MasterClass vs Thinkific
MasterClass vs Thinkific, compared side by side on 17 data points: what each one does, how big it is, what it has raised, the tech running each site, and what users report. We score both out of 100 on traction, team and visibility: MasterClass is on 57/100 and Thinkific on 56/100.
Where each one leads
MasterClass
Leads on none of the measures we hold for both companies.
Thinkific
- agent readiness: 64/100 against 46/100
- funding raised: $151M against $40.0M
At a glance
| Measure | MasterClass | Thinkific |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Streaming platform offering unlimited access to classes from world-renowned experts. | Online course platform for creators and businesses to build, market, and sell courses. |
| Category | EdTech, Online Learning, Video Streaming, Creator Economy | EdTech, Creator Economy, E-commerce, SaaS |
| Sells toBusiness model | B2C | B2B |
| Offering | Platform | Platform |
| Founded | 2015 | 2012 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, United States | Vancouver, Canada |
| Status | Inactive | Active |
Size, funding and growth
| Measure | MasterClass | Thinkific |
|---|---|---|
| Employees | 801 | Not published |
| Total funding | $40.0M | $151M |
| Latest round | Series F | IPO |
| Valuation | Not published | $1.4B |
| LinkedIn followers | 161,793 | Not published |
StartupHub scores
Our own 0-100 ratings. They measure company strength and site quality, not which product suits you.
| Measure | MasterClass | Thinkific |
|---|---|---|
| StartupHub scoreOur 0-100 rating | 57/100 | 56/100 |
| Traction | 58/100 | 40/100 |
| Team | 30/100 | 50/100 |
| Search visibility | 43/100 | 13/100 |
| Quality | 68/100 | 68/100 |
| Agent readinessHow well an AI agent can read and act on the site | D (46/100) | C (64/100) |
| Domain ratingLink authority, 0-100 | 87/100 | 91/100 |
Technology
Detected on each public site, so it reflects the marketing stack as well as the product.
| Measure | MasterClass | Thinkific |
|---|---|---|
| CDN | Cloudflare | Cloudflare |
| Support stack | Not detected | Zendesk, Khoros |
Product and pricing
| Measure | MasterClass | Thinkific |
|---|---|---|
| Key features | Unlimited Access to Expert-Taught Classes, Flexible Learning Format, Immersive Production Quality, Supplemental Learning Materials, Multi-Device Streaming, AI-Powered Roleplay Practice | Not published |
What users say
| Measure | MasterClass | Thinkific |
|---|---|---|
| Reddit sentimentThreads we track | Not published | 0 positive, 1 negative across 6 threads |
“I’ve narrowed it down to Thinkific and LearnWorlds, but I’ve never used either — would love to hear from people who actually have. Main things I care about: Clean and mobile-friendly Easy to brand/customise Payment handling Trying to keep t”r/onlinecourses
MasterClass vs Thinkific: common questions
Which is better, MasterClass or Thinkific?
On our 0-100 score MasterClass rates higher (57/100 against 56/100). The score weights traction, team, visibility and profile completeness, so it reflects company strength rather than which product suits you. We compare the two on 17 data points above: read the rows that match what you are buying for.
How do MasterClass and Thinkific compare on the numbers?
Thinkific leads on agent readiness (64/100 against 46/100), funding raised ($151M against $40.0M).
What do real users say about MasterClass and Thinkific?
Thinkific: 0 positive and 1 negative mentions across 6 Reddit threads we track, mostly in r/onlinecourses.
Read the full MasterClass review and pricing or the Thinkific review and pricing. You can also browse other MasterClass alternatives we track.