Thinkific Alternatives (2026): 10 Tools Compared

Thinkific is an online course platform: you build lessons, put them behind your own site and sell them to students. A lot of course creators use it happily. Others look around because they want a community alongside the lessons, a free way to start, a tool that sits inside WordPress or something simpler to set up.

Here are ten alternatives to Thinkific in no particular order, sorted alphabetically. Two are well-known names and most are smaller, more focused tools. I've taken every description from each tool's own website and directory listings, so check the current details on each site before you sign up. If you teach for a living, my notes on sorting out content and enquiries for course creators may also help.

Thinkific alternatives side by side

In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site describes a free version or open source software you can keep using. Trial only means a free trial but no ongoing free plan. No means the site states neither. Trial lengths and limits change, so check before you start.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
Graphy	Course and creator platform	Courses, websites and digital products together	Trial only
Kajabi	All-in-one platform	Courses, coaching, memberships and marketing tools	Trial only
LearnDash	WordPress plugin	Courses on a site you already run	Trial only
LearnWorlds	Course platform	Interactive video and AI-assisted course building	Trial only
Moodle	Open source learning system	Self-hosted courses with full control	Yes
Podia	Creator storefront	Courses, community, coaching and email together	Trial only
Ruzuku	Course platform	Courses with built-in community	Yes
Skool	Community and classroom	Community first, lessons alongside	Trial only
Teachable	Course platform	Courses and coaching with a familiar setup	Trial only
Teachery	Simple course builder	Customisable courses without clutter	Trial only

Ten course-selling tools worth a look

Graphy

Best for: Coaches and creators who want a course, a simple website and digital products handled in one place.

Kajabi

Best for: Experts who want courses, coaching, memberships and email marketing under a single login.

LearnDash

Best for: Owners with a WordPress site who want course features added to it rather than a separate platform.

LearnWorlds

Best for: Trainers who want interactive video lessons and help from AI when building and managing courses.

Moodle

Best for: Schools, charities and technical teams who are happy to host their own learning system and shape it.

Podia

Best for: Solo creators who want to sell courses, run a community and send email from one simple dashboard.

Ruzuku

Best for: Teachers who want to start small, launch a first course with a handful of students and add a community.

Skool

Best for: Creators whose course revolves around an active group, with discussion at the centre and lessons beside it.

Teachable

Best for: Newer course creators who want a well-known platform with courses, coaching and checkout in one place.

Teachery

Best for: Solo teachers who prefer a lean builder for customisable courses and digital products over a big toolkit.

How to compare online course platforms

Course platforms look alike on the surface, so compare them on the parts that shape your daily routine and your students' experience.

• Lesson formats. Video, audio, downloads, quizzes and live sessions don't all come as standard, so list what your course needs.
• Community. Some platforms treat discussion as the main event, others bolt it on. Decide how much your students will talk to each other.
• Checkout and student access. Look at how a sale turns into access, how coupons work and what happens when someone's access ends.
• Your site and branding. Check whether the course lives on your own domain and how far you can change the look.
• Email and marketing tools. Built-in email saves a login. If you already use an email tool, look at how well the two connect.
• Student data and export. You should be able to take your content and your student list with you if you move.

Questions to ask before you switch course platforms

• Can I export my lessons, videos and student list from my current platform?
• Will my students keep their access, and how will I tell them about the move?
• What does the free trial or free plan include, and does it limit the features I need?
• How does it connect to my email tool, my website and my accounting software?
• How quickly does the support team reply when a student can't get in?
• What happens to my content if I cancel?

Platforms are only half the picture. If you're building a business around teaching, my notes on what course creators can automate first show where the repetitive work tends to hide.

Which type of course platform suits which creator

• First-time course creators usually do best with a simple builder and a free plan or short trial, so there's little to lose.
• Coaches and consultants often want coaching sessions, a community and courses in the same place.
• WordPress site owners may prefer a plugin so everything stays on the site they already know.
• Schools, charities and training teams sometimes need a full learning system with reporting and control over hosting.
• Community builders tend to look for a platform where discussion comes first and lessons follow.

Whichever way you go, the platform won't make a course sell by itself. My piece on turning what you know into online courses covers the thinking that comes before the tool.

Course platform mistakes that slow you down

• Choosing a platform before you know what your course contains. Outline the lessons first.
• Moving everything on a busy launch week. Switch when your students need you least.
• Building a huge course before anyone has seen the idea. A small first version teaches you more.
• Ignoring the student view. Sign up as a student and look at the login, the lesson page and the emails.
• Forgetting to check what happens to your content and student list if you leave.
• Collecting every tool's features in a spreadsheet and never making a decision.

When a smaller course platform makes sense

Smaller platforms tend to be quicker to learn, and many are built around one kind of creator, such as a teacher with a small group or an expert running a members-only community. Some offer a free version or a short trial, which makes them easy to try with a single lesson.

Before you rely on one, check that it's still being updated, read its help pages and build a sample lesson. Make sure you can export your content, and look at how student support is handled.

Do you make an online course platform? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

Before you commit to one course platform

Pick two platforms that match how you teach, then build the same short lesson in each. Compare how easy it was to set up, what the student sees and how comfortable the settings feel. Keep whichever suits you and your students.

Frequently asked questions

What does an online course platform do?

It hosts your lessons, controls who can see them, handles sign-ups and checkout, and usually offers tools for quizzes, email and community.

Why look for an alternative to Thinkific?

People usually want a different mix of features, such as a built-in community, a free way to start, a plugin for their own site or simpler setup. Work out which matters to you first.

Do I need a platform at all?

Not always. Some creators run a small course with a video folder and email, but a platform helps once you want checkout, student access and progress tracking in one place.

Can I move my course to a new platform?

Usually yes, but it takes planning. Export your videos, documents and student list, rebuild the lessons and tell your students what's changing.

Is open source software a good option?

It can be, if you're comfortable with hosting and updates or have someone who is. You get control, and you also take on the technical work.