Systeme.io and Kajabi both let you sell online courses with funnels, email and payments in one account, but they sit at opposite ends of the price scale. Systeme.io has a free plan and paid plans at $17, $47 and $97 a month, with 0% transaction fees and unlimited email sends. Kajabi starts at $179 a month ($143 billed annually) and is built around a premium course, community and coaching experience, with a customer mobile app on every plan.
The short answer: choose Systeme.io if you are starting out, watching costs or want strong funnels with your course. Choose Kajabi if your business already earns well from courses and community, and you want live cohorts, a mobile app and a more refined student experience.
Systeme.io vs Kajabi at a Glance
| Systeme.io | Kajabi | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Beginners, solo creators, budget sellers | Established experts, coaches, course businesses |
| Free plan | Yes, no end date | No |
| Free trial | Not needed | 14 days, plus 30-day money-back guarantee |
| Monthly plans | $0, $17, $47, $97 | $179, $249, $499 |
| Annual plans | $170, $470, $970 a year | $1,716, $2,388, $4,788 a year |
| Contacts | 2,000 to unlimited | 2,500 to 100,000 (add-ons available) |
| Courses | 1 free, 5, 20, unlimited | 5, 50, unlimited products |
| Email sends | Unlimited on every plan | Unlimited on every plan |
| Platform fees | 0% transaction fees | 0% revenue share; 2% to 0.5% with outside processors |
| Student mobile app | No official app documented | Customer app on every plan; branded app on Pro |
| Evergreen webinars | Webinar and Unlimited plans | Not listed on pricing page |
| Best strength | Price and funnels | Course, community and coaching experience |
In This Article
- Systeme.io vs Kajabi at a Glance
- What Is Systeme.io?
- What Is Kajabi?
- Pricing Compared
- Online Courses
- Communities, Memberships and Coaching
- Funnels, Checkout and Upsells
- Email Marketing and Automation
- Websites, Blogs and Branding
- Mobile App and AI Features
- Affiliate Programs
- Support and Onboarding
- Pros and Cons
- Which Should You Choose?
- Switching Between Systeme.io and Kajabi
- Common Mistakes When Choosing
- Alternatives to Both
- Our Verdict
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Systeme.io?
Systeme.io is an all-in-one platform that combines sales funnels, email marketing, online courses, communities, a blog, a website builder, affiliate management, booking and evergreen webinars. Its homepage says it is "Powering 500,000+ entrepreneurs," which is the company's own claim.
Its main draw is cost. The free plan never expires, needs no card and includes 2,000 contacts, 3 funnels, 1 course and unlimited email sends. Paid plans raise those limits, and every plan includes 0% transaction fees. See our Systeme.io review for a full breakdown.
What Is Kajabi?
Kajabi is an all-in-one platform for experts who sell knowledge products. Its pricing page lists courses, coaching, memberships, digital downloads, podcasts, communities and newsletters, along with a website builder, email marketing, funnels, checkout and payments. Kajabi says experts on the platform "have earned $12B+ since 2010," which is its own figure.
Kajabi positions itself as one subscription that replaces several tools, and it puts heavy weight on the customer experience: a mobile app for students, video transcripts and translations, and a coaching area it calls Backstage. For more Kajabi comparisons, see ClickFunnels vs Kajabi and GoHighLevel vs Kajabi.
Pricing Compared
Price is the clearest difference between the two. Kajabi's cheapest plan costs more than Systeme.io's most expensive one.
Systeme.io Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | Contacts | Courses | Funnels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 | 2,000 | 1 | 3 |
| Startup | $17 | $170 a year | 5,000 | 5 | 10 |
| Webinar | $47 | $470 a year | 10,000 | 20 | 50 |
| Unlimited | $97 | $970 a year | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
The free plan allows 500 students and processes up to $10,000 in total sales; once you reach that, Systeme.io gives you 3 days to upgrade. Paid plans include unlimited students. Annual billing works out to two months free. Details are in our Systeme.io pricing guide.
Kajabi Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Billed Annually | Contacts | Products | Admins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $179 | $143/mo ($1,716 a year) | 2,500 | 5 | 2 |
| Growth | $249 | $199/mo ($2,388 a year) | 25,000 | 50 | 11 |
| Pro | $499 | $399/mo ($4,788 a year) | 100,000 | Unlimited | 26 |
Every Kajabi plan comes with a 14-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Kajabi sells extra contacts "in blocks of 25,000 for $125 a month." Growth adds live cohort courses, advanced automations, an affiliate program and removal of Kajabi branding. Pro adds a branded app in the App Store, API access and up to 3 websites and communities.
Monthly list prices from each vendor's pricing page, November 2026.
Transaction and Payment Fees
Systeme.io advertises 0% transaction fees on every plan. You still pay your payment processor, such as Stripe or PayPal.
Kajabi says it takes no revenue share. If you use Kajabi Payments, US card rates are 2.9%, 2.8% or 2.7% plus 30ยข depending on plan. If you connect an outside processor, Kajabi adds a fee of 2% on Basic, 1% on Growth and 0.5% on Pro, which does not apply to PayPal or Kajabi Payments.
| Monthly Sales Through an Outside Processor | Kajabi Basic (2%) | Kajabi Growth (1%) | Kajabi Pro (0.5%) | Systeme.io |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2,000 | $40 | $20 | $10 | $0 |
| $5,000 | $100 | $50 | $25 | $0 |
| $10,000 | $200 | $100 | $50 | $0 |
These figures are the Kajabi platform fee only, calculated from its listed percentages. Processor fees apply on top for both platforms.
What You Would Pay: Three Examples
These examples use monthly list prices and simple arithmetic. Your plan choice depends on your actual list size and product count.
| Scenario | Systeme.io | Kajabi |
|---|---|---|
| New creator, 1,500 contacts, 1 course | $0 (Free) | $179 (Basic) |
| Coach, 8,000 contacts, 3 courses | $47 (Webinar, 10,000 contacts) | $249 (Growth, 25,000 contacts) |
| Course business, 40,000 contacts | $97 (Unlimited) | $374 (Growth plus one 25,000-contact block) |
In the second example, Kajabi Basic plus one contact block would cost $304, so Growth at $249 is the cheaper Kajabi route. Over a year on monthly billing, the third scenario costs $1,164 on Systeme.io and $4,488 on Kajabi.
Key Takeaway
Kajabi's higher price buys a more polished product experience, not more basic features. If you only need a course, a sales page, checkout and email, Systeme.io covers that for a fraction of the cost.
Online Courses
Both platforms host video courses with modules and lessons, and both let you sell them through their own checkout.
Systeme.io Courses
Systeme.io courses are built under Assets > Courses, with modules, lectures and drip delays. Its help center covers hosting videos on Systeme.io, full or partial drip access, and adding students manually. Course completion certificates are a native setting: you tick "Issue certificate upon completion," and only the logo and signature can be customized.
Limits depend on your plan: 1 course on Free, 5 on Startup, 20 on Webinar and unlimited on Unlimited. The free plan caps students at 500.
Kajabi Courses
Kajabi treats courses as one of several products, alongside coaching, memberships, downloads and podcasts. Basic allows 5 products, Growth 50 and Pro unlimited. Its pricing page lists video transcripts and translations "generated automatically for every video" on every plan, and live cohort courses, where students move through on a schedule, on Growth and Pro.
Winner: Kajabi for the student experience and cohorts; Systeme.io for value.
Communities, Memberships and Coaching
Systeme.io includes a community builder on every plan, from 1 community on Free to unlimited on Unlimited. It covers a members' space linked to your courses and email list.
Kajabi's community is more central to the product. Its pricing page describes "a private community with multiple groups" on every plan, with unlimited access groups you can sell separately inside one community. Backstage, a private coaching area with voice notes, direct messaging and custom learning paths, is included on all plans.
Winner: Kajabi, especially for paid communities and high-ticket coaching.
Funnels, Checkout and Upsells
Systeme.io started as a funnel builder, and it shows. You get multi-step funnels with opt-in, sales and checkout pages, order bumps, one-click upsells, coupons and A/B tests. The Webinar plan adds evergreen webinar funnels. Limits rise by plan, from 3 funnels on Free to unlimited on the $97 plan.
Kajabi lists unlimited landing pages and funnels on every plan, plus built-in checkout. Its funnels are geared toward selling Kajabi products rather than building complex multi-offer sales sequences.
Winner: Systeme.io for funnel depth at a low price. For more on funnel-first tools, see ClickFunnels vs Systeme.io.
Email Marketing and Automation
Both platforms include unlimited email sends. Systeme.io offers broadcasts, sequences, tags, automation rules and visual workflows, with limits by plan; the free plan allows 1 automation rule and 1 workflow.
Kajabi includes email on every plan, with advanced automations that use conditional filters on Growth and Pro. Webhooks are also limited to Growth and Pro.
Winner: Roughly even. Systeme.io gives more automation for less money; Kajabi's automations tie closely to course and community activity.
Websites, Blogs and Branding
Systeme.io includes a website builder and blogs on every plan, from 1 blog on Free to unlimited. Free users cannot remove the "Sent with systeme.io" email footer; paid plans can.
Kajabi includes a website with a custom domain on every plan; Pro allows 3 websites and lets you edit the code behind your site. Basic shows "Powered by Kajabi" in the footer, and Growth removes Kajabi branding.
Winner: Systeme.io for blogging on a budget; Kajabi for multi-brand sites on Pro.
Mobile App and AI Features
Kajabi includes a customer app so students can access courses and community "on iPhone and Android, day one." Pro adds your own branded app in the App Store, which Kajabi values at $199 a month. Kajabi also lists an AI assistant called Kajabi Cofounder and a Kajabi MCP connector on every plan, with 0, 500 or 1,000 AI credits a month by plan.
Systeme.io's help center does not document an official native app, so students learn through a browser. Its feature list does not highlight AI tools in the way Kajabi's does.
Winner: Kajabi.
Affiliate Programs
Systeme.io includes affiliate management on every plan, so partners can promote your course for a commission. Kajabi's affiliate program feature starts on Growth ($249 a month).
Winner: Systeme.io, because it is included from the free plan.
Support and Onboarding
Systeme.io supports users by email seven days a week, with an average response time of about 2 hours, according to its help center. It does not offer live chat or phone support. Annual plans and the Unlimited monthly plan include a free 1-hour kickstart coaching session, and free migration.
Kajabi lists a help center, live webinars and video guides, and its Pro plan includes "Dedicated support."
Winner: Kajabi on Pro; Systeme.io offers solid email support at a lower price.
Pros and Cons
Systeme.io
Pros
- Free plan with no end date
- Paid plans from $17 a month
- 0% transaction fees
- Unlimited email sends
- Funnels with bumps and upsells
- Affiliate program on every plan
Cons
- No official student mobile app
- Simpler course and community design
- Free plan capped at 500 students and $10,000 in sales
- Email-only support
Kajabi
Pros
- Polished course and community experience
- Customer app on every plan
- Live cohorts and coaching tools
- Branded app on Pro
- 14-day trial and 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Starts at $179 a month
- Only 2,500 contacts on Basic
- Affiliate program and branding removal need Growth
- Fee on outside payment processors
Which Should You Choose?
| Choose Systeme.io If You | Choose Kajabi If You |
|---|---|
| Are launching your first course or testing an idea | Already earn steady revenue from courses or coaching |
| Want to keep monthly costs low | Want a premium student and member experience |
| Need funnels with order bumps and upsells | Want students on a mobile app |
| Sell several products with a small budget | Run live cohorts or paid community groups |
| Want an affiliate program from day one | Want a branded app in the App Store |
Kajabi's own pricing page frames Basic as "best for experts making their first $10k a year." Systeme.io lets you reach that stage without a monthly bill, which is why many creators start there.
Switching Between Systeme.io and Kajabi
Neither platform imports the other's courses in one click, so a move means rebuilding courses, pages and email sequences.
- 1Export contacts and note tags and offers
- 2Download or re-upload course videos and files
- 3Start a Systeme.io annual plan or Unlimited monthly to use free migration
- 4Rebuild courses with modules and drip settings
- 5Recreate sales pages and checkout with bumps and upsells
- 6Rebuild email sequences as automation rules or workflows
- 7Enroll existing students and test access before cancelling Kajabi
Going the other way, from Systeme.io to Kajabi, is common once a creator outgrows the basics. Time Kajabi's 14-day trial for when your content is ready, so you can test the full setup before paying.
Signs It Is Time to Upgrade to Kajabi
- Students ask for a mobile app or better course navigation.
- You want to run live cohorts where everyone starts together.
- Your community has become a paid product in its own right.
- Your revenue makes the price difference a small share of sales.
Common Mistakes When Choosing
- Paying for Kajabi before you have buyers. Validate the offer first; the free plan on Systeme.io costs nothing.
- Ignoring contact limits. Kajabi Basic includes 2,500 contacts, while Systeme.io's $17 plan includes 5,000.
- Forgetting the outside-processor fee. On Kajabi Basic, a third-party processor other than PayPal adds 2% to each sale.
- Assuming Systeme.io has a student app. No official app is documented, so plan for browser access.
- Skipping the trial. Kajabi's 14 days are enough to build one product and judge the experience.
Alternatives to Both
If neither fits, see our Systeme.io alternatives. Creators who want stronger funnels should compare ClickFunnels vs Kajabi, and service businesses that rely on texting and booking should read Systeme.io vs GoHighLevel.
Our Verdict
Systeme.io is the better choice for most beginners and budget-conscious creators. It covers courses, funnels, email, communities and affiliates on a free plan, and its top plan costs less than Kajabi's entry plan.
Kajabi is the better choice for established experts who sell courses, coaching and community as a premium experience. Its mobile app, live cohorts and coaching tools justify the higher price once revenue supports it.
Start Free With Systeme.io
Funnels, email, courses and a blog with a free plan for up to 2,000 contacts. Paid plans start at $17 a month with 0% transaction fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Systeme.io Better than Kajabi?
Systeme.io is better for creators who want low costs, a free plan and funnels, email and courses in one place. Kajabi is better for established experts who want a more polished course and community experience, live cohorts, a customer app and a branded app on its Pro plan.
How Much Cheaper Is Systeme.io than Kajabi?
Systeme.io's paid plans cost $17, $47 and $97 a month, and it has a free plan. Kajabi costs $179, $249 and $499 a month, or $143, $199 and $399 a month billed annually. Kajabi's entry plan costs more than Systeme.io's top plan.
Does Kajabi Have a Free Plan Like Systeme.io?
No. Kajabi offers a 14-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee on every plan. Systeme.io has a permanent free plan with 2,000 contacts, 1 course and up to $10,000 in total sales.
Do Systeme.io or Kajabi Charge Transaction Fees?
Systeme.io advertises 0% transaction fees on every plan. Kajabi takes no revenue share, but charges 2%, 1% or 0.5% by plan if you use a third-party payment processor other than PayPal or Kajabi Payments.
Which Has a Mobile App for Students?
Kajabi includes a customer app for iPhone and Android on every plan, and a branded app in the App Store on Pro. Systeme.io's help center does not document an official native app, so students use the web.
Can I Move My Courses from Kajabi to Systeme.io?
Yes, but courses are rebuilt rather than imported in one click. Systeme.io offers free migration with its Unlimited monthly plan or any annual plan, which can save time on large course libraries.
Which Is Better for a Community?
Kajabi's communities support multiple paid access groups inside one community and tie closely to its coaching and cohort tools. Systeme.io includes a community builder on every plan, which covers a basic member community at a lower price.
How Many Contacts Do Systeme.io and Kajabi Include?
Systeme.io includes 2,000, 5,000, 10,000 and unlimited contacts across its four plans. Kajabi includes 2,500, 25,000 and 100,000, and sells extra contacts in blocks of 25,000 for $125 a month.
Start Your Course on Systeme.io's Free Plan
Build a course, a sales funnel and an email sequence on the free plan, then upgrade or move to Kajabi if you need its branded app, live cohorts or a more polished student experience.
Start Free With Systeme.io
