How Disciple and Thinkific compare
Disciple does the thing most community platforms charge a premium for: every plan includes your own iOS and Android app listed under your name, a synced web version, and no Disciple branding anywhere your members look. Groups, feeds, DMs, events, native video, livestreaming, courses, push notifications to segments, and a customer success manager who helps you through the app store submission. Associations, training providers, nonprofits, and membership brands that want an icon on the member's phone are who it is built for.
Thinkific is a reliable place to build and sell learning. Courses, assessments, certificates, communities, memberships, and a branded mobile app option let a training business grow without moving platforms, and the site builder is good enough that many creators never need another. It is steady, well documented, and built around the student.
Where they are different
Disciple
- Disciple lives behind a login and a home screen icon.
- Disciple reaches members with push notifications and hands email to Mailchimp or ConvertKit.
- Disciple starts at $599 a month for a branded app with unlimited members.
- Disciple has courses, livestreams, tiers, and in-app purchases.
Thinkific
- Thinkific pages exist to sell courses.
- Thinkific broadcasts to students and sends abandoned-cart email.
- Thinkific books coaching calendars on Start and up.
Choose Disciple when your members should open an app with your name on it, and a private community with groups, events, and paid tiers is the whole point.
Choose Thinkific when courses, assessments, and student communities are the business.
Compare features
What's on Disciple and Thinkific
A check means that capability is available. Disciple and Thinkific are marked only when the offer is comparable, not the same product.
Site and brand
- Workspace siteDisciple: Not includedThinkific: Included
- Custom domainDisciple: IncludedThinkific: Included
- Theme and fontsDisciple: IncludedThinkific: Included
Public content
- Showcase pagesDisciple: Not includedThinkific: Included
- Shop pagesDisciple: Not includedThinkific: Included
Reach and quality
- SEODisciple: Not includedThinkific: Included
Audience and email
- AudienceDisciple: IncludedThinkific: Included
- Marketing emailsDisciple: Not includedThinkific: Included
Commerce
- Shop paymentsDisciple: IncludedThinkific: Included
- Scheduling and bookingsLink to external scheduling available on Starter.Disciple: Not includedThinkific: Included
Team
- Admin usersDisciple: IncludedThinkific: Included
* Note: This table does not capture every feature of Disciple or Thinkific, and is not intended as a comprehensive list. We keep this page current, but Disciple or Thinkific may add or remove features that are not shown here.
Disciple vs Thinkific pricing
Compare plans, prices, and what it costs to get started.
Disciple
Current plans and prices
See what Disciple charges on their pricing page.
Thinkific
Current plans and prices
See what Thinkific charges on their pricing page.
Cardel: An alternative to
Disciple and Thinkific
You don't pay until you publish.
Cardel provides a home for your craft. Share and sell your work, grow your audience, and bring your community together on a site of your own.
Common questions
Is Cardel an alternative to Disciple or Thinkific?
Cardel is a home for your craft: a site of your own with a blog, newsletter, shop, community, and one inbox. It can replace Disciple or Thinkific when you want your work, audience, and sales in one place. The feature list on this page shows where Disciple and Thinkific are marked.
Can I use Cardel with Disciple or Thinkific?
Yes. Cardel pages can link out to other products, so you can keep Disciple or Thinkific for what it does best and bring the rest of your work to Cardel.
How much does Cardel cost compared with Disciple and Thinkific?
You don't pay for Cardel until you publish. Choose Starter, Pro, or Studio when your site goes live. Disciple and Thinkific set their own prices, so check their pricing pages on this page for current plans.
How do I switch from Disciple or Thinkific to Cardel?
Start with Build Your Site, set up your home, and bring your work over at your own pace. You do not have to move everything on day one.
Compare Cardel, Disciple, and Thinkific
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