Reality: Teachable starts at $39/mo. Add email marketing, funnels, and automation — and you’re at $150–$200/mo. Same price. Less system.
This isn’t a features comparison. It’s a revenue comparison. One platform is built to host courses. The other is built to sell them.
Winner: Kajabi. If your goal is revenue, there’s no real comparison.
If you’re serious about making money, start here.
Already Decided on Kajabi?
Don’t Pay $179/mo — Start at $33/month
3 months full access for $99. The lowest price Kajabi offers. No fixed end date.
3 months full access · Cancel anytime in 1 click
Not sure yet? Read the full Kajabi review or see the pricing breakdown first.
What “0% Transaction Fees” Really Means
Both platforms advertise 0% transaction fees. The real cost difference shows up when you look at what’s not included.
Typical tools Teachable users add within 6 months:
- Email marketing platform: $30–$60/month
- Funnel or landing page builder: $20–$50/month
- Automation integrations: $20–$50/month
That’s $70–$160/month on top of Teachable. Kajabi Basic includes all of it.
Already decided? → Start Kajabi for $33/month (3-month access)
2026 Pricing Comparison
| 2026 Pricing Comparison (Annual Billing) | ||
| Feature | Teachable Basic | Kajabi Basic |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price (Annual) | $39/mo | $143/mo→ $33/mo with $99 deal |
| List Price (Monthly) | $59/mo | $179/mo |
| Email Marketing | ❌ Not included | ✓ Included |
| Funnel Builder | ❌ Limited | ✓ Included |
| Automation | ❌ Basic only | ✓ Included |
| Community | ❌ Not included | ✓ Included |
| Website Builder | ❌ Not included | ✓ Included |
| Transaction Fee | 0%* | 0% |
| * Teachable charges transaction fees on lower plans. Kajabi charges 0% via Kajabi Payments; using 3rd-party Stripe adds a 2% surcharge on Basic. | ||
At $33/month, Kajabi costs less than most Teachable tool stacks.
Students vs. Contacts — Why This Matters
Teachable limits by Students (buyers). Kajabi measures by Contacts (buyers + leads + subscribers).
Imagine 1,000 visitors this month:
- 50 people buy your course
- 200 people join your email list
Teachable: 50 students. The 200 leads live in a separate tool you pay for separately.
Kajabi: 250 contacts — buyers and leads — in one system. Follow-up happens automatically.
Most revenue doesn’t come from the first sale. It comes from what happens after. That’s where Kajabi wins.
Calculate Your Revenue Difference
Same traffic. Same course. Different system. Enter your numbers below.
📊 Revenue Impact Calculator
Leads: separate tool
+$3,000
Estimates based on: 5% lead conversion, 10% upsell rate. Actual results vary.
A 1% conversion difference is thousands per month.
That’s the gap between a platform that hosts content and one that actually sells it.
Kajabi is built for the second.
Still unsure? Read the full Kajabi review before deciding.
Who Should Use Each Platform
- Haven’t validated your idea yet — no audience, no signal
- Just need a place to upload one course and nothing else
- Can’t realistically make 1 sale in the next 30 days
- Budget is your only factor and won’t use email or funnels
- Want to build marketing funnels inside your course platform
- Plan to grow an email list and automate follow-ups
- Are aiming for $5K+ months and need a scalable system
- Are tired of managing 4–5 separate tools
→ See all options: Kajabi Alternatives
Migration Costs: The Hidden Risk
Most creators don’t fail because software is expensive. They fail because they outgrow their platform and have to rebuild everything mid-growth.
Switching platforms means rebuilding email sequences, funnel logic, checkout flows, and automations. If you’re earning $5,000/month and pause for weeks to migrate, the loss compounds fast.
Most people don’t switch because it’s smart. They switch because they’re forced to — after wasting months.
Starting cheap often ends up being the most expensive decision.
2026: AI Changes the Equation
Focuses on content creation — course outlines, quizzes, lesson ideas. Helps you build the course faster.
Focuses on the marketing system — funnel suggestions, email campaigns, landing pages, copy. Builds the system that sells it.
Teachable AI helps you build the course faster. Kajabi AI helps you build the system that sells it.
Final Verdict
If your goal is to just upload a course, use Teachable.
If your goal is to actually make money, use Kajabi.
Most people pick based on price. The ones who make money pick based on speed.
Kajabi wins because it removes the delay between idea → sale.
If you’re still comparing, you’re not stuck on tools — you’re delaying the launch.
Stop Comparing Tools.
Every week you delay is a week you’re not making sales.
Kajabi is the fastest way to go live — and right now, it’s the cheapest entry point.
Start now while the $33/month deal is still active.
3 months full access · Cancel anytime in 1 click
FAQ
- Is Teachable really cheaper than Kajabi? On the surface, yes. Once you add email, funnels, and automation, the gap disappears — and the fragmentation becomes a management problem.
- Is Kajabi worth the higher price? If you plan to use automation and marketing funnels, yes. Most creators who switch say they should have started on Kajabi.
- When should you switch from Teachable to Kajabi? When you’re duct-taping too many tools together, or when you realize you’re losing money because you can’t properly follow up with leads.
- What’s the $99 deal? 3 months of full Kajabi Basic access for $99 total ($33/month equivalent). No fixed end date — can disappear anytime.
Kaylee
About KayleeI’m a data-driven software reviewer with a health sciences background. I apply a rigorous, analytical approach to evaluating course platforms so you can pick the right infrastructure the first time. Every review is based on hands-on testing and real-world ROI — no fluff, no guesswork, just evidence. My goal is to save you months of migration headaches by getting your setup right from day one.