Building an online course used to mean building an entire website from scratch. Before all-in-one course platforms became widely available, many creators relied on self-hosted WordPress setups to deliver their programs.
While self-hosting gives you full control over your content and design, it also introduces technical complexity that can slow down your ability to grow and scale.
The reality of self-hosted course platforms
A self-hosted course site is typically built using WordPress along with a collection of plugins, themes, and integrations that must work together seamlessly.
Each module, lesson, and download must be manually uploaded and configured. Video hosting, payment gateways, and membership access all need to be integrated separately.
What learners see vs what happens behind the scenes
From a student’s perspective, the experience can feel professional and structured. Lessons appear neatly organised with embedded videos, downloadable resources, and progress tracking.
Behind the scenes, however, every update requires configuration. Adding a new lesson often means uploading files, embedding media, assigning permissions, and linking content manually.
Common challenges with self-hosted setups
- Time-consuming setup for each course or module.
- Plugin conflicts after updates.
- Ongoing maintenance requirements.
- Limited design flexibility across different site sections.
Maintaining integrations between payment processors, email systems, and membership tools can also require regular troubleshooting.
All-in-one platforms as an alternative
Modern course platforms provide built-in hosting, checkout systems, email automation, and design tools.
This removes the need for multiple plugins and reduces the technical workload required to manage a learning platform.
Self-hosted vs all-in-one platforms
- Self-hosted platforms offer full control and flexibility.
- All-in-one tools simplify setup and maintenance.
- Self-hosted sites may require higher technical skills.
- All-in-one platforms scale more easily for non-technical users.
When self-hosting may still make sense
Self-hosting can be suitable if you need advanced customisation or complete ownership of your platform.
Businesses with in-house developers or strong technical knowledge may benefit from the flexibility.
Choosing the right approach
If your focus is delivering educational content and scaling your course business, using an integrated platform can reduce friction and allow you to spend more time on teaching.
Understanding the trade-offs between control and convenience helps you choose a solution aligned with your business goals.
