Kartra vs Kajabi – A Comprehensive Comparison 

Kartra vs. Kajabi: The Ultimate Comparison

Ever feel stuck choosing between Kartra and Kajabi?

Both are powerful all-in-one platforms, but they serve very different needs.

I’ve used both for over three years, watching them evolve—especially in marketing automation.

Let’s dive into this Kartra vs. Kajabi showdown and see which one’s the best fit for you.

A Quick Comparison

Feature	Kartra 🏆	Kajabi
Best For	All-in-one marketing & automation	Course creation & community building
Interface	Recently updated, but still a bit slow	Sleek, modern, and polished
Gamification	❌ No built-in gamification	✅ Yes, great for engagement
Marketing Tools	✅ Extensive automation & funnels	✅ Strong, but more focused on content creators
Product Limit (Basic Plan)	✅ Unlimited	❌ Limited to 3 products
Funnel Limit (Basic Plan)	✅ Unlimited	❌ Limited to 3 funnels
Pricing (Basic Plan)	$119/month	$149/month
Priority Support	❌ No	✅ Only on higher-tier plans
Community Features	✅ Facebook group & tutorials	✅ Kajabi University, live webinars & community

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Verify features and pricing on the official Kartra and Kajabi websites as they may change over time.

 Overview

Kartra and Kajabi are both comprehensive digital platforms designed to facilitate online business growth, offering features such as email marketing, automation, course creation, and membership site capabilities.

Despite their similarities, their origins and initial focuses were quite different.

What is Kartra?

Launched in 2018 by Mike Filsaime and Andy Jenkins, Kartra was built with a strong emphasis on landing pages, sales funnels, and online business management. Over time, it evolved to include membership-building functionalities as part of its all-in-one suite.

What is Kajabi?

Kajabi, founded in 2010 by Kenny Rueter, initially positioned itself as a platform specifically for selling online courses. As the platform grew, it expanded to offer memberships, community-building tools, podcast hosting, and additional features.

Kajabi gained significant traction in May 2021 when it secured $550 million in funding, reaching a $2 billion valuation.

User Interface

Let’s dive into how user-friendly these platforms are and what it feels like to navigate through them.

Kartra

• The interface has seen improvements, but it still feels somewhat cluttered.
• Previously, Kartra was known for its outdated and clunky UI, making navigation less intuitive.
• After the latest update, things are better—menus are more structured, and navigation is smoother.
• However…
  • 🛑 Pages load slowly, often taking 5-8 seconds when setting up products or memberships.
  • 🛑 The underlying codebase seems bloated, as seen in the source code of Kartra-built websites.

Kajabi

• The interface is clean, minimal, and well-structured.
• No cognitive overload—new users can quickly find their way around.
• Everything is accessible within three clicks, keeping workflow smooth.
• The platform feels fast and responsive.
• Designed with scalability in mind, making it a great long-term choice.

Comparison Table

Feature	Kartra	Kajabi
Ease of Use	Improved, but still a bit cluttered	Clean and minimal design
Navigation	More structured after updates	Intuitive, with all features within three clicks
Loading Speed	Slow (5-8 seconds for some actions)	Fast and responsive
Scalability	Can be challenging due to clunky UI	Well-structured for long-term growth
Overall Experience	Usable, but not seamless	Smooth and user-friendly

🏆 Winner: Kajabi

Kajabi’s neat, minimal interface, fast performance, and structured layout make it far superior to Kartra. While Kartra has improved, Kajabi remains the clear winner in terms of user experience.

Online Courses and Memberships

Both Kartra and Kajabi offer tools for creating online courses and memberships, but they cater to different user needs. Let’s break down their capabilities.

Kartra

• Originally not designed for course creation but later added this functionality.
• Offers a basic membership system where you can restrict content access based on user levels.
• Includes video hosting, quizzes, and progress tracking, but the course-building experience feels less intuitive compared to dedicated LMS platforms.
• The membership site design is limited, offering fewer customization options.
• Drip content and automated access control are available but require manual setup.

Kajabi

• Built for course creators from the start, making it the better choice for structured learning experiences.
• Features a well-designed course builder with intuitive drag-and-drop functionality.
• Includes built-in assessments, certificates, progress tracking, and student engagement tools.
• The membership site feature is highly customizable, allowing for community-building and interactive learning.
• Drip content and automated course progression are seamlessly integrated.

Comparison Table

Feature	Kartra	Kajabi
Course Creation	Basic, added later	Advanced, built for courses
Membership Sites	Limited customization	Highly customizable
Drip Content	Available but requires manual setup	Seamless integration
Student Engagement	Basic quizzes and tracking	Assessments, certificates, and more engagement tools
Community Features	Basic	Strong, with forums and community-building tools
Ease of Use	Functional but not intuitive	Intuitive and designed for educators

🏆 Winner: Kajabi

Kajabi dominates when it comes to online courses and memberships. With a structured course builder, better student engagement features, and highly customizable membership sites, it is the ideal choice for course creators. While Kartra does offer course-building features, it feels more like an add-on rather than a core strength.

Community, Design & Customization 

Both Kartra and Kajabi offer design and customization options, but their focus areas differ.

Kartra

• Provides a drag-and-drop page builder, but it can feel slightly outdated and clunky.
• Offers pre-designed templates for sales pages, memberships, and checkout pages.
• Customization is decent, but editing flexibility is somewhat limited.
• No built-in community feature—you need external tools or workarounds.

Kajabi

• Features a modern, sleek page builder that’s easier to use.
• Comes with beautiful, conversion-focused templates that are easy to tweak.
• Offers advanced customization for branding, layouts, and user experience.
• Built-in community feature that lets users interact, engage, and even create paid groups.

Comparison Table

Feature	Kartra	Kajabi
Page Builder	Functional but clunky	Modern, smooth, and intuitive
Templates	Pre-designed but limited	Well-designed and easy to customize
Customization	Moderate flexibility	Advanced branding and layout control
Community Feature	No built-in option	Built-in community tools for engagement

🏆 Winner: Kajabi

Kajabi is a clear winner for design, customization, and community. The sleek interface, customization flexibility, and built-in community features make it a powerhouse for brand-focused businesses.

Email Marketing & Automation

Both platforms offer email marketing and automation, but with key differences.

Kartra

• Comes with built-in email marketing—no need for third-party tools.
• Offers behavior-based automation, allowing for personalized email sequences.
• Has an email template library, but customization is somewhat restrictive.
• Deliverability rates are decent, but email builder can feel clunky.

Kajabi

• Also has built-in email marketing, eliminating the need for external tools.
• Provides automation and segmentation for targeted messaging.
• Features beautifully designed email templates that are easier to edit.
• Higher email deliverability rates compared to Kartra.

Comparison Table

Feature	Kartra	Kajabi
Email Builder	Functional but not user-friendly	Clean and easy to use
Automation	Behavior-based workflows	Advanced automation with segmentation
Templates	Available but limited	Well-designed and customizable
Deliverability	Decent	Higher deliverability rates

🏆 Winner: Kajabi

Kajabi’s cleaner email builder, better deliverability, and seamless automation make it the better choice for email marketing.

Sales Funnels & Campaigns 

Both Kartra and Kajabi allow you to create sales funnels, but their approaches are different.

Kartra

• Funnels are a core feature, with ready-made sales funnel templates.
• Includes pre-built campaigns, making it easy for beginners.
• Offers advanced automation and tracking, great for marketing pros.
• More flexibility in funnel design, but the UI could be smoother.

Kajabi

• Funnels are called “Pipelines”, designed to be simple and intuitive.
• Includes pre-designed pipelines (webinar, lead magnet, coaching, etc.).
• Lacks the depth of Kartra’s funnel-building tools.
• Great for beginners and non-tech users, but may feel restrictive for advanced marketers.

Comparison Table

Feature	Kartra	Kajabi
Sales Funnels	Advanced, flexible	Simple but limited
Pre-Built Campaigns	Available, great for automation	Available, but fewer options
Ease of Use	Functional but clunky	Beginner-friendly
Automation	Advanced customization	Simpler automation

🏆 Winner: Kartra

For sales funnels and marketing automation, Kartra takes the lead with more flexibility, deeper automation, and better tracking tools.

Checkout Pages & Payments 

Selling products? Let’s see which platform makes the checkout process smoother.

Kartra

• Checkout pages are decent but not highly customizable.
• Supports upsells, downsells, and order bumps for maximizing revenue.
• Allows multi-step checkout, but the UI feels a bit dated.
• Integrated affiliate system to track sales and commissions.

Kajabi

• Checkout pages are simple, clean, and well-optimized for conversions.
• Includes upsells, order bumps, and one-click checkout.
• Supports subscriptions, one-time payments, and payment plans.
• Lacks a built-in affiliate system, requiring external tools.

Comparison Table

Feature	Kartra	Kajabi
Checkout Page Design	Functional but outdated	Clean, modern, and high-converting
Upsells & Order Bumps	Available	Available
Affiliate System	Built-in	Needs third-party tools
Payment Options	One-time, recurring, and trials	One-time, subscriptions, and plans

🏆 Winner: Kajabi

Kajabi’s modern checkout pages and simple user experience make it better for conversions, though Kartra is more flexible for affiliate marketing.

Integrations

Which platform plays well with other tools?

Kartra

• Has fewer third-party integrations since it tries to be an all-in-one platform.
• Supports Zapier, which helps connect with external apps.
• Limited direct integrations compared to Kajabi.

Kajabi

• Offers direct integrations with major tools like ConvertKit, Mailchimp, and ActiveCampaign.
• Also supports Zapier, making it highly flexible.
• Works seamlessly with payment gateways like Stripe and PayPal.

Comparison Table

Feature	Kartra	Kajabi
Third-Party Integrations	Limited	Wide range
Zapier Support	Available	Available
Direct Payment Integrations	Stripe, PayPal	Stripe, PayPal, and more

🏆 Winner: Kajabi

Kajabi integrates better with external tools and makes connecting with payment processors and marketing platforms seamless.

Mobile App 

Having a mobile-friendly platform is crucial. Here’s how they compare.

Kartra

• No dedicated mobile app for users or customers.
• The web version is mobile-responsive, but the experience isn’t great.

Kajabi

• Has a dedicated mobile app for students and course creators.
• The app allows learning on the go, increasing engagement.
• Offers push notifications to keep users engaged.

Comparison Table

Feature	Kartra	Kajabi
Mobile App	None	Available for users & customers
Push Notifications	No	Yes
Mobile Experience	Responsive but not optimized	Seamless and app-based

🏆 Winner: Kajabi

Kajabi’s mobile app enhances user experience, making it the best choice for businesses that prioritize mobile learning.

Pricing Showdown

Let’s talk money.
When choosing between Kartra and Kajabi, pricing is a big deal.

Kartra Pricing

• Starts at $119/month – not exactly cheap, but solid for what you get.
• The Starter Plan includes:
  • Up to 2,500 leads
  • Unlimited pages & memberships
• Want a better deal?
  • Grab the annual plan and shave off 22% of the cost.

Kajabi Pricing

• Basic plan starting at $119/month.
• The Basic Plan feels restrictive:
  • Only 3 products and 3 funnels 😬
  • Missing some key features like advanced automation & affiliate program
• Need those features?
  • You’ll have to upgrade to the Growth Plan at $159/month.
• Real talk?
  • Most users end up upgrading because the Basic plan just isn’t enough.

Pricing Comparison Table

Feature	Kartra Starter ($119/month)	Kajabi Basic ($119/month)
Lead Limit	2,500	Unlimited
Pages	Unlimited	Unlimited
Memberships	Unlimited	Limited
Products	Unlimited	3
Funnels	Unlimited	3
Affiliate Program	✅ Included	❌ Not Available
Advanced Automation	✅ Yes	❌ No
Annual Discount	✅ 22% off	✅ 20% off

🏆 Winner: Kartra

Kartra takes the lead in pricing with its more flexible Starter Plan at $119/month offering unlimited products and memberships. While both platforms nudge users toward higher plans, Kartra’s entry-level plan delivers better value compared to Kajabi’s restrictive Basic Plan at $119/month.

Customer Support

When you’re running an online business, having reliable support is a game-changer. So, how do Kartra and Kajabi stack up when it comes to helping their users?

Kartra Support

• 24/7 live chat support ✅
• Email ticket system for detailed queries
• Comprehensive knowledge base with articles & tutorials
• Community support via Facebook groups

Kartra’s 24/7 live chat is a major plus. You get instant help anytime, which is crucial if you run into an issue at odd hours.

Kajabi Support

• Live chat support, but only available:
  • Monday–Friday: 6 AM – 5 PM PT
  • Saturday–Sunday: 9 AM – 5 PM PT 😬
• Email ticketing system, but response times can vary
• Extensive knowledge base & training videos
• Active Facebook community for user discussions

💡 While Kajabi does offer solid self-help resources, their live chat isn’t available 24/7, which can be a downside if you need urgent assistance outside business hours.

Why Kartra Stands Out?

✔️ Pre-built campaign templates – No need to build from scratch. Kartra gives you ready-made templates for pages, funnels, and automations. Huge time-saver! 🚀 ✔️ A/B Testing (Split Testing) – Want to know what works best? Test up to 4 versions of your emails and pages. Optimize with real data instead of guessing. ✔️ Multiple payment options – Hosted checkouts, pop-ups, embedded forms—choose what fits your business. Getting paid should be easy! ✔️ Best for agencies – Managing multiple clients? Kartra lets you control all accounts from one dashboard (higher-tier plans). No more logging in and out!

Why Kajabi Stands Out?

✔️ Course features that matter – If you’re a course creator, Kajabi has detailed student tracking, progress reports, and coaching tools that make a real difference. ✔️ Engaged communities with gamification – Built-in leaderboards, badges, and accountability features make it easy to keep members engaged. ✔️ Fast, polished interface – Everything loads quickly. No lag, no frustration—just smooth navigation. ✔️ Top-notch mobile apps – Available for both iPhone & Android, so you can run your business from anywhere.  ✔️ Live streaming built-in – Host webinars, coaching calls, and live events—no extra tools needed.  ✔️ Always improving – Kajabi is constantly rolling out new updates—not just small tweaks, but game-changing features.

Conclusion

Alright, here’s the bottom line…

Both Kartra and Kajabi are powerful platforms built for serious marketers. But let’s break it down.

Kajabi? It’s sleek, polished, and perfect if you’re focused on course creation and community building. Their user experience feels premium, and the added gamification features make engagement easier.

Kartra? It’s an all-in-one marketing powerhouse loaded with automation tools. They’ve refreshed their interface recently, but it still has some speed issues.

Now, if budget matters, Kartra is the more affordable choice.

$119/month gets you unlimited products – no caps, no hidden restrictions.

Meanwhile, Kajabi’s $119/month plan? You’re stuck with just 3 products and 3 funnels – which can feel a bit tight.

So, if you want a polished, modern experience, Kajabi’s your go-to. But if you’re looking for more flexibility and better value, Kartra is the smarter pick.

FAQs 

1. Which platform is better for course creation? 

Kajabi is specifically built for course creators and offers robust tools for designing and managing courses. 

2. Can I use Kartra for courses and memberships? 

Yes, Kartra provides tools for membership hosting, but it lacks the depth of Kajabi’s course creation features. 

3. Which platform is more affordable for small businesses? 

Kartra offers lower-priced plans, making it more accessible for small businesses. 

4. Does Kajabi include sales funnel tools? 

Kajabi provides simple sales funnel tools as part of its landing page and pipeline features. 

5. Do these platforms offer free trials? 

Yes, Kartra offers a 14-day trial for $1, and Kajabi provides a 14-day free trial.