The academy-first alternative to Thinkific
Thinkific is a great way to sell online video courses. But if you run an academy that teaches a hands-on craft — beauty, lashes, brows, aesthetics, fitness, wellness — you need more than videos and quizzes. You need practical assessment, personal feedback, real student development and certification. That's what Kova is built for.
Kova vs Thinkific at a glance
| What matters for an academy | Thinkific | Kova |
|---|---|---|
| Video lessons & course builder | Yes | Yes — stages, lessons, PDFs, audio & video |
| Hands-on practical submissions | Limited (assignments add-on) | Built in — students submit their work for approval |
| Personal educator feedback & review queue | Not core | Core — a review workflow for every practical |
| Student development & milestones | No | Yes — develop people, not just course completions |
| Certificates | Basic | Branded certificates, printed-copy postage option |
| Built-in shop, kits & payments | Courses only | Courses, products/kits, enrolments & Stripe payouts |
| Student messaging & community | Add-ons | Messaging, community & broadcasts included |
| AI that knows your curriculum | No | Kova AI & Kova Coach, grounded in your content |
| Built for a craft (not generic) | General course platform | Purpose-built for academies that teach a craft |
Comparison reflects Kova's focus; Thinkific's features and plans may change — check their site for current details.
Why academies switch from Thinkific to Kova
- Teach the practical, not just the theory. Students submit real work; educators give personal feedback and approve it before the next stage unlocks.
- Develop students over time. Milestones, goals, reflections and check-ins turn a course into a genuine learning journey.
- Run the whole business in one place. Enrolments, payments, a shop for kits, certificates, messaging and reporting — no stack of separate tools.
- One clear price. Simple plans that scale with your student numbers.
Who Kova is for
Beauty and lash/brow academies, aesthetics trainers, fitness and wellness educators, and any academy that teaches a skill people do — not just watch. If Thinkific feels like a video store when you need a teaching studio, Kova will feel like home.