Teachable vs Thinkific: which should you choose?
Quick answer: Teachable is built for beginners launching a first course, while Thinkific suits course-first creators. For most users Thinkific is the stronger default, but Teachable can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case. Teachable has the lower entry price.
Teachable versus Thinkific comes down to which trade-offs you can live with. Below we compare them on pricing, strengths and the use cases each one fits, then give a clear verdict.
Side-by-side
| Teachable | Thinkific | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | online course platform | online course platform |
| What it's known for | Beginner-friendly course platform to create, host and sell courses, coaching and digital downloads with built-in checkout and student management. | Course creation platform with no transaction fees on paid plans, strong course-building tools and an app marketplace. |
| Pricing | Free plan (high transaction fees); Basic from ~$39/mo, Pro from ~$89/mo, Pro+ and Business tiers higher (billed annually for best rate). | Free plan (1 course); Basic from ~$36/mo, Start/Grow tiers higher, Plus is custom enterprise pricing (billed annually for best rate). |
| Best audience | Beginners and solo creators launching their first course, coaching offer or digital download. | Course-focused creators who want to scale a catalog without per-sale platform cuts. |
| Best for | Beginners launching a first course, Coaches and creators, Selling digital downloads | Course-first creators, No transaction fees, Scaling course catalogs |
| Entry price | $39/mo ($29 annual) | $49/mo ($36 annual) |
| Biggest strength | Very beginner-friendly setup. | 0% platform transaction fees on every plan in primary markets like the US. |
| Main caveat | Starter plan charges a steep 7.5% transaction fee on top of card processing. | Permanent free plan was retired (now a 30-day trial only). |
Features compared
Where they really diverge is in the day-to-day feature set:
Teachable key features
- Course builder with video, downloads and quizzes
- Coaching products and digital downloads
- Built-in checkout (teachable:pay) and student management
- Sales pages, coupons and order bumps
Thinkific key features
- Drag-and-drop course builder, unlimited courses on paid plans
- Communities with spaces, live lessons and assignments
- Certificates and assessments
- Memberships and bundles
Pricing tiers side by side
Teachable plans
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $39/mo ($29 annual) | 7.5% transaction fee |
| Builder | $89/mo ($69 annual) | 0% transaction fee via teachable:pay |
| Growth | $189/mo ($139 annual) | 0% transaction fee |
| Enterprise | Custom |
Thinkific plans
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $49/mo ($36 annual) | Unlimited courses, 5 community spaces |
| Start | $99/mo ($74 annual) | Memberships, certificates, assessments |
| Grow | $199/mo ($149 annual) | |
| Plus | Custom | Enterprise |
Tiers compiled from the vendors' published plans and independent reviews; prices are approximate and change often, so confirm current figures (and your region's taxes) on each vendor's site.
Strengths compared
Where Teachable wins
One of the easiest on-ramps for a first paid course, but the cheap tier's 7.5% cut punishes you until you upgrade.
- Very beginner-friendly setup.
- 0% platform transaction fees on Builder plan and above.
That makes it the stronger pick for beginners and solo creators launching their first course, coaching offer or digital download.
Where Thinkific wins
Course-first platform with no platform transaction fees and unlimited courses from the cheapest paid tier.
- 0% platform transaction fees on every plan in primary markets like the US.
- Unlimited courses even on the entry Basic plan.
That makes it the stronger pick for course-focused creators who want to scale a catalog without per-sale platform cuts.
Verdict: choose by fit
There is no single winner; it depends on where you sit.
- Choose Teachable if you fit its core audience — beginners and solo creators launching their first course, coaching offer or digital download.
- Choose Thinkific if you fit its core audience — course-focused creators who want to scale a catalog without per-sale platform cuts.
FAQ
Is Teachable better than Thinkific?
Thinkific is the stronger default for most users, but Teachable can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case.
What is the main difference between Teachable and Thinkific?
Teachable is one of the easiest on-ramps for a first paid course, but the cheap tier's 7.5% cut punishes you until you upgrade. Thinkific is course-first platform with no platform transaction fees and unlimited courses from the cheapest paid tier.
Which is cheaper, Teachable or Thinkific?
Entry pricing differs: Teachable starts at $39/mo ($29 annual), while Thinkific starts at $49/mo ($36 annual). Compare the tiers above against your usage.
Sources
Facts above are drawn from these independent reviews and the vendors' own pages for Teachable and Thinkific: