Systeme.io vs Kajabi 2026: The Price Difference Is Staggering
Systeme.io and Kajabi both position themselves as all-in-one platforms for online courses and digital businesses. But when you look at actual pricing, the gap is enormous. Here is what you actually get for your money.
The Price Reality
| Plan | Systeme.io | Kajabi |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | Free | $149/mo |
| Basic | $17/mo | $199/mo |
| Growth | $47/mo | $399/mo |
| Scale | $97/mo | $399/mo |
Systeme.io free plan alone gives you more than Kajabi $149/month plan in several key areas.
What You Get on Systeme.io Free
- Unlimited contacts
- 3 sales funnels
- 1,000 emails/month
- 0% transaction fees
- Funnel templates
- Email automation
For someone starting out, this is everything.
What Kajabi Charges Extra For
Kajabi charges separately for:
- Transaction fees on some plans
- Additional users (each costs extra)
- Premium integrations
- Advanced analytics
The advertised $149 price rarely reflects what a growing business actually pays.
Course and Community Features
Both platforms support course delivery and community features. But:
Systeme.io: Simple, functional course builder with essential features. Community access integrated.
Kajabi: More polished course experience with quizzes, assessments, and dripping content. More mature product.
For a course creator doing $10K/month in revenue, Kajabi may be worth it. For everyone else, Systeme.io covers the essentials at a fraction of the cost.
The Math
If you earn $500/month from your online course:
- Systeme.io: Free plan, $0/month → keep all $500
- Kajabi: $149/month + transaction fees → keep ~$350
That $150/month difference goes straight to your profit margin as a new course creator.
When to Choose Kajabi
Kajabi makes sense when:
- You need advanced course customization
- You have an established audience and can justify the cost
- You need white-label mobile apps
- Your monthly revenue exceeds $5K consistently
When to Choose Systeme.io
Systeme.io makes sense when:
- You are starting out with a $0 budget
- You want to test your course idea before investing heavily
- Price sensitivity is real
- You want functional over flashy
My Verdict
For 90% of new course creators: Systeme.io. The price-to-value ratio is unmatched.
For established creators with revenue to justify it: Kajabi.
Start for Free on Systeme.io — No Credit Card
Disclosure: This article contains an affiliate link.
