Kartra vs Kajabi: which should you choose?
Quick answer: Kartra is built for funnel-driven course sellers, while Kajabi suits established creators and coaches. For most users Kartra is the stronger default, but Kajabi can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case. Kartra has the lower entry price.
Kartra versus Kajabi comes down to which trade-offs you can live with. Below we compare them on pricing, strengths and the use cases each one fits, then give a clear verdict.
Side-by-side
| Kartra | Kajabi | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | all-in-one course + funnel platform | all-in-one course platform |
| What it's known for | All-in-one for funnels, email, checkout, membership sites, courses and affiliate management under one roof. | Premium all-in-one platform combining courses, memberships, email marketing, funnels, website and payments in a single subscription. |
| Pricing | No free plan; Starter from ~$99/mo, Growth/Professional tiers higher (annual billing discounts). | No free plan; Kickstarter from ~$89/mo, Basic from ~$149/mo, Growth and Pro tiers higher (annual billing discounts). |
| Best audience | Funnel-driven course sellers and membership sites wanting checkout, email and affiliate tools in one place. | Established creators and coaches running a real business who want everything in one platform without plugins. |
| Best for | Funnel-driven course sellers, All-in-one (incl. affiliate mgmt), Membership sites | Established creators and coaches, All-in-one (no plugins), High-ticket course businesses |
| Entry price | $59/mo ($52 annual) | $179/mo ($143 annual) |
| Biggest strength | True all-in-one including built-in affiliate management. | Genuine all-in-one, replaces several separate subscriptions. |
| Main caveat | Essentials plan adds a 5% Kartra transaction fee. | Expensive: no plan under $179/mo monthly billing in 2026. |
Features compared
The feature sets only partly overlap. Here is what each one actually gives you:
Kartra key features
- All-in-one: funnels, email, checkout, memberships and courses
- Built-in affiliate management
- Email and SMS marketing automation
- Webinars (300-1,000 attendees by plan)
Kajabi key features
- All-in-one: courses, memberships, coaching and digital products
- Email marketing and marketing automations
- Sales funnels (Pipelines) and landing pages
- Website builder and blog
Pricing tiers side by side
Kartra plans
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Essentials | $59/mo ($52 annual) | 5% Kartra transaction fee |
| Starter | $119/mo ($99 annual) | 0% fee, 2,500 contacts, 20 products |
| Growth | $229/mo ($189 annual) | 12,500 contacts, unlimited products |
| Professional | $549/mo ($429 annual) | 25,000 contacts |
Kajabi plans
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $179/mo ($143 annual) | Entry tier |
| Growth | $249/mo ($199 annual) | Adds advanced automations + affiliate program |
| Pro | $499/mo ($399 annual) | Adds API access |
Tiers compiled from the vendors' published plans and independent reviews; prices are approximate and change often, so confirm current figures (and your region's taxes) on each vendor's site.
Strengths compared
Where Kartra wins
An all-in-one for funnel-driven sellers that bakes in affiliate management alongside courses and checkout.
- True all-in-one including built-in affiliate management.
- 0% Kartra transaction fees on Starter and above.
That makes it the stronger pick for funnel-driven course sellers and membership sites wanting checkout, email and affiliate tools in one place.
Where Kajabi wins
The premium all-in-one for creators who want courses, email, funnels and a site under one roof and will pay for it.
- Genuine all-in-one, replaces several separate subscriptions.
- 0% platform transaction fees (you only pay processing).
That makes it the stronger pick for established creators and coaches running a real business who want everything in one platform without plugins.
Verdict: choose by fit
Both are good at the job, so let your priorities decide.
- Choose Kartra if you fit its core audience — funnel-driven course sellers and membership sites wanting checkout, email and affiliate tools in one place.
- Choose Kajabi if you fit its core audience — established creators and coaches running a real business who want everything in one platform without plugins.
FAQ
Is Kartra better than Kajabi?
Kartra is the stronger default for most users, but Kajabi can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case.
What is the main difference between Kartra and Kajabi?
Kartra is an all-in-one for funnel-driven sellers that bakes in affiliate management alongside courses and checkout. Kajabi is the premium all-in-one for creators who want courses, email, funnels and a site under one roof and will pay for it.
Which is cheaper, Kartra or Kajabi?
Entry pricing differs: Kartra starts at $59/mo ($52 annual), while Kajabi starts at $179/mo ($143 annual). Compare the tiers above against your usage.
Sources
Facts above are drawn from these independent reviews and the vendors' own pages for Kartra and Kajabi: