Fee-first verdict
Thinkific wins the pure cost comparison; Podia wins on consolidation.
Thinkific Basic has a lower annual-plan equivalent and no Thinkific gateway fee when Thinkific Payments is used. Podia charges 5% on Mover, but bundles a website, email, community, courses, downloads, coaching, and events into one creator-focused system.
Published pricing
The four plans that matter most
| Platform and plan | Annual-plan equivalent | Platform fee | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thinkific Basic | $36 now; $40 from August 13 | No gateway fee with Thinkific Payments | Unlimited courses, quizzes, discussions, and one community |
| Thinkific Start | $74 now; $82 from August 13 | No gateway fee with Thinkific Payments | Certificates, assignments, bundles, memberships, and payment plans |
| Podia Mover | $42/month | 5% Podia transaction fee | 50 products, 500 videos, 25 spaces, and 100 email subscribers |
| Podia Shaker | $84/month | No Podia transaction fee | Affiliates, upsells, PayPal, Zapier, and larger limits |
USD annual-plan equivalents checked July 17, 2026. Thinkific says its higher prices apply to billing or renewals on or after August 13, 2026. Normal payment processing, taxes, currency conversion, and optional add-ons are separate.
Example economics
Platform cost at three monthly revenue levels
This model counts subscriptions and published platform transaction fees. It assumes annual billing and Thinkific Payments. Payment processing is excluded because it varies by method and location.
| Monthly gross | Thinkific Basic | Podia Mover | Podia Shaker |
|---|---|---|---|
| $500 | $36 now; $40 after increase | $67 | $84 |
| $1,000 | $36 now; $40 after increase | $92 | $84 |
| $3,000 | $36 now; $40 after increase | $192 | $84 |
Thinkific Basic remains the lowest modeled platform cost at every positive revenue level under these assumptions. That does not make it the automatic winner: Basic omits several tools included in Podia, and a creator may need Thinkific Start or external software.
The global-payment check
Confirm payment support before trusting the fee table
Thinkific says its native payment service is the default for new creators in supported countries. Its help center also publishes third-party gateway fees of 5% on Basic, 2% on Start, and 1% on Grow for affected transactions, while Thinkific Payments users avoid that gateway fee.
Podia separately charges Mover's 5% platform fee, while Stripe or PayPal processing is additional. Before choosing either platform, verify that the available gateway supports your country, business type, currency, and payout method.
Feature fit
Choose based on what the platform replaces
Podia may fit when
- You want a website, email, courses, downloads, and community together.
- You are a solo creator optimizing for a simple weekly workflow.
- Shaker's affiliates, PayPal, Zapier, or upsells replace other tools.
- You prefer fewer integrations over a deeper learning-management system.
Thinkific may fit when
- You want unlimited courses from the entry paid plan.
- Quizzes, discussions, student progress, and course structure matter most.
- You expect to add certificates, assignments, cohorts, or memberships.
- You already have a website or email system you plan to keep.
Decision table
Which one should you test first?
| Your priority | Test first | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest platform cost | Thinkific Basic | Lower subscription with no native gateway fee |
| Fewest separate tools | Podia | Broader all-in-one creator stack |
| Structured course catalog | Thinkific | Unlimited courses and a deeper learning upgrade path |
| Affiliates and email in one system | Podia Shaker | Both are included without a separate service |
Frequently asked
Podia vs Thinkific questions
Is Podia or Thinkific cheaper?
Thinkific Basic is cheaper in the pure subscription and platform fee comparison when Thinkific Payments is available. Podia may provide better total value if it lets you cancel separate email, website, community, or digital-product tools.
Does Thinkific charge a transaction fee?
Payment processing charges apply. Thinkific says users of Thinkific Payments avoid its third-party gateway fee. When that gateway fee applies, the published rates are 5% on Basic, 2% on Start, and 1% on Grow.
Which platform is easier for a beginner?
Podia is easier to recommend when a solo creator wants one simple system. Thinkific is easier to justify when the learning experience and a growing course catalog are the priorities.
Official sources
Verify current prices and regional terms
Vendor links are currently direct and non-affiliate.