An Honest, Side-by-Side Comparison to Help You Choose the Right Online Course Platform
Discover the Key Features, Pricing, and Usability of the Top Platforms.
Explore how FreshLearn and Thinkific measure up in terms of features and user experience. Whether you’re focused on pricing, usability, or standout features, find out what each platform offers.
Compare the standout features each platform offers to enhance user experience.
See how each platform ranks for usability, ensuring a smooth course creation process.
See how each platform’s pricing compares, including what features are included at each level and how much value you get for the cost.
An easy-to-use course builder is one of the most important parts of any learning commerce platform. It should enable you to create an engaging and memorable learning experience for your students without unnecessary complexity.
FreshLearn offers a drag-and-drop course builder that supports courses, cohorts, coaching programs, and digital downloads. It’s designed to be beginner-friendly while still offering customization options like drip content, quizzes, certificates, and multimedia lessons. The built-in tools make it possible to launch a complete course without relying heavily on third-party integrations.
Thinkific also provides a well-established course builder suited for individual creators, growing businesses, and educational teams. Its structured interface makes it easy to organize modules, add interactive assignments, and create community spaces. While it may require external tools for advanced marketing features, it excels in providing a solid, reliable learning experience for students.
| Feature | FreshLearn | Thinkific |
|---|---|---|
| No design or technical experience required | ✓ | ✓ |
| Unlimited courses | ✓ | ✓ |
| Create courses with any content type | ✓ | ✓ |
| Downloadable content | ✓ | ✓ |
| Assignments | ✓ | ✓ |
| Recurring live lessons with Zoom | ✓ | ✓ |
| AI course outline generator | ✓ | ✓ |
| Embed many types of multimedia content | ✓ | ✓ |
A strong learning experience ensures that students stay engaged, motivated, and complete their courses successfully. Both FreshLearn and Thinkific provide useful tools for this, but they approach it differently.
FreshLearn offers a clean, distraction-free interface that makes it simple for learners to focus on course content. It supports courses, memberships, and digital downloads for flexible learning access.
Thinkific provides more interactive tools such as quizzes, assignments, certificates, and community spaces, making it stronger for engagement and collaboration.
| Feature | FreshLearn | Thinkific |
|---|---|---|
| Interactive Video Lessons | ✓ | ✓ |
| Quizzes & Assessments | ✓ | ✓ |
| Certificates of Completion | ✓ | ✓ |
| Community & Discussion Forums | ✓ | Higher Plans only |
| Gamification (Badges & Points) | ✓ | Requires third-party apps |
| Mobile Learning Experience | ✓ | ✓ |
| Customizable Course Player | ✓ | – |
After creating your course, promoting it effectively is essential to attract learners and generate consistent revenue. Both FreshLearn and Thinkific provide tools that help creators market and sell their online courses.
FreshLearn includes built-in sales and marketing features such as customizable pricing, subscriptions, bundles, coupons, and affiliate programs. It also offers options like order bumps, abandoned cart emails, and an integrated payment system to simplify the selling process without requiring additional integrations.
Thinkific provides similar capabilities for course sales, including paid and free course creation, bundles, coupons, and affiliate marketing. Many of its advanced sales and marketing functions, such as automation or e-commerce integrations, can be expanded through its app marketplace, where users can connect external tools like ActiveCampaign, Mailchimp, or Shopify.
| Sales Features | FreshLearn | Thinkific |
|---|---|---|
| Create free, paid, and time-limited courses | ✓ | ✓ |
| Customizable payment plans and offers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Subscriptions | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bundle multiple products | ✓ | ✓ |
| Order bumps | – | ✓ |
| Coupons and promotions | ✓ | ✓ |
| Abandon cart emails | ✓ | – |
| Built-in payment processor | Direct Integration with Stripe & PayPal | ✓ |
| Integration with e-commerce tools | ✓ | ✓ |
| Affiliate marketing capabilities | ✓ | ✓ |
| Marketing Features | FreshLearn | Thinkific |
|---|---|---|
| Email marketing tools | ✓ | – |
| Automated email campaigns | ✓ | – |
| Landing page builder | ✓ | ✓ |
| Custom branding & white-labeling | ✓ | ✓ |
| Affiliate marketing system | ✓ | – |
| SEO-friendly course pages | ✓ | ✓ |
| Blog creation & management | ✓ | – |
| Integrated analytics dashboard | ✓ | ✓ |
| Custom domains & SSL | ✓ | ✓ |
| Facebook Pixel & Google Tag Manager integration | ✓ | ✓ |
| Design customization | FreshLearn | Thinkific |
|---|---|---|
| Compatible with existing websites | ✓ | ✓ |
| Customizable landing pages | ✓ | ✓ |
A mobile app is a great way for your audience to engage with your learning content from anywhere, at any time.
FreshLearn provides a white-labeled mobile app available for both iOS and Android platforms. The app can be branded with your organization’s identity, supports community features, and allows learners to access all course content from their mobile devices. App distribution is managed through the owner’s Apple App Store and Google Play Store accounts. White-labeling is included depending on your plan.
Thinkific offers two mobile app options: Thinkific Mobile, which is available on Start plans and above and features Thinkific branding, and Branded Mobile, which allows for full white-label customization and is available at a higher subscription tier. Both iOS and Android access are supported. Community features and other interactive elements are available through both app experiences.
| Mobile app | FreshLearn | Thinkific |
|---|---|---|
| Available on iOS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Available on Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Support for communities | ✓ | ✓ |
| White-labeled app | ✓ | ✓ |
| In-app purchases | ✓ | - |
| Price | Included in plans starting at $29/month |
Thinkific Mobile is included in Start plans and above $199/month for Branded Mobile |
It’s important to choose a platform that you can trust and where getting the answers to your questions is easy and your data is secure.
FreshLearn provides support through multiple channels including email, live chat, and scheduled Zoom calls. The platform offers a knowledge base with step-by-step guides and video tutorials. Support is available to all users across different plan tiers.
Thinkific offers 24/7 chatbot assistance through "Champ," their AI-powered support bot, available to all users. Human support via live chat, email, and phone is available on paid plans during business hours (Monday to Friday, 3 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT). Thinkific also provides a comprehensive Help Center, Resource Center with training materials, and an active Facebook community. The platform has received a G2 award for customer service based on user reviews.
| Support | FreshLearn | Thinkific |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple support options | ✓ | ✓ |
| Private instructor community | ✓ | ✓ |
| Access to experts | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dedicated customer support team | ✓ | ✓ |
| Human support availability | All plans (including Free) | Paid plans only |
| Security | FreshLearn | Thinkific |
|---|---|---|
| 99.9% uptime and 24/7 monitoring | ✓ | ✓ |
| Secure cloud hosting and daily backups | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dedicated sandbox site | ✓ | - |
| Site administration | FreshLearn | Thinkific |
|---|---|---|
| Single sign-on (SSO) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-factor authentication | ✓ | ✓ |
| Archive courses and bundles | ✓ | ✓ |
A short introduction to the workshop instructors and why their background should inspire potential student’s confidence.