The way people teach, share ideas, and earn money online has changed. Thousands of people are launching digital products, from online courses to downloadable files and paid communities.
Two names often come up when creators start looking for a platform to sell: Kajabi and Podia. They help you sell your content, talk to your audience, and make money.
Between product limits, inflexible design, missing marketing tools, or rising costs, it’s easy to get stuck with a platform that slows your growth and drains your budget.
In this guide, we will compare Kajabi vs Podia and focus on how these course-creation tools fit different kinds of creators. We’ll also introduce a better alternative that gives you everything you need to build, sell, and scale.
Platform Builders vs Plug-and-Players
Before we compare Kajabi and Podia in detail, let’s discuss something that matters even more: your mindset as a creator. Your mindset will shape which platform works best for you.
Most people fall into one of these two types:
Platform Builders
These are the creators who want deep control over everything. They want to shape the customer experience, design full marketing funnels, and set up automation that runs the business in the background.
They usually:
- Sell higher-ticket programs like coaching or mentorship
- Want to track how users move through the funnel
- Care about customer lifetime value, not just single sales
- Are okay with a tool that takes more setup time
Kajabi is often a fit for this mindset. It offers a full system in one place, such as email marketing, website building, course hosting, automation, and customer tracking. But, that also means more moving parts and a steeper learning curve.
Plug-and-Players
These creators want to get their products live fast. They care about making sales without needing to set up five different systems. They’re not trying to become marketing tech pros and only want to sell their course, download, or membership.
They usually:
- Are solo creators or side hustlers
- Don’t want to mess with custom code or long setup
- Prefer simple pricing and fewer tools
- Want to focus on content, not backend systems
Podia often fits this mindset. It’s easier to start using right away. You don’t need to connect 10 tools to launch a course or product. But over time, some creators hit limits, especially if they want to build funnels or upsell systems.
What Is Kajabi?
Kajabi is a well-known platform aimed at entrepreneurs who want to build an all-in-one digital product business. It includes everything from course creation and landing pages to email automation and CRM tools.
What sets Kajabi apart is its structured approach and range of features, but this comes with a steeper learning curve and higher pricing. Many users find the platform powerful but overwhelming, especially when just getting started.
Its key features, like advanced automation, white-label branding, and affiliate programs, are locked behind higher pricing tiers.
What Is Podia?
Podia is built for creators who want to sell online courses, digital products, webinars, and memberships without dealing with complicated tech or coding.
It has a simple interface, which makes it a popular choice for beginners who want to launch their first digital product quickly.
With built-in tools for website creation, email marketing, and product delivery, Podia offers an all-in-one setup that works well for creators who value simplicity.
One of Podia’s key strengths is its unlimited product and member access across all plans. Creators can build and sell as many products as they want without worrying about capacity limits.
CustomerHub: Built for Creators Who Want More Freedom
CustomerHub is designed for creators who want to scale their knowledge into digital products without hitting paywalls or battling setup complexity.
Unlike platforms that limit your growth or hide core features behind higher-priced plans, CustomerHub allows you to sell unlimited courses, online memberships, and digital downloads.
Key Features
- Start selling your courses and programs in minutes
- Built-in guides to create step-by-step learning paths, set prerequisites, and track student progress
- Manage all your digital products from one clean dashboard
- Keep your community active and informed with built-in tools for announcements
- Easily connect your favorite tools and software through Zapier
- Handle subscriptions, renewals, and one-time payments
It’s simple enough to launch your first product fast but powerful enough to support your business as it grows. There are no transaction fees, and you won’t need a developer or a workaround to create a polished experience.
If you’re looking for a platform that doesn’t hold you back, CustomerHub gives you the clarity, control, and support you’ve been looking for.
Start your free 14-day trial today or book a demo and see how the platform works.
Kajabi vs Podia: Key Differences
At a glance, both Kajabi and Podia may seem like similar solutions for creators building an online business. Each platform helps you publish content, connect with your audience, and begin selling courses.
But once you look closer, the key differences in pricing flexibility, customization, and how each platform supports your growth over time become clearer.
These differences shape how you build and run your membership sites, structure course content, and deliver value to students. Understanding where each platform stands and where alternatives like CustomerHub offer a better path can help you choose the best fit for your goals.
Product Types and Selling Options
Both platforms support online course features like selling digital downloads, coaching services, and recurring subscriptions. However, how they handle structure and flexibility is very different.
Kajabi
Kajabi is an all-in-one solution offering multiple ways to monetize expertise—from online courses and exclusive memberships to podcasts and coaching programs. Users appreciate that Kajabi includes a website builder, LMS, email marketing, analytics, customer database, podcast hosting, blog, and more.
However, a common complaint is that Kajabi imposes strict limits on how many products and subscribers you can have on each plan. Even fans admit it can only host a limited number of courses/students unless you pay for the top-tier plan.
Small businesses often bump against caps as their Basic plan allows only a few courses and 1,000 members. Some also feel the platform is expensive for what it offers at lower tiers.
Podia
Podia also supports a wide range of digital products where you can sell online courses, memberships, coaching sessions, webinars, and digital downloads.
A big plus is that it does not cap your products or students on paid plans, and you can offer unlimited courses or downloads and enroll unlimited learners.
The main drawbacks mentioned are Podia’s lack of a mobile app for courses and a few advanced features. Users note that Podia has no native mobile app for students, and some find its customization options to be limited.
Website and Branding Tools
Your website is the front door to your online business, and how much control you have over its design matters. Kajabi and Podia both offer built-in website builders, but user feedback shows clear differences in customization, template design, and branding options.
Kajabi
Kajabi provides a website and landing page builder. You can choose from a variety of modern, mobile-responsive themes/templates and customize them.
The drag-and-drop builder allows you to arrange sections, add videos or forms, and style pages without coding. For those with technical skills, Kajabi even allows advanced code editing so you can access and modify the HTML/CSS of your site for deeper customization.
However, when it comes to deep branding and customization, many creators run into limitations. Reviews frequently cite Kajabi’s lack of design flexibility in terms of layouts, fonts, and colors.
Unless you know custom code or upgrade to higher plans, you may feel constrained by Kajabi’s preset themes. Notably, all sites on the entry plan display Kajabi’s branding, which can only be removed by upgrading to a pricier tier.
Podia
Podia favors simplicity over design control. Its page builder is user-friendly and clean, making it easy to set up a storefront or opt-in forms.
Many users find Podia’s interface intuitive and clean. You can easily build a basic website or landing page to sell your products. That said, power users have similar gripes about Podia’s design flexibility.
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing for beginners, but advanced users might find it restrictive. Still, you can add custom elements via embed, like inserting a snippet of HTML/JS for a third-party widget.
Checkout and Payments
A smooth purchase process is necessary when selling online. Kajabi and Podia each have built-in checkout systems, but the level of control, customization, and transaction fees differ.
Kajabi
Kajabi supports Stripe and PayPal for processing payments. It does not charge any transaction fees on your sales.
The subscription price you pay covers the platform, so you keep 100% of your revenue (minus what Stripe/PayPal charges).
The platform allows one-click upsells and order bumps so you can present an additional offer during checkout or immediately after purchase.
However, some find Kajabi’s checkout process and sales page templates inflexible or hard to personalize. In some reviews, a recurring comment is that Kajabi could do better with checkouts, which suggests that creators want more control over the checkout experience or design.
Podia
Podia also uses Stripe and PayPal for processing, and one standout benefit is Instant Payouts. You get your money immediately for each sale without Podia holding a reserve or minimum threshold.
The biggest consideration with Podia is its transaction fee structure on lower plans. While Kajabi’s pricing is built into the subscription, Podia’s entry-level plans charge a percentage of each sale.
The Mover plan takes a 5% transaction fee. This fee disappears on the Shaker plan, but not every user is ready to start at that tier. Some small creators start on a cheaper Podia plan and later realize the fees eat into their revenue.
Email Marketing
Email is a key piece of every online course platform, especially when you want to build long-term relationships and increase sales. Both Kajabi and Podia offer built-in marketing tools but with different strengths.
Kajabi
A major selling point of Kajabi is its built-in email marketing system. It allows you to create email broadcasts and automated sequences tied to your courses and funnels.
However, user feedback also reveals some shortcomings in Kajabi’s email tool. Some Kajabi customers have reported that emails sent via Kajabi have lower deliverability or end up in spam more often than emails sent from dedicated services.
Moreover, Kajabi’s email capabilities, while decent for basic marketing, are not as advanced as standalone email marketing platforms. There’s limited flexibility in designing emails (a few templates and basic personalization), and the automation rules are relatively simple.
Podia
Podia also includes a built-in email marketing feature called Podia Email. It supports sending one-off email broadcasts to your list and setting up basic drip campaigns for people who purchase your products.
However, some users have expressed a desire for more sophisticated email features in Podia, such as better audience segmentation or analytics. This suggests that while the platform covers the basics of email marketing, growing businesses might outgrow its simplicity.
Community and Engagement Tools
Keeping students engaged is essential to building a lasting online business, and having strong community-building features can make a big difference. Both platforms offer native tools, but the level of interaction and customization varies.
Kajabi
Kajabi offers a community feature, which is a built-in forum or group space where members can post, comment, and interact. The idea is to keep your students engaged on your own platform instead of, say, a Facebook Group.
It also has engagement tools for courses like quizzes and surveys, which are appreciated for testing learners. But the platform still falls short in social learning aspects.
If you already have an enthusiastic audience, Kajabi can host them, but if you’re trying to build engagement from scratch, Kajabi’s tools might not be enough to get the ball rolling.
The execution of Kajabi’s community tool also has drawn mixed reviews. Many creators feel Kajabi’s community lacks the engagement and interactivity found in dedicated community platforms.
Posts and comments are linear and basic, and there are limited community management features.
Podia
Podia introduced a Community feature as well, allowing creators to host membership-style discussion spaces. It’s simpler than Kajabi’s, but it serves a similar purpose.
It also stands out by including an inbuilt live chat widget for your site. This is great for engagement and support, as it provides real-time communication without needing a third-party chat tool.
However, as with Kajabi, power users find Podia’s community features a bit thin. It lacks advanced customization on the layout or structure of the community pages.
It also doesn’t have the gamification or subgroup capabilities that some competitors offer. Since Podia does not have a mobile app, members must engage via a browser.
Affiliate Marketing
An affiliate program can be a strong growth channel, especially for digital products and courses. Kajabi and Podia offer affiliate features but with different access rules and capabilities depending on your pricing tier.
Kajabi
Kajabi includes an affiliate management feature on all its paid plans for setting up an affiliate program for courses and digital products. You can invite partners or students to promote your offerings and automatically pay them a commission for any sales they refer.
The major downside is Kajabi’s cost. Since the affiliate marketing feature is only offered in the Growth plan at $199/month, some users feel they’re paying a lot if they only need that one feature.
Podia
Podia also supports affiliate marketing but with a significant caveat: affiliate features are only available on the Shaker plan. You must be on the $89/month plan to unlock the affiliate program functionality.
You can invite unlimited affiliates, generate referral links, set commission rates, and have Podia track and report on sales.
But the big issue is the paywall: small-scale creators on lower plans feel left out. There are verified comments of frustration from users who couldn’t use affiliates on Podia without upgrading.
One such user shared that they had to turn down affiliate offers because they couldn’t afford to switch to the Shaker plan yet. They called it frustrating and urged Podia to enable the affiliate tool on cheaper plans.
Integrations and Extensions
No matter how “all-in-one” a platform claims to be, chances are you’ll want to connect it with tools you already use, like CRMs, email services, or analytics. Kajabi and Podia offer integrations, but user feedback reveals gaps and limitations.
Kajabi
As an all-in-one platform, Kajabi tries to cover most needs internally, but it does offer integrations with some external tools.
It can natively integrate with Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, Mailchimp, and a handful of other services. There’s also an API and the ability to use Zapier to connect to more apps.
However, many users find Kajabi’s integrations limited and sometimes clunky. Advanced marketing teams using specialized tools often find Kajabi doesn’t have direct integrations for those. This forces them to rely on Zapier or manual data transfers.
Podia
Podia’s philosophy is also to be an all-in-one, covering your website, sales, and marketing basics without needing other tools. For many small creators, this works well. It also provides a Zapier integration for when you do need to connect to other apps.
But there isn’t a formal plugin system for Podia, much like Kajabi. So, while Podia simplifies your tech stack, it can be less extensible if you have unique needs.
The platform offers standard sales and student progress stats, but if you wanted a custom report or to connect to an analytics warehouse, you’d need to export data manually or via API.
Pricing and Plans
Choosing between Kajabi and Podia often comes down to price and what you get at each level. Both platforms offer multiple plans, but the way features are bundled can affect your long-term costs.
Below is a breakdown of what each pricing tier offers and how it compares in real-world use.
Kajabi Pricing
Kajabi offers four pricing plans, each built for a different stage of business growth:
- Kickstarter ($89/month): This entry-level plan includes the essentials to build and launch your first course or digital product, which is ideal for beginners without advanced tools.
- Basic ($149/month): Designed for creators ready to start selling. It includes course creation, website tools, email marketing, and limited automation.
- Growth ($199/month): Kajabi's most popular plan, offering more features like extra products, more members, advanced automation, and some custom branding options.
- Pro ($399/month): This top-tier plan includes full analytics, advanced customizations, white-label branding, and priority support. It’s aimed at large businesses or teams with a larger user base.
The main concern creators have with Kajabi’s pricing is that most of the core features are locked behind higher plans.
You may quickly hit limits on the Kickstarter or Basic plans, forcing you to upgrade just to add more products or users. And while Kajabi doesn’t charge transaction fees, the high monthly cost can be a challenge for newer businesses.
Podia Pricing
Podia keeps its pricing simpler, with two main plans to choose from:
- Mover ($39/month): This is the entry-level option that gives you a website, online store, email marketing, unlimited products, blog, and custom domain. However, it comes with a 5% transaction fee on every sale, which adds up fast if you're selling at volume.
- Shaker ($89/month): This plan removes transaction fees and adds affiliate marketing to help grow your business through referrals. It still includes all the basics: a website, product builder, email marketing, blog, and support.
Podia is often praised for offering unlimited courses and students on both plans. But the trade-off with the Mover plan is that you’re giving up 5% of every sale to Podia.
That might seem fine early on, but as your revenue grows, those fees can take a big bite. You’ll also need to upgrade to the Shaker plan if you want affiliate marketing or to remove fees.
CustomerHub: More for Less!
CustomerHub takes a different approach. Instead of charging by feature tier or product count, it offers one flat rate for everything.
At $79/month, CustomerHub gives you more than Kajabi’s $149 Basic plan and more freedom than Podia’s Shaker plan, all without hidden fees or product limits.
You get full access to course creation, memberships, digital downloads, community tools, affiliate marketing, branding controls, and integrations without upgrade pressure.
There are no transaction fees, no product or user limits, and no hidden costs. For creators who want to grow without changing platforms or constantly upgrading, CustomerHub’s pricing is simple and transparent.
While Kajabi’s and Podia’s plans can work well depending on your size and goals, CustomerHub is built to support growth from the start!
What Makes CustomerHub Better Than Kajabi and Podia?
Kajabi and Podia are popular platforms, but popularity doesn’t always mean practicality.
But once creators start using them, many start facing limits, missing features, and unexpected upgrade pressure.
CustomerHub is designed to solve those frustrations by focusing on what creators need to sell and grow without overcharging or complicating the process.
Plug-and-Play Simplicity
Kajabi’s users often report feeling overwhelmed by its interface. Podia is easier but lacks flexibility in layouts and automation, forcing users to settle for the basics or connect extra tools.
CustomerHub strips away all those technicalities. Everything is organized, intuitive, and designed so you can launch confidently, even if you’ve never done this before.
That simplicity is what makes it a go-to platform for creators who are tired of wasting time in overbuilt dashboards and patching together tools to make a product live.
Faster Launch Times
Kajabi users frequently share that it takes weeks to set up just one funnel properly, especially if you're customizing emails, checkout pages, and member areas. Podia has a faster time-to-launch but often lacks the structure to create a seamless onboarding experience without manual work.
CustomerHub speeds things up without skipping the important stuff. You can launch a product, organize your content, and onboard users in hours, not days or weeks.
With built-in product templates, drag-and-drop sections, and real-time previews, you always know what your audience will experience.
Responsive Support and Done-for-You Services
Podia’s and Kajabi’s support is usually limited to documentation, forums, or ticket-based email replies. If you get stuck or need help building something, you’re on your own or looking at expensive consultants.
CustomerHub flips that model. You get unlimited chat support and a real human team that’s ready to help you fix, build, or improve anything.
Want something even better? If you’re short on time or just want things done right, CustomerHub offers Done-for-You (DFY) services that handle your onboarding setup, product structure, branding, and even community configuration.
That kind of hands-on support is unheard of in most SaaS products. And it’s what gives busy entrepreneurs peace of mind. You’re never alone with CustomerHub!
Seamless Integration With 7,000+ Tools
Kajabi users often mention the struggle of connecting external tools. It lacks direct integrations with popular CRMs and marketing platforms.
CustomerHub connects easily with your favorite tools, including ActiveCampaign, ConvertKit, Keap, HubSpot, Stripe, Zoom, and Calendly.
Through Zapier and native options, you can sync data, trigger automation, and run your full backend without wrestling with webhooks or clunky workarounds.
Built for Knowledge Entrepreneurs
Kajabi tries to serve too many audiences, such as marketers, e-commerce sellers, and content creators. Then, they end up with bloated tools that often don’t match what coaches and consultants actually need.
CustomerHub is laser-focused on people selling expertise. If you're a leadership coach, course creator, nutritionist, business mentor, or trainer, the platform is designed to help transition your 1:1 work into scalable products.
Every tool, every setting, and every page layout is aligned with how knowledge entrepreneurs operate. That focus creates fewer distractions, faster decision-making, and better results.
Everything You Need Without Unnecessary Complexity
Kajabi includes everything from pipelines to podcasts, but many users end up paying for tools they don’t use. Podia feels leaner but lacks key features like in-depth automation or community customization. You’re stuck between too much and too little.
CustomerHub gets it right. You get the features that move your business forward:
- Private customer feed where you can post announcements, updates, and premium content
- Central product library so your members can access everything from one login
- Guided customer onboarding system that automatically shows new buyers what to do next
- Progress tracking and checklists to keep users engaged in your programs
Everything feels connected, fast, and focused on retention. You won’t find unnecessary features that sound nice but sit unused. You’ll only get features that help your business grow.
Simple, Predictable Pricing
Kajabi can be expensive, and Podia will take a cut of your sales unless you pay more. These costs either slow you down or force you to upgrade before you’re ready.
CustomerHub keeps it simple: one flat monthly rate of $79. You get access to every feature from the start. There are no transaction fees, no usage limits, and no pressure to upgrade later. It’s predictable and designed to support growth instead of restricting it.
No More Upgrade Traps—Run Your Digital Business With CustomerHub!
If you’re building a digital product business, your platform shouldn’t slow you down or make you pay more just to scale.
CustomerHub gives you everything you need to build, sell, and scale your courses, memberships, and programs without the usual limits or upgrade pressure.
Built specifically for knowledge entrepreneurs, it combines a clean setup experience with powerful tools that help you run your business. From guided customer onboarding and private member feeds to unlimited products, it’s all included from day one.
If you're ready to stop working around tech limitations and start building with freedom and real support, CustomerHub is the platform that meets you where you are and grows with you.
Start your free 14-day trial today and see what it feels like to finally have the right tools behind your business!
FAQs About Kajabi vs Podia
What platform is better than Kajabi?
If you're looking for a platform that offers powerful features without steep pricing or product limits, CustomerHub is a strong alternative. It gives you unlimited products, members, and automation tools at one flat rate without the pressure to upgrade.
Unlike Kajabi, which often requires jumping to higher tiers to access core features, it includes everything from the start and is built specifically for knowledge-based businesses.
Who is Kajabi best for?
Kajabi is best suited for creators who want an all-in-one system and don’t mind spending extra time learning the platform.
It's often chosen by coaches and course creators with larger budgets or existing teams to manage setup and customization. However, many solo entrepreneurs find it complex or restrictive, especially when hitting usage caps.
What is Podia best for?
Podia is a solid choice for beginners who want a clean, simple way to launch a course or digital product. It’s easy to use, doesn’t require technical knowledge, and offers unlimited products, even on the lower tier.
However, if you need advanced automation, deeper customization, or integration with other tools, Podia can feel limited over time.
Which one is better, Kajabi or Teachable?
Kajabi and Teachable both serve course creators, but their strengths are different. Kajabi focuses on being an all-in-one platform, including email marketing and website tools, while Teachable is more focused on course delivery.
If you're looking for a more flexible, all-in-one solution without tiered restrictions, CustomerHub offers a simpler, more affordable option, combining what most creators need in one flat plan.
