A Thinkific alternative with community, email and 0 % platform fee
Thinkific is a proven course platform, but its entry plan leaves out certificates, memberships and bundles and takes 5 % of every sale through a third-party gateway. MemberArea includes all of it at a flat rate.
Quick summary
MemberArea vs. Thinkific
Thinkific shows EU visitors a euro price list: Basic at €53/month (€39 billed annually), Start at €107 and Grow at €213, all net. Basic has no certificates, assignments, bundles or memberships, and selling through Stripe costs 5 % of every sale on that plan. MemberArea ships courses, community, email marketing and automations on every plan with native Stripe checkout and a 0 % platform fee.
No gateway fee
Thinkific keeps 5 % of every sale on Basic when you sell through Stripe (2 % on Start, 1 % on Grow). MemberArea charges 0 % on every plan.
Certificates and memberships from day one
Thinkific reserves certificates, assignments, bundles and memberships for Start and up. MemberArea includes them on every plan.
Email marketing included
MemberArea ships broadcast emails, sequences and automations natively instead of relying on connected email tools.
Switching from Thinkific? The migration is included.
Send your export and your courses, members and orders are set up for you in MemberArea, at no extra cost. Most creators are live within a day.
Feature comparison
Side by side
The features that matter most for running a membership business.
| Feature | MemberArea | Thinkific |
|---|---|---|
| Online courses | Yes | Yes |
| Drip content | Yes | Yes |
| Certificates and assignments | Yes | Start plan and up |
| Memberships and bundles | Yes | Start plan and up |
| Community spaces | Yes | 1 community, 5 spaces on Basic |
| Live events in the community | Yes | 5 on Basic |
| Email marketing | Yes | Via integrations |
| Native payments | Yes | Yes |
| 0% platform transaction fee(5 % on Basic with a third-party gateway) | Yes | No |
| Automations | Yes | Basic |
| Branded mobile app | One-off setup, then yearly | $199 per month |
| EU hosting and GDPR-ready | Yes | Canada-based |
| Hubs and portals | Yes | No |
| Migration service included | Yes | No |
Pricing
What you pay
Thinkific's euro list looks affordable, but the entry plan is stripped down and the gateway fee scales with your revenue. MemberArea is one flat rate with everything included.
MemberArea
From €89 per month
Professional plan, billed annually
Flat rate, 0 % platform fee, everything included
- Certificates, assignments and memberships on every plan
- Community and hubs included
- Email marketing and automations native
- EU hosting and GDPR-ready
Thinkific
From €39 per month
Billed annually; €53 month-to-month
Basic: 1 admin, 1 community, 5 spaces
- Basic: no certificates, assignments, bundles or memberships
- 5 % gateway fee on Basic when selling through Stripe (2 % Start, 1 % Grow)
- Thinkific Payments in the EU: 1.7 % + €0.25 per transaction, plus surcharges
- Branded mobile app costs $199 per month
Prices checked on Sep 6, 2026, source: Thinkific pricing page. Net prices unless stated otherwise. Competitor pricing and features reflect publicly listed plans and may have changed. Check the provider for current details.
FAQ
Common questions
Can I migrate my Thinkific courses to MemberArea?
Yes. Export your courses, students and orders from Thinkific and send them over: the migration service is included on every plan, so your content is set up for you at no extra cost.
Does MemberArea charge a gateway fee like Thinkific?
No. MemberArea charges 0 % platform fee on every plan. You pay only Stripe's standard processing rate on your own Stripe account.
Is MemberArea hosted in the EU?
Yes. Your data is hosted in the EU and the platform is built to be GDPR-ready, including data processing agreements and EU-based infrastructure.
Ready to make the switch?
Import your content from Thinkific and go live quickly. Free to start, no credit card required.
Migration included. No per-member fees. Cancel anytime.