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?
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. 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.
I’ve had a fair share of struggles in choosing the perfect place to develop my entrepreneurial skills since I started selling courses. After becoming more confident, I moved from one platform to another until I found Kajabi. 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’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. To get a comprehensive overview of Kajabi, you may still want to check out our article below.
Kajabi: A Brief Overview Teachable Vs Kajabi
You may have heard the name “Kajabi” before. 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. Got it. A wide range of pre-made templates and themes? Certainly. A range of excellent sales and marketing tools, including fully functional sales funnel blueprints? Yes! 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. 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. However, the cons, fortunately, don’t greatly outweigh the pros, and, despite the few inconveniences, Kajabi is still worth trying. Teachable Vs Kajabi
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 best for established professionals, newbies who have enough financial resources to pay Kajabi’s features and 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. The Thinkific App Store allows you to connect with thousands of third-party platforms and offers a wide range of industry-level tools.
> > 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. 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. You can create online courses and/or membership sites, regardless of which platform you choose. 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.
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
Thinkific’s ease-of-use is something I love about it. 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 begin with: Thinkific Start, as low as $74/month
Does it have 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 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 was created by course creators for course creators. Therefore, it is natural that the main focus here is 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. 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 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. Although you could technically use these with either of the two, it is clear that Teachable has the advantage. Teachable Vs Kajabi
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. 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 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 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 begin with: Teachable Basic, as low as $29/month
Is there 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 is a top online service used by entrepreneurs and businesses all over the world. Although this sounds great, ClickFunnels operates in a different way than Kajabi or the other LMS platforms we have covered. Instead of offering the usual suite of course management, marketing, and analytics tools, it leans heavily on the marketing aspect. Teachable Vs Kajabi
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’s pretty versatile, too – not only can you use it to promote your courses, but also 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
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.
The Pros and Cons of ClickFunnels
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 is guaranteed to give entrepreneurs a better conversion rate turnout, and the funnel-building and landing page creation tools are equally 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 begin with: ClickFunnels Basic, as low as $127/month
Does it have 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. Teachable Vs Kajabi
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 is very interesting. It functions in a similar way to Kajabi, allowing you to create courses and memberships right away. However, it also works similarly to ClickFunnels with other aspects such as page building and marketing tools. You can sell physical and digital products.
With an eye for increased engagement, Kartra helps you leave your subscribers begging for more through its archive of pre-made full sales campaigns or pipelines, a uniquely convenient scheduling system, and additional website widget options. 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. 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
ClickFunnels may be losing to Kartra, which has a good number 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 does exceedingly well in its marketing, lead generation, and customer retention capabilities.
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. Teachable Vs Kajabi
Kartra’s Pros and Cons
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 start at: Kartra Starter as low as $79/month
Does it offer a free plan? No, and it doesn’t offer a free trial either
Reasons to choose Kartra: Top-quality business tools that don’t always require code, expanded customer retention options, 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
Podia, a fan favorite and underrated LMS platform, is well-known for its low price, easy-to-use user interface, and list of useful 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.
I can certainly attest to this as this platform helped significantly in welcoming me into the field – without Podia, I wouldn’t even know about the ins and outs of course-building, and I wouldn’t even end up using higher-end services like Kajabi to this day! Podia is a leader in communication. It allows users to easily message their customers without any hassle. Teachable Vs Kajabi
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.
With that in mind, Podia contains a fair share of dynamic and flexible functions across nearly all aspects of course management, from the course builder and player to the tasteful range of page themes to even sales funnels and other useful marketing tactics.
The Differences
The idea of a budget-friendly all-in-one platform may sound promising; however, since Podia is structured to be this way, you and I can guess now that it’s always bound to have 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. Podia may certainly not be as advanced as Kajabi, but it sure is straightforward and functional for its price. Its interface is so easy to use that it’s loved by both beginners and professionals.
The Pros and Con 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. Teachable Vs Kajabi
> > Click Here to Check Out Kajabi < <
Pricing plans start at: Podia Mover, starting at $33/month
Is there a free plan? Yes
Podia is a great choice because of its flexibility and ease-of-use, creator-friendly course management features and excellent 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
Originally a social media network, Mighty Networks has built a huge following, further developing into a well-rounded platform that doesn’t just give you access to the typical LMS tools but also a great range of communications features to help keep your students engaged with your content.
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. Your feed can be used to send updates, allow your members to comment, or even notify them that you are hosting a live stream. Mighty Networks is a similar to Facebook, I would say.
The Similarities
Like Kajabi’s Mighty, Mighty offers enough tools to allow you to create memberships and courses in-house. Both have decent video hosting and live-streaming, which means, if you’re into teaching through the video format, you could film and upload them to any either platform scot-free.
Both services also offer mobile apps which you or your students can download and interact with your content anytime and anywhere. A good thing about this is that they’re compatible not just with iOS devices but also with Android ones, so accessibility is highly guaranteed. Mighty recently added an affiliate program. However, because it is new, it may take years for it to become as robust as Kajabi. Teachable Vs Kajabi
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 may be functional, at least, but not as advanced 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. 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 more suitable for Edupreneurs who believe that communication is at the heart of course management, professionals looking to integrate it with other services
Conclusion Teachable Vs Kajabi
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. I can also bet that you have enough finances to afford 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? Look no further than Thinkific and 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!
