Kajabi vs Thinkific vs Teachable: 11 Best Online Course Platforms 2026

Best for all-in-one marketing and course delivery

Kajabi (#1, 9.2/9.4). The best all-in-one platform, combining powerful marketing automation with a premium course and community experience. It also handles building sales funnels, premium branding.

Best for advanced course creation

Thinkific (#2, 9.0/9.4). A top choice for its excellent course builder, site customization, and 0% transaction fees on paid plans. It also handles no transaction fees, customizable site design.

Best for ease of use

Teachable (#3, 8.8/9.4). The fastest and most user-friendly platform for launching your first course, ideal for beginners. It also handles fast setup, integrated payment processing.

Best for total platform ownership

LearnDash (#11, unrated wildcard). A powerful WordPress plugin for creators who want total ownership and control over their course platform. It also handles deep WordPress integration, unlimited customization.

What's the difference between a hosted platform and a WordPress plugin?

Hosted platforms (like Kajabi, Thinkific) manage all the technology for you for a monthly fee. WordPress plugins (like LearnDash) require you to have your own WordPress site, giving you more control and ownership but also more responsibility for hosting, security, and updates.

Should I worry about transaction fees?

Yes. A 5% transaction fee on top of payment processor fees (like Stripe's ~2.9%) can significantly impact your revenue. Platforms like Thinkific and Kajabi offer 0% transaction fees on their paid plans, which is a major advantage as you scale.

How to choose

1. 1Assess your technical comfort level: If you're not tech-savvy, choose an all-in-one hosted platform over a WordPress plugin.
2. 2Define your business model: Are you only selling courses, or also memberships, coaching, and digital downloads? Platforms like Podia and Kajabi are built for multi-product businesses.
3. 3Calculate your potential revenue vs. fees: A platform with a higher monthly fee but 0% transaction fees may be cheaper in the long run than a 'free' plan that takes 10% of your sales.
4. 4Prioritize marketing tools: If you don't have an existing email list or marketing system, an all-in-one platform with built-in funnels and email marketing like Kajabi or Kartra can save you time and money.

What is the best online course platform for beginners?

Teachable and Podia are often cited as the best for beginners due to their intuitive interfaces, straightforward setup process, and focus on core features without overwhelming users.

Can I use a free platform to sell online courses?

Yes, platforms like Teachable and Thinkific offer free plans. However, they typically come with limitations, such as a higher transaction fee (e.g., 10%), a limited number of courses, or fewer features. They are a good way to start but you'll likely need to upgrade as you grow.

Is Kajabi worth the high price?

For creators who will use its full suite of tools—including the website builder, email marketing, sales funnels, and podcast hosting—Kajabi can be worth the price by replacing several other subscriptions. If you only need a platform to host course videos, it may be overkill.

What's the difference between Thinkific and Teachable?

Thinkific generally offers more advanced course creation tools, better site customization, and 0% transaction fees on all paid plans. Teachable is often considered slightly easier for absolute beginners to get started with and has robust, natively integrated payment handling and tax compliance features.