Churches everywhere are realizing something important: discipleship can’t stop at the sanctuary doors. Whether it’s a midweek Bible study, a new member class, or a spiritual growth course, churches need a way to deliver impactful content online—on any device, at any time.

The good news? There are several platforms that let you host online courses and Bible studies. But not all of them are built with churches in mind. Some are too complicated. Others are built for businesses. And very few combine both community + teaching in one space.

In this post, we’ll break down the top 8 online platforms for hosting church courses and Bible studies—and explain why SocialGlow is the best all-in-one solution for churches that want engagement, structure, and spiritual growth.

1. SocialGlow – Best All-in-One Church Course & Community App

If you’re looking for a platform built specifically for churches—with both course delivery and community interaction in one place—SocialGlow stands alone.

✅ Why it’s great for churches:
SocialGlow combines unlimited course creation, group-based discipleship, and gamified engagement—all inside a private, distraction-free app.

Here’s what makes it different:

• 📚 Unlimited Courses: Create Bible studies, discipleship pathways, volunteer training, or leadership development tracks.
• 🎯 Progress Tracking: See who’s completing lessons, and help them stay on track.
• 🧠 Community + Courses in One: Members can discuss, ask questions, and encourage each other inside the same app.
• 🎮 Gamification: Use points, levels, and leaderboards to boost participation.
• 📱 Mobile App: Intuitive and easy to use on any device—perfect for every generation.
• 📆 Automation: Schedule lessons, devotionals, and prompts in advance.
• 🛠️ Templates: Launch recurring challenges or seasonal courses in seconds.
• 📹 Secure Video Hosting: Upload your videos or embed from YouTube, Wistia, and more.

Best for: Churches that want to combine learning and community in one seamless experience
👉 Book a free 15-minute demo

2. Teachable

Originally designed for creators and educators, Teachable is a robust online course platform with advanced tools and payment options.

✅ Pros:

• Clean course layout and user experience
• Video hosting, quizzes, and certificates
• Supports paid courses

❌ Cons:

• No built-in community features
• Geared toward solopreneurs and businesses
• Not faith-specific

Best for: Churches selling courses or building large libraries without needing a community space

3. Thinkific

Similar to Teachable, Thinkific is built for online educators and coaches. It offers great customization and a polished learning environment.

✅ Pros:

• Course builder with quizzes, certificates, and bundles
• Free plan available
• Custom domain and branding options

❌ Cons:

• No built-in group communication or engagement tools
• More of a “classroom” than a community

Best for: Larger churches or ministries offering structured, solo-driven courses

4. Kajabi

Kajabi is a powerful, all-in-one platform for running a knowledge-based business. It includes websites, funnels, email marketing, and courses.

✅ Pros:

• Advanced automations
• Built-in email and sales features
• Beautiful design and course builder

❌ Cons:

• Very expensive
• Not built with churches in mind
• Steep learning curve

Best for: Church consultants or ministry entrepreneurs offering paid content and funnels

5. Mighty Networks

Mighty Networks is a community-focused platform that offers courses, groups, and events within one app.

✅ Pros:

• Beautiful interface and strong mobile experience
• Combines learning with community
• App access included

❌ Cons:

• Not faith-focused
• Requires paid tiers for real functionality
• Less intuitive for older users

Best for: Tech-savvy churches or ministries targeting younger audiences

6. Facebook Groups + Google Drive (DIY Setup)

Many churches try to patch together free tools—running their courses via Facebook posts and storing files in Google Drive.

✅ Pros:

• Free
• Easy to get started

❌ Cons:

• No structure, progress tracking, or privacy
• Distracting platform (Facebook)
• Content gets buried fast
• Zero gamification or automation

Best for: Very small groups or one-off studies—but not a long-term solution

7. Church Center (Planning Center Add-On)

Church Center offers a simple platform to host events, registrations, and group information if you use Planning Center.

✅ Pros:

• Seamless integration with Planning Center
• Great for logistics and small group signups

❌ Cons:

• No course delivery system
• Lacks teaching tools, videos, or lesson tracking
• Not a true learning or engagement platform

Best for: Managing logistics—not discipleship

8. Faithlife

From the makers of Logos Bible Software, Faithlife offers a mix of online tools for churches, including messaging, sermons, and giving.

✅ Pros:

• Integrated with Logos tools
• Offers some learning and group tools

❌ Cons:

• Complicated setup
• Fragmented experience across multiple platforms
• Less modern user interface

Best for: Churches already deep in the Logos/Proclaim ecosystem

🏆 The Verdict: SocialGlow Does What the Others Don’t

Most platforms make you choose between courses and community.
SocialGlow gives you both—beautifully integrated in one simple app.

Whether you’re discipling new believers, training leaders, or launching church-wide Bible studies, SocialGlow gives you the tools to:

• Create unlimited lessons and modules
• Host and schedule video devotionals
• Track participation and progress
• Keep conversations alive in every group
• Motivate with gamification
• Keep everything in one clean, private space

🎉 Want to See How It Works?

You can start building your next church course today—with no tech headaches, no Facebook distractions, and no limits on your reach.

👉 Click here to book your free 15-minute demo
Let us show you how churches like yours are using SocialGlow to make discipleship happen—anytime, anywhere.

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