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Software · head to head

Coursera vs Thinkific

Coursera logo

Coursera

Software

Learn from top universities and companies worldwide

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 Coursera has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Coursera free audit does not include certificate upon completion; Thinkific no free plan, 14-day trial only
  • They diverge on capability: Coursera covers Video lectures, Thinkific covers Course builder.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Coursera and Thinkific actually diverge.

Attributes where Coursera and Thinkific differ
AttributeCourseraThinkific
Starting priceFree$36/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb, Mobile

Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown), founded (2012).

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 Coursera

  • Video lectures
  • Peer assessments
  • Mobile learning
  • Offline access
  • Specializations
  • Degrees
  • Slack
  • Microsoft Teams

Only in Thinkific

  • Course builder
  • Website builder
  • Communities
  • Memberships
  • Marketing tools
  • Analytics
  • Zapier
  • Mailchimp

Both cover

  • Quizzes
  • Certificates
  • Web support
  • IOS support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Coursera

  • Skill developmentnot Thinkific
  • Career advancementnot Thinkific
  • Professional certificatesnot Thinkific
  • Degree programsnot Thinkific

Thinkific

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

Where each one falls short

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

Coursera

  • Free audit does not include certificate upon completion
  • Limited offline access to course materials
  • Paid specializations require monthly subscription rather than one-time purchase

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

Coursera

Free
  • Free AuditFree
  • Coursera Plus$59/month
  • Professional Certificates$39/month

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 Coursera if

  • You need video lectures.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want peer assessments.
Coursera review

Choose Thinkific if

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

Questions people ask

Is Coursera or Thinkific better?
Neither clearly leads. Coursera 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, Coursera or Thinkific?
Coursera has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Coursera and $36/month for Thinkific.
Does Coursera or Thinkific run on more platforms?
Coursera runs on Web, iOS, Android. Thinkific runs on Web, Mobile.
Can I use Coursera for free?
Yes. Coursera has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Thinkific starts at $36/month.
What is Coursera best used for?
Coursera is most often used for skill development, career advancement, professional certificates, degree programs. Of those, skill development and career advancement are not what Thinkific is typically brought in for.
What can Coursera do that Thinkific cannot?
Coursera covers Video lectures, Peer assessments, Mobile learning, Offline access. Thinkific covers Course builder, Website builder, Communities, Memberships. Both handle Quizzes, Certificates, Web support, IOS support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Coursera: Can I audit courses for free?

Yes. Most Coursera courses can be audited for free, allowing access to videos and assignments without a certificate.

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
Coursera: What is Coursera Plus?

Coursera Plus is a subscription for $59/month or $399/year providing unlimited access to over 7,000 courses and specializations with certificates.

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
Coursera: Do enterprises get custom integrations?

Yes. Enterprise plans include SSO, APIs, AI-assisted Course Builder, and 30+ LMS integrations with dedicated customer success managers.

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
Coursera: What is the cost of a degree program?

Coursera offers accredited degree programs starting at $50,000 and above, with costs varying by program and institution.

Source
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