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Webinar & Virtual Events · head to head

Panopto vs Thinkific

Panopto logo

Panopto

Webinar & Virtual Events

Video management and live streaming platform for enterprises

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Thinkific logo

Thinkific

Learning Management

Create and sell online courses your way

From
$36/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Panopto no price list is published, and the vendor states there are no tiers at all; Thinkific no free plan, 14-day trial only
  • They diverge on capability: Panopto covers Video management, Thinkific covers Course builder.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Panopto and Thinkific actually diverge.

Attributes where Panopto and Thinkific differ
AttributePanoptoThinkific
Starting priceOn request$36/month
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
PlatformsWindows, Mac, IOS, Android, WebWeb, Mobile
CategoryWebinar & Virtual EventsLearning Management
Founded20072012

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Panopto

  • Video management
  • Live streaming
  • Recording
  • Search
  • Microsoft 365
  • Canvas
  • Blackboard
  • Salesforce

Only in Thinkific

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

Both cover

  • Analytics
  • IOS support
  • Android support
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Panopto

  • Recording, hosting and searching lecture and training videonot Thinkific
  • Integrating video libraries with learning management systemsnot Thinkific

Thinkific

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

Where each one falls short

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

Panopto

  • No price list is published, and the vendor states there are no tiers at all
  • Cost depends on user count, integrations, add ons and deployment model, so several negotiated variables set the figure
  • Four capabilities are separately priced add ons on top of any quote
  • Every route to a figure is a demo or a conversation with sales

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

Panopto

On request
  • Professional$500/month
    • Video storage
    • Basic features
  • Business$1000/month
    • Live streaming
    • Analytics
  • Enterprise$2500/month
    • Custom solutions
    • Dedicated 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 Panopto if

  • You need video management.
  • You work on Windows, Mac, IOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want live streaming.
Panopto review

Choose Thinkific if

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

Questions people ask

Is Panopto or Thinkific better?
Neither clearly leads. Panopto 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, Panopto or Thinkific?
Panopto starts at On request and Thinkific at $36/month.
Does Panopto or Thinkific run on more platforms?
Panopto runs on Windows, Mac, IOS, Android, Web. Thinkific runs on Web, Mobile.
What is Panopto best used for?
Panopto is most often used for recording, hosting and searching lecture and training video, integrating video libraries with learning management systems. Of those, recording, hosting and searching lecture and training video and integrating video libraries with learning management systems are not what Thinkific is typically brought in for.
What can Panopto do that Thinkific cannot?
Panopto covers Video management, Live streaming, Recording, Search. Thinkific covers Course builder, Website builder, Quizzes, Certificates. Both handle Analytics, IOS support, Android support, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
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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