Teachable vs Thinkific 2026: Which Course Builder Wins?
Quick verdict: Thinkific is our overall pick for Teachable vs Thinkific.
Thinkific (4.1/5) wins on the fee math — 0% platform fees from Start up — while Teachable (3.9/5) wins on course-specific tooling and native mobile apps.
| Tool | Rating | Pricing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teachable | 3.9/5 | $39/mo (monthly, Starter) | Teachable is a course-first platform for selling self-paced courses, coaching and digital … |
| Thinkific Best overall Best for teams | 4.1/5 | $40/mo (annual, Basic) | Thinkific is a hosted course platform that builds, markets and sells courses, communities … |
Bottom line: Thinkific (4.1/5) for the fee-free economics — unlimited courses and students on every paid tier, 0% platform fees from Start ($82/mo annual) up, and the cluster's most generous door (30-day full-featured trial). Teachable (3.9/5) for the course specialist — a deeper lesson builder, grading and certificates, and native iOS/Android student apps on every paid tier. The number that decides: at $5,000/mo of sales, Thinkific Start's 0% saves roughly $250/mo versus Teachable Starter's 7.5% fee, and the fee-free line on Teachable starts at the $69/mo annual Builder.
Pricing and details
Teachable · 3.9/5
7-day free trial · $39/mo (monthly, Starter)
Teachable bills by published-product count: 1 product on Starter, 5 on Builder, 25 on Growth, 100 on Advanced. Starter charges a 7.5% transaction fee on every sale; Builder and above carry 0% fees. There is no standing free plan — entry is the 7-day trial, and annual billing saves about 22-33% per tier.
Starter $29/mo · Builder $69/mo · Growth $139/mo · Advanced $309/mo (annual)
Teachable is a course-first platform for selling self-paced courses, coaching and digital products with native iOS and Android student apps. It bills by product count, not by seat, and its entry tier carries a 7.5% transaction fee that drops to 0% at the Builder tier.
Score breakdown
Pros
- Course-first builder: drag-and-drop lessons, quizzes, certificates, drip and coaching in one flow
- Native iOS and Android student apps on every paid tier — mobile delivery without a third party
- 0% transaction fees on Builder, Growth and Advanced tiers
- AI creation tools plus free subtitles/translations and unlimited integrations
Cons
- 7.5% transaction fee on the $39/mo Starter tier — real volume sellers should start at Builder
- No standing free plan; entry is the 7-day trial
- Community and collaboration tooling is thinner than Kajabi's all-in-one suite
Pricing verified 2026-09-19
Thinkific · 4.1/5
30-day free trial · $40/mo (annual, Basic)
Thinkific bills by tier, not by learner — every paid plan carries unlimited courses and up to 10,000 students. Basic adds a 5% Stripe surcharge; Start and above remove it entirely (0% platform fees). All three paid tiers include the Accelerator program; Plus (quote-based) adds SCORM, SSO and a dedicated success manager. No standing free plan as of 2026 — the 30-day trial replaces it.
Basic $40/mo · Start $82/mo · Grow $164/mo (annual)
Thinkific is a hosted course platform that builds, markets and sells courses, communities and digital downloads without a developer. It bills by tier and is the cluster's standout on fees: 0% platform transaction fees on Start, Grow and Plus tiers, with a 5% surcharge on Basic — and the only cluster member whose free option is a 30-day full-featured trial.
Score breakdown
Pros
- 0% platform transaction fees on Start, Grow and Plus — only a 5% Stripe surcharge remains on Basic
- Unlimited courses and learners on every paid plan; up to 10,000 students per tier
- Built-in community, memberships, subscriptions, email automation and 90+ integrations
- Stability is the cluster's best: self-hosted since 2012, 99.5% SLA on paid tiers
Cons
- Basic keeps a 5% Stripe surcharge — the 0% economics start at $82/mo annual (Start)
- No standing free plan as of 2026 (30-day trial replaced it)
- Marketing depth stops short of Kajabi: no native website or funnel suite
Pricing verified 2026-09-21
Frequently asked questions
Which is better overall, Teachable or Thinkific?
Thinkific is our overall pick (4.1/5 vs 3.9/5). Thinkific (4.1/5) wins on the fee math — 0% platform fees from Start up — while Teachable (3.9/5) wins on course-specific tooling and native mobile apps.
Do Teachable and Thinkific offer free plans?
Neither advertises a free plan; check current trial terms before committing.
What does Thinkific cost?
$40/mo (annual, Basic) — Thinkific bills by tier, not by learner — every paid plan carries unlimited courses and up to 10,000 students. Basic adds a 5% Stripe surcharge; Start and above remove it entirely (0% platform fees). All three paid tiers include the Accelerator program; Plus (quote-based) adds SCORM, SSO and a dedicated success manager. No standing free plan as of 2026 — the 30-day trial replaces it. Prices were last verified on 2026-09-21.