Skolasti vs Teachable, Thinkific: What the Feature Lists Don’t Show

Dec 12, 2025

So, you're dreaming of building your own online academy or coaching business, right? You've probably already dipped your toes into the vast ocean of top online learning platforms, and chances are, Teachable and Thinkific popped up everywhere. They're the big names, heavily marketed, and often presented as the go-to solutions.

But here is the hushed reality: those elegant comparison charts and feature lists? They seldom present the entire narrative. They never reveal the hidden trade-offs, the unanticipated costs that can creep up on you, or the development restrictions that might limit your potential, exactly when you are ready to scale.

And what about powerful contenders like Skolasti, which might just be the exact fit you've been overlooking?

Surface-level elements alone will not suffice if you're serious about developing a successful, branded online academy that really embodies your vision and evolves with you. This isn't just another checklist comparison. We're diving deep into Teachable, Thinkific, and Skolasti to uncover what really matters when laying the foundation for your educational empire.

Teachable: User-Friendly but Limiting for Growth

Teachable is one of the most recognized online coaching platforms for beginners. Its pitch is simple: easy setup, drag-and-drop course builder, and integrated payments. For solopreneurs dipping their toes into online teaching, it’s often a first stop.

✅Where Teachable Shines

Ease of use: Anyone can figure out how to create online classes with Teachable in a matter of hours.
Payments handled in-house: Teachable:pay ensures smooth transactions with PayPal or Stripe.
Professional branding basics: Templates and logos make your site look polished without coding.
Affordable entry point: The starter plan attracts new course creators testing the waters.

❌What They Don’t Advertise

But as you grow, cracks start to show.

Restricted starter plan: Only one product and high transaction fees on entry-level plans.
Hidden costs: Want automation, email segmentation, or custom checkout pages? Expect to pay for third-party integrations.
Basic assessments: If you are teaching customers or staff members, the absence of sophisticated tests and mastery-based learning might be a deal-breaker.
Limited engagement: Teachable's mobile experience is subpar, and its communities seem disconnected.

Teachable is great if you just want to earn by teaching online in the simplest way possible. But for anyone planning to scale into a full coaching academy, it quickly becomes restrictive.

Thinkific: Flexible but Frustratingly Technical

Thinkific positions itself as a more customizable alternative to Teachable. It’s marketed as the “platform for online creators” with full branding control and advanced assessments.

✅Where Thinkific Shines

Brand control: You can tweak fonts, colors, layouts, and course players to reflect your brand.
No transaction fees: Unlike Teachable, you keep 100% of your sales (minus payment processing).
Stronger assessments: Randomized question banks and surveys make it suitable for structured training.
Integrated website builder: Templates allow you to build more than just courses, you can craft an entire branded website.
Community features: Built-in community areas give students a sense of connection.

❌What They Don’t Advertise

Despite the flexibility, many users find the technical side overwhelming.

No free plan anymore: As of 2025, Thinkific has scrapped its free option, pushing even hobbyists into paid tiers.
Glitches & load times: Uploading large videos can take forever, and technical hiccups frustrate creators.
Limited checkout customization: Despite all its flexibility elsewhere, the checkout flow is still rigid.
Security concerns: Direct URL access means paid content can sometimes be shared illegally.
Hidden expenses: To unlock advanced features like full website customization or blogging, you often need add-ons or external apps.

Thinkific is better for creators who want customization and don’t mind tinkering. But if you’re asking yourself, “How can I start my own online classes and scale them profitably?” The time spent fixing glitches and buying add-ons adds up.

Skolasti: Built for Coaches Who Want More Than Just Courses

Now let’s look at Skolasti, designed specifically for coaches, trainers, and educators who want to do more than just sell videos online. Unlike Teachable and Thinkific, Skolasti focuses on building engaging, branded learning environments, not just uploading content. It is a powerful course creation platform.

✅Where Skolasti Shines

Your money, your rules: No platform fees taking a cut of your revenue. You keep 100% (just pay standard card fees). That’s a big advantage if you want to create & sell courses online at scale.
Unlimited everything: Students, courses, video uploads, no restrictions holding you back.
AI Coach: Go beyond static content with real-time, AI-powered guidance and feedback for both learners and trainers, creating a dynamic learning experience.
True white-label academy: Launch your online course business with your own fully branded academy at a fraction of the cost of Teachable or Thinkific. Your brand, your rules, with no "Powered by" badges.
Powerful subscriptions: Recurring revenue built-in. Easily create and manage subscription plans for ongoing coaching programs and membership sites.
Vernacular support: Truly globalize your academy with best-in-class support for multiple languages, right-to-left (RTL) scripts, and regional pricing.
Adaptive assessments & gamification: Perfect for businesses and training programs where mastery and motivation matter.
Industry versatility: Whether you’re teaching coding bootcamps, meditation courses, design tutorials, or financial literacy, Skolasti adapts to your niche.
Studio feature & AR/VR: This goes far beyond standard video uploads. You can craft immersive masterclasses, creating a true personalized EdTech platform.
Certifications: Reward learners with credentials that boost credibility and engagement.
Human support: Get quick, real human handholding in minutes or hours, not a faceless knowledge base or a support ticket that takes days to resolve.

❌What’s Still Evolving

To keep things fair, here are a few areas where Skolasti is still growing:

Mobile app: Currently not available, though the browser experience is smooth.
Community features: While engagement is strong through gamification, full community tools are still in development.
Assessment types: Limited to MCQs at the moment (though adaptive logic helps).
AI course creation: Not yet supported, though AI-powered coaching is available.
SCORM compatibility: Missing for enterprise-level users who rely on it.

Even with these, Skolasti already stands out as more than just another “host your course here” platform. It’s positioned as the best platform for online coaching if you want to build & sell online courses and grow a branded academy that grows with you.

Why Skolasti Wins When You Look Beyond the Feature List

When comparing online coaching platforms, it’s easy to get lost in the checkbox-style comparisons. But here’s the truth:

Teachable is simple to start with, but restrictive and expensive long-term.
Thinkific is more flexible, but can drain your time with glitches and hidden costs.
Skolasti gives you freedom, scalability, and brand ownership, things the other two can’t deliver at the same level.

If you’re asking, “How do I create an online course and actually scale it into a sustainable coaching business?” The answer isn’t just about uploading videos. It’s about building a learning ecosystem that grows with you.

Skolasti is precisely that: a virtual coaching & training platform designed for driven creators looking to go beyond course hosting and really control their growth. It is the best platform for selling online courses for serious educators.

Final Thoughts

When choosing a platform, don’t just look at pricing tables and feature checklists. Think about what you need 3 years from now. Do you want to simply make a course and sell it, or do you want a fully branded academy that can train employees, support coaching clients, and expand into masterclasses, AR/VR, and certifications?

This is key to figuring out how to create a course and sell it online successfully.

If that sounds like you, Skolasti is a great fit. It’s not just an all-in-one coaching platform; it’s your own branded learning platform, helping you create, sell, earn, grow, and scale without the usual trade-offs.

FAQs

1. How does Skolasti compare to Teachable and Thinkific?

Skolasti is built for scalable, branded coaching academies, while Teachable is best for simple, entry-level courses, and Thinkific is a more customizable but technical option.

2. What makes Skolasti a better choice for growing a coaching business?

Skolasti offers unlimited everything, no transaction fees, and advanced features like adaptive assessments and certifications, which are crucial for long-term growth.