Teachable vs Thinkific
A head-to-head comparison for 2026 -- pricing, features, and which platform is better for different use cases.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Teachable | Thinkific |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $39/mo | Free–$36/mo |
| Transaction Fee | 5% (basic), 0% (pro) | 0% |
| Free Trial | 7 days | Free plan |
| Course Builder | Drag-and-drop | Drag-and-drop |
| Best For | Dedicated course sellers | First-time creators |
| Mobile App | Branded app | Student app |
Teachable -- Overview
Teachable is the most approachable course platform. The course builder is intuitive -- drag sections, upload videos, add quizzes. The checkout experience is polished with upsells, order bumps, and coupon support. Coaching products are supported alongside courses, letting you sell 1-on-1 sessions.
At $39/month (Basic), Teachable charges a 5% transaction fee on sales. The Pro plan ($119/month) drops to 0% fees. This pricing structure means the right plan depends on your revenue -- at $2,400/month in sales, the 5% fee ($120) exceeds the Pro plan cost, making the upgrade mandatory.
Thinkific -- Overview
Thinkific offers the best free start in course platforms. The free plan lets you create one course with unlimited students and 0% transaction fees. No credit card required. Build your course, validate your idea, and only pay when you're ready to scale.
Paid plans start at $49/month (Basic) with 0% transaction fees on all plans -- a significant advantage over Teachable's 5% fee on its Basic plan. The course builder is comparable to Teachable's. Community features, memberships, and bundle selling are available on higher tiers. Site design is more customizable with theme editing.
Key Differences
Transaction fees define this comparison. Teachable Basic charges 5% per transaction. Thinkific charges 0% on all plans including free. For a course selling 50 units at $200 each ($10K/month), Teachable's 5% fee costs $500/month. That's $6,000/year in fees that Thinkific doesn't charge.
Free tier comparison is decisive for new creators. Thinkific's free plan includes one course with unlimited students and 0% fees. Teachable's cheapest option is $39/month with 5% fees. For creators validating a course idea, Thinkific lets you test with zero financial risk.
Coaching features favor Teachable. Teachable supports coaching products natively -- schedule sessions, deliver milestones, and sell coaching alongside courses. Thinkific focuses on self-paced courses and communities. If you sell coaching, Teachable's native support avoids third-party integrations.
The Verdict
Choose Teachable for the most polished course and checkout experience with native coaching support. Best when you're past the validation stage and ready to invest in a premium platform. Choose Thinkific for 0% transaction fees and the best free tier to start. Best for new creators testing course ideas and cost-conscious educators at any stage.