Software · head to head
Thinkific vs Cornerstone Learning
Cornerstone Learning
Software
Enterprise talent management and learning
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Thinkific no free plan, 14-day trial only; Cornerstone Learning no pricing is published and no tier structure is shown
- They diverge on capability: Thinkific covers Course builder, Cornerstone Learning covers Learning management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Thinkific and Cornerstone Learning actually diverge.
| Attribute | Thinkific | Cornerstone Learning |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $36/month | On request |
| Pricing model | Unknown | subscription |
| Platforms | Web, Mobile | Web, IOS, Android, API |
| Founded | 2012 | 1999 |
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 Thinkific
- Course builder
- Website builder
- Quizzes
- Certificates
- Communities
- Memberships
- Marketing tools
- Zapier
Only in Cornerstone Learning
- Learning management
- Compliance tracking
- Content marketplace
- Skills development
- Social learning
- Mobile app
- AI recommendations
- Workday
Both cover
- 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 Cornerstone Learning
- Membership sitesnot Cornerstone Learning
- Coaching programsnot Cornerstone Learning
- Corporate trainingnot Cornerstone Learning
Cornerstone Learning
- Enterprise learning management and compliance trainingnot Thinkific
- Talent development and skills tracking across a workforcenot 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)
Cornerstone Learning
- No pricing is published and no tier structure is shown
- The vendor states cost depends on organisational needs and size, with an estimate available only after a demo
- No minimum purchase or user count is disclosed
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$149/month
- Unlimited courses
- Unlimited students
- Third-party payment (0% fees)
Cornerstone Learning
On request- Learning$undefined/month
- Course management
- Compliance
- Mobile
- Talent Suite$undefined/month
- All Learning
- Performance
- Recruiting
Which should you pick?
Choose Thinkific if
- You need course builder.
- You work on Web, Mobile.
- You also want website builder.
Choose Cornerstone Learning if
- You need learning management.
- You work on Web, IOS, Android, API.
- You also want compliance tracking.
Questions people ask
- Is Thinkific or Cornerstone Learning better?
- Neither clearly leads. Thinkific starts at $36/month and Cornerstone Learning at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Thinkific or Cornerstone Learning?
- Thinkific starts at $36/month and Cornerstone Learning at On request.
- Does Thinkific or Cornerstone Learning run on more platforms?
- Thinkific runs on Web, Mobile. Cornerstone Learning runs on Web, IOS, Android, API.
- 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 Cornerstone Learning is typically brought in for.
- What can Thinkific do that Cornerstone Learning cannot?
- Thinkific covers Course builder, Website builder, Quizzes, Certificates. Cornerstone Learning covers Learning management, Compliance tracking, Content marketplace, Skills development. Both handle Analytics, Web support, IOS support, Android 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).
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.
Source