’s no software to install. For teachers who want quick, hassle-free meetings—especially in schools using Google—Meet is a breeze. It even rolled out features like hand raising, whiteboards, and polls recently, but it still keeps things pretty basic compared to Zoom.

Price is a huge factor for teachers. Here’s how they stack up:

From teachers I know, Zoom offers more control, but Google Meet is less intimidating for beginners or folks not keen on tech. If students struggle downloading stuff, Meet wins. If you want a real classroom feel, more chances to interact, and flexibility, Zoom is probably your best bet.

Some quick tips: if you do pick Zoom, set up a password and waiting room for security. On Google Meet, use the host controls to mute all when things get noisy, and share Google Docs so students can collaborate in real time.

Bottom line? Test both with one class. You’ll know in ten minutes which one actually feels right for your style.

All-in-One Teaching Platforms: The Case for Thinkific and Teachable

If you're tired of juggling Zoom, email chains, and spreadsheets just to keep your classes straight, all-in-one teaching platforms like Thinkific and Teachable could be what you need. These platforms let you build a complete online school—video lessons, quizzes, payments, and even student progress tracking—in one spot. No patchwork. No chaos.

Both Thinkific and Teachable are made for teachers who want more control. You get your own branded site, direct payment options, course bundles, and built-in marketing tools. That means you can spend less time on admin work and more time actually teaching. And here’s a biggie: they don’t take a cut from your sales on their higher plans (unlike Udemy or Skillshare, where you lose a chunk of every sale).

• Thinkific has a free plan that lets you test the waters with one course. It’s reliable for video hosting, and their drip scheduling means your students get lessons at just the right pace—no dumping 20 videos all at once.
• Teachable stands out because it makes payments dead simple. It can set up subscriptions or one-time payments. Plus, its analytics show you which lessons keep students interested—and which lose them fast.

If we get specific, courses on both platforms can include video, text, PDFs, and quizzes. You can add discussions right in the lesson, and students can access material 24/7. No more “I didn’t get the email!” headaches.

Check out some real numbers on what teachers are actually earning and how big their audiences can get:

*Teachable has a 14-day free trial, but no forever-free plan like Thinkific.

Here are some quick tips if you want to try either platform:

• Your course doesn’t have to be fancy—start with a clear webcam video and a couple of worksheets.
• Don’t forget to set up student email notifications so nobody gets lost.
• Test your sales page on a real person. Confused friends = confused future students.

When it comes to e-learning, the goal isn’t just “getting online” but actually helping your students learn—and making some money for your effort. Thinkific and Teachable can make that a lot easier, even if you’re totally new to running a course site.

Want to Sell Courses? Check Udemy, Skillshare, and Gumroad

If you want to turn your lessons into profit, you need platforms that make selling easy—not just hosting. Udemy, Skillshare, and Gumroad are the big players for anyone who wants to reach new students and earn money without a ton of tech headaches. Each one works a bit differently, so it’s smart to know which one matches your goals.

Online teaching isn’t just about being on live video. More teachers are filming lessons, uploading bite-sized courses, or making detailed guides people can buy on the spot. Here’s how these platforms stack up:

• Udemy: You upload your video course, set a price (but expect lots of discounts), and Udemy handles payment and hosting. They have a massive audience—over 60 million users in 2024—but they take about 50% of your sale if the student comes from their marketplace. You get a higher cut, around 97%, if you bring in students yourself.
• Skillshare: It’s more like streaming—students pay a membership and get access to everything. You get paid by watch time, so your income depends on people finishing your lessons. Not as much control on pricing, but great for building a following if you teach creative skills.
• Gumroad: Totally different. You upload courses, ebooks, or whatever, set your own price, and customers buy direct from you. Gumroad takes about 10% per sale but you own the customer relationship and set your own terms. It’s perfect if you already have an audience or followers on Instagram, YouTube, or a mailing list.

Here’s a quick look at the main differences:

If you like having your course found by random people searching for “Python for Beginners,” Udemy wins. If you’re all about arts, crafts, design, or personal branding, Skillshare leans in your favor. And if you want full control and don’t mind doing some self-promotion, Gumroad is simple, fast, and flexible.

Tip: Get started by taking a weekend to record a simple course on your phone—don’t wait for “perfect.” Upload it to one of these platforms, see how it does, and tweak it over time. The platforms are pretty forgiving, and you learn a ton by just trying.

Engagement Tools: How to Keep Students Awake

Keeping students engaged online is way harder than in a face-to-face classroom. You're competing with TikTok, WhatsApp, and whatever weird meme is blowing up that day. The good news? If you pick the right engagement tools, you can pull their attention back and actually make things stick.

Most top online teaching apps like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet have built-in features that make a clear difference. Let’s break down your options:

• Polling and Quizzes: Zoom, Google Meet (with third-party add-ons), and Teams all support instant polls and quick quizzes. Use Kahoot or Mentimeter for super interactive real-time activities—students get really into it, trust me.
• Breakout Rooms: Zoom lets you split students into groups for small discussions or projects. According to a 2023 teacher survey, 54% said breakout rooms made students participate way more than if everyone was stuck together.
• Whiteboard and Screen Sharing: All the big names let you share your screen, but Zoom and Microsoft Teams also offer easy, collaborative whiteboards. Students can draw, solve problems, or brainstorm without even needing a tablet.
• Gamification: Platforms like Classcraft turn lessons into mini-games. If you’re teaching younger kids, simple rewards or point systems—like stars or badges—work wonders.
• Chat and Emoji Reactions: Quick emoji reactions in Zoom or Teams keep things lively without breaking your flow. Plus, shy students often use the chat to ask questions they’d never say out loud.

Here’s a look at which apps offer key engagement features, so you’re not wasting time setting it all up manually.

Quick tip: Kids (and honestly, adults) pay way more attention when you throw in surprise quizzes or games. Try planning at least one interactive activity for every 20 minutes of lesson time. It keeps brains switched on and stops students from turning into Zoom zombies.

If you’ve never used tools like Kahoot, start small—test it in a single lesson. Most teachers notice student participation jumping way up, and you’ll save yourself a ton of "Are you there?" moments.

Quick Tips and Real-World Hacks to Get Started

Getting started with online teaching? The trick is to skip the guesswork and use shortcuts real teachers swear by. Here’s how you can set up and run your virtual classroom without losing your head.

• Use templates: Most platforms like Google Classroom and Thinkific let you duplicate courses or use starter templates. Seriously, don’t build every lesson from scratch—templates are your best friend.
• Schedule everything: Batch scheduling your classes and emails saves a ton of time. Zoom and Google Meet both sync with Google Calendar. One click and your students get reminders—no more chasing them up.
• Test your tech before students arrive: Always double-check your audio, video, and screen sharing. 80% of tech issues teachers report are stuff that could’ve been avoided with a quick test call.
• Engagement tools: Polls and quizzes boost participation. Zoom has quick polls, and Kahoot! is perfect for quizzes that don’t feel boring. If you want hands-on interaction, Miro boards and Padlet keep students involved.
• Back up your lessons: Always record your sessions (Zoom and Google Meet do this for free!). Having a backup means even if a student’s Wi-Fi drops out, they’re not left behind.
• Keep payments simple: If you’re charging, use built-in options like Teachable or Gumroad, or just send a Stripe or PayPal link. Messy payment processes lose students.
• Set clear rules: Start the first class with a 2-minute list of what’s expected (like "Keep cameras on" or "Mute when not speaking"). You’ll avoid 99% of classroom drama.

Want some numbers? Here’s a quick look at what teachers say they care about most when picking a platform:

And here’s a simple hack: take the first class just to test the tools. Tell students, “This is a no-pressure intro session; we’ll just play with the tech.” You’ll iron out problems early and everyone relaxes.

Stuck on which platform to try first? Start with what you already use (Google or Microsoft account), and grow from there. You don’t need the fanciest app out of the gate—just one that helps you teach smoothly and keeps students coming back.