Thinkific vs. Kajabi | Podcastbricks

Thinkific, founded in 2012, is a dedicated online course platform designed to simplify course creation and delivery. It focuses on providing educators with tools to build engaging learning experiences without requiring extensive technical expertise. Thinkific is known for its user-friendly interface, affordability, and robust course-building features, making it a favorite among new and experienced creators alike.

Kajabi, launched in 2010, positions itself as an all-in-one platform for digital entrepreneurs. Beyond course creation, Kajabi offers tools for marketing, website building, email automation, and sales funnels, aiming to consolidate a creator’s entire business under one roof. It caters to those seeking to scale their online presence with advanced marketing and community-building capabilities.

Course Creation and Delivery

Thinkific’s Course Creation Tools

Thinkific excels in course creation with its intuitive drag-and-drop course builder. Creators can structure courses into chapters and lessons, incorporating various content types such as videos, quizzes, surveys, PDFs, and assignments. Key features include:

Flexible Content Options: Supports multimedia content, including video hosting, with the ability to create private courses, drip schedules, and cohorts.
Assessment Tools: Offers quizzes, exams, and assignments with features like randomized question banks and manual grading, ideal for academic-focused courses.
Customization: Provides custom web themes and domains, allowing creators to brand their courses consistently.
Student Engagement: Includes intermission and progress pages to boost completion rates, along with discussion forums for interaction.

Thinkific’s course builder is designed for ease of use, enabling creators to focus on content quality rather than technical complexities.

Kajabi’s Course Creation Tools

Kajabi also offers a robust course builder, with templates for mini-courses, drip courses, memberships, and coaching programs. Its features include:

Content Variety: Supports video, audio, text, and downloadable files, with a focus on creating polished, professional-looking courses.
Live Sessions: Unlike Thinkific, Kajabi provides native live session capabilities without requiring third-party integrations like Zoom.
Course Templates: Offers pre-designed blueprints for various course types, streamlining the creation process.
Mobile App: Kajabi’s branded mobile app allows students to access courses on iOS and Android, enhancing accessibility.

While Kajabi’s course builder is slightly less flexible than Thinkific’s in terms of academic tools, its templates and live features make it appealing for creators prioritizing polish and interactivity.

Verdict

Thinkific is the stronger choice for creators focused on detailed course structuring and academic tools, such as quizzes and assessments. Kajabi shines for those who want a streamlined process with professional templates and native live session capabilities.

Website and Page Building

Thinkific’s Website Builder

Thinkific provides a straightforward website builder for creating course landing pages and checkouts. Its features include:

Customization: Offers themes, color palettes, and fonts for consistent branding, though customization is limited compared to full website builders.
Functionality: Primarily designed for sales pages rather than comprehensive websites, with a somewhat clunky drag-and-drop editor.
Limitations: Lacks advanced design flexibility, and creators may need third-party tools for a full website.

Thinkific’s website builder suits creators who already have a website and need simple, course-focused pages.

Kajabi’s Website Builder

Kajabi’s website builder is a standout feature, offering greater flexibility and polish. Highlights include:

Comprehensive Design: Allows creators to build entire websites with blogs, landing pages, and sales funnels, eliminating the need for tools like WordPress.
Templates and Flexibility: Provides ready-made templates and access to a code editor for advanced customization, including animations and pop-ups.
Marketing Integration: Supports funnels, opt-ins, and upsells, enhancing conversion rates.

Kajabi’s builder is ideal for creators aiming to manage their entire online presence within one platform.

Verdict

Kajabi outshines Thinkific in website building due to its flexibility, templates, and marketing-focused features. Thinkific is better for those needing basic sales pages without complex website requirements.

Marketing and Sales Tools

Thinkific’s Marketing Capabilities

Thinkific offers solid but limited marketing tools, focusing on course sales rather than comprehensive marketing. Key features include:

Coupons and Pricing: Supports discounts, subscriptions, and payment plans (on higher tiers), though advanced pricing options require premium plans.
Integrations: Relies heavily on third-party tools like ConvertKit, Mailchimp, or ActiveCampaign for email marketing and funnels.
Upsells: Available but less seamless, requiring students to re-enter payment details, which can hurt conversions.
Analytics: Provides detailed insights into course performance and student engagement.

Thinkific’s marketing tools are sufficient for beginners but may feel restrictive for creators needing robust automation.

Kajabi’s Marketing Capabilities

Kajabi is a powerhouse for marketing, offering integrated tools that reduce reliance on external platforms. Features include:

Email Marketing: Built-in email automation with segmentation, drip campaigns, and a visual editor for personalized communication.
Sales Funnels: Supports one-click upsells, downsells, and bump offers, optimizing cart value and conversions.
Landing Pages: Offers customizable landing pages with widgets like countdown timers and opt-ins.
Analytics: Provides comprehensive metrics on revenue, page views, and student behavior.

Kajabi’s all-in-one approach makes it ideal for scaling a business with sophisticated marketing strategies.

Verdict

Kajabi dominates in marketing with its integrated email, funnel, and analytics tools. Thinkific is better for creators with existing marketing systems or simpler needs, leveraging integrations to fill gaps.

Community and Engagement Features

Thinkific’s Community Tools

Thinkific has improved its community offerings with Thinkific Communities, allowing creators to:

Create Spaces: Build branded discussion boards for students to connect on specific topics.
Integrate with Courses: Offer communities as standalone products or course components.
Engage Students: Support forums and basic interaction tools, though features are less advanced than dedicated community platforms.

Thinkific’s community tools are functional but basic, often requiring additional integrations for deeper engagement.

Kajabi’s Community Tools

Kajabi emphasizes community building with features like:

Discussion Boards: Built-in forums for student interaction, with gamification options like challenges and leaderboards.
Live Events: Supports group challenges and live calls, fostering real-time engagement.
Mobile App: Enhances community access via branded iOS and Android apps.

Kajabi’s community features are more robust, catering to creators who prioritize student interaction.

Verdict

Kajabi offers superior community-building tools with gamification and live features. Thinkific suits creators needing basic forums without complex engagement requirements.

Pricing and Value

Thinkific’s Pricing

Thinkific is known for its affordability, offering a free plan and tiered paid options:

Free Plan: Limited to three courses, ideal for testing.
Basic ($49/month or $36/month annually): Unlimited courses, basic features, no transaction fees.
Start ($99/month or $74/month annually): Adds private courses, memberships, and priority support.
Grow ($199/month or $149/month annually): Includes advanced pricing, communities, and integrations.

Thinkific’s pricing is beginner-friendly, with no transaction fees on paid plans, making it cost-effective for growing businesses.

Kajabi’s Pricing

Kajabi is pricier, reflecting its all-in-one approach:

Kickstarter ($69/month): Limited to 50 landing pages, 1 product, 250 contacts.
Basic ($149/month): Unlimited landing pages, 3 products, 10,000 contacts.
Growth ($199/month): 15 products, 25,000 contacts, advanced automations.
Pro ($399/month): 100 products, 100,000 contacts, extensive features.

Kajabi’s higher cost is justified by its marketing and website-building capabilities but may be steep for beginners.

Verdict

Thinkific wins for affordability, especially for new creators or those focused solely on courses. Kajabi is worth the investment for established creators needing comprehensive business tools.

Usability and Support

Thinkific’s Usability and Support

Thinkific’s interface is clean and intuitive, with a gentle learning curve. Its course builder and analytics are logically organized, making it accessible for beginners. Support includes:

Resources: Extensive help center, webinars, and Thinkific Academy.
Support Channels: Email and phone support on higher plans, with priority support for Start and Grow tiers.

Thinkific’s simplicity makes it ideal for creators who value ease of use.

Kajabi’s Usability and Support

Kajabi’s interface is sleek but has a steeper learning curve due to its extensive features. It mitigates this with:

Smart Search: A dashboard search bar for quick navigation and help articles.
Integration: Tools like automations are tightly integrated across sections.
Support: Offers email and chat support (24/7 on higher plans), Kajabi University, and 1:1 strategic sessions for new users.

Kajabi’s robust support and resources cater to creators willing to invest time in mastering the platform.

Verdict

Thinkific is easier to use for beginners, while Kajabi’s advanced features require more time but are supported by comprehensive resources.

Integrations and Scalability

Thinkific’s Integrations

Thinkific relies on integrations to extend functionality, including:

Email Marketing: ConvertKit, Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign.
Payments: Stripe, PayPal, and Thinkific Payments.
Other Tools: Over 90 integrations, including Zoom and WooCommerce.

Its scalability is strong for course-focused businesses but may require additional tools for marketing and website needs.

Kajabi’s Integrations

Kajabi offers fewer integrations, focusing on native tools, but supports:

Marketing: WiserNotify, ConvertKit, HubSpot.
Payments: Stripe, PayPal.
Analytics: Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel.

Kajabi scales well for businesses seeking an all-in-one solution, reducing the need for external platforms.

Verdict

Thinkific offers more integration flexibility, while Kajabi prioritizes native tools for a streamlined experience.

Who Should Choose Thinkific?

Thinkific is ideal for:

Beginners: Affordable pricing and a free plan make it accessible.
Educators: Robust academic tools like quizzes and assessments cater to structured learning.
Course-Focused Creators: Perfect for those prioritizing course delivery over marketing.

Who Should Choose Kajabi?

Kajabi suits:

Experienced Creators: Advanced marketing and automation tools support scaling businesses.
All-in-One Seekers: Ideal for managing courses, websites, and marketing in one place.
Community Builders: Strong engagement features like live events and gamification.

Final Thoughts

Choosing between Thinkific and Kajabi depends on your priorities as a course creator. Thinkific is the go-to for affordability, ease of use, and academic-focused features, making it perfect for educators and beginners. Kajabi, with its higher price tag, offers a comprehensive suite for marketing, website building, and community engagement, catering to creators aiming to scale their online business holistically.

Both platforms offer free trials—Thinkific with a no-credit-card-required free plan and Kajabi with a 14- or 30-day trial. Testing them firsthand is the best way to determine which aligns with your vision. Whether you prioritize simplicity and cost with Thinkific or versatility and growth with Kajabi, both platforms empower creators to succeed in the dynamic world of online education.