Kartra vs Podia – A Comprehensive Comparison 

If you’re looking to sell digital products, courses, or memberships, choosing the right platform is crucial. With the e-learning market projected to hit $457.8 billion by 2026 (Statista), having an all-in-one solution can make or break your success.

Podia and Kartra are two major players, but they serve different business needs. I’ve personally used both and know their strengths, weaknesses, and hidden costs.

This comparison cuts through the hype to give you straight facts—no fluff, helping you decide which platform is best for your business.

Let’s dive in.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is based on public data and analysis. Verify Kartra and Podia details on official websites as features and pricing may change.

Kartra vs. Podia: Quick Comparison

Feature	Kartra	Podia
Best For	Marketers, agencies, and funnel builders	Course creators, coaches, and digital sellers
Ease of Use	❌ Steeper learning curve, takes time to master	✅ Beginner-friendly, no tech skills needed
Sales Funnels & Automation	✅ Advanced funnel builder & automation	❌ Basic sales pages, limited automation
Affiliate Management	✅ Included in all plans	❌ Only on Shaker Plan ($75/month)
Webinar Hosting	✅ Built-in webinar functionality	❌ No native webinar hosting
Community Features	❌ No built-in community tools	✅ Free & paid community options included
Pricing	Starts at $119/month	More budget-friendly, starts at $33/month
Speed & Performance	❌ Can be slow & clunky	✅ Fast & smooth experience
Customization	✅ More flexible for branding & design

What is Kartra? 

Alright, let’s talk about Kartra—an all-in-one marketing platform launched in 2018 by the same team behind WebinarJam.

So, what makes it stand out?

It’s loaded with tools like email automation, funnel building, landing page design, and even a built-in helpdesk—basically, everything you need to run an online business.

But here’s the deal…

While Kartra does support videos and memberships, its real strength lies in marketing funnels.

So, if your main focus is serious course creation, you might find it a bit limiting.

There you have it!

 What is Podia? 

Podia came to life in 2014 when Spencer Fry set out to create a better platform for hosting training videos than YouTube.

In the beginning, it was pretty straightforward—just a simple tool for processing payments and managing customers.

But here’s the thing…

With some funding, Podia leveled up in a big way.

Kartra vs. Podia – Key Similarities and Differences

After using both Kartra and Podia, I’ve noticed some key areas where they overlap and where they take different paths. Let’s break it down!

Similarities

Both Kartra and Podia are all-in-one platforms designed to help you run your online business without needing multiple third-party tools. They both offer:

✅ Membership site & course hosting – Sell online courses and digital products
✅ Email marketing automation – Nurture leads and automate follow-ups
✅ Affiliate management tools – Set up and manage your own affiliate program
✅ Sales pages & checkout systems – Create sales funnels and handle payments

Both platforms eliminate the need for extra software, helping you streamline your business. Plus, they both offer free trials, so you can test them before committing:

• Kartra: 30-day trial
• Podia: 14-day trial

Differences

While they share some core features, Kartra and Podia cater to different types of users. Kartra is built for marketers, while Podia is designed for content creators.

Feature	Kartra	Podia
Ideal For	Marketers, funnel builders, and agencies	Course creators, coaches, and digital product sellers
Ease of Use	❌ Steeper learning curve	✅ Beginner-friendly, no tech skills needed
Sales Funnels & Automation	✅ Advanced automation & marketing funnels	❌ Basic sales pages, limited automation
Affiliate Management	✅ Included in all plans	❌ Only available on Shaker Plan ($89/month)
Webinar Hosting	✅ Built-in webinar functionality	❌ No native webinar hosting
Community Features	❌ No built-in community tools	✅ Includes free & paid community options
Pricing	Starts at $119/month	More affordable, starting at $39/month
Speed & Performance	❌ Can be slow & clunky	✅ Fast & smooth experience
Customization	✅ More flexibility for design & branding	❌ Limited customization

User Interface & Ease of Use: Podia vs. Kartra

Let’s talk about usability.

Podia: Simple & Intuitive

Podia keeps things clean, minimal, and effortless. No unnecessary clutter—just a smooth, streamlined experience.

✅ Everything is just three clicks away
✅ Zero learning curve—even if you’re brand new, you’ll feel comfortable right away
✅ Fast and responsive—no frustrating lag or slow load times

Kartra: Complex & Sluggish

Now, Kartra? That’s a different ballgame.

⚠️ Takes time to learn—not beginner-friendly
⚠️ Slower interface—not just a little slow, but noticeably sluggish
⚠️ UI redesign, but same lag—even after updates, performance still drags

And here’s the thing—when you’re managing your business every day, slow loading times can seriously kill productivity.

Podia vs. Kartra: User Interface Comparison Table 

Feature	Podia ✅	Kartra ❌
Ease of Use	Super intuitive, minimal learning curve	Complex, takes time to master
Navigation	Everything is just 3 clicks away	Can feel cluttered and overwhelming
Speed & Performance	Fast & responsive	Slow & laggy
Beginner-Friendly	Absolutely!	Not really, requires time to adjust
Overall Experience	Smooth and enjoyable	Sluggish and frustrating

🏆 Verdict: Podia Wins

Podia’s modern, user-friendly design makes it the clear choice for ease of use. It’s faster, smoother, and easier to navigate, while Kartra’s steep learning curve and sluggish performance can be frustrating.

Podia vs. Kartra: Pricing Breakdown 

Alright, let’s talk about pricing—because, at the end of the day, that’s what really matters, right?

Podia: Simple & Transparent Pricing

Podia keeps things straightforward with just two plans:

✅ Mover Plan – $33/month

• Unlimited courses, digital downloads, and coaching sessions
• BUT there’s a 5% transaction fee on every sale

✅ Shaker Plan – $75/month

• Everything in Mover without transaction fees
• Added features like memberships and an affiliate program

So, while $39/month looks appealing, the 5% cut per sale can really add up if you’re selling a lot. Upgrading to $89/month makes more sense for serious sellers.

Kartra: A More Premium Option

Kartra? It’s definitely on the pricier side.

✅ Starter Plan – $119/month

• Enough features for most users
• Limited in emails and contacts

✅ Growth Plan – $229/month

• Unlocks funnels, webinars, affiliate management, and more

But here’s the thing—do you really need all the extras at that price? For most people, Podia offers more value at a much lower cost.

Podia vs. Kartra: Pricing Comparison Table

Feature	Podia ✅	Kartra ❌
Starting Price	$33/month	$119/month
Transaction Fees?	Yes (5%) on Mover Plan	No, but higher starting price
Unlimited Courses & Products?	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Memberships?	Only on Shaker Plan ($75/month)	Available
Affiliate Program?	Only on Shaker Plan ($75/month)	Available on Growth Plan ($229/month)
Funnels & Advanced Marketing?	Basic sales pages & upsells	Full automation, but costly
Best For?	Creators & digital sellers	Marketers & funnel builders

🏆 Verdict: Podia Wins on Affordability
Podia is more budget-friendly, especially for creators and small businesses. Kartra packs in more features, but at a much higher cost.

Online Courses, Community & Memberships: Podia vs. Kartra

Let’s talk about course creation, community building, and memberships.

Podia: Built for Creators 

Podia is designed specifically for course creators, community leaders, and membership site owners.

✅ Full course builder with quizzes, drip content, and certificates
✅ Integrated community (both free & paid) to engage with your audience
✅ Membership sites that feel seamless and easy to set up
✅ Unlimited courses & students—no extra fees

Kartra: Basic & Limited 

Kartra allows you to host courses, but it lacks the depth of Podia.

⚠️ No dedicated course builder—just a basic membership feature
⚠️ No built-in community tools—you’d need a third-party solution
⚠️ Limited engagement features—no quizzes, no certificates

And if you’re serious about selling courses and building an engaged community, Kartra might not cut it.

Podia vs. Kartra: Online Courses & Community Comparison Table

Feature	Podia ✅	Kartra ❌
Course Builder	Full-featured with quizzes & drip content	Basic membership hosting
Community Features	Built-in free & paid communities	No community feature
Membership Sites	Easy to set up and manage	Functional, but not intuitive
Student Engagement	Quizzes, certifications, comments	Limited engagement tools
Unlimited Courses & Students	Yes! No extra fees	Limited by plan pricing
Best For?	Course creators & community builders	Marketers needing a membership add-on

🏆 Verdict: Podia Wins
Podia offers better tools for courses, community engagement, and memberships. If these are a priority for you, Podia is the clear winner.

Digital Products & Coaching: Podia vs. Kartra

Selling eBooks, templates, coaching sessions, or digital downloads? Let’s compare.

Podia: Seamless & Creator-Friendly

Podia makes it stupid easy to sell any kind of digital product.

✅ Sell unlimited digital products—eBooks, PDFs, templates, videos, music
✅ Automated content delivery—no manual work needed
✅ Built-in coaching tools with seamless calendar integrations

Kartra: More for Funnels, Less for Products 

Kartra can sell digital products, but it’s not optimized for it.

⚠️ No dedicated coaching tools—you’ll have to set up manual workflows
⚠️ Digital product delivery is clunky—not as smooth as Podia

If you plan on selling digital products or coaching, Kartra feels like an extra step instead of a streamlined solution.

Podia vs. Kartra: Digital Products & Coaching Comparison Table

Feature	Podia ✅	Kartra ❌
Selling Digital Products	Easy, automatic delivery	Requires extra setup
Coaching Tools	Built-in, integrates with calendar apps	No direct coaching tools
File Delivery	Seamless and automated	Manual setup needed
Subscription Options	One-time, subscription, or payment plans	Mostly one-time payments
Best For?	Digital creators, coaches	Marketers needing product upsells

🏆 Verdict: Podia Wins

Podia is tailored for digital creators and coaches, while Kartra is better for marketing funnels.

Design & Customization: Podia vs. Kartra

Let’s talk about how much control you have over your website’s look and feel.

Podia: Clean & Simple 

Podia keeps things modern and sleek, but it’s not built for heavy customization.

✅ Minimalist site builder—no coding needed
✅ Professional-looking themes right out of the box
⚠️ Limited design flexibility—you won’t get deep customization

Kartra: More Customization, But Clunky

Kartra gives you way more design flexibility, but with a learning curve.

✅ Drag-and-drop page builder—lots of customization
✅ More control over branding & layout
⚠️ Takes longer to build pages—not as intuitive as Podia

Podia vs. Kartra: Design & Customization Comparison Table

Feature	Podia ✅	Kartra ❌
Ease of Use	Simple & fast design	More complex, takes time
Page Builder	Minimalist, clean templates	Full drag-and-drop customization
Branding Control	Basic color & font options	Deep customization
Best For?	Beginners who want quick setup	Advanced users needing flexibility

🏆 Verdict: Tie
Podia wins for simplicity and speed, while Kartra is better if you need full customization control.

Sales Funnels & Campaigns: Podia vs. Kartra

Funnels make or break an online business. Let’s compare.

Podia: Basic Funnels, Nothing Fancy

Podia includes simple upsells, checkout pages, and landing pages, but no advanced funnel builder.

✅ Sales pages & 1-click upsells
✅ Email automation to nurture leads
⚠️ No multi-step funnels—limited compared to Kartra

Kartra: Built for Funnels 

Kartra is a funnel powerhouse—this is where it truly shines.

✅ Advanced funnel builder—drag & drop automation
✅ A/B testing, multiple trigger options
✅ Behavior-based marketing—tailor messages to user actions

Podia vs. Kartra: Sales Funnels & Campaigns Comparison Table

Feature	Podia ✅	Kartra ❌
Sales Pages	Simple & effective	Advanced with A/B testing
Upsells & Downsells	Basic, but works well	Full funnel automation
Funnel Building	Limited	Drag-and-drop customization
Best For?	Course creators & digital sellers	Marketers needing full-scale funnels

🏆 Verdict: Kartra Wins
If you need powerful sales funnels, Kartra is the clear winner.

Pros and Cons of Podia

Pros

✅ Simple & Beginner-Friendly
Podia’s clean interface and intuitive navigation make it easy to use, even if you’re just getting started. No steep learning curve!

✅ Unlimited Everything
No limits on courses, digital downloads, students, or coaching sessions—no hidden fees!

✅ Built-In Community Features
Podia lets you create free and paid communities right inside the platform, so you don’t need to rely on Facebook groups.

✅ Affordable Pricing
Compared to other platforms, Podia is one of the most budget-friendly all-in-one solutions, starting at just $39/month.

✅ Fast & Responsive
Unlike some clunky platforms, Podia runs smoothly, so you won’t be stuck waiting on slow load times.

✅ No Extra Transaction Fees (Shaker Plan)
If you upgrade to the Shaker Plan ($89/month), you won’t have to worry about transaction fees eating into your revenue.

✅ Built-In Email Marketing
Podia includes basic email automation, so you can nurture your audience without needing a separate email tool.

Cons

❌ Limited Sales Funnel & Automation Features
Podia offers basic upsells and checkout pages, but if you need advanced marketing funnels and automation, you might feel restricted.

❌ No Built-In Webinar Hosting
Unlike Kartra, Podia doesn’t have native webinar functionality, so you’ll need to use Zoom or another third-party tool.

❌ Less Design Flexibility
While Podia makes site-building easy, customization options are limited compared to platforms like Kartra.

❌ Affiliate Program Only on Higher Plan
If you want to run an affiliate program, you’ll need to be on the Shaker Plan ($89/month).

Pros and Cons of Kartra

Pros

✅ Advanced Sales Funnel Features
Kartra is built for marketing automation, offering detailed funnel-building tools to help you optimize conversions.

✅ Built-In Webinar Hosting
No need for third-party webinar software—Kartra lets you host webinars directly on the platform.

✅ Comprehensive Email Marketing & Automation
Kartra comes with powerful automation tools, including IF-THEN logic, A/B testing, and advanced behavioral tracking.

✅ Affiliate Management System
Unlike Podia, Kartra includes a built-in affiliate management system across all its plans.

✅ All-in-One Business Platform
From landing pages and checkout systems to helpdesk support and membership sites, Kartra provides a complete business solution.

✅ Built for Agencies & Multi-Client Management
Kartra’s agency tools make it easy to manage multiple clients from a single dashboard, which is great for marketing professionals.

Cons

❌ Expensive Pricing
Even Kartra’s basic Starter Plan ($119/month) is significantly more expensive than Podia.

❌ Slower & Less Intuitive Interface
Kartra’s UI can feel overwhelming and sluggish, making it harder for beginners to navigate.

❌ Limited Third-Party Integrations
Unlike Podia, which integrates with various tools, Kartra has fewer external software connections.

❌ Usage Limits on Lower Plans
Kartra imposes limits on emails, contacts, and membership sites, depending on which plan you choose.

Why I Prefer Podia Over Kartra?

✅ Effortless Navigation Podia keeps things simple with a clean, easy-to-use interface. Kartra? Not so much—it’s clunky, slower, and takes time to get used to. ✅ All-in-One, the Right Way Podia covers all bases—courses, digital downloads, coaching, webinars. Kartra? It’s missing some essential course creation tools. ✅ Superior Course Creation Podia goes all out with features like quizzes, certificates, and drip content. Kartra can host videos, but managing content feels like a hassle. ✅ Built-in Community Features Want to create a community? Podia lets you build both free and paid spaces. Kartra? No community support at all. ✅ Seamless Coaching Integration Scheduling coaching calls is a breeze with Podia, thanks to its compatibility with top calendar tools. ✅ Constant Innovation Podia keeps evolving with fresh updates and new features. Kartra? Mostly just bug fixes these days.

Also Read:

https://appsaware.com/kartra-templates/

Why I Prefer Kartra Over Podia?

✅ Funnel-Centric Powerhouse Kartra is built for marketing—landing pages, membership sites, and sales funnels all in one place. Perfect for both digital and physical products. ✅ Advanced Video Customization Want to make your videos stand out? Kartra offers splash images, watermarks, and captions—features you won’t find in Podia. ✅ Behavioral Adaptive Marketing (BAM) Kartra tracks user behavior on your site and automatically adjusts your marketing to improve conversions. Smart, right? ✅ Robust Automation & Customization With Kartra, you get advanced automation—IF-THEN logic, multiple triggers, A/B testing. It’s like having a full marketing team on autopilot. ✅ Maximized Sales & Upsells Kartra is built for selling. Upsells, downsells, order bumps, and 1-click purchases help you boost revenue effortlessly. ✅ Superior Affiliate Management If you’re running an affiliate program, Kartra gives you more control—custom commissions, opt-in tracking, automation, and detailed analytics. ✅ Built for Agencies Managing multiple clients? Kartra lets you handle all client sites from one dashboard, with white-label options and in-depth reporting.

Verdict: Which One is Right for You?

👉 Pick Podia if you want a simple, affordable platform for courses, memberships, coaching, and digital products—without the complexity.
👉 Pick Kartra if you need advanced marketing tools, sales funnels, automation, and webinars—but don’t mind the higher price and learning curve.

🚀 Bottom Line: Podia is better for creators, while Kartra is better for marketers. Choose based on your business needs!

FAQs 

1. Can I switch from Podia to Kartra or vice versa? 

Yes, both platforms allow exporting and importing data, but some manual work may be required. 

2. Which is better for digital product sales? 

Podia is better suited for selling digital products with its integrated payment features and zero transaction fees. 

3. Does Kartra support digital product sales? 

Yes, but its focus is more on marketing automation and CRM rather than dedicated product sales. 

4. Which platform is better for beginners? 

Podia is more beginner-friendly due to its simple interface and affordable pricing. 

5. Do these platforms offer free trials? 

Yes, Kartra offers a 14-day trial for $1, while Podia offers a free trial with no credit card required.