Choosing the right community platform can feel overwhelming, right?
You’re looking for something easy to use that helps you connect with your audience and doesn’t break the bank.
Thinkific and Wylo are popular options, but how do you know which fits your needs?
This post’ll break down Thinkific vs Wylo and compare their features, pricing, and overall user experience.
Overview
We’ve spent considerable time exploring Thinkific and Wylo, diving into their features, navigating their interfaces, and building test communities.
This hands-on experience, combined with analyzing user reviews and expert opinions, has allowed us to create a comprehensive comparison to help you make an informed decision.
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: 30-day free trial available. Paid plan Starts at $74/month
Key Features:
- Course Creation
- Marketing Tools
- Community Features
Ready to transform your brand community? Over 500 brands have already seen a 20% increase in engagement using Wylo.
Pricing: 14-day free trial available. Paid plan Starts at $50/month
Key Features:
- Live Events
- Member Directory
- Direct Messaging
What is Thinkific?
Thinkific is a popular platform for creating and selling online courses.
It’s pretty user-friendly, even if you’re not a tech whiz.
You can host your courses, build a community around them, and manage memberships all in one place.
It’s a solid choice for educators and entrepreneurs looking to monetize their knowledge.
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
What is Wylo?
Wylo is a platform designed specifically for building online communities.
It’s all about fostering connections and creating engaging experiences for your members.
Think of it as a central hub where your audience can interact, learn, and grow together. It’s a good option if the community is your top priority.
Ready to transform your brand community? Over 500 brands have already seen a 20% increase in engagement using Wylo. Join them!
Key Benefits
- Live Events: Host webinars and workshops directly within the platform.
- Member Directory: It makes it easy for members to find and connect.
- Direct Messaging: Facilitates private conversations between members.
- Customizable Branding: Tailor the look and feel of your community.
- Analytics Dashboard: Track key metrics and community growth.
Pricing
Starter: month/$50- Forum Channels 10
Growth: month/$120- Forum Channels 25
business: month/$280- Forum Channels 100
Pros
Cons
Feature Comparison
Let’s get into the nitty-gritty and compare Thinkific and Wylo feature by feature.
This will help you see where each platform shines and which best aligns with your needs for building your online community.
Engagement Tools
- Thinkific: Provides many features to boost engagement, such as polls, Q&As, and announcements. These tools help you keep your community active.
- Wylo: Offers engagement features, but they are primarily focused on chat and discussions. It may not have as many options as Thinkific.
Course Creation & Hosting
- Thinkific: As a dedicated online course platform, Thinkific excels in course creation. It provides robust tools to create courses, structure course content, and sell courses. Thinkific handles everything you need to host your online learning materials.
- Wylo: While Wylo supports online learning, its focus isn’t solely on course creation. It offers some features to create courses and structure course content, but it’s not as comprehensive as Thinkific. Wylo is better suited for communities with courses as part of the offering, not the central focus.
Community Building
- Thinkific: Thinkific offers integrated community features, allowing you to build a community alongside your courses. However, the community features are not as robust as a dedicated platform like Wylo or Mighty Networks.
- Wylo: Wylo’s strength lies in its community-building capabilities. It provides a dedicated space for members to interact, discuss, and connect. It’s designed to foster a sense of belonging and encourage engagement.
Marketing & Sales
- Thinkific: Thinkific provides a good range of marketing tools to help you sell courses, including integrations with email marketing platforms like ConvertKit.
- Wylo: While Wylo supports selling courses and offers some marketing features, its focus is less on marketing automation and more on community engagement.
Integrations
- Thinkific: Thinkific integrates with various tools, including email marketing services, payment gateways, and other platforms. It has a broad range of integrations for a course creator.
- Wylo: Wylo’s integrations focus more on community-related tools and may not be as extensive as Thinkific’s.
User Experience
- Thinkific: Thinkific is known for its user-friendly interface, making creating and managing courses easy.
- Wylo: Wylo also prioritizes user experience, aiming to create a simple and intuitive platform for both admins and members.
Remember that the best choice for you depends on what you value most.
If courses are your main focus, Thinkific is a clear winner.
If community is your priority, Wylo is the way to go. If you need everything you need, evaluate both platforms based on your unique goals.
We recommend taking advantage of any free trial offers to test both platforms before deciding.
Don’t forget to check the Frequently Asked Questions for both platforms to get more information!
What to Look for When Choosing a Community Platform?
Beyond the features already discussed, here are some additional factors to consider:
- Scalability: Can the platform grow with your community?
- Customization: How much control do you have over the look and feel?
- Support: What level of support is offered (e.g., documentation, live chat)?
- Mobile Experience: Is the platform mobile-friendly for both admins and members?
- Analytics: What kind of data and insights are provided?
- Security: How secure is the platform and its data?
- Community Moderation: Are there tools to manage your community effectively?
- Third-Party Integrations: Does it integrate with your existing tools?
- Ease of Use for Members: Is the platform intuitive for your target market?
- Long-Term Vision: Does the platform’s roadmap align with your future goals?
Final Verdict (Our Pick)
So, which platform wins? It really depends on your goals.
If creating and selling courses is your main gig, and you need a solid landing page to sell classes, Thinkific is likely the better choice.
It’s built for that. But if building a thriving community is your top priority, Wylo is the way to go.
It’s designed to bring people together.
We’ve explored both platforms, and our experience shows Thinkific is the better all-around platform if you plan to use Thinkific to build an online course empire.
It offers a more complete package for course creators, from hosting to marketing.
Consider your needs, try the free trials, and pick the right one for you. Good luck!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sell courses on Wylo?
Yes, you can sell courses on Wylo. While not its primary focus, Wylo offers features to create and sell online learning content within your community. However, its course creation tools aren’t as comprehensive as Thinkific’s.
Is Thinkific better than Wylo?
Neither platform is universally “better.” Thinkific is stronger for course creation and sales, while Wylo excels at community building. The best choice depends on your priorities.
Does Thinkific have a free plan?
Thinkific offers a free plan with limited features. It’s a good way to get started and explore the platform, but you’ll likely need a paid plan as your needs grow.
What kind of community features does Wylo offer?
Wylo offers a dedicated community space with features like forums, direct messaging, live events, and member profiles. It’s designed to foster interaction and connection.
Which platform is easier to use?
Both Thinkific and Wylo are designed to be user-friendly. Thinkific’s interface is often praised for its simplicity, while Wylo focuses on intuitive community management.
