Among many other things, creating and selling an online course is a lucrative way of earning money online. Choosing the correct software ensures success not only with your online course creation but also in ensuring customers’ satisfaction.
At present, Thinkific is one of the most popular eLearning apps and online course builders you can use to your advantage. That said, even a platform as great as Thinkific isn’t perfect. That’s why we are here today to look for the best Thinkific alternatives.
Best Alternatives to Thinkific
| Starting Price | Pros | Cons | |
| LearnWorlds | $29.00 | Has a wide range of features Excellent customer support Regular software updates | Check-out process not for conversions Glitches in the typing feature |
| Podia | $39.00 | Offers instant payout Affordable Great customer support Integrates email marketing | No free plan Membership is only available in the Shaker Plan |
| Teachable | $39.00 | Has a built-in payment processor Has a built-in marketing tool Offers different options for students | Limited customization options No free plan |
| Canvas LMS | For quotation | Sophisticated course-assembly tools Extensive third-party integrations Free Teacher Plan | Pricing is not transparent Login issues with apps |
| Kajabi | $149.00 | Built-in email marketing tools Marketing automation Customizable | Expensive No free option |
| LearnDash | $159.00 | Has drag and drop feature Drip feed options Third-party integrations | Requires WordPress Has a learning curve |
Thinkific Alternatives Worth Checking Out
Of course, it’s not enough to look at a brief overview of the best platforms you can use in place of Thinkific. Rather, you will want to look at more than one point of comparison to know which one stands out the most. To help you out, here’s a more in-depth look into the best Thinkific alternatives:
1. LearnWorlds
LearnWorlds is an excellent Thinkific alternative because it is SCORM compliant. It is a reliable software that helps improve courses through its social-learning tools, sales-oriented page creation, and white labeling.
The platform offers excellent eLearning and teaching capabilities, including copyright protection and interactive eBooks, quizzes, and videos. Some even say that LearnWorlds is the closest to Thinkific but offers more advanced features. These include interactive videos, learning analytics, SCORM support, and a native mobile app.
What Makes LearnWorlds Stand Out?
You can start building great courses using the core features of LearnWorlds.
- Customization
What we like about LearnWorlds is that you can easily customize how your online school looks by going through the customization options. You can find this under “Appearance > Logos and colors.”
Here, you can upload your brand’s logo, customize your school’s colors, and even add your custom CSS.
- Integrations
LearnWorlds comes with numerous integrations for ease of use, efficiency, and a better learning experience. Some integrated apps include AWeber, ConvertKit, Facebook-Pixel, Google Analytics, MailChimp, Zapier, Zoom, and more.
- Marketing
You can do more with the platform’s marketing features. These useful marketing tools include one-click funnels, coupons, course bundling, customizable checkout pages, cross-selling, high-converting sales pages, subscription trials, upsell, and more.
What’s more, LearnWorlds offers unlimited hosting, but you can still use a different hosting platform like Vimeo. Also, you can optimize your site and get organic traffic and higher ranking without additional expense.
- User Interface
LearnWorlds’ advanced user interface allows you to create courses quickly using the elements found on the sidebar. You can also access other features within the Dashboard with just a few clicks.
Pricing Plans
Compared to Thinkific, LearnWorlds does not offer a free plan, but you can start with a free trial version. The Starter Plan will then cost you $29 per month and is highly recommended for new course creators.
The next plan is the Pro Trainer, which will set you back $99 a month. It is suitable for professional trainers with its offering of unlimited creation of courses and landing pages. For $299 a month, you can sign up for the Learning Center Plan, the most popular option among creators. You can also book a demo for the High Volume and Corporate Plan.
2. Podia
Podia is one of the best Thinkific alternatives for selling digital downloads, like eBooks and memberships. However, it does not focus much on the eLearning aspect.
Instead, Podia is an all-in-one platform that lets you sell course bundles, coaching services, online courses, webinars, and more. It offers great marketing features like affiliate programs, coupons, communities, emails, and upsells.
What Makes Podia Stand Out?
Podia has all the necessary features anyone needs for their business.
- Affiliate Marketing
With Podia, you can launch an affiliate program by turning your followers into sales reps. You can also invite affiliates, set custom commission terms, and more. Podia’s affiliate marketing platform helps grow your business through the help of customers, partners, and supporters.
- Coaching
Podia makes it possible for you to sell your expertise through live coaching sessions. You can use the platform’s tools to help you manage bookings, payments, and websites.
- Community
Podia will give you flexibility and complete control in growing your business. It will help you manage your online community where your digital products are found and enjoy earning a recurring income from both of them.
- Custom Website
You can get a modern and mobile-friendly website using a Podia subdomain or your custom URL. You don’t have to be a web designer to make a stunning website using the Podia Editor.
- Digital Downloads
As numerous Podia creators say, you can sell anything you can download using this platform. These downloadable files will help you grow an audience, get new customers, and build a money-making website.
- Email Marketing
In a way, Podia is an email marketing platform for creators, minus the extra expense. It allows you to build automated email funnels, get email analytics, and send broadcast emails to grow your email list.
- Embed
All Podia users can embed its offsite buy buttons or checkout forms to any website on the internet. This means you can easily expand your reach and get in touch with your target audience using different channels.
- Messaging
Podia has an on-page messaging widget that allows you to engage with your site visitors and regular customers. This on-site live chat feature helps you grow your business by allowing you to build customer relationships and engage leads.
- Online Courses
Podia’s online course platform features different course types to fit the needs of your business and customers. The platform supports all file types and can host all your content without limiting how much you can upload and sell.
- Webinars
Host live video sessions for one-on-one coaching or with unlimited webinar participants via YouTube Live and Zoom integrations. Once you go live, you can charge your audience for access to your live streams and webinars.
Pricing Plans
Podia pricing plans come with monthly or yearly payment options, but you can start with a 14-day trial to test the platform. After completing the free trial period, you can sign up for the Mover Plan for $39 a month.
If you want additional features like unlimited webinars and affiliates, you can upgrade to the Shaker Plan for $89 a month. For priority support, onboarding calls, and monthly creator call, opt for the Earthquaker Plan for $199 a month.
3. Teachable
One of the most qualified alternatives to Thinkific is Teachable, which can help you attract more traffic to your website. It is a platform that allows you to manage price points and student data in a single system.
Start sharing what you know with Teachable by creating coaching services and online courses. As you can imagine, you can easily transform your skills and expertise into a growing knowledge business with the help of this platform.
What Makes Teachable Stand Out?
Build a business you are passionate about and let the features of Teachable keep it growing.
- Coaching Options
All paid plans of Teachable come with coaching services. This feature makes it easy for coaches to intake forms and create sales pages. As such, it is a great feature for entrepreneurs selling digital coaching services.
Users can also utilize the one-on-one space to schedule coaching sessions, allowing them to talk to learners directly. Additionally, you will find other video conference and scheduling tools integrated into the platform.
- Circle.so Integration
Recently, Teachable released Circle.so as a new integration, offering an intuitive and simple community platform to promote engagement and build relationships. The integration allows the creation of a free community to help generate new leads and strengthen your brand.
- Intuitive Interface
You can easily build your first online course with Teachable’s intuitive interface and straightforward admin panel. Unlike other platforms, it has clean and straightforward navigation, providing only the essential customization features suitable for newbies.
- Payment Processing
Teachable Payments is the platform’s built-in payment processing system, eliminating the need for a third-party payment tool.
Pricing Plans
Teachable offers straightforward pricing tiers, starting from the free plan with a limit of 10 students. The Basic Plan costs $39 per month and allows you to grow your business with more advanced features after you are done with the free plan.
For $119 a month, you can sign up for the most popular and highly recommended paid option. The Pro Plan has more advanced features that will help boost student management. If you plan to scale your business and experience the very best, Teachable’s Business Plan for $299 comes with powerful features.
4. Canvas LMS
Like LearnWorlds, Canvas LMS is a SCORM-compliant cloud-based app that allows you to create a complete eLearning course. The teaching features of Canvas LMS are more catered toward educational institutions but are also great for business leaders.
In a nutshell, it is a learning management system designed for every learner, including K-12, higher education, and corporate education.
Also, it offers one of the best Thinkific alternatives free for teachers with the functionality and key features of Canvas LMS.
What Makes Canvas LMS Stand Out?
Canvas LMS has amazing features with excellent functionalities. Here’s what you can enjoy with this platform:
- Canvas Common
Canvas Common is one of the primary highlights of the platform. It is a digital library where educators can add courses, modules, and quizzes. This feature also serves as a platform for sharing content within a department, institution, school, university, and more.
Recently, Canvas added ePub as part of Commons, allowing students to download read-only course materials.
- Modules
The Modules are a great feature in organizing the course content into units where the educators can specify the prerequisites. In other words, the learner needs to finish the first course to unlock the next one.
- Outcomes
The Outcomes feature helps assess a student’s mastery of the course. Combining the feature with the grading titles created by the educators allows them to align the courses and student assessments according to standards.
- Quiz
Educators use the Quiz feature if a student needs to take one. These quizzes may come in different forms. Also, they can be graded or not, self-paced or with a time constraint, require a descriptive answer, true or false, or have multiple choices.
- Gradebook
Educators use the Gradebook feature to provide grades to their students depending on how they performed in their assignments.
- SpeedGrader
Educators can preview and annotate a student’s submission straight from the browser using the SpeedGrader feature. Canvas supports different file types, including PDFs, Google Docs, and Microsoft Office, allowing educators to add freehand drawings, highlights, or text strikeouts.
- User-Friendly and Intuitive Interface
Canvas’ user-friendly and intuitive interface makes it easy to use in different operating systems, including Android, iPhone/iPad, Linux, Mac, Windows, Windows mobile, and the web.
- Learning Tools Interoperability Program (LTI)
The LTI program helps integrate third-party tools within a course. This means you can improve the course further using other internet resources and web applications.
- Reliable Connectivity
With Canvas LMS, there is an assurance of reliable connectivity with low maintenance costs. The platform’s team ensures every feature functions well at all times.
- Customer Support
In case you experience problems, Canvas offers 24/7 reliable customer support through email, live chat, phone, training, and ticket system.
Pricing Plan
The cost of implementation of the Canvas platform varies depending on many factors, including size, support, training, and more. There is a one-time charge for implementing Canvas, plus an annual subscription fee based on the number of users.
Conversely, Canvas has a special offer for teachers to have a free account and a free trial for two weeks to gauge the platform’s full potential.
Canvas also offers an open-source option for people who want the platform installed into their servers. The best way to know how much the Canvas LMS cost is to contact their support team and ask for a quote.
5. Kajabi
Kajabi is a complete business platform, making it the best Thinkific alternative for marketing. It has a sales pipeline tool helping marketers with their marketing campaigns.
Like Podia, this site is a savvy and stable platform for running and hosting online courses and paid memberships. The best part is that it uses different delivery methods for its content.
The platform also offers advanced marketing tools for email marketing campaigns, weekly flows, and updates. Furthermore, it has optimized landing pages, with clean and easy checkout and payment options supporting different currencies.
What Makes Kajabi Stand Out?
Kajabi’s advanced features make it an amazing one-stop shop for anyone who wants to monetize their content. Here’s how this platform can help you achieve that and more:
- Kajabi Assistant
Some people find it challenging to use Kajabi’s interface, hence the addition of the Kajabi Assistant. This feature makes it easier for any user to look for the specific feature he needs.
- 12 Built-in Themes
Kajabi comes with 12 built-in themes for customizing your product pages for mobile devices and desktops. You can also look for a customizable website theme to match your brand.
- Marketing Features
Kajabi’s marketing features include coupons, order bumps, pre-launch offers, upsells, and more. It also comes with a built-in email marketing tool, allowing you to send an automated email sequence for free.
Lastly, you can upload files, photos, or videos through Kajabi’s unlimited hosting option without any restrictions.
- Plenty of Integrations
Kajabi works well with various membership sites, email marketing platforms, and payment processors, including ActiveCampaign, Aweber, ConvertKit, Drip, PayPal, and Stripe. The platform also supports Webhooks and Zapier.
Pricing Plans
Before choosing a paid Kajabi plan, you can start with the 14-day free trial and test the online course platform. After the two-week trial, you can upgrade to the Basic Plan, which costs $149 per month and offers three products and three pipelines.
For $199 per month, you can subscribe to the Growth Plan. It is the most popular paid option from Kajabi that offers 15 products and 15 pipelines in addition to its core features.
The last option from Kajabi’s pricing tiers is the Pro Plan, which will set you back $399 per month. It comes with 100 products and 100 pipelines. All pricing plans offer unlimited landing pages and marketing emails.
6. LearnDash
LearnDash is the best Thinkific alternative for online creators with an existing WordPress site. LearnDash will provide your current website with LMS functionality as a WordPress plugin, including hosting a video.
What Makes LearnDash Stand Out?
Among plenty of alternatives to Thinkific, LearnDash made it to our list because of its impressive features. Here are some of LearnDash’s best features you can put to good use:
- User-Friendly Interface
Upon installation, you will learn that LearnDash comes with a custom menu on WordPress, like other WordPress plugins. This menu can access certificates, courses, lessons, quizzes, and topics.
- Customization Options
LearnDash offers basic customization options, allowing you to personalize the layout and colors using the WordPress theme of your custom CSS.
- Integrations
Out of the box, LearnDash has limited integrations but comes with pro and free add-ons, expanding its core functionality.
Pricing Plans
LearnDash is available in three pricing tiers, and all are billed annually depending on your chosen package. The Basic Plan for $159 offers one site license and LearnDash’s core features. Next is the Plus Plan, which costs $189. It provides up to 10 licenses and a ProPanel for an excellent student management solution.
Lastly, they also offer the Pro Plan for $329 per year. It offers up to 25 licenses and a ProPanel that lets you see real-time activities of your students.
The platform offers a money-back guarantee that covers 15 days. All plans come with unlimited courses and users. Also, all plans also include a demo site template, giving each user an idea of what a page looks like. Finally, all LearnDash users will receive help desk support, start-up guides, and video tutorials.
Best Thinkific Alternatives FAQs
A learning management system, or LMS, is a framework-providing software application handling the learning process aspects. It makes life easier for people handling training and development, helping them assess and identify the learning goals of an individual or institution.
An LMS program can also deliver content and handle compliance, onboarding, and skills gap analysis. Among these programs is Thinkific. To give you a better idea of what it is, here are some of our readers’ frequently asked questions:
1. What is Thinkific?
Thinkific is a cloud-based learning management system that allows individuals and businesses to share their skills and expertise through online courses.
After the online course creation process, you can start selling the content to your audience and followers using your website. In short, Thinkific provides you with the necessary tools to boost your online course journey.
2. What are the core features of Thinkific?
Thinkific comes with easy-to-use features that will help boost your online courses.
For instance, the Thinkific Course Builder lets you create a course curriculum easily and sell it on your customizable website. You can also serve your audience better through the Student Success Tools and deliver your content in the platform’s student-focused learning environment.
Thinkific’s full integration of business and marketing tools makes it easier to market, sell, and accept payments for your content.
3. What are Thinkific’s pricing tiers?
Thinkific has four paid plans: Basic, Pro, Premier, and Plus. It also offers a free plan but with some limitations on its features.
The Basic Plan is $49, the Pro Plan is $99, the Pro + Growth Plan is $149, the Premier Plan is $499, and the Thinkific Plus Plan comes with customized pricing. The Growth add-on in the Pro Plan gives you extra features typically found in the Premier Plan.
All Thinkific plans are billed per month, but annual billing is also available and comes with a 20% discount.
4. Why do users look for Thinkific alternatives?
As mentioned, nothing is perfect. Although Thinkific is a favored software, it still has some weaknesses. For instance, it does not have a built-in email marketing tool, which is an essential feature to help you interact with your customers, especially new ones.
Another crucial feature that’s missing from Thinkific is the live chat support. This feature lets you can engage with your community in real-time. Lastly, the platform does not support SCORM or the Shareable Content Object Reference Model to ensure excellent course performance.
5. Which is better between Thinkific and LearnWorlds?
Thinkific is an excellent choice if you sell online courses that do not need many advanced features. It has an easy-to-use course builder utilizing the drag and drop process and even allowing you to build a complete website.
Conversely, you can consider LearnWorlds as one of the best Thinkific alternatives, though it is better used for large businesses or online schools.
6. How can you make money with Podia?
At Podia, thousands of creators earn money by selling digital products, including digital downloads, memberships, online courses, and webinars.
Affiliate marketing is another way to earn money with Podia. You can pay affiliates in exchange for promoting your brand or products. Influencer marketing and sponsorship have similarities to affiliate marketing because they get paid by promoting your brand.
7. What is Teachable used for?
Teachable has all the necessary features to help you create an online course, accept students, and start collecting money.
Educators can create quizzes, add videos, or use a custom domain to link to your website. It has an affiliate feature that allows you to recruit others and help you sell online courses you created.
8. Is Canvas LMS a good platform?
Canvas LMS is an excellent platform for students, educators, and learning professionals. Its well-designed and simple user interface makes it easy for students to navigate and find what they are looking for.
Moreover, the platform’s flexibility with its learning experiences allows the users to be more creative.
As one of the Thinkific alternatives is free for educators, they can use the platform even if their institution or institution is not a Canvas user.
Which Is the Best Alternative to Thinkific?
The six alternatives to Thinkific we listed are all excellent platforms to start selling online courses. Each one presents itself as an all-in-one platform offering numerous customization options.
Whether you want to focus on digital products, marketing features, or WordPress plugins, you’ll find what you’re looking for here. That said, each platform has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Hence, you need to determine your primary requirement to find the one that will work best for you. From these options, we can say that LearnWorlds is the best alternative to Thinkific. It has amazing features that will allow you to create unlimited courses.
