Thinkific vs. Udemy | Personal Testing Results, Reviews

Struggling to decide between Thinkific and Udemy? Both are among the most popular options out there, and for good reason. 

Thinkific is for those who want to build a branded course website, while Udemy works best for those looking to enter a marketplace of eager learners.

But which one is the right fit for you? I have done the homework for you. I tested their features, analyzed what creators were saying, went through reviews, explored discussion forums, and even interviewed instructors who used Thinkific and Uteach. All this to present you with a comprehensive comparison.

Plus, you will find a detailed side-by-side breakdown so you can quickly see which platform ticks all the boxes for your business goals.

Thinkific or Udemy? Here is what users say 

So far, we have analyzed both platforms based on the opportunities they provide in terms of course creation, marketing, selling, and scaling. 

To get a complete picture of whether these platforms can meet your needs, let’s see what other creators have experienced. To gather feedback, I went through some reputable review platforms, like Capterra, G2, and Trustpilot. And after analyzing feedback in discussion forums like Quora and Reddit, I made this generalized feedback based on what other users mentioned the most, so that you can see everything at a glance. 

When comparing Thinkific and Udemy, users mostly went for Thinkific when they decided they wanted to sell the course to the student directly. Reviewers find Thinkific to be mostly satisfying and easy to run. They believe integrations are what make the LMS more efficient. Most importantly, they are happy that Thinkific delivers what it promises. 

Thinkific offers solid website templates, yet they may not be for people who prefer to create an aesthetically pleasing website. When it comes to cons, people have noticed how it has become pricier lately, especially since they can now find similar solutions at a much more affordable price. 

Here is the opinion of a user who used marketplaces, including Udemy, and switched to Thinkific. 

For Udemy, you can find reviews both from learners and creators. Students see it as a great platform to learn new skills. However, they think that the platform has many courses that are not of expected quality, and they cannot always find a course they need since there are so many courses on the same topic. 

As for instructors, they find Udemy a great start for people who are looking to monetize their knowledge. However, they are not happy with the fact that the platform imposes its own promotions and discounts, and they are not able to make much. Here is a review by one of the instructors. 

When to choose which platform 

You have been wondering which platform is better for which case this whole time. And here is a small summary based on my own experience and user’s opinions before we get into the side-by-side comparison in numbers. 

First, ask yourself: do you want to build your own brand or get into a ready-made audience?

• If you are looking for quick exposure and do not mind sharing the spotlight, Udemy is great. It already has millions of students browsing courses.
• But, are you okay with lower prices and giving up some control over your course pricing? That is Udemy’s trade-off.

As one of the users mentioned in a Quora discussion, “The downside of Udemy is that you are competing against hundreds of similar courses and share a large part of your earning as commission to Udemy”. 

Now, Thinkific is for creators who want full control.

• Do you want your own website? Your own brand? Thinkific lets you do that.
• But you need to market your courses yourself. Are you ready for that?

The same user who commented on Udemy also mentions, “With Thinkific, you create and host your website with just features you need. ”

What if you want the golden middle between Udemy and Thinkific? For example, you want to have full control over your online school, unlike Udemy, and still need a highly customizable and more affordable solution than Thinkific.  

In that case, I recommend considering Uteach. And if you are wondering why you should put Uteach on your “to-consider” list, let’s go on with our detailed review analyzing the solutions of all three options.  

Final verdict. Is there a better solution? 

Looking for a platform that truly supports your business growth? Uteach is not just another solution. It is the solution for creators who want to start and scale.

Why Uteach? Because it was built by experts who understand the challenges you face. We wanted to create a solution that was simple, powerful, and accessible for everyone. 

Thousands of creators have chosen Uteach for

• No limits on growth. Whether you sell courses, host live lessons, or offer coaching, there is no cap on your creativity based on the plan you choose. 
• Diverse content options. From courses and communities to coaching and webinars, Uteach supports every way you want to connect with your audience.
• Flexible payments. We support payment gateways that suit your business, not just the most popular ones. And if you need to use a payment method for a country you cannot find on our list, we are happy to integrate it just for you. 

“I have tried a bunch of LMS, and so far, this is the best. What I love about Uteach is their templates. I am not stuck with just the standard look for my site, and I can customize it easily. Also, having unlimited students and courses is great. They have very good support that answers quickly. So far, I'm loving it. It's easy”. 

Mark Dickenson

Coach, creator at Uteach

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