Fee-first verdict
Starter costs less below the crossover; Basic costs less above it.
Thinkific Basic is $39.58 per month from its $475 annual invoice. It does not add a Thinkific gateway fee when Thinkific Payments is used. Teachable Starter is $29 per month annually plus 7.5% of sales, but it includes student apps and payment and tax tools. Native certificates require Growth or higher; sales-tool availability needs the checkout-specific qualification below.
The no-refund plan-only tie is $141.11 in monthly gross on annual billing, or $200 on regular monthly billing. Below the relevant tie, Starter costs less; at the tie, neither wins. Separate payment layers and actual feature requirements can change the decision.
Published pricing
The core plans compared
| Platform and plan | Monthly billing | Annual-plan equivalent | Platform fee | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teachable Starter | $39/month | $29/month | 7.5% transaction fee | Usage rules depend on the school's policy date; confirm product allowances. |
| Teachable Builder | $89/month | $69/month | 0% transaction fee | Usage rules depend on the school's policy date; confirm product allowances. |
| Thinkific Basic | $54/month | $39.58/month ($475/year) | No gateway fee with Thinkific Payments | Unlimited courses, quizzes, discussions, and one community |
| Thinkific Start | $109/month | $81.50/month ($978/year) | No gateway fee with Thinkific Payments | Certificates, assignments, cohorts, memberships, and payment plans |
USD monthly and annual prices checked August 26, 2026. Payment processing, taxes, currency conversion, and optional payment services are separate.
The first break-even
Thinkific Basic becomes cheaper above about $141
With annual billing, Teachable Starter begins about $10.58 below Thinkific Basic. Using the unrounded invoice basis, ($475 ÷ 12 − $29) ÷ 7.5% gives a $141.11 monthly-gross break-even. With regular monthly billing, ($54 − $39) ÷ 7.5% instead gives $200. Above that threshold, Thinkific Basic has the lower modeled platform cost when Thinkific Payments is available.
Example economics
Platform cost at three monthly revenue levels
This model uses Thinkific's current annual price. It counts subscriptions and published platform transaction fees, assumes Thinkific Payments, assumes no refunds, and excludes normal payment processing because those rates vary by payment method and location.
| Monthly gross | Thinkific Basic | Teachable Starter | Teachable Builder |
|---|---|---|---|
| $500 | $39.58 | $66.50 | $69 |
| $1,000 | $39.58 | $104 | $69 |
| $3,000 | $39.58 | $254 | $69 |
Thinkific Basic is the lowest modeled platform cost at all three revenue levels. Teachable Builder becomes cheaper than Starter above roughly $533 in monthly gross revenue and remains the more sensible Teachable plan as sales grow.
This plan-only comparison excludes route-specific payment-bundle and integration fees. Check the current Teachable payment charges before choosing by margin.
Entry-plan tradeoff
Compare entry-plan workflows, not a universal margin winner
Teachable Starter may fit when
- You want iOS and Android student apps, without a native certificate requirement.
- Built-in payment and tax handling matter, and the actual checkout passes your sales-tool pilot.
- The applicable usage policy and plan features fit your validation plan.
- You accept the 7.5% fee while proving the first offer.
Thinkific Basic may fit when
- You want unlimited courses and up to 10,000 current students.
- Quizzes, discussions, community, and course structure matter most.
- You already have marketing tools and do not need certificates yet.
- Protecting margin from the first meaningful sales is the priority.
Next-tier decision
Builder costs less; Start offers deeper learning features
Teachable Builder is $69 per month annually, lists no platform transaction fee, and adds an affiliate program and real-time support. Thinkific Start is $81.50 per month from its $978 annual invoice. It adds certificates, assignments, live cohorts and coaching, bundles, memberships, subscriptions, and payment plans.
Choose Builder when Teachable's sales workflow is the better fit. Choose Start when teaching structure and recurring learning products justify the higher subscription.
The global-payment check
Verify the payout route available in your country
Check the Teachable payment routes and the Thinkific gateway requirements separately. These guides distinguish native checkout, external processing, and payouts; an eligible route on one platform does not establish eligibility on the other. Use the route you can actually access in the fee comparison.
Both platforms vary payment services by creator location. Teachable routes creators through its available native or custom gateway options, while Thinkific Payments is limited to supported countries and third-party gateway fees can apply to affected transactions.
Before paying annually, confirm the exact gateway, payout method, settlement currency, tax handling, and withdrawal support available to your business. A low subscription is irrelevant if you cannot receive payouts reliably.
Decision table
Which platform should you test first?
| Your priority | Test first | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest platform cost | Starter below the tie; Basic above it | No-refund plan-only tie: $141.11 annual-budget gross or $200 regular-monthly gross, assuming Thinkific Payments |
| Commerce tools on the entry plan | Teachable Starter | Student apps and integrated commerce; certificates need Growth and checkout tools need verification |
| Unlimited course catalog | Thinkific | Basic includes unlimited published courses |
| Affiliate selling at the next tier | Teachable Builder | Affiliate program at a lower annual-plan equivalent |
| Assignments, cohorts, and memberships | Thinkific Start | Deeper structured-learning feature set |
Frequently asked
Teachable vs Thinkific questions
Is Teachable or Thinkific cheaper?
Teachable Starter has the lower base subscription, but Thinkific Basic becomes cheaper above $141.11 in monthly gross on annual billing, or $200 on regular monthly billing, assuming no refunds and Thinkific Payments. At the corresponding tie, plan-only costs are equal. Payment charges are separate.
Which platform is easier for a beginner?
Teachable is a practical commerce-first option when student apps and the verified checkout workflow fit. Certificates require Growth or higher, not Starter or Builder. Thinkific is a strong beginner option when course structure, catalog size, and lower platform-fee economics matter more.
Do both platforms charge transaction fees?
Teachable Starter lists 7.5%, while Builder lists 0%. Thinkific Payments users avoid Thinkific's third-party gateway fee, but gateway fees can apply in affected locations. Thinkific says those fees stop after the first $1 million in calendar-year sales made through Thinkific. Standard payment processing is separate.
Affiliate offer
Does Teachable fit your course business?
Check current plans, payment eligibility, and the tools your course needs before committing.
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Official sources
Verify current prices and payment terms
The official source links above are direct and non-affiliate. Any separate Teachable partner offer is explicitly labeled.
Teachable changed its usage policy on September 3, 2026. Check the new-school, legacy-school, and product-allowance distinctions before budgeting capacity.