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How to Use Thinkific to Build Your Academy in 2026?

by | Last updated Jan 20, 2026

How to Use Thinkific

Do you have a great course idea stuck in your head?

You know exactly what to teach, but the technology feels overwhelming.

That is a common struggle for many creators.

You waste hours trying to connect payment tools or design pages instead of actually teaching.

It is frustrating to stare at a blank screen.

This guide shows you exactly how to use Thinkific’s top features to launch your course today.

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Thinkific

Ready to join the 50,000+ creators already using Thinkific to sell their courses? Start your free Thinkific trial today and see how easy it is to build your online empire.

Thinkific Tutorial

Ready to build your online school? This tutorial guides you through the most important features.

We will cover payments, emails, and page design.

The steps are simple to follow. You do not need coding skills.

Follow along to get your business running fast.

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How to Use Tcommerce

You have knowledge to share. Now, you need to sell it.

Tcommerce helps you process payments and track earnings. It puts you in the right place to grow.

Follow these steps to sign up and start.

Step 1: Set Up Thinkific Payments

First, log in to your account. Go to the settings tab on your dashboard.

  • Decide to turn on Tcommerce.
  • This process connects your bank.
  • Companies around the world use this tool.
  • It lets you accept money quickly.
  • You can now talk to clients through receipts.

Step 2: Create a Product and Set a Price

Next, use the course builder. You need to deliver real value.

  • Write a clear description of your services.
  • Set a price that covers your costs.
  • Choose a plan for your audience.
  • You can sell a membership or a one-time course.
  • This is the heart of selling.
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Step 3: Manage Your Bookkeeping

Finally, dive into your data. You can discover new insights here.

  • Check the answers in your sales reports.
  • See which customers buy the most.
  • Use these tips to scale your business.
  • You can enhance your brand with custom invoices.
  • Expand your reach and engage more people.

How to Use Email Automation

Talking to your users is important. You need to keep them interested.

Email tools are one of the best Thinkific features. They help you connect with students on the platform.

You can often start using these basic tools for free.

Step 1: Enable Email Notifications

Start with the basics. You need to welcome people.

  • Go to the support menu to create automatic messages.
  • These emails help build strong communities.
  • Send a receipt when someone buys your learning products.
  • This happens without you having to do extra work.

Step 2: Set Up Automated Drip Campaigns

Control when people see your content. This is perfect for a new course.

  • Open the settings for your course player.
  • Schedule your videos to unlock over time.
  • It works for all lesson types.
  • This lets you go in depth slowly instead of all at once.
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Step 3: Send Targeted Broadcasts

Now, focus on marketing and sales. You can reach more people this way.

  • Send special offers to potential customers.
  • Direct them to your sales page or landing page.
  • Use this strategy to grow your revenue.
  • You do not need a separate payment processor to track these results.

How to Use Landing Page Builder

Your landing page is your store window.

It is the main place where you sell online courses.

You need a good design to build trust.

A professional look makes people want to stay and buy.

Step 1: Pick Your Base Theme

Start with the right look for your online education business.

  • Go to the site design area.
  • Pick a style that fits your online courses.
  • This works alongside the content in your course builder.
  • A good theme sets the stage for better customer education.

Step 2: Customize Your Sections

Make the page your own to sell online learning experiences.

  • Add sections to show off your work.
  • Describe your unique online learning experiences.
  • Use clear images and simple text.
  • This helps visitors understand exactly what you offer.
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Step 3: Configure Your Settings and Publish

Get ready to sell online to the world.

  • Check your brand colors and fonts one last time.
  • Save your changes to the page.
  • Click publish to go live.
  • Now you can share your link and start growing.

Thinkific Alternatives

Here are some Thinkific alternatives with brief descriptions:

  • Skool: Focuses on community, courses, and gamification for creators.
  • Circle: Provides a customizable platform for building modern communities.
  • Teachable: Primarily for creating and selling courses, it includes community features.
  • GoHighLevel: An all-in-one marketing platform that provides for community and course capabilities.
  • MightyNetworks: Combines community, courses, content, and events in one place.
  • Bettermode: Offers a highly customizable platform for building branded communities.
  • LearnWorlds: Specializes in creating online courses with interactive learning and community spaces.
  • Swarm: Designed for building structured, engaged communities around shared interests.
  • Disco: A platform focused on cohort-based courses and building learning communities.
  • Kajabi: An all-in-one platform for courses, marketing, websites, and community.
  • Wylo: Connects people through interest-based communities and discussions.
  • Whop: A marketplace and platform for creators to sell access to communities and digital products.

Thinkific Compared

Here are brief comparisons of Thinkific against the specified alternatives:

  • Thinkific vs Skool: Thinkific is a core course platform; Skool combines community, courses, and gamification.
  • Thinkific vs Swarm: Thinkific is a course platform with a community; Swarm focuses on structured community engagement.
  • Thinkific vs Kajabi: Thinkific is primarily a course platform; Kajabi is an all-in-one marketing, course, and website builder.
  • Thinkific vs Teachable: Thinkific and Teachable are both leading platforms focused on creating and selling online courses.
  • Thinkific vs GoHighLevel: Thinkific is a course platform, while GoHighLevel is a broad marketing automation platform that includes courses and a community.
  • Thinkific vs MightyNetworks: Thinkific is a course platform with a community; MightyNetworks integrates community, courses, and content more deeply.
  • Thinkific vs Bettermode: Thinkific is a course platform; Bettermode focuses on building highly customizable community spaces.
  • Thinkific vs LearnWorlds: Thinkific is a course platform; LearnWorlds specializes in interactive courses and learning communities.
  • Thinkific vs Circle: Thinkific is a course platform with a community; Circle focuses purely on building standalone communities.
  • Thinkific vs Disco: Thinkific is a general course platform; Disco is tailored for cohort-based learning communities.
  • Thinkific vs Wylo: Thinkific is a course platform; Wylo connects individuals via interest-based groups/communities.
  • Thinkific vs Whop: Thinkific is a course platform with a community; Whop sells access to communities and digital products via a marketplace.

Conclusion

You have set up payments, emails, and your site.

You now have the ability to launch. Your team can help you easily manage your Thinkific courses.

As mentioned, the hard work is done.

Focus your energy on content creation now.

Share your new school in social media posts or on YouTube.

Students will appreciate the easy access to your knowledge. Do you have questions?

Leave a comment below. We love to see what you build.

Get started today and grow your business.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Thinkific cost?

Thinkific offers a tiered pricing structure to fit different needs. The Basic plan starts at $36/month, moving up to the Start plan at $74/month, and the Grow plan at $149/month. There is also a free option available for those just getting started.

Is Thinkific good for beginners?

Absolutely. The interface is intuitive, requiring zero coding skills. The “drag-and-drop” builder simplifies course creation significantly. Plus, their AI tools can generate course outlines and landing pages instantly, giving you a massive head start. It’s built to scale with you.

What percentage does Thinkific take?

On the Free plan, standard transaction fees apply. However, on all paid plans (Basic, Start, Grow), Thinkific charges 0% transaction fees. You only pay the standard processing fees charged by payment gateways like Stripe or PayPal. You keep more of your hard-earned revenue.

What are the disadvantages of Thinkific?

While powerful, the email marketing features are somewhat basic compared to dedicated tools like ConvertKit. Also, there’s no built-in sales funnel builder like ClickFunnels. Customizing the checkout experience generally requires higher-tier plans, which might feel restrictive for budget-conscious starters.

Can you make money on Thinkific?

Yes, many creators earn significant income. Since you control the pricing and branding, your earning potential depends entirely on your marketing efforts and course value. Unlike marketplaces like Udemy that discount your work, Thinkific lets you build a sustainable business brand.

What is the best alternative to Thinkific?

Teachable and Kajabi are top contenders. Teachable is great for beginners but often has transaction fees. Kajabi offers more robust all-in-one marketing tools (funnels, email) but comes with a much higher price tag. Thinkific sits comfortably in the middle, balancing power and affordability.

Is Thinkific an LMS?

Technically, yes. It is a cloud-based Learning Management System (LMS). It tracks student progress, delivers content, and manages users. However, it leans more towards “knowledge commerce” (selling courses) rather than corporate internal training, though it handles both effectively.

More Facts about Thinkific

  • Thinkific has a modern look that makes it easy for students to watch lessons.
  • You can use the course builder to mix videos, text, and files into one lesson.
  • You can upload as many videos and files as you want without running out of space.
  • The “Thinkific App Store” lets you add other tools, like Zoom for live classes or Mailchimp for emails.
  • You can organize your course into chapters to keep lessons neat and tidy.
  • The platform allows you to customize how your course looks and set rules for when students finish.
  • Thinkific works well for many products, including courses, memberships, and digital downloads.
  • Businesses can grow as much as they want because Thinkific handles unlimited students and courses.
  • Thinkific has AI tools that can quickly write course outlines, quizzes, and sales pages for you.
  • Teachers can use automation to make their work faster and easier.
  • You can check how well students are doing by looking at the analytics dashboard.
  • If students are quitting early, the tracking tools help you see exactly where they get stuck.
  • You can break hard topics into small, 5-to-20-minute chunks to help students remember better.
  • Adding surveys at the end of lessons helps you get feedback from students.
  • Live lessons on Zoom allow you to talk to your students in real time.
  • Quizzes and assignments are available to help keep students interested.
  • You can offer certificates or use apps to add games and points to motivate learners.
  • Community spaces let students talk to each other, which helps them finish the course.
  • Thinkific has built-in tools to help you build sales pages and run discounts.
  • You can accept payments easily using Stripe or PayPal.
  • You can sell your courses in different ways, like a one-time fee or a monthly subscription.
  • Thinkific provides tools to help businesses make more money by suggesting extra products to students.
  • Creators using Thinkific have earned billions of dollars in total.
  • The platform is designed to help you turn your skills into a real business.
  • The free plan has limits, but you can try the paid features for free for 30 days.
  • Thinkific is known for having very helpful customer support.
  • Thinkific Academy offers classes that teach you how to build and sell your courses.
  • You should make a simple business plan before you start building.
  • It is a good idea to create a “lead magnet” (a free gift) to get people interested in your work.
  • Experts suggest selling a cheaper product first to build trust with new customers.
  • You should test your products and make changes as your audience grows.

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