Thinkific
Top 5 Best in Class Review: Thinkific 2024
About and History
Thinkific is a Canadian software company headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. Founded by Eoghan McCabe and Matt Maloney in 2012, Thinkific’s mission is to “revolutionize the way people learn and earn online by giving them the tools they need to turn their expertise into a sustainable business that impacts both them and their audience.“
Early Years and Growth (2012-2018):
McCabe, a software developer, and Maloney, a marketing expert, saw a gap in the market for user-friendly online course creation platforms. They envisioned a platform that would empower anyone with knowledge to share it and build a profitable online business. Thinkific initially focused on a simple course creation process and affordable pricing plans, attracting individual creators and small businesses.
Expansion and Feature Development (2018-Present):
As the online learning market boomed, Thinkific experienced significant growth. They expanded their features to include marketing tools, sales capabilities, community-building functionalities, and mobile app integrations. This allowed creators to not only build courses but also effectively sell them, manage their students, and foster engagement.
Who is Thinkific Today?
Today, Thinkific serves a diverse clientele, from individual creators and educators to established businesses and organizations looking to offer online training programs. They boast over 50,000 creators delivering courses in over 164 countries, making them a major player in the online learning industry.
Thinkific has played a significant role in the growth of the online learning industry. Their platform has empowered individuals to share their knowledge, businesses to upskill their workforce, and learners to access a vast array of educational content from anywhere in the world.
Pros and Cons
Thinkific is a popular online course creation platform that empowers individuals and businesses to share their knowledge and build online businesses. But before you jump in and start creating your course, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons to see if it’s the right fit for you.
| Feature | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | User-friendly interface, drag-and-drop course builder | Limited ability to navigate back and forth between course creation and creator dashboard (for creators) |
| Pricing | Affordable pricing plans, free plan available | Transaction fees on sales with free plan |
| Customization | Branding customization options for course landing pages and sales funnels | Less design flexibility compared to some competitors |
| Marketing & Sales Tools | Basic marketing and sales functionalities built-in (coupons, pricing structures) | Limited marketing features for advanced automation or complex sales funnels |
| Community Building | Community features for student interaction and engagement | Not applicable |
| Mobile App Integrations | Integrations with mobile learning apps for on-the-go access | Not applicable |
| Student Management | Limited student management functionalities | Requires integration with external CRM tools for advanced student management |
| Payment Options | Variety of pricing options (one-time, subscriptions) | Monthly payment options not available on basic plan |
| Affiliate Marketing | Affiliate marketing program available | Limited functionality in the affiliate marketing interface |
Additional Considerations:
User Interface Design for the Course Creator: While the student interface is intuitive, some creators find navigating back and forth between the course creation tools and their creator dashboard to be cumbersome.
Limited Payment Options (Basic Plan): The basic plan doesn’t allow for recurring payment options like monthly subscriptions. Upgrading to a paid plan is necessary for this functionality.
Core Features
Thinkific offers a comprehensive suite of features to empower creators in every stage of the online course creation process, from building engaging content to delivering it to students and fostering a thriving learning community.
Course Creation and Content Management:
- Drag-and-Drop Course Builder: A user-friendly interface allows you to easily structure your course by adding various content formats like text, videos, audio files, presentations, quizzes, assignments, and surveys.
- Drip Content: Control the release schedule of your course content, revealing information to students gradually over time to maintain engagement and encourage completion.
- Multiple File Uploads: Upload various file types including documents, PDFs, images, and videos to enrich your course content.
- Branding and Customization: Design your course landing pages and sales funnels to match your brand identity, giving your online school a professional look and feel.
- Content Previews: Preview your course content and landing pages before publishing to ensure everything looks polished and functions as intended.
Delivery System and Student Experience:
- Mobile-Responsive Design: Courses are accessible on any device, allowing students to learn on the go from desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
- Offline Access: Students can download course materials (depending on your settings) for offline viewing, providing flexibility in their learning journeys.
- Progress Tracking: Students can track their progress through the course content, see their grades on quizzes and assignments, and stay motivated throughout the learning process.
- Interactive Elements: Thinkific incorporates interactive elements like quizzes, assignments, discussions, and surveys to enhance student engagement and knowledge retention.
- Community Features (newer versions): Discussion boards allow students to interact with each other, ask questions, share ideas, and build a sense of community around the course.
Thinkific User Interface:
Thinkific boasts a user-friendly interface designed specifically for creators. Here’s a breakdown of the key areas:
- Course Creation Dashboard: This is your central hub for managing all aspects of your courses. You can create new courses, edit existing ones, upload content, manage student enrollment, and track course performance.
- Landing Page Builder: This allows you to design and customize your course landing pages, adding text, images, videos, and calls to action to attract potential students.
- Marketing Tools: Basic marketing functionalities are integrated within the platform. Here you can create coupons, set pricing structures (one-time payments, subscriptions), manage sales funnels, and integrate with email marketing platforms.
- Student Management: While limited, student management features allow you to view enrolled students, send announcements, and track their progress within the course.
- Reporting and Analytics: Thinkific provides basic reporting and analytics tools to track course performance metrics like student enrollment, completion rates, and engagement levels.
Thinkific prioritizes ease of use throughout its interface. Even beginners with no technical experience can create and upload content, manage their courses, and deliver them to a global audience.
Pricing Structure
Thinkific offers a range of pricing plans to cater to the needs of course creators at all stages of their journey. Whether you’re a complete beginner dipping your toes into the online course creation world, or an established business looking to scale your course offerings, Thinkific has a plan that fits your needs and budget.
Here’s a breakdown of each Thinkific pricing plan, highlighting the key features, pros, and cons to help you choose the best option for your online course business:
| Plan | Price (Monthly / Annual) | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 per month | * Ideal for beginners * Create 1 basic course with unlimited students * Core functionalities (drip content, quizzes) | * Very limited features * Only 1 course allowed * No marketing/sales tools, student management * Thinkific branding present * Transaction fees on sales |
| Basic | $49 / $36 | * Significant upgrade from Free * Unlimited courses * Remove Thinkific branding * Basic marketing tools (coupons, sales funnels) * Sell courses with one-time payments | * Lacks advanced features * No student management, email marketing, affiliate marketing * Limited analytics and reporting |
| Start | $99 / $74 | * Ideal for growing businesses * Essential features for managing/scaling * Student management, email marketing integrations * Advanced course pricing (subscriptions, memberships) * Priority customer support | * Might be cost-prohibitive for beginners * No custom domain names, white-labeling |
| Grow | $199 / $149 | * Top-tier plan for established businesses * Unlock all Thinkific features * Custom domain names, white-labeling * Advanced marketing automation integrations | * Most expensive plan * Only suitable for high-volume businesses |
| Expand (New) | $499 / $374 | * Designed for businesses needing more features * Everything in Grow Plan + 3 communities (20 spaces each) * 2 administrators, Free Thinkific Accelerator Program * Branded mobile app add-on | * Significant investment compared to lower tiers |
| Plus (New) | Custom Quote | * For large enterprises requiring maximum scalability * Everything in Expand Plan + exclusive features * 99.9% SLA, multiple Thinkific sites, multiple instructors | * Requires custom quote (unpredictable cost) * Only suitable for large organizations |
Here are some additional factors to consider when choosing a Thinkific pricing plan:
- Number of Courses You Plan to Offer: If you plan on creating multiple courses, the free and basic plans won’t be sufficient. Consider your course creation goals and choose a plan that allows for the number of courses you envision.
- Features You Need: Assess the functionalities essential for your online course business (e.g., email marketing, student management, custom domain name, mobile app). Choose a plan that fulfills those requirements.
- Your Budget: Be realistic about your financial constraints and choose a plan that aligns with your budget. There’s no point in opting for a higher tier with features you won’t be using right away.
- Expected Student Enrollment: Think about the size of your anticipated student base. Higher tiers often offer increased capacity for student management.
- Growth Potential: If you expect your course business to scale rapidly, consider a plan with room for growth, or choose a plan that allows for easy upgrades.
Ultimately, the best Thinkific pricing plan depends on your unique needs and goals as a course creator. By carefully considering the features offered in each tier, your budget, and your course creation vision, you can make an informed decision about which plan will best support your online learning empire.
Course Delivery System
Thinkific’s course delivery system offers functionalities to deliver your educational content to students and manage their learning experience. Let’s delve into the good, the bad, and the ugly aspects of this system:
The Good:
- Mobile-Responsive Design: A major strength is the mobile-friendly design. Students can access courses from any device, providing flexibility in their learning journeys. They can learn on the go from desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
- Offline Access (with limitations): Thinkific allows instructors to control whether students can download course materials for offline viewing. This caters to students who might have limited internet access or prefer to learn without being constantly connected. However, instructors need to be mindful of potential copyright concerns when enabling offline access.
- Progress Tracking: A valuable feature for both students and instructors. Students can track their progress through the course content, see their grades on quizzes and assignments, and stay motivated throughout the learning process. Instructors can monitor student engagement and identify areas where students might need additional support.
- Interactive Elements: Thinkific goes beyond static content delivery. It incorporates interactive elements like quizzes, assignments, discussions, and surveys to enhance student engagement and knowledge retention. These elements allow for a more dynamic and enriching learning experience.
- Drip Content Scheduling: Instructors can control the release schedule of their course content. Drip content allows for controlled information reveal, keeping students engaged and encouraging them to return for the next module.
- Content Security (to a point): Thinkific offers basic content security measures like password protection and student enrollment controls. This helps prevent unauthorized access to your course materials.
The Bad:
- Limited Content Security Features: While offering basic measures, Thinkific doesn’t have the most robust content security features compared to some competitors. Instructors with highly sensitive course materials might require additional security measures beyond what Thinkific provides natively.
- Download Restrictions: As mentioned earlier, instructors have control over whether students can download course materials for offline access. Disabling this feature might limit student flexibility while enabling it could raise copyright concerns if the materials are not properly protected.
- Limited Customization Options for the Student Experience: The student experience within the course player itself is not highly customizable. Instructors have limited control over the look and feel of the learning environment beyond their course content and branding.
The Ugly:
- Potential for Technical Glitches: As with any online platform, technical glitches can sometimes disrupt the course delivery process. While Thinkific strives for uptime and reliability, occasional issues might frustrate students and instructors alike.
- Limited Reporting and Analytics (in lower tiers): The free and basic plans offer limited reporting and analytics functionalities. Instructors might lack detailed insights into student engagement and course performance, making it difficult to effectively monitor progress and optimize their courses.
Choosing the Right Course Delivery System:
Thinkific’s course delivery system offers a good foundation for delivering online courses. However, the limitations become more apparent as your course creation needs to grow or if robust content security is a major concern. Here are some additional factors to consider:
- Security Requirements: If your course materials are highly sensitive, you might need a platform with more advanced content security features.
- Level of Customization Desired: Consider how much control you want over the student experience within the course player. If extensive customization is crucial, Thinkific might not be the most suitable option.
- Importance of Detailed Analytics: If in-depth reporting and analytics are essential for monitoring student engagement and optimizing your courses, you might need to upgrade to a higher-tier plan or consider a platform with more robust analytics functionalities.
By carefully evaluating Thinkific’s course delivery system and your specific needs, you can determine if it’s the right platform to effectively deliver your online courses and foster a successful learning environment for your students.
Thinkific Plus
Thinkific offers a custom plan called “Thinkific Plus” designed specifically for large enterprises with high-volume course creation and specific security needs. Here’s a closer look at what Thinkific Plus offers:
Features:
- Everything in the Expand Plan: Thinkific Plus includes all the features and functionalities available in the Thinkific Expand plan, such as branded mobile app creation, multiple communities, and increased student management capabilities.
- Customizable SLAs (Service Level Agreements): This allows enterprises to negotiate guaranteed uptime percentages with Thinkific, ensuring a high level of platform reliability for critical course delivery.
- Multiple Thinkific Sites: Thinkific Plus caters to organizations that might require separate branded course platforms for different departments, subsidiaries, or product lines.
- Multiple Instructors per Course: This feature is valuable for complex courses that require a team of instructors with diverse expertise.
Benefits for Enterprises:
- Scalability: Thinkific Plus caters to the needs of large organizations with potentially high student enrollment and extensive course libraries.
- Security: While Thinkific’s standard plans offer basic content security measures, Thinkific Plus might accommodate additional security needs through custom configurations or integrations with enterprise-grade security solutions (depending on negotiations).
- Brand Control: Multiple Thinkific sites allow for complete brand separation for different courses or departments, maintaining a consistent brand experience for each target audience.
Who Should Consider Thinkific Plus?
- Large organizations with a high volume of online courses.
- Enterprises requiring a high level of platform uptime and reliability (guaranteed by SLAs).
- Organizations that need separate branded course platforms for different departments or product lines.
- Companies delivering courses with multiple instructors.
Important Note:
Thinkific Plus requires contacting Thinkific for a custom quote. This means the pricing can vary depending on the specific needs and functionalities negotiated between the enterprise and Thinkific. Given the custom nature of Thinkific Plus, it’s advisable for large organizations to carefully evaluate their course creation requirements, security concerns, and budget constraints before opting for this plan.
Thinkific vs. Competitors
Thinkific isn’t alone in the online course creation market. Several established platforms offer a range of features and functionalities catering to different needs. Here’s a detailed comparison of Thinkific with three of its key competitors: Kajabi, Teachable, and Podia:
Thinkific vs. The Competition: A Feature Breakdown
| Feature | Thinkific | Kajabi | Teachable | Podia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Affordable, tiered pricing plans | More expensive than Thinkific | Similar to Thinkific | Generally affordable, might be slightly higher than Thinkific depending on plan |
| Ease of Use | User-friendly interface with drag-and-drop course builder | Steeper learning curve due to extensive features | User-friendly, similar to Thinkific | Clean and user-friendly interface |
| Course Creation | Straightforward course creation process | Advanced course creation with various content formats | Similar to Thinkific | Course creation might be slightly less intuitive than Thinkific |
| Marketing & Sales | Basic marketing tools (coupons, sales funnels) | Comprehensive marketing suite (landing pages, email marketing, sales funnels) | Less comprehensive marketing tools compared to Kajabi | Limited marketing features |
| Student Management | Basic student management features | Robust student management functionalities | Potentially stronger student management than Thinkific | Basic student management |
| Content Security | Basic content security measures | Might not be sufficient for highly sensitive materials | Similar to Thinkific | Might not be sufficient for highly sensitive materials |
| Analytics & Reporting | Limited in lower tiers, detailed data in higher tiers | Detailed analytics and reporting | Similar to Thinkific | Limited in lower tiers |
| Mobile Accessibility | Courses accessible on any device | Courses accessible on any device | Courses accessible on any device | Courses accessible on any device |
| Multiple Instructors | Supports courses with multiple instructors | Supports courses with multiple instructors | Supports courses with multiple instructors | Supports courses with multiple instructors |
| Community Building | Limited community features | Built-in community features (forums, groups) | Limited community features | Limited community features |
| Membership Sites | Not a core focus | Not a core focus | Not a core focus | Strong membership site functionalities |
| Integrations | Integrates with various third-party tools | Integrates with various third-party tools | Integrates with various third-party tools | Integrates with various third-party tools |
Choosing the Right Platform:
The best platform for you depends on your specific needs and priorities. Here’s a quick guideline to help you decide:
- If you prioritize marketing and sales functionalities, and have a larger budget, Kajabi might be a good fit.
- If you’re looking for a similar feature set to Thinkific with potentially stronger student management, consider Teachable.
- If a user-friendly interface, membership site capabilities, and affordability are crucial, Podia could be the answer.
Remember, it’s always a good idea to explore free trials or demo versions offered by these platforms before committing to a paid plan. This allows you to experience the platform firsthand and see if it aligns well with your needs and workflow.
Who Should Enroll?
Thinkific caters to a broad range of individuals interested in creating and selling online courses. Here’s a breakdown of who can benefit most from enrolling in Thinkific:
Ideal Users:
- New and Aspiring Course Creators: Thinkific’s user-friendly interface and drag-and-drop course builder make it a great platform for beginners to get started with online course creation. The free plan allows you to experiment with basic course creation and explore the platform’s functionalities before committing financially.
- Educators and Experts: If you have a specific skill set or knowledge base you want to share with the world, Thinkific empowers you to create comprehensive online courses and reach a global audience. You can leverage various content formats (text, video, audio, quizzes, etc.) to design engaging learning experiences.
- Entrepreneurs and Business Owners: Thinkific allows you to monetize your expertise by selling your courses. It offers various pricing options (one-time payments, subscriptions, memberships) to tailor your offerings to your target audience. Additionally, Thinkific integrates with marketing tools to help you promote your courses and reach potential students.
- Collaborators: Thinkific allows you to create courses with multiple instructors. This is ideal for situations where a course benefits from diverse perspectives or a team of experts wants to pool their knowledge for a comprehensive learning experience.
People Who Might Look Elsewhere:
- Students Seeking Individual Courses: Thinkific is primarily a course creation platform. While some creators might offer individual course enrollment, the platform itself isn’t designed for comprehensive course browsing or discovery like some dedicated online learning marketplaces.
- Highly Technical Course Creators: If your course material requires a highly customized student experience or advanced content security features, Thinkific might not offer the level of customization needed.
- Data-Driven Instructors Requiring In-Depth Analytics: The free and basic plans offer limited reporting and analytics functionalities. Instructors who require granular student engagement data and detailed course performance insights might need to upgrade to a higher-tier plan or explore platforms with more robust analytics features.
Ultimately, the decision to enroll in Thinkific depends on your specific goals and needs. Carefully consider your course creation experience level, the type of course you want to create, your budget, and the level of customization and data insights you require to make an informed decision.
Final Thoughts
Thinkific: Final Thoughts – A Platform with Potential, But Consider the Alternatives
Thinkific offers a user-friendly and affordable platform for creating and selling online courses. It caters to a broad range of users, from complete beginners to established entrepreneurs looking to expand their online course offerings. Here’s a comprehensive analysis of Thinkific’s strengths and weaknesses to help you decide if it’s the right platform for you:
Strengths:
- Ease of Use: Thinkific boasts a user-friendly interface with a drag-and-drop course builder, making it easy for beginners to create and upload course content.
- Pricing Options: Thinkific offers a variety of pricing plans to suit different needs and budgets. The free plan allows you to experiment with basic course creation, while higher tiers unlock advanced features like student management, marketing tools, and custom branding.
- Mobile-Responsive Design: Courses are accessible on any device, allowing students to learn on the go. This flexibility enhances the overall learning experience.
- Engagement Features: Thinkific incorporates interactive elements like quizzes, assignments, discussions, and surveys to boost student engagement and knowledge retention.
- Multiple Instructor Support: The ability to create courses with multiple instructors is valuable for collaborative projects or situations where a course benefits from diverse perspectives.
Weaknesses:
- Limited Design Flexibility: While instructors can brand their course landing pages, the overall student experience within the course player itself has limited customization options.
- Content Security Concerns: Thinkific offers basic content security measures, but might not be sufficient for highly sensitive materials. Instructors requiring robust content protection might need to consider additional security solutions.
- Limited Reporting and Analytics (in lower tiers): The free and basic plans offer restricted reporting functionalities. Detailed student engagement data and course performance insights are crucial for optimizing courses, and these might be limited in lower tiers, requiring upgrades or exploration of alternative platforms.
- Potential for Technical Glitches: As with any online platform, technical issues can sometimes disrupt the course delivery process. While Thinkific strives for uptime and reliability, occasional glitches might frustrate students and instructors.
Thinkific vs. The Alternatives:
Thinkific isn’t the only player in the online course creation game. Here’s a quick comparison with some popular alternatives:
- Kajabi: Offers a more comprehensive all-in-one solution with marketing tools, landing page creation, and email marketing features built-in. However, Kajabi pricing can be more expensive than Thinkific.
- Podia: Similar to Thinkific in terms of features and pricing, Podia offers a more streamlined and user-friendly interface.
- Udemy: A large online course marketplace where you can list your course alongside offerings from other instructors. Udemy handles student enrollment and marketing, but instructors earn a smaller revenue share on sales.
The Final Verdict:
Thinkific is a solid platform for creating and selling online courses, particularly for beginners and those on a budget. However, consider the limitations in design flexibility, content security (for highly sensitive materials), and detailed analytics (in lower tiers) before making your decision. If these aspects are crucial for your specific course creation needs, explore alternative platforms or upgrade to higher tiers within Thinkific.
By carefully weighing the pros, cons, and available alternatives, you can choose the best online course creation platform to launch your educational voyage and share your knowledge with the world.
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