Kajabi Alternatives: Lower Plan Costs and Fees Compared
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Kajabi Basic costs $179 a month ($143 billed annually) with no revenue share. Cheaper published alternatives include Systeme.io (free, then $17–$97 a month, 0% platform fees), Skool ($9 or $99 a month with processing in the fee), Teachable from $39, Thinkific from $109 and Podia from $49. Kajabi still charges card processing on Kajabi Payments.
The shortlist
- Systeme.io: Creators who want funnels, courses, email and a community on a free or low fixed plan with 0% platform fees
- Skool: Hosts who want a community-plus-courses product with processing included in the fee
- Teachable: Course sellers who want a lower fixed plan and accept a transaction fee on the cheapest tier
- Thinkific: Course businesses that want 0% platform fee with Thinkific Payments and higher contact limits on paid plans
- Podia: Creators selling courses, downloads and community who want a simpler storefront at a lower fixed price
Last checked 28 Oct 2026 · Prices from kajabi.com/pricing, systeme.io/pricing, skool.com/pricing, teachable.com/pricing, thinkific.com/pricing and podia.com/pricing. Kajabi Payments fees from Kajabi’s US fees article. All plan prices in USD.
Published entry prices
| Tool | Entry plan | Other plans | Platform fee on sales | Free option |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kajabi | Basic USD 179/mo (USD 143 billed annually) | Growth USD 249 (199), Pro USD 499 (399) | No revenue share; card processing on Kajabi Payments | 14-day trial |
| Systeme.io | Free (2,000 contacts) | Startup USD 17, Webinar USD 47, Unlimited USD 97 a month | 0% | Free plan |
| Skool | Hobby USD 9 a month | Pro USD 99 a month; yearly shows 2 months free | 10% + USD 0.30 Hobby; 2.9% + USD 0.30 Pro (processing included) | Free trial |
| Teachable | Starter USD 39/mo (USD 29 annually) | Builder USD 89 (69), Growth USD 189 (139) | 7.5% on Starter; 0% on Builder and Growth | Free trial |
| Thinkific | Start USD 109/mo (USD 82 annually) | Grow and Expand higher | 0% with Thinkific Payments; third-party gateway 2% / 1% / 0.5% | Free trial |
| Podia | Mover USD 49/mo (USD 42 annually) | Shaker USD 99 (84), Earthquaker USD 179 (150) | 5% on Mover; none on higher plans | 14-day trial |
On Systeme.io, Teachable, Thinkific and Podia, your payment processor (such as Stripe) charges its own fees on top of any platform fee. Skool’s published fee includes processing. Kajabi Payments rates for US entities are 2.9% + USD 0.30 (Basic), 2.8% + USD 0.30 (Growth) and 2.7% + USD 0.30 (Pro).
Does Kajabi take a cut, and what do packages include?
Revenue share: Kajabi’s pricing FAQ says it does not take a revenue share as a platform. What you pay are processing-related fees on Kajabi Payments (and an extra percentage if you use a third-party processor where Kajabi Payments is offered).
Packages (plans): Basic is aimed at getting started (5 products, 2,500 contacts). Growth raises product and contact caps. Pro adds more websites, communities and a branded mobile app. Extra contacts come in blocks of 25,000 for USD 125 a month, per Kajabi’s pricing FAQ.
For the full fee table, see Kajabi pricing.
Who each fits, based on published features and pricing
This is a reading of published plans and prices, not a tested recommendation. None of these tools was tested hands-on for this page.
- Staying on Kajabi fits course and coaching businesses that want website, email, community and checkout in one stack and are fine with a USD 179+ monthly plan.
- Systeme.io fits creators who want a free start or a low fixed plan with funnels, courses, email and community together and 0% platform fees.
- Skool fits hosts whose main product is a paid community with courses, and who want processing included in the platform fee.
- Teachable fits course-first sellers comparing a lower Starter or Builder plan against Kajabi’s Basic price.
- Thinkific fits course businesses that want 0% platform fee with Thinkific Payments and are comparing Start at USD 109 a month to Kajabi Basic.
- Podia fits creators selling courses, downloads and community who want a simpler storefront from USD 49 a month.
Related comparisons and pricing
- Systeme.io vs Kajabi
- Kajabi vs Skool
- Teachable vs Kajabi
- Kajabi vs Thinkific
- Podia vs Kajabi
- Kajabi pricing
- Systeme.io pricing
- Skool pricing
- Course platform transaction fees
What this page doesn’t cover
It does not rate editors, deliverability, migration tools or support quality, which need hands-on use. Prices and fees change; confirm on each vendor’s pricing page before you buy.
See Systeme.io plans (opens in new tab)
See Skool plans (opens in new tab)
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest Kajabi alternative?
On published prices, Systeme.io: its free plan includes courses, funnels, email and a community with 0% platform fees. Skool Hobby at $9 a month is the cheapest paid community-plus-courses option here, but takes 10% + USD 0.30 per payment.
Does Kajabi take a percentage of my earnings?
Not as a platform fee. Kajabi's pricing FAQ says it does not take a revenue share. You pay Kajabi Payments card processing (2.9%, 2.8% or 2.7% + USD 0.30 by plan for US entities), plus extras such as 0.7% on subscriptions and payment plans and 1.5% on international cards. Using a third-party processor where Kajabi Payments is offered adds 2%, 1% or 0.5% by plan.
Which Kajabi packages / plans exist?
Three: Basic (5 products, 2,500 contacts, 1 website, 1 community), Growth (50 products, 25,000 contacts), and Pro (unlimited products, 100,000 contacts, 3 websites, 3 communities and a branded app). All include unlimited email sends. Prices: $179 / $249 / $499 a month, or $143 / $199 / $399 billed annually.
Which alternatives charge 0% platform fees?
Systeme.io lists 0% on every plan. Thinkific lists 0% with Thinkific Payments (processor fees still apply; a third-party gateway adds 2% / 1% / 0.5% by plan). Kajabi also lists no revenue share. Podia charges 5% on Mover and none on Shaker or Earthquaker. Skool charges 10% on Hobby and 2.9% on Pro, with processing included.
Is there a free Kajabi plan?
No. Kajabi lists only paid plans and a 14-day free trial. Systeme.io has a free plan that never expires. Skool, Teachable, Thinkific and Podia offer trials rather than a lasting free plan.
Kajabi vs Systeme.io — which costs less at the start?
On list price, Systeme.io. Startup is $17 a month for 5,000 contacts and 5 courses; Kajabi Basic is $179 a month ($143 annually) for 5 products and 2,500 contacts. See the Systeme.io vs Kajabi comparison for fee detail.
Kajabi vs Skool — when does Skool fit better?
When the main product is a paid community with courses inside it. Skool Hobby is $9 a month plus 10% + USD 0.30 per payment; Pro is $99 plus 2.9% + USD 0.30. Kajabi is a broader website, email and course stack from $179 a month. See Kajabi vs Skool for a side-by-side.
Do these alternatives have free trials?
Kajabi, Skool, Teachable, Thinkific and Podia list free trials (Kajabi and Podia 14 days; confirm length on each vendor page). Systeme.io has a free plan instead of a trial.