Kajabi vs Thinkific
Kajabi and Thinkific both help creators build and sell online courses, but they sit at opposite ends of the spectrum. Kajabi is the premium all-in-one marketing suite, while Thinkific is a focused course platform with a genuine free plan and no platform cut. The decision hinges on whether you need the full marketing machine or just a great place to sell courses.
Quick answer
Thinkific is the better pick for creators who want a solid course platform with a real free plan and no platform cut on sales, while Kajabi suits those who want courses plus a full marketing suite and can afford premium pricing. Both avoid taking a cut of your sales. If you want an all-in-one that's free and keeps 100% of your sales, OneSol is a strong alternative that sells from a single link.
Kajabi vs Thinkific at a glance
| Feature | Kajabi | Thinkific |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Free trial only | Free (limited) |
| Sell courses | Yes | Yes |
| Platform cut on sales | No platform cut | No platform cut |
| Payments to your account | Stripe / PayPal | Stripe / PayPal |
| Email marketing built in | Advanced | Basic / add-on |
| Funnels & website | Yes | Course-focused |
| Ease of use | Feature-heavy | Simple |
| Pricing | Premium pricing | Paid plans |
Competitor features and pricing can change — check their current plans before deciding.
1. Who Kajabi is best for
Kajabi is built for creators who want their courses wrapped in a complete marketing suite, with funnels, email automation and a website all integrated. It takes no platform cut, but the premium monthly price is only worth it if you use those tools heavily.
2. Who Thinkific is best for
Thinkific suits course-focused creators who want to launch on a real free plan with no platform cut and upgrade only when they grow. Its course-building tools are strong, though its marketing and email features are lighter than Kajabi's.
3. The cost that's easy to miss
Kajabi's easy-to-miss cost is a premium subscription for a suite you may not fully use; Thinkific's is paying extra for advanced marketing and email as add-ons. Both bill monthly regardless of your sales volume.
The verdict
Kajabi wins on marketing depth, Thinkific on value and a real free plan. For a free all-in-one that sells courses, downloads, tickets and bookings from one link, and keeps 100% of your sales in your own Stripe, OneSol is the alternative worth a look.
FAQ
Does Thinkific have a free plan?
Yes, Thinkific offers a limited free plan with no platform cut on sales, which makes it a low-risk way to launch your first course before committing to a paid tier.
Is Kajabi worth the higher price over Thinkific?
Only if you'll use its funnels, email automation and website tools. If you just need to build and sell courses, Thinkific covers that for considerably less.
Do either take a cut of my sales?
Neither Kajabi nor Thinkific charges a platform transaction fee. You still pay standard Stripe or PayPal processing fees on each sale.
Is there a free all-in-one alternative?
Yes. OneSol lets you sell courses, downloads, tickets and bookings from one link for free, with payments going straight to your own Stripe account and 100% of sales kept.