Choosing the right online course platform can feel like navigating a maze of features and pricing.
You want something that’s powerful enough to handle your growth but easy enough to use without needing a tech degree.
Enter Learnworlds and Thinkific two popular platforms that both promise to help you launch and scale your online courses.
Still on the fence about which online course platform is right for you? 🤔 Let Learnworlds show you why it’s the better choice!
LearnWorlds vs. Thinkific: A Deep Dive for 2024
Still on the fence about which online course platform is right for you? 🤔 Let Learnworlds show you why it’s the better choice!
I’ve been digging into both platforms and I’m excited to share my insights.
Think of this as a friendly guide to help you decide which one is the perfect fit for your online learning adventure.
Both Learnworlds and Thinkific have their strengths but I’ve found that Learnworlds tends to offer more features and flexibility for a better price.
A Quick Overview of Learnworlds and Thinkific
LearnWorlds positions itself as a user-friendly lightweight and e-commerce-ready learning platform that helps you deliver top-notch learning experiences.
They cater to entrepreneurs educators and SMEs that value education and want to create engaging interactive courses.
Thinkific on the other hand targets entrepreneurs and mid-sized businesses looking to leverage online courses for business growth.
While both platforms are popular user reviews consistently favor Learnworlds giving it a higher rating across various platforms.
Beyond the Basics: Where Learnworlds Stands Out
Both platforms offer the essential tools for creating online courses like intuitive course builders unlimited hosting and options for assessments and certificates.
However Learnworlds goes a step further offering more advanced learning tools that set it apart.
Let’s look at the key differences:
Course Creation:
- LearnWorlds: Emphasizes creating interactive and engaging learning experiences with features like:
- Interactive Video & Ebook: Add interactive elements directly to videos and ebooks for a more dynamic learning experience.
- Gamification: Motivate learners with badges leaderboards and points systems to increase engagement.
- Advanced Course Structure: Design complex course paths including prerequisites and branching scenarios to personalize the learning journey.
- Stronger SCORM Support: Learnworlds is actively improving its SCORM capabilities providing a vital option for businesses using existing content.
- Thinkific: Focuses on a streamlined course creation experience with:
- Basic Course Structure: Build straightforward courses with chapters lessons and assessments.
- Limited Interactive Options: Provides fewer interactive features compared to Learnworlds mainly relying on quizzes and assessments.
- SCORM Support Dropped: While Thinkific previously supported SCORM they have since discontinued this feature.
Website Building and Branding:
- LearnWorlds: Offers a more robust modern and powerful no-code Website Builder giving you complete control over the design and branding of your online academy:
- Website Templates: Choose from fully customizable templates designed to create professional-looking websites.
- Design Assets: Add widgets like calendars timers and testimonials to enrich your website’s visual appeal.
- Pop-ups and Forms: Create eye-catching pop-ups and forms for engaging with your visitors and capturing leads.
- Advanced Customization: Customize the color scheme fonts logos and every aspect of your website to align with your brand’s unique identity.
- Thinkific: Provides a straightforward website builder with basic customization:
- Limited Templates: Offer fewer template options compared to Learnworlds with limited customization.
- Less Control: Provide less control over design elements compared to LearnWorlds’ no-code builder.
Marketing and Sales:
- LearnWorlds: Includes tools that focus on both marketing and sales:
- Integrated Marketing Tools: Includes email marketing social media sharing and landing pages for promoting your courses.
- 1-Click Sales Funnels: Streamline the checkout process for faster purchases.
- Sales Optimization: Analyze sales data and track customer behavior to optimize sales strategies.
- Thinkific: Prioritizes marketing capabilities:
- Stronger Email Marketing: Provides more robust email marketing tools including broadcasts segmentation and automation.
- Less Emphasis on Sales: Offers fewer features specifically designed for driving sales compared to LearnWorlds.
Administration and Security:
- LearnWorlds: Offers comprehensive administration and security features that cater to both individual course creators and large organizations:
- In-Depth User Management: Create different user roles with specific permissions for managing your academy.
- Detailed Reporting: Track key metrics like student engagement course completion rates and revenue.
- Advanced Security: Implement robust security measures to protect your data and student privacy.
- GDPR Compliance: Ensure your online academy meets the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
- Thinkific: Provides essential administrative tools:
- Limited User Management: Provides basic user management features for smaller teams.
- Basic Reporting: Offer basic reports on student progress and course performance.
- Standard Security: Provides standard security measures but lacks the depth of features found in LearnWorlds.
Scalability and Growth:
- LearnWorlds: Designed to support significant growth and scalability:
- Robust Mobile App Builder: Create a custom mobile app for your academy expanding your reach and offering a user-friendly mobile experience.
- Flexible Invoicing: Offer customizable invoices for different payment terms and situations.
- Enterprise-Level Support: Provide dedicated support for large organizations and complex needs.
- Thinkific: Capable of handling growth but with limitations:
- No Mobile App Builder: Doesn’t offer a built-in mobile app builder requiring third-party solutions for mobile accessibility.
- Limited Invoicing: Offers less flexibility in invoice customization compared to LearnWorlds.
- Limited Enterprise Support: Provides basic enterprise support but may not be ideal for highly complex organizational requirements.
Pricing: Value for Money
LearnWorlds:
- Starts at $29/month: Offers a lower entry price than Thinkific providing a more budget-friendly option for starting your online school.
- Top-Tier Plan at $299/month: Includes all advanced features at a lower price compared to Thinkific’s highest plan.
Thinkific:
- Starts at $49/month: Offers a limited free plan and paid plans starting at a higher price than LearnWorlds.
- Top-Tier Plan at $499/month: Includes all features but at a higher price than LearnWorlds’ top plan.
The Bottom Line: Choosing the Right Platform
Both Learnworlds and Thinkific are capable platforms with unique strengths. However if you value advanced features user-friendliness and a lower price point then Learnworlds is the clear winner.
Remember choosing the right platform is a personal decision.
Consider your specific needs budget and long-term goals.
A free trial can give you a firsthand experience of both platforms before making a decision.
Remember the world of online learning is constantly evolving.
Don’t be afraid to experiment and find what works best for you and your students.
Still on the fence about which online course platform is right for you? 🤔 Let Learnworlds show you why it’s the better choice!