Thinkific vs. Digitally: Choosing the Best Shopify App

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Thinkific ‑ Online Courses vs. Digitally ‑ Digital Products: At a Glance
3. Deep Dive Comparison
4. The Alternative: Unifying Commerce, Content, and Community Natively
5. Conclusion
6. FAQ

Introduction

Managing the transition from selling physical goods to offering digital expertise represents a significant milestone for any Shopify merchant. The process of integrating educational content or downloadable assets into an existing storefront often presents a choice between two distinct paths: utilizing a specialized external learning management system or adopting a dedicated digital delivery tool. Each approach offers specific advantages depending on whether the priority is complex course delivery or the secure distribution of digital files.

Short answer: Thinkific ‑ Online Courses serves as an external powerhouse for structured learning, while Digitally ‑ Digital Products focuses on the secure, high-speed delivery of files like PDFs and license keys. For merchants seeking to minimize friction, a native platform that keeps the entire journey inside Shopify often provides the most cohesive experience for both the store owner and the customer.

The following analysis provides a feature-by-feature comparison of Thinkific ‑ Online Courses and Digitally ‑ Digital Products. By examining their workflows, pricing models, and integration capabilities, merchants can determine which tool aligns with their specific business goals.

Thinkific ‑ Online Courses vs. Digitally ‑ Digital Products: At a Glance

Deep Dive Comparison

Core Features and Workflows

Thinkific ‑ Online Courses is designed as a bridge between the Shopify storefront and an external learning environment. The primary workflow involves creating content on the Thinkific platform and then linking those products to Shopify items. This setup allows for sophisticated educational features such as drag-and-drop course builders, quizzes, surveys, and drip-fed content. It is particularly strong for those who require a dedicated space for student communities and tiered administrative access. However, because the actual learning takes place off-site, the merchant must manage the connection between the two systems.

In contrast, Digitally ‑ Digital Products operates with a focus on immediate asset delivery. Instead of building a "classroom," the merchant uploads files such as MP3s, videos, or PDFs directly. The app automates the delivery of these files or license keys via the checkout page or automated emails. Features like PDF stamping and download limits prioritize the security of the intellectual property. While it lacks the structured curriculum tools of an LMS, it excels at making the purchase of a digital asset feel as seamless as buying a physical product.

Customization and Branding Control

Branding consistency is a frequent point of contention when using external platforms. Thinkific offers website themes and the ability to use custom domains on its higher-tier plans. On the Grow plan, merchants can remove Thinkific branding entirely to create a more professional appearance. Despite these tools, the transition from a Shopify store to a Thinkific-hosted course can sometimes feel disjointed to the customer, as they are technically moving between two different websites.

Digitally ‑ Digital Products keeps the customer closer to the Shopify environment. It allows for the customization of download pages and email templates, ensuring that the post-purchase experience matches the store's visual identity. Because the app works within the Shopify checkout and customer account framework, there is less visual "jump" for the user. This focus on a branded delivery experience helps maintain trust, which is likely reflected in the app's higher merchant rating.

Pricing Structure and Value

The financial commitment for these two apps follows very different trajectories. Thinkific uses a traditional SaaS tiered model. The Free plan is generous with unlimited students but limits the merchant to three courses. As a business scales, the costs increase significantly, moving from $49 per month to $199 per month for advanced features like API access and multiple communities. This model is built for businesses that intend to make online education their primary revenue driver.

Digitally ‑ Digital Products offers a more accessible entry point for small to mid-sized stores. Its pricing is largely based on volume and storage rather than educational features. The Pro plan starts at $7.99 per month, allowing for 200 orders and 15GB of storage. Even the Unlimited plan, priced at $24.99 per month, is considerably more affordable than the mid-tier Thinkific plans. For a merchant who simply needs to deliver a few PDFs or license keys, Digitally provides a much higher level of cost efficiency.

Integrations and Ecosystem Compatibility

Thinkific relies heavily on its ability to talk to other marketing tools. It "works with" a wide array of third-party services including Zapier, ConvertKit, MailChimp, and ActiveCampaign. These integrations are essential for an external platform to ensure that customer data flows from the course environment back into the merchant's marketing funnel. This makes it a powerful choice for those who already use a complex stack of external marketing automation tools.

Digitally ‑ Digital Products integrates more tightly with the Shopify "native" ecosystem. It is designed to work with Shopify Checkout Extensions and customer accounts. This focus on the internal Shopify infrastructure reduces the need for middleman tools like Zapier for basic delivery tasks. While it may not have the extensive list of external marketing integrations that Thinkific boasts, its ability to function harmoniously with the standard Shopify checkout process reduces technical overhead for the average merchant.

User Experience and Reliability Cues

The stark difference in ratings between the two apps (1.9 for Thinkific versus 4.5 for Digitally) suggests a significant gap in user satisfaction. Low ratings for external-connector apps often stem from synchronization issues, where customers purchase a product in Shopify but experience delays or login errors when trying to access the external platform. These "friction points" can lead to increased support tickets and frustrated customers.

Digitally ‑ Digital Products, by focusing on a simpler delivery mechanism, avoids many of the technical pitfalls associated with external syncing. The instant delivery of files or keys at checkout satisfies the customer's need for immediate gratification. For merchants, this reliability translates into a "set it and forget it" workflow that requires minimal daily intervention. However, it is important to note that Digitally is not a replacement for a full course platform; if a merchant needs to track student progress or host interactive quizzes, the simplicity of a digital delivery app will eventually become a limitation.

The Alternative: Unifying Commerce, Content, and Community Natively

While both Thinkific and Digitally serve their intended purposes, many merchants eventually encounter the "platform fragmentation" problem. This occurs when a business grows to the point where managing separate logins for courses, different storage limits for downloads, and disjointed customer data becomes a bottleneck. When customers have to remember different passwords for the store and the course area, or when they are redirected to an external URL to access their purchase, conversion rates and customer satisfaction can suffer.

Adopting an all-in-one native platform solves these issues by keeping the entire customer journey inside the Shopify ecosystem. This approach treats digital products and courses not as external add-ons, but as core components of the store's inventory. By keeping customers at home on the brand website, merchants can ensure that the branding remains 100% consistent from the first click to the final lesson. This unity eliminates the "jarring" feeling of being sent to a third-party site, which is a common complaint with external LMS solutions.

The benefits of this native integration are visible in real-world results. For example, consider the strategies for selling over 4,000 digital courses natively employed by successful creators. By bundling digital education directly with physical goods, brands have been able to generate significant additional revenue, sometimes exceeding $112,000, without the complexity of managing an external platform. This success is often driven by a unified login that reduces customer support friction, allowing users to access everything they have ever purchased from the brand using their standard Shopify account.

Furthermore, a native platform allows for more sophisticated sales tactics, such as upselling and cross-selling within the learning area itself. Merchants have seen a 100% improvement in conversion rate by removing the friction inherent in fragmented systems. When the store and the course area share the same "brain," the merchant can use Shopify’s own data to trigger personalized offers or memberships.

Choosing a platform with predictable pricing without hidden transaction fees is also critical for long-term growth. Unlike models that charge per student or add significant costs as your community expands, a flat-rate structure allows for better financial planning. This is especially important for brands focused on generating revenue from both physical and digital goods simultaneously.

If unifying your stack is a priority, start by securing a fixed cost structure for digital products. Moving away from "duct-taped" systems and replacing duct-taped systems with a unified platform allows business owners to focus on content creation rather than troubleshooting technical glitches. By leveraging all the key features for courses and communities in one place, the merchant creates a professional, high-trust environment that encourages repeat purchases and long-term loyalty.

Conclusion

For merchants choosing between Thinkific ‑ Online Courses and Digitally ‑ Digital Products, the decision comes down to the complexity of the content and the desired customer experience. Thinkific is a powerhouse for those who need a deep, external LMS with advanced pedagogical tools, though it requires managing a separate platform and potential login friction. Digitally ‑ Digital Products is an excellent, budget-friendly choice for merchants who only need to deliver files and keys securely within the Shopify checkout.

However, the modern e-commerce landscape is moving toward total integration. Fragmented systems often lead to lost data and customer frustration. Moving to a native solution that handles courses, downloads, and community in one place is frequently the most effective way to scale. By reviewing the Shopify App Store listing merchants install from, store owners can see the benefits of a system that treats digital content as a first-class citizen alongside physical inventory. This approach not only simplifies the merchant's life but also provides a superior experience for the customer, leading to higher lifetime value and a more robust brand.

To build your community without leaving Shopify, start by reviewing the Shopify App Store listing merchants install from.

FAQ

Is Thinkific or Digitally better for selling e-books?

Digitally ‑ Digital Products is generally better for e-books if the goal is simple, secure delivery. It offers features like PDF stamping and download limits at a lower price point than Thinkific. Thinkific would only be necessary if the e-book were part of a larger, interactive course with quizzes and student discussions.

Can I use Digitally to host a video course?

While Digitally can deliver video files or host video links, it does not function as a Learning Management System (LMS). It lacks student progress tracking, lesson structures, and the ability to prevent users from skipping ahead. For a structured video curriculum, an LMS-focused app or a native course platform is required.

Why does Thinkific have a lower rating on Shopify?

Most issues cited by merchants involving external platforms like Thinkific revolve around the "sync" between Shopify and the external site. Challenges such as customers not receiving login credentials immediately after purchase or difficulties in matching Shopify customer accounts with Thinkific student accounts often lead to lower ratings compared to apps that function entirely within the Shopify admin.

How does a native, all-in-one platform compare to specialized external apps?

A native platform integrates directly into the Shopify theme and uses the Shopify checkout and customer account system. This eliminates the need for external logins and ensures that all customer data remains in one place. While specialized external apps might offer highly niche features, a native solution typically provides a smoother user experience, higher conversion rates, and a flat-rate plan that supports unlimited members without the technical headaches of syncing two separate platforms.