Skilljar vs Thinkific: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Skilljar and Thinkific comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Skilljar
Customer education LMS to boost adoption and cut support costs
Best for you if:
- • External LMS for customer and partner training academies
- • Deep Salesforce integration ties education to business outcomes
Thinkific
Turn your knowledge into income with an easy-to-use course platform
Best for you if:
- • You want to try before committing
- • Thinkific is a platform for creating and selling online courses
- • It provides course building, student management, and commerce features
| At a Glance |  Skilljar |  Thinkific |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Paid | $36/monthBasic |
Best For | Online Course Platforms | Online Course Platforms |
Rating | - | - |
Choose Skilljar or Thinkific?
Choose Skilljar if
Customer education LMS to boost adoption and cut support costs
- Purpose-built for external/customer education, not internal training
- Strong Salesforce integration ties training to retention and NPS
- Supports multiple monetization models out of the box
Choose Thinkific if
Turn your knowledge into income with an easy-to-use course platform
- No transaction fees
- Good free tier
- Customizable
- You want a free tier before you commit
| Feature | Skilljar | Thinkific |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Paid | Freemium |
| User Rating | ★4.6/5 5,480 reviews | ★4.5/5 586 reviews |
| Categories | Online Course PlatformsLMS | Online Course PlatformsLMS |
In-Depth Analysis
Skilljar
Customer education LMS to boost adoption and cut support costs
Strengths
- +Purpose-built for external/customer education, not internal training
- +Strong Salesforce integration ties training to retention and NPS
- +Supports multiple monetization models out of the box
- +Scalable from hundreds to thousands of learners
- +Implementation manager included in all plans
Weaknesses
- -No published pricing, requires sales contact
- -Premium integrations cost extra as add-ons
- -Content authoring is basic compared to dedicated tools
- -Data connector add-on starts at $25,000
- -Limited to external training, not designed for internal L&D
Key features
Thinkific
Turn your knowledge into income with an easy-to-use course platform
Strengths
- +No transaction fees
- +Good free tier
- +Customizable
Weaknesses
- -Limited marketing tools
- -Support response times
Key features
Pricing: Skilljar vs Thinkific
| Plan | Skilljar | Thinkific |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | N/A | $36 month Basic |
| Tier 2 | N/A | $73 month Start |
| Tier 3 | N/A | $146 month Grow |
| Tier 4 | N/A | Custom Plus |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Skilljar pricing and Thinkific pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Thinkific has a free tier. Skilljar is paid only.
Go with: Thinkific
Want the highest-rated option?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Skilljar
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Thinkific
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Skilljar is paid. Thinkific is freemium. Thinkific lets you start free.
What's your use case?
Both are online course platforms tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Key Takeaways
Thinkific
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Skilljar
- Higher user rating: 4.6/5 vs 4.5/5
- Larger review base (5,480 reviews)
The Bottom Line
Thinkific is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Skilljar or Thinkific better?
Thinkific is rated in our evaluation. Skilljar is paid and Thinkific is freemium.
What are Skilljar and Thinkific used for?
Skilljar: Customer education LMS to boost adoption and cut support costs. Thinkific: Turn your knowledge into income with an easy-to-use course platform.
What does Skilljar cost vs Thinkific?
Skilljar is a paid tool. Thinkific is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.