Teachable vs Thinkific: Which One’s Better for Selling Courses Online?

I’ve been building and scaling ecommerce brands for over a decade. Digital products like courses? Huge margin, zero shipping stress, and perfect for automation.

But getting the right platform to host and sell your course is make or break.

That’s why I spent weeks testing Teachable and Thinkific — two of the biggest platforms out there — so you don’t have to.

Quick Answer:

If you want something fast, simple, and with solid sales tools out of the box, go with Teachable.

If you care about branding, design, and controlling the student journey, Thinkific gives you more room to customise.

Let’s break it down.

Teachable vs Thinkific: Quick Verdict

Pricing: Pretty Even, but Watch the Upsells

Pricing isn’t just about what’s cheapest — it’s about what actually delivers value when you’re selling at scale.

And in ecommerce, every extra fee eats into your margin. That’s why understanding the real cost structure behind Teachable and Thinkific matters.

Free plans are great for testing, but serious course businesses need to look at what happens after the first sale.

Both Teachable and Thinkific offer free plans, which is great if you’re just getting started.

But the moment you start processing sales or need real features, you’ll need to upgrade. And that’s where things start to shift.

Let’s break it down:

Teachable Plans

Notable with Teachable:

• That $1 flat fee + 10% on the free plan hits hard once sales pick up.
• You unlock upsells, affiliate tools, and email marketing only after Basic.
• The Pro plan is really where serious features start, but the jump from $59 to $159 is steep.

Thinkific Plans

Notable with Thinkific:

• Zero transaction fees, even on the Basic plan — that’s a big cost-saver.
• Every tier builds cleanly on the one below — you don’t feel forced into a huge leap.
• Advanced features like API access, affiliate tracking, and Zapier triggers live on the Grow plan.

Verdict:
If you’re just testing the waters, both free plans get the job done. But long term? Thinkific’s zero transaction fees win if you’re scaling.

Teachable’s $1 fee on the free plan adds up fast — especially if your course is low-ticket.

And while Teachable looks cheaper at first, the real power features only kick in at $159/month.

Course Builder: Thinkific Wins on Customisation

This is where the rubber meets the road — the actual process of building and delivering your course content. Both platforms make it easy to get started with a visual, drag-and-drop course builder.

You’ll get core features like:

• Quizzes and assessments
• Video hosting
• Drip content scheduling
• Course completion tracking

But once you move past the basics, their paths start to diverge.

Teachable Pros

Why it works:
Teachable is built for speed. You can launch quickly without needing to touch a line of code or think too hard about layout.

For ecommerce brands testing a course as a new revenue stream, this makes iteration fast.

Teachable Cons

• Very few layout templates
• Little control over how course pages are styled
• You’re limited to their pre-defined structure

If your goal is to build a branded course experience that feels native to your store or product ecosystem, this lack of flexibility can hold you back.

Thinkific Pros

Why it works:
Thinkific is ideal if you want to own the student experience. You can create unique learning paths, reinforce your brand, and even embed communities or discussion boards.

Thinkific Cons

• Takes more time to set up a polished course
• Best features like assignments and communities are on higher plans

Still, if you’re building an experience — not just uploading videos — the extra effort pays off.

Verdict:
If you’re serious about course design and want it to feel like your brand, Thinkific takes the win.

Teachable is great for speed, but Thinkific is what I’d use if I were building a premium course brand tied to an ecommerce product or service.

Design and Branding: Thinkific Gives You Room to Breathe

As an ecommerce guy, design matters to me. It’s the difference between amateur and pro.

A clean, branded experience doesn’t just build trust — it boosts conversions. Your course should feel like an extension of your brand, not a separate bolt-on product.

Both Teachable and Thinkific give you some control over how your site looks, but one gives you a lot more freedom to make it your own.

Teachable Design Limitations

What it means:
Teachable keeps things simple — and that’s good for speed. But you’ll hit a ceiling quickly if you want a unique site.

You can’t fully control layouts, and you can’t edit the underlying code unless you’re on higher tiers.

It works fine if you just need a basic landing page. But if you’re running a premium ecommerce brand, you’ll likely find it too limiting.

Thinkific Design Flexibility

Why this matters:
Thinkific lets you build something that feels like your brand from the ground up.

You can create custom course pages, build landing pages for campaigns, and even match your store’s branding perfectly. If you want white-label quality, this is it.

You’re not boxed into a cookie-cutter layout. Plus, you can use your own custom domain even on the lower-tier plans — something Teachable restricts.

Verdict:
Thinkific is way more flexible.

Teachable looks decent out of the box, but it’s hard to make it truly yours.

For ecommerce brands that rely on consistent branding and premium presentation, Thinkific is the clear winner in the design department.

Sales Tools: Teachable Nails the Checkout

This is where Teachable really shines. If you’re looking for a smooth, ecommerce-style checkout that’s built to convert, it’s got what you need right out of the box.

For ecommerce businesses branching into digital products, the ability to control and optimise the checkout is crucial — and Teachable gets that.

You’re not just uploading a course — you’re selling it like a product. That means upsells, order bumps, flexible payment options, and frictionless checkout flows.

Teachable Sales Features

Why it works:
Everything is built into the platform. You don’t need a separate funnel builder or checkout plugin.

As soon as a course is live, you can start testing price points, bundling, or adding upsells. It’s all native.

Teachable also supports Apple Pay and Google Pay for mobile-friendly transactions — a big win if your audience shops from their phone.

Thinkific Sales Features

Why it’s limiting:
Thinkific assumes you’ll use external tools for serious selling. That’s fine if you already run advanced funnels with platforms like ThriveCart or SamCart.

But if you want an all-in-one setup, the native tools feel thin.

To build proper ecommerce flows — especially ones with dynamic offers — you’ll need workarounds, integrations, or upgraded plans.

Verdict:
Teachable crushes it here. If selling is your priority — and it should be — it’s the better tool.

The built-in checkout, native upsells, and affiliate features make it easy to run high-converting sales funnels without extra software.

Thinkific is functional, but you’ll need third-party tools to match what Teachable offers by default.

Marketing Features: Slight Edge to Teachable

Marketing can make or break your course. You need tools to promote, convert, and re-engage — and ideally, you want those tools built into your platform instead of relying on a patchwork of third-party apps.

Both Teachable and Thinkific cover the basics like email integrations, coupons, and student engagement tracking.

But when it comes to native tools that help you sell more with less effort, Teachable pulls ahead.

Teachable Marketing Features

Why it works:
Teachable is built to convert. Its email marketing tools aren’t as advanced as something like Klaviyo or ActiveCampaign, but they’re solid for running basic campaigns and broadcasts.

And since everything’s under one roof, you spend less time managing tools and more time selling.

It also connects smoothly with tools like ConvertKit, Mailchimp, and HubSpot if you want to scale up later.

Thinkific Marketing Features

What this means:
Thinkific gives you flexibility but expects you to plug in your own marketing stack. That’s fine if you already have an advanced email system in place.

But if you want a lean, built-in setup to hit the ground running, it’s just not as complete.

Thinkific’s focus is more on course delivery and learner engagement — not sales automation.

Verdict:
Teachable gives you more out of the box.
You get native email tools, checkout flows, and post-purchase funnels with fewer moving parts. Less duct tape, more results.

Thinkific gives you the freedom to integrate, but for solo creators or ecommerce operators who want to move fast, Teachable’s all-in-one setup is a real advantage.

SEO and Blogging: Thinkific Gives You More Options

If you’re playing the long game with your course — building organic traffic, ranking for high-intent keywords, and turning blog readers into buyers — SEO can’t be an afterthought.

Especially if you’re used to the ecommerce world, where ranking content drives consistent revenue without ad spend.

When it comes to SEO and content marketing, Thinkific gives you the flexibility and structure to grow long-term traffic.

Teachable, on the other hand, is more focused on short-term sales via funnels and ads.

Thinkific SEO Features

What it means:
You can build SEO-friendly landing pages, rank content around your course niche, and support authority-building.

For ecommerce operators looking to cross-sell or drive traffic through organic content, this opens doors for content funnels and long-term brand positioning.

Teachable SEO Limitations

Why it’s restrictive:
Teachable is built more for paid traffic and fast conversions. It doesn’t give you the tools to build a full content strategy or optimise course pages for long-term ranking.

That’s fine if your entire model is built around ads or influencers — but not great if SEO is a core part of your traffic plan.

You’ll likely need to run your blog or content site on a separate platform like WordPress and link back, which adds friction.

Verdict:
Thinkific is better if SEO is part of your strategy.
It gives you more control over structure, metadata, and content — so you can build a proper search engine presence over time.

Teachable is built for speed and funnels, but if you care about driving organic traffic and building domain authority, Thinkific is the clear choice.

Integrations and App Marketplace: Thinkific Pulls Ahead on Flexibility

No course platform can do everything.

That’s why integrations matter — especially if you’re already running tools for email, analytics, automation, or ecommerce.

Whether you’re plugging into an existing tech stack or scaling with new tools, flexibility is key.

Both Teachable and Thinkific have made solid progress here, but Thinkific is expanding faster, especially when it comes to automation and marketing add-ons.

Teachable Integrations

What you get:
Teachable keeps its integration list lean. You’ll find the basics — email, analytics, and a Zapier connector.

But beyond that, there’s not much to explore in their app store. Most functionality requires workarounds or external subscriptions.

That said, if your setup is simple and you just need the essentials — email, payments, basic tracking — Teachable handles it fine.

Thinkific Integrations

Why it works:
Thinkific has invested heavily in building out its App Store. You’re not stuck searching for duct-tape fixes.

Whether you want to connect a CRM, build a lead magnet popup, or automate webinar funnels — you’ll likely find an app ready to go.

For ecommerce operators used to app-rich platforms like Shopify, the flexibility here feels familiar and scalable.

Verdict:
Thinkific is winning the integration game.
You get more apps, better native connections, and a platform that plays nicely with your marketing tools.

Teachable keeps things simpler, but if you’re building a more advanced stack — or want room to grow — Thinkific gives you more flexibility without having to hack things together.

Support and Uptime: Thinkific Gives You More Hands-On Help

When you’re selling digital products — especially on a platform you’re still learning — having reliable, fast support can save your day (and your launch).

From tech issues to setup questions, the quality of support matters more than most people realise.

Both Teachable and Thinkific offer decent coverage, but Thinkific edges ahead, especially when it comes to responsiveness and onboarding help for new users.

Teachable Support

What to expect:
Teachable’s support is mostly self-serve unless you’re paying for a higher-tier plan.

The docs are detailed, and you can usually find answers if you dig — but if you want a human to help, you’ll need to be on the Pro plan or higher.

For new users or those migrating from ecommerce platforms, the lack of hands-on onboarding can slow things down.

Thinkific Support

Why it’s stronger:
Thinkific goes beyond just reactive support — it’s proactive about onboarding. The weekly live webinars walk you through setup, course building, and monetisation strategies, which is rare for platforms in this space.

Response times also tend to be faster, and there’s more flexibility in how you get help — whether that’s via email, chat, or scheduled calls.

Verdict:
Thinkific has more robust support, especially for new creators.

You get faster access to help, real onboarding assistance, and the option to escalate when needed.

Teachable is serviceable, but unless you’re paying for a top-tier plan, you’re mostly on your own.

If you’re launching a course tied to your ecommerce business and don’t want to waste time stuck in documentation, Thinkific makes it easier to get up and running fast.

My Take: What I Actually Use (And Recommend)

After working with ecommerce brands for over a decade — selling both physical and digital products — I’ve helped clients build and scale courses on both Teachable and Thinkific.

And here’s the honest truth: neither is bad, but the right choice depends entirely on your priorities.

If a client wants to get up and running quickly, focus on revenue from day one, and doesn’t care much about deep branding or content strategy, Teachable is usually the way to go.

The built-in sales tools, clean checkout, and upsell options make it easy to test, validate, and start earning.

But when the course is part of a bigger brand — maybe they’ve got a strong blog, tight branding, or they’re building an entire customer journey with layered content — Thinkific wins.

The design flexibility, SEO control, and native integrations make it a better fit for long-term growth.

Here’s how I break it down:

What I do in my own projects:

• For quick course launches tied to ecommerce products (like bonus material or digital add-ons), I lean on Teachable.
• For branded learning platforms — where design, experience, and organic traffic matter — I default to Thinkific.

It’s not about which is better overall. It’s about what matters most to your business right now.

Choose the one that aligns with your strengths — and gives you room to grow without constant workarounds.

Final Verdict: Which Platform Should You Really Pick?

At the end of the day, both Teachable and Thinkific are strong platforms.

They’re built for creators, coaches, and ecommerce operators who want to package what they know and sell it online. You won’t go totally wrong with either — but the right fit depends on how you run your business.

Here’s the deal:

If your focus is on speed, sales, and simplicity, Teachable will get you there fast.

The checkout is sharp, the upsell tools are built in, and you don’t need five plugins just to launch a course.

For ecommerce sellers who want to bolt on a digital product without overhauling their tech stack, it’s a solid play.

But if your course is a long-term brand asset, and you’re investing in content, SEO, design, and community, then Thinkific is worth the extra effort.

It gives you full control over your site, cleaner integrations, and enough flexibility to grow with you — without constantly hitting limitations.

To recap:

Final recommendation:

Start by testing both. Use the free plans to build a draft course, feel out the dashboards, and see what matches your workflow.

If you want a fast launch with solid sales tools, stick with Teachable.

If you’re playing the long game and want total brand control, go with Thinkific.

I’ve used both — and I still do, depending on the client or the product.

Just don’t overthink it. Start simple, stay flexible, and pick the one that aligns with how you do business.