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LMS · head to head

Cornerstone Learning vs Thinkific

Cornerstone Learning logo

Cornerstone Learning

LMS

Enterprise talent management and learning

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Thinkific logo

Thinkific

LMS

Create and sell online courses your way

From
$36/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Cornerstone Learning no pricing is published and no tier structure is shown; Thinkific no free plan, 14-day trial only
  • They diverge on capability: Cornerstone Learning covers Learning management, Thinkific covers Course builder.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Cornerstone Learning and Thinkific actually diverge.

Attributes where Cornerstone Learning and Thinkific differ
AttributeCornerstone LearningThinkific
Starting priceOn request$36/month
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
PlatformsWeb, IOS, Android, APIWeb, Mobile
Founded19992012

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (LMS).

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 Cornerstone Learning

  • Learning management
  • Compliance tracking
  • Content marketplace
  • Skills development
  • Social learning
  • Mobile app
  • AI recommendations
  • Workday

Only in Thinkific

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

Both cover

  • Analytics
  • Web support
  • IOS support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Cornerstone Learning

  • Enterprise learning management and compliance trainingnot Thinkific
  • Talent development and skills tracking across a workforcenot Thinkific

Thinkific

  • Course creationnot Cornerstone Learning
  • Membership sitesnot Cornerstone Learning
  • Coaching programsnot Cornerstone Learning
  • Corporate trainingnot Cornerstone Learning

Where each one falls short

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

Cornerstone Learning

  • No pricing is published and no tier structure is shown
  • The vendor states cost depends on organisational needs and size, with an estimate available only after a demo
  • No minimum purchase or user count is disclosed

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

Cornerstone Learning

On request
  • Learning$undefined/month
    • Course management
    • Compliance
    • Mobile
  • Talent Suite$undefined/month
    • All Learning
    • Performance
    • Recruiting

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 Cornerstone Learning if

  • You need learning management.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android, API.
  • You also want compliance tracking.
Cornerstone Learning review

Choose Thinkific if

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

Questions people ask

Is Cornerstone Learning or Thinkific better?
Neither clearly leads. Cornerstone Learning starts at On request and Thinkific at $36/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cornerstone Learning or Thinkific?
Cornerstone Learning starts at On request and Thinkific at $36/month.
Does Cornerstone Learning or Thinkific run on more platforms?
Cornerstone Learning runs on Web, IOS, Android, API. Thinkific runs on Web, Mobile.
What is Cornerstone Learning best used for?
Cornerstone Learning is most often used for enterprise learning management and compliance training, talent development and skills tracking across a workforce. Of those, enterprise learning management and compliance training and talent development and skills tracking across a workforce are not what Thinkific is typically brought in for.
What can Cornerstone Learning do that Thinkific cannot?
Cornerstone Learning covers Learning management, Compliance tracking, Content marketplace, Skills development. Thinkific covers Course builder, Website builder, Quizzes, Certificates. Both handle Analytics, Web support, IOS support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Cornerstone Learning: How does Cornerstone Learning determine pricing?

Cornerstone Learning uses custom pricing based on each organization's needs and size. The company does not publish standard pricing and requires organizations to contact their sales team for a personalized estimate through a free demo.

Source
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
Cornerstone Learning: Is there a free trial or demo available?

Yes, Cornerstone Learning offers a free personalized demo where you can discuss your requirements and receive a pricing estimate tailored to your organization.

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
Cornerstone Learning: Does pricing vary by organization size?

Yes, pricing depends on your organization's needs and size. Each organization receives a different cost estimate based on these factors.

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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