The Vancouver-based online-course platform’s embedded payment processor is now available to its creators in the U.S. and Canada, following a trial first announced in July. The release comes “a few weeks earlier than we’d expected,” wrote BMO Capital Markets analyst Thanos Moschopoulos in a note. (The Logic)

Talking point: Thinkific’s platform, which includes an app store launched in May that gives clients access to more tools and the new payment system, “is unique amongst direct competitors” and the strategy echoes that of Shopify, wrote CIBC analyst Todd Coupland in a note. While Shopify also uses an internal payments system, it’s not the only Canadian company integrating one. Vancouver’s Clio launched a payments system last month and Lightspeed Commerce, formerly known as Lightspeed POS, has been rolling out its payments system in more markets. Thinkific also released its third-quarter earnings Tuesday, posting a 43 per cent increase in paying customers year over year. It reported more than US$9.9 million in quarterly revenue, compared to about US$6 million, and a net loss of roughly US$10.7 million compared to about US$112,000.