Complete Guide: Migrating from AccessAlly to ThriveCart Learn

Complete Guide: Migrating from AccessAlly to ThriveCart Learn

Why This Migration Is Complex

Migrating from AccessAlly to ThriveCart Learn is NOT a simple data transfer. This is a complete platform migration involving:

• Platform Change: Moving from WordPress-based solution (AccessAlly) to all-in-one SaaS (ThriveCart Learn)
• Course Recreation: Manually rebuilding ALL courses and content in ThriveCart Learn
• Student Data Migration: Moving student enrollments and purchase records
• Progress Loss: Student course progress CANNOT transfer – starts fresh in ThriveCart
• Access Control Change: Different access model (ThriveCart product-based vs AccessAlly tag-based)
• CRM Impact: You may lose CRM functionality depending on current setup
• Content Hosting: WordPress site content must be relocated or maintained separately
• Payment Migration: Existing subscriptions need careful handling

Why Migrate from AccessAlly to ThriveCart Learn?

Common reasons for migrating despite the complexity:

• All-in-One Simplicity: ThriveCart handles courses, payments, hosting, and backups automatically
• No WordPress Maintenance: Eliminate plugin updates, hosting management, security patches, and conflicts
• Already Using ThriveCart: If you use ThriveCart for payments, Learn is a natural extension
• Cart Integration: Seamless integration between ThriveCart checkout and course delivery
• Lower Technical Overhead: No more managing WordPress, AccessAlly, CRM, hosting, email services
• Mobile-Optimized: ThriveCart Learn is built mobile-first (better than many WordPress themes)
• Course Marketplace: Potential visibility in ThriveCart’s ecosystem
• Simplified Tech Stack: Replace WordPress + AccessAlly + CRM + hosting with single platform

What You’ll Lose (AccessAlly Features Not in ThriveCart Learn)

Be realistic about what you’re giving up:

• Advanced Access Rules: AccessAlly’s sophisticated tag-based access logic won’t transfer – ThriveCart uses simpler product-based access
• WordPress Flexibility: 60,000+ WordPress plugins replaced by ThriveCart’s built-in features only
• CRM Integration: AccessAlly’s deep CRM integration (ActiveCampaign, Ontraport, Keap, etc.) may be lost unless ThriveCart integrates
• Custom Design: WordPress theme/page builder flexibility vs ThriveCart’s template system
• Drip Content Complexity: AccessAlly’s advanced release logic vs ThriveCart’s simpler drip scheduling
• Automation Logic: Complex multi-tag automations may not translate to ThriveCart
• Student Progress Data: All course progress tracking starts fresh – historical data lost
• WordPress Site: If AccessAlly was integrated with blog/marketing pages, those stay in WordPress (separate platform)
• Quiz/Assessment Features: If using AccessAlly quiz features or plugins (LearnDash, etc.), may need to recreate differently
• Community Features: BuddyBoss, PeepSo, or other WordPress community plugins won’t transfer

What You’ll Need Before Starting

✅ Required Services & Accounts

1. ThriveCart Account with Learn Add-On:
   • ThriveCart Standard: $495 one-time (includes cart but NOT Learn)
   • ThriveCart Learn: $195 one-time add-on (course platform)
   • OR ThriveCart Pro: $690 one-time (includes Learn + advanced features)
   • Note: ThriveCart is one-time payment, NOT subscription (major cost advantage)
2. Existing AccessAlly Site Backup:
   • Full WordPress backup (in case you need to rollback)
   • Database export (member data, purchase records)
   • Course content export or documentation
3. Video Hosting:
   • ThriveCart Learn supports: Vimeo, Wistia, YouTube, self-hosted
   • If videos currently on Vimeo/Wistia, no migration needed
   • If self-hosted in WordPress, re-upload to video platform
4. Domain Setup:
   • Custom domain for ThriveCart Learn (e.g., learn.yourdomain.com or courses.yourdomain.com)
   • OR use ThriveCart subdomain (yourname.thrivecart.com)
   • Recommendation: Use custom domain for branding and SEO
5. Payment Gateway:
   • Stripe and/or PayPal account
   • ThriveCart integrates with both seamlessly
   • If already using Stripe/PayPal with AccessAlly, same accounts work

📋 Technical Requirements

• Access to WordPress admin (to export data and content)
• Access to CRM (to export student data and tags)
• Spreadsheet skills (for student data transformation)
• Basic understanding of course structure and access rules
• Video editing skills (if you need to re-edit or reprocess videos)

📋 Complete the Pre-Migration Checklist

Before proceeding, complete these critical tasks:

• Full WordPress site backup (files + database)
• Export all student data from CRM and WordPress
• Document current course structure (modules, lessons, access rules)
• Create inventory of all course videos (URLs, hosting, privacy settings)
• Export/document all course content (text, PDFs, attachments)
• List all active products and pricing structures
• Export active subscription list (for migration planning)
• Communicate migration plan to students (especially progress loss)
• Plan WordPress site strategy (keep for blog? Shut down? Redirect?)

Phase 1: Planning & ThriveCart Setup (6-10 hours)

Step 1: Purchase ThriveCart Learn

1. If you don’t have ThriveCart already, purchase ThriveCart Standard + Learn add-on ($495 + $195 = $690 one-time)
2. OR purchase ThriveCart Pro ($690 one-time – includes Learn)
3. Create ThriveCart account and verify access to Learn section
4. Configure basic ThriveCart settings (business name, logo, colors)

Step 2: Set Up Custom Domain (Optional but Recommended)

1. Choose subdomain for courses: learn.yourdomain.com or courses.yourdomain.com
2. In ThriveCart, go to Settings → Domain Setup
3. Add custom domain for ThriveCart Learn
4. Create CNAME record in DNS:
   • Host: learn (or courses)
   • Points to: domains.thrivecart.com
   • TTL: 3600 (1 hour)
5. Wait for DNS propagation: Usually 1-6 hours
6. Verify SSL certificate: ThriveCart provides free SSL automatically

Step 3: Connect Payment Gateway

1. Go to ThriveCart → Settings → Payment Gateways
2. Connect Stripe:
   • Click “Connect Stripe”
   • Authorize ThriveCart access to your Stripe account
   • Verify connection successful
3. Connect PayPal (optional):
   • Enter PayPal email or use PayPal Commerce Platform
   • Test connection
4. Configure tax settings if applicable (ThriveCart supports Stripe Tax)

Step 4: Export Student Data from AccessAlly

You need to export student enrollment data from both WordPress and your CRM.

WordPress Export:

1. Export WordPress users:
   • Install “Export Users to CSV” plugin (or use database query)
   • Export: Email, First Name, Last Name, User Registration Date
   • Save as “wordpress-users.csv”
2. Export user meta (Subscriber IDs):
   • You’ll need the CRM Subscriber ID stored in user meta
   • Query: SELECT user_id, meta_value FROM wp_usermeta WHERE meta_key = 'accessally_subscriber_id'
   • Save as “wordpress-subscriber-ids.csv”

CRM Export (ActiveCampaign / Ontraport / Keap / etc.):

1. Export all contacts:
   • Include: Email, First Name, Last Name, All Tags
   • Save as “crm-contacts.csv”
2. Document tag-to-product mapping:
   • Create spreadsheet listing: Tag Name → Course/Product → ThriveCart Product (to be created)
   • Example: “Product: Course A” tag → Course A → ThriveCart Product ID (TBD)

Purchase History Export:

1. If using Stripe with AccessAlly, export Stripe customer list with product purchases
2. If using PayPal, export transaction history
3. Map purchases to students for verification

Step 5: Map AccessAlly Courses to ThriveCart Learn Structure

AccessAlly’s module/post structure needs to map to ThriveCart Learn’s course structure.

Create a mapping spreadsheet:

• Column A: AccessAlly Module Name
• Column B: Number of Lessons
• Column C: Access Tags Required
• Column D: ThriveCart Product to Create
• Column E: ThriveCart Course Name
• Column F: Migration Notes (drip schedules, prerequisites, special access)

Step 6: Plan WordPress Site Strategy

ThriveCart Learn only handles courses. Decide what happens to your WordPress site:

Option 1: Keep WordPress for Marketing (Recommended)

• WordPress site continues hosting blog, sales pages, about page, etc.
• ThriveCart Learn handles all course content and student area
• Link from WordPress sales pages to ThriveCart checkout
• After purchase, ThriveCart delivers course access
• Pros: Keep blog for SEO, maintain marketing site, best of both worlds
• Cons: Maintain both platforms (but WordPress much simpler without AccessAlly)

Option 2: Shut Down WordPress Completely

• Export all blog content you want to keep
• Create simple HTML landing pages for sales (or use ThriveCart landing pages)
• Redirect old WordPress domain to ThriveCart Learn or landing pages
• Cancel WordPress hosting
• Pros: Simplest tech stack, lowest cost
• Cons: Lose SEO value from blog, lose WordPress flexibility

Option 3: Hybrid – WordPress Blog + ThriveCart Courses

• Remove AccessAlly and course content from WordPress
• Keep WordPress as lean blog platform (no membership plugins)
• All courses in ThriveCart Learn
• Significant cost savings (simpler WordPress hosting, no AccessAlly license)
• Pros: SEO-friendly blog + simple course platform
• Cons: Two platforms to maintain

Phase 2: Course Content Migration (15-25 hours)

Step 7: Create Products in ThriveCart

Before creating courses in Learn, create products in ThriveCart that grant access to those courses.

1. Go to ThriveCart → Products → Add Product
2. For each AccessAlly course, create a ThriveCart product:
   • Product name: Match your AccessAlly product name
   • Price: One-time, subscription, or payment plan
   • Description: Sales copy for checkout page
   • Thank you page: Redirect to course welcome page (in Learn)
3. Configure subscription settings (if applicable):
   • Billing frequency (monthly, yearly)
   • Trial period (if applicable)
   • Subscription duration (ongoing or fixed term)
4. Link product to ThriveCart Learn course (you’ll create courses in next step):
   • In product settings → Learn → “Grant access to course”
   • Select the course this product unlocks
5. Test checkout flow in test mode before going live

Step 8: Create Courses in ThriveCart Learn

Now rebuild your AccessAlly courses in ThriveCart Learn.

1. Go to ThriveCart Learn → Courses → Create Course
2. For each AccessAlly Module, create a ThriveCart Learn course:
   • Course name: Match your AccessAlly module name
   • Course description: What students will learn
   • Course image: Upload course thumbnail
   • Course visibility: Private (only enrolled students)
3. Create course sections (modules/chapters):
   • ThriveCart calls these “Sections” (like module groupings)
   • Example: “Section 1: Introduction”, “Section 2: Advanced Techniques”
4. Create lessons within each section:
   • Copy content from AccessAlly WordPress posts
   • Paste into ThriveCart Learn lesson editor
   • Reformat using ThriveCart’s editor (similar to WordPress Gutenberg)
5. Add videos to lessons:
   • If videos on Vimeo/Wistia: Paste video URL (ThriveCart embeds automatically)
   • If videos self-hosted: Re-upload to Vimeo/Wistia, then embed
   • Configure video settings (autoplay, controls, privacy)
6. Add downloadable resources:
   • Upload PDFs, worksheets, templates
   • ThriveCart stores files securely
7. Configure lesson completion:
   • Manual (student clicks “Mark Complete”)
   • OR Automatic (lesson considered complete when viewed)

Step 9: Configure Drip Schedules

If you use AccessAlly’s release schedules, recreate them in ThriveCart Learn.

1. In course settings → Drip Schedule
2. Choose drip type:
   • Immediately available: All lessons unlock at once (like AccessAlly with no release schedule)
   • Drip by interval: Unlock lessons X days after enrollment (like AccessAlly’s “X days after tag applied”)
   • Drip by date: Unlock lessons on specific calendar dates (like AccessAlly’s fixed date releases)
   • Drip by completion: Unlock next lesson when previous is complete (like AccessAlly’s prerequisite logic)
3. Set lesson unlock schedule:
   • Lesson 1: Immediately (day 0)
   • Lesson 2: Day 7
   • Lesson 3: Day 14
   • Etc.
4. Preview drip schedule to verify correct timing

Step 10: Set Up Course Navigation and Branding

1. Configure course homepage:
   • Welcome message
   • Course outline/curriculum
   • Getting started instructions
2. Customize course player:
   • Brand colors (match your business colors)
   • Logo
   • Navigation style (sidebar, top nav, etc.)
   • Progress bar display
3. Configure student dashboard:
   • What students see when they log in
   • List of enrolled courses
   • Progress tracking
   • Account settings access
4. Set up completion certificates (if applicable):
   • ThriveCart Learn can auto-generate certificates on course completion
   • Customize certificate design and text

Step 11: Test Course Experience End-to-End

1. Enroll yourself as test student (use test email or manually enroll)
2. Navigate through course:
   • Test lesson flow and navigation
   • Verify videos play correctly
   • Test downloadable resources
   • Test lesson completion marking
   • Verify drip schedule (if applicable)
3. Test on mobile:
   • ThriveCart Learn is mobile-optimized
   • Verify videos work on mobile
   • Test navigation usability
4. Fix any issues before importing students

Phase 3: Student Data Migration (6-10 hours)

Step 12: Prepare Student Import CSV

Transform your AccessAlly student data into ThriveCart Learn import format.

ThriveCart Learn import format (CSV columns):

• email – Email address (required)
• first_name – First name
• last_name – Last name
• product_id – ThriveCart Product ID (to grant course access)
• enrolled_date – Date student originally purchased (optional but recommended)

CSV preparation steps:

1. Combine data sources:
   • Merge WordPress users CSV + CRM contacts CSV (match on email)
   • Include purchase/enrollment dates if available
2. Map tags to ThriveCart Product IDs:
   • For each student, look at their CRM tags (from export)
   • If student has “Product: Course A” tag → Add ThriveCart Product ID for Course A
   • If student has multiple products → Create multiple CSV rows (one per product)
3. Handle multiple course enrollments:
   • If student owns Course A + Course B + Course C
   • Create 3 CSV rows (same email, different product_id)
   • OR use ThriveCart’s bulk enrollment (enroll same student in multiple products)
4. Clean data:
   • Remove invalid emails
   • Remove refunded customers (unless you want to grandfather them)
   • Remove test accounts
5. Save as “thrivecart-import.csv”

Example CSV:

email,first_name,last_name,product_id,enrolled_date
[email protected],John,Doe,12345,2024-01-15
[email protected],John,Doe,12346,2024-03-20
[email protected],Jane,Smith,12345,2024-02-10

Step 13: Import Students to ThriveCart Learn

Important: ThriveCart does not have a bulk CSV import feature for course enrollments. You have two options:

Option 1: Use ThriveCart API (Recommended for Large Lists)

1. ThriveCart has an API for enrolling students programmatically
2. Write a script (Python, PHP, or use Zapier/Make) to:
   • Read your CSV file
   • For each student, call ThriveCart API to enroll them
   • API endpoint: POST /api/external/enroll
3. This requires technical knowledge or hiring a developer
4. Expected time: 3-6 hours to write and test script

Option 2: Manual Enrollment via ThriveCart Dashboard (Small Lists Only)

1. Go to ThriveCart → Products → [Product Name] → Enrollments
2. Click “Add Manual Enrollment”
3. Enter student email, name, and enrollment date
4. Repeat for each student (tedious for > 50 students)
5. Expected time: 1-2 minutes per student

Option 3: Use Zapier/Make for Automated Import

1. Create Google Sheet with student data
2. Set up Zapier/Make automation:
   • Trigger: New row in Google Sheet
   • Action: Enroll student in ThriveCart product (via API)
3. Manually add rows to Google Sheet (or import CSV to Google Sheets)
4. Zapier processes each row and enrolls student
5. Expected time: 2-3 hours setup + processing time

Step 14: Verify Student Enrollments

1. Spot-check 10-20 students:
   • Search student in ThriveCart → Customers
   • Verify student has correct product(s) enrolled
   • Verify enrollment date matches (if imported)
2. Test student login:
   • Have test student (or yourself) log in to ThriveCart Learn
   • Verify they see enrolled courses
   • Verify they can access course content
   • Verify they CANNOT access courses they didn’t purchase
3. Check for duplicate accounts:
   • Same email enrolled multiple times (ThriveCart should prevent this, but verify)
   • Merge duplicates if found

Step 15: Handle Active Subscriptions

If you have recurring subscriptions in AccessAlly (Stripe/PayPal), you need to migrate them carefully.

Strategy 1: Keep Existing Subscriptions in Stripe/PayPal (Easiest)

1. Existing subscriptions continue billing in Stripe/PayPal as before
2. Set up webhook in Stripe/PayPal to notify ThriveCart of renewals
3. When subscription renews → ThriveCart extends access
4. When subscription cancels → ThriveCart removes access
5. New subscriptions use ThriveCart products (future purchases)
6. Pros: No disruption to existing subscribers, no churn risk
7. Cons: Manage subscriptions in two places temporarily

Strategy 2: Request Subscriber Re-Enrollment (Higher Risk)

1. Email active subscribers announcing platform change
2. Offer incentive: “Cancel old subscription, get 2 free months on new platform”
3. Provide instructions:
   • Cancel AccessAlly subscription in Stripe/PayPal
   • Use special link to re-subscribe via ThriveCart (with discount)
4. Risk: 20-30% may not complete re-subscription (churn)
5. Pros: Clean break from old system
6. Cons: Revenue loss from churn

Strategy 3: Transfer Subscriptions to ThriveCart (Most Complex)

1. Export active subscriptions from Stripe/PayPal
2. Cancel old subscriptions (risky – coordinate timing carefully)
3. Create matching subscriptions in ThriveCart
4. Notify students of platform change
5. Requires careful coordination to avoid double-billing or access gaps
6. Not recommended unless you have small number of subscriptions (< 20)

Phase 4: Communication & Go-Live (4-6 hours)

Step 16: Communicate Migration to Students

Students will be confused if course platform changes without warning. Plan communication carefully.

Email #1: Pre-Migration Announcement (1-2 weeks before)

• Subject: “Important: Platform Upgrade Coming [Date]”
• Explain WHY you’re migrating (better experience, easier access, mobile-friendly, etc.)
• Set expectations: “Course progress will reset, but all content will be available”
• Provide timeline: “Migration happens [date], expect email with new login on [date]”
• Offer support: “Questions? Reply to this email”

Email #2: Migration Complete Notification (Day of Go-Live)

• Subject: “Your New Course Platform is Ready – Login Here”
• Provide ThriveCart Learn URL (e.g., courses.yourdomain.com)
• Instructions: “Click ‘Login’ → Use same email → Click ‘Forgot Password’ to set new password”
• Explain: “Your courses are ready, but progress tracking starts fresh”
• Offer bonus/incentive for inconvenience (optional but recommended)
• Provide support contact

Email #3: Follow-Up Support (3-5 days after)

• Subject: “Need Help Accessing Your Courses?”
• Address common issues (login problems, password reset, finding courses)
• Reiterate support availability
• Ask for feedback on new platform

Step 17: Update WordPress Site (If Keeping It)

If you’re keeping WordPress for blog/marketing but moving courses to ThriveCart:

1. Remove AccessAlly plugin (after confirming all students migrated)
2. Delete course content from WordPress:
   • Delete AccessAlly modules (or unpublish)
   • Delete course lesson posts
   • Keep sales pages (update to link to ThriveCart checkout)
3. Update sales pages:
   • Replace AccessAlly order forms with ThriveCart checkout links
   • Update copy if needed (“Access courses on our new platform”)
4. Add redirects for old course URLs:
   • Redirect old /course/lesson-name URLs to ThriveCart Learn login page
   • Use Redirection plugin or .htaccess
   • Prevents 404 errors for bookmarked lesson links
5. Update navigation menus:
   • Remove “My Courses” or “Member Dashboard” links
   • Add “Login to Courses” link (points to ThriveCart Learn)
6. Simplify WordPress:
   • Remove unnecessary membership plugins
   • Consider downgrading hosting (less resource-intensive without courses)
   • Cancel AccessAlly license

Step 18: Go Live with ThriveCart Learn

1. Final testing:
   • Test checkout flow for new purchases
   • Verify payment processing
   • Verify course access granted on purchase
   • Test student login and course access
2. Switch products to live mode (if in test mode)
3. Send Email #2 (migration complete notification) to all students
4. Monitor support emails/tickets for first 24-48 hours
5. Be available to help students with login issues, password resets, etc.

Step 19: Post-Migration Verification

First 24 Hours:

• Monitor student login attempts (ThriveCart analytics)
• Respond to support requests within 2 hours
• Track common issues (login problems, password resets, course access)
• Fix critical issues immediately

First Week:

• Verify new purchases process correctly
• Check payment gateway transactions (Stripe/PayPal)
• Monitor course engagement (are students using the platform?)
• Send Email #3 (follow-up support offer)
• Address any reported bugs or issues

First Month:

• Analyze student engagement vs. old platform
• Gather feedback on new platform (survey or direct outreach)
• Make improvements based on feedback
• If keeping WordPress, verify redirects working correctly
• If shutting down WordPress, plan final shutdown date

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Issue 1: Students Can’t Find Login Page

Symptoms: Students report “I can’t find where to log in”

Solution:

1. ThriveCart Learn login URL: [your-subdomain].thrivecart.com/login OR custom domain/login
2. Add prominent “Login to Courses” link on your WordPress site header
3. Include login URL in all emails to students
4. Create simple redirect: yourdomain.com/login → ThriveCart Learn login

Issue 2: Student Says “I Don’t Have Access to My Course”

Symptoms: Student can log in but doesn’t see enrolled courses

Causes:

• Student not enrolled in ThriveCart product
• Student using different email than enrolled with
• Enrollment didn’t process during import

Solution:

1. Search student in ThriveCart → Customers
2. Verify email matches their login email
3. Check “Products” section – do they have the course product?
4. If not enrolled: Manually enroll them (Products → Add Enrollment)
5. If enrolled but still no access: Check product is correctly linked to course

Issue 3: Videos Not Playing

Symptoms: Student reports black screen or error when trying to watch videos

Causes:

• Video privacy settings on Vimeo/Wistia blocking embed
• Video URL incorrect or broken
• Video deleted from hosting platform
• Student’s browser/ad blocker interfering

Solution:

1. Test video yourself in ThriveCart Learn
2. If video works for you but not student: Ask them to try different browser or disable ad blocker
3. If video broken for everyone:
   • Check video exists in Vimeo/Wistia account
   • Verify video privacy settings allow embedding
   • Re-embed video URL in ThriveCart lesson

Issue 4: Student Progress Not Saving

Symptoms: Student marks lesson complete but progress doesn’t save

Causes:

• Browser cookies disabled
• Student using private/incognito mode
• ThriveCart platform issue (rare)

Solution:

1. Ask student to ensure cookies enabled in browser
2. Ask student to log in normally (not incognito/private mode)
3. Test yourself – can you complete lessons and see progress?
4. If widespread issue, contact ThriveCart support

Issue 5: New Purchase Didn’t Grant Course Access

Symptoms: Student purchased but doesn’t have course access

Causes:

• Product not linked to course in ThriveCart settings
• Payment failed but student thinks it succeeded
• ThriveCart webhook delay (usually < 1 minute)

Solution:

1. Check payment processed in Stripe/PayPal
2. Check ThriveCart → Orders – does order exist?
3. Check product settings → Learn → Is course linked?
4. If payment succeeded but no access: Manually enroll student
5. Fix product → course link for future purchases

Issue 6: Student Lost All Course Progress

Symptoms: Student complains they were 50% through course, now showing 0%

Cause: This is expected – progress cannot transfer from AccessAlly to ThriveCart

Solution:

1. Acknowledge their frustration (this is valid complaint)
2. Explain: “Our old platform and new platform track progress differently – we couldn’t transfer it”
3. Offer goodwill gesture:
   • Extend subscription 1 month free
   • Provide bonus resource/template
   • Personal check-in to help them get back on track
4. If student was near completion: Manually mark course complete or issue certificate

Migration Timeline & Effort

Total Time Estimate: 30-50 hours (professional help: 1-2 weeks)

Time varies based on:

• Number of courses (each course adds 2-4 hours)
• Number of students (> 100 students requires API scripting)
• Video hosting situation (re-uploading videos is time-intensive)
• Complexity of drip schedules and prerequisites
• WordPress site strategy (keeping vs. shutting down)

AccessAlly vs ThriveCart Learn: What You’re Giving Up and Gaining

What You Lose (AccessAlly Advantages)

• Advanced Access Control: AccessAlly’s tag-based access logic is more powerful than ThriveCart’s product-based system
• WordPress Flexibility: 60,000+ plugins for any feature vs ThriveCart’s built-in features only
• CRM Deep Integration: AccessAlly’s tight integration with ActiveCampaign, Ontraport, Keap, etc.
• Custom Design Freedom: WordPress themes and page builders vs ThriveCart templates
• Complex Release Logic: AccessAlly’s advanced prerequisite and release schedule options
• Student Progress Data: All historical progress tracking is lost in migration
• Integrated Blog/Marketing Site: WordPress courses + blog on same platform
• Community/Forum Features: If using BuddyBoss, PeepSo, etc. with AccessAlly
• Advanced Quiz/Assessment Tools: LearnDash Quiz, Gravity Forms quizzes, etc.
• Complete Control: You own WordPress site vs renting from ThriveCart

What You Gain (ThriveCart Learn Advantages)

• Zero Maintenance: No WordPress updates, plugin conflicts, or hosting management
• All-in-One Simplicity: Cart + courses in single platform vs WordPress + AccessAlly + CRM
• One-Time Pricing: ThriveCart is one-time payment ($690) vs AccessAlly subscription ($83-$166/month)
• Better Mobile Experience: ThriveCart Learn is mobile-first vs WordPress theme quality varies
• Seamless Cart Integration: Purchase on ThriveCart → instant course access (same platform)
• Built-in Analytics: Course engagement tracking without additional plugins
• Automatic Backups: ThriveCart handles all backups and security
• No Hosting Costs: ThriveCart includes hosting vs paying for WordPress hosting ($30-$100/month)
• Faster Setup: ThriveCart Learn is simpler to set up than WordPress + AccessAlly
• Lower Total Cost: ThriveCart one-time vs ongoing WordPress + AccessAlly + hosting + CRM costs

Should You Migrate? Decision Framework

Stay with AccessAlly if:

• You need advanced tag-based access control (multiple products, complex rules)
• You rely heavily on CRM automation (ActiveCampaign, Ontraport sequences)
• You value WordPress flexibility and plugin ecosystem
• Your courses are integrated with WordPress blog/content site
• You need custom features that ThriveCart doesn’t offer
• You want complete platform ownership and control
• Your students are mid-course and progress loss would cause major disruption

Migrate to ThriveCart Learn if:

• You’re tired of WordPress maintenance (updates, plugins, hosting)
• You already use ThriveCart for payments (natural integration)
• You want all-in-one simplicity over flexibility
• Your access rules are simple (one product = one course)
• You value mobile-optimized student experience
• You want to reduce ongoing costs (one-time payment vs subscriptions)
• You’re willing to accept student progress loss
• You don’t need advanced CRM automation

Alternative: Keep Both Temporarily

• Migrate NEW courses to ThriveCart Learn
• Keep existing courses in AccessAlly (don’t disrupt current students)
• Gradually phase out AccessAlly as courses finish or students complete
• Pros: No student disruption, test ThriveCart before full commitment
• Cons: Maintain both platforms (higher cost/complexity temporarily)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I import student course progress from AccessAlly to ThriveCart?

A: No. ThriveCart Learn has no mechanism to import course progress data. All students start with 0% completion when migrated. This is the biggest downside of this migration. Communicate this clearly to students and consider offering incentives (extended access, bonuses) to offset frustration.

Q: What happens to my WordPress site after migration?

A: You have three options:

1. Keep WordPress for blog/marketing: Remove AccessAlly, keep WordPress as content site, link to ThriveCart for courses
2. Shut down WordPress completely: Export any content you need, cancel hosting, redirect domain to ThriveCart
3. Simplify WordPress: Remove membership features, downgrade hosting, use as simple blog

Most businesses choose Option 1 (keep WordPress blog, courses in ThriveCart).

Q: Can I use my existing Stripe/PayPal account with ThriveCart?

A: Yes. ThriveCart connects to your existing Stripe and/or PayPal accounts. However, existing subscriptions in Stripe/PayPal won’t automatically transfer to ThriveCart management. See Step 15 for subscription migration strategies.

Q: Does ThriveCart Learn support drip content?

A: Yes. ThriveCart Learn supports drip scheduling based on enrollment date (unlock lessons X days after enrollment) or specific calendar dates. It also supports prerequisite-based unlocking (complete Lesson 1 to unlock Lesson 2). However, it’s simpler than AccessAlly’s advanced release logic.

Q: Can I customize the design of ThriveCart Learn courses?

A: Somewhat. ThriveCart Learn allows customization of colors, fonts, logos, and layout options. However, it’s template-based and not as flexible as WordPress themes or page builders. You can’t add custom CSS/HTML like in WordPress.

Q: What happens to my CRM data (ActiveCampaign, Ontraport, etc.)?

A: Your CRM contacts remain in your CRM. However, ThriveCart Learn doesn’t integrate as deeply with external CRMs as AccessAlly does. ThriveCart can send purchase data to your CRM via Zapier/webhooks, but tag-based access control is gone (ThriveCart uses product-based access instead).

Q: Can I offer payment plans in ThriveCart?

A: Yes. ThriveCart supports one-time payments, subscriptions, and payment plans (e.g., 3 monthly payments of $100). This is one of ThriveCart’s strengths – very flexible payment options.

Q: Does ThriveCart Learn have a mobile app?

A: No native mobile app, but ThriveCart Learn is mobile-responsive and works well in mobile browsers. Students can add the site to their home screen as a web app. If you need a native app, consider staying with AccessAlly + WordPress and using a plugin like LifterLMS or AppPresser.

Q: Can I migrate just one course first to test?

A: Yes. You can set up ThriveCart Learn with one course, enroll a subset of students, and test the experience before committing to full migration. Use a subdomain (e.g., newcourses.yourdomain.com) for testing. This is a good strategy for large course libraries.

Q: What about affiliate programs – does ThriveCart support them?

A: Yes. ThriveCart has built-in affiliate management. You can set up affiliate commission rates, provide affiliate links, and track sales. ThriveCart’s affiliate system is actually more robust than most WordPress affiliate plugins.

Q: Can I export my data from ThriveCart if I want to leave later?

A: ThriveCart allows you to export customer data, order data, and student enrollment data. However, course content export is limited – you’d need to manually copy course text/videos if migrating away. This is a downside of SaaS platforms vs WordPress (full ownership).

Need Help?

Professional Migration Services:

• ThriveCart-Certified Developers: Hire developer experienced with ThriveCart Learn migrations
• Expected cost: $2,500-$6,000 depending on number of courses and students
• Timeline: 1-2 weeks for professional migration
• What’s included: Course setup, student import (via API), testing, go-live support

DIY Migration Support:

• ThriveCart Support: ThriveCart provides email support for Learn setup
• ThriveCart Community: Facebook group for ThriveCart users (helpful for migration questions)
• ThriveCart Documentation: Step-by-step guides for setting up Learn courses

Related Resources:

• ThriveCart Learn Getting Started Guide
• Creating Your First Course in ThriveCart Learn
• ThriveCart Learn Drip Scheduling
• ThriveCart Learn API Documentation