When choosing an online course platform, you might be comparing Thinkific and Teachable. This is a big decision, and understanding the differences can help you pick the best one for your needs.
When choosing between Thinkific and Teachable, both platforms offer strong tools for creating and selling online courses. They are both user-friendly and come with essential features for building and marketing courses. However, there are key differences that might make one a better choice for you.
Overview of Both Platforms
Both Thinkific and Teachable provide powerful tools for course creation, marketing, and sales. They are designed to help you build and manage online courses easily.

Why Compare Teachable and Thinkific?
Teachable and Thinkific are popular platforms for creating and selling online courses. While both have their strengths, Teachable offers unique features and benefits that might make it a better fit for you.
Key Differences Between Thinkific and Teachable
Teachable:
- Overview: Teachable is a well-established platform for creating and selling online courses, coaching, and digital products. It’s user-friendly and designed for creators of all skill levels.
- Ecommerce Features: Teachable offers built-in ecommerce features, making it easy to sell and monetize your courses without needing technical skills.
- Course Creation: Teachable allows users to quickly set up and sell courses, coaching, and digital downloads.
Thinkific:
- Overview: Thinkific is known for its customization options and wide range of features. It’s popular among educational institutions and large enterprises.
- Customization: Thinkific offers extensive customization, but some features may require technical knowledge or coding.
- Focus: Thinkific has traditionally catered to larger clients and recently introduced more ecommerce features.

Pricing and Features Comparison
Here’s how Teachable and Thinkific stack up in terms of pricing and core features:
Feature | Teachable | Thinkific |
---|---|---|
Free Plan | Yes | Yes |
Starting Price (Paid Plans) | $39/month (billed annually) | $36/month (billed annually) |
Unlimited Courses | Yes (Pro and Business plans) | Yes (paid plans) |
Unlimited Coaching | Yes (paid plans) | No standalone coaching product |
Unlimited Students | Yes | Yes |
Unlimited Digital Downloads | Yes | No |
Live Course & Coaching | Yes | Yes, with Zoom integration |
Marketing Features | Coupons, Upsells, Bundles, Order Bumps, Free Trials, Affiliate Marketing | Coupons, Upsells, Bundles, Order Bumps, but no Free Trials or automated Affiliate Payouts |
Payment Processing | Integrates with multiple payment options, including Teachable Pay | Integrates with Stripe and PayPal |
Tax Handling | Yes | No |
Multiple Currencies | Yes | No |
What You Can Do with Teachable
Teachable offers a range of features for building and managing your online business:
- Course Creation: Teachable’s drag-and-drop builder makes it easy to create courses with design templates that suit your needs.
- Digital Downloads: Teachable lets you offer digital products alongside courses and coaching.
- Online Coaching: Teachable includes features for scheduling and managing one-on-one coaching sessions.
- Membership Sites: You can create membership options using bundles and subscriptions to diversify your revenue streams.
Why Course Creators Prefer Teachable
Here are a few reasons why many creators choose Teachable:
- Efficient Payment Handling: Teachable Pay simplifies payments, taxes, and affiliate management, allowing you to focus on creating content.
- Dedicated Support: Teachable offers comprehensive support, including onboarding assistance and a private community for guidance.
- Value for Money: Teachable’s pricing includes many features without additional costs, offering more value compared to Thinkific’s pricing tiers.
Pricing Comparison
Teachable’s plans include:
- Free Plan: Allows you to create and sell courses, coaching, and digital downloads with some limitations.
- Basic Plan: $39/month (billed annually) with more features.
- Pro Plan: $119/month (billed annually) with advanced features.
- Business Plan: Custom pricing for larger needs.
Thinkific’s pricing includes:
- Free Plan: Limited to one course.
- Basic Plan: $36/month (billed annually) with basic features.
- Start Plan: $74/month (billed annually) with additional features.
- Grow Plan: $149/month (billed annually) for more advanced features.
Which Platform is Best?
Choosing between Teachable and Thinkific depends on your specific needs:
- Teachable: Best for those who want an easy-to-use platform with integrated payment and marketing features. It’s particularly good for creators who want a straightforward setup and efficient payment handling.
- Thinkific: Better suited for those who need extensive customization and are comfortable with a more complex setup.
FAQs
Is Teachable better than Thinkific?
Teachable may be better for many users due to its ease of use and integrated features, especially if you value simplicity and support.
Why do some prefer Thinkific?
Thinkific offers advanced customization options that might appeal to users with specific needs or technical skills.
What is the main difference?
Teachable’s standout feature is its comprehensive payment system, which simplifies handling payments and taxes.
Disadvantages of Thinkific?
Thinkific’s features might require coding knowledge, and it lacks built-in payment processing and some marketing tools.
Ready to Explore Teachable?
If you’re considering Teachable, you can sign up for a free account and start building your online course business today. Explore all the features and see how Teachable can support your entrepreneurial journey.
Conclusion
While both Thinkific and Teachable are effective platforms for creating and selling online courses, Thinkific stands out with its flexible mobile app options, powerful reporting features, superior site-building capabilities, extensive app store, and more affordable pricing plans. These advantages make Thinkific a strong contender if you are looking for a comprehensive and cost-effective solution for your online course business.