Software · head to head
Thinkific vs Canvas
Canvas
Software
Open-source LMS for engaging learning experiences
- From
- $5/student-year
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Thinkific no free plan, 14-day trial only; Canvas basic analytics lack predictive intelligence or advanced student success insights
- They diverge on capability: Thinkific covers Course builder, Canvas covers Course management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Thinkific and Canvas actually diverge.
Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), 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 Thinkific
- Course builder
- Website builder
- Certificates
- Communities
- Memberships
- Marketing tools
- Zapier
- Mailchimp
Only in Canvas
- Course management
- Assignment submission
- Gradebook
- Discussion forums
- Mobile app
- Video conferencing
- Zoom
- Microsoft Teams
Both cover
- Quizzes
- Analytics
- Web support
- IOS support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Thinkific
- Course creationnot Canvas
- Membership sitesnot Canvas
- Coaching programsnot Canvas
- Corporate trainingnot Canvas
Canvas
- Online coursesnot Thinkific
- Blended learningnot Thinkific
- Course managementnot Thinkific
- Student assessmentnot Thinkific
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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)
Canvas
- Basic analytics lack predictive intelligence or advanced student success insights
- Course structure is traditional and may not support competency-based or adaptive learning paths without supplementary tools
Pricing, plan by plan
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)
Canvas
$5/student-yearNo published plan breakdown. See the Canvas review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Thinkific if
- You need course builder.
- You work on Web, Mobile.
- You also want website builder.
Choose Canvas if
- You need course management.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want assignment submission.
Questions people ask
- Is Thinkific or Canvas better?
- Neither clearly leads. Thinkific starts at $36/month and Canvas at $5/student-year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Thinkific or Canvas?
- Thinkific starts at $36/month and Canvas at $5/student-year.
- Does Thinkific or Canvas run on more platforms?
- Thinkific runs on Web, Mobile. Canvas runs on Web, iOS, Android.
- What is Thinkific best used for?
- Thinkific is most often used for course creation, membership sites, coaching programs, corporate training. Of those, course creation and membership sites are not what Canvas is typically brought in for.
- What can Thinkific do that Canvas cannot?
- Thinkific covers Course builder, Website builder, Certificates, Communities. Canvas covers Course management, Assignment submission, Gradebook, Discussion forums. Both handle Quizzes, Analytics, Web support, IOS 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).
SourceCanvas: Does Canvas work offline?
Canvas has launched offline access for its student mobile app, allowing students to view pre-selected course content without internet. However, offline access is view-only and submissions require reconnecting to the internet.
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.
SourceCanvas: What integrations does Canvas support?
Canvas supports hundreds of external applications through its App Center using LTI standards, including video platforms, plagiarism detection tools, and digital textbooks through a standardized integration framework.
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.
SourceCanvas: How does Canvas handle course analytics?
Canvas provides built-in reporting that covers grades and student engagement, but lacks predictive analytics or advanced student success insights that some institutions require.
Source