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If you planned to start on Thinkific for $40 a month, that option is gone. On 26 October 2026 Thinkific retired its Basic plan for new customers. The cheapest plan is now Start, at $82 a month billed yearly, or $109 month to month.
We logged the change when we re-checked Thinkific’s pricing page on 3 November. Here is what changed, who it hits, and three cheaper paths if $82 is too much.
What changed
| Before (Basic) | Now (Start) | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billed yearly | $40/mo | $82/mo | +105% |
| Billed monthly | $54/mo | $109/mo | +102% |
| Per year (yearly billing) | $480 | $984 | +$504 |
| Per year (monthly billing) | $648 | $1,308 | +$660 |
“Before” is our last recorded Basic price. “Now” is thinkific.com/pricing, US visitor, 3 Nov 2026.
- Basic is no longer offered to new customers.
- Start, at $82 billed yearly, is now the cheapest plan.
- Grow is $164 yearly ($219 monthly). Expand is $374 yearly ($499 monthly).
- Still true: 0% Thinkific transaction fee, unlimited courses and students, no free plan.
Who this affects
Mostly people starting out. A first course with a few hundred dollars in sales now costs twice as much to host on Thinkific.
I spoke with a new course creator who had a Thinkific Basic tab open since September. She came back to buy and the plan was gone. Her first-year software budget doubled before she had sold a thing.
Thinkific’s pricing page doesn’t say whether current Basic customers keep their plan and price. If you are on Basic today, check your billing page or ask Thinkific support before you change anything. We will update this post when we can confirm.
What the change costs over three years
A first year is not the whole story. Most course platforms stay with a creator for years. On yearly billing, three years of Basic would have cost $1,440. Three years of Start cost $2,952. That is $1,512 more over three years, before any email tool.
If you were about to buy Thinkific
- Write down your first-year sales goal. If it is under about $8,000, a plan with a small sales fee may cost you less than Start.
- Check the three cheaper paths below at your own sales level.
- If you still want Thinkific, start on monthly billing ($109), then switch to yearly ($82) once your first course sells.
- Add the email tool to your budget. Thinkific’s built-in email is basic. Kit’s free plan covers 10,000 subscribers with one automation.
Three cheaper paths now
Teachable Starter
5 products · plus 7.5% per sale · cheapest until $533/mo in sales
All billed yearly. Verified 3–4 Nov 2026.
When Thinkific Start still makes sense
Start is not a bad plan. It gives unlimited courses and unlimited students with no sales fee. If you plan several courses or a large student base, those “unlimited” limits are worth paying for. Compare it with Kajabi in Kajabi vs Thinkific, or see every plan in Thinkific pricing.
Not sure which wins at your sales level? The course platform cost calculator does the math in ten seconds.
Thinkific’s price log
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Start $82 · Grow $164 · Expand $374 (billed yearly).
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Basic removed for new customers. Entry price up from $40 to $82 a month, billed yearly.
FAQs
Did Thinkific remove its Basic plan?
Yes, for new customers, on 26 October 2026. Start is now the cheapest plan at $82 a month billed yearly.
How much did Thinkific’s entry price go up?
From $40 to $82 a month on yearly billing (+105%), and from $54 to $109 on monthly billing (+102%).
What is the cheapest alternative to Thinkific now?
Systeme.io has a free plan and a Startup plan at about $14 a month billed yearly. Teachable Starter is $29 a month plus a 7.5% fee per sale.
Is Thinkific still worth it after the price increase?
For creators with several courses or many students, often yes: Start has unlimited courses and students and no sales fee. For a first small course, cheaper plans usually cost less.
How much more does Thinkific cost per year now?
$504 more a year on yearly billing ($480 to $984), and $660 more on monthly billing ($648 to $1,308).
Amanat Mossalli Taju
Amanat has spent 6+ years on the strategy side of digital businesses, working with 175+ brands including SaaS companies like Tactiq, Restoke.ai and WeMoney on pricing and growth. He checks every number on PricingVerified against the vendor's own pricing page.
