Choosing the right platform for your online course is a make-or-break decision.
The wrong choice can lead to high costs, missing essential features, and a frustrating experience for both creators and students.
And switching platforms later? That’s an even bigger headache.
Thinkific has positioned itself as a go-to solution for course creators, offering an impressive set of tools for building, marketing, and selling courses. But does it live up to the hype in 2025?
That’s what we’ll explore in this post. We’ll give you an honest, in-depth Thinkific review covering its features, pricing, pros and cons. We’ll also compare it to promising competitors so you can decide if it’s the right fit for your business.
Thinkific overview
Thinkific is a cloud-based learning management system (LMS) built to help individuals and businesses create, market, and sell online courses. It’s an online course platform for educators, entrepreneurs, and companies that want to create courses.
At first glance, Thinkific seems to check all the boxes. It provides an intuitive course builder, student engagement tools (like quizzes and certificates), and built-in marketing features to help grow your audience. It even claims to make selling courses effortless with multiple payment options and integrations.
But although this online training platform has many benefits, it also has downsides. Some users find Thinkific’s customization options limiting, for example. If you’re considering using Thinkific, it’s important to look beyond the feature list and see how it truly performs.
Before you commit to this online course platform, let’s explore its features, pros, and cons to determine whether it’s the right fit for your needs.
Top features of Thinkific
Here’s a detailed look at Thinkific’s most powerful features:
1. Drag and drop course builder
You need zero coding skills to create a course with Thinkific. It comes with an intuitive drag-and-drop builder that allows you to upload:
- Videos
- Quizzes
- PDFs
- Notes
- Video correction notes/thoughts
You can upload all sorts of course formats and materials effortlessly — like this:
You can even structure your content into modules, reorder lessons as needed, and preview courses from a student’s perspective to ensure smooth navigation.
2. Built-in website and landing page builder
When using Thinkific, you don’t need an external website to host your courses. It comes with a built-in site builder. You can select a suitable template, create high-converting landing pages, customize themes, and optimize your site for SEO.
3. Fully customizable course player
The platform allows you to fully customize the course player to match your branding. You can adjust colors, fonts, and layouts to create a consistent learning experience that aligns with your business.
Unlike some competitors that restrict design elements, this learning management system gives you full creative control of your course pages.
4. Multiple payment methods
Thinkific provides flexible payment solutions. Course creators can charge in the following ways:
- One-time fees
- Subscription plans
- Installment payment plans
The platform integrates with Stripe and PayPal for easy transactions.
It also supports coupon codes and bundles to boost sales.
5. Student engagement tools
Keeping students engaged is crucial for any course’s success. Thinkific includes interactive features such as:
- Quizzes and assignments. Test students’ knowledge and reinforce learning.
- Certificates of completion. Reward students with branded certificates after completion of the online course.
- Discussions and communities. Allow students to interact with instructors and peers.
6. Analytics and reporting
Thinkific provides detailed analytics on the following:
- Student progress and completion rates
- Revenue and sales trends
- Enrollment and engagement metrics
These insights help you refine your Thinkific course and marketing strategies.
7. Marketing integrations
This course-building and learning platform also integrates with marketing tools like GetResponse, ConvertKit, Zapier, and Google Analytics to help automate email campaigns, track user behavior, and optimize conversion rates.
With these integrations, you can easily nurture leads and increase student retention.
8. AI-powered suggestions and translation
Recently, Thinkific has incorporated AI capabilities into the platform. Its AI-assisted content generation helps course creators draft course outlines, suggest lesson structures, and create quizzes and assignments.
This feature is particularly useful for those struggling with structuring their course content or need a starting point for their lessons.
Thinkific pricing in 2025 — What you get for your money
Thinkific price options are structured to cater to a wide range of course creators. Here’s a breakdown of what each plan includes and who it’s best suited for:
1. Basic Plan ($36/Month) – Best for solo course creators
This plan is ideal for those just starting. It offers the following set of features:
| Build & Sell Features | Marketing Tools | Sales Tools |
| Launch unlimited courses | Website builder | Instant access to revenue |
| Create one community | AI-powered landing pages | Coupons and discounts |
| Sell digital downloads (up to 5) | Email automation | Affiliate selling |
| Host up to 5 live coaching sessions and webinars | Order bumps | |
| Gifting | ||
| Flexible payment options | ||
| Abandoned carts |
2. Start Plan ($74/Month) – Best for growing businesses
This plan is designed for educators or businesses looking to offer a more interactive learning experience and expand their monetization options.
| Build & Sell Features | Marketing Tools | Sales Tools |
| Launch unlimited courses | Website builder | Instant access to revenue |
| Create one community | AI-powered landing pages | Coupons and discounts |
| Offer unlimited digital downloads | Email automation | Affiliate selling |
| Host unlimited live coaching sessions and webinars | Advanced CSS/HTML editing | Order bumps |
| Live lessons | Gifting | |
| Memberships | Flexible payment options | |
| Abandoned carts | ||
| Bundles and add-on packages |
3. Grow Plan ($149/month) – Best for established businesses
This plan is designed for experienced course creators looking to expand their reach and offer a more premium learning experience
| Build & Sell Features | Marketing Tools | Sales Tools |
| Launch unlimited courses | Website builder | Instant access to revenue |
| Create three communities | AI-powered landing pages | Coupons and discounts |
| Offer unlimited digital downloads | Email automation | Affiliate selling |
| Host unlimited live coaching sessions and webinars | Advanced CSS/HTML editing | Order bumps |
| Live lessons | Remove Thinkific branding | Gifting |
| Memberships | Flexible payment options | |
| Abandoned carts | ||
| Bundles and add-on packages | ||
| Thinkific analytics | ||
| Group orders |
4. Thinkific+ Plan (custom pricing) – Best for enterprises and large-scale training
Thinkific+ plan is a high-end solution for organizations that need scalability and advanced customization. It includes:
- Advanced analytics to track student performance and engagement
- Advanced student management and enrollment options for corporate training
- Dedicated onboarding and priority support
At this level, businesses can fully customize the learning experience, making it ideal for large companies or educational institutions running multiple courses simultaneously.
The pros of using Thinkific
There are plenty of positive Thinkific reviews online. Several experienced course creators have reviewed this platform on their blogs, and we have seen about 256 five-star reviews on review platforms like G2 and Capterra.
Here’s what’s most appreciated about the platform by other users:
1. It’s extremely easy to learn
Users have highly praised Thinkific’s user-friendly interface. Whether you’re tech-savvy or just getting started, the platform is designed to be intuitive and easy to navigate. The learning curve is minimal, which makes it accessible for beginners and experienced course creators alike.
The process is pretty straightforward when you set up your first course. With drag-and-drop tools and simple customization options, you can have your course up and running in no time. This is a huge advantage if you want to focus on creating content rather than getting stuck in complicated tech setups.
2. It offers excellent customer support
Other users highlight Thinkific’s customer support as a pro. The support team is known for being responsive and helpful, offering assistance through multiple channels, including live chat, email, and extensive help guides.
Thinkific offers priority support for those on higher-tier plans. If any issues arise, they are resolved promptly. Thinkific’s dedication to helping users succeed is one key factor in keeping course creators loyal to the platform.
3. It’s scalable
Thinkific is an online course platform for small-scale creators and large businesses looking to grow their course offerings. As your business expands, Thinkific allows you to scale your operations smoothly. You can easily add more courses, students, and features.
With different pricing tiers to choose from, you can conveniently increase your resources as your student base and course library expand.
4. You get a wide range of integrations
Thinkific integrates with various third-party tools like Zapier, GetResponse, Mailchimp, Stripe, PayPal, Google Analytics, and more. These integrations allow you to streamline your email marketing, automate workflows, and integrate your courses with a CRM.
The cons of using Thinkific
Despite having lots of positive reviews, some Thinkific reviews suggest that it’s not a good choice. There are about eight one-star reviews of Thinkific on G2 and Capterra saying it’s a bad choice due to:
1. Account closing issues
Some users have reported difficulties closing their Thinkific accounts. These issues range from delayed customer support responses to unexpected charges even after attempting to cancel. This frustrates users who want a hassle-free experience when ending their subscription.
Disabling a course can also trigger another to reactivate, leading to unintended enrollments and refund issues.
2. Security issues
Thinkific’s security measures have raised concerns among users, especially regarding content protection. A major issue is that paid subscribers can easily access course content URLs through a simple “View HTML” trick, allowing them to share the links freely.
This lack of security makes it easy for unauthorized users to access premium course content without paying, which is a significant drawback for educators who are selling online courses.
3. No free plan
Thinkific’s free plan was once one of its most praised features. However, as of 2025, they no longer offer it, putting them behind competing course creation platforms.
This is a major drawback for new course creators looking to test the platform without making a financial commitment.
4. Technical glitches
Some users experience critical technical issues, including sudden account suspensions without explanation. One reviewer lost access mid-pre-sale, leaving buyers unable to purchase. Support was unhelpful in this instance, with AI bots and delayed email responses.
Moreover, Thinkific lacks a built-in contact form and blog integration, forcing users to pay extra for third-party tools. The basic plan also prevents search engine indexing and PPC campaigns, making it ineffective for startups. These limitations make Thinkific a risky choice for some educators.
5. Video load times are slow
Uploading course content to Thinkific can be time-consuming. Some users experience load times of 30-60 minutes per video, which can be frustrating, especially for creators who rely heavily on video-based courses.
3 Thinkific alternatives to try out
Here are three of the best Thinkific alternatives:
1. GetResponse
Although GetResponse is famous for its email marketing tools, the newly launched GetResponse content monetization hub makes it a fantastic option for creating and selling online courses.
With an AI-powered course creation process, webinars, and premium newsletters, GetResponse makes it easy to monetize your expertise.
Key features include:
- AI tools. Both beginners and pros can easily build courses with smart AI tools.
- Webinar hosting. Host live or on-demand webinars to engage with your audience in real-time. Use these webinars to build an audience and promote your online course.
- Email marketing and automation. Send personalized sequences and automate campaigns based on student behavior.
- Sales funnels and landing pages. Use ready-to-use email to generate leads and convert them into students.
- Payment integrations. Simplified e-commerce with PayPal and Stripe for smooth and secure transactions.
Pros of GetResponse
- Eliminates the need for multiple subscriptions by offering an all-in-one marketing solution, including email marketing, webinars, sales funnels, and course creation tools.
- Saves a lot of time with high-quality templates and a wide range of automation options (like autoresponders, drip campaigns, and list segmentation).
- 24/7 live support and excellent customer service.
- One of the most beginner-friendly platforms with an intuitive interface and a low learning curve.
- 30-day free trial with all the features so you can make a tried-and-tested investment.
Cons of GetResponse
- No affiliate programs for users to build
- No community for students
- It doesn’t let you sell several digital products, including podcasts, coaching sessions, and memberships.
2. Teachable
Teachable is one of Thinkific’s biggest competitors. It offers similar course creation features but a slightly different pricing model.
While Thinkific offers more customization and zero transaction fees, Teachable is easier to use and has a more intuitive interface. However, the basic plan includes a 5% transaction fee, meaning you will pay the platform 5% of each transaction.
Teachable’s key features include:
- Coaching. Offer 1:1 coaching services with courses. You can also bundle or upsell coaching sessions.
- Affiliate program and tools. Teachable allows course creators to run affiliate programs, whereas Thinkific requires third-party integrations for this feature.
- Payment processing. Use Teachable Payments for faster payouts (U.S., U.K., Canada) or PayPal for international users with monthly payment cycles.
- Sales and checkout pages. Customizable sales, checkout, and thank-you pages streamline course sales and upsell opportunities.
- Student communication and engagement. Engage students through lecture comments, emails, and customizable notifications for better interaction.
- Course tracking and reporting. Detailed reporting on student performance, course progress, and Video Heatmap for tracking video engagement.
Pros of Teachable
- Create and manage courses with ease thanks to an intuitive, user-friendly interface.
- Use a built-in affiliate program to drive more course sales.
- Gain valuable insights into your course performance with advanced tracking features, including Video Heatmap.
Cons of Teachable
- There are transaction fees on the basic plan (Thinkific does not charge any).
- Teachable is less customizable compared to Thinkific.
3. Kajabi
Kajabi is more than just a course platform — it’s a complete business solution that combines course hosting, marketing, email automation, and even website building.
However, Kajabi is significantly more expensive than Thinkific, Teachable, and GetResponse. That’s why a good portion of instructors seek affordable alternatives to Kajabi despite Kajabi having a good set of features to offer.
That said, here is what the online learning platform has to offer.
Key features include:
- Website and landing page builder. It comes with an advanced website builder, replacing the need for WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace.
- Email marketing and automation. Easily create automated sequences, broadcast emails, and segment your audience.
- Mobile app. Kajabi provides a mobile app where students can access content on the go.
- Pipeline builder. Pre-built sales funnels that integrate with landing pages, emails, and payment processing.
- Advanced analytics and CRM. Unlike Thinkific, Kajabi includes CRM tools for tracking leads and optimizing sales.
- Kajabi University. Kajabi also offers training videos on using the platform, creating your first online course, and successfully selling courses.
Pros of Kajabi
- Save time by easily creating and managing products, courses, and offers.
- Repurpose content effortlessly by cloning and modifying existing courses for new audiences.
- Boost sales with built-in coupon and bulk discount features for corporate and group access.
- Manage your business stress-free with an easy-to-use platform that requires no technical expertise or maintenance.
Cons of Kajabi
- Email marketing can be tricky for beginners.
- It’s more expensive than Thinkific.
- There is no easy way to export all content, making platform migration a time-consuming manual process.
- It has a more complex learning curve.
Final thoughts. Is Thinkific right for you in 2025?
We believe Thinkific remains a good choice if you want zero transaction fees, good customization, and a dedicated course platform. The platform is easy to use, scalable, and offers excellent customer support.
But for all the good things, Thinkific also has a few drawbacks, including some security issues, recurring technical glitches and slow video load times, as reported by users.
Therefore, depending on your business goals and needs, you may also want to consider some Thinkific alternatives. Teachable is another decent alternative, although the basic plan comes with a 5% transaction fee and supports only five published products.
Lastly, you can try out the GetResponse course creator, which lets you create unlimited online courses with interactive quizzes, webinars, audio, and external resources. The platform also provides unlimited access to the popular GetResponse marketing tools at no extra cost.