Kartra vs Kajabi: which should you choose?
Quick answer: Kartra is built for funnels + email + checkout in one, while Kajabi suits course and membership creators. 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 Marketing | All-in-One Marketing |
| What it's known for | All-in-one platform combining email, funnels, checkout, memberships and helpdesk. | All-in-one course, membership and digital product platform with built-in email marketing and funnels. |
| Pricing | No free plan (trial); Starter from ~$99/mo up to Growth and Professional tiers. | No free plan; Kickstarter/Basic from ~$89/mo up to Growth and Pro tiers. |
| Best audience | Online businesses and course/membership sellers who want one platform instead of stitching tools together. | Course creators, coaches and digital-product sellers who want one platform for content, email and checkout. |
| Best for | Funnels + email + checkout in one, Course and membership sellers, Online businesses wanting one stack | Course and membership creators, Digital product businesses, Knowledge commerce |
| Entry price | $59/mo ($52 annual) | $89/mo ($71 annual) |
| Biggest strength | Genuinely all-in-one: replaces several separate tools. | Genuinely all-in-one for knowledge commerce (courses + email + funnels). |
| Main caveat | No free plan; entry tiers limit contacts and gate webinars/quizzes. | Expensive: entry plan ~$89/mo, no free plan. |
Features compared
The feature sets only partly overlap. Here is what each one actually gives you:
Kartra key features
- All-in-one: email, funnels, checkout, pages, memberships and courses
- Email automation and campaign sequence builder
- Built-in checkout with upsells, order bumps and affiliate management
- Membership/course site builder and video hosting
Kajabi key features
- All-in-one course, membership and digital-product platform
- Built-in email marketing and automations
- Sales funnels (pipelines) and checkout
- Website and landing page builder
Pricing tiers side by side
Kartra plans
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Essentials | $59/mo ($52 annual) | entry tier, limited contacts |
| Starter | $119/mo ($99 annual) | 2,500 contacts, 5 team members, unlimited emails/SMS |
| Growth | $229/mo ($189 annual) | 12,500 contacts, webinars (300), surveys/quizzes, helpdesk |
| Professional | $549/mo ($429 annual) | 25,000 contacts, webinars (1,000), live-chat helpdesk |
Kajabi plans
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Kickstarter | $89/mo ($71 annual) | 1 product, 250 contacts; pulled from public page Jan 2026 |
| Basic | $179/mo ($143 annual) | 3 products, 10,000 contacts, 0% transaction fees |
| Growth | $249/mo ($199 annual) | advanced automations, affiliate program, 24/7 support |
| Pro | $499/mo ($399 annual) | custom code editor, 100k contacts, 20k active customers |
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
Combines email, funnels, checkout, memberships and a helpdesk so online businesses can run on one stack.
- Genuinely all-in-one: replaces several separate tools.
- Unlimited emails and SMS even on lower tiers.
That makes it the stronger pick for online businesses and course/membership sellers who want one platform instead of stitching tools together.
Where Kajabi wins
The premium all-in-one for course and membership creators who want email built into their product platform.
- Genuinely all-in-one for knowledge commerce (courses + email + funnels).
- 0% transaction fees on sales.
That makes it the stronger pick for course creators, coaches and digital-product sellers who want one platform for content, email and checkout.
Verdict: choose by fit
Both are good at the job, so let your priorities decide.
- Choose Kartra if you fit its core audience — online businesses and course/membership sellers who want one platform instead of stitching tools together.
- Choose Kajabi if you fit its core audience — course creators, coaches and digital-product sellers who want one platform for content, email and checkout.
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 combines email, funnels, checkout, memberships and a helpdesk so online businesses can run on one stack. Kajabi is the premium all-in-one for course and membership creators who want email built into their product platform.
Which is cheaper, Kartra or Kajabi?
Entry pricing differs: Kartra starts at $59/mo ($52 annual), while Kajabi starts at $89/mo ($71 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: