Most course creators pick between Teachable and Thinkific based on interface preference or a YouTube review. That’s a costly mistake. The fee structures on these two platforms behave very differently depending on your revenue level — and the platform that looks cheaper at $0/month can quietly cost you hundreds more per year once you factor in transaction fees, payment processing, and the features locked behind paid tiers. The Teachable vs. Thinkific decision deserves an actual numbers comparison, not a feature checklist.
What Course Creators Get Wrong About “Free” Plans
Both platforms offer free plans. Neither is actually free once you start selling. Teachable’s free plan charges a 10% transaction fee on every sale on top of standard payment processing fees (roughly 2.9% + $0.30 via Stripe). Thinkific’s free plan charges zero transaction fees — but limits you to 1 course and no community features, which caps your earning potential immediately.
One course creator I know launched on Teachable’s free plan, made $3,200 in her first two months, and handed over $320 in transaction fees alone before realizing she could have covered Teachable’s Basic plan ($59/month) and kept most of that. The math only works in the platform’s favor when you don’t run it yourself.
Some creators also start on marketplace platforms before launching their own course sites. For example, many instructors first test their ideas on Skillshare — something explored in Why Skillshare Instructors Earn More Than You Think (And How to Become One) — before eventually moving to platforms like Teachable or Thinkific for greater control over pricing and student relationships.
Teachable vs. Thinkific Fees: Breaking Down What You Actually Pay
The transaction fee reality at each tier.
Teachable eliminates its 10% transaction fee starting at the Basic plan ($59/month). The Pro plan runs $159/month and adds features like graded quizzes, course completion certificates, and advanced course compliance tools. Thinkific removes transaction fees on every plan including free, but their paid plans — Start at $74/month, Grow at $149/month — unlock features like memberships, bundles, and Zoom integration that most serious creators need anyway.
Therefore, if you’re selling courses and already generating consistent revenue, both platforms cost roughly similar amounts at equivalent feature tiers. The difference shows up in the details.
Where Thinkific quietly wins on pricing.
Thinkific includes unlimited courses on every paid plan. Teachable’s Basic plan limits you to five courses — a real constraint if you’re building a catalog. Additionally, Thinkific’s payment processing connects directly through Stripe or PayPal, meaning you receive payouts on your processor’s schedule. Teachable holds payouts and issues them on a monthly basis by default (daily payouts require the Pro plan or higher). For cash flow-conscious creators, that distinction matters significantly.
Where Teachable justifies its cost.
Teachable’s course builder and student experience are genuinely more polished at the mid-tier level. The platform also integrates ConvertKit and other email tools more smoothly, which matters when you’re building an audience alongside your course business. If you want built-in affiliate marketing for your courses, Teachable includes it from the Basic plan up. Thinkific only adds affiliate features on the Grow plan ($149/month). For creators who rely heavily on affiliate-driven sales, Teachable’s Basic plan at $59/month may actually be the leaner choice.
The third option worth considering.
If both platforms feel like too much overhead for where you are right now, Gumroad or Lemon Squeezy handle simple course delivery with lower monthly commitment — though with fewer course-specific features.
Which Platform Is Actually Worth It at Your Revenue Level
Below $500/month in course revenue, Thinkific’s free plan (with zero transaction fees) is almost always the smarter starting point. Between $500-$2,000/month, both platforms’ entry paid plans are worth the upgrade — run the transaction fee math for your specific price point. Above $2,000/month, the platform decision becomes less about fees and more about which ecosystem — email integrations, affiliate tools, community features — fits how you’ve built your audience. Neither platform is wrong at that level. They’re just different bets.
Pull up the pricing pages for Teachable and Thinkific side by side right now. Take your projected monthly course revenue, multiply by 10%, and compare that number to the monthly plan cost. That single calculation will tell you exactly when the free plan stops making sense. Make the decision based on your numbers, not someone else’s preference.
Many course creators actually start by teaching one-on-one before realizing their knowledge can be packaged into a scalable product. If you’re still in that stage, this guide on The $1,000/Month Side Hustle Hiding in Your Brain: Online Tutoring’s Dirty Little Secret shows how people are already monetizing their expertise before ever launching a course.
