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Kajabi starts at $89 a month. Systeme.io starts at $17, and it has a free plan.
If you’re building a course, that gap is worth understanding before you pick. I haven’t run either on a paid account, so this comparison comes from both vendors’ pricing and published reviews. For the baseline on one side, see our Systeme.io review.
Quick answer
Pick Systeme.io if you’re testing a course idea or want funnels, email, and courses on a small budget.
Pick Kajabi if courses and coaching are your whole business and you want a course-first platform.
Price comparison
Systeme.io:
- Free: $0
- Startup: $17 a month
- Webinar: $47 a month
- Unlimited: $97 a month
Kajabi, per a 2026 guide:
- Kickstarter: $89 a month ($71 on annual billing)
- Basic: $149 a month ($119 annual)
- Growth: $199 a month ($159 annual)
- Pro: $399 a month ($319 annual)
Both charge 0% transaction fees. Kajabi plans carry a 14-day free trial, unlimited landing pages, and 7,500 marketing emails, and the plans differ mainly in products, pipelines, and contacts.
Courses
Systeme.io. Courses are available on every plan, including free, and each course can have unlimited students. The number of courses depends on the plan.
Kajabi. Built around courses, coaching, and memberships. The number of products grows as you move up the plans.
Funnels, email, and blogs
Systeme.io includes funnels, email, and blogs on every plan, with email sending reported as unlimited. Kajabi includes landing pages and emails too, with limits that rise by plan.
Where Kajabi wins
If you want a platform built for courses and coaching, with its own product structure, Kajabi is the course-first option. Its higher plans suit creators with several products.
Where Systeme.io wins
The price, and the free plan. Starting a course costs nothing. Kajabi’s entry plan costs $89 a month before you’ve sold anything.
Things to check on either one
- How many courses and products your plan allows
- Whether the tools you already use connect
- How the course player looks to your students
- The exact limits on the live pricing page
My take
For a first course, I’d build it on Systeme.io’s free plan and see whether students buy. If the course grows into a coaching business with several products, Kajabi becomes easier to justify.
Frequently asked questions
Is Systeme.io cheaper than Kajabi?
Yes. Kajabi’s cheapest plan is $89 a month on monthly billing. Systeme.io has a free plan and paid plans from $17.
Can I sell courses on Systeme.io?
Yes. Courses are available on every plan, including free.
Does Kajabi have a free plan?
I didn’t find a permanent free plan. It has a 14-day free trial.
Which is better for beginners?
I think Systeme.io, because you can start without paying.