When it comes to online course platforms, there are several options available, each with their unique features and benefits. Two such platforms are Thinkific and Memberful. In this article, we will be comparing and contrasting Thinkific and Memberful to help you make an informed decision on which platform would work best for your needs.
Thinkific is an all-in-one online course platform that provides users with the tools they need to create and sell online courses. It offers a user-friendly interface that allows course creators to design, market, and sell their courses easily.
Memberful is an online platform that helps users create and sell memberships. It provides a flexible and customizable platform that allows users to sell memberships and digital products without having to create an online course.
Pricing and Plans
When it comes to choosing an online course platform, pricing is an important factor to consider. Both Thinkific and Memberful offer different pricing plans that cater to different needs.
Thinkific offers a free plan, as well as three paid plans starting at $49/month. The paid plans offer more advanced features, such as the ability to create memberships and bundles, host webinars, and offer certificates. They also offer a 30-day free trial for their paid plans.
On the other hand, Memberful offers three paid plans starting at $25/month, with a 14-day free trial. Their plans include features such as customizable checkout pages, drip content, and access to a members-only discussion forum.
Overall, Thinkific offers more advanced features for course creation and management in their paid plans, while Memberful offers a more affordable option for those who only need basic course creation and membership features.
Course Creation Tools
Thinkific and Memberful both offer course creation tools that allow creators to design and customize their courses. However, there are differences between the platforms.
Thinkific provides a user-friendly course builder that features drag-and-drop functionality, which makes it easy for creators to add and organize course content. Creators can customize the course landing page with their branding and choose from a range of multimedia options such as video, audio, and images.
Memberful, on the other hand, does not have a built-in course builder. Instead, it integrates with WordPress and provides a WordPress plugin that allows creators to create and manage their courses using the WordPress platform. This means that creators will have to familiarize themselves with WordPress if they are not already using it.
Both platforms offer features for creating assessments, quizzes, and surveys, as well as tools for managing student progress and providing certificates of completion. However, Thinkific has more advanced features, such as course reviews and the ability to drip content, which may be important for some creators.
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Student Management Features
When it comes to student management, both Thinkific and Memberful offer robust features to help course creators effectively manage their learners.
Enrollment options:
Thinkific offers several enrollment options such as self-enrollment, manual enrollment, and bulk enrollment. Memberful also offers self-enrollment and manual enrollment.
Progress tracking:
Both platforms allow course creators to track student progress and completion rates. However, Thinkific offers more detailed progress tracking, including the ability to view individual student progress and completion certificates.
Communication tools:
Thinkific provides various communication tools such as discussion forums, course announcements, and direct messaging. Memberful also offers email communication and has an integration with the popular email marketing platform Mailchimp.
Overall, both platforms offer robust student management features, but Thinkific provides more in-depth progress tracking and communication tools.
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Marketing and Sales Tools
When it comes to marketing and sales tools, both Thinkific and Memberful offer a variety of features to help course creators promote and sell their courses.
Landing Page Builders:
Thinkific offers a drag-and-drop landing page builder that allows course creators to create customized pages to showcase their courses and drive sales.
Memberful offers customizable landing pages that can be integrated with WordPress sites or added as a subdomain to an existing website.
Email Marketing:
Thinkific provides a built-in email marketing system that allows course creators to send targeted email campaigns to their students.
Memberful integrates with popular email marketing platforms such as Mailchimp and ConvertKit, giving course creators more flexibility in their email marketing strategy.
Affiliate Program Support:
Thinkific includes an affiliate program feature that allows course creators to set up and manage an affiliate program to increase sales.
Memberful also supports affiliate programs but requires integration with a third-party tool such as Refersion.
Overall, both platforms provide effective marketing and sales tools, but the approach and features differ slightly. Thinkific offers a more all-in-one solution, while Memberful integrates with third-party tools for greater flexibility.
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Integrations
When it comes to integrations, both Thinkific and Memberful offer a range of options to enhance the functionality of your online course business.
Thinkific provides a vast range of integrations, with over 1000 apps and tools available through Zapier. It also offers direct integrations with popular tools such as Shopify, Mailchimp, and Google Analytics. This makes it easy to connect your online course business to your existing marketing and sales tools.
On the other hand, Memberful offers a more limited set of integrations, focusing mainly on payment gateways such as Stripe and PayPal. However, it does offer some integrations with email marketing tools such as Mailchimp and ConvertKit.
Overall, Thinkific offers a wider range of integrations, making it easier to connect to the tools you need for your online course business. However, Memberful’s focus on payment gateways can be an advantage for those who prioritize a smooth payment process.
Customer Support
When it comes to customer support, both Thinkific and Memberful offer a range of resources to help course creators and students.
Thinkific provides a robust knowledge base with articles, videos, and webinars on a variety of topics related to course creation, marketing, and management. They also have a community forum where users can connect with each other and share best practices. For those who need more personalized support, Thinkific offers email support and a live chat feature for users on their Pro and Growth plans.
Memberful, on the other hand, provides email support to all of its users, regardless of their pricing plan. They also offer a comprehensive help center with articles and tutorials covering various aspects of the platform. Additionally, they have a community forum where users can share their experiences and get feedback from others.
Overall, both platforms offer solid customer support options, but Thinkific may have an edge for users who need more personalized support. However, Memberful’s comprehensive help center is a great resource for users who prefer to troubleshoot issues on their own.
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Pros and Cons
In this section, we’ll provide a summary of the pros and cons of Thinkific and Memberful based on our comparison in the previous sections.
Pros of Thinkific:
- Wide range of features included in all pricing plans
- Extensive customization options for course creation
- Robust marketing and sales tools, including landing page builders and email marketing
- Integration with a variety of third-party tools
- Responsive customer support team
Cons of Thinkific:
- Steep learning curve for beginners
- Limited student management features compared to other platforms
- Higher pricing compared to some competitors
Pros of Memberful:
- Simple and intuitive interface, making it easy to use for beginners
- Strong focus on content protection and user access control
- Affordable pricing plans, especially for those with a small number of members
- Seamless integration with WordPress websites
Cons of Memberful:
- Limited features compared to other platforms, especially in course creation and marketing
- No free plan, which may not be suitable for those on a tight budget
- Limited integration options with third-party tools
Overall, both platforms have their pros and cons, and the decision of which one to use will depend on the needs of the course creator. Thinkific is a better choice for those looking for a robust all-in-one platform with extensive customization options and marketing tools. On the other hand, Memberful is a great choice for those looking for a simple and affordable platform with strong content protection features.
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Conclusion
After comparing the features, pricing, and support options of Thinkific and Memberful, it is clear that both platforms have their strengths and weaknesses.
If you are looking for a comprehensive course creation platform with robust marketing and sales tools, Thinkific is a clear choice. However, if you are looking for a membership management tool that offers more control over user access and pricing, Memberful might be the better option.
Ultimately, the decision between Thinkific and Memberful will depend on the unique needs and goals of your online course or membership program. We recommend trying out both platforms and comparing their features before making a final decision.
So, what are you waiting for? Sign up for a free trial of Thinkific or Memberful today and start creating your online course or membership program!