Thinkific vs Udemy
Side-by-side comparison on fees, payouts, monetization, and audience ownership.
Thinkific vs Udemy: which one wins?
Thinkific charges from $36/mo (monthly, 0% on Thinkific Payments) versus Udemy at up to 63% (platform share on organic; 85% on subs).
On payout speed, Thinkific pays weekly while Udemy pays monthly. For creators where cashflow matters, the faster cadence usually wins.
For audience ownership, Thinkific offers full access (thinkific email with automation) email export and Udemy offers none (no list ownership). Email portability matters most for creators planning to migrate later or build a list independent of any single platform.
Best for: Thinkific suits course creators who want predictable monthly pricing and native payments. Udemy fits instructors who want reach and discovery over margin and list ownership.