Choosing the right online course platform can feel overwhelming, right?
There are so many options. Two popular choices you might be considering are Swarm and Thinkific.
Both offer ways to create and sell your courses, but they have key differences.
This article will break down Swarm vs Thinkific, helping you figure out which platform is the perfect fit for your needs in 2025.
Let’s dive in!
Overview
We’ve spent hours exploring both Swarm and Thinkific, diving into their features, pricing, and user experience.
Our hands-on testing, combined with user reviews, gives us a solid understanding of each platform’s strengths and weaknesses.
This comparison will help you see which one comes out on top for your specific needs.
Ready to explore if Swarm is the right fit for your community? Over 500 businesses have already chosen Swarm to boost engagement.
Pricing: Rich Massaging. Paid plan Starts at $39/month
Key Features:
- Gamification
- Integrations
- Analytics
Ready to join the 50,000+ creators already using Thinkific to sell their courses? See how easy it is to build your online empire.
Pricing: No free plan is available. Paid plan Starts at $74/month
Key Features:
- Course Creation
- Marketing Tools
- Community Features
What is Swarm?
Swarm is a platform designed to help businesses build and manage online communities.
It focuses on engagement and offers tools to help you track progress and measure success.
It’s a platform geared towards creating active and involved communities.
Ready to explore if Swarm is the right fit for your community? Over 500 businesses have already chosen Swarm to boost engagement.
Key Benefits
- Gamification: Swarm heavily emphasizes gamification. Think points, badges, and leaderboards to motivate your members. This boosts participation.
- Integrations: Swarm often integrates with other business tools. This can streamline your workflow.
- Analytics: Swarm provides data and insights into your community’s activity. This helps you understand what’s working and what’s not.
Pricing
Swarm’s pricing usually starts at a certain monthly price point.
They often offer different tiers with varying features and member limits. It’s best to check their website for the most up-to-date pricing details.
- Novice: $39/month
- Pro: $79/month
- Expert:$149/month
Pros
Cons
What is Thinkific?
Now, let’s shift gears and talk about Thinkific. Thinkific is primarily a platform for creating and selling online courses.
It’s designed to help you share your expertise with the world.
However, it also offers some community features, making it a potential option if your primary focus is online courses with a community aspect.
Key Benefits
Thinkific really shines when it comes to course creation. Here’s what makes it stand out:
- Robust Course Builder: You get a lot of control over how your courses look and function. Thinkific lets you add videos, quizzes, downloads, and more.
- Marketing Tools: They offer tools to help you promote your courses, like email integrations and sales page templates.
- Customization: You can tailor the look and feel of your course platform to match your brand.
Pricing
Thinkific offers a range of plans to fit different needs. Their Basic plan starts at $36/month. Here’s a quick breakdown of what you can expect as you upgrade:
- Start: $74/month
- Grow: $149/month
Pros
Cons
Feature Comparison
Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty and compare the features that matter most when choosing an online course platform.
Here’s a breakdown of how Swarm and Thinkific stack up:
Community Platform
Swarm shines as a dedicated community platform, similar to Mighty Networks, focusing on community building and community engagement.
Thinkific, while offering some community features through discussion forums, is primarily an online course creation platform.
If building the best community is your priority, Swarm has the edge. It’s built for creating a thriving learning community.
Course Creation
Thinkific excels in online course creation, offering robust tools that allows you to create and manage courses, digital products, and memberships.
Swarm, while supporting course creation, places more emphasis on the community aspect.
Thinkific is a best platform for course creators first and foremost.
Customization
Thinkific offers a good level of customization, letting you brand your courses and sales pages.
Swarm also allows some customization, but it may not be as extensive as Thinkific for course-specific branding.
User Experience
Consider the user experience for both you as a creator and your students.
Thinkific is often praised for its intuitive interface for course management.
Swarm’s interface might be more tailored to managing a community, so it might be a best platform if that is your focus.
It’s important to test both platforms to see which feels more natural.
Mobile App
Both platforms, like Swarm and Thinkific, usually offer a mobile app, allowing students to access content on the go.
Check the specifics, as the quality and features of the mobile app can differ.
Integrations
Consider integrations with other tools you use.
Thinkific often integrates with various marketing and sales platforms.
Swarm might focus on community and engagement tool integrations. Think about what tools you already use to make the best choice.
Marketing Tools
Thinkific typically offers a wider range of marketing tools to help you sell your courses.
Swarm may provide tools more geared toward grow your community and community engagement.
If marketing is a top concern, Thinkific may be more suitable for your needs.
Both platforms offer some of the best features for course creators looking to market their courses.
What to Look for When Choosing a Community Platform?
- Scalability: Can the platform grow with your community?
- Customization: Can you tailor the platform to your brand?
- Moderation Tools: Does it offer robust moderation features?
- Mobile Experience: Is the mobile app user-friendly?
- Analytics: Does it provide insights into community activity?
- Support: Is there reliable customer support available?
- Community Culture: Does the platform’s design encourage the kind of community you want to build?
- Budget: Does the pricing align with your budget and expected ROI?
- Free Trial/Demo: Can you try the platform before committing?
Final Verdict (Our Pick)
Choosing between Swarm and Thinkific depends entirely on your priorities.
If your primary goal is to build your community and create a thriving best community platform similar to platforms Mighty Networks, Swarm is the clear winner.
Its focus on community features makes it ideal for fostering connection and engagement.
However, if your main focus is creating and selling best online courses with robust course management and marketing tools, Thinkific is the better choice.
We’ve rigorously tested both platforms, and our experience shows that Swarm excels at community, while Thinkific shines in course creation.
Consider what’s most important for your success before making a decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Swarm better than Thinkific?
Neither platform is universally “better.” Swarm excels at community building, while Thinkific is stronger for online course creation. The best choice depends on your needs.
Can I sell courses on Swarm?
Yes, you can sell courses on Swarm, but its primary focus is on community. Thinkific offers more robust course sales and marketing tools.
Does Thinkific have community features?
Thinkific offers some community features, like discussion forums, but it’s not its main strength. Swarm is a dedicated community platform.
Which platform is easier to use?
Both platforms aim for user-friendliness, but experiences vary. Many find Thinkific intuitive for course management, while Swarm might feel more natural for community moderation.
Are there platforms similar to Swarm and Thinkific?
Yes, other platforms like Mighty Networks, Podia, Teachable, and Kajabi have different strengths. Researching alternatives is always a good idea.
