Kajabi vs. Teachable: Course Hosting, Email Automation, and Fee Comparison
Question: Should an online education creator host video courses using 'Kajabi' or 'Teachable', considering built-in email marketing automation limits, affiliate program management tools, and transaction fee percentages on entry plans?
Prepared by the ChoiceScore Research Desk · Editor-approved for the curated library · Reviewed July 31, 2026
Direct answer
Choose Kajabi if you require an integrated, all-in-one ecosystem with robust email marketing and zero transaction fees on higher tiers; choose Teachable if you need a lower upfront monthly commitment with an entry-level plan, acknowledging transaction fee tradeoffs.
Summary
Selecting between Kajabi and Teachable depends on your technical setup, upfront budget tolerance, and scaling strategy. Kajabi operates as an all-in-one suite combining advanced email automation, native video hosting, and community features without revenue sharing, though its baseline cost is higher. Teachable offers accessible entry tiers including a starter plan with a 7.5% transaction fee, making it attractive for budget-conscious creators who utilize third-party plugins for marketing and affiliate tracking.
Choice Score breakdown
- Email Automation Capabilities 88/100 — Kajabi provides deeper native CRM and sequence capabilities compared to entry-level external integrations.
- Affiliate Program Management 79/100 — Both platforms offer affiliate tracking, though depth varies significantly across pricing tiers.
- Entry Plan Cost & Fees 75/100 — Teachable provides lower entry pricing while imposing a 7.5% transaction fee on its Starter tier.
Best for / Not best for
Best for
- Creators with established email lists seeking all-in-one funnel automation
- Course operators wanting zero transaction revenue sharing on structured plans
- Educators combining courses, coaching, and communities in a single platform
Not best for
- Bootstrapped creators with near-zero monthly software budgets
- Creators who already maintain complex external tech stacks (ActiveCampaign, WordPress plugins)
- Low-volume sellers who are sensitive to fixed software pricing tiers
Scenarios
- High-Volume Established Creator (40% likely)
An established creator selling over $10,000 monthly in courses and digital downloads who needs advanced email sequencing and affiliate payouts. - Bootstrapped Validation Creator (45% likely)
A new creator testing a course concept with minimal upfront capital and low initial transaction volume. - Hybrid External Tech Stack Creator (15% likely)
A creator who prefers specialized best-of-breed software, using dedicated email marketing tools like ConvertKit alongside a basic course shell.
Calculations
| Metric | Result | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| Teachable Starter Fee Impact | 150 USD/month | monthly_sales × transaction_fee_percentage |
| Estimated Annual Platform Cost Differential | -216 USD/year | (kajabi_monthly_cost × 12) − (teachable_monthly_cost × 12 + annual_transaction_fees) |
| Email Automation Tool Consolidation Savings | 600 USD/year | external_crm_monthly_cost × 12 |
Pros & cons
Pros
- Kajabi offers an all-in-one architecture eliminating the need to stitch together separate email, funnel, and website hosting tools.
- Kajabi does not charge transaction fees on its primary plans, protecting profit margins as sales scale.
- Teachable provides a lower-cost entry point with tiered pricing and flexible plan options to start selling quickly.
- Teachable features robust student management dashboards and course compliance tracking.
Cons
- Kajabi's subscription tiers carry a significantly higher baseline cost for beginning creators.
- Teachable's entry Starter tier levies a notable 7.5% transaction fee on sales.
- Migrating existing student data, email automations, and affiliate structures between either platform can be technically demanding.
Assumptions
- Starter Plan Fee: 7.5% transaction fee — Sourced directly from Teachable's public pricing documentation for their entry Starter tier.
- Platform Pricing Structures: Varies by tier and billing cycle — Both platforms offer monthly and annual billing models with different feature gates.
Practical next steps
- Audit your current monthly revenue, projected course sales volume, and existing email list size.
- Calculate your projected transaction fee deductions on Teachable versus the fixed software overhead of Kajabi.
- List your essential technical requirements, such as native community forums, podcast hosting, or advanced CRM email sequences.
- Take advantage of trial periods offered by both platforms to test course builder responsiveness and checkout user experience.
- Commit to the platform that aligns best with your 12-month scaling trajectory and budget constraints.
Methodology
This decision report evaluates Kajabi and Teachable by synthesizing official pricing disclosures, platform capability documentation, and structured cost-benefit calculations. We modeled financial impact by comparing fixed monthly subscriptions against variable transaction fees, evaluating email marketing automation limits, and assessing affiliate management scalability to deliver an objective recommendation.
Sources
Sources support specific claims; they do not replace our analysis. Read the research and source standards.
FAQ
- Does Kajabi charge transaction fees on my course sales?
- Kajabi features zero revenue sharing on its standard paid subscription plans, allowing you to keep 100% of your course revenue minus standard payment gateway processing fees.
- What transaction fees apply on Teachable's entry plans?
- Teachable's entry Starter plan assesses a 7.5% transaction fee on sales in addition to standard payment processing fees.
- Can I manage affiliate programs natively on both platforms?
- Yes, both Kajabi and Teachable provide built-in affiliate marketing tools, though advanced tracking, payout automation, and multi-tier structures depend on your selected plan level.
Related decisions
Disclaimers
Software pricing, feature gates, and transaction fees are subject to change by Kajabi and Teachable at any time.
Financial projections and fee calculations are illustrative and depend heavily on individual sales volume and merchant account configurations.