Compare & Choose: Finding the Perfect Platform for Your Online Course
Why compare Thinkific vs Kajabi?
Choosing the right online-course platform isn’t just about creating content, it’s about how you build, market, sell, and support your courses long-term. Thinkific and Kajabi both serve course creators, but they cater to somewhat different needs and budgets.
Explore how each platform’s standout features can take your user experience to the next level.
You can just discover which platform offers a more seamless and intuitive course creation experience.
Compare the pricing structures of both platforms to find which offers the best value for your needs.
Explore the key features that set Thinkific and Kajabi apart. This comparison highlights the tools and capabilities that make each platform unique and help you decide which best fits your course creation needs.
| Top Features |
Thinkific Starts at $36/month |
Kajabi Starts at $149/month |
|---|---|---|
| Create courses with any content type | ✓ | ✓ |
| Learning communities | ✓ | ✓ |
| Host coaching sessions or webinars | ✓ | ✓ |
| Offer digital downloads (free or paid) | ✓ | ✓ |
| AI-powered landing pages | – | ✓ |
| Email automation tools | – | ✓ |
| App integrations | 90+ | ~10 |
| Mobile app | ✓ | ✓ |
| Automated tax collection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Blog/Website builder | Basic | ✓ |
| Multiple product types (coaching, podcasts) | Limited | ✓ |
| Analytics | Advanced on top plans | Business-wide |
| Affiliate management | Via integrations | ✓ |
| Support | 24/7 help center, chat/email | Priority support, chat/email |
An intuitive course builder is at the heart of every online learning platform. Both Thinkific and Kajabi make course creation straightforward and flexible. Explore the comparison table below to see how they compare.
Thinkific provides a straightforward, drag-and-drop course builder that makes it easy to structure lessons, upload materials, and organize courses. Its simple interface suits both individual creators and training teams looking for a quick setup without technical challenges.
Kajabi includes a comprehensive course builder as part of its all-in-one platform. It offers tools for uploading content, designing course layouts, and managing learners. While it may take some time for new users to get used to its wide range of features, it delivers a solid environment for creating and delivering online learning programs.
| Feature | Thinkific | Kajabi |
|---|---|---|
| No design or technical experience required | ✓ | ✓ |
| Unlimited courses | ✓ | ✓ |
| Create courses with any content type | ✓ | ✓ |
| Downloadable content (PDF, files) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Assignments/homework submission | ✓ | Limited |
| Recurring live lessons/webinars | ✓ | ✓ |
| AI course outline generator | Free tool, external | Built-in in backend |
| Embed multiple types of multimedia | ✓ | ✓ |
| Drip scheduling | ✓ | ✓ |
| Quizzes and graded assessments | Advanced on higher plans | ✓ |
| Completion certificates | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cohort-based courses | Integrations only | ✓ |
A great learning experience is key to online course success. It helps learners stay engaged, absorb the content effectively, and remain motivated to complete the course.
Thinkific provides a structured and user-friendly learning environment. Its features, such as progress tracking and customizable lesson layouts, are designed to keep students engaged throughout their learning journey. The platform’s simplicity helps learners focus on content rather than navigation, supporting higher completion rates.
Kajabi delivers a clean and modern learning experience with an emphasis on design and ease of use. Its interface allows creators to present their courses in a visually appealing way, ensuring students can easily access lessons, track their progress, and interact with course materials smoothly.
| Learning experience | Thinkific | Kajabi |
|---|---|---|
| Easy course navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Optimized for all devices | ✓ | ✓ |
| Student progress tracking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Course completion certificates | ✓ | ✓ |
| Student course reviews | ✓ | Workaround via comments |
| Student engagement surveys | ✓ | Limited, via assessments |
| Third-party app integrations | ✓ | Limited |
Once your course is live, getting it in front of the right audience is what truly drives success. That’s where powerful sales and marketing tools come in. They help you attract learners, boost visibility, and grow your revenue.
Thinkific includes built-in sales and marketing features that support email campaigns, automation, and integrations with third-party tools. It connects with platforms such as ActiveCampaign, Mailchimp, Shopify, and Salesforce, allowing course creators to design a marketing system that suits their workflow. These integrations make it easier to manage promotions, customer communication, and online sales without technical complexity.
Kajabi provides a unified approach to marketing and sales within its platform. It includes tools for email marketing, automation, landing pages, and sales funnels, enabling creators to manage most marketing activities without additional software. Kajabi also supports analytics to track conversions and audience behavior, helping refine marketing strategies over time.
| Sales Features | Thinkific | Kajabi |
|---|---|---|
| Create free, paid, and time-limited courses | ✓ | ✓ |
| Customizable payment plans and offers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Subscriptions | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bundle multiple products | ✓ | ✓ |
| Order bumps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Coupons and promotions | ✓ | ✓ |
| Abandon cart emails | – | ✓ |
| Built-in payment processor | ✓ | ✓ |
| Integration with e-commerce tools | ✓ | ✓ |
| Affiliate marketing capabilities | ✓ | ✓ |
| Marketing Features | Thinkific | Kajabi |
|---|---|---|
| Email marketing tools | – | ✓ |
| Automated email campaigns | – | ✓ |
| Landing page builder | ✓ | ✓ |
| Custom branding & white-labeling | ✓ | ✓ |
| Affiliate marketing system | ✓ | ✓ |
| SEO-friendly course pages | ✓ | ✓ |
| Blog creation & management | – | ✓ |
| Integrated analytics dashboard | ✓ | ✓ |
| Custom domains & SSL | ✓ | ✓ |
| Facebook Pixel & Google Tag Manager integration | ✓ | ✓ |
| Design customization | Thinkific | Kajabi |
|---|---|---|
| Compatible with existing websites | ✓ | ✓ |
| Customizable landing pages | ✓ | ✓ |
| White-labeling and branding options | ✓ | ✓ |
| Theme and course player customization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Custom CSS/HTML editing | ✓ | ✓ |
A mobile app gives learners the freedom to engage with your online courses anytime, anywhere—enhancing flexibility and retention. When it comes to mobile learning, both Thinkific and Kajabi offer solid options, but they differ in branding and customization.
Thinkific offers two mobile app options. The Thinkific Mobile App (available on Start plans and above) allows learners to access their courses and community features on the go, carrying Thinkific branding. The Branded Mobile App is a higher-tier option that supports full white-label customization, your own logo, colors, and app store listing under your brand. Both iOS and Android versions are supported.
Kajabi provides a mobile app for both iOS and Android platforms, allowing learners to access all their courses, communities, and coaching programs in one place. The app is Kajabi-branded and cannot be white-labeled, which makes it simple to use but limits brand personalization for creators.
| Mobile App Features | Thinkific | Kajabi |
|---|---|---|
| Native iOS app | ✓ | ✓ |
| Native Android app | ✓ | ✓ |
| Universal student app (all creators) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branded/White-label app (your logo) | ✓ | – |
| Support for communities & comments | ✓ | ✓ |
| Notifications/push messages | ✓ | ✓ |
| In-app purchases | – | – |
| Pricing (Branded App) | $199/month (optional) | – |
| Student access via mobile (all plans) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instructor dashboard via app | – | – |
Choosing a platform with reliable and accessible customer support is essential for running your online business smoothly. Both Thinkific and Kajabi offer multiple support channels, but the level of access and responsiveness varies based on your plan.
Thinkific offers 24/7 assistance through its AI chatbot “Champ”, helping users with basic queries. Human support via live chat and email is available only on paid plans during business hours (Monday to Friday, 3 a.m.–5 p.m. PT). Free plan users rely on the Help Center, tutorials, and community forum for guidance.
Kajabi provides live chat and email support for all paid users, with 24/7 live chat available on Growth and Pro plans. Basic plan users can reach support during business hours. Kajabi also offers Kajabi University, an extensive Help Center, and an active creator community to help users learn and resolve issues efficiently.
| Support Features | Thinkific | Kajabi |
|---|---|---|
| 24/7 AI Chatbot Assistance | ✓ (Champ) | – |
| 24/7 Live Chat Support | – | ✓ (Growth & Pro plans) |
| Live Chat Support (Business Hours) | ✓ (Paid plans only) | ✓ (Basic plan) |
| Email Support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Phone Support | – | – |
| Knowledge Base / Help Center | ✓ | ✓ |
| Community Forum | ✓ | ✓ |
| Training Resources / Tutorials | ✓ | ✓ (Kajabi University) |
| Support for Free Plan Users | – (Help Center only) | – |
| Average Response Time | Within business hours | Faster on Growth & Pro plans |
Security is a top priority for any online course platform. Both Thinkific and Kajabi use advanced encryption, secure payment gateways, and data protection measures to keep creator and learner information safe across all plans.
| Security Feature | Thinkific | Kajabi |
|---|---|---|
| SSL / Encryption in transit & at rest | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA / 2FA) for accounts | ✓ (optional for site owners/admins):contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2} | ✓ (required for certain users):contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3} |
| Content protection (downloads / access control) | ✓ (access control, encryption):contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4} | ✓ (temporary URLs, member-login required):contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5} |
| DDoS & network-level protections / hosting infrastructure security | ✓ (network segmentation, monitoring):contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6} | ✓ (uses Cloudflare edge network):contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7} |
| Compliance & privacy regulation support (GDPR, CCPA etc.) | ✓ (SOC2, GDPR, CCPA):contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8} | ✓ (GDPR, double opt-in, privacy controls):contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9} |
| Backup & disaster recovery | ✓ (daily backups, restore tested):contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10} | – |
Efficient site administration is key to managing your online course platform effectively. Both Thinkific and Kajabi offer tools for team management, permissions, and customization, helping creators maintain full control over their LMS site operations.
| Site Administration Features | Thinkific | Kajabi |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple admin roles | ✓ | ✓ |
| Custom user permissions | ✓ | – |
| Team member management | ✓ | ✓ |
| Advanced reporting and analytics | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bulk student import/export | ✓ | ✓ |
| Custom domains and branding | ✓ | ✓ |
| Site themes and templates | ✓ | ✓ |
| API and integrations | ✓ | – |
| SSO (Single Sign-On) | – | ✓ |
| Custom code access (HTML/CSS) | ✓ | ✓ |
A short introduction to the workshop instructors and why their background should inspire potential student’s confidence.