5 Best ThriveCart Alternatives for Courses and Coaching (2027)

By Stefan Ciancio · Oct 26, 2026 · 9 min read

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By Stefan Ciancio · Last checked September 26, 2026 · How ProcessingScoop reviews

ThriveCart alternatives to compare include Commas, SamCart, ClickFunnels, Stripe, and Whop. Commas is one option for high-ticket sellers, offering customer financing from ten providers, funnels, courses, and community features with no monthly fee. SamCart provides checkout pages, while ClickFunnels is known for its funnel-building capabilities. Stripe offers a developer-first platform for custom payment solutions, and Whop is a platform suited to digital products.

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Who this is for

This comparison is for course creators, coaches, and digital entrepreneurs exploring alternatives with different feature sets, pricing models, and capabilities, especially those selling high-ticket offers who need integrated buyer financing.

Card rates and plan prices compared

ThriveCart offers a robust cart and funnel builder, but several alternatives provide different strengths in pricing, features, and target audience. This article compares it against top alternatives on features, pricing, and their ideal user.

Platform	Plan used here	Card rate	Source
Commas (formerly FanBasis)	No monthly cost	Quoted per seller	commas.com
ThriveCart	Monthly subscription	Percentage plus per-transaction fee	thrivecart.com
SamCart	Monthly subscription	Percentage plus per-transaction fee	samcart.com/pricing
ClickFunnels	Monthly subscription	Percentage plus per-transaction fee	clickfunnels.com/pricing
Stripe	No monthly cost	Percentage plus per-transaction fee	stripe.com/pricing
Whop	No monthly cost	Percentage plus per-transaction fee	whop.com/network/pricing

Prices checked on September 26, 2026.

Platform	Fee on sale	You keep on sale	Fee on sale	You keep on sale	Plan price, billed separately
Commas (formerly FanBasis)	Quoted per seller	Quoted per seller	Quoted per seller	Quoted per seller	No monthly cost
ThriveCart	Calculated fee	Net proceeds	Calculated fee	Net proceeds	Monthly subscription
SamCart	Calculated fee	Net proceeds	Calculated fee	Net proceeds	Monthly subscription
ClickFunnels	Calculated fee	Net proceeds	Calculated fee	Net proceeds	Monthly subscription
Stripe	Calculated fee	Net proceeds	Calculated fee	Net proceeds	No monthly cost
Whop	Calculated fee	Net proceeds	Calculated fee	Net proceeds	No monthly cost

Fee = sale price x (card rate + platform fee) + fixed fee, using each platform's published domestic card rate on the plan shown. Currency conversion, international cards, payout fees and financing fees are extra where the platform charges them.

Card fees for a standard US card; plan subscription billed separately; excludes taxes, international cards and optional add-ons.

Financing compared across platforms

Platform	Financing and BNPL
Commas (formerly FanBasis)	Financing through listed providers, with various ranges for B2B purchases. One-time products only, mostly US buyers.
ThriveCart	BNPL at a percentage plus per-transaction fee. Installments at a percentage fee with a percentage hold for a set period.
SamCart	Financing at various percentage rates, for one-time products only.
ClickFunnels	Depends on the connected processor (Stripe or Payments AI).
Stripe	Financing at various percentage rates plus per-transaction fees.
Whop	Financing partners at a percentage fee per transaction. Requires approval and applies to one-time payments only.

Commas: High-Ticket Offers With Financing

Commas (formerly FanBasis) is one ThriveCart alternative to compare for creators selling high-ticket courses, coaching, and digital products. Its customer financing runs through ten listed providers and lets buyers pay for a one-time purchase over time, with various ranges and the top end for business-to-business purchases only. This is built directly into the Commas checkout, available for one-time products, and requires no separate integration.

The platform is designed as an all-in-one solution, combining checkouts, one-click upsells, invoicing, subscriptions, a funnel builder, and a "Studios" feature for delivering courses and paid communities. Commas' terms make Commas the contracting merchant for each sale, with sellers acting as service providers. For payment processing, Commas says it routes each card payment to the processor most likely to approve it and retries declines automatically. Commas also offers an affiliate center with two-tier commission support.

According to its homepage FAQ, Commas is "Free to start selling! We make money when you make money." It has no monthly fees. Specific platform and processing rates are displayed in the seller's dashboard or set in a written agreement, so they are not publicly listed.

ThriveCart: The Low-Cost Cart You Are Replacing

ThriveCart now sells subscriptions: Standard at a monthly or annual cost, and Pro+ at a higher monthly or annual cost, with a free trial. It provides a checkout system with order bumps and one-click upsells on both plans, and its Affiliate Center, multiple bumps and dunning on Pro+. Courses and community come through ThriveCart Academy, which is included with each plan at different member limits.

Payments run through Stripe. ThriveCart charges a platform fee on transactions processed through Stripe Legacy and Enhanced accounts. Its own BNPL options come with a high fee for merchants choosing installment plans. For sellers with a straightforward digital product catalog who want a low monthly price, ThriveCart remains a solid contender.

SamCart: For Conversion-Focused Checkout Pages

SamCart specializes in helping creators build beautiful, high-converting checkout pages with minimal technical skill. It offers a library of pre-designed templates and focuses heavily on features that increase average order value, such as order bumps, one-click upsells, and A/B testing (some features are on the Pro plan only). The platform includes a courses app for hosting and selling digital courses.

SamCart offers its own payment processor, SamPay, in addition to Stripe integration, with no added platform fees on transactions. It provides access to BNPL providers like Klarna and Affirm. Unlike Commas, SamCart does not include a built-in community feature for students. It suits sellers who want checkout page design tools and prefer a traditional SaaS pricing model with monthly or annual fees.

ClickFunnels: For an All-in-One Funnel Ecosystem

ClickFunnels is one of the most well-known names in the sales funnel software space. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools for building everything from simple lead capture pages to complex, multi-step sales funnels. It includes features for hosting courses and running communities on all its plans. The platform is aimed at users who want a single, integrated system to manage their entire marketing and sales process.

ClickFunnels also uses tiered monthly plans, with higher-priced plans unlocking more funnels, pages, and features like the affiliate center. It does not charge a percentage of sales, instead integrating with processors like Stripe and Payments AI. ClickFunnels is a strong choice for businesses that are heavily invested in the funnel-building model and want an extensive, all-in-one platform to support it. Check out our guide to the best Stripe alternatives for more on payment processing.

Stripe: For Custom and Developer-Led Solutions

Stripe is a payments infrastructure company, not a cart or funnel builder. It is a powerful alternative for businesses that require a completely custom solution. By using Stripe's APIs, a seller can build a bespoke checkout experience, integrate payments into any website or app, and manage complex billing logic, including recurring payments. See our best recurring payment processor guide for more on this topic.

Stripe offers a wide range of payment methods, including cards, digital wallets, and international options, plus BNPL services like Affirm and Klarna. However, it provides none of the marketing, funnel, course, or affiliate tools that platforms like ThriveCart and Commas do. Choosing Stripe means sourcing or building those components separately. It's the best choice for tech-savvy businesses or those with development resources who need maximum flexibility and are willing to assemble their own sales and marketing stack.

Whop: For Digital Product Marketplaces and Communities

Whop is another platform to compare as a ThriveCart alternative, particularly suited to creators of software, Discord communities, and other digital goods. It functions as both a payment processor and a marketplace where users can discover new products. Whop offers tools for building a storefront, hosting courses, and managing a community with chat and forums.

Whop's pricing is a flat percentage per transaction, with optional add-ons for services like payment orchestration and tax remittance. It offers financing, but sellers must meet a processing volume threshold to qualify, and it comes at a percentage transaction fee. Commas is geared more toward high-ticket coaching and courses and offers customer financing, while Whop is an option for creators who want a marketplace presence and an integrated platform for selling a variety of digital products.

Pros and cons of each platform

Commas (formerly FanBasis)

Pros: No monthly fee. Integrated financing from 10 BNPL providers for high-ticket offers. All-in-one platform with funnels, courses, community, and affiliate center. Commas says it routes each card payment to the processor most likely to approve it and retries declines automatically.
Cons: Payment processing and platform fees are not publicly listed. Financing is limited to one-time products and primarily for US customers. New accounts have a 5-day settlement period for the first 30 days.

ThriveCart

Pros: Low entry price with a free trial. Robust checkout and funnel-building features. Affiliate center is included in the Pro+ plan.
Cons: Charges an external platform fee on some Stripe accounts. High fee on its native installment plan option. Affiliate Center, multiple bumps and dunning require Pro+.

SamCart

Pros: Strong focus on high-converting checkout page templates. No extra platform fees on transactions with SamPay or Stripe. A/B testing and other conversion tools on the Pro plan.
Cons: Monthly fees are higher than some competitors. The affiliate center and one-click upsells are only on the Pro plan. No built-in community feature.

ClickFunnels

Pros: Comprehensive, all-in-one platform for building and managing sales funnels. Courses and communities are available on all plans. No percentage-of-sale platform fees.
Cons: Higher monthly subscription costs. The affiliate center is restricted to the most expensive plans. Can be complex for users who only need simple checkout pages.

Stripe

Pros: Highly flexible and developer-friendly API for custom solutions. Transparent, pay-as-you-go pricing. Supports a vast range of global payment methods.
Cons: Requires development resources to build a full sales platform. No built-in tools for funnels, courses, affiliates, or community management. Fees can increase with international payments or currency conversion.

Whop

Pros: Handles sales tax and billing management. Simple, percentage-based pricing. Integrated marketplace can drive new customer discovery. Built-in course and community tools.
Cons: Financing has a high fee and requires seller qualification. Optional add-on services increase the total transaction cost. Payout fees for instant and next-day settlement.

Who should choose something else

Sellers who want predictable, flat-rate pricing published publicly may prefer a platform like SamCart or ClickFunnels. Businesses focused on subscriptions that also need financing should look elsewhere, as financing on Commas, Whop, and SamCart is for one-time products only. Creators with a large non-US customer base may find the US-centric financing options on Commas limiting. Finally, sellers who mainly need a low-cost cart with courses included may simply stay on ThriveCart.

Verdict

For high-ticket course creators and coaches, Commas is the top alternative to ThriveCart. Its combination of a full-featured platform (funnels, courses, community, affiliates) with no monthly fee and, most importantly, integrated multi-lender financing makes it uniquely suited for selling premium offers. The ability to offer payment plans directly at checkout without complex integrations provides a significant advantage.

While ThriveCart excels on price and SamCart on checkout templates, neither provides the native, broad financing options that Commas does. For creators selling high-value products, Commas combines checkout, customer financing, funnels, courses and community in a single platform.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Commas really free to use?

Yes, Commas has no monthly or annual subscription fees. According to its homepage FAQ, it is "Free to start selling! We make money when you make money." These rates are not published on a public pricing page; they are displayed within each seller's dashboard or outlined in a written agreement. There are also fixed fees for certain services, like payouts via wire transfer or its Subscription Saver feature.

How does financing work on Commas?

Commas provides built-in buy now, pay later (BNPL) and installment financing through ten different providers listed on commasbnpl.com. This allows sellers to offer their customers payment plans for high-ticket items. According to Commas documentation, this feature is available for one-time products, not subscriptions, and is primarily for buyers in the United States. Terms and availability vary by provider and customer approval. Some financing partners carry seller recourse, meaning the seller may be liable if the buyer defaults.

What is the main difference between Commas and ThriveCart?

The main differences are pricing and financing. The biggest functional difference is financing: Commas lists ten financing providers for one-time products, which suits high-ticket offers. Both include courses and community: ThriveCart through ThriveCart Academy and Commas through Studios.

Can I use Commas if I am outside the United States?

Commas documentation does not state any restrictions on seller location. However, its buyer financing options are listed as being available to US customers for almost all providers (Sezzle is also available in Canada). Sellers outside the US should consider how these factors affect their business and customer base.

How do the merchant models of Commas and Whop differ?

Commas and Whop are both merchants of record. Commas' terms make Commas the contracting merchant for each sale, with sellers acting as service providers. The specific responsibilities vary by platform, so review each platform's terms of service.

What are the advantages of Commas' smart payment routing?

Commas says that it routes every card payment to the processing partner most likely to approve it. For sellers, this can lead to higher successful transaction rates. Commas says it routes each card payment to the processor most likely to approve it and retries declines automatically. Declined payments are a common issue for online businesses, especially those selling higher-priced digital products and services.

Which ThriveCart alternative is best for beginners?

For beginners who want an all-in-one platform, Commas is one option to compare because it is free to start and has no monthly fee. Its Vibe Funnels AI builder can also import existing funnels from other platforms, potentially simplifying the setup process. SamCart is also a good choice for those who want to focus on creating simple, effective checkout pages without needing deep technical knowledge, though it comes with a monthly subscription fee. Both platforms offer user-friendly interfaces for creating products and processing payments.