Creating and selling online courses can be confusing.
You want to make excellent content but also need the right tools.
Two of the biggest names are Kajabi and Thinkific.
They both help you build and sell courses, but they have some key differences.
In this article, we’ll compare Kajabi vs Thinkific to help you decide which platform is the perfect fit for your online course business in 2025.
Overview
To give you the most accurate comparison, we’ve spent weeks testing both Kajabi and Thinkific.
We built sample courses, explored marketing features, and processed mock sales.
This hands-on experience gives you a real-world look at what each platform offers.
Kajabi provides the tools to create, market, and sell online courses, build a professional website, and engage your audience.
Pricing: Available custom code editor. Paid plan Starts at $71/month
Key Features:
- Course Creation
- Marketing Automation
- Community Features
Ready to join the 50,000+ creators already using Thinkific to sell their courses? See how easy it is to build your online empire.
Pricing: No free plan is available. Paid plan Starts at $74/month
Key Features:
- Course Creation
- Marketing Tools
- Community Features
What is Kajabi?
Kajabi is just like the Swiss Army knife of online course platforms.
It’s an all-in-one system that gives you everything you need to create, market, and sell your courses.
Think of it as your online course headquarters.
Also, explore our favorite Kajabi alternatives…
To explore Kajabi’s potential for your online business, visit their website. Kajabi offers a robust platform for scaling your online courses and digital products.
Key Benefits
Here’s what makes Kajabi super cool:
- Website builder: Kajabi makes it easy to build your website. You don’t need to know any coding. Just drag and drop!
- Email helper: You can send emails to everyone who likes your stuff right from Kajabi. There is no need to use a different tool.
- Sales funnels: This helps you get people to buy your courses or other things you’re selling.
- Marketing tools: Kajabi has lots of tools to help you get more followers and sell more stuff.
Pricing
Kajabi has a few different options:
- Kickstarter ($71 Billed annually): 1 Website, 1 Product + 1 Community, 250 Contacts
- Basic ($119 Billed annually): 1 Website, 3 Products, 10,000 Contacts
- Growth ($159 Billed annually): 1 Website, 15 Products, 25,000 Contacts
- Pro ($319 Billed annually): 3 Websites, 100 Products, 100,000 Contacts
Pros
Cons
What is Thinkific?
Thinkific is like the friendly neighborhood coffee shop of online course platforms.
It’s warm, welcoming, and focused on building a strong community around your courses.
If you love connecting with your students and fostering a sense of belonging, Thinkific might be your perfect match.
Also, explore our favorite Thinkific alternatives…
Ready to join the 50,000+ creators already using Thinkific to sell their courses? Start your free Thinkific trial today and see how easy it is to build your online empire.
Key Benefits
Thinkific really shines when it comes to course creation. Here’s what makes it stand out:
- Robust Course Builder: You get a lot of control over how your courses look and function. Thinkific lets you add videos, quizzes, downloads, and more.
- Marketing Tools: They offer tools to help you promote your courses, like email integrations and sales page templates.
- Customization: You can tailor the look and feel of your course platform to match your brand.
Pricing
Thinkific offers a range of plans to fit different needs. Their Basic plan starts at $36/month. Here’s a quick breakdown of what you can expect as you upgrade:
- Start: $74/month for 1 Community.
- Grow: $149/month for 3 Community.
Pros
Cons
Feature Comparison
Let’s dive deeper and compare Kajabi and Thinkific feature by feature.
This will help you see which platform best fits your needs.
1. Course Builder
Both Kajabi and Thinkific offer intuitive course builders that make it very easy to create online courses.
You can upload videos, add quizzes, and organize your course content with drag-and-drop ease.
However, Kajabi’s course builder is slightly more streamlined and user-friendly, especially for beginners.
Thinkific offers more customization options, which might appeal to experienced course creators.
2. Quizzes and Assessments
Kajabi and Thinkific offer various quiz and assessment options to help you track student progress and engagement.
You can create multiple-choice, actual/false, and even open-ended questions.
Thinkific provides more advanced quizzing features, like question banks and randomized quizzes.
3. Sales Page Builder
If you want to create online courses that sell, having a high-converting sales page is crucial.
Kajabi shines in this area with its built-in sales page builder and professionally designed templates.
Thinkific also offers sales page templates, but they are not as polished or conversion-focused as Kajabi’s.
4. Email Marketing
Kajabi has a powerful built-in email marketing tool lets you segment your audience and automate email sequences.
This is a massive plus for creators who want to nurture leads and promote their courses.
Thinkific relies on integrations with third-party email marketing providers, which can add extra costs and complexity.
5. Automation
Both platforms offer automation features to streamline your workflow.
For example, you can automate tasks like welcome emails, course reminders, and certificate delivery, as Kajabi does.
However, Kajabi offers more advanced automation capabilities, including sales funnels and marketing pipelines.
6. Mobile App
While both platforms have mobile-responsive designs, only Thinkific offers a dedicated mobile app.
This allows students to access course content on the go.
7. Community Features
Thinkific puts a strong emphasis on community building.
They provide features like discussion forums, private groups, and live sessions to foster interaction between students and instructors.
While Kajabi allows for some community interaction, it doesn’t have the same dedicated community-building tools as Thinkific.
What to Look for in a Course Platform?
- Ease of Use: Choose a platform that is very intuitive & easy to navigate, even for beginners.
- Course Creation Tools: Look for features like drag-and-drop builders, multimedia support, and quiz options.
- Marketing and Sales Features: Consider built-in tools like email marketing, sales funnels, and landing page builders.
- Pricing: Choose a plan that fits the budget and offers desired features.
- Community Features: If you value community interaction, look for platforms with features like discussion forums and live sessions.
- Customer Support: Make sure the platform offers reliable customer support if you need help.
- Integrations: Check if the platform integrates with your favorite tools, such as email marketing providers or payment processors.
Final Verdict
Choosing between Kajabi and Thinkific depends on your needs.
If you’re looking for an all-in-one platform with powerful marketing tools and a focus on sales, Kajabi is the winner.
It’s perfect for creators who want to streamline their business and maximize revenue.
However, if you prioritize community building and affordability, Thinkific is the better choice.
It’s great for creators who want to foster a strong sense of belonging and connect with their students on a deeper level.
Ultimately, the best platform for you is the one that aligns with your goals and budget.
More of Kajabi
- Kajabi vs Skool: Kajabi offers all-in-one business tools; Skool focuses specifically on community, courses, and gamification.
- Kajabi vs Swarm: Kajabi provides broad creator tools; Swarm is designed for structured, interest-based communities.
- Kajabi vs Teachable: Kajabi is a full business platform; Teachable centers on course creation with community features.
- Kajabi vs GoHighLevel: Kajabi targets creators with courses/community; GoHighLevel is a marketing/sales automation suite.
- Kajabi vs MightyNetworks: Kajabi integrates robust marketing; MightyNetworks prioritizes community, courses, and content together.
- Kajabi vs Bettermode: Kajabi is an all-in-one creator platform; Bettermode provides a highly customizable dedicated community space.
- Kajabi vs LearnWorlds: Kajabi is a complete business platform; LearnWorlds focuses on interactive online courses and learning communities.
- Kajabi vs Circle: Kajabi is an all-in-one solution; Circle is a dedicated, modern community platform.
- Kajabi vs Disco: Kajabi is a general creator platform; Disco is built for cohort-based courses and learning communities.
- Kajabi vs Wylo: Kajabi is a business platform for creators; Wylo connects users via interest-based communities.
- Kajabi vs Whop: Kajabi is a platform for building and selling directly, while Whop is a marketplace for the community of sale/digital access.
More of Thinkific
Here are brief comparisons of Thinkific against the specified alternatives:
- Thinkific vs Skool: Thinkific is a core course platform; Skool combines community, courses, and gamification.
- Thinkific vs Swarm: Thinkific is a course platform with a community; Swarm focuses on structured community engagement.
- Thinkific vs Teachable: Thinkific and Teachable are both leading platforms focused on creating and selling online courses.
- Thinkific vs GoHighLevel: Thinkific is a course platform, while GoHighLevel is a broad marketing automation platform that includes courses and a community.
- Thinkific vs MightyNetworks: Thinkific is a course platform with a community; MightyNetworks integrates community, courses, and content more deeply.
- Thinkific vs Bettermode: Thinkific is a course platform; Bettermode focuses on building highly customizable community spaces.
- Thinkific vs LearnWorlds: Thinkific is a course platform; LearnWorlds specializes in interactive courses and learning communities.
- Thinkific vs Circle: Thinkific is a course platform with a community; Circle focuses purely on building standalone communities.
- Thinkific vs Disco: Thinkific is a general course platform; Disco is tailored for cohort-based learning communities.
- Thinkific vs Wylo: Thinkific is a course platform; Wylo connects individuals via interest-based groups/communities.
- Thinkific vs Whop: Thinkific is a course platform with a community; Whop sells access to communities and digital products via a marketplace.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kajabi better than Thinkific?
It depends on your priorities! Kajabi is better for all-in-one features and marketing power, while Thinkific excels at community building and affordability.
Can I create a website with Kajabi and Thinkific?
Yes! Both platforms offer website-building features, although Kajabi’s are more extensive.
Do Kajabi and Thinkific have free trials?
Kajabi offers a 14-day free trial. Thinkific has a free plan with limited features and gives trials of their paid plans.
Which platform is easier to use, Kajabi or Thinkific?
Both platforms are user-friendly, but Thinkific is generally slightly easier to navigate, especially for beginners.
Can I sell courses on both Kajabi and Thinkific?
Absolutely! Both platforms provide the tools to sell your online courses, but Kajabi offers more advanced sales and marketing features.
