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Software · head to head

ClassDojo vs Thinkific

ClassDojo logo

ClassDojo

Software

Build amazing classroom communities

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Thinkific logo

Thinkific

Software

Create and sell online courses your way

From
$36/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only ClassDojo has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: ClassDojo the AI homework helper, the 2,000 plus digital book library, detailed progress reports, memory albums and calendar sync are all restricted to the paid ClassDojo Plus subscription; Thinkific no free plan, 14-day trial only
  • They diverge on capability: ClassDojo covers Behavior tracking, Thinkific covers Course builder.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ClassDojo and Thinkific actually diverge.

Attributes where ClassDojo and Thinkific differ
AttributeClassDojoThinkific
Starting priceFree$36/month
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, IOS, AndroidWeb, Mobile
Founded20112012

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in ClassDojo

  • Behavior tracking
  • Parent messaging
  • Class story
  • Student portfolios
  • Dojo points
  • Translation
  • School story
  • Mobile app

Only in Thinkific

  • Course builder
  • Website builder
  • Quizzes
  • Certificates
  • Communities
  • Memberships
  • Marketing tools
  • Analytics

Both cover

  • Web support
  • IOS support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

ClassDojo

  • Classroom behaviour points and feedback shared with parentsnot Thinkific
  • Teacher to parent messaging and class story updatesnot Thinkific
  • Home reading and progress tracking for primary school pupilsnot Thinkific

Thinkific

  • Course creationnot ClassDojo
  • Membership sitesnot ClassDojo
  • Coaching programsnot ClassDojo
  • Corporate trainingnot ClassDojo

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

ClassDojo

  • The AI homework helper, the 2,000 plus digital book library, detailed progress reports, memory albums and calendar sync are all restricted to the paid ClassDojo Plus subscription
  • ClassDojo Plus is sold to families rather than to schools, so parents pay for the premium tier
  • The Plus page publishes no monthly or yearly price, only a 7 day free trial
  • No pricing is published for the school leader or district offerings

Thinkific

  • No free plan, 14-day trial only
  • Transaction fees on third-party payment processors (5% on Basic tier)
  • PayPal only available on Grow plan ($199/month), not on Basic or Start
  • Limited customization on lower-tier plans
  • Cannot embed courses in external domains or iframes
  • Limited number of spaces per plan
  • Less interactive community features compared to alternatives
  • Features continuously moved to higher-priced tiers
  • Payment processing delays reported (up to 90 days)

Pricing, plan by plan

ClassDojo

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Behavior points
    • Messaging
    • Class story
  • Plus$7.99/month
    • All free features
    • Beyond School
    • Dojo Islands
  • School$undefined/month
    • School story
    • Admin tools
    • Analytics

Thinkific

$36/month
  • Basic$36/month
    • 1 course
    • Up to 500 students
    • Thinkific Payments (0% fees)
  • Start$74/month
    • Up to 3 courses
    • Up to 2,000 students
    • Third-party payment (3% fees)
  • Grow$149/month
    • Unlimited courses
    • Unlimited students
    • Third-party payment (0% fees)

Which should you pick?

Choose ClassDojo if

  • You need behavior tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want parent messaging.
ClassDojo review

Choose Thinkific if

  • You need course builder.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want website builder.
Thinkific review

Questions people ask

Is ClassDojo or Thinkific better?
Neither clearly leads. ClassDojo starts at Free and Thinkific at $36/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ClassDojo or Thinkific?
ClassDojo has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for ClassDojo and $36/month for Thinkific.
Does ClassDojo or Thinkific run on more platforms?
ClassDojo runs on Web, IOS, Android. Thinkific runs on Web, Mobile.
Can I use ClassDojo for free?
Yes. ClassDojo has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Thinkific starts at $36/month.
What is ClassDojo best used for?
ClassDojo is most often used for classroom behaviour points and feedback shared with parents, teacher to parent messaging and class story updates, home reading and progress tracking for primary school pupils. Of those, classroom behaviour points and feedback shared with parents and teacher to parent messaging and class story updates are not what Thinkific is typically brought in for.
What can ClassDojo do that Thinkific cannot?
ClassDojo covers Behavior tracking, Parent messaging, Class story, Student portfolios. Thinkific covers Course builder, Website builder, Quizzes, Certificates. Both handle Web support, IOS support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Thinkific: Does Thinkific have a free plan?

No. Thinkific does not offer a free plan but provides a 14-day free trial. Paid plans start at $36/month (Basic tier).

Source
Thinkific: Are there transaction fees on Thinkific?

Thinkific charges no transaction fees when using their built-in Thinkific Payments. Third-party payment processors incur 5% fees (Basic) down to 0% (Plus), plus 3.6% for Stripe with subscriptions.

Source
Thinkific: What payment methods does Thinkific support?

PayPal is locked to Grow plan ($199/month). Basic and Start plans do not support PayPal, limiting payment options for international creators and potentially reducing conversions.

Source
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Related pages

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