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LMS · head to head

edX vs Thinkific

edX logo

edX

LMS

Online courses from the world's top universities

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: edX individual course costs not displayed; pricing requires enrollment to view; Thinkific no free plan, 14-day trial only
  • They diverge on capability: edX covers Video lectures, Thinkific covers Course builder.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which edX and Thinkific actually diverge.

Attributes where edX and Thinkific differ
AttributeedXThinkific
Starting priceOn request$36/month
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb, Mobile

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

  • Video lectures
  • Interactive exercises
  • Discussion forums
  • MicroMasters
  • Professional certificates
  • Degrees
  • Mobile learning
  • LMS integrations

Only in Thinkific

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

Both cover

  • Certificates
  • Web support
  • IOS support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

edX

  • Learners seeking university-level credentials from elite institutions (MIT, Harvard, Cambridge)not Thinkific
  • Career changers pursuing MicroMasters or professional certificatesnot Thinkific
  • Individuals in regions with limited access to higher educationnot Thinkific

Thinkific

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

Where each one falls short

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

edX

  • Individual course costs not displayed; pricing requires enrollment to view

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

edX

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the edX review.

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 edX if

  • You need video lectures.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want interactive exercises.
edX review

Choose Thinkific if

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

Questions people ask

Is edX or Thinkific better?
Neither clearly leads. edX 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, edX or Thinkific?
edX starts at On request and Thinkific at $36/month.
Does edX or Thinkific run on more platforms?
edX runs on Web, iOS, Android. Thinkific runs on Web, Mobile.
What is edX best used for?
edX is most often used for learners seeking university-level credentials from elite institutions (mit, harvard, cambridge), career changers pursuing micromasters or professional certificates, individuals in regions with limited access to higher education. Of those, learners seeking university-level credentials from elite institutions (mit, harvard, cambridge) and career changers pursuing micromasters or professional certificates are not what Thinkific is typically brought in for.
What can edX do that Thinkific cannot?
edX covers Video lectures, Interactive exercises, Discussion forums, MicroMasters. Thinkific covers Course builder, Website builder, Quizzes, Communities. Both handle Certificates, Web support, IOS support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

edX: Does edX offer free courses?

Yes, edX allows you to audit courses for free, as indicated by their 'How to Audit a Course' resource. Auditing provides access to course content without earning 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
edX: Do you have to pay for certificates on edX?

Yes, edX offers Verified Certificates which require payment. Exact pricing varies by course but is available when you view individual course pages.

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
edX: What types of credential programs does edX offer?

edX offers Professional Certificates (multiple bundled courses), Degree Programs (Master's, Bachelor's, MicroMasters, MicroBachelors), and Executive Education premium offerings.

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
edX: Are there current discounts on edX?

Yes, edX offers periodic discount codes. Currently they have a code ACTION2026 providing up to 20% off for a limited time.

Source
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