So, you’ve got what it takes to make a name for yourself in educational entrepreneurship. But have you found the right platform that allows you to do so?
LMS or course management services allow you to create and share valuable content with students and customers. You can also make significant profits by selling these courses. There are many online LMS platforms available today, with some of the most impressive features you will find. But, with this influx, it can be pretty hard to choose which one suits you best.
Since I began selling courses, I have had many struggles finding the right place to learn my entrepreneurial skills. After becoming more confident, I moved from one platform to another until I found Kajabi. I may have already found the right one, but that won’t stop me from giving you sound advice to guide you through your journey.
I’ll be sharing with you brief rundowns on Kajabi as well as its other alternative LMS services. We’ll take a close look at their distinct assets, the pros, the cons, what makes each other different or similar, and my opinion on whoever gets to use any of them!
For those of you who prefer a more visual experience, here is a video review from Legit Marketing Reviews’ YouTube channel. Do check out our article below, however, because it has a comprehensive overview of Kajabi.
Kajabi: An Overview Kajabi Vs Come Back
You may have heard the name “Kajabi” before. It is an online course management platform that is popular and well-known. You can create and sell courses with almost any solution you want.
Are you a course builder? It’s there. Stable website builder? It’s there. Are you looking for a wide selection of pre-made templates or themes? Certainly. You will find a variety of great sales and marketing tools. Sure thing! Kajabi has the right tool for you, no matter how complex your content management and sales needs.
Kajabi‘s claim to be a one-stop shop is enough for established and developing edupreneurs to love. For this reason, it has received plenty of glowing reviews, though there are some valid criticisms here and there. Trustpilot gave Kajabi an exceptional 4.6 rating.
Kajabi’s Key Features
Kajabi is primarily known for its simple yet intuitive interface, generous range of customization, and flexible editing capabilities. The course builder gives you all the tools you need to create a seamless educational experience for your students and you. Its website editor and free hosting let you create a completely personalized space that you can share with anyone.
Kajabi offers so much more than this. Its built-in suites of marketing tools work as well as any third-party provider combined. The inclusion of sales pipelines, for instance, is noteworthy, as other LMS platforms would have required you to connect with a standalone service that has the feature. On the other, Kajabi’s learning and support resources are as reliable as you could expect.
The Pros and Cons of Using Kajabi
Kajabi has a unique business model that isn’t often found on other LMS platforms. It’s all-in-one and offers many perks. One of these is the minimization of needing to integrate with third-party apps, as nearly all the course management and marketing tools are found in-house. Another is revenue. Kajabi does not take any of its shares. This means that you keep 100% of the profit from content sales.
While it’s worth noting the benefits of Kajabi’s business model, we shouldn’t fully ignore its downsides. Pricing is a major problem. Plans start at over $100 more than other services. It doesn’t help that there is no free plan. Many users aren’t happy with the absence of essential course management tools, especially certifications, on the platform. Kajabi’s cons aren’t as severe as its pros. However, they are still worth considering. Kajabi Vs Come Back
Pricing plans begin with: Kajabi Basic, as low as $119/month
Is there a free plan? It does not offer a free plan, but you can try it for 14 days.
Reasons to choose Kajabi: You won’t need separate platforms or third-party integrations, very pricey yet very valuable plans, a reliable user community, amazing customer support
Kajabi is more suitable for Established professionals, newbies with enough financial resources to afford Kajabi’s features, experienced edupreneurs
Kajabi vs. Thinkific
Thinkific joins Kajabi and other top online LMS platforms. It allows you to concentrate on the task at hand. You can explore a variety of course-building tools, and use it to your advantage to produce content for your students. It’s known for its set of industry-level tools at a valuable price range, including a built-in certification tool, as well as its ability to integrate with thousands of third-party platforms through the Thinkific App Store.
> > Click Here to Check Out Kajabi < <
Thinkific has been my tool for creating and selling course content since before Kajabi. Though my needs may have outgrown what Thinkific had to offer, I could at least appreciate how it gave me enough flexibility to handle my courses during my tenure. Thinkific offers both a free and a premium plan, making it a viable Kajabi option for anyone with limited resources, especially financial.
The Similarities
Thinkific is a one-stop shop that offers intuitive course management tools and a great learning experience. Much like Kajabi, it has a course builder, a customizable website editor, an outstanding range of business tools, and an opportunity to build a community where you and your students can interact.
Both platforms shine when it comes to their course option offerings. No matter which you prefer, you have the chance to create stable online courses and/or membership pages. You’d even get to whip up assessments within them injected with a ton of variety as well! As for teacher-student interactions, I’ve found that my subscribers had little to no issue at all navigating their version of the Thinkific interface just like with Kajabi.
The Differences
Thinkific offers its users a lineup of industry-level features at a reasonably valuable price range, despite borrowing the 0% transaction fee model from Kajabi. You’ll be able to see the differences in the premium entry-level plan and the one below. Plus, while the latter does not have one at all, the former offers a functional (though quite limited) free plan.
Apart from the value pricing, other bonuses from Thinkific have to be its miles-more-accurate reporting and analytics as well as how it takes care of security measures within the service.
The Pros and Cons of Thinkific
One thing that I like about Thinkific is that it’s user-friendly for both me and my students. The lack of depth in some features is another thing that I did not like. I don’t mind its built-in credential tool as much, but the lack of advanced business tools and theme options for websites was certainly a downer, though all of it has been made up for with a wider range of integrations.
Pricing plans start at: Thinkific Start as low as $74/month
Is there a free plan? Yes
Why Thinkific? A premium starter plan that offers smooth career progression, superior analytics and reporting capabilities, and a super-intuitive user interface.
Thinkific is better suited for Newbie Edupreneurs with limited marketing skills and those who want to sell courses without using complex marketing jargon.
Kajabi vs. Teachable
Teachable, another popular service, shares the same premise of Thinkific in that you can create a fully integrated learning experience. It also takes care of all the technical stuff. It’s established by course creators for fellow course creators, so it makes sense that the focus at hand here is concentrated on course management.
Teachable has been lauded by beginners and bona fide creators alike. Beginners, particularly, stand by it due to the insanely cheap price range and extreme ease of use. Its extensive course management tools, rich content analytics, well-versed editing, customization, and editing capabilities are what keep pros returning to it. Teachable, just like Thinkific has a fully functional built-in certification tool. Kajabi does not.
The Similarities
Teachable’s course-building feature offerings have what I can describe as the same caliber as Kajabi’s version. Looking both ways, you’d be satisfied with how they let you create courses, memberships, or any product with seamless versatility. While you could technically take advantage of these with any of the two, it’s clear now that Teachable has the upper hand. Kajabi Vs Come Back
Accessibility is a key component in course creation. Therefore, it’s important that students can access your content from any device at all times and places. This is addressed by both Teachable and Kajabi with mobile apps that can be downloaded on any device powered by Android or iOS.
The Differences
Teachable is a great course creator and manager, but it’s not as good in other areas. Its native marketing suite, for example, doesn’t bear the same weight as Kajabi’s – it’s obvious that the latter gives its version the same attention as its course-building tools. Both platforms are excellent in terms of reporting and analysis. Teachable, however, is more detailed.
> > Click Here to Check Out Kajabi < <
Teachable’s interface is simpler and more intuitive. Even though you won’t have to code a lot, especially if it’s new to the process, Teachable gives you the freedom to go beyond its limitations with its Power Editor.
The Pros and Cons of Teachable
Teachable remains affordable and is a popular choice for both newbies as well as experienced pros. I strongly considered hopping on the train when I started my course business. The platform’s course management features, which are robust and simple to use, are also a strong point. It lacks in customization options and marketing tools. However, this is where the platform really shines.
Pricing plans start with Teachable Basic starting at $29/month
Does it have a free plan? Yes
Reasons to choose Teachable: Extremely beginner-friendly user interface, extensive course management and analytics, simple interface that also allows for advanced-level adjustments
Teachable is more suitable for Absolute beginner edupreneurs, established business professionals, budget-conscious power users
Kajabi vs. ClickFunnels
ClickFunnels, a leading online service for entrepreneurs and businesses around the globe, is highly recommended. Although this sounds great, ClickFunnels operates in a different way than Kajabi or the other LMS platforms we have covered. It offers the usual course management, marketing and analytics tools but focuses heavily on the marketing aspect. Kajabi Vs Come Back
ClickFunnels can be described as a digital marketing platform. It allows users to spread their content/products across the internet and expects to make a profit. It offers a variety of business features that are competitive and can be used for any purpose. It is versatile too. You can use it to promote both your courses and your physical products, if you have them. ClickFunnels is best recognized for its rich library of sales funnel templates, split testing, and intuitive landing page builder.
The Similarities
ClickFunnels shares a common feature with Kajabi: the sales funnel feature. Each platform offers a variety of templates that are strategically designed to promote a healthy flow of profit and optimize for specific goals. Although both versions leave an impression, ClickFunnels offers more, as their primary strategy is to build sales pipelines.
The general interface of ClickFunnels is as easy to navigate as Kajabi. Both services are top-notch when it comes marketing and sales. The checkout and payment tools in particular are as intuitive as you would expect. Plus, their customer service is equally top-notch!
The Differences
In digital marketing, making an effective landing page is as important as sending automated e-mails and crafting well-designed pipelines. Kajabi and ClickFunnels both have page-building abilities, but Kajabi only allows you to create a fully functioning website. ClickFunnels, however, limits you to a handful of page options, including the landing page.
It is a sure way to increase your leads by hiring affiliates from your member base. Both services offer simple, yet powerful tools that will allow you to do this. With ClickFunnels, you get to use this function if you have either a physical or digital product. With Kajabi, meanwhile, you’re essentially only limited to your digital content, including your courses.
ClickFunnels: The Pros and Cons
I may not be that knowledgeable with deep marketing/sales jargon, but some of my colleagues who are can attest that ClickFunnels excels when it comes to delivering what it’s supposed to do. ClickFunnels guarantees entrepreneurs a higher conversion rate. The funnel-building and landing pages creation tools are also outstanding. Otherwise, it does not excel at all in terms of course-building – it’s clear as day that this aspect doesn’t matter as much for its developers.
> > Click Here to Check Out Kajabi < <
Pricing plans start at: ClickFunnels Basic starting at $127/month
Is there a free plan? It does not offer a free plan, but you can try it for 14 days.
ClickFunnels is a strategic focus on digital marketing. This guarantees a higher sales turnout. ClickFunnels also allows for flexible integration with other apps, such as LMS platforms.
ClickFunnels works best for Edupreneurs who have large budgets and individuals who wish to sell digital courses as well as physical products. Kajabi Vs Come Back
Kajabi vs. Kartra
Kartra is another popular option for market-savvy edupreneurs, as it specializes best in product selling, marketing campaigns, and other fail-proof schemes. This one here is interesting – it functions similarly to Kajabi in that it lets you build courses and memberships on the spot, yet also operates similarly to ClickFunnels when it comes to other aspects like page building, marketing tools, and the ability to sell both physical and digital products.
Kartra is designed to increase engagement and leave subscribers asking for more. It has a large archive of full sales pipelines or campaigns, an easy scheduling system, additional widget options, and a unique scheduling system. You can also share your campaigns with fellow Kartra users, and even acquire a 360-degree view of where your leads are heading.
The Similarities
Both Kartra and Kajabi excel when it comes to offering a hefty load of industry-grade business features. You’d be able to succeed no matter where you are because both have optimized templates. You’d also have access to a wide range of marketing tools, including automations.
Similar results can be made about their page-building capabilities. While Kartra offers more options, they are still the most flexible and performant platform. I’d just like to add my two cents here: though there are notable similarities both Kartra and Kajabi share, I also think the same applies to ClickFunnels, considering there are certain characteristics that are identical to the other.
The Differences
ClickFunnels may be losing to Kartra, which has a good number of course management tools. If you compare it to Kajabi’s version of Kartra, you might find that Kartra isn’t able to keep up with it as well. Despite this, Kartra is a great marketing and lead generation tool.
If you take a look at the widget options in its website builder, you may find stuff like countdowns, pop-ups, and anything that can easily convince potential customers. This is what happens when you have a platform that puts one thing above all others. There may be some cons, but there will always be pros. Kajabi Vs Come Back
The Pros and Cons of Kartra
Kartra’s robust offering of features, from page creation to business, is impressive. The set of plans are also very valuable as you can get the most out its core tools regardless of where you go. While Kartra may shine in its business tools, the same can’t be said with its course building. It can also be difficult to navigate, especially for beginners.
Pricing plans begin with: Kartra Starter, as low as $79/month
Is there a free plan? It doesn’t, and it also doesn’t offer any free trials.
Reasons to choose Kartra: Top-quality business tools that don’t always require code, expanded customer retention options, powerful video hosting
Kartra is more suitable for Individuals who want to sell both digital and physical products, entrepreneurs with a keen eye for better marketing
Kajabi vs. Podia
A fan favorite and an underrated one, Podia is an LMS platform best known for its very affordable price range, extremely easy-to-explore user interface, and a list of valuable yet functional course and business features. It’s akin to Kajabi, but rather a lighter, entry-level version of that. Podia, along with the previously mentioned Teachable, has been seen by many course creators as a great starting point in their careers.
This is something I can attest to as Podia helped me to get into the field. Without Podia, I wouldn’t have learned about course-building and wouldn’t use Kajabi or other high-end services. Podia is a leader in communication. It allows users to easily message their customers without any hassle. Kajabi Vs Come Back
The Similarities
Podia is poised to be a kind of LMS that’s all-in-one in nature, much like Kajabi and, to some extent, Thinkific. While the other two are renowned for their premium-level advanced tools, Podia adjusts its version to be more budget-friendly and easy to use. You’ll find tons of functionality no matter where your eyes go.
Podia offers a variety of flexible and dynamic functions that cover nearly every aspect of course management. These include the course builder, player, page themes, sales funnels, and even sales funnels.
The Differences
Although the idea of an all-in-one platform that is budget-friendly may sound appealing, Podia, as it is designed, can be guessed now that there will always be limits. Compare its features to Kajabi’s, and you’ll notice one is less high-end than the other.
Podia may be the best platform for beginners, but it doesn’t have enough to make them experts. I switched to Thinkific when I felt it was right. Although Podia is not as sophisticated as Kajabi’s, it is still very functional and straightforward for the price. Its interface is so easy to use that it’s loved by both beginners and professionals.
The Pros and Cons of Podia
You can create unlimited courses with Podia. This is great for power users or if you are a beginner. You get to pay zero transaction fees as well, but keep in mind that all these are accessible in any of its premium plans. Podia does offer a free plan, but there are lots of limitations that may be getting in your way. Kajabi Vs Come Back
> > Click Here to Check Out Kajabi < <
Pricing plans begin with: Podia Mover, as low as $33/month
Is there a free plan? Yes
Reasons to choose Podia: Flexible and convenient ease of use, creator-friendly course management features, great affiliate marketing and drip campaign tools
Podia is best suited for DIY entrepreneurs, absolute beginners, and those who are looking to test drive course management.
Kajabi vs. Mighty Networks
Mighty Networks started as a social media network. It has since grown to be a popular platform with a large following.
With a strong emphasis on forging connections and building communities, it allows you to utilize its course-building and marketing functions and share what you’ve made through its customizable social media feed that you can personalize. You can also use your feed to share updates, let your members sound off in the comments, and even inform them you’re holding a live stream if you want. If I could describe Mighty Networks in a few words, it’d be “it works just like Facebook!”
The Similarities
Like Kajabi’s Mighty, Mighty offers enough tools to allow you to create memberships and courses in-house. Both offer decent video hosting and live streaming, so if teaching via video is your thing, you can film them and upload them to either platform.
Both services offer mobile apps that you, or your students, can download to interact with your content anywhere and anytime. This is a great advantage because they are compatible with both iOS and Android devices. Accessibility is high assured. Mighty has recently added an affiliate program, but since it’s new, it might take many years to be as robust as Kajabi’s. Kajabi Vs Come Back
The Differences
The major distinction between Mighty and Kajabi has to be what it specializes best – the former focuses more on community-building, and the other on the courses, coupled with a bunch of other things. As you can see, Mighty’s ability to build courses is not as good as it could be. They are functional but not as advanced and sophisticated as Kajabi’s.
Kajabi‘s communication tools, meanwhile, are decent enough, but they’re not as dynamic as Mighty’s. Although Kajabi claims to be a one-stop platform, I find it hard to believe that it can keep up with Mighty’s messaging, social feed, and comments capabilities. I am a Kajabi user, so I can attest to this!
The Pros and Cons of Mighty Networks
It’s obvious by now that Mighty Networks shines best in its community-building skills. It has been deemed an ideal platform for networking. It can be used for course content as well as for many other products. It’s been established that Mighty’s ability to create course content is very limited. Plus, to add salt to the wound, you can only get this feature if you’re subscribed to a higher business plan.
Pricing plans begin with: The Community Plan, as low as $33/month
Does it offer a free plan? It does not offer a free plan, but you can try it for 14 days.
Mighty Networks is a great choice: A highly-optimized social network for you and your friends, a more-functional mobile app, and minimal course-building and other marketing tools
Mighty Networks is better suited for Edupreneurs, who believe communication is the core of course management, and professionals who want to integrate it with other services.
Conclusion Kajabi Vs Come Back
As we reach the end of this comprehensive list of reviews, I hope that this one helped you in any way in forming your final decision. Although choosing the right LMS platform is not an easy task, there are many credible resources and opinions available from other users that can help you make a decision.
Kajabi is a service I recommend. If you are considering Kajabi as a service, it can be assumed that you have the professional skills to want to give it a try if you plan on becoming an edupreneur. You will also likely have the finances to pay for it. With the grand array of features and a hefty price tag, you can sense that Kajabi’s offerings may be worth the investment, despite the reservations – and you may be right about this one.
If you don’t feel confident with your current resources – whether it’s monetary funds or professional skills – and you feel that Kajabi may be too difficult for you, you might not be ready. If this is the case, I am always happy to give you my other suggestions.
Mighty Networks is a great option if you are interested in connecting with your fellow members, but don’t mind the basic course tools. If you’re running short on budget, it’s either between Teachable or Podia. What are the best marketing and sales tools? Either between ClickFunnels or Katra. Affordable alternatives to Kajabi itself? Then look no further than maybe Thinkific or Podia.
It doesn’t matter what LMS you choose, but what matters is that you have the platform to help you become a better educator. Again, I’m very glad to have helped you choose the right LMS to jumpstart your career in the course business!
