LinkedIn Learning
Thinkific
| Feature | LinkedIn Learning | Thinkific |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $19.99/mo | Free / from $49/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Best For | professionals, job-seekers, corporate-teams, career-changers | course-creators, coaches, educators, small-businesses |
| Founded | 2015 | 2012 |
| Video Courses | ✓ | ✗ |
| Certificates | ✓ | ✓ |
| Learning Paths | ✓ | ✗ |
| Linkedin Integration | ✓ | ✗ |
| Offline Viewing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Exercises | ✓ | ✗ |
| Recommendations | ✓ | ✗ |
| Course Builder | ✗ | ✓ |
| Memberships | ✗ | ✓ |
| Communities | ✗ | ✓ |
| Quizzes | ✗ | ✓ |
| Drip Content | ✗ | ✓ |
| Payment Processing | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ LinkedIn Learning Pros
- Certificates display directly on LinkedIn profile
- 16,000+ courses covering business, tech, and creative
- High production quality with industry experts
- Personalized learning paths and recommendations
✗ LinkedIn Learning Cons
- No free plan (only 1-month trial)
- Content can feel surface-level for advanced topics
- Not recognized as formal education credentials
✓ Thinkific Pros
- No transaction fees on any plan
- Drag-and-drop course builder is intuitive
- Supports communities and memberships
- White-label branding options
- Built-in student engagement tools
✗ Thinkific Cons
- Limited marketing automation built-in
- Free plan restricted to one course
- Email features require third-party integration
The Verdict
LinkedIn Learning is built for professionals and job seekers, with a focus on video-courses and certificates. Thinkific targets course creators and coaches and leads with course-builder and memberships.
On pricing, LinkedIn Learning is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $19.99/mo compared to $49/mo for Thinkific. That $29.01/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Thinkific has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. LinkedIn Learning requires a paid subscription from day one.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.