LMS · head to head
LinkedIn Learning vs Thinkific
The short version
- Each has a real cost: LinkedIn Learning no pricing published on main site; specific subscription costs and billing periods not disclosed; Thinkific no free plan, 14-day trial only
- They diverge on capability: LinkedIn Learning covers Video courses, Thinkific covers Course builder.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which LinkedIn Learning and Thinkific actually diverge.
| Attribute | LinkedIn Learning | Thinkific |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | $36/month |
| Pricing model | subscription | Unknown |
| Platforms | Web, IOS, Android | Web, Mobile |
| Founded | 2003 | 2012 |
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 LinkedIn Learning
- Video courses
- Learning paths
- Skill assessments
- LinkedIn integration
- Mobile learning
- Offline viewing
- Recommendations
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.
LinkedIn Learning
- Skill developmentnot Thinkific
- Career growthnot Thinkific
- Team trainingnot Thinkific
- Professional developmentnot Thinkific
Thinkific
- Course creationnot LinkedIn Learning
- Membership sitesnot LinkedIn Learning
- Coaching programsnot LinkedIn Learning
- Corporate trainingnot LinkedIn Learning
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
LinkedIn Learning
- No pricing published on main site; specific subscription costs and billing periods not disclosed
- Free trial available but specific trial duration not stated on homepage
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
LinkedIn Learning
On request- Monthly$29.99/month
- All courses
- Certificates
- LinkedIn integration
- Annual$19.99/month
- All courses
- Offline viewing
- Personalized recommendations
- Enterprise$undefined/month
- Admin tools
- Analytics
- Learning paths
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 LinkedIn Learning if
- You need video courses.
- You work on Web, IOS, Android.
- You also want learning paths.
Choose Thinkific if
- You need course builder.
- You work on Web, Mobile.
- You also want website builder.
Questions people ask
- Is LinkedIn Learning or Thinkific better?
- Neither clearly leads. LinkedIn 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, LinkedIn Learning or Thinkific?
- LinkedIn Learning starts at On request and Thinkific at $36/month.
- Does LinkedIn Learning or Thinkific run on more platforms?
- LinkedIn Learning runs on Web, IOS, Android. Thinkific runs on Web, Mobile.
- What is LinkedIn Learning best used for?
- LinkedIn Learning is most often used for skill development, career growth, team training, professional development. Of those, skill development and career growth are not what Thinkific is typically brought in for.
- What can LinkedIn Learning do that Thinkific cannot?
- LinkedIn Learning covers Video courses, Learning paths, Skill assessments, LinkedIn integration. Thinkific covers Course builder, Website builder, Quizzes, Communities. Both handle Certificates, Web support, IOS support, Android support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
LinkedIn Learning: How much does LinkedIn Learning cost?
LinkedIn Learning does not publish subscription prices on its website. Pricing is only available after clicking the 'Start free trial' or 'Buy for my team' buttons to access the purchase page.
SourceThinkific: 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).
SourceLinkedIn Learning: Does LinkedIn Learning offer a free trial?
Yes, LinkedIn Learning offers a free trial option accessible from the main site, though the specific trial duration is not stated on the homepage.
SourceThinkific: 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.
SourceThinkific: 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.
SourceRelated pages
More on LinkedIn Learning
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- LinkedIn Learning vs Whatfix
- LinkedIn Learning vs CYPHER Learning
- LinkedIn Learning vs Quizlet
- LinkedIn Learning vs Sana
- LinkedIn Learning vs Schoox
- Thinkific vs Udacity
- Thinkific vs Coursera
- Thinkific vs edX
- Thinkific vs Cornerstone Learning
- Thinkific vs Cornerstone OnDemand
- Thinkific vs Canvas
- Thinkific vs Moodle
- Thinkific vs Schoology
- Thinkific vs Docebo
- Thinkific vs Absorb LMS
- Thinkific vs ClassDojo
- Thinkific vs Kajabi
- Thinkific vs Edpuzzle
- Thinkific vs iSpring Learn
- Thinkific vs LearnDash
- Thinkific vs LearnUpon
- Thinkific vs Nearpod
- Thinkific vs Padlet
- Thinkific vs Teachable
- Thinkific vs Podia
- Thinkific vs Thought Industries
- Thinkific vs LearnWorlds
- Thinkific vs Whatfix
- Thinkific vs CYPHER Learning
- Thinkific vs Quizlet
- Thinkific vs Sana
- Thinkific vs Schoox


