Plans and prices
From the pricing pages on 30 October 2026. Thinkific's FAQ says there is no free plan, only a 30-day trial. [1][2]
| Plan | Monthly billing | Annual billing | Courses | Community | Admin seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| systeme.io Free | $0 | Not applicable | 1 course | See plan grid | Not listed |
| systeme.io Startup | $17/mo | Two months free advertised | 5 courses | See plan grid | Not listed |
| systeme.io Webinar | $47/mo | Two months free advertised | 20 courses | See plan grid | Not listed |
| Thinkific Start | $109/mo | $82/mo | Unlimited | 1 community, 10 spaces | 2 |
| Thinkific Grow | $219/mo | $164/mo | Unlimited | 3 communities, 20 spaces | 6 |
| Thinkific Expand | $499/mo | $374/mo | Unlimited | 10 communities, 200 spaces | 15 |
Course delivery depth
Thinkific lists quizzes, automatic completion certificates and assignments that collect learner submissions on every plan, along with unlimited courses, digital downloads and coaching or webinar products. [2]
systeme.io supports module quizzes, which open only after every lesson in the module is marked complete; you tick which answers are correct (a question can have more than one), and you must deactivate a quiz to edit its questions. Completion certificates are a course setting: you can add a logo and signature image, everything else is generated automatically, and students must mark every lecture complete to download one. [3][4]
We found no assignment or learner-submission feature in the systeme.io articles we read. If graded submissions are part of your course, that points to Thinkific.
Payments and fees
systeme.io lists 0% transaction fees on all plans; you pay your processor, such as Stripe at 2.9% + 30 cents for US cards. [1][5]
Thinkific's FAQ says Thinkific Payments is priced in line with Stripe and PayPal at 2.9%, and that if you use Stripe or PayPal instead, an additional third-party payment gateway fee applies that varies by plan. The pricing page does not print that percentage, so check it in your account before choosing a gateway. [2]
Worked example: one $199 course, 60 sales a year
Gross $11,940. For a like-for-like view we apply 2.9% + 30 cents card processing to both ($364.26) and assume Thinkific Payments, so no gateway fee. systeme.io Free cannot carry this year: it stops new sales at $10,000 in lifetime revenue, so the example uses Startup. [1][2][5][6]
| Setup | Platform, 1 year | Processing (assumed) | Kept from $11,940 |
|---|---|---|---|
| systeme.io Startup, monthly | $204 | $364.26 | $11,371.74 |
| Thinkific Start, annual | $984 | $364.26 | $10,591.74 |
| Thinkific Start, monthly | $1,308 | $364.26 | $10,267.74 |
| Thinkific Grow, annual | $1,968 | $364.26 | $9,607.74 |
Email and marketing
systeme.io includes unlimited emailing, sales funnels and an affiliate program on every plan. [1]
Thinkific Start includes email automation but not bulk email to students; bulk email starts on Grow, and email white-labeling on Expand. Affiliate reporting and a custom domain are on every plan. If you would add a separate email tool to Thinkific Start, include its cost in the comparison. [2]
Who fits each
Based on vendor pages read on 30 October 2026, not on running either account.
- Thinkific: training or certification courses with assignments, several communities, or a team of admins; you can carry $984 or more a year.
- systeme.io: a creator whose growth depends on funnels and email, with one to a few courses and simple quizzes.
- Skip Thinkific if you would use one course and no assessments; the fixed cost buys depth you would not use.
- Skip systeme.io if you need graded assignments or several separate learner communities.
Questions before you decide
Does Thinkific have a free plan?
No. Thinkific's pricing FAQ says there is no free plan and offers a 30-day free trial instead.
Does systeme.io issue course certificates?
Yes. A course setting issues a completion certificate once students mark every lecture complete; you can add a logo and signature image.
What does Thinkific Start cost per year?
Thinkific lists Start at $82 a month billed annually, which is $984 a year, or $109 a month on monthly billing.
Does Thinkific charge a transaction fee?
Its FAQ prices Thinkific Payments in line with Stripe and PayPal at 2.9%, and adds a plan-dependent gateway fee if you use Stripe or PayPal directly.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- systeme.io pricing and plan FAQ Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Thinkific pricing and FAQ Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- systeme.io help: How to create a quiz in a course module Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- systeme.io help: How to provide your students with a certificate of completion Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Stripe pricing Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- systeme.io help: How systeme.io subscription plans are moderated Accessed 30 Oct 2026
Sources link directly to providers. Product buttons may use separately labeled affiliate links. Read our disclosure.