When it comes to Patreon vs Kajabi, both platforms offer powerful monetization tools but cater to different types of creators. Patreon is best known for its subscription-based model, where fans pay a monthly fee to access exclusive content. It works well for artists, podcasters, and YouTubers who want a simple membership system without worrying about website building or course creation. Kajabi, on the other hand, is an all-in-one platform designed for coaches, educators, and entrepreneurs who want to sell online courses, build membership sites, and create digital products.
Table of Contents
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | Patreon | Kajabi |
| Best For | Artists, YouTubers, Podcasters | Coaches, Course Creators, Entrepreneurs |
| Pricing Model | Free to start, 5%-12% commission | Starts at $149/month, no commission |
| Online Course Creation | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Membership Options | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Website & Branding | ❌ Limited | ✅ Full control |
| Customization | ❌ Minimal | ✅ Advanced |
| Transaction Fees | ✅ Yes (5%-12%) | ❌ No |
| Community Features | ✅ Basic | ✅ Advanced |
As seen in the table, Kajabi provides a more comprehensive business solution, while Patreon is a simpler entry-level option. Now, let’s explore each platform in detail to help you make the best decision.
Did you know?
According to a report by Forbes, the online education market is expected to reach $375 billion by 2026 , making platforms like Kajabi highly lucrative for educators and coaches.
This guide will explore the key differences between Patreon vs Kajabi, comparing their features, pricing, and usability to help you make the best choice.
Overview
Before diving into the details, let’s first understand what Patreon and Kajabi are and how they serve creators differently.
What is Patreon?
Patreon is a membership-based platform that allows creators to earn a recurring income from their audience. It works on a subscription model, where fans, known as “patrons,” pay a monthly fee in exchange for exclusive content, behind-the-scenes access, early releases, or other perks. Patreon is widely used by YouTubers, podcasters, artists, and musicians who want to generate consistent revenue without relying on ads or one-time purchases.
One of Patreon’s biggest advantages is its ease of use. Creators can set up their membership tiers within minutes and start collecting payments. However, it comes with limitations. Patreon takes a commission of 5%-12% on earnings, which can add up as your income grows. Additionally, it lacks course creation tools, website-building features, and full branding control, making it unsuitable for those looking to build a standalone business.
What is Kajabi?
Kajabi is an all-in-one platform built for educators, coaches, and digital entrepreneurs. Unlike Patreon, which focuses on subscription-based content, Kajabi is designed for selling online courses, membership sites, and coaching programs. It provides powerful tools for website building, email marketing, automation, and analytics, making it a comprehensive solution for those who want to create, market, and sell digital products in one place.
A standout feature of Kajabi is its zero transaction fees. While it has a higher upfront cost (starting at $149/month), it allows creators to keep 100% of their earnings. Additionally, Kajabi offers advanced customization, enabling users to design their own branded websites and membership portals. The downside? It requires a learning curve and is not ideal for creators who just want a simple subscription model.
User Interface
The user experience plays a crucial role in determining the right platform for creators.
Patreon
Patreon has a straightforward and beginner-friendly interface. Setting up a Patreon page is easy, with simple options to add membership tiers, upload exclusive content, and interact with patrons. The dashboard is minimalistic, making it accessible to those who have little to no technical experience. However, since Patreon is not a full-fledged business platform, it lacks custom branding options, website-building capabilities, and course creation tools.
- Modern but complex dashboard
- Requires a learning curve
- Ideal for advanced marketers
Kajabi
Kajabi is designed for serious business owners, so its interface is more advanced but still user-friendly. The drag-and-drop builder makes it easy to create beautiful websites, sales pages, and course content without needing coding skills. Kajabi’s dashboard includes email automation, analytics, and marketing tools, allowing creators to manage everything from one place. While it may take some time to get familiar with, the extra functionality makes it worth it for those looking to scale their business.
- Intuitive and easy-to-use dashboard
- Drag-and-drop functionality
- Beginner-friendly
| Feature | Patreon | Kajabi |
| Ease of Use | Simple | Advanced but user-friendly |
| Learning Curve | Low | Moderate |
| Customization | Limited | High |
🏆 Winner: Kajabi – With its beginner-friendly interface and customizable dashboard, Kajabi offers a smoother experience.
Online Courses and Memberships
Both Patreon and Kajabi allow content creators to monetize their audience, but their approach differs.
Patreon
Patreon is not built for course creation, but it does support membership subscriptions. Creators can offer exclusive videos, podcasts, or written content in exchange for a monthly fee. However, it lacks structured learning tools, quizzes, and progress tracking, making it less ideal for educators.
- Best for creators, artists, and influencers
- Offers subscription-based content
- Limited to monthly memberships
Kajabi
Kajabi is one of the best platforms for online courses and memberships. It provides features like video hosting, quizzes, certificates, and community discussions, making it a great choice for educators and coaches. Additionally, Kajabi supports one-time purchases, recurring subscriptions, and payment plans, offering greater flexibility in monetization.
| Feature | Patreon | Kajabi |
| Course Creation | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Membership Subscriptions | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Payment Options | ✅ Monthly | ✅ One-time, subscriptions |
| Learning Tools | ❌ None | ✅ Quizzes, certificates |
🏆 Winner: Kajabi – With its dedicated tools for course creation, Kajabi is a better option for educators and digital entrepreneurs.
Community, Design & Customization
A platform’s customization and design options play a huge role in branding and user engagement.
Patreon
Patreon offers limited customization. While creators can upload their brand logo and cover photo, the overall layout remains uniform across all users. Patreon does not provide website-building tools or in-depth customization, which means creators must rely on Patreon’s branding.
- Limited branding and design flexibility
- Customizable membership tiers
- No website-building features
Kajabi
Kajabi provides full branding control. Users can customize websites, landing pages, email templates, and course portals to match their brand. The platform’s drag-and-drop page builder allows for easy modifications, making it a better choice for those who want a professional-looking digital business.
- Fully customizable website & landing pages
- Drag-and-drop page builder
- Branding control and advanced design features
| Feature | Patreon | Kajabi |
| Website Creation | No | Yes |
| Branding Control | Limited | Full control |
| Page Customization | Basic | Advanced |
🏆 Winner: Kajabi – Its advanced design tools allow creators to build their brand identity effectively.
Email Marketing & Automation
Patreon
Patreon does not offer built-in email marketing or automation tools. Instead, creators rely on third-party email services like Mailchimp, ConvertKit, or ActiveCampaign to manage their audience. Patreon allows basic communication through posts and direct messages, but there are no advanced automation options such as segmentation, workflows, or drip campaigns.
Kajabi
Kajabi includes a powerful built-in email marketing system. Users can create email sequences, automation workflows, and personalized broadcasts without needing an external tool. Kajabi also offers:
- Pre-designed email templates for promotions and engagement.
- Behavior-based triggers that send emails based on user actions.
- Detailed analytics to track email open rates and conversions.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Patreon | Kajabi |
| Email Automation | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Pre-Built Templates | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Subscriber Segmentation | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Behavior Triggers | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
🏆 Winner: Kajabi – With advanced automation and built-in email tools, Kajabi is the clear choice.
Sales Funnels & Campaigns
Patreon
Patreon does not have a native sales funnel builder. Creators must drive traffic manually through social media, YouTube, or email lists. While Patreon provides basic landing pages, they lack customization and conversion optimization tools.
Kajabi
Kajabi comes with a full-fledged funnel-building system called Kajabi Pipelines. It allows users to create:
- Sales funnels with upsells, downsells, and follow-ups.
- Automated sequences to nurture leads and convert them.
- Pre-built templates for webinars, lead magnets, and product launches.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Patreon | Kajabi |
| Sales Funnel Builder | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Automated Follow-Ups | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Webinar Funnels | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Pre-Built Campaigns | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
🏆 Winner: Kajabi – Kajabi’s built-in sales funnel tools make it far superior.
Checkout Pages & Payments
Patreon
Patreon only supports subscription-based payments. There are no one-time purchases, upsells, or advanced checkout features. Transaction fees range from 5% to 12%, and payments are processed via Stripe and PayPal.
Kajabi
Kajabi provides a highly customizable checkout experience with:
- One-time payments, subscriptions, and payment plans.
- Upsells and order bumps to increase revenue.
- Custom checkout pages to match branding.
- Zero transaction fees.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Patreon | Kajabi |
| One-Time Payments | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Subscriptions | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Upsells & Order Bumps | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Transaction Fees | ✅ 5%-12% | ❌ No |
🏆 Winner: Kajabi – More payment flexibility and zero transaction fees make Kajabi the winner.
Integrations
Patreon
Patreon integrates with limited tools like Discord, Zapier, and Mailchimp. However, it does not support advanced CRM, email marketing, or automation tools without third-party connectors.
Kajabi
Kajabi offers direct integrations with platforms like:
- Stripe & PayPal for payments.
- ActiveCampaign, ConvertKit, and Mailchimp for email marketing.
- Zapier for thousands of third-party connections.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Patreon | Kajabi |
| Email Integrations | ✅ Limited | ✅ Extensive |
| Payment Gateways | ✅ Stripe, PayPal | ✅ Stripe, PayPal |
| Zapier Support | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
🏆 Winner: Kajabi – Kajabi has more native integrations for business automation.
Mobile App
Patreon
Patreon offers a mobile app for both creators and subscribers. However, it lacks custom branding and advanced features.
Kajabi
Kajabi provides a fully functional mobile app, allowing users to brand their experience and provide better course access on mobile devices.
🏆 Winner: Kajabi – More control and customization options.
Pricing Comparison: Patreon vs. Kajabi
Pricing plays a crucial role in deciding which platform suits your needs. While Patreon follows a commission-based model, Kajabi has fixed pricing with no transaction fees. Let’s break down the cost structures, fees, and overall value of both platforms.
Patreon Pricing
Patreon’s pricing is based on a percentage of earnings, meaning the more you earn, the more you pay in fees. Patreon offers three pricing tiers:
- Lite Plan (5% Transaction Fee) – Basic creator support with membership tools.
- Pro Plan (8% Transaction Fee) – Includes analytics, integrations, and member insights.
- Premium Plan (12% Transaction Fee) – Best for large creators with advanced features.
Additional Costs:
- Payment Processing Fees: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction (for payments over $3).
- Currency Conversion Fees: 2.5% on international payments.
Kajabi Pricing
Kajabi follows a flat monthly pricing model with no transaction fees. The plans are:
- Basic Plan ($149/month) – Includes website, course creation, and email marketing.
- Growth Plan ($199/month) – Adds automation, advanced funnels, and affiliate marketing.
- Pro Plan ($399/month) – Offers unlimited scalability, advanced features, and branding.
Additional Costs:
- No extra payment processing fees (other than Stripe/PayPal).
- No revenue-sharing model.
Comparison Table: Patreon vs. Kajabi Pricing
| Feature | Patreon | Kajabi |
| Pricing Model | Revenue-based (5%-12%) | Flat monthly fee ($149-$399) |
| Transaction Fees | ✅ Yes (5%-12%) | ❌ No |
| Payment Processing Fees | ✅ Yes (2.9% + $0.30) | ✅ Yes (Stripe/PayPal) |
| Currency Conversion Fees | ✅ Yes (2.5%) | ❌ No |
| Free Trial Available | ✅ Yes (Limited) | ✅ Yes (14 Days) |
Final Verdict: Which Platform is Best?
If you are a YouTuber, podcaster, or artist looking for a simple way to monetize your audience, Patreon is a great option. However, if you are an entrepreneur, coach, or educator looking to sell digital products, online courses, and memberships, Kajabi is the clear winner due to its scalability, branding options, and advanced features.
🏆 Overall Winner: Kajabi – While Kajabi has a higher upfront cost, it provides greater long-term revenue potential and control over your business.
Choose Patreon If:
✔ You are a YouTuber, artist, or podcaster
✔ You want a simple and low-cost membership system
✔ You don’t need branding or course-building tools
Choose Kajabi If:
✔ You are a coach, educator, or entrepreneur
✔ You want full control over branding and pricing
✔ You aim to sell courses, memberships, or coaching services
🏆 Overall Winner: Kajabi – Offers greater long-term revenue potential and scalability.
FAQs
1. Can I use both Patreon and Kajabi?
Yes! Many creators use Patreon for fan subscriptions and Kajabi for premium courses.
2. Which platform is better for beginners?
Patreon is easier to start, but Kajabi offers better growth potential.
3. Does Kajabi take a commission on sales?
No, Kajabi has zero transaction fees, unlike Patreon.
4. Which platform is cheaper?
Patreon is free to start, while Kajabi has a monthly fee but no commissions.
5. Can I sell digital downloads on Patreon?
Not directly. Kajabi is better suited for selling digital products.
