Thinkific Review 2024: Best Online Course Platform?

Have you ever dreamt of creating an online course to share your knowledge with the world but need help figuring out where to start?

You’ve probably heard of platforms like Thinkific that promise to make building your course a breeze. 

But we all know the internet is full of hype, so can Thinkific really deliver as the amazing online course platform that it claims to be

I was skeptical at first but determined to put Thinkific to the test. And now, I’m here to let you know whether this app will hold up as one of the top online course platforms in this Thinkific review.

Thinkific Pros & Cons

When considering the best online course platform, it’s essential to weigh the app’s pros and cons against your specific needs and preferences to make the right decision. This Thinkific review section will discuss the software’s pros and cons.

Thinkific Pros

• Ease of Course Creation: Thinkific offers a user-friendly interface that simplifies the process of creating and customizing courses. This means you can focus more on delivering quality content and less on the technicalities of course development.
• Enhanced Learner Engagement: With interactive features like quizzes, discussions, and multimedia content, Thinkific helps to create a more engaging learning management system. This can lead to better retention rates and more satisfied learners.
• Robust Marketing Tools: Thinkific provides integrated marketing tools that effectively promote your courses. These tools can help reach a wider audience and increase course sales.
• Versatile Course Creation Tools: With Thinkific, the power to shape your course exactly how you envision it is in your hands. From quizzes to interactive content, the possibilities are endless.

Thinkific Cons

• Limited Customization in Lower Plans: While Thinkific offers excellent customization, some of the more advanced features are only available in higher-tier plans. However, the available options in the basic plans are still sufficient for creating professional-looking courses.
• No In-built Email Marketing: Although Thinkific integrates with several email marketing tools, it doesn’t have an inbuilt feature. This means an extra step (and possibly extra cost) for you in your marketing efforts.
• Pricing Structure: Thinkific’s advanced features come at a cost. If you’re just starting out and your budget is tight, you may find their pricing structure a bit steep. But remember, investing in a robust platform could pay off in the long run.

Quick Verdict – Is Thinkific Worth the Money?

After countless hours researching and testing out this software, my verdict for this Thinkific review is a resounding yes – it is worth the investment.

What sets Thinkific apart is its ease of use and powerful customization options. You’ll appreciate the intuitive Thinkific course builder that allows for a mix of text, video, quizzes, and downloadable content.

Additionally, Thinkific offers excellent analytics to track student progress and engagement, a feature crucial for improving course quality over time.

You may hesitate, thinking Thinkific is too expensive compared to free alternatives. However, consider the value you get: robust security, outstanding customer support, and a professional-looking platform.

These features support the investment, especially if you’re serious about delivering high-quality online education.

While Thinkific excels in many areas, it’s worth noting that the platform could improve its community engagement tools. More advanced social learning features would enhance student interaction and engagement.

If you’re serious about creating and selling courses, then Thinkific is a platform worth considering.

Don’t just take my word for it; read this Thinkific review thoroughly, try it for yourself, and see the difference it can make in your online course business.

Who is Thinkific for?

You’ll love Thinkific if:

• You’re an entrepreneur looking to monetize your knowledge or expertise through online courses. Thinkific provides all the tools you need to create, market, and sell your courses effectively.
• You’re an educator or trainer wanting to shift your classroom-based teaching to an online platform. With Thinkific, you can create engaging and interactive courses that keep learners motivated.
• You’re a business owner seeking to train your employees or customers. Thinkific allows you to create private courses, track progress, and even issue completion certificates.
• Global domination (of the educational kind) is your ultimate goal. Translate your courses, customize your website, and welcome students from around the globe. Thinkific makes building a worldwide learning empire a breeze.

You won’t love Thinkific if:

• You prefer live, one-on-one coaching or mentoring over creating self-paced online courses. While Thinkific does have some live teaching features, its main focus is on asynchronous learning.
• You’re looking for a platform with built-in course content. Thinkific is a platform for creating and selling your own courses, it does not provide pre-made course content.
• You’re not tech-savvy and struggle with learning new platforms. Although Thinkific is user-friendly, it does require a certain level of comfort with technology to utilize all its features fully.

What is Thinkific?

Thinkific isn’t just software; it’s your launchpad to online course stardom. Forget clunky interfaces and tech headaches – Thinkific empowers you to build, sell, and thrive with your knowledge, no matter your tech savviness.

What is the key benefit of having Thinkific?

The key benefit of Thinkific is its versatility and customization. It empowers you to design your courses exactly how you want them, with a wide variety of interactive elements like quizzes, surveys, and discussion boards to engage your students.

How does Thinkific work?

Thinkific operates as an all-in-one platform where you can create courses using their powerful course builder, market them through integrated marketing tools, and sell them directly to your audience.

It comes with a range of features, including student progress tracking, completion certificates, and the ability to create private or hidden courses.

How is it different from competitors?

While many online course platforms are available, Thinkific stands out for its level of customization, robust feature set, and excellent customer support. Unlike competitors, it gives you complete control over student data and course pricing.

Plus, it doesn’t charge transaction fees on the courses you sell, which can significantly affect your bottom line.

Reasons I Recommend Thinkific to Everyone

#1) Unparalleled Course Customization for Paid Plans

The level of customization that Thinkific offers is truly impressive. You can tailor every aspect of your courses to fit your teaching style and the needs of your students.

From interactive quizzes to multimedia presentations to discussion boards – you can create an engaging learning experience that keeps your students coming back for more.

Research shows that interactive elements in online learning can significantly improve student engagement and retention. So, using Thinkific’s robust customization features creates a more enjoyable learning experience and improves your students’ chances of success.

This level of customization allows you to differentiate your courses from others and effectively meet the unique learning preferences of your students.

#2) Comprehensive Marketing Tools

Thinkific isn’t just about creating courses; it’s also about effectively marketing and selling them. The platform includes built-in marketing tools, such as email marketing integrations, coupons, and landing pages, which are essential for attracting and retaining students.

These tools enable you to reach a wider audience and increase Thinkific course enrollments. 

Watch as your Thinkific course sign-ups and overall revenue increase using these marketing tools. The integrated sales and marketing features will streamline your workflow, allowing you to focus more on content creation and less on the technicalities of marketing.

#3) Exceptional Customer Support

Lastly, Thinkific’s customer support is second to none. Whether you’re facing a technical issue or need help figuring out a feature, their team is always ready to assist.

Having reliable customer support is crucial when running an online course business. Any downtime or technical issues can affect your student’s learning experience and your reputation.

In my time using Thinkific, I’ve found their customer support to be responsive, friendly, and highly knowledgeable. This gives you peace of mind, knowing you won’t be left in the lurch if anything goes wrong.

What You Might Not Like About Thinkific

#1) Learning Curve Can Bite (Especially for Beginners)

Building your first course is an exciting adventure, but with Thinkific, the initial trek is a bit steeper than expected. While the drag-and-drop interface is intuitive, navigating all the features and customizing options can overwhelm newbies.

Don’t get me wrong; the resources and support are great, but be prepared to invest some time and effort to truly master the platform.

When I first started with Thinkific, I spent a good chunk of time figuring out how to structure my Thinkific course, embed quizzes, and customize the course landing page. It wasn’t a deal-breaker, but I wished the onboarding process was a bit smoother for beginners.

#2) Free Plan Feels Like a Tease (Not a Full Feast)

Thinkific offers a free plan, which is fantastic for testing the waters. But be warned, it’s more of a taste-tester than a full meal. You’re limited to three courses, no custom branding, and transaction fees on sales.

While it’s perfect for playing around, it doesn’t give you the full Thinkific experience, especially if you’re serious about building a profitable course business.

I started with the free plan, and while it helped me understand the platform, it quickly became clear that I needed to upgrade to unlock its full potential. The limited features and transaction fees felt restrictive.

Thinkific Pricing

Thinkific’s Free Plan

Thinkific’s free plan is a great starting point for new course creators. It allows you to create one course and one community at no cost and comes loaded with premium features.

You can fully set up a course, add your own branding, and start sharing your knowledge without any upfront investment.

Paid Plan

When you’re ready to expand, Thinkific’s paid plans begin at $49 with the Basic Plan, offering additional features and flexibility.

The Start and Grow Plans are available for more comprehensive needs, each tailored to support the scaling and diversification of your unlimited courses and communities. It is also important to know that platforms like Thinkific charge transaction fees. 

Thinkific: Key Features Breakdown

Let’s break down the key features in this Thinkific review and delve into the details of each feature:

Online Course Platform

Thinkific’s course creation engine is your digital workshop. Build unlimited courses with interactive videos, quizzes, assignments, and downloadable resources.

Drip feed content, schedule releases, and even host live sessions. It’s your one-stop shop for crafting an engaging learning experience.

What makes it special is its versatility and ease of use. With Thinkific, you have complete control over your course content, pricing, and student data. You can create interactive lessons with videos, quizzes, and surveys to engage your students.

Plus, you can integrate with tools like MailChimp, Google Analytics, and Shopify to streamline your operations.

This feature is what you are paying for. The ability to customize every aspect of your courses will help you tailor your content to your audience’s needs. It also will save you a lot of time managing your courses and tracking your student’s progress.

Community Features

Community features are all about fostering engagement and interaction among your students. These features allow you to create a dedicated space within your course where students can interact with each other and with you.

Ditch the isolation of solo learning. Thinkific’s community feature transforms your course into a vibrant hive mind. You become the guide, fostering connections and igniting the collective genius of your students. It’s not just about teaching; it’s about co-creating knowledge together.

The community features will add a new dimension to your online courses. They will enable you to foster a sense of community among your students, encouraging them to learn from each other, share insights, and engage more deeply with the course material.

Thinkific’s Site Builder

Thinkific’s Site Builder allows you to create custom pages for your online courses. It comes with a set of default pages that serve the purpose of a complete website, but it also gives you the liberty to add new ones as per your requirements.

Its uniqueness lies in its user-friendliness and the level of customization it offers. Unlike other platforms where you might feel constrained by limited design options, Thinkific’s Site Builder empowers you. 

Tailor your course’s online presence to your brand and teaching style. This flexibility is key in differentiating your courses in a crowded online education market.

The site builder empowers you to create a professional-looking website without hiring a designer or learning to code. It will save you time and money and allow you to maintain consistency in your branding across all your courses.

Reporting and Analytics

Thinkific’s reporting and analytics tool provides you with insights about your courses and students. It allows you to track student progress, measure course completion rates, and see which content performs best.

You don’t just see who is taking your courses; you gain insights into how they interact with your content. This level of detail allows you to make informed decisions about improving your courses. 

You can identify which sections are most engaging, where students typically drop off, and what type of content resonates the most. Such insights are vital for refining your course content and marketing strategies.

The reporting and analytics feature will help you identify areas of your course that may need improvement and understand how my students interact with the material. This allows you to continually refine and enhance your courses based on real, actionable data.

Membership Resource Library

Imagine crafting a secret level in your course, accessible only to dedicated members. That’s the power of the resource library.

It lets you reward loyalty and fuel deeper engagement. Drop new resources regularly, surprise and delight your members, and build an exclusive community around your expertise. 

Remember that feeling of wanting to give your most engaged students something extra? With Thinkific’s resource library, I turned that desire into reality. 

Curate a collection of bonus videos, downloadable templates, and exclusive interviews with industry experts. Watch as your members go wild, engagement soars, and the community buzzes with excitement.

Your library will become a vital extension of your course, a hidden gem that amplifies the learning experience for your most dedicated students.

Thinkific Course Marketplace

The Thinkific Course Marketplace is a feature that allows you to list and sell courses to a wider audience. It’s a catalog of courses offered by Thinkific creators, spanning diverse topics and disciplines.

What makes the Course Marketplace unique is its potential to enhance your course visibility and reach. It exposes your courses to an audience that you might not have been able to tap into independently.

Plus, it’s not just a listing platform – Thinkific also provides tools for marketing and selling courses within the marketplace.

The Course Marketplace will help you expand your course sales. It provides a place for your courses to be discovered by individuals who are seeking the knowledge you have to offer.

Watch as your course enrollment increases and get connected with learners from around the globe, enriching the teaching experience.

Thinkific App Store

The Thinkific App Store is a marketplace of various applications that you can integrate with your online courses to enhance functionality and improve the learning experience. It includes a range of apps for marketing, analytics, student engagement, content creation, and more.

Its versatility and adaptability make the Thinkific App Store special. The App Store allows you to customize your online course platform to suit your specific needs and goals.

Whether you want to add interactive quizzes, automate your marketing efforts, or gain deeper insights into student behavior, there’s likely an app for it.

The Thinkific App Store can elevate the quality and impact of your online courses. The ability to add and integrate tools will enhance both the teaching and learning experience.

FAQs about Thinkific

What makes Thinkific different from other online course platforms?

Unlike many online course platforms, Thinkific gives you complete control over course design, pricing, and student data. It also offers a range of unique features like the Membership Resource Library and the Course Marketplace.

Is Thinkific suitable for beginners?

Absolutely. Thinkific is designed with user-friendliness in mind, making it an excellent choice for beginners. Its intuitive course builder and extensive resource library make creating and managing online courses straightforward, even if you’re new to online education.

Can I make money with Thinkific?

Yes, Thinkific provides all the tools you need to monetize your knowledge and expertise through online courses. You can set your own course prices, offer discounts and promotions, and even create membership sites or course bundles.

Can I use my own domain with Thinkific?

Absolutely. Thinkific allows you to connect your own custom domain or subdomain to give your online courses a more professional and branded look.

Does Thinkific offer certificates for course completion?

Yes, Thinkific allows you to award your students certificates upon completing a course. You can create custom certificates to match your branding and course style.

Final Verdict – to Buy Thinkific or Not to Buy Thinkific?

If you’re serious about crafting killer online courses and reaching a hungry audience, Thinkific is your launchpad to success!

Think of it as your all-in-one course creation fortress, marketing powerhouse, and student engagement haven.

Throughout this article, we’ve seen how Thinkific provides an all-in-one solution to create and sell courses. It offers a range of unique features, such as the Membership Resource Library and the Course Marketplace, which set it apart from other platforms.

Plus, with its user-friendly design and extensive support resources, it’s suitable for both beginners and more experienced course creators alike.

While some may argue that cheaper options are available, it’s important to remember that with Thinkific, you’re investing in a platform that offers comprehensive features, excellent customer support, and ultimate control over your course design and student data. The value it provides far outweighs the cost.

So, should you buy Thinkific? The answer is a resounding yes. Don’t hesitate to start creating and selling your online courses with Thinkific today!

As we move on to the next section of this Thinkific review and explore alternatives to this app, remember that while there may be other options available, Thinkific has proven itself to be a leader in the online course platform arena.

Thinkific Alternatives

If $49 is too much for you to stomach right now or you need a different solution, you might like one of these alternatives as we end this in-depth Thinkific review.

#1) Teachable

Teachable is another powerful online course platform that’s worth considering. While both Thinkific and Teachable offer robust course creation tools and excellent support, Teachable has an edge regarding its built-in email marketing capabilities. This feature can be a game-changer if you want to nurture relationships with your students and keep them engaged.

However, unlike Thinkific, Teachable doesn’t offer a free plan. So, if budget is your primary concern, Thinkific still takes the lead. Teachable is ideally suited for course creators prioritizing email marketing and student engagement strategies.

#2) Podia

Podia is a simpler, more streamlined alternative to Thinkific. It offers course creators an easy-to-use platform to sell courses and other digital products, including online courses, memberships, and digital downloads.

However, where Thinkific shines with its extensive features for course creation and student community management, Podia is somewhat limited. Podia could be a good fit if you’re after simplicity and have a smaller range of products to sell. But for those wanting comprehensive course design options and more control over student data, Thinkific remains superior.

#3) Kajabi

Kajabi positions itself as more than just an online course platform. It’s an all-in-one business platform offering advanced marketing automation and customer relationship management features. This might sound appealing, but remember, it comes with a higher price tag.

Moreover, its course creation tools aren’t as intuitive as Thinkific’s. If you’re running a larger business and need advanced marketing features, Kajabi could be worth the investment. However, if you’re primarily focused on creating and selling courses, Thinkific provides a more user-friendly and cost-effective solution.