Kajabi vs Teachable vs Thinkific (2026)
Four corrections from older guides: Kajabi’s Kickstarter plan eliminated January 2026. Thinkific’s free plan discontinued. Teachable Starter now only 1 product and 100 students (not 5 products as commonly shown). Kajabi’s “0% transaction fees” only applies with Kajabi Payments — Stripe users pay an additional surcharge.
Kajabi Kickstarter plan eliminated Jan 2026 — entry now $143/mo annual. Kajabi “0% fees” only with Kajabi Payments — own Stripe costs extra (2% Basic, 1% Growth, 0.5% Pro). Thinkific free plan discontinued — 14-day trial only now. Teachable Starter = 1 product + 100 student limit (not 5 products as older guides show). Prices verified May 2026.
- Kajabi — Best all-in-one creator business platform. $143/mo annual (Basic). Email marketing + funnels + courses in one. 14-day free trial. Platform fee surcharge if using own Stripe (2% on Basic).
- Teachable — Fastest course launch. Starter $29/mo annual but 7.5% fees + only 1 product + 100 student cap. Builder $69/mo = 0% fees + 5 products. Builder is where most active creators belong.
- Thinkific — Best for learning-focused creators. No more free plan — 14-day trial then Basic $36/mo annual. Unlimited courses + students + 0% fees on all plans. No built-in email marketing.
| 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 0% fees, 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 — Kajabi and Teachable don’t support SCORM |
| You are looking for Thinkific’s free plan | Thinkific | Thinkific’s free plan is discontinued — 14-day trial then Basic $36/mo annual |
| You currently pay for email marketing + funnel tool + course platform | Kajabi | If combined tools cost $100+/mo, Kajabi Basic at $143/mo replaces 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 want to avoid any Kajabi surcharges | Kajabi (with Kajabi Payments) | Use Kajabi Payments to avoid the 2% Stripe surcharge on Basic. Own Stripe = extra fees. |
True Cost Calculator
The Teachable Starter 7.5% fee matters most at low revenue. At $533/month+ in sales, Builder ($69/mo, 0% fees) becomes cheaper than Starter ($29 + 7.5%). Drag your monthly revenue to see your real monthly cost on each platform including transaction fees.
Kajabi fees with Kajabi Payments shown (0% platform fee). Using own Stripe adds 2% (Basic) or 1% (Growth) on top. Thinkific: 0% fees all plans. Teachable: 7.5% on Starter only. All annual billing rates.
Key Stats & Corrections (May 2026)
At a Glance
All-in-one creator business platform — courses + email + funnels
- Only platform replacing email marketing + funnels + courses in one
- 0% platform fee with Kajabi Payments (own Stripe = 2% surcharge on Basic)
- Basic: 5 products, 2,500 contacts, unlimited emails
- Cohort courses, affiliate tools, advanced automations on Growth+
- Kajabi Access add-on ($99/mo) doubles limits without full upgrade
- Kickstarter plan ($89) eliminated January 2026 — entry now $143/mo
- Stripe surcharge: 2% Basic, 1% Growth, 0.5% Pro — on top of Stripe fees
- Basic capped at 2,500 contacts — serious list builders upgrade to Growth ($199/mo)
- Affiliates, advanced automations locked to Growth ($199/mo) or higher
Fastest course launch — Builder $69/mo is where most active creators belong
- Fastest course launch — setup in hours, clean interface
- Builder ($69/mo): 0% fees, 5 products, 1,000 students, affiliate tools
- Part of Hotmart — strong global tax and compliance handling
- Mobile learning app (iOS + Android) on all plans
- 30-day money-back guarantee across all plans
- Starter: only 1 published product and 100 student cap — not 5 as older guides show
- Starter 7.5% fee: at $533/mo revenue, Builder is already cheaper
- No built-in email marketing or funnel builder on any plan
- At Growth ($139/mo), Kajabi Basic ($143) is only $4 more with email + funnels included
Best pure learning platform — free plan discontinued, Basic $36/mo annual
- Cheapest entry at $36/mo with unlimited courses + students + 0% fees
- Best LMS: SCORM, gradebooks, assessments, certificates, live lessons
- No student or course caps on any paid plan
- Thinkific Communities included — no separate community platform needed
- No credit card required for 14-day trial
- Free plan discontinued — 14-day trial then Basic $36/mo annual ❌
- No built-in email marketing — need external tool (ConvertKit/Mailchimp)
- No built-in sales funnels or landing page builder
- At Grow ($149/mo), similar price to Kajabi Basic ($143) but without marketing tools
At-a-Glance Scorecard
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Kajabi | Teachable | Thinkific |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ✗ No — 14-day trial only | ✗ No — 7-day trial | ✗ Free plan discontinued — 14-day trial |
| Entry price (annual) | Basic $143/mo (Kickstarter eliminated) | ✓ Starter $29/mo — cheapest entry | Basic $36/mo — 0% fees, unlimited |
| Transaction fees | ⚡ 0% w/ Kajabi Payments · +2% own Stripe (Basic) | ✗ 7.5% on Starter · 0% Builder+ | ✓ 0% on all plans |
| 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 |
| Affiliate program | Growth plan+ ($199/mo annual) | ✓ All Builder+ plans | Grow plan+ ($149/mo annual) |
Verified Pricing (May 2026)
Four corrections critical for accurate budgeting: Kajabi Kickstarter plan ($89/mo) eliminated January 2026 — entry is now $143/mo annual. Kajabi advertises “0% transaction fees” but this only applies with Kajabi Payments; using own Stripe adds a 2% surcharge on Basic. Thinkific’s free plan is discontinued — it’s a 14-day trial now. Teachable Starter’s published product limit is 1 (not 5 as many older guides show), with a 100-student cap. Verify at each vendor’s pricing page before purchasing.
| Tier | Kajabi | Teachable | Thinkific |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free / trial | 14-day free trial (credit card required) | 7-day free trial · 30-day money-back guarantee | ✗ Free plan discontinued — 14-day trial (no card required) |
| Entry paid (annual) | ✗ Basic $143/mo (Kickstarter $89 eliminated Jan 2026) · 5 products · 2,500 contacts | Starter $29/mo · 7.5% fee · ✗ 1 product · 100 students only | ✓ Basic $36/mo · unlimited courses + students · 0% fees |
| Sweet spot (annual) | Growth $199/mo · 50 products · 25K contacts · affiliates · advanced automations | ✓ Builder $69/mo · 0% fees · 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 · custom admins | Grow $149/mo · bulk emails · API access · priority support |
| Transaction fees | 0% with Kajabi Payments · 2% surcharge Basic / 1% Growth / 0.5% Pro if using own Stripe | 7.5% on Starter · 0% on Builder/Growth/Advanced · breakeven: $533/mo in revenue | ✓ 0% on all plans (with Thinkific Payments) |
| Watch out for | Kickstarter plan eliminated Jan 2026 — many old guides still show $89/mo. Stripe surcharge is in addition to Stripe’s own 2.9%+30¢. Basic contact limit of 2,500 forces upgrade to Growth at $199/mo. | Starter has only 1 published product and 100 student limit — not 5 products as many guides say. 7.5% fee means Starter is more expensive than Builder above $533/mo revenue. No built-in email marketing at any tier. | Free plan is discontinued — 14-day trial only. No built-in email marketing at any tier. At Grow ($149/mo), you’re near Kajabi Basic ($143/mo) price without the marketing tools. |
The Full Picture
Kajabi — All-in-One Platform After January 2026 Price Restructure
Kajabi’s January 2026 restructuring was the platform’s first major price change in nearly a decade. The Kickstarter plan at $89/month was eliminated — making the Basic plan at $179/month ($143/month annual) the new entry point. This is the highest starting price in the course platform market. Existing customers were migrated at the new rate, which generated significant backlash in creator communities. If you’re evaluating Kajabi based on any guide showing a $89 or $69 Kickstarter option, that plan is gone.
The transaction fee advertised as “0%” deserves scrutiny. Kajabi does have 0% platform transaction fees — but only if you process payments through Kajabi Payments, Kajabi’s own payment system. If you use your own Stripe account, Kajabi adds a surcharge: 2% on Basic, 1% on Growth, 0.5% on Pro, in addition to Stripe’s standard 2.9% + 30¢. For a creator generating $5,000/month in revenue on Basic with Stripe, that 2% surcharge is $100/month — meaningful against the $143/month subscription cost. Using Kajabi Payments avoids this entirely but requires accepting Kajabi’s payment infrastructure.
The core Kajabi value proposition remains unchanged: it’s the only platform in this comparison that genuinely replaces email marketing, sales funnels, and course delivery in one subscription. For creators currently paying $30+/month for ConvertKit, $50+/month for ClickFunnels, and $70+/month for a course platform, the $143/month consolidated cost can deliver real savings. The Basic plan’s 2,500 contact cap is the most common forcing function to upgrade to Growth at $199/month — plan for it if list growth is a priority.
Teachable — Starter Plan Limits Are More Restrictive Than Advertised
Teachable restructured its plans significantly in June 2025, introducing a four-tier Starter/Builder/Growth/Advanced structure with new product and student caps. The most important correction vs older guides: Teachable Starter ($29/month annual) now allows only 1 published product and 100 students — not 5 products as many comparison articles still show. For most creators building a real course business, Starter’s limitations make it a validation-only tier at best.
The Builder plan at $69/month (annual) is where most active Teachable creators belong. It eliminates the 7.5% transaction fee, supports 5 products, 1,000 students, built-in affiliate tools, and custom domain. The breakeven calculation is straightforward: once your monthly revenue exceeds $533, the 7.5% fee on Starter costs more than the $40/month difference between Starter and Builder. Any creator consistently generating $600+/month should be on Builder. The 7-day free trial plus 30-day money-back guarantee across all plans gives genuine evaluation time before committing.
At the Growth tier ($139/month), Teachable and Kajabi Basic ($143/month) converge to within $4 of each other on annual billing. At that price point, the comparison shifts to what you actually need: Teachable Growth offers more published products (25) and unlimited students, but no email marketing or funnels. Kajabi Basic offers email marketing and funnel tools built-in with a 2,500 contact cap. Choose based on whether marketing consolidation or course scale is the priority.
Thinkific — Free Plan Gone, But Still the Best Pure LMS
Thinkific’s permanent free plan — previously one of its most significant differentiators — has been discontinued. New users see a 14-day free trial (no credit card required) followed by the Basic plan at $36/month annual billing. Despite losing the free plan, Thinkific remains the most affordable entry point for a serious course platform: $36/month with unlimited courses, unlimited students, and 0% transaction fees on all plans. The free trial without a credit card requirement is still meaningful as risk-free evaluation time.
Thinkific’s genuine competitive advantage is LMS depth. SCORM support, gradebooks, certificates of completion, enforced lesson completion, live lessons, cohort courses with enforced deadlines, and bulk student enrollment make it the strongest platform for creators building serious educational experiences — compliance training, corporate learning programs, and structured curriculum. None of the other platforms in this comparison come close to Thinkific’s learning infrastructure capability. Thinkific Communities eliminates the need for a separate Circle.so or Slack workspace alongside your courses.
The limitation that prevents Thinkific from being the default choice for most creators is marketing: there is no built-in email marketing at any plan level. You’ll need to pay for ConvertKit, Mailchimp, or an equivalent alongside Thinkific. At the Grow plan ($149/month), you’re paying nearly the same as Kajabi Basic ($143/month) but without email marketing and funnels. Thinkific wins when teaching quality is the primary product and marketing is handled externally. Kajabi wins when the marketing engine is as important as the course itself.
Who Should Use Each Tool?
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 run coaching, memberships, and courses alongside each other
- You’ll use Kajabi Payments to avoid the Stripe surcharge
Choose Teachable if…
- You want the fastest path from content to selling online
- Affiliate marketing is important for your growth strategy
- You already have email tools — just need course delivery
- Builder ($69/mo, 0% fees) fits your budget
- Avoid Starter if generating $533/mo+ in revenue
Choose Thinkific if…
- You need SCORM, gradebooks, or compliance certification tools
- Unlimited courses and students on an affordable plan matter
- Corporate training or structured curriculum is your market
- Learning quality and depth outweigh marketing capability
- You’re comfortable handling email marketing with a separate tool
Best Tool by Use Case
Hidden Costs & Gotchas
Kajabi — Kickstarter plan eliminated January 2026
The $89/month Kickstarter plan was removed in January 2026, making Basic at $179/month ($143/month annual) the new minimum. Many older guides and review articles still show $89/month as an option. Budget from $143/month when planning your Kajabi costs.
Kajabi — “0% transaction fees” caveat
Kajabi’s 0% platform fee only applies when using Kajabi Payments. Using your own Stripe account adds a surcharge: 2% on Basic, 1% on Growth, 0.5% on Pro — on top of Stripe’s standard 2.9% + 30¢. At $5K/month revenue on Basic, that’s $100/month extra. Always factor in whether you’ll use Kajabi Payments or your own Stripe.
Thinkific — Free plan is discontinued
Thinkific’s permanent free plan no longer exists. New users get a 14-day trial (no credit card required) then must move to a paid plan. The Basic plan at $36/month annual is the current entry. Any guide showing Thinkific as having a free plan is outdated.
Teachable Starter — Only 1 product and 100 students
Many older guides show Teachable Starter allowing 5 published products. After the June 2025 restructure, Starter allows only 1 published product and 100 students. Combined with the 7.5% transaction fee, Starter is primarily useful for validating a single course idea at very low volume.
Teachable — Starter 7.5% fee breakeven
At $533/month in revenue, the Teachable Starter 7.5% fee costs the same as upgrading to Builder ($69/month, 0% fees). Above $533/month, Builder is cheaper in total cost. Any creator consistently selling above $500/month should be on Builder, not Starter.
All three — Email marketing gap
Only Kajabi includes native email marketing. Both Teachable and Thinkific require a separate email tool (ConvertKit, Mailchimp, Brevo, etc.). Add $15–50/month for email to accurately compare Teachable and Thinkific’s true costs against Kajabi’s all-in pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Kajabi really have 0% transaction fees?
Does Thinkific have a free plan in 2026?
What are the Teachable Starter plan limits?
At what revenue level does Kajabi make sense?
Can I migrate from Teachable to Kajabi?
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.