Teachable vs Thinkific
Both are top standalone course platforms. Teachable is beginner-friendly with strong built-in payment handling (including taxes and payouts). Thinkific offers more customization, no transaction fees on paid plans, and a strong app store. For the easiest start pick Teachable; for customization and no fees pick Thinkific.
Head to head
| Teachable | Thinkific | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | From $39/mo | From €39/mo |
| Best for | Beginners wanting simplicity | Customization & no fees |
| Transaction fees | On lower tiers | None on paid plans |
| Customization | Moderate | Strong |
| Payments | Handles taxes/payouts | You manage |
| Known for | Ease of start | No fees + flexibility |
The 7.5% that decides the entry level
Teachable's cheapest paid plan is $39 a month, and it carries a 7.5% transaction fee on your course sales. The fee disappears at $89 a month and stays at zero on the $189 tier. That makes the real Teachable question arithmetic, not features: selling $1,000 a month of courses on the $39 plan costs $39 + $75 = $114, which is more than the $89 plan. Past roughly $650 a month in sales, the middle tier is cheaper than the cheap one.
Thinkific's ladder, in euro on annual billing: Basic at €39 a month (€53 billed monthly), Start at €79 (€107 monthly), Grow at €159 (€213 monthly) - and Basic already includes unlimited courses. Thinkific's model is capability-gated rather than fee-gated, so your bill does not move with your revenue.
Both offer a free trial; Teachable adds a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Which fits which creator
If you are starting from zero and expect modest sales for a while, Teachable's $39 entry is the cheapest way to have a real storefront, and the 7.5% only stings once revenue arrives - a good problem. Once sales are steady, move up a tier or the fee quietly becomes your biggest cost.
If you already have an audience and revenue, Thinkific's flat pricing with unlimited courses on the bottom plan is the calmer arithmetic, and its Grow tier adds communities (three of them) and a branded mobile app path for a community-plus-courses setup.
Neither choice is irreversible, but migrations annoy students; pick for the next two years, not the next month.
Which should you choose?
Choose Teachable if…
- You want the easiest platform to start
- You want built-in payment handling (taxes, payouts)
- You prefer a simple all-in-one
- You value speed over deep control
Choose Thinkific if…
- You want no transaction fees on paid plans
- You want more customization
- You want an app store and communities
- You want to own more of your stack
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Frequently asked
Is Teachable or Thinkific better?
Teachable is better for the easiest start with built-in payment handling; Thinkific is better for customization and no transaction fees.
Which charges transaction fees?
Teachable charges transaction fees on lower tiers; Thinkific charges none on its paid plans.
Do both have free plans?
Yes, both offer free tiers so you can build before paying.
Which is better for beginners?
Teachable, because it handles payments, taxes, and payouts for you with minimal setup.