When building an online course business, choosing between Thinkific and Teachable represents one of the most critical decisions you’ll make. Both platforms have established themselves as leaders in the online course creation space, providing comprehensive solutions for entrepreneurs looking to monetize their expertise. While they share similar core functionalities—allowing you to create, market, and sell online courses—their pricing structures and value propositions differ significantly, which could substantially impact your business’s profitability and scalability.
Why Course Creators Choose Thinkific
As of 2025, both Thinkific and Teachable have evolved their pricing models to better accommodate various types of course creators, from solopreneurs just testing the waters to established educational businesses serving thousands of students. Thinkific positions itself as a more customizable, feature-rich platform with transparent pricing, while Teachable emphasizes simplicity, marketing capabilities, and its robust payment processing system. Understanding these nuances is crucial for making an informed decision that will support your course creation journey for years to come. Whether you’re launching your first course or looking to migrate an existing course business, this detailed breakdown will provide clarity on which platform aligns better with your financial goals and business requirements in the current digital education landscape.
The Complete AI Course Generator Solution
Modern course creators increasingly seek platforms that combine traditional course-building capabilities with cutting-edge artificial intelligence to streamline the creation process. Learniverse stands out as the most innovative AI course generator that transforms the way educators, trainers, and course creators develop engaging learning experiences. Unlike traditional platforms that require hours of manual course construction, Learniverse enables you to generate comprehensive courses in under five minutes from text descriptions, PDFs, URLs, or even YouTube videos. This revolutionary approach dramatically reduces the time investment required to launch professional-quality courses while maintaining the depth and engagement students expect.
The platform’s adaptive learning paths automatically adjust content difficulty and progression based on individual learner performance, creating personalized educational experiences that outpace static course structures. Learniverse integrates interactive tools including customizable quizzes, video-based assessments, and gamification elements that boost completion rates and knowledge retention. Built-in analytics provide detailed insights into learner progress and engagement patterns, while the intuitive drag-and-drop interface requires zero technical expertise. Whether you’re an educator creating curriculum, an HR professional developing training programs, or a course creator scaling your business, Learniverse positions itself alongside established platforms like Thinkific and Teachable by offering superior AI-powered automation without sacrificing the customization and community features that modern learners demand.
What is Thinkific’s Pricing Structure
Thinkific offers a tiered pricing structure that accommodates different stages of your course business journey. Their Basic plan starts at $49 per month when billed monthly, or $36 per month when billed annually. This entry-level plan includes unlimited courses and students, essential course creation tools, and the ability to sell courses with zero transaction fees. For growing businesses, Thinkific’s Start plan at $99 monthly ($74 annually) adds live lessons, assignments, memberships, and more customizable communities.
The platform’s Grow plan, priced at $199 monthly ($149 annually), includes more advanced features like bulk student enrollment, advanced API access, and up to three active communities. For enterprise-level operations, Thinkific offers a Plus plan with custom pricing that includes dedicated support, custom development, and enhanced security features. Importantly, Thinkific has eliminated its previously offered free plan in 2024, instead providing a 30-day free trial for new users.
A standout aspect of Thinkific’s pricing model is the complete absence of transaction fees across all plans. This means you keep 100% of your course revenue beyond standard payment processing fees (typically 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction through integrated payment processors like Stripe). Thinkific also imposes no limits on the number of courses you can create or students you can enroll, even on their Basic plan—a significant advantage for businesses looking to scale without incurring additional costs per student or course.
Additional features that distinguish Thinkific’s pricing tiers include the availability of completion certificates, advanced customization options, priority support, and specialized assessment tools. Higher plans also unlock access to Thinkific’s app store, which houses over 90 integrations with third-party marketing, analytics, and automation tools that can enhance your course business’s functionality.
What is Teachable’s Pricing Structure
Teachable’s pricing structure begins with its Starter plan at $39 per month when billed annually, or $59 when billed monthly. This entry-level plan includes one published product, basic quizzes, and course creation tools, but notably carries a 7.5% transaction fee on all sales. The Builder plan at $89 monthly ($69 annually) removes transaction fees and increases the limit to five published products, adding features like certificates, an affiliate program, and coupon codes.
For more established course creators, Teachable offers the Growth plan at $189 monthly ($139 annually) with 25 published products, white-labeled websites, and custom user permissions. Their Advanced plan at $399 monthly ($309 annually) raises the product limit to 100 and adds unlimited integrations. Like Thinkific, Teachable has also eliminated its free plan option, instead offering a 14-day free trial for prospective users.
A significant consideration with Teachable’s pricing is its approach to product limitations. Unlike Thinkific, which offers unlimited courses across all plans, Teachable restricts the number of products (courses, coaching services, or digital downloads) based on your subscription tier. This could become a constraint as your business expands, potentially forcing upgrades to more expensive plans solely to accommodate additional courses.
Teachable distinguishes itself with Teachable Payments, its native payment processing system that handles payouts, tax forms, and author/affiliate payments automatically. However, this convenience comes with fees—there’s a 2.8% fee for using Teachable Payments on top of standard credit card processing charges. The platform also offers BackOffice services that automate EU VAT collection and remittance, a valuable feature for course creators selling internationally that Thinkific doesn’t currently match.
Integration Capabilities Comparison
When evaluating integration capabilities, significant differences emerge between these platforms:
Thinkific offers 90+ app integrations through its marketplace, connecting with popular tools like Mailchimp, ConvertKit, Zoom, and Salesforce
Teachable provides approximately 10 native integrations with essential services but requires more custom development for advanced connections
Thinkific’s API access becomes available on the Grow plan ($199/month), enabling custom integrations and data synchronization
Teachable’s unlimited integrations are restricted to the Advanced plan ($399/month), making advanced connectivity more expensive
Transaction Fees and Payment Processing
Transaction fees represent one of the most significant differences between Thinkific and Teachable. Thinkific stands out by charging zero transaction fees across all of its paid plans. This means that beyond the monthly subscription cost and standard payment processing fees from providers like Stripe or PayPal (typically 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction), Thinkific doesn’t take an additional cut of your course sales. This transparent pricing model can result in substantial savings, especially as your course business scales.
Conversely, Teachable imposes a 7.5% transaction fee on all sales made through its Starter plan. This fee is eliminated when you upgrade to the Builder plan or higher, but still represents a significant consideration for new course creators with limited budgets. For perspective, on $10,000 in course sales, you would pay $750 in transaction fees on Teachable’s Starter plan, while paying nothing beyond standard payment processing on any Thinkific plan.
Both platforms offer integrated payment processing through Stripe and PayPal, but Teachable has developed Teachable Payments, which simplifies payout management, especially for course creators working with multiple instructors or affiliates. However, this convenience comes at a cost—Teachable charges an additional 2.8% fee for using these services. Thinkific recently introduced Thinkific Payments (powered by Stripe Connect), which offers similar functionality without additional platform fees.
For international course creators, Teachable’s BackOffice feature automatically handles EU VAT collection and remittance, which can be invaluable for businesses selling to European customers. Thinkific requires third-party solutions like Quaderno (approximately $50/month) to manage similar tax compliance. Both platforms support multiple currencies and offer payment plan options, allowing students to pay for courses in installments, which can increase conversion rates for higher-priced offerings.
Hidden Costs and Additional Expenses
When comparing Thinkific and Teachable, several hidden costs and additional expenses might not be immediately apparent from their advertised pricing. For Teachable, while the monthly subscription might seem lower at first glance, the 7.5% transaction fee on the Starter plan can significantly impact profitability, especially for higher-volume sellers. Additionally, Teachable’s 2.8% fee for using Teachable Payments (their BackOffice service) adds another layer of expense that isn’t prominently featured in their marketing materials.
Thinkific doesn’t charge transaction fees, but course creators selling to EU customers will need to factor in the cost of third-party tax compliance tools. Without Teachable’s built-in EU VAT handling, Thinkific users typically need to subscribe to services like Quaderno (approximately $50/month) or TaxJar to remain compliant with international tax regulations. For businesses with substantial European sales, this represents a meaningful additional expense.
Both platforms offer email marketing capabilities, but with limitations that might necessitate investing in external email marketing platforms. Thinkific’s email features are primarily notification-based, while Teachable offers slightly more robust email marketing tools. However, serious course marketers on either platform will likely need to budget for dedicated email marketing services like ConvertKit, ActiveCampaign, or Mailchimp, adding $20-100+ monthly to total operational costs.
Advanced Features Requirements
Complex customization capabilities may require additional expenses on both platforms:
Custom development costs for advanced integrations or unique functionality
Third-party tools for comprehensive analytics beyond basic platform reporting
Professional design services for custom branding and user experience optimization
Mobile app development fees (Thinkific offers this as an add-on service starting at approximately $199/month)
These potential supplementary costs should be carefully considered when calculating the total cost of ownership for either platform.
Free Trial Options and Money-Back Guarantees
Both Thinkific and Teachable have moved away from offering permanent free plans, instead providing time-limited trials for potential customers to test their platforms. Thinkific offers a 30-day free trial that gives access to core platform features, allowing creators to build courses, explore the interface, and test functionality before committing to a paid subscription. This generous trial period provides ample time to determine if Thinkific aligns with your business needs without financial commitment.
Teachable provides a shorter 14-day free trial period, giving access to most platform features but with limited time to fully explore and test the system. Neither platform requires credit card information to start a free trial, eliminating the risk of unwanted charges if you forget to cancel. However, it’s important to note that while you can build courses during these trial periods, you cannot collect payments until upgrading to a paid plan.
Regarding money-back guarantees, Teachable offers a 30-day satisfaction guarantee on annual plans, allowing for a full refund if you’re dissatisfied with the platform within the first month. Thinkific’s refund policy is more restrictive, generally not offering refunds on subscription payments beyond specific circumstances outlined in their terms of service. This difference is worth considering if you’re uncertain about committing to an annual plan upfront.
For course creators who want to test functionality before migrating existing courses, both platforms offer different advantages. Thinkific’s longer trial period gives more time to replicate your course structure and test student experiences, while Teachable’s money-back guarantee on annual plans provides additional financial security. Consider these factors carefully based on your timeline for course creation and launch when deciding which platform to test first.
Value Comparison Analysis
When evaluating the value proposition of Thinkific versus Teachable, it’s essential to consider what each platform delivers at comparable price points. Thinkific’s Basic plan ($49/month) offers unlimited courses and students with zero transaction fees, making it immediately more cost-effective than Teachable’s Starter plan ($39/month) which limits you to one product and charges 7.5% transaction fees. For course creators expecting even modest sales, Thinkific’s approach typically results in substantial savings.
For established course businesses, Thinkific’s Start plan ($99/month) compares favorably to Teachable’s Builder plan ($89/month). While priced similarly, Thinkific offers unlimited courses versus Teachable’s five-product limit, plus additional features like certificates, assignments, and live lessons included without the need for further upgrades. Thinkific also provides more robust community features, which can significantly enhance student engagement and course completion rates.
Teachable’s primary value advantages come from its administrative and payment management features. The BackOffice system automatically handles affiliate payouts, tax form collection, and EU VAT compliance—tasks that require third-party solutions on Thinkific. For course creators with international audiences or large affiliate programs, these administrative tools can save considerable time and reduce compliance risks, potentially justifying Teachable’s higher effective cost.
From a course delivery perspective, both platforms offer comparable video hosting, content protection, and basic assessment tools. However, Thinkific edges ahead with more advanced quiz options, better course compliance features (like requiring students to complete lessons in sequence), and more flexible community tools. Teachable counters with stronger one-on-one coaching features and slightly more polished email marketing capabilities. Your specific teaching methodology and business model will determine which platform’s feature set delivers superior value for your investment.
Pricing Tier Feature Analysis
Understanding what features unlock at each pricing tier helps determine the best value:
Thinkific Basic ($49/month): Unlimited courses, zero transaction fees, basic community features
Teachable Starter ($39/month): One product limit, 7.5% transaction fees, basic course tools
Thinkific Start ($99/month): Live lessons, assignments, memberships, advanced quiz features
Teachable Builder ($89/month): Five products, no transaction fees, affiliate programs, certificates
Best Platform Selection Guide
Thinkific represents the ideal choice for course creators prioritizing scalability and profitability. Its zero transaction fee structure across all plans makes it particularly attractive for high-volume sellers or those offering premium-priced courses. If you plan to create multiple courses, Thinkific’s unlimited course allowance even on the Basic plan eliminates the need to upgrade solely to add more products. Content creators with complex course structures requiring prerequisites, advanced quiz functions, or comprehensive learning paths will also find Thinkific’s educational tools more robust and flexible.
Thinkific also better serves businesses focused on community building. Its native community features, which support multiple spaces, discussions, and member interactions, create more engaging learning environments without requiring third-party integrations. Organizations selling to corporate clients will appreciate Thinkific’s bulk enrollment capabilities and group analytics, features not as well developed in Teachable’s ecosystem.
Teachable shines for course creators selling internationally, particularly to European markets. Its BackOffice system automatically handles EU VAT collection and remittance, significantly reducing administrative burden and compliance risks. Creators with extensive affiliate marketing strategies may also prefer Teachable for its comprehensive affiliate management system that handles payments, tracking, and tax form collection automatically.
Solopreneurs and coaches who prioritize simplicity might gravitate toward Teachable’s more streamlined interface and coaching-specific features. Its slightly lower entry price point (disregarding transaction fees) can appeal to creators just testing the waters, though the 7.5% transaction fee quickly erodes this advantage once sales commence. Businesses with existing Shopify stores might favor Thinkific for its superior Shopify integration, while those requiring white-label mobile apps will find Thinkific’s options more developed, albeit at additional cost.
User Reviews and Market Reputation
Examining user reviews and market reputation provides valuable insights into how Thinkific and Teachable perform in real-world applications. On major review platforms like G2 and Capterra, both companies maintain strong overall ratings, but with notable differences in specific categories. Thinkific consistently receives higher marks for customer support quality and responsiveness, with many users highlighting their prompt and helpful assistance when technical issues arise. Teachable users, while generally satisfied, more frequently mention support delays, particularly on lower-tier plans.
Course creators praise Thinkific’s intuitive course builder and design flexibility, with its drag-and-drop interface receiving particular acclaim for allowing complex course structures without requiring technical knowledge. Teachable earns commendations for its streamlined checkout process and conversion optimization features, with many users reporting higher sales completion rates compared to other platforms. Both companies have established strong reputations for reliable video hosting and content delivery, crucial factors for maintaining student satisfaction.
Criticisms of Thinkific often center around its more basic email marketing capabilities and the need for third-party solutions to handle certain administrative tasks like EU VAT compliance. Teachable receives pushback regarding its transaction fees on the Starter plan and product limitations across all tiers, with some users reporting unexpected costs as their businesses grew. Both platforms occasionally face criticism for their mobile experiences, though Thinkific’s recent mobile app improvements have somewhat addressed these concerns.
Industry experts generally position Thinkific as the more comprehensive educational platform with superior course delivery tools, while characterizing Teachable as the more marketing-focused solution with stronger sales features. This distinction aligns with user feedback, where content-focused creators tend to prefer Thinkific while marketing-oriented entrepreneurs often favor Teachable. Your own priorities regarding course complexity versus sales optimization should guide which platform’s reputation better matches your business objectives.
Making the Final Decision
Choosing between Thinkific and Teachable ultimately depends on aligning your specific business requirements with each platform’s strengths. If maximizing revenue retention is your primary concern, Thinkific’s zero transaction fees across all plans makes it the clear financial winner, particularly as your course sales increase. Course creators planning to build multiple courses or a comprehensive course library will benefit from Thinkific’s unlimited courses on all plans, avoiding the forced upgrades Teachable requires as your product catalog expands.
Teachable becomes the more attractive option if you anticipate significant international sales, especially to European markets. Its automated EU VAT handling through BackOffice can save substantial time and reduce compliance risks, potentially justifying its higher effective cost. Similarly, if you plan to implement an extensive affiliate marketing program, Teachable’s integrated affiliate management and automatic payment distribution may prove invaluable, eliminating administrative headaches as your affiliate network grows.
Consider your technical comfort level and desired customization depth. Thinkific offers more extensive customization options and design flexibility but requires more initial setup time. Teachable provides a more streamlined experience that gets you selling faster, though with less control over the learning environment. Both platforms offer adequate customer support, but Thinkific’s reputation for more responsive service may matter if you anticipate needing frequent assistance.
Before making your final decision, take advantage of both platforms’ free trials to test the user experience firsthand. Pay particular attention to the course builder interface, student experience, payment processing, and how each platform integrates with your existing tools. Remember that while migrating between platforms is possible, it requires significant effort, so choosing the right platform initially can save considerable time and resources as your course business grows.
Which Online Course Platform Delivers Better ROI
After comprehensively analyzing Thinkific and Teachable’s pricing structures, feature sets, and value propositions, several clear distinctions emerge that can guide your platform selection. Thinkific provides the more cost-effective solution for most course creators, particularly those expecting to generate substantial revenue or offer multiple courses. Its transparent pricing with no transaction fees and unlimited courses across all plans creates a predictable cost structure that doesn’t penalize growth. For established educators or businesses planning to scale, this advantage becomes increasingly significant.
Teachable offers competitive entry pricing that’s somewhat offset by transaction fees and product limitations. However, it distinguishes itself through superior administrative tools, particularly for international sales and affiliate management. Course creators with specific needs in these areas may find Teachable’s additional costs justified by the time saved and reduced administrative complexity. Its slightly more intuitive interface may also appeal to first-time course creators prioritizing simplicity over extensive customization.
Both platforms continue to evolve their offerings in response to market demands. Thinkific has strengthened its community features and mobile experience, while Teachable has improved its course delivery tools and enhanced its checkout optimization capabilities. These ongoing enhancements underscore the importance of considering not just current needs but anticipated future requirements when selecting a platform partner. Ultimately, the “right” choice between Thinkific and Teachable isn’t universal but depends on your specific business model, growth projections, and priorities. By carefully weighing the pricing implications against each platform’s capabilities as outlined in this comparison, you can make an informed decision that positions your course business for sustainable success in the competitive online education marketplace.
For creators seeking the perfect balance of AI-powered efficiency and comprehensive course management, Learniverse emerges as the innovative solution that bridges traditional course platforms with next-generation artificial intelligence. Its adaptive learning technology and seamless content generation capabilities make it an ideal choice for educators ready to embrace the future of digital learning while maintaining the engagement and customization features that students expect from premium educational experiences.
