If you’re considering an online course creation platform, two of the top choices are Thinkific and Hightail. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at each platform, what they offer, and the advantages of each. By the end of this article, you’ll have a better understanding of which platform might be the right choice for your online course business.
Course Creation and Management
Thinkific and Hightail are both online course platforms that offer tools for creating and managing courses. Here’s a comparison of their features:
Course Builder and Customization Options:
- Thinkific offers a drag-and-drop course builder that allows users to create courses easily. It also offers customization options such as course themes, custom domains, and branding.
- Hightail, on the other hand, provides customizable templates and allows users to upload their own content.
Course Organization and Management Tools:
- Thinkific offers robust course organization tools such as course bundles, prerequisites, and drip content. It also provides features like certificates and quizzes.
- Hightail focuses more on content delivery and collaboration with tools like file sharing and feedback.
When it comes to course creation and management, both platforms have unique strengths and weaknesses. Thinkific is better for those who want more control over the course structure, while Hightail is ideal for those who prioritize collaboration and content sharing.
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Marketing and Sales
Thinkific and Hightail both offer a variety of marketing and sales features for their users. Here is a comparison of some of the key features:
Course Promotion
Thinkific allows you to create custom sales pages for your courses, as well as a variety of other marketing tools such as email marketing, affiliate programs, and coupon codes. Hightail, on the other hand, does not have a built-in course promotion tool.
Pricing Options
Both platforms offer flexible pricing options such as one-time fees, subscriptions, and payment plans. Thinkific allows users to set up multiple pricing tiers for a single course, while Hightail only allows for one pricing tier per course.
Payment Processing
Thinkific integrates with a variety of payment processors, including PayPal and Stripe. Hightail also integrates with Stripe, as well as Braintree, and Authorize.net.
Overall, Thinkific offers more comprehensive marketing and sales features than Hightail, making it a better choice for users looking to promote and sell their courses.
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User Experience
When it comes to user experience, both Thinkific and Hightail offer a clean and intuitive interface. However, there are some notable differences between the two platforms.
Course Delivery and Accessibility:
Thinkific has robust course delivery options, including mobile compatibility and offline access. This allows students to access course content on the go and even when they don’t have an internet connection. Hightail, on the other hand, does not offer mobile compatibility or offline access.
Engagement and Communication:
Both platforms offer features for engaging and communicating with students, such as discussion forums and email marketing tools. However, Thinkific offers more advanced engagement features like gamification, whereas Hightail focuses more on collaboration features for teams.
Overall, the user experience on both platforms is strong, but it ultimately comes down to the specific needs of your business and students.
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Analytics and Reporting
When it comes to analytics and reporting, both Thinkific and Hightail, offer robust features for tracking and analyzing course data.
Thinkific provides a detailed dashboard with information on course progress, revenue, and student engagement. You can also access detailed data on individual students, including their course activity, progress, and completion rates. The platform also offers integration with Google Analytics for more detailed tracking and analysis.
On the other hand, Hightail offers a dashboard that displays key metrics such as course progress, sales, and student activity. The platform also offers data visualization tools such as graphs and charts, which can be helpful in identifying trends and patterns in your course data. Additionally, Hightail integrates with Salesforce for more detailed reporting and analysis.
Overall, both platforms offer robust analytics and reporting features that can help you track and improve the performance of your courses. The choice between the two will ultimately depend on your specific needs and preferences.
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Integrations
When it comes to integrating with other tools and services, both Thinkific and Hightail offer a variety of options.
Thinkific integrates with a range of third-party services, including payment gateways like PayPal and Stripe, email marketing tools like Mailchimp and ConvertKit, and video hosting platforms like Vimeo and Wistia. The platform also offers an API that allows developers to build custom integrations.
Hightail also offers a number of integrations with third-party services, including Dropbox, Google Drive, and Microsoft OneDrive. The platform also offers an API that can be used to build custom integrations.
When it comes to integration options, both platforms offer a solid range of choices. Thinkific’s integration options are geared more towards e-commerce and online marketing, while Hightail’s are more focused on file sharing and collaboration.
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Customer Support
When choosing an e-learning platform, customer support is a crucial factor to consider. Let’s compare the customer support options available on Thinkific and Hightail.
Thinkific offers email support, live chat support, and a knowledge base with a variety of resources, including guides, videos, and FAQs. Their response times are usually prompt, and their support team is knowledgeable and helpful.
On the other hand, Hightail offers email support, phone support, and a knowledge base. Their response times are also fast, and their support team is highly responsive and friendly.
Both platforms have a good selection of support resources available, making it easy to find answers to common questions. However, Hightail’s phone support option may be a preferred choice for those who want to speak with a representative directly.
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Pricing
Thinkific and Hightail offer different pricing plans with various features and capabilities. Here’s a breakdown of their pricing structures and plans.
Thinkific offers four pricing plans: Free, Basic ($49/month), Pro ($99/month), and Premier ($499/month). The Free plan offers basic features, while the paid plans offer additional features such as more course and student options, advanced customization, and the ability to remove Thinkific branding. Thinkific also offers a 30-day free trial for their paid plans.
Hightail offers three pricing plans: Starter ($15/month), Team ($25/month), and Business ($36/month). The Starter plan offers basic features, while the paid plans offer additional features such as more storage space, collaboration tools, and branding options. Hightail also offers a 14-day free trial for their paid plans.
When comparing the two platforms, it’s important to consider the pricing structure and features that are most important for your business. While Thinkific offers more advanced customization options and features for its higher-priced plans, Hightail may be a better fit for businesses looking for more affordable plans with basic features.
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Conclusion
After comparing Thinkific and Hightail, it’s clear that both platforms offer robust solutions for creating and selling online courses. Each platform has its own strengths and weaknesses, which can make one a better fit than the other depending on a user’s specific needs.
Overall, Thinkific stands out for its powerful course creation and customization tools, as well as its user-friendly interface. Hightail, on the other hand, excels in its marketing and sales features, including its built-in sales funnels and email marketing tools.
When it comes to choosing between the two platforms, it’s important to consider factors like your budget, the specific features you need, and your level of technical expertise. Regardless of which platform you choose, both Thinkific and Hightail offer reliable solutions for creating and selling engaging online courses.