Kajabi vs Thinkific: Comparing the Two Most Popular Course Platforms

Picking the best course platform feels like a big chunk of the battle.

After trying out several of them, Kajabi and Thinkific are two of the best in the business, but they each offer quite different benefits.

While they both pack a punch with their features, it’s like choosing between a Swiss Army knife and a specialty chef's knife-both useful, but it really depends on what you're cooking up.

Let's break down the differences and find out which one might be the perfect fit for your online course.

Key Takeaways

• Thinkific is highly customizable and offers a free plan option with 0 transaction fees (amazing).
• Kajabi offers robust marketing features, offering an all-in-one platform for course creation and selling.
• Thinkific is ideal for those with limited budgets or seeking a very user-friendly solution.
• Kajabi is best for course creators looking for a comprehensive platform that can replace the need for several third-party integrations.

What is Thinkific?

Best for beginners or those with small budgets.

After trying out dozens of course platforms, I can say for certain that Thinkific is one of the best overall options. It’s the only platform with a 100% free option, ideal for those new to course creation.

Even with the free plan, you can customize your course to align with your brand and get a custom domain. There are many reasons that over 36,000 course creators use Thinkific.

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The two features that set Thinkific apart from all other platforms are:

• It has the only viable and truly free price plan
• It is arguably the most customizable and flexible course platform

Learn more in my detailed Thinkific review!

What is Kajabi?

Best for all-in-one course hosting and marketing.

At first, I avoided Kajabi because of its popularity and high price point.

However, when I tried it, I was immediately impressed by the comprehensive features it offered. Kajabi offers a complete solution to create, market, and sell your course.

The all-in-one features make its higher price worth it, especially when you consider the cost of using third-party apps for each of those things.

Read my full Kajabi review to learn more.

The Main Differences Between Thinkific and Kajabi

Thinkific is ideal for beginners and budget course makers, offering a free plan and 0 transaction fees. Kajabi comes at a premium price point, justifiable with its comprehensive, all-in-one features for course creation and marketing.

Ease of Use

Winner: Thinkific

I found both platforms to be user-friendly and convenient. Thinkific is intuitive, with a straightforward interface. It would definitely be better for beginners, as it includes a clear step-by-step course builder and a simple setup.

Since Kajabi offers an all-in-one solution, it can be overwhelming at first. The additional features for marketing and its more extensive customization options may be confusing at first, especially for beginners. However, Kajabi could be easier for someone who wants to manage everything from a single platform and is willing to climb a slightly steeper learning curve to take advantage of all its features.

Course Creation and Delivery

Winner: Both

Both platforms offer advantages for course creation and delivery, with the best one depending on your unique needs.

Kajabi provides a comprehensive all-in-one platform with advanced marketing tools and high customization, ideal for those who want to manage everything in one place. Thinkific, on the other hand, shines with its ease of use and straightforward course builder. It’s perfect for beginners and those prioritizing simplicity in course setup.

Marketing and Sales Tools

Winner: Kajabi

If you’re after comprehensive course marketing and sales features, Kajabi is ideal. It offers a robust suite of built-in features, including advanced email marketing capabilities, automated funnels, and customizable landing pages. Thinkific has basic promotional tools, but for a full-fledged marketing approach, Kajabi is the clear winner.

Pricing and Value

Winner: Both

Thinkific and Kajabi offer different advantages depending on what you value most in a course platform.

Thinkific tends to be more cost-effective, especially for new course creators or those with a limited budget. It offers a free plan, which is quite robust and allows you to create and sell online courses without any upfront investment, though with limited features. Paid plans are reasonably priced and scale with the features you need, costing $36, $74, or $149 per month.

Kajabi, while more expensive, includes extensive marketing tools and advanced functionalities in its plans. It’s easy to justify its higher price if you're looking for an all-in-one business solution. It doesn't offer a free tier, but its comprehensive set of tools can replace other services, adding to its value. Kajabi plan tiers cost $119, $159, or $319 per month.

Check out our detailed pricing plan guide for Thinkific vs Kajabi vs Teachable vs Podia vs Udemy. 

Customer Support

Winner: Thinkific

Thinkific offers extensive resources, including a responsive email support team, a comprehensive knowledge base, and an active community forum. Kajabi also provides strong support with 24/7 live chat and email assistance, but Thinkific's emphasis on accessible and educational resources makes it especially notable.

Analytics and Reporting

Winner: Kajabi

Kajabi offers more detailed insights into course performance, student progress, and marketing. Kajabi's analytics dashboard is comprehensive, including metrics on sales, page views, and user engagement, integrated with its marketing tools for deeper analysis. Thinkific provides solid basic reporting features, but Kajabi's advanced analytics are better suited for those who need detailed data.

Check out these 56 interesting online learning statistics before building your first course!

Thinkific vs Kajabi: Which Should I Choose?

There’s no objective winner between Thinkific and Kajabi. The choice really depends on your course creation needs and budget.

When to Choose Thinkific

Choose Thinkific over Kajabi if you're starting out or have a limited budget, as it offers a free plan and more affordable pricing tiers. It's also ideal if you prefer a platform that's straightforward and easy to use. Thinkific is excellent for educators prioritizing a simple, effective way to deliver educational content without the need for advanced business functionalities.

Some examples of who should use Thinkific include:

• Solo educators
• Hobbyists
• Non-profits
• Small business owners looking for a straightforward tool
• Corporate trainers
• Content creators

When to Choose Kajabi

Choose Kajabi if you need an all-in-one platform to handle course creation, marketing, and sales. It's ideal for:

• Entrepreneurs who want to market aggressively with advanced tools like email automation and sales funnels.
• Businesses planning to scale up and require robust analytics to optimize performance.
• Course creators looking for high customization in course and website design.
• Professionals seeking to build a strong community or membership model around their content

Final Verdict

Thinkific is a winner for beginners or anyone on a tight budget. It’s super user-friendly and won’t break the bank.

Kajabi? It’s your powerhouse for getting serious about marketing and scaling up, with all the tools you need in one spot.

So, think about what’s key for your online course empire. Is it simplicity and savings or all-out features and growth?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Kajabi or Thinkific?

It depends on your needs. Kajabi excels with its all-in-one marketing and course tools, ideal for scaling and detailed analytics. Thinkific is great for its user-friendliness and affordability, perfect for beginners and those on a budget.

Who is Kajabi best for?

Kajabi is best for entrepreneurs and businesses focused on growth, needing comprehensive marketing tools, robust analytics, and a single platform to manage everything.

Who should use Thinkific?

Thinkific is ideal for first-time course creators, educators on a budget, and small businesses looking for an easy-to-use platform without the need for complex marketing strategies.

What are the key differences in marketing tools between Kajabi and Thinkific?

Kajabi offers comprehensive, integrated marketing tools, whereas Thinkific requires more third-party integrations. However, Thinkific is more intuitive to use, offers a free plan, and is ideal for beginners.

Which platform is better for beginners who are not tech-savvy?

While both are easy to use, Thinkific is ideal for beginners or those without much technical experience because of its straightforward design and minimal setup.

Is Kajabi or Thinkific better for a tight budget?

Thinkific is more budget-friendly, especially with its free tier, compared to Kajabi’s premium pricing.