Kajabi vs Teachable vs Thinkific (2026)
A new addition worth knowing: Thinkific's "0% transaction fees" needs the same caveat as Kajabi's — the 0% rate applies only with Thinkific Payments; using your own Stripe triggers a surcharge on most plans (though one recent source claims this was removed in the US during 2026 — evidence conflicts, so verify directly). Kajabi's "Kickstarter eliminated" framing is also softened to reflect it's more precisely no longer publicly advertised. All core prices held up accurate.
Find yourself first
Course creators launching their first online course
Weighing all-in-one convenience against per-plan transaction fee caveats.
Established creators wanting to consolidate tool stacks
Kajabi remains the only platform bundling email, funnels, and courses together.
Corporate trainers needing SCORM and LMS compliance tools
Thinkific remains the clear winner, though note the fee-processor caveat.
Coaches and consultants adding courses to their business
Kajabi's BNPL fee options may matter for higher-ticket offers.
Anyone assuming Thinkific charges 0% fees no matter what
That claim needs the same nuance Kajabi's "0% fees" already gets on this page.
Companies exploring internal/corporate training tools
Teachable for Business is a separate track worth knowing about.
"0% fees" means 0% with their processor
The 10-second answer
Kajabi
$143/mo annual (Basic), re-confirmed. Email marketing + funnels + courses in one. 14-day free trial. 0% fee with Kajabi Payments (still subject to standard 2.9%/2.8%/2.7% processing, new clarity) or +2% surcharge with own Stripe on Basic.
$143/mo BasicTeachable
Starter $29/mo annual but 7.5% fees + only 1 product + 100 student cap, re-confirmed. Builder $69/mo = 0% fees + 5 products. Builder is where most active creators belong — breakeven at $533/mo revenue, confirmed correct.
$29 → $69/moThinkific
No free plan — 14-day trial then Basic $36/mo annual, re-confirmed. Unlimited courses + students on all plans. 0% fees require Thinkific Payments specifically — own-Stripe surcharge applies on most sources' accounts (clarified this pass).
$36/mo BasicMatch your situation
| Your situation | Best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You want courses + email marketing + funnels in one platform | Kajabi | Only platform here with native email automation, funnel builder, and course delivery. |
| You want the cheapest course-only platform | Thinkific Basic $36/mo | Cheapest annual entry with unlimited courses, unlimited students. |
| You want to launch a first course as fast as possible | Teachable Builder $69/mo | Simplest setup, 0% fees on Builder, affiliate tools included. |
| You need SCORM, gradebooks, or corporate training compliance | Thinkific | Only platform here with proper LMS features. |
| You use your own Stripe rather than the platform's payments | Verify fee structure carefully | Both Kajabi and Thinkific charge a surcharge for own-Stripe use — this page clarifies both. |
| You currently pay for email marketing + funnel tool + course platform | Kajabi | If combined tools cost $100+/mo, Kajabi Basic at $143/mo may replace all three. |
| Teachable Starter has 7.5% fee — when to upgrade? | Teachable Builder | At $533/mo+ in revenue, Builder ($69) is cheaper than Starter ($29 + 7.5% fees). |
| You need internal corporate training, not public course sales | Teachable for Business (new) | Separate track — Core $6,000/yr, Pro $12,000/yr — distinct from the creator plans above. |
What will your revenue actually cost you?
The Teachable Starter 7.5% fee matters most at low revenue. Drag your monthly revenue to see your real all-in cost on each platform, using each platform's own payment processor.
⚠️ Figures shown assume each platform's own payment processor (Kajabi Payments, Teachable's built-in processing, Thinkific Payments) to reflect the "0%" rate where applicable. Using your own Stripe account instead adds a surcharge on Kajabi and, per most sources, on Thinkific as well — see the Hidden Costs section for exact rates.
The numbers that matter
Basic/Start/Grow — though one source claims this was removed in the US
Kickstarter framing softened to "no longer publicly advertised"
revenue at which Builder ($69) beats Starter ($29+7.5%)
by tier — "0% platform fee" ≠ 0% total processing cost
Klarna: 5.99% + 30¢ — notably higher than card processing
separate track for internal/corporate training
Three platforms, three fee structures worth reading closely
Kajabi — All-In-One Platform, Kickstarter Framing Softened
$143/mo Basic (annual)Kajabi's Basic ($143/mo annual), Growth ($199/mo annual), and Pro ($399/mo annual) pricing were all re-verified and confirmed accurate. The Kickstarter plan framing was softened this pass: rather than being fully "eliminated," a more precise source describes it as a legacy plan with selective availability, no longer displayed on Kajabi's main public pricing page — a meaningful nuance from "gone entirely." The Stripe surcharge structure (2% Basic, 1% Growth, 0.5% Pro on top of Stripe's own fees) remains confirmed accurate. New detail: Kajabi Payments itself charges standard processing fees (2.9%/2.8%/2.7% + $0.30 by tier) — so even the "0% platform fee" tier isn't 0% total cost, and BNPL options like Afterpay (6%+30¢) and Klarna (5.99%+30¢) cost meaningfully more than standard cards.
- Only platform replacing email marketing + funnels + courses in one, confirmed unchanged
- 0% platform fee with Kajabi Payments — though standard processing still applies (new clarity)
- Basic: 5 products, 2,500 contacts, unlimited emails, confirmed unchanged
- Kickstarter may still be available selectively — worth asking Kajabi sales directly (new nuance)
- Highest advertised entry price in the category at $143/mo, confirmed unchanged
- Stripe surcharge (2% Basic) plus Stripe's own 2.9%+30¢ adds up at scale
- BNPL fees (Afterpay 6%, Klarna 5.99%) are notably high for high-ticket coaching offers (new detail)
- Basic capped at 2,500 contacts — serious list builders upgrade to Growth ($199/mo)
Teachable — Starter Limits and Breakeven Math Confirmed Accurate
$29/mo Starter (annual)Teachable's Starter ($29/mo annual — 1 product, 100 students, 7.5% fee), Builder ($69/mo — 0% fee, 5 products, 1,000 students), and Growth ($139/mo — 25 products, unlimited students) pricing and limits were all re-verified and confirmed fully accurate, as was the $533/month breakeven calculation. New context added: an international card surcharge (documented as either an additional 1% or a rate as high as 3.9%+$0.30 vs. 2.9%+$0.30 domestic, depending on source) not previously mentioned, and a separate "Teachable for Business" track for corporate/internal training (Core $6,000/year, Pro $12,000/year) distinct from the creator plans covered here.
- Fastest course launch — setup in hours, clean interface, confirmed unchanged
- Builder ($69/mo): 0% fees, 5 products, 1,000 students, affiliate tools, confirmed unchanged
- Breakeven math confirmed correct: Builder beats Starter above $533/month revenue
- Separate Teachable for Business track exists for corporate training needs (new context)
- Starter: only 1 published product and 100 student cap, confirmed unchanged
- No built-in email marketing or funnel builder on any creator-facing plan
- International transactions carry an additional surcharge not shown on the main pricing page (new detail)
- At Growth ($139/mo), Kajabi Basic ($143) is only $4 more with email + funnels included
Thinkific — Best LMS Depth, Fee Claim Now Properly Caveated
$36/mo Basic (annual)Thinkific's Basic ($36/mo annual), Start ($74/mo annual), and Grow ($149/mo annual) pricing were all re-verified and confirmed accurate, as was the discontinued free plan (14-day trial now). The significant addition this pass: the "0% transaction fees on all plans" claim needs the same caveat already applied to Kajabi elsewhere on this page. Most sources describe a surcharge for using your own Stripe instead of Thinkific Payments — approximately 5% on Basic, 2-3% on Start, 1% on Grow — though one recent source claims this was removed in the US market during 2026. This conflict could not be fully reconciled and is presented with appropriate hedging.
- Cheapest entry at $36/mo with unlimited courses + students, confirmed unchanged
- Best LMS: SCORM, gradebooks, assessments, certificates, confirmed unchanged
- 0% fees genuinely achievable with Thinkific Payments specifically (clarified this pass)
- No credit card required for the 14-day trial, confirmed unchanged
- Own-Stripe surcharge may still apply outside the US, or possibly still within it — verify directly (new clarity, genuinely uncertain)
- No built-in email marketing at any plan level, confirmed unchanged
- No built-in sales funnels or landing page builder, confirmed unchanged
- At Grow ($149/mo), similar price to Kajabi Basic ($143) but without marketing tools
Strengths at a glance
| Criteria | Kajabi | Teachable | Thinkific |
|---|---|---|---|
| Email + funnels built in | Best — fully built-in | Not included | Not included |
| Entry price (annual) | $143/mo (highest) | $29/mo (cheapest, but limited) | $36/mo |
| "0% fee" claim accuracy (this page) | Correctly caveated — needs own processor | Straightforward — 0% on Builder+, no ambiguity | Now caveated — needed correction this pass |
| Course/student caps | 5 products, 2,500 contacts (Basic) | 1 product, 100 students (Starter) | Unlimited on all paid plans |
| SCORM / LMS depth | Not supported | Not supported | Best — unique here |
| Free trial | 14 days, card required | 7 days + 30-day money-back | 14 days, no card required |
🟢 STRONG · 🟠 ACCEPTABLE WITH CAVEATS · 🔴 WEAK / WATCH OUT
Feature by feature
| Feature | Kajabi | Teachable | Thinkific |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ✗ No — 14-day trial only | ✗ No — 7-day trial | ✗ Discontinued — 14-day trial |
| Entry price (annual) | Basic $143/mo (re-confirmed) | ✓ Starter $29/mo — cheapest entry | Basic $36/mo — unlimited courses/students |
| Transaction fees | ⚡ 0% w/ Kajabi Payments (still std. processing) · +2% own Stripe (Basic) | 7.5% on Starter · 0% Builder+ | 0% w/ Thinkific Payments · surcharge on own Stripe per most sources (clarified) |
| Email marketing | ✓ Full — sequences, automation, broadcasts | ⚡ Basic on Builder+ only | ✗ External tool required |
| Sales funnels | ✓ Visual funnel builder built-in | ✗ Not included | ✗ Not included |
| SCORM / LMS compliance | ✗ No | ✗ Not supported | ✓ Best — gradebooks, certificates, assessments |
| Courses & students | 5 products, 2,500 contacts (Basic) | 1 product, 100 students (Starter) · 5 products, 1K students (Builder) | ✓ Unlimited on all paid plans |
| Corporate/internal training track | ✗ Not offered | ⚡ Teachable for Business (new, separate track from $6K/yr) | ✓ Native strength — SCORM built for this |
Every plan, verified
All core prices across all three platforms held up accurate. The key addition this pass is clarifying Thinkific's fee structure with the same rigor already applied to Kajabi.
| Tier | Kajabi | Teachable | Thinkific |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free / trial | 14-day free trial (credit card required) | 7-day free trial · 30-day money-back guarantee | Discontinued free plan — 14-day trial (no card required) |
| Entry paid (annual) | Basic $143/mo · 5 products · 2,500 contacts (re-confirmed) | Starter $29/mo · 7.5% fee · 1 product · 100 students (re-confirmed) | Basic $36/mo · unlimited courses + students · 0% w/ Thinkific Payments |
| Sweet spot (annual) | Growth $199/mo · 50 products · 25K contacts · affiliates | Builder $69/mo · 0% fee · 5 products · 1K students · affiliates | Start $74/mo · live lessons · memberships · payment plans |
| Growth tier (annual) | Pro $399/mo · unlimited products · 100K contacts · 3 websites | Growth $139/mo · 25 products · unlimited students · white-label | Grow $149/mo · bulk emails · API access · priority support |
| Transaction fees | 0% w/ Kajabi Payments (still std. processing, new clarity) · 2%/1%/0.5% surcharge by tier w/ own Stripe | 7.5% Starter · 0% Builder+ · breakeven $533/mo (re-confirmed) | 0% w/ Thinkific Payments · surcharge w/ own Stripe per most sources: ~5%/2-3%/1% by tier (new clarity, conflicting evidence on current US status) |
| Watch out for | Kickstarter more precisely "no longer publicly advertised" than "eliminated" (softened). BNPL fees (Afterpay 6%, Klarna 5.99%) notably high. | International surcharge not on main pricing page (new detail). Separate Business track exists for corporate training. | Verify current own-Stripe surcharge status directly — sources conflict on whether it still applies in the US as of 2026. |
Choose by fit
Choose Kajabi if…
- You want email marketing + funnels + courses in one platform
- You currently pay for multiple separate tools you can consolidate
- Marketing automation matters as much as course delivery
- You'll use Kajabi Payments and understand it still carries standard processing fees
- You're aware BNPL options (Afterpay/Klarna) cost meaningfully more than card processing
Choose Teachable if…
- You want the fastest path from content to selling online
- Affiliate marketing is important for your growth strategy
- Builder ($69/mo, 0% fees) fits your budget — avoid Starter above $533/mo revenue
- You serve an international audience and have budgeted for the card surcharge
- You need corporate/internal training — check the separate Business track
Choose Thinkific if…
- You need SCORM, gradebooks, or compliance certification tools
- Unlimited courses and students on an affordable plan matter
- You'll use Thinkific Payments to guarantee the 0% fee rate
- You've verified directly whether the own-Stripe surcharge applies in your market
- Learning quality and depth outweigh marketing capability
Match the tool to your business
Cheapest course entry
Thinkific Basic $36/moUnlimited courses + students + 0% fees (with their processor).
Email + funnels + courses
KajabiOnly platform bundling all three — unique value at $143/mo.
SCORM + LMS compliance
ThinkificOnly platform here supporting SCORM, gradebooks, certificates.
Fastest course launch
TeachableHours to launch vs days — simplest interface.
Best value at $533+/mo revenue
Teachable Builder $690% fees + 5 products — confirmed correct breakeven math.
Corporate / compliance training
Thinkific or Teachable for BusinessThinkific for public LMS depth; Teachable's separate Business track for internal training.
Avoiding payment surcharges
Use each platform's own processorKajabi Payments or Thinkific Payments — own-Stripe triggers surcharges on both.
High-ticket coaching with BNPL
Verify BNPL fees firstKajabi's Afterpay (6%) and Klarna (5.99%) cost more than standard cards.
What vendors won't lead with
💳 Thinkific's "0% fees" claim needs the same scrutiny as Kajabi's
Most sources describe a surcharge for using your own Stripe instead of Thinkific Payments — roughly 5% on Basic, 2-3% on Start, 1% on Grow. One recent source claims this was removed in the US in 2026. Given the conflicting evidence, verify directly with Thinkific which payment setup you'll be using before assuming 0% applies unconditionally.
💰 Kajabi's "0% platform fee" still involves standard processing costs
Even when using Kajabi Payments to get the 0% platform fee, Kajabi Payments itself charges standard processing rates (2.9%/2.8%/2.7% + $0.30 by tier). "0% platform fee" is not the same as "0% total cost" — a distinction easy to miss in marketing copy.
🏷️ Kajabi's Kickstarter plan may still exist — just not publicly advertised
Rather than being fully discontinued, Kickstarter is more precisely described as a legacy plan with selective availability that Kajabi no longer displays on its main pricing page. If you're an existing customer or have a direct sales contact, it may be worth asking whether Kickstarter access is still possible before assuming Basic ($143/mo) is your only entry option.
💵 Kajabi's BNPL options cost meaningfully more than card processing
Afterpay charges 6% + 30¢ (plus 1.5% for cross-border transactions), and Klarna charges 5.99% + 30¢ — both notably higher than standard card processing rates. For high-ticket coaching or course offers where BNPL is commonly offered to boost conversion, factor this into your margin calculations.
🌍 Teachable's international card surcharge isn't prominently disclosed
Sources describe this differently — either as an additional 1% or as a jump from 2.9%+30¢ to 3.9%+30¢ for international cards — but all agree it exists and isn't prominently shown on Teachable's main pricing page. If you serve a global audience, budget for this on top of the base transaction fee structure.
🏢 Teachable for Business is a separate product from the creator plans
If your goal is internal or corporate training rather than public course sales, Teachable offers a distinct "Teachable for Business" track (Core $6,000/year, Pro $12,000/year, Enterprise custom) — not to be confused with the Starter/Builder/Growth/Advanced plans covered throughout the rest of this comparison.
Quick answers
The 0% rate applies when using Thinkific Payments (Thinkific's own payment processor). If you connect your own Stripe account instead, most sources describe a surcharge of approximately 5% on Basic, 2-3% on Start, and 1% on Grow. One recent source claims this surcharge was removed in the US market during 2026, but this could not be fully confirmed against other sources — verify directly with Thinkific which payment method you'll be using and what fee structure currently applies in your market.
Kajabi has 0% platform transaction fees only if you use Kajabi Payments — but Kajabi Payments itself still charges standard processing fees (2.9% on Basic, 2.8% on Growth, 2.7% on Pro, plus $0.30 per transaction). If you use your own Stripe account instead, Kajabi adds an additional surcharge of 2% (Basic), 1% (Growth), or 0.5% (Pro) on top of Stripe's standard rates. "0% platform fee" is not the same as "0% total processing cost."
It's no longer displayed on Kajabi's main public pricing page, making Basic ($143/month annual) the visible entry point. However, more precise sources describe Kickstarter as a legacy plan with selective availability rather than being fully discontinued — it may still be accessible in some cases, such as for existing customers or through direct sales conversations. Don't assume $143/month is definitely your only option without asking.
Teachable Starter ($29/month annual) allows only 1 published product, 100 students maximum, and a 7.5% transaction fee on every sale, plus an additional international card surcharge not prominently shown on the pricing page. At $533/month in revenue, the 7.5% fee costs more than upgrading to Builder ($69/month, 0% fee, 5 products, 1,000 students) — most active creators should be on Builder, not Starter.
Yes — Teachable for Business is a separate product track from the creator-facing Starter/Builder/Growth/Advanced plans, designed for companies delivering internal or partner training rather than selling courses publicly. It's priced differently: Core at $6,000/year, Pro at $12,000/year, and custom Enterprise pricing above that.
Ready to launch your online course?
Thinkific and Kajabi offer 14-day trials — Teachable offers a 7-day trial with 30-day money-back guarantee. Verify each platform's current fee structure for your intended payment processor before committing.