Thinkific is the course platform we recommend most often to people whose product is the course itself rather than a whole membership business. The builder is chaptered and drag-and-drop, video uploads are handled for you, and quizzes, downloads, and completion certificates are all first-party rather than plugins. We built a five-module course with graded quizzes and enrolled test students without touching support.
The student side is the quiet strength. Playback is reliable, progress is obvious, and the mobile experience does not fall apart, which matters more for refund rates than any landing page trick. Payments run through Stripe or PayPal and paid plans take no cut of your revenue, so at volume it is meaningfully cheaper than platforms that skim a percentage.
Where it loses to Kajabi is marketing. Email is basic, funnels are limited, and if you want sophisticated sequences you will bolt on a separate tool. That is a reasonable trade if you already have an email platform you like. If you want one login for everything, look at Kajabi instead and expect to pay for the convenience.
| PLAN | PRICE | WHAT YOU GET |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 /mo | One course, core features, Thinkific branding |
| Basic | $49 /mo | Unlimited courses, custom domain, coupons |
| Start | $99 /mo | Assignments, memberships, live lessons |
| Grow | $199 /mo | Bulk enrollments, API, more admin seats |
Course creators who want a solid LMS without an all-in-one marketing suite — and anyone who wants Thinkific to do the heavy lifting in this category.
You want built-in email marketing and funnels in the same subscription. — if that's a dealbreaker, look at the alternatives in the sidebar.
- Is Thinkific worth it?
- The course platform that stays out of your way once the course is built. We rate it 8.4/10, and it's the strongest pick for course creators who want a solid lms without an all-in-one marketing suite.
- How much does Thinkific cost?
- Thinkific lists Free at $0/mo, Basic at $49/mo, Start at $99/mo, Grow at $199/mo. List prices change often, so confirm with the vendor before you buy.
- What are the downsides of Thinkific?
- Email and funnel tools are thinner than Kajabi Design customisation hits a wall without code App store add-ons stack up in cost Communities feature feels bolted on
Built a five-module course with quizzes and certificates, enrolled test students, and processed a live paid enrollment end to end.
We buy the tools, use them on real client and creator work, then write what we found.
LAST TESTED APR 22, 2026
REVIEWED BY THE BESTCREATES DESK · REVIEWS TEAM · OUR DISCLOSURE POLICY