The HTML block: what it is, what it does, and why you should care

If you’ve ever looked at a page in your Thrive platform and thought “I wish I could embed that tool directly here instead of linking out to it”, or “I wish I could add an interactive timeline to this page.” This one’s for you. 

Custom HTML blocks are now available to all super admins in Spaces and Mixed Content. And they do exactly what they sound like: let you drop your own HTML directly into a Thrive page, right alongside your existing content blocks. 

Before we get into what you can build with them, a quick word on where they live. 

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The content creator 

Thrive’s content creator is your native authoring suite - the place where you build courses, modules, mixed content and more using a library of content blocks. Text, video, images, quizzes, interactive elements. It’s powerful, it’s flexible and it gets you a long way. 

But it’s built to work for everyone. Which means there are moments where it doesn’t work quite as well as you specifically want it to. A layout that’s slightly off. A page that doesn’t quite feel like your brand. A third party tool you wish you could bring in rather than link out to. 

The HTML and Embed blocks are the answer to that gap. They sit in the same block picker as everything else in the Content Creator, and they do two different jobs. The HTML block is the blank canvas: write or paste your own markup and styling, and it renders directly on the page for learners. The Embed block brings third-party tools onto the page: paste a link or embed code, and Thrive displays that tool in its own secure frame.

This means the creative ceiling just got a lot higher. 
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You don’t need HTML to use them 

If HTML isn't your thing, that's fine. Alongside the block itself, we built a simple HTML Builder - a tool that lets you choose a component, type your copy, and generates the code for you. Select a layout, fill in the text, hit copy, drop it in.

It's not the main event. It's a shortcut for admins who know exactly what they want to build but don't have a developer to hand. 
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What you can actually build with it

Here's where it gets interesting. We gave early access to a handful of customers to see what they'd create when the constraints were lifted. Here's what's already live  -  and what you could build too.
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Branded welcome banners 

The most common use so far, and the most immediately impactful. Admins are placing custom HTML banners at the top of onboarding Spaces  -  matching their exact brand guidelines, headers, colour palette and tone. For the first time, a new starter's first experience of the platform looks like the company they just joined, not a generic template. 
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Embedded third party tools 

This one changes the learning experience in a fundamental way. With the Embed block, a calculator, a survey, a feedback form or any other tool can sit directly inside a Thrive page -  rather than sending learners off to another tab to use it and hoping they come back. 

For compliance training with a self-assessment. For a leadership module with an embedded reflection tool. For onboarding with a benefits calculator right there on the page. The tool comes to the learner, not the other way around.

This is the Embed block’s job, rather than that of the HTML block. Paste the tool’s link — or the iframe embed code it gives you — and Thrive displays the tool in its own secure frame. One thing to know: some websites don’t allow themselves to be embedded, and if that’s the case Thrive will tell you rather than showing a broken frame.

Custom onboarding timelines 

Standard onboarding schedules are a list. Custom HTML turns them into something people actually want to look at  -  a visual, interactive timeline that shows new starters exactly where they are, what's coming next, and how far they've come. The difference between a checklist and a journey. 
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Custom navigation menus 

For anyone managing a large content library, this one is quietly transformative. A visual mini-directory, built in HTML, that lets learners jump straight to the right section without scrolling through everything. Particularly useful for compliance libraries, leadership hubs, or any Space where the volume of content is the problem rather than the content itself. 
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A few things worth knowing before you dive in

Thrive automatically sanitises HTML blocks when they’re shown to learners: scripts and other risky elements are stripped out, and iframes only work through the Embed block, which displays them in their own secure frame.

What Thrive can’t check is whether your page looks the way you intended — that testing sits with you. Give it a proper run-through before publishing, and check it on more than one screen, since mobile rendering isn’t guaranteed.

One tip on colour: leave text colour out of your HTML and Thrive will automatically match it to light and dark mode. Set your own colours and you're taking on a risk,  a shade that looks great in light mode can disappear entirely in dark mode. The easiest fix is to let Thrive handle it.

And Custom HTML blocks are available to super admins only. Standard admins and learners can see the results, but only super admins can create or edit them.
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Frequently asked questions

Do I need to know how to code? No. If you do not write HTML, use the HTML Builder to generate the code for you. If you do know HTML, you can write or paste your own directly.

Who can use this feature? Super admins only. Standard admins and learners can see the final result but cannot create or edit HTML blocks themselves.

Where can I add an HTML block? Directly into a Space, or inside a Mixed Content page alongside your other content types.

Does Thrive check my HTML is safe before it goes live? Yes — HTML blocks are automatically sanitised before they’re displayed, so scripts and other unsafe elements are removed, and embeds are shown in their own secure frame. What Thrive doesn’t check is how your page looks, so test your layout before publishing, especially across screen sizes.

Will it look right on mobile? Test it and see. Rendering on mobile apps isn't guaranteed, so check across device types before you publish anything learners will rely on.

How long does it take to build one? Once you have done it once, minutes for most things. A branded banner or a simple embed is a five minute job with the Builder.

Can I put an iframe inside an HTML block? Use the Embed block for that instead. For security, iframe tags inside an HTML block are removed when the page is displayed — the Embed block does the same job in a safer way, and it accepts a plain link or pasted embed code.
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Try it 

Custom HTML blocks are available now, directly inside Spaces and Mixed Content. Head to your admin panel, open the block picker, and you'll find it alongside your other content types. 

If you'd rather start with the HTML Builder, open the block, select your component, type your copy, and let it generate the code. You can have something live in minutes.

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