Kajabi is a strong all-in-one platform for courses, memberships and coaching, and it is priced like one. If you are earlier in the journey, or you simply want to keep more of each month’s revenue, the entry plan can feel like a lot of money before you have sold a single course. That is usually the moment people start comparing.
At Ecommerce Paradise, I teach and sell training, so I care a lot about what each platform charges once the sales start. This guide compares three Kajabi alternatives on price, fees and fit, using each company’s own pricing page checked in October 2026. Where a page does not show a number or does not label it clearly, I say so. Some links below are affiliate links, so I may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you. If you are new to high-ticket dropshipping, a course or training product is one of the better ways to build a second income stream around your store.
Launch Your Course Without the Kajabi-Sized Bill
Teachable’s page lists plans from $39 a month, a 7-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Try it and build your first lesson before you commit.
The Best Kajabi Alternatives at a Glance
Here is how the three compare with Kajabi on entry price, transaction fees and fit. Prices are US dollars per month, and I flag every case where a page does not say whether a figure is monthly or annual.
| Platform | Entry price shown | Trial or guarantee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teachable | Starter at $39/mo, or $29/mo billed annually | 7-day trial, 30-day money-back | Course creators who want simple selling |
| Thinkific | Start at $109/mo, or $82/mo billed annually | 30-day free trial | Unlimited courses and communities |
| Podia | Mover at $42/mo (billed yearly) | 14-day trial, no card | Courses, downloads and email in one place |
| Kajabi (baseline) | Basic at $179/mo, or $143/mo billed annually | Trial length not shown | All-in-one marketing and courses |
If you are just starting out and want the lowest entry price, I would start with Teachable. The sections below explain who should pick something else.
What Kajabi Actually Costs
To judge an alternative, you need the baseline. The Kajabi pricing page lists three plans. Basic is $179 per month, Growth is $249 and Pro is $499 when billed monthly.
The annual headline figures are $143, $199 and $399 per month, with listed savings of $432, $600 and $1,200 a year. The page is inconsistent here, because the “billed annually” lines beneath show $179, $249 and $499, so I would confirm the real annual price at checkout.
Basic allows 5 products, 2,500 contacts and 2 admin users. Growth allows 50 products, 25,000 contacts and 11 admin users, and Pro allows unlimited products, 100,000 contacts and 26 admin users.
Card processing through Kajabi Payments is 2.9% plus 30 cents on Basic, 2.8% on Growth and 2.7% on Pro for US entities. If you use a third-party payment provider instead, the page lists a platform fee of 2% on Basic, 1% on Growth and 0.5% on Pro. The page has free trial buttons but does not state how long the trial lasts.
My Kajabi pricing breakdown walks through the plans and fees in more detail.
Why Creators Look for Something Else
The first reason is the entry price. At $179 a month on monthly billing, Kajabi asks for a real commitment before you know whether your course will sell.
The second reason is the bundle. Kajabi includes email, pages and a community, but if you already use another email tool or only need course hosting, you are paying for features you may not touch.
The third reason is the ladder. The jump from Basic to Growth is $70 a month on monthly billing, and moving up is often the only way to add admin users or more products.
What to Compare Before You Switch
Start with transaction fees. A low monthly price can hide a per-sale fee, and a higher plan can remove it, so run the math at your expected sales volume.
Next, check the limits. Products, admin users, students and email subscribers all cap differently, and the cap you hit first decides which plan you really need.
Then look at the trial and refund terms. A trial lets you build before you pay, and a money-back window protects you if the fit is wrong.
Finally, ask how easy it is to leave. Look at whether you can export your students, your content and your email list, because moving platforms later is much easier when you plan for it now.
1. Teachable: Best for Simple Course Selling
Teachable is the one I recommend most to people who want to sell a course without a heavy monthly bill. The Teachable pricing page lists Starter at $39 per month billed monthly or $29 billed annually, Builder at $89 or $69, and Growth at $189 or $139. A Custom plan is available through sales.
Starter allows 5 products and 1 admin user, Builder allows 10 products and 1 admin user, and Growth allows 50 products and 5 admin users. All three list unlimited students and up to 1 TB of video storage.
The page lists a 7.5% transaction fee on Starter, and 0% on Builder and Growth when you use Teachable Payments. Standard processing still applies, listed at 2.9% plus 30 cents for US cards and 3.9% plus 30 cents for international cards. PayPal is 3.49% plus 49 cents in the US, and a chargeback fee of $15 is listed.
No free plan is shown. Each plan lists a 7-day free trial, and the page advertises a 30-day money-back guarantee. A promotional pop-up on the page also mentioned a 30-day trial, so check what is offered when you sign up. The FAQ says annual billing saves 22% compared with monthly.
If you are still choosing a course topic, my guide to tools to validate a course idea will save you from building the wrong thing.
Best for: creators who want a low entry price, a free-to-try start and simple course selling.
2. Thinkific: Best for Unlimited Courses and Communities
Thinkific suits creators who plan to publish many courses. The Thinkific pricing page lists Start at $109 per month billed monthly or $82 billed annually, Grow at $219 or $164, and Expand at $499 or $374. A Plus plan is available through sales.
Published courses are unlimited on every listed plan. The page lists 10,000 current students on Start, Grow and Expand, with 2, 6 and 15 administrator accounts and 1, 3 and 10 communities.
The page lists Thinkific Payments at a 2.9% standard processing fee. If you use a third-party gateway such as Stripe or PayPal, an additional gateway fee applies that varies by plan, and the exact amounts are not shown. A branded mobile app add-on is listed at $199 per month.
The page offers a 30-day free trial and no free plan, and it says you can cancel at any time. A money-back guarantee is not shown.
My Thinkific pricing guide covers the plan limits and fees in more detail.
Best for: creators building a library of courses who want a long trial and room for communities.
3. Podia: Best for Courses, Downloads and Email Together
Podia keeps courses, digital downloads, memberships and email in one dashboard. The Podia pricing page lists three plans billed yearly. Mover is $42 per month ($504 a year), Shaker is $84 ($1,008) and Earthquaker is $150 ($1,800).
Mover lists 50 products and a 5% Podia transaction fee, while Shaker and Earthquaker list no transaction fee. Shaker lists 150 products and Earthquaker lists unlimited products. All plans list unlimited customers, and the email subscriber limits shown are up to 100, 500 and 1,000.
The page says Stripe or PayPal charges a standard 2.9% plus 30 cents per transaction. The price for monthly billing is not shown, and no free plan is listed.
There is a 14-day free trial of every feature with no card needed. The page says you can request a refund by messaging Podia within 72 hours of your most recent payment, and partial refunds on annual plans are not offered.
Best for: solo creators who sell more than one kind of digital product.
Keep More of Each Sale as Your Course Grows
Teachable’s page lists a 0% transaction fee on its Builder and Growth plans when you use Teachable Payments. Compare the plans and pick the one that fits your launch.
What Each Platform Costs at a Glance
This table shows the entry plan and the next plan up, using the figures on each page. The billing terms differ, so treat it as a rough guide.
| Platform | Entry plan | Next plan up |
|---|---|---|
| Kajabi | Basic: $179/mo ($143 annual headline) | Growth: $249/mo ($199 annual headline) |
| Teachable | Starter: $39/mo ($29 annual) | Builder: $89/mo ($69 annual) |
| Thinkific | Start: $109/mo ($82 annual) | Grow: $219/mo ($164 annual) |
| Podia | Mover: $42/mo (billed yearly) | Shaker: $84/mo (billed yearly) |
Two cautions apply. Kajabi’s annual figures are inconsistent on its own page, and Podia shows only yearly billing, so a direct monthly comparison is not possible.
The takeaway is that the entry plans range from $39 to $179 a month, and the real difference shows up in transaction fees, product limits and admin seats once you start selling.
When Kajabi Is Still the Right Call
I would not tell everyone to leave. If you want email, pages, a community and courses in one login, Kajabi’s bundle can replace several tools, and paying for one platform can beat stitching four together.
Kajabi also makes sense once you have steady revenue and a team. Growth lists 11 admin users and 25,000 contacts, which is a lot more room than the entry plans of the alternatives.
The key is to decide on purpose. If you will use the bundled features, the price may be fair, and if you will not, an alternative saves money.
Which Platform Fits Which Creator
A first-time course creator needs a low entry price and a trial. Teachable lists a 7-day trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee, and Podia lists a 14-day trial with no card.
A creator with a growing library needs unlimited courses and room for students. Thinkific lists unlimited courses on every plan and 10,000 current students.
A creator who sells downloads, memberships and a course together needs a flexible dashboard. Podia’s one-account approach fits that style, and its Mover plan includes email for up to 100 subscribers.
How to Choose Between the Alternatives
Begin with your sales forecast. Multiply your expected monthly revenue by each platform’s transaction fee, and add the monthly price to see the true cost.
Then think about what you actually need. If you only host lessons, a lean plan is enough, and if you need email and pages, count what you would pay for those separately.
Next, plan your email. If you want a dedicated email tool alongside your course platform, I like Kit for creators because it has a free plan and landing pages.
If you want help building lessons and managing support, consider hiring it out. I recommend OnlineJobs.ph for finding a virtual assistant who can handle uploads, student questions and email.
Last, run a small launch. Build one short course on your top pick, sell it to a handful of buyers and see how the checkout and delivery feel.
How to Move Your Course Without Losing Students
Start by exporting everything you can. Download your videos, documents and quizzes, and export your student and email lists before you cancel anything.
Next, rebuild your course in the new platform and test the full student experience with a throwaway account. Check that every lesson plays, every download opens and every quiz scores.
Then tell your students. Send a short email explaining the move, give them the new login steps, and keep the old platform live until everyone has access.
Finally, handle payments carefully. Active subscriptions and payment plans may not move automatically, so ask each platform how it treats existing subscribers before you switch.
Common Mistakes When Choosing a Course Platform
The first mistake is choosing on the monthly price alone. A cheap plan with a high transaction fee can cost more than a pricier plan once you are selling.
The second is ignoring admin seats. If you plan to add an assistant, check the user limit, because the next plan up may be a big jump.
The third is skipping disclosure. When you recommend tools to your students, the FTC’s endorsement guides explain when you must disclose affiliate relationships and other material connections.
The fourth is building before validating. A beautiful course that nobody wants is the most expensive mistake on this list.
Where Courses Fit in a High-Ticket Business
A course can sit next to a high-ticket store as a second source of income and a trust builder. Buyers who learn from you are more likely to trust the products you recommend, and a training product can warm up leads who are not ready for a big purchase yet.
Before you build, get the foundation in place. Pick a category from my high-ticket niches list. Then line up reliable fulfillment with my guide to finding dropshipping suppliers.
Set up the company properly with my business formation guide, since course platforms and payment processors both ask for business details. The SBA’s guide to managing your business covers the legal and financial footing underneath.
If you’re brand new, start with my free mini course. When you’re ready to go deeper, the High-Ticket Dropshipping Masterclass covers the full model.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best alternative to Kajabi?
It depends on your budget and goals. Teachable has the lowest entry price of the group, Thinkific offers unlimited courses, and Podia bundles downloads and email.
Is there a cheaper platform than Kajabi?
Yes. Teachable Starter is listed at $39 per month, Podia Mover at $42 and Thinkific Start at $109, against Kajabi Basic at $179 on monthly billing. Transaction fees and limits differ, so compare the full picture.
Do any of these platforms have a free plan?
The pricing pages I checked do not show a free plan on Teachable, Thinkific or Podia. Teachable lists a 7-day trial, Thinkific a 30-day trial and Podia a 14-day trial with no card.
Which platform charges no transaction fees?
Teachable lists 0% on Builder and Growth when you use Teachable Payments, and Podia lists none on Shaker and Earthquaker. Standard payment processing fees still apply.
Can I move my course from Kajabi?
Yes, but plan for it. Export your content and student list, rebuild and test in the new platform, then tell your students before you switch.
Ready to Build Your First Course?
Teachable lists a 7-day free trial on every plan and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Start a trial, upload your first lesson and see how it feels for your students.
Want me to build the whole store for you? Check out my done-for-you store service → and skip the setup work entirely. Prefer to build it yourself with a guide? Join my coaching program →.
Related Articles
If you found this useful, these guides go deeper on related topics:
- Kajabi Pricing in 2026: Plans, Fees and What You Actually Pay
- Thinkific Pricing in 2026: Plans, Fees and What You Actually Pay
- Mighty Networks Pricing in 2026: Plans, Fees and What You Actually Pay
- LifterLMS Pricing 2026: Every Plan, Add-On and What Renews at Double
- Best Tools to Validate a Course Idea Before You Build It in 2026
Trevor Fenner is an ecommerce entrepreneur and world traveler from Seattle, Washington, and the founder of Ecommerce Paradise, a platform focused on helping entrepreneurs build and scale profitable high-ticket ecommerce and dropshipping businesses. With over a decade of hands-on experience, Trevor specializes in high-ticket dropshipping strategy, niche and product selection, supplier recruiting and onboarding, Google & Bing Shopping ads, ecommerce SEO, and systems-driven automation and scaling. Through Ecommerce Paradise, he provides free education via in-depth guides like How to Start High-Ticket Dropshipping, advanced training through the High-Ticket Dropshipping Masterclass, and fully done-for-you turnkey ecommerce services for entrepreneurs who want a faster, more hands-off path to growth. Trevor is known for emphasizing sustainable, real-world ecommerce models over hype-driven tactics, helping store owners build scalable, sellable, and location-independent brands.
He maintains homes in Seattle and Bali, spends most of the year overseas, and usually returns to Seattle for about a month each summer.
