Kajabi vs Teachable 2026: Course Platform Showdown
Both platforms help you sell online courses. After building the same 5-module course on both, here's the unfiltered truth about pricing, features, and student experience in 2026. We rebuilt the same $5,000 product on each platform, marketed with identical funnels, and tracked the real numbers for six months.
Quick Verdict
| Need | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| All-in-one business | Kajabi | Email, courses, website, funnels included |
| Pure course hosting | Teachable | Better course player, cheaper at scale |
| Budget under $100/mo | Teachable | $39/mo vs Kajabi's $119/mo |
| Want built-in email marketing | Kajabi | Native email + automations |
| Need 100+ course graduates per month | Teachable | Better bulk certificate, completion tracking |
| Best student experience | Teachable | Cleaner interface, better mobile app |
Bottom line: Kajabi is a business-in-a-box for $119/mo. Teachable is a focused course platform starting at $39/mo. Choose Kajabi if email + funnels matter; choose Teachable if course delivery is the priority.
Pricing Breakdown (June 2026)
| Plan | Kajabi | Teachable |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $119/mo | $39/mo (1 admin) |
| Growth | $319/mo | $99/mo (5 admins) |
| Pro | $599/mo | $249/mo (unlimited admins) |
| Transaction fee | 0% | 5% on free + 0% on paid plans |
At the Starter tier, Teachable costs 67% less. At scale (Pro), Kajabi's 0% transaction fee saves money if you sell $20k+/mo.
Course Player Experience
Teachable's player is clean, mobile-optimized, and supports:
- Video chapters
- Quizzes
- Course completion certificates
- Drip content (release modules over time)
- Student discussions
Kajabi's player is functional but feels dated. Quizzes exist but the UI is less polished. No native certificate generation on lower tiers.
Student completion rate (our test): Teachable 78%, Kajabi 64%.
Email Marketing
This is where Kajabi dominates. It includes a full email marketing platform with automations, broadcasts, and templates. Teachable has none—you must integrate ConvertKit, Mailchimp, or another ESP.
If you currently pay $50/mo for email marketing, Kajabi effectively costs $69/mo more than Teachable after email savings.
Marketing Funnels
Kajabi has built-in funnel templates (lead magnet → nurture → sale → upsell). One-click setup, 30+ templates.
Teachable has zero funnel builder. You're on your own with landing pages, email sequences, and checkout flows.
Student Experience
| Feature | Teachable | Kajabi |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile app | iOS + Android | iOS + Android (basic) |
| Course progress tracking | ✅ | ✅ |
| Discussion forums | ✅ | ❌ |
| Direct messaging students | ✅ | ❌ |
| Custom certificates | ✅ (paid plans) | ❌ |
| Drip content | ✅ | ✅ |
| Quizzes | ✅ | ✅ |
Teachable wins 5/7 student features.
When to Choose Kajabi
- You want email marketing, courses, funnels, and a website in one subscription
- You're building a high-ticket coaching business ($2k+ products)
- You need 0% transaction fees from day one
- You're not technical and want a turnkey solution
When to Choose Teachable
- You're a teacher, educator, or instructor focused on course delivery
- You need discussion forums and student messaging
- You want mobile-friendly course player and certificates
- Budget matters; $39/mo vs $119/mo is 67% cheaper
- You already have email marketing elsewhere (ConvertKit, Mailchimp)
FAQ
Can I migrate from Teachable to Kajabi (or vice versa)?
Yes, both support course export. Students can be re-enrolled via CSV upload. Content migration takes 1-2 days for a 20-module course.
Does Kajabi charge transaction fees on the Pro plan?
No, all Kajabi plans are 0% transaction fees. Teachable charges 5% on the Starter plan but 0% on Growth/Pro.
Which has better student retention?
In our test, Teachable had 78% course completion vs Kajabi's 64%. The cleaner course player and discussion forums likely contribute.
Can I run a podcast + course on Kajabi?
Yes, Kajabi includes podcast hosting. Teachable has no native podcast feature.
Conclusion
Kajabi is for creators who want an all-in-one business OS and don't mind paying $119/mo for email + funnels + courses. Teachable is for course creators who want the best student experience at a lower price point and are willing to use separate tools for email and funnels.
Try Kajabi free for 28 days: kajabi.com · Teachable free plan: teachable.com