The short answer
Confirm the payment route before trusting a Thinkific fee comparison.
On annual billing, Basic is $40 per month, Start is $82, and Grow is $164. CourseProfit Lab models Thinkific's documented third-party gateway fees—5%, 2%, and 1% respectively—because those fees can apply in countries where Thinkific Payments is not used.
Plan comparison
Basic, Start, and Grow at a glance
| Plan | Annual-plan equivalent | Modeled third-party gateway fee | Next break-even |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $40/month | 5% | Start above $1,400 gross |
| Start | $82/month | 2% | Grow above $8,200 gross |
| Grow | $164/month | 1% | Highest-volume modeled option |
The percentage column is conditional. It does not represent a universal Thinkific transaction fee. Payment processing is separate.
Examples
How the conditional gateway fee changes the ranking
These examples include only the annual-plan equivalent and the documented third-party gateway fee assumption. They exclude payment processing, taxes, refunds, add-ons, and currency conversion.
| Monthly gross | Basic cost | Start cost | Grow cost | Lowest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $90 | $102 | $174 | Basic |
| $3,000 | $190 | $142 | $194 | Start |
| $9,000 | $490 | $262 | $254 | Grow |
Two different scenarios
Thinkific Payments and third-party gateways should not be mixed
When Thinkific Payments is available
Thinkific says its own payment route avoids the additional third-party gateway fee. Subscription and processor costs still apply, so choose a higher plan for features or limits—not because this fee table says you must.
When a third-party gateway is used
Check whether the extra plan-based fee applies to your account. If it does, the percentage can outweigh the subscription and materially change the best plan at higher revenue.
Frequently asked
Thinkific fee questions
Does every Thinkific seller pay 5%, 2%, or 1%?
No. Thinkific describes these as third-party payment gateway fees in applicable countries. Eligibility and the available gateway route must be confirmed for the specific account.
Is payment processing included?
No. Card, wallet, and other processor charges are separate from the conditional platform gateway fee modeled here.
Is Grow always cheapest above $8,200?
Only under this fee-only model when the documented third-party gateway percentages apply. Feature needs, limits, add-ons, and payment eligibility can change the decision.
Official sources
Verify the payment path before committing
Pricing and gateway-fee rules were checked against Thinkific's official pages on August 7, 2026.
Thinkific links are currently direct and non-affiliate.