Online learning is booming—and so is the demand for robust platforms to create and sell courses. Two names often at the forefront are Teachable and Thinkific. Whether you’re a first-time course creator or a seasoned educator looking to scale your business, choosing the right platform can make or break your success.
In this guide, we’ll break down every critical aspect of Teachable vs Thinkific—from pricing and features to usability and monetization tools—so you can make an informed decision tailored to your needs.
Table of Contents
- Overview of Teachable and Thinkific
- Key Differences Between Teachable and Thinkific
- Ease of Use: Which Platform is More Beginner-Friendly?
- Course Creation Tools
- Customization & Branding
- Marketing & Sales Features
- Pricing Plans Comparison
- Analytics & Reporting
- Customer Support & Community
- Pros and Cons Summary
- Which One Should You Choose?
- FAQs
- Conclusion
Overview of Teachable and Thinkific
What Is Teachable?
Teachable is an all-in-one online course platform designed to help creators build, host, and sell their knowledge. Founded in 2014, it’s particularly popular for its intuitive interface and monetization features.
What Is Thinkific?
Thinkific is a powerful Learning Management System (LMS) that empowers educators and entrepreneurs to create, market, and deliver online courses. It’s known for giving more control over branding and site customization.
Key Differences Between Teachable and Thinkific
| Feature | Teachable | Thinkific |
|---|---|---|
| Course Builder | Drag & drop interface | Drag & drop interface |
| Free Plan | Yes (limited) | Yes (more generous) |
| Custom Branding | Limited without paid plan | Full white-label from Pro plan |
| Sales & Checkout | Built-in checkout & tax handling | More control with 1-step checkout |
| Affiliate Marketing | Yes | Yes |
| Support | Email & Live Chat (Pro+) | Email, Phone (Pro+), Thinkific Academy |
| Mobile App | Teachable iOS/Android App | No official app |
Ease of Use: Which Platform is More Beginner-Friendly?
Both platforms are designed to be user-friendly, but Teachable often gets the edge for simplicity.
Teachable:
- Simple onboarding process
- Drag-and-drop course builder
- Intuitive interface for non-tech creators
Thinkific:
- Slightly steeper learning curve
- Offers more advanced options early on
- Still user-friendly with more flexibility
👉 Verdict: If you want to get started quickly without much setup, Teachable wins. If you’re okay learning a bit more to gain control, Thinkific is better.
Course Creation Tools
Both platforms offer:
- Video, audio, text, PDFs, quizzes
- Drip scheduling
- Multimedia lectures
- Course completion certificates
However, Thinkific offers more control over course structure (e.g., pre-requisite lessons, multiple instructors).
Customization & Branding
Thinkific is ideal if you want a fully branded experience:
- Custom domain support (all plans)
- Full design control using themes
- Site builder with drag-and-drop sections
Teachable has limitations unless you’re on higher-tier plans. Custom domains are not available on the free plan.
Marketing & Sales Features
Both platforms offer strong marketing tools, but they approach them differently.
Teachable:
- Integrated payment gateway (Teachable Payments or Stripe)
- Automatic tax handling (US sales tax & EU VAT)
- 1-click upsells
- Affiliate marketing system
- Built-in email marketing (basic)
Thinkific:
- Full integration with third-party email tools (ConvertKit, Mailchimp, etc.)
- 1-step checkout for fewer cart abandonments
- Coupons, bundles, and upsells
- Built-in affiliate marketing
Pricing Plans Comparison
Let’s break down the pricing for both platforms (as of 2025):
Teachable Pricing:
- Free – $0/month (limited features, $1 + 10% fee)
- Basic – $59/month
- Pro – $159/month
- Business – $665/month
Thinkific Pricing:
- Free – $0/month (no transaction fees)
- Basic – $49/month
- Start – $99/month
- Grow – $199/month
💡 Thinkific’s free plan is more generous, allowing full course building and zero transaction fees.
Analytics & Reporting
Teachable:
- Offers course progress tracking
- Sales and revenue reporting
- Integrates with Google Analytics & Segment
Thinkific:
- More detailed reporting dashboards
- Student engagement metrics
- Custom reporting (Pro plans)
If data and analytics are critical to your success, Thinkific provides deeper insights.
Customer Support & Community
Teachable:
- Email support (all plans)
- Live chat for Pro+
- Teachable Hub for knowledge base
Thinkific:
- Email and phone support (Pro+)
- Thinkific Academy (free training)
- Large community on Facebook & other forums
Pros and Cons Summary
✅ Teachable Pros:
- Easier for beginners
- Mobile app available
- Handles tax/VAT automatically
- Good for personal branding and solopreneurs
❌ Teachable Cons:
- Fewer customization options
- Higher transaction fees on free/basic plans
✅ Thinkific Pros:
- Better customization & control
- 0% transaction fees (even on Free plan)
- Robust analytics
- Better scalability
❌ Thinkific Cons:
- No mobile app
- Slightly higher learning curve
Which One Should You Choose?
Here’s a quick recommendation based on your creator type:
| Creator Type | Best Platform |
|---|---|
| First-time course creator | Teachable |
| Budget-conscious educator | Thinkific |
| Business scaling courses | Thinkific |
| Want built-in marketing | Teachable |
| Design-focused creator | Thinkific |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Conclusion
Both Teachable and Thinkific are excellent platforms, but they serve slightly different audiences.
- Choose Teachable if you want quick setup, built-in payment tools, and a mobile app.
- Choose Thinkific if you need more customization, stronger analytics, and long-term scalability.
Ultimately, the best platform depends on your goals, budget, and technical confidence.
Author Profile
- At Learners View, we're passionate about helping learners make informed decisions. Our team dives deep into online course platforms and individual courses to bring you honest, detailed reviews. Whether you're a beginner or a lifelong learner, our insights aim to guide you toward the best educational resources available online.
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