PaywallTools monetization wizard

Podia vs Thinkific: Which is right for you? (1970)

TL;DR

  • Choose Podia if you want the simplest, fastest setup.
  • Choose Thinkific if keeping fees low matters most.
  • Both work for: courses, memberships, creators, coaching.

Podia

No free plan (removed 2024). 30-day free trial. Mover $39/mo ($33/mo annual, 5% fee). Shaker $89/mo ($75/mo annual, 0% fee).

Simpler and cheaper than Kajabi. Combines courses, memberships, and digital product sales in one tool. No transaction fees on paid plans.

Thinkific

No free plan. Basic $49/mo ($36/mo annual). Start $74/mo. Grow $149/mo. 0% transaction fee.

One of the most popular course platforms. 0% transaction fee on all plans including free. Strong for course creators who want control without Kajabi's price tag.

Pricing comparison

Pricing model
freemium
freemium
Detail
No free plan (removed 2024). 30-day free trial. Mover $39/mo ($33/mo annual, 5% fee). Shaker $89/mo ($75/mo annual, 0% fee).
No free plan. Basic $49/mo ($36/mo annual). Start $74/mo. Grow $149/mo. 0% transaction fee.

Feature comparison

Podia
Thinkific
Merchant of record
No
No
Paywalls
Yes
Yes
A/B testing
No
No
Tax handled
No
No
No-code
Yes
Yes
Open source
No
No
Ease of setup
5/5
4/5
Fee competitiveness
3/5
4/5
Conversion tooling
3/5
3/5
Advanced billing
1/5
2/5

Best for

Podia is best for Courses, Memberships, Digital products, Creators, coaching, Communities. Thinkific is best for Courses, Memberships, Creators, coaching, e-learning, Communities.

FAQ

Is Podia better than Thinkific?

Neither is universally better. Podia is the right pick if you want the simplest, fastest setup; Thinkific wins if keeping fees low matters most.

Which is cheaper, Podia or Thinkific?

Thinkific ranks higher on fee competitiveness (4/5). Podia pricing: No free plan (removed 2024). 30-day free trial. Mover $39/mo ($33/mo annual, 5% fee). Shaker $89/mo ($75/mo annual, 0% fee).. Thinkific pricing: No free plan. Basic $49/mo ($36/mo annual). Start $74/mo. Grow $149/mo. 0% transaction fee..

Can I switch from Podia to Thinkific?

Yes — most subscription and billing tools support migration via CSV import or API. Expect to reconfigure webhooks, paywalls, and entitlements. Check both vendors' migration docs before committing.

Does Podia handle sales tax?

No. Podia does not handle tax registrations — you handle those yourself or via a separate tool.

All Podia alternatives →All Thinkific alternatives →

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