If you’re planning to create an online course, two of the most popular platforms you’ll encounter are LearnWorlds and Thinkific. Both platforms are designed to help you create, market, and sell your courses online, but each caters to different needs and user types.
LearnWorlds is ideal for course creators and businesses seeking advanced customization and interactive content. It allows you to create engaging learning experiences with features like interactive video content and gamification. Thinkific offers a user-friendly, drag-and-drop course builder that’s perfect for beginners and small business owners. It’s simple, easy to navigate, and has a free plan to get started.
By the end of this guide, you’ll have a clear understanding of which platform fits your goals. If you’re a beginner and looking for the best platform to host online courses, this detailed comparison will help you make an informed choice.
Platform Overview
LearnWorlds and Thinkific are cloud-based platforms that enable creators to build, market, and sell online courses. They act as the backbone for thousands of online schools and businesses worldwide.
– LearnWorlds: Designed for advanced course creators, serious educators, and businesses. It offers unmatched customization and branding options.
– Thinkific: Used by over 800,000 creators, it caters to beginners, freelancers, and small businesses with an intuitive design and affordable pricing.
Both platforms include essential course creation tools, but they target different audiences, with LearnWorlds focusing on customization and Thinkific prioritizing simplicity.
Course Creation Tools
LearnWorlds and Thinkific offer the essential tools to create engaging course content, including support for video, text, PDFs, quizzes, and live lessons. However, the platforms differ in their approach to content creation and customization.
LearnWorlds Course Creation
LearnWorlds provides a suite of advanced tools that enable users to create interactive and engaging course content. Creators can design immersive learning experiences with features like:
– Interactive Videos: Add clickable elements to create dynamic learning experiences.
– Live Sessions: Conduct live classes to foster real-time engagement.
– Drip Content: Schedule course material releases to guide learners through a step-by-step journey.
– Customizable Courses: Incorporate videos, PDFs, audio, and eBooks with interactive elements.
– Quizzes and Assessments: Create auto-graded quizzes with diverse question types to evaluate student learning.
These features make LearnWorlds an ideal choice for educators and businesses looking for customization, branding, and student engagement.
Thinkific Course Creation
Thinkific’s drag-and-drop builder allows course creators to design courses without coding. Its key features include:
– AI-Powered Course Outlines: Automatically generate course outlines and quizzes to save time.
– Drag-and-Drop Editor: Easily organize and customize course content.
– Content Support: Upload multimedia files like videos, PDFs, and text to build robust courses.
– Simple Assessments: Create quizzes and surveys to gauge student progress.
Thinkific’s straightforward design makes it a solid option for creators who want a quick and simple course-building experience. Some of these features are on display in many of these thinkific course examples.
Website and Page Building
A visually appealing website is essential for promoting and delivering online courses. Both LearnWorlds and Thinkific offer powerful page-building tools, but they take different approaches.
LearnWorlds Site Builder
LearnWorlds provides extensive website customization with features like:
– 50+ Templates: Industry-specific, customizable templates for fast website creation.
– Customization Flexibility: Modify themes, colors, and navigation to reflect your brand.
– Built-in Blogging: Launch a blog within your course site, improving SEO and content marketing.
– Lead Generation Tools: Use popups and forms to capture leads and grow your customer base.
LearnWorlds allows for complete customization of websites, giving users control over their brand and style.
Thinkific Page Builder
Thinkific offers a drag-and-drop, section-based page builder that makes it easy to create professional-looking websites. Key features include:
– Pre-Built Templates: Choose from industry-specific templates to create a course site quickly.
– Simple Customization: Add elements, change colors, and upload background images using the intuitive editor.
– SEO Tools: Built-in SEO features improve website visibility on search engines.
While Thinkific’s site builder is user-friendly, it lacks the flexibility and customization options offered by LearnWorlds.
Branding and White-Labeling
Branding ensures a consistent business image. Both platforms offer white-labeling options, but LearnWorlds provides a more comprehensive solution.
LearnWorlds Branding
LearnWorlds allows full control over branding and gives users the ability to:
– Remove LearnWorlds Branding: Ensure a fully branded site with no LearnWorlds mentions.
– Custom Domains and Emails: Use custom URLs and branded email notifications.
– Branded Mobile App: Create a mobile app under your brand name with a custom logo and colors.
These features ensure that businesses retain complete control over their brand image.
Thinkific Branding
Thinkific offers white-labeling to a certain extent, but it’s not as extensive as LearnWorlds. Features include:
– Custom Domains: Host your course on a unique URL.
– Limited White-Labeling: Remove some Thinkific branding but not all.
For businesses that demand full branding control, LearnWorlds offers a superior solution.
Sales and Marketing Features
Effective marketing is critical for course sales. Both platforms support promotions, upsells, and affiliate management, but their tools differ.
LearnWorlds Marketing Tools
LearnWorlds offers advanced sales and marketing features like:
– 1-Click Funnels: Launch high-converting funnels for lead capture and sales.
– Lead Generation Popups: Capture potential leads with popups on your site.
– Comprehensive Affiliate Management: Track and reward affiliates for promoting your courses.
These advanced marketing tools help you attract, convert, and retain more students.
Thinkific Marketing Tools
Thinkific supports marketing efforts with tools like:
– Affiliate Center: Manage and track affiliate partners.
– Funnel Templates: Use pre-built templates to launch funnels for sales and lead generation.
– Third-Party Integrations: Connect with over 90 tools like Mailchimp and Google Analytics.
These features make Thinkific ideal for businesses that prioritize third-party app integration.
Student Engagement and Retention
Keeping students engaged is essential for online course success. Both platforms offer features to boost engagement.
LearnWorlds Engagement Tools
LearnWorlds enhances student interaction with:
– Custom Quizzes and Exams: Create challenging, interactive quizzes to assess learning.
– Interactive Video Player: Add clickable elements and quizzes directly in videos.
– Live Classes and Assignments: Foster student engagement with live sessions and classwork.
– Community Spaces: Create social learning communities for student discussions.
Thinkific Engagement Tools
Thinkific focuses on engagement through:
– Quizzes and Surveys: Create simple quizzes to test knowledge.
– Community Forum: Allow students to discuss and interact within a course community.
– Progress Pages: Keep students on track with course progress pages.
Although both platforms promote student engagement, LearnWorlds offers a broader range of interactive features.
Pricing and Plans
LearnWorlds and Thinkific operate on a subscription-based model, but their pricing structures differ.
LearnWorlds Pricing
There are three pricing plans available for LearnWorlds:
– Starter ($29/month): Basic tools for small businesses.
– Pro Trainer ($99/month): Advanced course creation and customization.
– Learning Center ($299/month): Full suite of features, including white-label options.
A $5 transaction fee applies to each course sold on the Starter plan.
Thinkific Pricing
Thinkific pricing plans include a free plan and three paid options:
– Free: Get started with basic course creation tools.
– Basic ($49/month): Offers essential course creation features.
– Pro ($99/month): Includes certificates, memberships, and priority support.
– Premier ($499/month): Designed for large course businesses with extensive needs.
Thinkific does not charge transaction fees, making it a cost-effective option for new businesses.
Customer Support
Support can make or break your experience on a platform. Here’s how LearnWorlds and Thinkific compare.
LearnWorlds Support
LearnWorlds provides customer support primarily through email. Live chat is available but limited. The help center features over 400 articles, and support resources are available for self-service learning.
Thinkific Support
Thinkific offers live chat on paid plans and 24/7 support for premium users. The platform also has a robust support network, a community forum, and priority support for higher-tier plans.
The Bottom Line
Choosing between LearnWorlds and Thinkific depends on your business goals. If you prioritize customization, branding, and interactive features, LearnWorlds is the clear winner. If simplicity, affordability, and integrations are your priorities, Thinkific is the better option.
– Choose LearnWorlds if you want interactive courses, deep customization, and robust branding control.
– Choose Thinkific if you want affordability, simplicity, and extensive third-party integrations. Our extensive Thinkific review will give you more information on this platform if you’d like to know more.
With either choice, you’ll have access to a world-class platform to build and grow your online education business.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Which platform is better for beginners?
Thinkific. Its drag-and-drop builder and user-friendly interface make it ideal for beginners.
Can I fully customize my course website on both platforms?
Yes, but LearnWorlds offers more advanced customization, including full white-label branding, while Thinkific has more limited customization options.
Do both platforms support mobile apps?
Yes. LearnWorlds allows full customization of a branded app, while Thinkific offers access to a branded student app.
What are the pricing options for each platform?
– LearnWorlds: Plans start at $29/month (plus $5 per sale) up to $299/month.
– Thinkific: Free plan available, with paid plans from $49 to $499/month. No transaction fees.
Can I sell courses using a subscription model?
Yes, both platforms support one-time payments, subscriptions, and payment plans.
Do I need coding knowledge to use these platforms?
No. Both offer drag-and-drop editors. LearnWorlds also allows custom coding for advanced users.
Which platform offers better branding and white-labeling?
LearnWorlds. It allows complete white-labeling, while Thinkific’s branding may still be visible in some areas.
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