Kajabi Review 2026: After 8+ Years Experience (Honest Assessment)

Bottom Line: After 7+ years using Kajabi (and test-driving most of its competitors), I can confidently say it's the best all-in-one platform for online course creators and digital entrepreneurs who want to scale their business without technical headaches. While it's pricier than competitors, it typically saves you $200-500+ monthly by replacing multiple tools—and means you don't need to duct-tape anything together in the back end.

My Rating: 4.8/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Updated January 2026 with latest pricing and features.

Quick Comparison: Kajabi vs The Competition

Short on time? Here's how Kajabi stacks up against the most popular alternatives:

Platform	Best For	Starting Price	Transaction Fees	All-in-One?
Kajabi ⭐	Serious course creators who want everything in one place	$69/mo	0%	✅ Yes
Teachable	Beginners who just need course hosting	$39/mo	5% on Basic	❌ No
Thinkific	Budget-conscious creators	$36/mo	0%	❌ No
Kartra	Marketing-focused entrepreneurs	$99/mo	0%	✅ Yes
Podia	Simple digital product sellers	$39/mo	0%	Partial

My take: If you're planning to build a real business (not just sell one course), Kajabi pays for itself by eliminating the need for 5-10 separate subscriptions. Keep reading for my full breakdown after 7+ years on the platform.

What is Kajabi (And Why I Switched to It)?

Picture this: You're lounging on a beach in Byron Bay, reading a trashy novel, when suddenly your phone pings. Ka-ching! Another sale has rolled in.

Sounds like a dream, right? Well, that's pretty much what happened to me back in 2021 when I took a month-long campervan trip down the East Coast of Australia. Despite not actively working for a whole month, my online business still generated more than $30,000 in revenue.

How? Two words: Kajabi automation.

But let's rewind a bit. If you're reading this, you're probably wondering if Kajabi is the answer to your digital product dreams or just another overhyped platform. Well, buckle up, because I'm about to give you the full scoop—the good, the bad, and the “holy cow, why didn't I start using this sooner?”

Kajabi is like the Swiss Army knife of online business tools. It's an all-in-one platform that helps you create, market, and sell digital products. We're talking online courses, membership sites, coaching programs, podcasts—if you can dream it, Kajabi can probably help you build and sell it.

When I first heard about Kajabi, I'll be honest—I rolled my eyes so hard I nearly saw my brain. Another platform promising the world? Yeah, right. I was happy with my cobbled-together tech stack of WordPress, Active Campaign, ThriveCart, and about 17 other tools I can't even remember now.

But then I took the plunge and holy guacamole, was I in for a surprise. Suddenly, I wasn't spending half my day troubleshooting broken integrations or tearing my hair out over plugin conflicts. Everything just… worked.

The clincher? When I moved my entire email list to Kajabi, I saved over $500 a month on email marketing software alone. That's a lot of avocado toast.

What Makes Kajabi Different in 2026?

Unlike piecing together WordPress + email marketing + course platform + payment processor (hello, integration nightmares), Kajabi handles everything:

• Website builder with professional templates
• Course hosting with student portals
• Email marketing and automation
• Sales funnels and landing pages
• Payment processing (keep 100% of sales, minus Stripe/PayPal fees)
• Mobile apps for students
• Analytics and reporting
• Podcast hosting
• AI content creation tools
• Community features

My Real Results After 7+ Years on Kajabi

I don't believe in sharing income claims without context, so here's what Kajabi has actually enabled in my business:

The real value isn't just the features—it's the time I've gotten back to focus on creating content and connecting with my audience instead of playing IT support for my own business.

Kajabi Features: The Good, The Great, and The “How Did I Live Without This?”

1. Website Builder

Verdict: Finally, a website builder that doesn't require therapy sessions

Remember the days of wrestling with WordPress themes and praying your latest update wouldn't break your entire site? Kajabi's website builder is the antidote to those tech-induced headaches.

With drag-and-drop simplicity and templates that actually look good (goodbye, circa 2005 designs!), you can create a website that's both functional and fabulous. And the best part? It's all integrated with your products, marketing, and analytics. No more patchwork quilt of plugins!

Pros:

• Drag-and-drop simplicity (your technophobe aunt could use it)
• Templates so sleek they'll make your old Squarespace site weep
• Fully integrated with products, marketing, and analytics
• No plugin conflicts or surprise breakages

Cons:

• Not as customisable as WordPress (but this actually makes it faster to use)
• Limited number of theme options compared to some platforms
• Fewer Kajabi-specialist designers (though this is changing)

2. Course Hosting

Verdict: This is where the magic happens

Kajabi's course builder is where the magic happens. You can structure your course with modules, lessons, and categories, add various content types (video, audio, text, quizzes), and drip content over time.

It also makes protecting your course super simple—your students each have a course portal with a unique login, and you can grant or revoke access as needed.

Pros:

• Intuitive interface makes structuring your course a breeze
• Host multiple content types: video, audio, text, quizzes
• Drip content so you don't overwhelm students with 8 weeks of content in one hit
• Secure student portals with unique logins
• Easy access management

Cons:

• Limited assessment options (no fancy interactive quizzes yet)
• Can't import content directly from other platforms

3. Membership Sites

Verdict: Solid for most needs, but not quite Circle-level community features

Want to deliver monthly content? Or create a community of paid members? Kajabi's got your back. You can set up a membership site complete with forums, progress tracking, and content libraries. Kajabi handles the payment side too, so you don't have to manually remove members when they cancel or payments fail.

Pros:

• Easy to set up and start collecting members and payments
• Built-in community features like forums
• Flexibility to combine course elements with your membership

Cons:

• Community features aren't yet as robust as dedicated platforms like Circle
• Limited gamification options
• Limited ability to segment members and custom-deliver content (this is why I use Membership.io for my membership, but keep my courses on Kajabi)

4. Marketing Automation

Verdict: This is where Kajabi truly flexes

With email marketing, an all-in-one sales funnel builder, and automation sequences, you can create marketing campaigns that work while you sleep.

Whether that's a lead magnet funnel that collects new subscribers, or an evergreen webinar funnel that sells your courses on autopilot—it's like having a clone of yourself, but without the existential crisis.

Pros:

• Visual pipeline builder that makes creating funnels actually fun
• Powerful email marketing tools integrated into the platform
• Automation sequences that work harder than that one overachiever in your high school class

Cons:

• Learning curve can be steep for marketing newbies (though that's true of any marketing automation)
• Limited split testing compared to specialised tools

5. Analytics

Verdict: Everything you need to track what matters

Kajabi gives you detailed insights into your business performance—from sales and revenue to student progress and email open rates. I'm a big believer that you need to track all the important metrics in your business to grow, otherwise you risk wasting time on things that aren't working.

Pros:

• Detailed insights into every aspect of your business
• Easy-to-understand dashboards (no statistics degree required)
• Integrated across all Kajabi features for a holistic view

Cons:

• Not as in-depth as dedicated analytics tools like Google Analytics (but you can still integrate GA)
• Limited custom reporting options

6. Mobile App

Verdict: Essential for student engagement

With Kajabi's mobile app, your students can access your content on the go. One of the most important things you can do as a course creator is make your content easy to consume—that means students will actually finish it, rather than let it collect dust in their pile of unfinished courses.

Note: For an additional $89/month, you can add your own branded mobile app—way cheaper than hiring developers to build a custom app!

7. Podcast Hosting

Verdict: Great addition, but specialised platforms still lead

Kajabi now offers podcast hosting, so you can create and distribute your podcast from the same platform. As someone who's published 800+ episodes on my Imperfect Action podcast, I'm a massive fan of podcasting as a marketing channel.

Pros:

• Create and distribute your podcast all in one place
• Integrates seamlessly with your other Kajabi products
• Create exclusive podcast content for paid subscribers

Cons:

• Not as feature-rich as dedicated podcast hosts
• Limited analytics compared to specialised podcast tools

8. AI Creator Hub

Verdict: Helpful but still needs a human touch

Kajabi's AI tools can help you generate course outlines, lesson content, and marketing copy. It's like having a robot assistant that actually understands context.

Pros:

• Generate course outlines and marketing copy faster than you can say “writer's block”
• Helps kickstart your creative process

Cons:

• AI-generated content still needs human editing
• Quality can be hit-or-miss

Kajabi Pricing 2026: What You'll Actually Pay

Let's talk numbers. Kajabi isn't the cheapest option out there, but remember: you get what you pay for.

⚠️ Important: Kajabi increased prices in late 2025. Here's the current breakdown:

Plan	Monthly (billed annually)	Products	Contacts	Best For
Kickstarter	$69/mo	1 product	250	Testing the waters
Basic	$149/mo	3 products	10,000	Most small businesses
Growth	$199/mo	15 products	25,000	Scaling businesses
Pro	$399/mo	100 products	100,000	Established businesses

Now, I know what you're thinking: “Holy guacamole, that's a lot of cash!”

But here's the thing: Kajabi replaces so many other tools that you'd otherwise be paying for separately.

The Real Cost Comparison

Let's do the maths on what you'd pay WITHOUT Kajabi:

Tool	What It Does	Typical Cost
Teachable/Thinkific	Course hosting	$39-99/mo
ConvertKit/ActiveCampaign	Email marketing	$29-300+/mo
ClickFunnels/Leadpages	Landing pages & funnels	$37-297/mo
WordPress hosting + theme	Website	$20-100/mo
Zapier	Connecting it all	$20-50/mo
TOTAL		$145-846+/mo

Plus, the time you save not dealing with tech headaches? Priceless. You could be using that time to create more products, connect with your audience, or finally learn how to juggle.

Who Kajabi Is Perfect For

Kajabi is ideal if you:

• ✅ Are tired of cobbling together a dozen different tools to run your business
• ✅ Want to focus on creating and selling, not troubleshooting tech issues
• ✅ Are planning to scale your business and need a platform that grows with you
• ✅ Value your time and sanity
• ✅ Want everything in one dashboard (courses, email, website, payments)
• ✅ Are building a course-based or membership-based business
• ✅ Plan to use email marketing and automation seriously

Who Should NOT Use Kajabi (Honest Truth)

Look, I love Kajabi, but it's not for everyone. Save your money if:

• ❌ You're on an extremely tight budget – If $69-149/month feels like a stretch right now, start with a free or cheaper option and upgrade when you're making consistent revenue.
• ❌ You only plan to sell a single, low-priced ebook – The platform is overkill for simple digital downloads. Try Gumroad or Payhip instead.
• ❌ You sell physical products – Kajabi is built for digital products. Use Shopify for physical goods.
• ❌ You only offer services (no digital products) – If you're purely a service provider with no plans for courses or memberships, you don't need Kajabi.
• ❌ You need highly advanced community features – If community is your #1 priority, platforms like Circle or Mighty Networks are more specialised.
• ❌ You want maximum design customisation – If you need pixel-perfect control over every element, WordPress gives you more flexibility (at the cost of complexity).

My honest take: Kajabi is an investment that makes sense once you're serious about building a course or membership business. If you're just testing the waters, start with something simpler and graduate to Kajabi when you're ready to scale.

Honest Pros and Cons

What I Love About Kajabi

• ✅ Everything genuinely works together (no integration nightmares)
• ✅ Email marketing is included (huge cost savings)
• ✅ Beautiful templates that don't require a designer
• ✅ 0% transaction fees (you keep what you earn)
• ✅ Rock-solid during launches (never had a technical meltdown)
• ✅ Excellent customer support
• ✅ Mobile app for students
• ✅ Regular feature updates

What Could Be Better

• ⚠️ Learning curve can be steep if you're used to simpler platforms
• ⚠️ Some advanced customisation requires workarounds
• ⚠️ Blog feature isn't as robust as WordPress
• ⚠️ Community features lag behind dedicated platforms
• ⚠️ Price increases have made it less accessible for beginners
• ⚠️ Contact limits on lower plans can force upgrades

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be a tech wizard to use Kajabi?

Short answer: Nope. Long answer: Nooooope. Everything is intuitive and user-friendly. They have excellent tutorials and customer support, so even if you're more technophobe than techie, you'll be fine.

Will my website look as professional as it would on WordPress/Squarespace?

Absolutely. Kajabi's templates are sleek, modern, and fully customisable. Plus, you don't need to worry about your site breaking every time there's an update (I'm looking at you, WordPress) or having to hire a web developer for small changes.

Does Kajabi take a cut of my sales?

Nope! Unlike some platforms (*cough* Teachable Basic *cough*), Kajabi doesn't take a percentage of your sales. You keep 100% of your earnings minus the standard credit card processing fees from Stripe/PayPal (around 2.9% + 30¢).

How quickly can I get my online business up and running?

How does “this weekend” sound? Seriously, with Kajabi's templates and intuitive interface, you could have a basic website and your first product ready in days. Creating high-quality content takes longer, but the tech side? Lightning fast.

Is Kajabi good for SEO?

Yes! I rank on Google using my Kajabi website. You can customise page titles, meta descriptions, and URLs. It's not quite as flexible as WordPress with plugins, but it's more than sufficient for most creators—and you're reading this article on my Kajabi-hosted site, which clearly ranks.

Can I use Kajabi for coaching?

Yes. Kajabi has coaching features including scheduling, video calls, and packaging coaching with courses. However, if one-on-one coaching is your entire business model, you might prefer a simpler tool like Calendly + Zoom.

What happens if I want to leave Kajabi?

You can export your contacts and course content. The main challenge is that landing pages and email sequences would need to be rebuilt elsewhere. This is true of any all-in-one platform though—the convenience comes with some lock-in.

Is Kajabi better than Teachable?

It depends on your needs. Kajabi is better if you want everything in one place (website, email, courses, funnels). Teachable is better if you just need simple course hosting and already have email marketing and a website sorted elsewhere. Kajabi costs more but typically saves money overall once you factor in all the tools it replaces.

Is the price increase worth it?

For established businesses making consistent revenue, yes. The platform has also added significant features (AI tools, improved community, better analytics). For complete beginners, I'd suggest starting with the Kickstarter plan or using the 30-day trial to make sure it's right for you before committing.

Final Verdict: Is Kajabi Worth It in 2026?

In my not-so-humble opinion: Heck yes.

Is Kajabi perfect? No. Is it the best all-in-one platform I've found for running an online education business? Absolutely. There's a reason I've been a customer for 7+ years (and counting).

Since switching to Kajabi, I've been able to:

• Streamline my tech stack and save hundreds of dollars a month
• Launch new products faster and with less stress
• Automate a huge chunk of my marketing
• Take a month-long road trip while my business kept running
• Actually enjoy the tech side of my business (wild, I know)

But here's the real kicker: Kajabi has given me the freedom to focus on what I love—creating content and connecting with my audience—instead of battling with technology.

Remember, success in online business isn't just about having the fanciest tools. It's about putting yourself out there, creating value for your audience, and not letting fear (or tech problems) hold you back. Kajabi just makes that journey a whole lot smoother.

So, are you ready to give it a shot? Start your 30-day free trial and take it for a spin without committing. Who knows? This time next year, you might be the one writing a gushing review about how Kajabi changed your business.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you sign up through my link (at no extra cost to you). I only recommend products I've personally used for years and genuinely believe in. My opinions are my own—7+ years of them, to be exact.