Thinkific vs Teachable

ByObeydul Haque Reading Time: 7 minutes

The online course industry continues to thrive in 2025, with platforms like Thinkific and Teachable leading the charge for creators looking to share their expertise. Both platforms have empowered countless educators, entrepreneurs, and businesses to build and sell online courses, but choosing between them can be a challenge. Each offers unique strengths, pricing structures, and features tailored to different needs. In this article, we ranked and reviewed Thinkific and Teachable, comparing their course creation tools, marketing capabilities, pricing, ease of use, student engagement, and more to help you decide which platform is best for your online course business.

Thinkific

Founded in 2012 in Canada, Thinkific has evolved into a robust, all-in-one platform for course creators. It emphasizes flexibility, offering tools for course creation, memberships, communities, and advanced marketing automation. Thinkific is known for its user-friendly interface and extensive customization options, making it a favorite for creators who want to build a branded, scalable online learning experience.

Teachable

Launched in 2014, Teachable focuses on simplicity and monetization, catering to creators who want to get their courses up and running quickly. It’s particularly popular among beginners and those prioritizing sales features like upsells and optimized checkout pages. Teachable prides itself on handling technical details, allowing creators to focus on content and revenue generation.

Both platforms are cloud-based, requiring no coding skills, and they support a wide range of content types, from videos to quizzes. However, their approaches diverge in key areas, which we’ll explore below.

Course Creation and Customization

Thinkific’s Course Creation Tools

Thinkific’s drag-and-drop course builder is intuitive, allowing creators to upload videos, PDFs, quizzes, and more with ease. It supports complex course structures, such as drip-fed content, prerequisites, and lesson-level content locking, which is ideal for structured learning paths. Thinkific’s AI-powered tools, like the Course Outline Generator and Quiz Generator, streamline content creation by suggesting outlines and crafting engaging quizzes tailored to your audience.

Customization is a standout feature. Thinkific offers prebuilt, mobile-responsive themes and a visual page builder for creating branded course websites. Creators can integrate live lessons via Zoom, add assignments, and even import advanced content like Articulate Storyline files. The platform’s video library simplifies content management, making it easy to reuse assets across courses.

Teachable’s Course Creation Tools

Teachable’s course builder is equally user-friendly, with a focus on speed and simplicity. Creators can bulk-upload content, including videos, text, and downloadable files, and organize lessons into sections. Teachable supports multiple content types per lecture, which enhances lesson flexibility. Like Thinkific, it offers drip scheduling and course completion certificates, but its customization options are slightly more limited.

Teachable’s strength lies in its streamlined workflow. Video hosting is seamless, with automatic encoding and delivery, and the platform’s single-template design can be tweaked to match your brand. However, advanced customization may require coding, unlike Thinkific’s no-code flexibility.

Verdict

Thinkific edges out Teachable in course creation due to its AI tools, deeper customization, and support for complex course structures. Teachable is better for creators who want a quick setup with minimal design tweaks.

Marketing and Sales Features

Thinkific’s Marketing Capabilities

Thinkific has invested heavily in marketing tools, positioning itself as an all-in-one business platform. Its built-in email marketing allows creators to send targeted campaigns, while automation features like sales funnels and lead capture forms drive conversions. The Affiliate Center enables creators to manage affiliate programs with customizable commission rates, boosting course reach.

Thinkific integrates with over 1,000 third-party tools via Zapier, including email platforms like Mailchimp and analytics tools like Google Analytics. It also supports advanced features like coupons, discounts, and free trials, plus instant payouts for faster revenue access. For creators building a brand, Thinkific’s white-labeled URLs and custom domains ensure a professional look.

Teachable’s Marketing Capabilities

Teachable excels in sales optimization. Its checkout pages are designed for high conversions, with features like one-click upsells and order bumps to increase revenue per student. Teachable’s integrated email marketing is solid for basic communication, but it lacks the depth of Thinkific’s automation. Coupons and upsells are easy to set up, and the platform’s EU VAT handling is a boon for creators with European audiences.

Teachable’s affiliate marketing tools are straightforward but less granular than Thinkific’s. It integrates with payment gateways like Stripe and PayPal, though payouts may take longer than Thinkific’s instant model. Teachable’s focus is on simplicity, making it ideal for creators who prioritize sales over complex marketing campaigns.

Verdict

Thinkific wins for marketing due to its automation, affiliate flexibility, and extensive integrations. Teachable is stronger for creators focused on streamlined sales and checkout optimization.

Pricing and Value

Thinkific’s Pricing

Thinkific’s pricing plans (as of 2025) cater to various needs:

  • Free Plan: $0/month, 1 course, unlimited students, 0% transaction fees, basic features.
  • Basic Plan: $49/month, unlimited courses, coupons, email integrations, drip content.
  • Start Plan: $99/month, adds affiliate reporting, custom domains, and Zapier triggers.
  • Grow Plan: $199/month, includes phone support, 3 communities, and up to 5,000 students.

Thinkific’s 30-day free trial and no-transaction-fee model across all plans make it attractive for creators scaling without extra costs. Annual subscriptions offer a 25% discount.

Teachable’s Pricing

Teachable’s plans emphasize affordability:

  • Free Plan: $0/month, 1 course, 10 students, 10% + $1 transaction fee per sale.
  • Basic Plan: $39/month, unlimited courses, 5% transaction fee, basic features.
  • Pro Plan: $119/month, no transaction fees, advanced reporting, 5 admin users.
  • Business Plan: $299/month, adds bulk student imports and priority support.

Teachable’s 14-day free trial is shorter, and transaction fees on lower plans can eat into profits. Annual plans save up to 33%.

Verdict

Thinkific offers better value with no transaction fees and a more generous free plan. Teachable’s lower entry price ($39 vs. $49) appeals to budget-conscious creators, but fees diminish its affordability.

Ease of Use and Interface

Thinkific’s Interface

Thinkific’s dashboard is clean and intuitive, with a left-hand menu organizing features like course creation, marketing, and analytics. The drag-and-drop builder simplifies content uploads, and prebuilt themes reduce design time. Even non-technical users can create professional-looking courses thanks to Thinkific’s guided setup and extensive help resources, including Thinkific Academy.

Teachable’s Interface

Teachable’s interface is slightly more streamlined, with a sidebar menu that remains visible across sections for quick navigation. Its drag-and-drop builder is beginner-friendly, and settings like certificates and coupons are centralized for each course. Teachable’s focus on simplicity makes it marginally easier for first-time creators, though it sacrifices some depth.

Verdict

Teachable has a slight edge for beginners due to its minimalist design, but Thinkific’s interface is equally accessible and offers more flexibility for advanced users.

Student Engagement and Learning Experience

Thinkific’s Engagement Tools

Thinkific prioritizes an immersive learning experience. Features like live lessons, assignments, and discussion forums foster interaction, while quizzes and surveys (with AI-generated questions) keep students engaged. The platform’s course player is customizable, and progress tracking motivates learners. Thinkific also supports communities, allowing creators to build private spaces for student interaction, which is ideal for memberships.

The mobile app (available on iOS and Android) offers a branded experience, though in-app purchases and content management are limited compared to desktop. Thinkific’s focus on digital downloads, webinars, and 1:1 coaching adds versatility beyond traditional courses.

Teachable’s Engagement Tools

Teachable’s course player is clean and functional, with progress tracking and completion certificates to motivate students. Comments on lectures enable basic interaction, but community-building tools are limited. Teachable supports quizzes and drip content but lacks advanced engagement features like assignments or randomized question banks.

Teachable’s iOS app is student-focused, allowing course access but not creator-side management. It’s effective for on-the-go learning but less comprehensive than Thinkific’s app options.

Verdict

Thinkific outperforms Teachable in engagement with communities, AI quizzes, and versatile content types. Teachable is sufficient for straightforward courses but lacks depth for interactive learning.

Customer Support

Thinkific’s Support

Thinkific offers email and chat support on all plans, with phone support on higher tiers. Its knowledge base, tutorials, and Thinkific Academy provide extensive self-help resources. Live chat and group coaching are available on Start and Grow plans, ensuring creators get timely assistance as their business scales.

Teachable’s Support

Teachable provides email support across all plans, with live chat and group coaching on Pro and Business tiers. Its help center is robust, but support options feel less proactive than Thinkific’s. Creators on the free or Basic plan may find response times slower.

Verdict

Thinkific’s broader support channels, including phone support and a longer trial, give it an edge. Teachable’s support is solid but less comprehensive.

Integrations and Scalability

Thinkific’s Integrations

Thinkific’s 1,000+ integrations via Zapier cover email marketing (ConvertKit, ActiveCampaign), analytics (Google Analytics), and payment gateways (Stripe, PayPal). It supports global payouts and advanced tax management, making it scalable for international businesses. The platform’s API allows custom integrations for enterprise needs.

Teachable’s Integrations

Teachable integrates with core tools like Stripe, PayPal, and email platforms but has fewer options than Thinkific. Its EU VAT handling simplifies tax compliance for European creators. Teachable’s API is available, but scalability is more focused on sales than complex workflows.

Verdict

Thinkific is more scalable with its extensive integrations and global focus. Teachable suits smaller operations prioritizing sales simplicity.

Who Should Choose Thinkific?

Thinkific is ideal for:

  • Creators building complex, interactive courses with communities or memberships.
  • Businesses needing advanced marketing automation and affiliate programs.
  • Those seeking a no-transaction-fee model and long-term scalability.
  • Non-technical users who want deep customization without coding.

Who Should Choose Teachable?

Teachable is best for:

  • Beginners wanting a quick, affordable setup with minimal learning curve.
  • Creators focused on sales optimization through upsells and checkout pages.
  • Those targeting EU audiences due to built-in VAT handling.
  • Educators prioritizing simplicity over advanced features.

Final Thoughts

In 2025, both Thinkific and Teachable remain top-tier platforms for online course creation, but they cater to slightly different needs. Thinkific stands out as the more versatile, scalable option, with robust marketing tools, no transaction fees, and a focus on immersive learning experiences. Its AI features and customization options make it perfect for creators aiming to build a long-term brand. Teachable, meanwhile, excels in simplicity and sales optimization, appealing to beginners or those prioritizing quick monetization.

Ultimately, your choice depends on your goals. If growth, engagement, and flexibility are key, Thinkific is the better pick. If you need a budget-friendly, sales-focused platform, Teachable fits the bill. Both platforms offer free trials, so test them out to see which aligns with your vision.

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