PaywallTools monetization wizard

Kajabi vs Thinkific: Which is right for you? (1970)

TL;DR

  • Choose Kajabi if paywall conversion optimization is the priority.
  • Choose Thinkific if keeping fees low matters most.
  • Both work for: courses, memberships, coaching, creators.

Kajabi

Kickstarter $55/month. Basic $119/month. 0% transaction fee.

Most complete all-in-one platform: courses, community, email, coaching, and website builder. Most expensive option but covers everything.

Thinkific

No free plan. Basic $49/mo ($36/mo annual). Start $74/mo. Grow $149/mo. 0% transaction fee.

One of the most popular course platforms. 0% transaction fee on all plans including free. Strong for course creators who want control without Kajabi's price tag.

Pricing comparison

Pricing model
flat_monthly
freemium
Detail
Kickstarter $55/month. Basic $119/month. 0% transaction fee.
No free plan. Basic $49/mo ($36/mo annual). Start $74/mo. Grow $149/mo. 0% transaction fee.

Feature comparison

Kajabi
Thinkific
Merchant of record
No
No
Paywalls
Yes
Yes
A/B testing
No
No
Tax handled
No
No
No-code
Yes
Yes
Open source
No
No
Ease of setup
4/5
4/5
Fee competitiveness
2/5
4/5
Conversion tooling
4/5
3/5
Advanced billing
3/5
2/5

Best for

Kajabi is best for Courses, Memberships, coaching, Creators, all in one, Communities. Thinkific is best for Courses, Memberships, Creators, coaching, e-learning, Communities.

FAQ

Is Kajabi better than Thinkific?

Neither is universally better. Kajabi is the right pick if paywall conversion optimization is the priority; Thinkific wins if keeping fees low matters most.

Which is cheaper, Kajabi or Thinkific?

Thinkific ranks higher on fee competitiveness (4/5). Kajabi pricing: Kickstarter $55/month. Basic $119/month. 0% transaction fee.. Thinkific pricing: No free plan. Basic $49/mo ($36/mo annual). Start $74/mo. Grow $149/mo. 0% transaction fee..

Can I switch from Kajabi to Thinkific?

Yes — most subscription and billing tools support migration via CSV import or API. Expect to reconfigure webhooks, paywalls, and entitlements. Check both vendors' migration docs before committing.

Does Kajabi handle sales tax?

No. Kajabi does not handle tax registrations — you handle those yourself or via a separate tool.

All Kajabi alternatives →All Thinkific alternatives →

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