Teachable vs. Thinkific: The Best Platform to Sell Your Online Course
Quick Verdict (TL;DR):
- 🏆 Overall Winner: Teachable (Best All-in-One)
- 💰 Best Alternative: Thinkific (Great value)
The knowledge economy is booming. If you have expertise, selling an online course is one of the most scalable ways to monetize it. But building a course website from scratch is a nightmare. That's why hosted platforms like Teachable and Thinkific exist.
They look identical on the surface: both let you upload videos, create quizzes, and accept payments. But dig a little deeper, and you'll find they serve two very different types of creators. One is focused on marketing and sales; the other is focused on the student experience and site design.
The Course Builder Interface
You're going to spend hundreds of hours in the course builder. It needs to be intuitive.
Teachable
Teachable's builder is simple and linear. You create sections, add lectures, and upload content. It's hard to break. However, customizing the look and feel of your course pages is limited unless you know code (Liquid). It prioritizes function over form.
Thinkific
Thinkific's "Site Builder" is its crown jewel. It feels like a real website builder (similar to Squarespace). You can drag and drop sections, add testimonials, and customize your landing pages with far more freedom than Teachable allows. If branding is critical to you, Thinkific wins here.
Round 1: Student Experience & Checkout
How easy is it for students to buy and learn?
Teachable's Checkout Power
Teachable excels at the checkout. They have a highly optimized "one-page checkout" that converts incredibly well. They also handle EU VAT taxes automatically, which is a massive headache saver for global sellers. Their iOS app allows students to watch courses offline, which is a huge plus.
Thinkific's Learning Environment
Thinkific offers a slightly more polished player experience. They support more diverse content types natively (like surveys and assignments) and have better community features built-in. However, their checkout process is a multi-step flow that can sometimes cause friction.
Round 2: Marketing Tools
A course is useless if no one buys it.
Teachable is built for marketers. Their affiliate management system is robust, allowing you to pay affiliates automatically (using "BackOffice"). They also have powerful upsell features, allowing you to offer a "One-Click Upsell" immediately after purchase.
Thinkific relies more on integrations. While they have coupons and bundles, their native email marketing and affiliate tools are basic compared to Teachable. They expect you to integrate with Mailchimp or ConvertKit for serious marketing.
Round 3: Transaction Fees (The Money Talk)
This is the biggest differentiator.
| Plan | Teachable | Thinkific |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | $1 + 10% transaction fee | $0 transaction fee (limited to 1 course) |
| Basic Plan | $39/mo + 5% transaction fee | $49/mo + 0% transaction fee |
| Pro Plan | $119/mo + 0% transaction fee | $99/mo + 0% transaction fee |
| Payouts | Daily/Weekly (on Teachable Payments) | Instant (goes straight to your Stripe/PayPal) |
The "Teachable Tax": Teachable charges a 5% transaction fee on their Basic plan. Thinkific charges 0% transaction fees on ALL plans (even the free one). If you are selling a lot of courses, that 5% adds up fast.
Detailed Pros & Cons
Teachable Pros
- Checkout: Highly optimized one-page checkout designed for conversions.
- Taxes: Automatically calculates, collects, and remits EU VAT/US Sales Tax (huge time saver).
- Mobile App: Native iOS/Android app allows students to access courses offline.
- Affiliates: Robust built-in affiliate marketing dashboard to pay your partners.
Teachable Cons
- Fees: Charges transaction fees (1-10%) on lower-tier plans.
- Design: Page builder is rigid; hard to make pages look unique/branded.
- Payouts: Delays payouts (up to 30 days) on some payment gateways unless you qualify for instant.
Thinkific Pros
- 0% Fees: No transaction fees on ANY plan (including the free plan).
- Site Builder: Powerful drag-and-drop builder for full website customization.
- App Store: Huge marketplace of 3rd-party apps (Shopify, Mailchimp, etc.).
- Free Plan: Generous free plan allowing you to sell your first course.
Thinkific Cons
- Checkout: Multi-step checkout process is clunky and converts lower than Teachable.
- Marketing tools: Lacks built-in email marketing automation (requires integration).
- VAT: Does not handle digital sales tax collection for you.
User Experience & Interface Deep Dive
The difference in user experience between Teachable and Thinkific basically comes down to "Simplicity vs. Customization."
Teachable is designed to be rigid but foolproof. The admin dashboard is very linear. You go down the list: General Settings, Curriculim, Pricing, Pages. It is hard to get lost, but it is also hard to be creative. The page editor is block-based and somewhat limited. You can't just drag an element anywhere you want. This is actually a benefit for non-designers because it ensures your school always looks clean and professional, even if you have zero design skills.
Thinkific feels more like a website builder (like Wix or Squarespace). Their "Site Builder" allows for true drag-and-drop customization. You can add complex sections, rearrange the layout of your course player, and truly brand the experience. The learning curve is slightly steeper because there are more options, but the payoff is a site that looks unique to your brand, rather than a generic "Teachable school." If you are particular about pixels and branding, Thinkific is the better playground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my own domain name?
Yes, both platforms allow you to connect a custom domain (e.g., courses.yourname.com) on all paid plans. Thinkific even allows it on their free plan.
Do they host my videos?
Yes, both platforms provide unlimited video hosting. You don't need to pay for Wistia or Vimeo separately; you just upload your files directly to the course builder.
Can I drip content to students?
Yes, both allow you to "drip" content, meaning you can release modules over time (e.g., one module per week) rather than giving access to everything at once.
Do they handle taxes for me?
Teachable is superior here. If you use Teachable Payments, they automatically calculate, collect, and remit EU VAT taxes. Thinkific leaves tax compliance largely up to you.
Is there a mobile app?
Teachable has a native iOS app that allows students to access courses from any school. Thinkific does not have a native aggregator app, but offers a white-label app service for an extra fee.
Looking for a more advanced all-in-one solution? Check out our comparison of Kajabi vs Kartra .
The Final Verdict
Choose Thinkific if:
Choose Thinkific if you demand total control over your brand with a powerful site builder, 0% transaction fees, and the flexibility to scale your course business without penalties.
Choose Teachable if:
Choose Teachable if you want a 'sales-first' platform with a highly optimized one-page checkout, automatic tax handling, and robust affiliate tools ready to go out of the box.