Kajabi vs Thinkific: Pricing, Fees and Plan Limits
Short answer
Kajabi Basic is USD 179 a month (USD 143 billed annually), Growth USD 249 (USD 199) and Pro USD 499 (USD 399). Thinkific Start is USD 109 (USD 82 annually), Grow USD 219 (USD 164) and Expand USD 499 (USD 374). Neither takes a revenue share on its own payments; both add 2% / 1% / 0.5% when you use a third-party gateway.
On this page 7 sections
At a glance
| Plan | Kajabi BasicUSD 179/moVisit site (opens in new tab) | Kajabi GrowthUSD 249/moVisit site (opens in new tab) | Lowest fees at USD 5kThinkific StartUSD 109/moVisit site (opens in new tab) | Thinkific GrowUSD 219/moVisit site (opens in new tab) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform fee | None | None | None | None |
| Card processing | Stripe 2.9% + USD 0.30 (US cards) | Stripe 2.9% + USD 0.30 (US cards) | Stripe 2.9% + USD 0.30 (US cards) | Stripe 2.9% + USD 0.30 (US cards) |
| What it is | All-in-one: courses, community, website, email marketing and funnels | All-in-one: courses, community, website, email marketing and funnels | Course platform with communities, unlimited courses and add-on branded app | Course platform with communities, unlimited courses and add-on branded app |
| Monthly price (billed monthly) | Basic USD 179; Growth USD 249; Pro USD 499 | Basic USD 179; Growth USD 249; Pro USD 499 | Start USD 109; Grow USD 219; Expand USD 499; Plus by quote | Start USD 109; Grow USD 219; Expand USD 499; Plus by quote |
| Billed annually (per month) | USD 143 / USD 199 / USD 399 | USD 143 / USD 199 / USD 399 | USD 82 / USD 164 / USD 374 (annual saves 25%) | USD 82 / USD 164 / USD 374 (annual saves 25%) |
| Payments fee (own processor) | Kajabi Payments US: 2.9% / 2.8% / 2.7% + USD 0.30 by plan | Kajabi Payments US: 2.9% / 2.8% / 2.7% + USD 0.30 by plan | Thinkific Payments: about 2.9% per Thinkific's FAQ | Thinkific Payments: about 2.9% per Thinkific's FAQ |
| Third-party gateway fee | Partial (2% Basic, 1% Growth, 0.5% Pro (PayPal excluded)) | Partial (2% Basic, 1% Growth, 0.5% Pro (PayPal excluded)) | Partial (2% Start, 1% Grow, 0.5% Expand, none on Plus; first USD 1M a year, US/CA/UK/EU) | Partial (2% Start, 1% Grow, 0.5% Expand, none on Plus; first USD 1M a year, US/CA/UK/EU) |
| Products or courses | 5 Basic, 50 Growth, unlimited Pro | 5 Basic, 50 Growth, unlimited Pro | Yes (Unlimited courses on all plans) | Yes (Unlimited courses on all plans) |
| Contacts or students | Contacts: 2,500 / 25,000 / 100,000 | Contacts: 2,500 / 25,000 / 100,000 | Current students: 10,000 on all plans | Current students: 10,000 on all plans |
| Communities | 1 / 1 / 3 | 1 / 1 / 3 | 1 / 3 / 10 | 1 / 3 / 10 |
| Admin users | 2 / 11 / 26 | 2 / 11 / 26 | 2 / 6 / 15 | 2 / 6 / 15 |
| Email marketing and funnels | Yes (Unlimited marketing emails, funnels and landing pages on all plans) | Yes (Unlimited marketing emails, funnels and landing pages on all plans) | Partial (Bulk email from Grow) | Partial (Bulk email from Grow) |
| Branded mobile app | Partial (Included on Pro) | Partial (Included on Pro) | Partial (Add-on, USD 199/mo) | Partial (Add-on, USD 199/mo) |
| Trial or refund window | 30-day money-back period | 30-day money-back period | 30-day free trial; no free plan | 30-day free trial; no free plan |
| Fees at USD 5k/mo | −USD 354 | −USD 419 | −USD 284 | −USD 394 |
| You keep at USD 5k/mo | USD 4,646 (92.9%) | USD 4,581 (91.6%) | USD 4,716 (94.3%) | USD 4,606 (92.1%) |
| USD 5k/mo = USD 5,000 gross from 100 one-time sales, US cards, monthly billing. Sources: www.kajabi.com (opens in new tab) · help.kajabi.com (opens in new tab) · help.kajabi.com (opens in new tab) · help.kajabi.com (opens in new tab) · www.thinkific.com (opens in new tab) · support.thinkific.com (opens in new tab) · support.thinkific.com (opens in new tab). | ||||
Kajabi vs Thinkific at a glance. Prices checked 30 Oct 2026. At USD 5,000 from 100 one-time sales, US cards.
Kajabi Basic
USD 179/mo
- Platform fee
- None
- Card processing
- Stripe 2.9% + USD 0.30
- What it is
- All-in-one: courses, community, website, email marketing and funnels
- Monthly price (billed monthly)
- Basic USD 179; Growth USD 249; Pro USD 499
- Billed annually (per month)
- USD 143 / USD 199 / USD 399
- Payments fee (own processor)
- Kajabi Payments US: 2.9% / 2.8% / 2.7% + USD 0.30 by plan
- Third-party gateway fee
- Partial (2% Basic, 1% Growth, 0.5% Pro (PayPal excluded))
- Products or courses
- 5 Basic, 50 Growth, unlimited Pro
- Contacts or students
- Contacts: 2,500 / 25,000 / 100,000
- Communities
- 1 / 1 / 3
- Admin users
- 2 / 11 / 26
- Email marketing and funnels
- Yes (Unlimited marketing emails, funnels and landing pages on all plans)
- Branded mobile app
- Partial (Included on Pro)
- Trial or refund window
- 30-day money-back period
- Fees
- −USD 354
Kajabi Growth
USD 249/mo
- Platform fee
- None
- Card processing
- Stripe 2.9% + USD 0.30
- What it is
- All-in-one: courses, community, website, email marketing and funnels
- Monthly price (billed monthly)
- Basic USD 179; Growth USD 249; Pro USD 499
- Billed annually (per month)
- USD 143 / USD 199 / USD 399
- Payments fee (own processor)
- Kajabi Payments US: 2.9% / 2.8% / 2.7% + USD 0.30 by plan
- Third-party gateway fee
- Partial (2% Basic, 1% Growth, 0.5% Pro (PayPal excluded))
- Products or courses
- 5 Basic, 50 Growth, unlimited Pro
- Contacts or students
- Contacts: 2,500 / 25,000 / 100,000
- Communities
- 1 / 1 / 3
- Admin users
- 2 / 11 / 26
- Email marketing and funnels
- Yes (Unlimited marketing emails, funnels and landing pages on all plans)
- Branded mobile app
- Partial (Included on Pro)
- Trial or refund window
- 30-day money-back period
- Fees
- −USD 419
Thinkific Start
USD 109/mo
- Platform fee
- None
- Card processing
- Stripe 2.9% + USD 0.30
- What it is
- Course platform with communities, unlimited courses and add-on branded app
- Monthly price (billed monthly)
- Start USD 109; Grow USD 219; Expand USD 499; Plus by quote
- Billed annually (per month)
- USD 82 / USD 164 / USD 374 (annual saves 25%)
- Payments fee (own processor)
- Thinkific Payments: about 2.9% per Thinkific's FAQ
- Third-party gateway fee
- Partial (2% Start, 1% Grow, 0.5% Expand, none on Plus; first USD 1M a year, US/CA/UK/EU)
- Products or courses
- Yes (Unlimited courses on all plans)
- Contacts or students
- Current students: 10,000 on all plans
- Communities
- 1 / 3 / 10
- Admin users
- 2 / 6 / 15
- Email marketing and funnels
- Partial (Bulk email from Grow)
- Branded mobile app
- Partial (Add-on, USD 199/mo)
- Trial or refund window
- 30-day free trial; no free plan
- Fees
- −USD 284
Thinkific Grow
USD 219/mo
- Platform fee
- None
- Card processing
- Stripe 2.9% + USD 0.30
- What it is
- Course platform with communities, unlimited courses and add-on branded app
- Monthly price (billed monthly)
- Start USD 109; Grow USD 219; Expand USD 499; Plus by quote
- Billed annually (per month)
- USD 82 / USD 164 / USD 374 (annual saves 25%)
- Payments fee (own processor)
- Thinkific Payments: about 2.9% per Thinkific's FAQ
- Third-party gateway fee
- Partial (2% Start, 1% Grow, 0.5% Expand, none on Plus; first USD 1M a year, US/CA/UK/EU)
- Products or courses
- Yes (Unlimited courses on all plans)
- Contacts or students
- Current students: 10,000 on all plans
- Communities
- 1 / 3 / 10
- Admin users
- 2 / 6 / 15
- Email marketing and funnels
- Partial (Bulk email from Grow)
- Branded mobile app
- Partial (Add-on, USD 199/mo)
- Trial or refund window
- 30-day free trial; no free plan
- Fees
- −USD 394
Fees at real revenue levels
| Plan | You keep at USD 1,000/mo | You keep at USD 5,000/mo | You keep at USD 20,000/mo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kajabi Basic | USD 786fees −USD 214 | USD 4,646fees −USD 354 | USD 19,121fees −USD 879 |
| Kajabi Growth | USD 717fees −USD 283 | USD 4,581fees −USD 419 | USD 19,071fees −USD 929 |
| Thinkific Start | USD 856fees −USD 144 | USD 4,716fees −USD 284 | USD 19,191fees −USD 809 |
| Thinkific Grow | USD 746fees −USD 254 | USD 4,606fees −USD 394 | USD 19,081fees −USD 919 |
Assumes one-time sales at a USD 50 average price (so USD 1,000 = 20 sales), US cards, monthly billing, each platform's native payments. Excludes taxes, refunds and payout fees.
Change the numbers to match your business:
What you keep, by platform
Keeps the most
You keep $4,716.00 (94.3%)
Thinkific Start keeps the most at $5,000.00/mo gross.
1. Thinkific Start
$4,716.00 kept · 94.3%
- You keep $4,716.00
- Platform fee $0.00
- Processing $175.00
- Plan cost $109.00
Total fees $284.00 · effective fee 5.7%
Visit Thinkific (opens in new tab)2. Kajabi Basic
$4,646.00 kept · 92.9%
- You keep $4,646.00
- Platform fee $0.00
- Processing $175.00
- Plan cost $179.00
Total fees $354.00 · effective fee 7.1% · −$70.00/mo vs Thinkific Start
Visit Kajabi (opens in new tab)3. Thinkific Grow
$4,606.00 kept · 92.1%
- You keep $4,606.00
- Platform fee $0.00
- Processing $175.00
- Plan cost $219.00
Total fees $394.00 · effective fee 7.9% · −$110.00/mo vs Thinkific Start
Visit Thinkific (opens in new tab)4. Kajabi Growth
$4,581.00 kept · 91.6%
- You keep $4,581.00
- Platform fee $0.00
- Processing $170.00
- Plan cost $249.00
Total fees $419.00 · effective fee 8.4% · −$135.00/mo vs Thinkific Start
Visit Kajabi (opens in new tab)
Estimates only. Excludes taxes/VAT, refunds, chargebacks and payout fees unless stated. Not financial advice.
Last checked 30 Oct 2026 · Prices from kajabi.com/pricing and thinkific.com/pricing, including each page’s FAQ on payment and gateway fees.
Kajabi and Thinkific both sell courses and communities without a percentage platform fee on their own payments. They differ on what each plan includes. Kajabi bundles email marketing, funnels and landing pages and caps products and contacts by plan. Thinkific starts cheaper, allows unlimited courses on every plan, and adds email and branding features from Grow.
Plans and prices
| Kajabi | Thinkific | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan, monthly | Basic USD 179 | Start USD 109 |
| Entry plan, billed annually | USD 143/mo | USD 82/mo |
| Middle plan, monthly | Growth USD 249 | Grow USD 219 |
| Middle plan, billed annually | USD 199/mo | USD 164/mo |
| Top public plan, monthly | Pro USD 499 | Expand USD 499 |
| Top public plan, billed annually | USD 399/mo | USD 374/mo |
| Above that | — | Plus, by quote |
Payment and gateway fees
| Kajabi Basic / Growth / Pro | Thinkific Start / Grow / Expand | |
|---|---|---|
| Platform revenue share | None | None |
| Built-in payments | 2.9% / 2.8% / 2.7% + USD 0.30 (US) | About 2.9% (FAQ) |
| Third-party gateway fee | 2% / 1% / 0.5% (PayPal excluded) | 2% / 1% / 0.5%; none on Plus |
| Other listed fees | Extra contacts USD 125/mo per 25,000 | Optional Sales Tax and VAT Solution, 0.5% |
On USD 5,000 a month of sales through a third-party gateway, the 2% entry-plan fee is USD 100 on either platform, before card processing. The middle plans cut it to USD 50.
Limits by plan
| Kajabi Basic / Growth / Pro | Thinkific Start / Grow / Expand | |
|---|---|---|
| Products or courses | 5 / 50 / unlimited | Unlimited |
| Contacts or students | 2,500 / 25,000 / 100,000 contacts | 10,000 current students |
| Communities | 1 / 1 / 3 | 1 / 3 / 10 |
| Websites | 1 / 1 / 3 | Not listed as a plan limit |
| Admin users | 2 / 11 / 26 | 2 / 6 / 15 |
| Branded app | Pro only | Add-on, USD 199/mo |
| Email and funnels | Unlimited marketing emails, funnels, landing pages | Bulk email from Grow |
| SCORM and SSO | Not listed on the pricing page | Plus only |
Who each fits, based on published features and pricing
This is not a hands-on test. It is a reading of each pricing page.
- Kajabi fits creators who want email marketing, funnels, landing pages and a website on one bill, sell a small number of products on Basic, or want a branded app included on Pro.
- Thinkific fits creators with many courses who want unlimited courses at a lower entry price, who already use a separate email tool, or who need more communities per plan. Grow fits once you need bulk email, branding removal or PayPal.
Related reading
- Kajabi pricing · Thinkific pricing · Kajabi alternatives
- Thinkific vs Teachable · Teachable vs Kajabi · Skool vs Thinkific
- Course platform fee calculator · Course platform transaction fees
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Frequently asked questions
Is Thinkific cheaper than Kajabi?
On list prices, yes at the entry level: Thinkific Start is USD 109 a month against Kajabi Basic at USD 179, or USD 82 and USD 143 billed annually. At the top public tier, both are USD 499 a month on monthly billing. Prices checked 30 Oct 2026.
Do Kajabi or Thinkific take a transaction fee?
Neither lists a revenue share when you use its built-in payments. Kajabi Payments in the US costs 2.9%, 2.8% or 2.7% + USD 0.30 by plan. Thinkific's FAQ puts Thinkific Payments at about 2.9%. Both add 2%, 1% or 0.5% by plan if you use a third-party gateway instead.
When does Thinkific's third-party gateway fee apply?
Thinkific's FAQ says the fee applies to the first USD 1M in sales each calendar year, only in the US, Canada, the UK and the EU, and not where its own commerce tools are unavailable. Plus has no third-party fee.
How many courses can I sell?
Thinkific lists unlimited courses on every plan. Kajabi caps products at 5 on Basic and 50 on Growth, with unlimited products on Pro.
Which includes email marketing?
Kajabi lists unlimited marketing emails, funnels and landing pages on all plans, with contact caps of 2,500, 25,000 and 100,000. Extra contacts cost USD 125 a month per 25,000. Thinkific lists bulk email from Grow.
Is there a free trial?
Thinkific lists a 30-day free trial and no free plan. Kajabi's pricing page lists a 30-day money-back period.
Do they offer a branded mobile app?
Kajabi includes a branded app on Pro, which its pricing page values at USD 199 a month. Thinkific offers a branded mobile app as an add-on at USD 199 a month.
Are these figures from a hands-on test?
No. tested is false. This page reads each vendor's published pricing, FAQ and plan limits. Payment fees shown are the vendors' published rates for US cards.