Softwr

LMS · head to head

Nearpod vs Thinkific

Nearpod logo

Nearpod

LMS

Interactive lessons that engage every student

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Thinkific logo

Thinkific

LMS

Create and sell online courses your way

From
$36/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Nearpod has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Nearpod free plan limited to 40 student joins per lesson, restricting larger classroom use; Thinkific no free plan, 14-day trial only
  • They diverge on capability: Nearpod covers Interactive slides, Thinkific covers Course builder.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Nearpod and Thinkific actually diverge.

Attributes where Nearpod and Thinkific differ
AttributeNearpodThinkific
Starting priceFree$36/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, ChromebookWeb, Mobile

Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), 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 Nearpod

  • Interactive slides
  • Virtual reality
  • Gamification
  • Polls
  • Open-ended questions
  • Draw It
  • Collaborate board
  • Reports

Only in Thinkific

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

Both cover

  • Web support
  • IOS support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Nearpod

  • Interactive lessonsnot Thinkific
  • Formative assessmentnot Thinkific
  • Student engagementnot Thinkific
  • Virtual learningnot Thinkific

Thinkific

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

Where each one falls short

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

Nearpod

  • Free plan limited to 40 student joins per lesson, restricting larger classroom use
  • Paid plans require annual commitment with limited monthly flexibility
  • Advanced collaboration features restricted to district/school level plans
  • VR features depend on student device compatibility

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

Nearpod

Free
  • SilverFree
    • 300 MB storage
    • 40 student joins per lesson
    • 22,000+ library resources
  • Gold$159/year
    • 1 GB storage
    • 75 student joins per lesson
    • AI Question Generator
  • Platinum$397/year
    • 5 GB storage
    • 90 student joins per lesson
    • Student notes capability

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 Nearpod if

  • You need interactive slides.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Chromebook.
  • You also want virtual reality.
Nearpod review

Choose Thinkific if

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

Questions people ask

Is Nearpod or Thinkific better?
Neither clearly leads. Nearpod 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, Nearpod or Thinkific?
Nearpod has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Nearpod and $36/month for Thinkific.
Does Nearpod or Thinkific run on more platforms?
Nearpod runs on Web, iOS, Android, Chromebook. Thinkific runs on Web, Mobile.
Can I use Nearpod for free?
Yes. Nearpod has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Thinkific starts at $36/month.
What is Nearpod best used for?
Nearpod is most often used for interactive lessons, formative assessment, student engagement, virtual learning. Of those, interactive lessons and formative assessment are not what Thinkific is typically brought in for.
What can Nearpod do that Thinkific cannot?
Nearpod covers Interactive slides, Virtual reality, Gamification, Polls. Thinkific covers Course builder, Website builder, Quizzes, Certificates. Both handle Web support, IOS support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Nearpod: What is included in Nearpod's free plan?

The free Silver plan includes 300 MB storage, 40 student joins per lesson, and access to core features with 22,000+ library resources.

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
Nearpod: Can I import existing presentations into Nearpod?

Yes, you can upload PowerPoints, Google Slides, and PDFs to make them interactive with Nearpod's tools.

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
Nearpod: Does Nearpod integrate with learning management systems?

Yes, Nearpod integrates with Canvas, Google Classroom, Schoology, Blackboard, and other LMS platforms with single sign-on and rostering support.

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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