Thinkific is a leading online course platform designed to help educators, entrepreneurs, and businesses create, market, and sell online courses. With its user-friendly course builder, customizable branding, advanced marketing tools, and membership site features, Thinkific is an excellent choice for both beginners and experienced course creators.
In this in-depth review, we’ll explore Thinkific’s features, pricing, usability, course customization, student engagement tools, marketing capabilities, customer support, pros & cons, and whether it’s the right platform for your online education business.
1. What is Thinkific?
Thinkific is a cloud-based learning management system (LMS) that allows users to create, host, and sell online courses. Unlike platforms like Udemy, where course creators have limited control over pricing and branding, Thinkific offers full ownership and customization, allowing users to design their own branded learning experiences.
Who is Thinkific Best For?
✔️ Course Creators & Online Educators – Sell courses, memberships, and coaching programs.
✔️ Coaches & Consultants – Offer training sessions, group coaching, and one-on-one mentoring.
✔️ Businesses & Enterprises – Create employee training programs.
✔️ Nonprofits & Institutions – Provide educational resources and training.
💡 Not ideal for: Users looking for a marketplace-style platform like Udemy or Coursera.
2. Key Features of Thinkific
Thinkific offers a comprehensive suite of tools to create, manage, and sell online courses.
✅ Drag-and-Drop Course Builder
- No coding required – Easily design courses with a simple interface.
- Supports multiple content types – Videos, quizzes, PDFs, discussions, and assignments.
- Drip content scheduling – Release lessons over time.
- Course completion certificates – Reward students with branded certificates.
💡 Alternative to: Teachable, Kajabi.
✅ Website & Landing Page Builder
- Custom-branded course website – No need for WordPress.
- Pre-designed themes & templates – Professionally designed layouts.
- Custom domains – Use your own website URL.
- SEO-friendly pages – Improve search engine rankings.
💡 Alternative to: WordPress LMS plugins, Kajabi.
✅ Memberships & Subscriptions
- Create membership sites – Offer exclusive content for members.
- Flexible pricing models – One-time purchases, subscriptions, or installment plans.
- Private course options – Restrict access to selected students.
💡 Alternative to: Patreon, Podia.
✅ Student Engagement & Learning Tools
- Built-in quizzes & assessments – Test student progress.
- Community discussions – Engage students with forums & comments.
- Live lessons with Zoom integration – Host webinars or coaching sessions.
- Course progress tracking – Monitor student performance.
💡 Alternative to: Thinkific Communities, Mighty Networks.
✅ Marketing & Sales Tools
- Affiliate marketing system – Reward partners for referrals.
- Email marketing integration – Connect with ConvertKit, Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign.
- Upsells & cross-sells – Sell additional courses or products.
- Coupons & discounts – Attract more students with promotions.
💡 Alternative to: Teachable, Kartra.
✅ Payment Processing & Security
- Supports Stripe, PayPal, and Thinkific Payments – Secure transactions.
- Instant payouts – No waiting for funds like on Udemy.
- PCI-compliant & SSL-secure – Protects user data.
💡 Alternative to: Gumroad, Podia.
3. Ease of Use & User Experience
✔️ Beginner-Friendly Interface
✅ Intuitive dashboard – Simple navigation for course creation and management.
✅ Drag-and-drop course builder – No tech skills required.
✅ No need for third-party tools – Website builder, email integrations, and payment processing included.
❌ Limited Design Customization on Free Plan
❌ More advanced customization requires coding (CSS & HTML).
❌ Some users prefer more flexibility compared to WordPress LMS solutions.
👉 Overall, Thinkific is one of the easiest platforms for beginners, but advanced users may find design limitations.
4. Thinkific Pricing & Plans
Thinkific offers a free plan and three paid plans to suit different business needs.
| Plan | Price (Monthly) | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 1 course, limited students, basic features |
| Basic | $49 | Unlimited courses, email integration, coupons |
| Start | $99 | Memberships, live lessons, custom branding |
| Grow | $199 | Advanced analytics, API access, priority support |
💡 No transaction fees on any plan (unlike Teachable’s free plan).
How Does Thinkific Compare on Pricing?
✅ More affordable than Kajabi ($149/month minimum).
✅ Cheaper than Teachable’s Pro plan ($119/month).
✅ More features than Podia at a similar price point ($79/month).
5. Course Customization & Branding
Thinkific allows full control over course branding compared to platforms like Udemy.
Customization Features:
📌 Custom course themes – Modify layouts, colors, and fonts.
📌 Custom domain support – No “Thinkific” branding on paid plans.
📌 Advanced HTML & CSS editing – For developers.
💡 Alternative to: WordPress LMS plugins, LearnDash.
6. Student Engagement & Learning Experience
Thinkific provides interactive learning tools to boost engagement and retention.
Engagement Features:
📌 Drip content scheduling – Release lessons gradually.
📌 Quizzes & exams – Assess students’ understanding.
📌 Discussion forums & community building – Improve engagement.
📌 Certificates of completion – Increase course value.
💡 Alternative to: LearnWorlds, Podia.
7. Marketing & Sales Features
Thinkific includes essential sales and marketing tools, though it lacks built-in funnels like Kajabi.
Marketing Tools:
📌 Affiliate program – Reward partners for referrals.
📌 Coupons & promotions – Run discounts & flash sales.
📌 Upsells & bundles – Sell multiple courses together.
📌 Integrations with email marketing tools – Mailchimp, ConvertKit, ActiveCampaign.
💡 Alternative to: Kartra, Kajabi.
8. Customer Support & Community
✔️ Support Options
✅ Live chat & email support (faster response on higher plans).
✅ Extensive help center & tutorials.
✅ Thinkific Community Forum & Facebook Group.
❌ No Phone Support
❌ Only email support on the free plan.
👉 Thinkific provides solid customer support, but lacks phone support like Kajabi.
9. Pros & Cons of Thinkific
Pros
✅ No Transaction Fees – Unlike Teachable’s free plan.
✅ Beginner-Friendly Course Builder – Drag-and-drop interface.
✅ Membership & Subscription Features – Create recurring revenue streams.
✅ Excellent Student Engagement Tools – Quizzes, communities, discussions.
✅ Custom Branding & White-Labeling – Full website customization.
Cons
❌ Limited Free Plan – Only 1 course, basic features.
❌ Basic Design Customization – Requires CSS for advanced edits.
❌ Lacks Built-In Sales Funnels – Unlike Kajabi.
10. Final Verdict: Is Thinkific Worth It?
Thinkific is one of the best online course platforms for entrepreneurs, educators, and businesses looking for a scalable, customizable, and easy-to-use solution. While it lacks built-in funnels like Kajabi, it excels in course creation, student engagement, and affordability.
✔ Best for: Course creators, businesses, and membership sites.
✔ Not ideal for: Users needing built-in email marketing or sales funnels.
✔ Better than: Teachable for pricing, Podia for customization.
Final Rating: 4.7/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Would you like a comparison between Thinkific and Kajabi, Teachable, or Podia? Let me know! 🚀
