Kajabi vs Payhip (2026): Is an All-in-One Course Platform Worth $143+ a Month?
Kajabi bundles the whole business. Payhip just sells. Price the difference before you pick.
If you are selling your first course or digital product, Payhip’s free plan costs nothing until you sell. Kajabi starts at $143 a month on an annual plan. Kajabi earns that only when you will use its bundled email, community, and website enough to cancel other tools.
Plans and fees
On a narrow screen, swipe the table sideways to see every column.
| Plan | Monthly (billed yearly) | Monthly (billed monthly) | Fees | Key limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payhip Free | $0 | $0 | 5% + processing | Unlimited products |
| Payhip Plus | — | $29 | 2% + processing | Unlimited products |
| Kajabi Basic | $143 | $179 | 2.9% + $0.30 with Kajabi Payments | 5 products, 2,500 contacts |
| Kajabi Growth | $199 | $249 | 2.8% + $0.30 with Kajabi Payments | 50 products, 25,000 contacts |
The break-even question
Kajabi Basic costs $1,716 a year on annual billing. Before choosing it, add up what you would cancel: email marketing, website hosting, community tool, course hosting. If that total is below $1,716, Kajabi is a convenience, not a saving.
Kajabi’s three plans and their limits
Checked on kajabi.com/pricing, 2026-10-18. Kajabi takes no revenue share on any plan.
| Basic | Growth | Pro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billed yearly | $143/mo ($1,716 upfront) | $199/mo ($2,388) | $399/mo ($4,788) |
| Billed monthly | $179/mo | $249/mo | $499/mo |
| Products | 5 | 50 | Unlimited |
| Contacts | 2,500 | 25,000 | 100,000 |
| Websites / communities | 1 / 1 | 1 / 1 | 3 / 3 |
| Admin users | 2 | 11 | 26 |
| Your own affiliate program | No | Yes | Yes |
| Remove Kajabi branding | No | Yes | Yes |
| Kajabi Payments card fee (US) | 2.9% + $0.30 | 2.8% + $0.30 | 2.7% + $0.30 |
| Extra fee if you use another processor | 2% | 1% | 0.5% |
Every plan includes courses, coaching, one community, unlimited marketing emails, unlimited funnels and landing pages, and a custom domain.
Costs that are easy to miss on Kajabi
- Basic allows only 5 products. A course, a template pack, a coaching offer and two bundles already fill it. The sixth product means Growth at $199–249/mo.
- Contacts are capped. Basic stops at 2,500 contacts, including free subscribers. Kajabi sells extra capacity in blocks of 25,000 contacts for $125 a month.
- Bringing your own payment processor costs extra. Where Kajabi Payments is available, using another processor (PayPal excluded) adds 2% on Basic.
- The yearly discount is paid upfront. Saving $432 a year on Basic means paying $1,716 on day one. Kajabi lists a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 14-day free trial.
Worked examples
Platform cost only. Card processing is about the same either way (Kajabi Payments vs Stripe/PayPal on Payhip) and is left out.
| Monthly sales | Cheapest Payhip | Kajabi Basic | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $500 | Free: $25 | $143–179 | Payhip saves $118–154/mo |
| $1,500 | Plus: $29 + $30 = $59 | $143–179 | Payhip saves $84–120/mo |
| $3,000 | Plus: $89, or Pro: $99 | $143–179 | Payhip saves $54–90/mo |
| $10,000 | Pro: $99 | $143–179 (Growth $199–249 if you need more than 5 products) | Payhip saves $44–150/mo |
The honest takeaway: on selling fees alone, Kajabi is never the cheaper option. Payhip Pro caps your cost at $99/mo with no fee per sale. Kajabi only pays off if it lets you cancel other paid tools: an email platform, a community app, a website builder and a funnel tool. Add up what you pay for those today. If that total plus Payhip is more than Kajabi’s price, Kajabi is the better deal.
Who should choose which
- Selling ebooks, templates or presets: Payhip. You don’t need Kajabi’s community or funnels.
- First online course, small list: Payhip Free. Courses are included at $0/mo, and you pay only when you sell.
- Coach or educator with a paid community, live calls and email funnels, already earning: Kajabi Growth can replace three or four tools. Use the 14-day trial and price your current stack first.
- More than 2,500 free subscribers but few sales: avoid Kajabi Basic. The contact cap will push you to a higher plan before revenue does.
FAQ
Is Kajabi worth it for beginners?
Usually not. Basic costs $143–179 a month before your first sale. Payhip Free includes courses and costs nothing until you sell.
Does Kajabi take a cut of sales?
No. Kajabi charges no revenue share. You pay card processing (2.9% + $0.30 on Basic with Kajabi Payments in the US), plus an extra 2% on Basic if you use another processor where Kajabi Payments is available.
How many products can I sell on Kajabi Basic?
Five. Growth allows 50 and Pro is unlimited.
Is Payhip good for online courses?
Yes. Courses, memberships and coaching are included on every Payhip plan, including Free.
Does Kajabi have a free trial?
Yes, 14 days, and every plan has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Which one to choose
- First product, no steady sales yet → Payhip Free. Compare Payhip plans (affiliate link).
- Running courses, email, and a community, paying for several tools → price Kajabi against your current stack.
- Need more than 5 products or 2,500 contacts on Kajabi → budget for Growth, not Basic.
Sources. Kajabi pricing, Payhip pricing. Kajabi also lists a 30-day money-back guarantee. Prices change; check before you sign up. Related: The Lean Creator Business Stack.
Run your own numbers: try the free Payhip plan calculator.
Not sure which platform fits your numbers? Put in your price and monthly sales and see what you keep on every platform at once. If you are just starting, a Payhip store costs $0 until you sell, so you can set it up first and decide later.
Compare my numbers →Start a free Payhip storeCourse platforms compared: Podia vs Payhip and Teachable vs Payhip run the same numbers for the two other big course platforms.
