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6. junij 2025
Building a Custom Platform That Surpasses Thinkific's Limitations
50% lower cloud cost
61% mobile speed improvement
Client: Meliora life studio
Product: Web Applications
Provider: Codeif
Author: Etjen Kavčič
Introduction
Thinkific was a great starting point for many instructors, but as their needs grew, they faced significant challenges. With over 400+ video resources, instructors struggled to efficiently manage content, customize their offerings, and provide an optimized user experience. Additionally, Thinkific's pricing model was expensive, limiting the scalability of instructors' businesses.
Our custom platform solved these issues with reusable content systems, flexible course structures, advanced categorization, and an incredibly fast and customizable interface—all while reducing yearly costs by 50%.
Lack of Reusable Content
Problem:
In Thinkific, instructors couldn’t reuse videos, exercises, or resources across multiple programs. They had to re-upload content or duplicate courses each time, leading to unnecessary redundancy and wasted time.
Solution:
Our platform introduced a Reusable Content System that allowed instructors to:
- Easily reuse existing videos, exercises, or programs across multiple courses,
- Combine existing content into new programs without re-uploading or duplicating files,
- Build modular, customized programs effortlessly.
Use Case:
An instructor with a library of 400+ videos can now create new courses by simply selecting existing content, cutting course-building time by 50%. For example, a beginner fitness program can pull from already-uploaded "core strength" videos and combine them with newly uploaded content for an advanced audience.
Limited Flexibility in Course Structure
Problem:
Thinkific did not support flexible course structures, restricting instructors to only one way of organizing lessons. Instructors couldn’t choose between module-based or time-based schedules.
Solution:
Our platform offers two ways to organize courses:
Module-Based Organization:
- Instructors can group content into modules, allowing users to explore and choose lessons at their own pace.
Time-Based Scheduling:
- Courses can be scheduled day-by-day, guiding users with a daily workout or lesson plan.
- Includes a drag-and-drop feature for users to reschedule missed sessions, offering a more personalized experience.
Use Case:
A fitness instructor can now create a "30-Day Challenge" with daily workouts while also offering a "Free Explore" module where users access specific lessons at their convenience.
Limited Categorization System
Problem:
Thinkific only allowed categorization at the course level, which became a significant problem when instructors had to manage over 500+ pieces of content. Without deeper categorization, the CMS (Content Management System) became chaotic and inefficient, making it difficult to locate and manage specific resources efficiently.
Solution:
We implemented an Advanced Categorization System with the following features:
Custom Categories:
Instructors can create tailored categories for videos, exercises, courses, or workouts
Category Groups:
Categories can be grouped (e.g., "Topics," "Difficulty Levels," "Techniques") to better organize and filter content.
Visibility Settings:
Categories can be visible to users (on the frontend) or only for instructors (in the CMS).
Enhanced Search and Modification:
Instructors can now search for videos, workouts, and exercises quickly and efficiently with enhanced filtering system.
Content can be modified and connected to other programs or categories with ease, reducing the time and effort needed for updates.
Use Case:
Imagine an instructor managing a library of 500+ videos. They can now categorize these videos based on various attributes like "Beginner," "Advanced," "Strength," and "Flexibility." These categories can be applied across different programs, exercises, or workouts.
By leveraging this Advanced Categorization System, instructors can:
- Find specific videos or workouts in seconds.
- Modify content with minimal effort, thanks to efficient filtering.
The result? A clean, organized CMS that reduces clutter, improves data retrieval, and saves time.
Slow Platform Performance
Problem:
Thinkific’s platform had performance issues, especially on mobile:
- Desktop load time: ~0.7 seconds
- Mobile load time: ~3.1 seconds
Solution: Our platform is built on Next.js, which ensures lightning-fast page loading:
- Desktop load time: ~0.5 seconds
- Mobile load time: ~1.2 seconds
We also implemented server-side rendering and caching to optimize performance further.
Use Case:
Users now benefit from faster load times, reducing bounce rates and improving conversions.
Results
Time Savings:
Reusing content has reduced course-building time by over 50%.
Increased Flexibility:
Instructors can now offer courses in module or schedule-based formats, improving user satisfaction.
Improved Organization:
Advanced categorization makes it easy to manage 1000+ pieces of content across programs, exercises, and standalone videos.
Enhanced Design Freedom:
Instructors have full control over branding and layout, making their platform look professional and unique.
Faster Performance:
The platform loads more than 100% faster than Thinkific, creating a seamless user experience.
Conclusion:
By addressing the pain points that Thinkific couldn’t solve, our platform enables instructors to scale their offerings, enhance user satisfaction, and save time and money. This isn’t just a replacement. It's a platform designed for growth and success, ready to handle the future of online education.
