Kajabi starts at $143/mo (annual) and bundles marketing tools many educators don't need. Even the Basic plan is limited to 5 products and 2,500 contacts. Community CBE is free to start, focused on learning, and gives you full data ownership.
Compare what each plan includes and what costs extra.
Paid plans from $49/mo · 0% transaction fees on Standard+
Estimated yearly: $1,716/yr minimum (annual billing)
Common challenges creators face on Kajabi and similar platforms, and how Community CBE helps you move past them.
Kajabi's Basic plan starts at $143/mo (annual) or $179/mo, one of the most expensive platforms in the market. Plus 2.9% + $0.30 payment processing and an extra 2% for third-party processors on Basic.
Community CBE has a free tier and Standard at $49/mo with 0% platform fees. You'll save $1,100+/year compared to Kajabi's Basic plan alone.
Kajabi bundles marketing funnels, email campaigns, and website builder into every plan. If you just want to teach, you're paying for an entire marketing suite you may never use.
Community CBE is learning-first. Integrate the marketing tools you actually need via 80+ integrations, and don't pay for a bundled suite you don't use.
Kajabi Basic limits you to 5 products and 2,500 contacts. Growth gives you 50 products and 25,000 contacts at $199/mo (annual). Every growth milestone triggers an upgrade.
Create products and add contacts without plan limits on either.
Kajabi is fully proprietary with no self-hosting option. Your courses, funnels, and student data live entirely on their servers. No code access, no data portability guarantees.
Self-host with Docker or use our cloud. Community CBE is open source: inspect the code, own your data, and migrate anytime.
Kajabi has no code playgrounds, no collaborative boards, and no AI playgrounds. For technical courses or interactive learning experiences, the platform has significant gaps.
Every tier includes code playgrounds, AI assistants, collaborative boards, and podcast distribution for interactive courses.
Kajabi charges 2.9% + $0.30 on Basic, and adds an extra 2% if you use third-party payment processors (not PayPal). These fees stack with your subscription cost.
0% platform fees on Standard+. Use your own Stripe with standard processing (2.9% + $0.30). No extra penalties for your choice of payment provider.
Clean, modern design with no legacy UI or clunky admin panels
Modern block-based editor for rich, interactive course content
AI assistants, content generation, and interactive playgrounds
Interactive coding exercises built into your courses
AI-generated interactive learning spaces and sandboxes
Distribute to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more
Real-time collaborative learning and brainstorming spaces
Discussions, threads, and engagement tools for your learners
Learner progress, completion rates, and engagement insights
0% platform fees on Standard+ with your own Stripe
Managed cloud or self-host with Docker, your choice
19 languages supported to reach students worldwide
Native iOS and Android app for learning on the go
Your brand, your domain, your colors, fully customizable
80+ integrations: Stripe, Slack, Zoom, Zapier, and more
You truly own your courses: export, migrate, or self-host anytime
Start for free in minutes. No credit card required. Import your content and launch your courses on a platform you actually own.
Common questions about switching from Kajabi to Community CBE
Yes, especially if you want a learning-focused platform without paying for bundled marketing tools. Community CBE is free to start, while Kajabi's cheapest plan is $143/mo (annual) with strict limits.
Kajabi starts at $143/mo (annual) or $179/mo, limited to 5 products and 2,500 contacts on the Basic plan. Community CBE has a free tier and Standard at $49/mo with no product or contact limits.
Community CBE focuses on learning and integrates with email marketing tools via 80+ integrations. Kajabi bundles email marketing in, but you pay for it whether you use it or not.
Community CBE focuses on course delivery, not funnels. If you need funnels, you can integrate dedicated tools. This keeps Community CBE affordable: you don't pay for features you may not need.
Yes. Built-in community features with discussions and engagement tools. Kajabi also has communities, but at a much higher price point.
Significantly. Community CBE has a free tier and Standard at $49/mo. Kajabi's cheapest plan is $143/mo (annual) with just 5 products. For the features you get, Community CBE is a fraction of the cost.
Yes, interactive coding exercises built into your courses. Kajabi has no code playground features, making Community CBE better for technical and programming courses.
Yes. Deploy with Docker on any infrastructure. Kajabi is proprietary and cloud-only with no self-hosting option.
Yes. Built-in podcast distribution to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. Kajabi also has podcast hosting, but at a much higher price.
Export your content from Kajabi, create a free Community CBE account, and rebuild using the block editor. You can keep your custom domain and redirect it to your new Community CBE site.
Based on public info, last verified Mar 2026. Verify on each platform's site before deciding. Something wrong? Let us know.
Start for free, self-host, or choose a paid plan. You can move your content at any time.
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