LearnWorlds vs. Thinkific

Founded in 2014, LearnWorlds is a UK- and Greece-based learning management system (LMS) designed to create, manage, and sell online courses, digital products, and memberships. It positions itself as a premium, all-in-one solution, particularly for educators, entrepreneurs, and businesses aiming to deliver highly interactive and branded learning experiences. LearnWorlds is known for its robust course-building tools, white-label capabilities, and support for SCORM (Shareable Content Object Reference Model) compliance, making it a favorite for those prioritizing advanced e-learning features.

Launched in 2012, Thinkific is a Canadian-based platform focused on simplicity and ease of use, catering to beginners, freelancers, and mid-sized businesses. With over 100 employees and an estimated revenue of $15 million annually, Thinkific has built a reputation for its user-friendly drag-and-drop course builder and affordable pricing, including a free plan. It’s ideal for course creators who want to quickly launch their first course without needing advanced technical skills or complex features.

While both platforms share similarities—such as cloud-based hosting, unlimited video uploads, and customizable course websites—their differences in target audience, feature sets, and pricing make them suited for distinct use cases. Let’s dive into a detailed comparison across key areas.

1. Course Creation Capabilities

The ability to create engaging, professional, and effective courses is at the heart of any LMS. Both LearnWorlds and Thinkific offer robust course-building tools, but their approaches differ.

LearnWorlds

LearnWorlds excels in providing advanced course creation features, making it ideal for creators who want to build intricate, interactive courses. Its drag-and-drop course builder supports a wide range of content types, including videos, PDFs, quizzes, and SCORM files. Unique features include:

Interactive Videos: Creators can add buttons, questions, and labels to videos, enhancing student engagement. Videos can also be automatically transcribed with interactive captions.
AI-Powered Tools: LearnWorlds offers AI functionality to generate course outlines and activities, streamlining the creation process.
Assessments and Gamification: The platform supports grade books, auto-graded exams, multiple-choice questions (MCQs), question banks, and gamification elements like badges and certificates.
Bulk Uploads: Creators can upload multiple files and convert them into course activities automatically.
Copyright Protection: Features like domain-restricted access and watermarks protect digital content.

However, LearnWorlds’ interface can feel overwhelming for beginners due to its extensive feature set, and the learning curve may be steeper compared to Thinkific.

Thinkific

Thinkific prioritizes simplicity, making it an excellent choice for beginners or those creating straightforward, pre-recorded courses. Its drag-and-drop course builder is intuitive and supports multimedia content like videos, audio, PDFs, and quizzes. Key features include:

Ease of Use: The course builder is clean and straightforward, allowing creators to upload content and organize it with minimal effort.
Drip Content: Thinkific allows scheduling content release over time, keeping students engaged.
Free Video Hosting: Unlimited video hosting is available on all plans, with no additional fees.
Prebuilt Themes: Optimized, mobile-responsive themes simplify course design without requiring coding skills.

While Thinkific’s course builder is flexible, it lacks some of the advanced features LearnWorlds offers, such as interactive videos, SCORM support, or built-in gamification. It’s better suited for creators who prioritize speed and simplicity over detailed customization.

Winner: LearnWorlds

LearnWorlds takes the lead for course creation due to its advanced tools, interactive features, and support for SCORM compliance. However, Thinkific is a strong contender for beginners who need a quick, user-friendly solution.

2. Website and Customization

A professional, branded website is crucial for establishing credibility and attracting students. Both platforms offer website-building tools, but their customization capabilities vary.

LearnWorlds

LearnWorlds is a standout in website customization, offering over 50 professional, mobile-responsive templates that allow creators to build fully branded, white-label websites. Key features include:

Front-End Page Builder: LearnWorlds provides a robust drag-and-drop page builder with plug-and-play sections, offering more flexibility than Thinkific.
Built-In Blogging: Creators can create SEO-optimized blog posts to drive traffic, a feature Thinkific lacks.
White-Labeling: LearnWorlds allows complete removal of platform branding, making it ideal for businesses wanting a seamless, professional look.
Pop-Up and Assignment Builders: Unique tools for creating pop-ups and assignments enhance user engagement.

The downside is that the interface can feel cluttered, and beginners may need time to master the customization options.

Thinkific

Thinkific offers a simpler website-building experience with prebuilt, mobile-responsive themes that are easy to customize. Features include:

Drag-and-Drop Editor: The site builder is user-friendly but relies on pre-designed blocks, limiting flexibility compared to LearnWorlds.
Custom Domains: Available on paid plans, allowing creators to use their own domain.
Basic Customization: Creators can adjust fonts, colors, and layouts, but the options are less extensive than LearnWorlds.

Thinkific’s site builder is functional but feels dated compared to LearnWorlds’ modern templates. It’s sufficient for basic course websites but may disappoint creators seeking advanced design control.

Winner: LearnWorlds

LearnWorlds’ superior customization options, modern templates, and blogging capabilities make it the better choice for creators who want a highly professional, branded website.

3. Pricing and Plans

Pricing is a critical factor for course creators, especially those just starting out. Both platforms offer tiered plans, but their structures and value propositions differ.

LearnWorlds

LearnWorlds does not offer a free plan but provides a 30-day free trial. Its pricing plans (as of 2025) are:

Starter: $24/month (billed annually) – Unlimited paid courses, 3-page builder, $5 transaction fee per sale, basic integrations.
Pro Trainer: $79/month – Unlimited courses, no transaction fees, memberships, subscriptions, and advanced assessments.
Learning Center: $249/month – Advanced features, SCORM support, 20+ admins, and premium integrations.
High Volume & Enterprise: Custom pricing for large-scale businesses.

The transaction fee on the Starter plan can be a drawback for creators with high sales volumes, and the higher-tier plans are expensive compared to Thinkific.

Thinkific

Thinkific is notable for its free plan, a rarity among LMS platforms. Its pricing plans (as of 2025) include:

Free: $0/month – 3 courses, unlimited students, no transaction fees, basic features.
Basic: $39/month – Unlimited courses, custom domain, email integrations, drip content.
Start: $99/month – Advanced tools, 2 admins, 5 course authors.
Grow: $199/month – Growth packages, priority support, and more admin roles.
Thinkific Plus: Custom pricing for enterprise-level businesses.

Thinkific’s free plan is a major advantage for beginners, and its paid plans are generally more affordable than LearnWorlds’. However, advanced features like affiliate marketing and branded mobile apps require higher-tier plans.

Winner: Thinkific

Thinkific’s free plan and lower entry-level pricing make it more accessible for beginners and small-scale creators. LearnWorlds’ plans are better suited for established businesses willing to invest in premium features.

4. Marketing and Sales Tools

Effective marketing and sales tools are essential for attracting students and generating revenue. Both platforms offer features to support these goals, but their strengths vary.

LearnWorlds

LearnWorlds provides a comprehensive suite of marketing tools, particularly for creators focused on conversions and recurring revenue. Features include:

Subscriptions and Memberships: Flexible options for recurring revenue models.
Coupons and Bundles: Tools to create discounts and course bundles to boost sales.
Affiliate Management: Automated affiliate registration and link generation.
Integrations: Over 4,000 integrations, including Zapier, HubSpot, Mailchimp, and Google Analytics.
SEO and Sales Funnels: SEO-optimized pages and 1-click sales funnels for lead generation.

LearnWorlds’ marketing tools are robust but may require higher-tier plans for full access.

Thinkific

Thinkific emphasizes marketing simplicity, with tools designed to help creators track and optimize sales. Features include:

Affiliate Center: Supports affiliate marketing, though setup is manual compared to LearnWorlds.
Analytics and Reporting: Detailed insights into revenue, enrollments, and student engagement.
Sales Widgets: Buttons for external websites to drive purchases.
Integrations: Supports over 1,000 tools via Zapier, including Mailchimp and ConvertKit.

Thinkific’s marketing tools are effective but less comprehensive than LearnWorlds’, particularly for advanced funnels and SEO.

Winner: LearnWorlds

LearnWorlds’ extensive marketing features, including subscriptions, affiliate automation, and SEO tools, give it an edge over Thinkific’s simpler offerings.

5. Student Experience and Mobile Apps

The student experience can significantly impact course completion rates and satisfaction. Both platforms prioritize user-friendly course players, but their mobile offerings differ.

LearnWorlds

LearnWorlds focuses on optimizing the learning experience with a modern, customizable course player. Features include:

Interactive Content: Supports interactive videos, assessments, and gamification for higher engagement.
White-Label Mobile App: Creators can build branded mobile apps with no coding, supporting push notifications and in-app purchases.
Community Features: Built-in social networking tools allow students to connect and engage.

The lack of a default LearnWorlds mobile app (only custom-branded apps are available) may be a limitation for smaller creators.

Thinkific

Thinkific’s course player is intuitive and modern, designed for ease of use. Features include:

Mobile Apps: Free Thinkific apps for iOS and Android, plus branded app options on higher plans.
Community Tools: Supports discussions and communities, though less robust than LearnWorlds.
Flexible Content Delivery: Supports drip content and prerequisites for structured learning.

Thinkific’s mobile apps are a strong point, but its student engagement features are less advanced than LearnWorlds’.

Winner: LearnWorlds

LearnWorlds’ interactive features and white-label app builder provide a more engaging and professional student experience, though Thinkific’s default mobile apps are more accessible for smaller creators.

6. Customer Support

Reliable support is crucial for resolving issues and ensuring smooth platform use. Both platforms offer solid support but with different approaches.

LearnWorlds

24/5 Email Support: Available on the Starter plan, with 24/7 support on higher plans.
LearnWorlds Academy: Offers tutorials, webinars, and over 400 help articles.
Community and Webinars: Daily webinars and a creator community provide additional resources.

Thinkific

24/7 Support: Email and chat support on all plans, with phone support on higher tiers.
Thinkific Academy: Tutorials and resources for first-time creators.
Knowledge Base: Extensive documentation and community forums.

Winner: Thinkific

Thinkific’s 24/7 support and broader range of contact options give it a slight edge, especially for beginners who may need more immediate assistance.

7. Integrations and Ecosystem

Integrations expand a platform’s functionality, connecting it to marketing, analytics, and payment tools.

LearnWorlds

LearnWorlds offers over 4,000 integrations, including:

Payment Gateways: Stripe, PayPal, Shopify, and more (though limited in some regions).
Marketing Tools: HubSpot, Mailchimp, Google Analytics, and Zapier.
Advanced Tools: Intercom, Mixpanel, and SCORM-compliant systems.

Thinkific

Thinkific supports over 1,000 integrations via Zapier, including:

Payment Gateways: Stripe and PayPal.
Marketing Tools: Aweber, ConvertKit, Mailchimp, and CartStack.
App Store: Enhances functionality with third-party apps.

Winner: LearnWorlds

LearnWorlds’ extensive integration library, particularly for advanced e-learning and marketing tools, outshines Thinkific’s offerings.

8. Target Audience and Use Cases

LearnWorlds

Best For: Large course creators, businesses, and corporations needing advanced features, white-labeling, and SCORM compliance.
Use Cases: Online schools, employee training, professional certifications, and premium course providers.

Thinkific

Best For: Beginners, freelancers, and small to mid-sized businesses looking for an affordable, user-friendly platform.
Use Cases: First-time course creators, coaching programs, and simple membership sites.

Final Verdict

Choosing between LearnWorlds and Thinkific depends on your goals, budget, and technical expertise.

Choose LearnWorlds if you’re an established creator or business seeking advanced course creation tools, white-labeling, interactive features, and robust marketing capabilities. Its premium features and customization options make it ideal for professional online schools and enterprise-level training, though it comes at a higher cost and with a steeper learning curve.
Choose Thinkific if you’re a beginner or small-scale creator looking for an affordable, user-friendly platform to launch your first course quickly. Its free plan, intuitive interface, and solid support make it accessible, but it may lack the advanced features needed for complex e-learning projects.

Both platforms are excellent choices, but LearnWorlds is better suited for those prioritizing learning experience and scalability, while Thinkific excels in simplicity and affordability. Evaluate your needs, test both platforms (Thinkific’s free plan and LearnWorlds’ 30-day trial),