So, you’ve got what it takes to make a name for yourself in educational entrepreneurship. Have you found the right platform to help you do this?
Course management or LMS services let you create meaningful content, share them with your students and potential customers, and make substantial profits from selling them. Today, there are hundreds of online LMS platforms out there, each with impressively convincing features that are hard to beat. But, with this influx, it can be pretty hard to choose which one suits you best.
I’ve had a fair share of struggles in choosing the perfect place to develop my entrepreneurial skills since I started selling courses. I jumped from platform to platform until I settled down with Kajabi once I became more confident. Although I might have found the right one for me, that doesn’t mean I can’t give sound advice to help you on your journey.
I will be giving you a brief overview of Kajabi and its alternative LMS services. We will examine their unique assets, the pros and cons, how they compare, and my opinion about who gets to use them.
For those of you who prefer a more visual experience, here is a video review from Legit Marketing Reviews’ YouTube channel. To get a comprehensive overview of Kajabi, you may still want to check out our article below.
Kajabi: An Overview Kajabi Vs Before Posting
Some of you may have recognized the name “Kajabi” in passing. But for most of you who are not well aware, it is a popular online course management service that’s best known for its all-in-one nature – essentially, you have nearly every solution imaginable to help you create and sell course content within your reach.
Are you a course builder? Got it. You need a reliable website builder. It’s there. A wide range of pre-made templates and themes? Certainly. A range of excellent sales and marketing tools, including fully functional sales funnel blueprints? 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. It has received many glowing reviews, although there are some valid points of criticism. 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. It is notable that LMS platforms have sales pipelines included. Other LMS platforms require you to connect with a separate service that offers this feature. Kajabi’s support and learning resources are reliable, as you would expect.
Kajabi: The pros and cons
Kajabi follows a unique business model that’s not often used by other LMS platforms and is all-in-one in nature, and with it, there are plenty of 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 lies in revenue – Kajabi takes none of its shares, meaning you get to keep 100% of your profit from selling content.
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. Plus, many of its users don’t appreciate the lack of other essential course management tools within the platform, particularly certifications. Kajabi’s cons aren’t as severe as its pros. However, they are still worth considering. Kajabi Vs Before Posting
Pricing plans start at: Kajabi Basic starting at $119/month
Is there a free plan? No, but it offers a 14-day free trial
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
Joining the likes of Kajabi in the lineup of leading online LMS platforms, Thinkific allows you to focus on the task at hand by exploring a diverse range of course-building tools and using it to your advantage to create content to share with 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 < <
I’ve used Thinkific to create and sell my course content for years before Kajabi. Although my needs might have outstripped the capabilities of Thinkific, I was able to appreciate how it allowed me to manage my courses throughout 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 positions itself as an all-in-one place with intuitive course management tools for a better learning experience. It is similar to Kajabi and offers a course builder, customizable website editor and a range of business tools. You can also create a community for your students.
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. Even better, you can create assessments in them that are rich with variety. 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 provides a range of industry-level features at an affordable price, even though it borrows the Kajabi 0% transaction fee model. You’ll be able to see the differences in the premium entry-level plan and the one below. The former does not offer a free plan, but it offers a functional, though limited, one.
Other than the value pricing, Thinkific’s other bonuses include its far-more-accurate reports and analytics, as well as the way it handles 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
Does it have a free plan? Yes
Reasons to choose Thinkific: Valuable premium starter plan that allows for smooth career development, better analytics and reporting capabilities, super convenient user interface
Thinkific is more suitable for Newbie edupreneurs with limited skills, those who wish to sell courses without any 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. It is especially popular with beginners due to its low price and ease of use. Pros, meanwhile, come back to it because of its set of comprehensive course management tools, robust content analytics, and well-versed editing and customization capabilities. Teachable, like Thinkific, offers a fully functioning built-in certification tool, something Kajabi, unfortunately, does not have.
The Similarities
Teachable’s course building features are of the same quality as Kajabi’s. Looking both ways, you’d be satisfied with how they let you create courses, memberships, or any product with seamless versatility. Although you could technically use these with either of the two, it is clear that Teachable has the advantage. Kajabi Vs Before Posting
A key factor in the process of course creation is accessibility, so it’s a given that your students must be able to explore your content conveniently at any time and any place, even without the presence of a laptop/computer. Both Kajabi and Teachable address this with mobile apps that you can download on any handheld device, whether it’s powered by iOS or Android.
The Differences
Teachable may excel in its course creation and management capabilities, but not much so in other aspects. 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. Despite this, I gotta admire how well both platforms hold up in terms of reporting and analysis, though Teachable is a bit more detail-oriented.
> > Click Here to Check Out Kajabi < <
Teachable’s interface is simpler and more intuitive. Although you won’t need to put in a ton of coding effort – especially if you’re unfamiliar with the process itself – it gives you the space to maximize beyond its limits through its Power Editor.
The Pros and Cons of Teachable
Teachable is, and remains to be, extremely affordable, making it a solid hit for newbies and budget-conscious pros alike – so much so that I was strongly considering hopping on it when I entered into the 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
Teachable is a great choice because of its user-friendly interface, advanced course management and analytics, and simple interface that 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. While this sounds promising, it operates differently from Kajabi and the other two LMS platforms we’ve already covered so far. Instead of offering the usual suite of course management, marketing, and analytics tools, it leans heavily on the marketing aspect. Kajabi Vs Before Posting
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 has a wide variety of competitive business features that 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 most well-known for its extensive library of sales funnel templates and split testing.
The Similarities
One factor that ClickFunnels and Kajabi have in common is the sales funnel feature. Both platforms offer a wide range of templates each strategically designed to encourage a bountiful flow of profit and optimized for any objective. Although both versions leave an impression, ClickFunnels offers more, as their primary strategy is to build sales pipelines.
ClickFunnels’ interface is just as intuitive 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. Their customer service is also top-notch.
The Differences
A landing page is just as important in digital marketing as creating automated e-mails or 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
Although I don’t know much about sales and marketing jargon, some of my colleagues can confirm that ClickFunnels is a great tool for delivering the intended results. ClickFunnels guarantees entrepreneurs a higher conversion rate. The funnel-building and landing pages creation tools are also outstanding. It doesn’t excel in course-building, which is why it’s not as important for developers.
> > Click Here to Check Out Kajabi < <
Pricing plans begin with: ClickFunnels Basic, as low as $127/month
Is there a free plan? No, but it offers a 14-day free trial
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 Before Posting
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
Kajabi and Kartra excel in offering an impressive range of business features that are industry-leading. With the sales pipelines, on one hand, you’d have the chance of success no matter where you look as both have plenty of optimized templates. You’d also have access to a wide range of marketing tools, including automations.
Nearly the same thing can be said about their page-building capabilities. While Kartra offers more options, they are still the most flexible and performant platform. Here’s my opinion: While there are many similarities between Kartra and Kajabi, ClickFunnels has some characteristics that are similar to each other.
The Differences
Kartra may have the upper hand over ClickFunnels as it manages to have a decent amount of course management tools. However, if you pit it against Kajabi’s version, you may find that Kartra can’t keep it up as well as it could. 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 Before Posting
Kartra’s Pros and Cons
Kartra is robust in its offering of features from business to page creation, and its set of plans is worth great value as you could make the most out of its core tools no matter where you look. Although Kartra is a great tool for business, it’s not as good at course building. It can also be difficult to navigate, especially for beginners.
Pricing plans start at: Kartra Starter as low as $79/month
Is there a free plan? It doesn’t, and it also doesn’t offer any free trials.
Kartra is a top-quality business tool that doesn’t always need code, enhanced customer retention options and powerful video hosting.
Kartra is better suited for individuals who want to sell digital and physical products. It’s also more appropriate for entrepreneurs with an eye for 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 is similar to Kajabi but a lighter and more accessible version. 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 Before Posting
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. But, no matter where you look, you’ll find a ton of functionality whenever you use any of their feature offerings.
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 have the right platform to help beginners grow, but not enough to further develop them into experts – it’s for this reason that I had to switch to Thinkific once I felt it was the right time. Although Podia is not as sophisticated as Kajabi’s, it is still very functional and straightforward for the price. Not to mention its interface is such a breeze to explore, so much so that both beginners and pros like it!
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. Although Podia offers a free plan with no restrictions, there may be some limitations that could hinder your ability to use it. Kajabi Vs Before Posting
> > Click Here to Check Out Kajabi < <
Pricing plans begin with: Podia Mover, as low as $33/month
Does it offer 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
Similar to Kajabi, Mighty has enough tools to let you create courses, memberships, and other kinds of content 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 Before Posting
The Differences
Kajabi and Mighty are different in that they specialize in something else. Kajabi focuses more on community building, while Kajabi focuses on courses and a variety of other things. And, as you can expect, it’s clear that Mighty’s course-building capabilities are… not at their best. They are functional but not as advanced and sophisticated as Kajabi’s.
Kajabi‘s communication tools are good enough but not as dynamic as Mighty. I get that Kajabi is going all-in as a one-stop platform, but, compared to Mighty’s social feed, messaging, and comments capabilities, it can’t keep up as much as it could – I can even vouch for this as a Kajabi user myself!
The Pros and Cons of Mighty Networks
It is obvious that Mighty Networks excels in community-building. The platform has been recognized as an ideal place for networking. You can use it not just for course content, but for a lot of other products as well. 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 start with the Community Plan starting at $33/month
Is there 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 more suitable for Edupreneurs who believe that communication is at the heart of course management, professionals looking to integrate it with other services
Conclusion Kajabi Vs Before Posting
This comprehensive review has come to an end. I hope you found it helpful in making your final decision. Picking the most suitable LMS platform can be somewhat of a rough task but with enough credible resources and opinions from other users, it may be less cumbersome.
If you’re considering a service that I use, Kajabi, I can assume that your professional skills are developed enough to make you want to try it out if you’re planning on stepping into the edupreneur’s world. 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.
However, if you think you’re not confident with the resources you currently have – may it be a lack of monetary funds, professional skills, or other things – and if you feel that whatever Kajabi offers may be too much for your liking, then you may not be ready. If this is the case, I am always happy to give you my other suggestions.
If you’re into connecting with your members yet don’t mind about the barebones course tools, Mighty Networks may be your best bet. If you’re running short on budget, it’s either between Teachable or Podia. Better marketing and sales tools? You can choose between ClickFunnels and Katra. Affordable alternatives to Kajabi itself? Then look no further than maybe Thinkific or Podia.
No matter what you choose, what matters most is that you have a platform to mold you into a better edupreneur. Again, I’m very glad to have helped you choose the right LMS to jumpstart your career in the course business!
