Creating an online course business provides an incredible opportunity in today’s digital world. But with so many course creation platforms out there, I faced a major decision when starting out – should I use Thinkific or Kajabi?
Both are incredibly popular platforms used by thousands of course creators. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll compare Thinkific vs Kajabi to help you determine the best platform for your needs.
I’ll examine all the key factors side-by-side:
- Course creation capabilities
- Membership site functionality
- Themes and customization
- Payment processing
- Interactive features
- Analytics and reporting
- Marketing tools
- And more
My goal is to provide an unbiased look at the pros and cons of Thinkific and Kajabi, so you can confidently choose the right platform to build your online course business.
Let’s dive in and start by looking at exactly what each platform offers.
Introduction to Thinkific and Kajabi
Thinkific and Kajabi are two of the most popular online course creation platforms available today. They share some similarities but also have key differences.
What is Thinkific?
Thinkific is an all-in-one platform focused specifically on creating and selling online courses. Over 50,000 course creators use Thinkific to build their course-based businesses.
Some of Thinkific’s key features include:
- Intuitive course builder with drag and drop interface
- Course creation templates
- Quizzes, surveys, and assessments
- Community forum for students
- Marketing tools like coupons and affiliate programs
- Integrations with email, payment processing, and other software
Thinkific aims to provide everything an online course creator needs, while still maintaining a simple and easy-to-use platform.
Start Thinkific’s Free Trial to Try it Out
If you want to test drive Thinkific, you can start a free trial here. The free plan allows you to create two courses with up to 100 students. It’s a great way to experiment with the platform at no cost.
What is Kajabi?
Kajabi is a more robust knowledge commerce platform used to create all types of digital products – online courses, membership sites, coaching programs, digital downloads, and more.
Some of Kajabi’s notable features include:
- Website builder to create landing pages
- Email marketing and automation
- Membership site capabilities
- Sales funnels and pipelines
- Built-in affiliate program
- Mobile app
While Thinkific just focuses on courses, Kajabi aims to help users sell all kinds of digital products while also providing marketing tools to promote them.
Try Kajabi with a Free 14-Day Trial
You can test out Kajabi for free for 14 days to experience the platform firsthand. Kajabi offers a temporary 14-day free trial where you can explore the features and set up a starter site.
Thinkific vs. Kajabi At a Glance
To summarize the key differences:
| Thinkific | Kajabi | |
| Focus | Online courses | Broad knowledge commerce |
| Main Features | Course builder, marketing tools | Website builder, email marketing, membership sites, sales funnels |
| Free Trial | Full access free plan | 14-day free trial |
| Ideal For | Course creators | Digital entrepreneurs selling multiple products |
Thinkific and Kajabi have similarities in their core course-building features, but Kajabi aims to support a full online business through its suite of creation and marketing tools.
Online Course Creation Features
The core function of both Thinkific and Kajabi is building online courses. So how do the two platforms compare when it comes to creating your course content?
Thinkific’s Course Structures
Thinkific enables you to create 3 main types of courses:
- Mini-courses – Short free or low-cost courses used to provide samples or generate leads.
- Flagship courses – In-depth comprehensive courses that are your main paid offerings.
- Pre-sell pages – Landing pages to promote upcoming courses and take pre-orders.
Of course, you can also create any course structure you like starting from a blank slate.
Some of Thinkific’s helpful course creation features include:
- Drag and drop builder for easy content creation
- Bulk upload lessons and chapters
- Drip content to members over time
- Offer certificates of completion
- Video hosting included
Start Thinkific’s Free Trial to Try the Course Builder
You can test out creating a course in Thinkific completely free through their forever free plan, no credit card required.
Kajabi’s Range of Course Options
Kajabi provides templates and tools to create various types of digital education products:
- Mini-courses – Short introductory courses.
- Online courses – The flagship in-depth courses.
- Evergreen training – Reusable training modules released over time.
- Memberships – Subscription access to collections of courses.
- Communities – Interactive spaces for students to connect.
- Coaching programs – Structured multi-week coaching journeys.
Kajabi aims to help creators develop full online businesses through its suite of offerings, beyond just standalone courses.
When using Kajabi to build courses, notable features include:
- Pre-designed course blueprints
- Customize and rearrange course curriculum
- Drip feed lessons over time
- Quizzes and workbooks
- Video hosting included
Experience Kajabi’s Course Tools with a Free Trial
You can get started with Kajabi free for 14 days to try out building a course.
Thinkific vs Kajabi Course Creation: The Verdict
Both platforms make it simple for online course creators to build high-quality courses through their intuitive drag-and-drop builders.
Thinkific offers a straightforward course creation-focused platform. Kajabi provides more options for membership sites, coaching programs, and various course structures.
For the simplest course creation focused only on online courses, Thinkific has an edge. But Kajabi enables you to expand beyond just courses.
Membership Site Functionality
A membership site allows you to provide subscribers with ongoing access to collections of courses, content, and community.
Both Thinkific and Kajabi enable creators to offer membership sites, but they take slightly different approaches.
Building Memberships with Thinkific
While Thinkific is focused on selling online courses, you can use it to create membership site-style offerings by:
- Bundling multiple online courses together into packages
- Offering private content only available to members
- Using stripe to charge recurring subscription fees
- Allowing members-only access to Facebook groups or communities
Some benefits of Thinkific for memberships include:
- Simple bundled checkout for course packages
- Ability to drip feed content over time
- Discussion forums for member interaction
Start Thinkific’s Free Trial to Try Memberships
You can test drive setting up a membership site on the Thinkific free plan without any payment.
Kajabi’s Membership Site Tools
Kajabi is built specifically to support membership sites and communities. Key membership features include:
- Multi-tiered membership levels
- Customize membership landing pages
- Offer member forums
- Drip feed content to members over time
- Take recurring payments
Some perks of using Kajabi for memberships:
- Membership management dashboard
- Automated trial periods and renewals
- Members-only discounts and coupons
Experience Kajabi Memberships with a 14-Day Free Trial
You can try Kajabi free for 14 days to build a membership site and see firsthand how it works.
Membership Site Verdict
For the most robust membership site capabilities, Kajabi is the winner. But Thinkific offers enough membership features to provide subscription access to your courses.
Thinkific works well for simple course package memberships, while Kajabi excels at building full-featured membership sites with tiered access, member forums, and more.
Page Builder and Themes
The templates and themes available on Thinkific and Kajabi allow you to customize the look and feel of your course pages and website.
Thinkific’s Theme Options
Thinkific provides 3 core theme options:
- Modern – A clean modern design
- Platform – A simple no-frills look
- Vibrant – A lively theme with bright colors
Each has 3-4 style variations you can pick from. Some benefits of Thinkific’s themes include:
- Professionally designed modern templates
- Change colors, fonts, and layouts
- Add your own logo and branding
Downsides to be aware of:
- Only 12 total theme and style options
- Advanced customization requires coding
Preview Thinkific’s Themes on the Free Plan
You can preview Thinkific’s storefront themes using their forever free plan with no payment required.
Kajabi’s Theme Customization
Kajabi provides 10+ theme options you can use to design your site’s look and feel:
- Lawyer – For attorneys and legal professionals
- Summit – For events and conferences
- Mastermind – For high-end coaching programs
And more targeted at specific niches.
Benefits of Kajabi’s themes:
- Professionally designed for different niches
- Change colors, fonts and assets
- No coding required for customizing
Potential downsides:
- Can’t deeply customize page structure
- Limited style options per theme
Preview Kajabi’s Themes with a 14-Day Free Trial
You can test drive Kajabi’s themes by starting a free 14-day trial here.
Page Builder and Themes Verdict
For the easiest customization without needing coding skills, Kajabi wins. Thinkific has great modern templates but lack of coding ability limits deep customization.
Both platforms allow you to create an attractive, branded course site experience without web development resources.
Payment Processing and Payouts
To sell your online courses and memberships, seamless payment processing and payouts are crucial. Here is how Thinkific and Kajabi compare in this area.
Thinkific’s Payment Options
Thinkific offers flexible payment processing through integrations with:
- Stripe for credit/debit card payments
- PayPal for processing payments
Some key benefits include:
- Immediately collect payment when purchases are made
- Students can pay in their currency of choice
- Payouts processed to your bank account automatically
Downsides to note:
- PayPal not available for recurring subscriptions
- Extra transaction fees apply
Test Payments in Thinkific’s Free Trial
You can experiment with payments by creating a sample course on Thinkific’s free plan.
Kajabi’s Payment Management
Kajabi also integrates Stripe and PayPal to handle payments:
- Accept credit card and PayPal purchases
- Offer installment plans and subscriptions
- Automatic payouts to your bank
Benefits of Kajabi’s payment options:
- PayPal works for one-time and recurring payments
- Built-in tools to manage refunds
- Volume discounts to lower transaction fees
Potential downside:
- Additional fees per transaction
Give Kajabi Payments a Try in the 14-Day Free Trial
Test out Kajabi payments by starting a free 14-day trial.
Payment Processing Verdict
Both platforms offer convenient payment processing through trusted providers like Stripe and PayPal. Kajabi has a slight edge for flexible recurring payment options. But both streamline collecting payments for online courses and memberships.
Quizzes, Assessments and Interactive Elements
Engaging your students with interactive content like quizzes, worksheets, and multimedia is an impactful learning tool. Here’s how Thinkific and Kajabi compare.
Thinkific’s Interactive Options
With Thinkific, you can enhance your online courses with:
- Quizzes and surveys
- Interactive worksheets
- Webinars and live videos
- Downloadable PDFs
- Audio podcasts
- Presentation slides
Benefits include:
- Easily create quizzes with a drag-and-drop builder
- Instantly share materials through direct downloads
- User progress tracking for quizzes and worksheets
Experience Interactive Content with Thinkific’s Free Trial
You can add interactive elements like quizzes by starting a free trial of Thinkific here.
Kajabi’s Interactive Content
Kajabi also enables you to integrate engaging content like:
- Quizzes with customized scoring
- Live webinars and chats
- Downloadable PDF workbooks
- Audio and video content
- Presentation decks
- And more
Notable benefits include:
- Quiz result analytics for each student
- Schedule live sessions directly in Kajabi
- Easy file and media management
Try Kajabi’s Interactive Features with a Free Trial
You can test out adding interactive content on a Kajabi free trial.
Interactive Content Verdict
For interactive quizzes and multimedia, Thinkific and Kajabi are neck-and-neck with neither platform holding a strong advantage.
Both make it simple to engage students with assessments, downloads, webinars, and more.
Analytics and Reporting
Detailed analytics help you track student progress and course results. Here’s how Thinkific and Kajabi empower you with data and insights.
Thinkific’s Analytics and Reports
Thinkific provides analytics through:
- An intuitive dashboard showing key metrics
- Google Analytics integration for visitor tracking
- Exporting detailed CSV reports
Benefits include:
- Monitor student enrollment and completion rates
- See total revenue and sales numbers
- Filter reports by date ranges and criteria
Review Reports on the Thinkific Free Plan
You can access basic analytics and reporting in Thinkific’s free version to try it out.
Kajabi’s Analytics and Insights
Kajabi also offers analytics and reporting with:
- Real-time dashboard showing critical business data
- Google Analytics to track visitors and funnel conversion
- Custom reports builder
Notable perks include:
- Visual graphs and charts for key metrics
- Segment data by products, subscriptions, and more
- Schedule and email automated reports
See Kajabi Analytics in Action with a Free Trial
You can view sample reporting dashboards using a 14-day free trial of Kajabi here.
Analytics Verdict
Both platforms provide excellent analytics either natively or through Google Analytics integration. For the widest range of customizable reports, Kajabi wins.
But you can’t go wrong with the robust reporting from either platform.
Customer Support
Reliable customer support is crucial when running an online business. Here is how Thinkific and Kajabi compare when it comes to getting help.
Thinkific’s Support Options
Thinkific provides customer support through:
- Email support
- Live chat
- Phone support
- Documentation center
- Active user community forums
Some key advantages include:
- Live chat available during business hours
- Active user community for advice
- Solid support center with helpful articles
Potential downsides:
- No 24/7 live chat support
- No weekend live chat availability
Get Support as a Thinkific Free User
Thinkific’s free users can access email support and the knowledge base.
Kajabi Customer Support
Kajabi also offers multiple support channels:
- Email support
- 24/7 live chat assistance
- Phone support
- Searchable support site database
- Private VIP community
Standout features:
- 24/7 live chat assistance
- Direct one-on-one support reps
- VIP access for priority support
Drawbacks:
- No community forums for advice
- Support limited for free trial
Experience Kajabi Support Firsthand
You can test out Kajabi’s live chat and knowledge base using a free 14-day trial here.
Customer Support Verdict
For round-the-clock assistance, Kajabi is the winner with its 24/7 live chat availability. But both platforms offer email, phone, documentation, and community access. Overall, support is excellent from both Thinkific and Kajabi.
Integrations and Connections
Expanding the capabilities of your course platform through third-party integrations is important. Here is how Thinkific and Kajabi compare.
Thinkific Integrations
Thinkific offers integrations with popular tools like:
- Zapier – Connect with 1000+ apps
- Mailchimp – Email marketing
- Slack – Team communication
- PayPal – Process payments
- And more
Benefits include:
- Automate workflows between platforms
- Expand marketing reach
- Streamline operations
Add Integrations on Thinkific’s Free Plan
You can connect your free Thinkific account to tools like Mailchimp and more.
Kajabi Integrations
Kajabi also provides integration with top apps like:
- Zapier – Access 1000+ integrations
- Mailchimp, AWeber – Email services
- Stripe – Payment processing
- Zoom – Webinars and meetings
Standout features:
- Pre-built templates for major integrations
- Native email marketing integrations
- Automate workflows across platforms
Try Kajabi Integrations in the Free Trial
When you start a free Kajabi trial, you can experiment with integrations.
Integrations Verdict
For no-code pre-built templates, Kajabi wins. But both platforms offer Zapier connectivity and key marketing and payment tool integrations. The integration capabilities are well-matched overall.
Key Feature Differences
While Thinkific and Kajabi have similar core course creation tools, they each have unique strengths.
🏆 Kajabi’s Standout Features
Kajabi shines when it comes to:
- Automated Marketing Funnels – Kajabi’s sales funnel builder makes complex funnels drag and drop simple.
- Built-in Email Marketing – Create broadcasts, autoresponders, and workflows with no extra tools needed.
- Membership Sites – Kajabi is purpose-built for multi-tiered membership sites.
- Sales Pipeline Tools – Visual sales pipeline builder with lead tagging and tracking.
🏆 Thinkific’s Notable Features
Thinkific stands out for:
- Course Focus – Specialized course creation tools optimized for elearning.
- Analytics – More granular analytics available through Mixpanel integration.
- Affiliate Marketing – Built-in affiliate program with flexible commission rates.
- Lower Cost – More affordable scaling pricing for growing course catalogs.
| Feature | Kajabi | Thinkific |
| Course Creation Tools | ♦️♦️♦️♦️ | ♦️♦️♦️♦️ |
| Membership Sites | ♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️ | ♦️♦️♦️ |
| Email Marketing | ♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️ | ♦️ |
| Affiliate Marketing | ♦️♦️♦️ | ♦️♦️♦️♦️ |
| Sales Funnels | ♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️ | |
| Analytics | ♦️♦️♦️♦️ | ♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️ |
Pricing and Plans
Thinkific and Kajabi both offer competitive pricing, but modelled differently.
Thinkific Pricing
Thinkific offers 4 core plans:
- Free – Limited to 2 courses and 100 students
- Basic – $39/month with unlimited courses and 500 students
- Pro – $99/month adds white labelling and other premium features
- Premium – $299/month for enterprise-level features and priority support
Thinkific advantages:
✅ Free version available to test ✅ Scales affordably to large course catalogs ✅ No transaction fees on top of monthly fee
Get Started with Thinkific’s Free Plan
You can sign up for Thinkific’s free plan here without needing a credit card.
Kajabi Pricing
Kajabi has 3 main subscription plans:
- Basic – $119/month for 3 products and 1,000 contacts
- Growth – $199/month for 15 products and 10,000 contacts
- Pro – $399/month for unlimited products and contacts
Kajabi advantages:
✅ All plans enable full access to features ✅ Volume discounts available on higher tiers ✅ No course student limits
Try Kajabi Free for 14 Days
You can begin a free 14-day trial of Kajabi here without payment.
Pricing Verdict
For the lowest cost to start, Thinkific offers a free plan. Kajabi provides better value scaling up with your business growth. Evaluate your current and future needs to determine the best cost and value fit.
Conclusion and Recommendations
Thinkific and Kajabi are both excellent platforms for creating and selling online courses. But which one is the better choice for your business?
Here are my final recommendations based on the key factors we’ve compared:
For pure online course creation – I recommend Thinkific. It has an edge with its course builder-focused features, granular analytics, and lower-cost scaling.
Try Thinkific’s course creation tools for free here.
For membership sites or marketing bundles – I recommend Kajabi. It shines for automating marketing workflows, robust membership sites, and built-in sales funnels.
Experience Kajabi’s marketing automation with a free trial.
For the simplest setup and use – I recommend Thinkific. It’s easier for beginners to get started with its intuitive interface. Kajabi has a steeper learning curve.
Sign up for Thinkific’s forever-free plan here.
For the best value as you scale – I recommend Kajabi if you want robust email marketing and funnels. Thinkific offers better value scaling course volume with student limits.
Get started with Kajabi’s free trial.
Here are a few final tips as you choose your course platform:
- Try both free plans to get hands-on with each platform.
- Consider your current needs and room for growth.
- Factor in the pricing at higher tiers for advanced features.
- Join a community to connect with other users.
While there are clear strengths for each platform, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Evaluate your specific goals to decide if Thinkific or Kajabi is a better fit to create successful online courses.
Thinkific vs Kajabi – FAQs
I’ve provided you with the ultimate answers to your related questions on Thinkific vs Kajabi.
What is the biggest difference between Thinkific and Kajabi?
The core difference is that Thinkific is an online course platform focused specifically on creating and selling courses. Kajabi is a broader knowledge commerce platform for online courses, memberships, coaching programs, and other digital products.
Is Thinkific better than Kajabi for creating online courses?
Thinkific has a slight edge for course creation features and provides better value when scaling up a high volume of online courses. But Kajabi also enables excellent online course creation and has unique benefits like built-in marketing tools.
What does Kajabi offer that Thinkific does not?
Notable features only Kajabi offers include website builder, email marketing automation, membership site capabilities, sales funnels and pipelines, and a built-in affiliate program.
Does Thinkific offer a free plan?
Yes, Thinkific offers a free plan with unlimited courses and up to 100 students. Kajabi only has a 14-day free trial – there is no permanently free plan.
Which platform is easier for beginners to use?
Overall, Thinkific has a more beginner-friendly interface and onboarding process. Kajabi is more robust but has a steeper learning curve.
Which is more affordable – Thinkific or Kajabi?
Thinkific has better value in scaling up online course volume. Kajabi offers more value with its suite of marketing tools at higher tiers. It depends on your specific needs.
What support options do the platforms offer?
Both provide email, live chat, phone, documentation, and community support. Kajabi offers 24/7 live chat, while Thinkific’s has limited hours.
Can you create membership sites on Thinkific or Kajabi?
Both platforms allow membership sites, but Kajabi specializes in multi-tiered membership management and content drip capabilities.
