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Software · head to head

Labster vs Thinkific

Labster logo

Labster

Software

Virtual science labs for immersive learning

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Thinkific logo

Thinkific

Software

Create and sell online courses your way

From
$36/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Labster customization is limited and labs cannot be easily adapted to specific course learning outcomes; Thinkific no free plan, 14-day trial only
  • They diverge on capability: Labster covers Virtual simulations, Thinkific covers Course builder.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Labster and Thinkific actually diverge.

Attributes where Labster and Thinkific differ
AttributeLabsterThinkific
Starting priceOn request$36/month
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
PlatformsWebWeb, Mobile
Founded20112012

Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 Labster

  • Virtual simulations
  • 3D environments
  • Theory pages
  • Lab reports
  • Progress tracking
  • Mobile access
  • Multiplayer
  • Canvas

Only in Thinkific

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

Both cover

  • Quizzes
  • Web support
  • IOS support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Labster

  • Virtual labsnot Thinkific
  • Pre-lab preparationnot Thinkific
  • Supplemental learningnot Thinkific
  • Remote educationnot Thinkific

Thinkific

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

Where each one falls short

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

Labster

  • Customization is limited and labs cannot be easily adapted to specific course learning outcomes
  • Simulations can lag or freeze depending on operating system and connection speed
  • Cannot fully replace hands-on physical lab experience and data collection
  • Students report preference for tactile physical lab experience over virtual simulations

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

Labster

On request
  • Student Access$49/month
    • Course simulations
    • Mobile access
    • Progress tracking
  • Institution$undefined/month
    • All simulations
    • LMS integration
    • Analytics
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Custom content
    • API access
    • Priority support

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 Labster if

  • You need virtual simulations.
  • You also want 3d environments.
Labster review

Choose Thinkific if

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

Questions people ask

Is Labster or Thinkific better?
Neither clearly leads. Labster 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, Labster or Thinkific?
Labster starts at On request and Thinkific at $36/month.
Does Labster or Thinkific run on more platforms?
Labster runs on Web. Thinkific runs on Web, Mobile.
What is Labster best used for?
Labster is most often used for virtual labs, pre-lab preparation, supplemental learning, remote education. Of those, virtual labs and pre-lab preparation are not what Thinkific is typically brought in for.
What can Labster do that Thinkific cannot?
Labster covers Virtual simulations, 3D environments, Theory pages, Lab reports. Thinkific covers Course builder, Website builder, Certificates, Communities. Both handle Quizzes, Web support, IOS support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Labster: What STEM subjects does Labster cover?

Labster provides interactive 3D simulations across biology, chemistry, physics, and other STEM subjects, designed for university, college, and high school students.

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
Labster: How many students has Labster served?

Labster has served over 6 million students and thousands of institutions globally with its virtual lab simulations.

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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