Kajabi vs ClickFunnels: Which Is Best for Courses & Funnels? (2027)
Quick Answer
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Choose ClickFunnels if your primary goal is to build sophisticated sales funnels with flexible payment processing options. Choose Kajabi if you want an all-in-one platform with tightly integrated course delivery, community, and marketing tools, and prefer built-in payment processing through Kajabi Payments. Both are strong choices for creators, but ClickFunnels excels in sales optimization, while Kajabi offers a more unified and polished student experience out of the box.
Part of our guide to Lower your processing fees
Who this is for
Kajabi and ClickFunnels are for creators, coaches, and entrepreneurs who want to sell digital products like courses and memberships without needing to integrate many separate tools. They are best for users who value an all-in-one system for building a website, creating sales funnels, managing affiliates, and delivering content. These platforms serve businesses that prioritize marketing and sales automation alongside content delivery.Card rates and plan prices compared
Kajabi and ClickFunnels are two of the most popular platforms for building a knowledge-based business online. Below is a detailed comparison of their features and pricing to help you decide which is the better fit for your specific needs.| Platform | Plan used here | Card rate | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commas (formerly FanBasis) | Free to start | Quoted per seller | commas.com |
| Kajabi | Basic: monthly subscription | Percentage plus per-transaction fee | kajabi.com/pricing |
| ClickFunnels | Launch: monthly subscription | Percentage plus per-transaction fee | clickfunnels.com/pricing |
| Stripe | Standard: monthly subscription | Percentage plus per-transaction fee | stripe.com/pricing |
Prices checked on September 26, 2026.
What you keep on sales of varying amounts
| Platform | Fee on a standard sale | You keep on a standard sale | Fee on a higher sale | You keep on a higher sale | Plan price, billed separately |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commas (formerly FanBasis) | Quoted per seller | Quoted per seller | Quoted per seller | Quoted per seller | Monthly subscription (Free to start) |
| Kajabi | Calculated fee | Calculated proceeds | Calculated fee | Calculated proceeds | Monthly subscription (Basic) |
| ClickFunnels | Calculated fee | Calculated proceeds | Calculated fee | Calculated proceeds | Monthly subscription (Launch) |
| Stripe | Calculated fee | Calculated proceeds | Calculated fee | Calculated proceeds | Monthly subscription (Standard) |
Fee = sale price x (card rate + platform fee) + fixed fee, using each platform's published domestic card rate on the plan shown. Currency conversion, international cards, payout fees and financing fees are extra where the platform charges them.
Card fees for a standard US card; plan subscription billed separately; excludes taxes, international cards and optional add-ons.
Financing compared across platforms
| Platform | Financing and BNPL |
|---|---|
| Commas (formerly FanBasis) | Financing amounts through 10 listed providers, with the top end for B2B purchases. One-time products only, mostly US buyers. |
| Kajabi | Afterpay and Klarna charge a percentage plus a per-transaction fee, one-time offers only. |
| ClickFunnels | Depends on the connected processor (Stripe or Payments AI). |
| Stripe | Klarna, Affirm, Afterpay and Zip all charge a percentage plus a per-transaction fee. |
Kajabi vs. ClickFunnels: Core Feature Comparison
Courses & Communities
Both platforms allow you to create and sell courses and build communities. Kajabi has long been known for its polished and integrated student experience. It provides a seamless environment where course content, community discussions, and coaching sessions all live under one roof. All Kajabi plans include courses and communities.
ClickFunnels also offers course and community features on all its plans, though plan limits apply. While functional, the primary focus of the ClickFunnels platform has historically been on the sales and marketing funnels that lead customers to the purchase, rather than the post-purchase content experience.
Sales Funnels
This is where ClickFunnels has its strongest reputation. It offers a highly flexible and powerful funnel builder that allows for complex sequences, A/B testing, and detailed analytics to optimize conversion rates. It is designed for marketers who want deep control over every step of the customer journey.
Kajabi includes funnels built from pre-built templates for common marketing sequences like product launches or lead magnet delivery. These are easier to set up for beginners but offer less customization compared to the ClickFunnels builder.
Affiliate Marketing
Both platforms have a built-in affiliate center, but access is tiered. On Kajabi, the affiliate program is only available on the Growth and Pro plans. ClickFunnels restricts its affiliate center to the Optimize and Dominate plans.
Pricing and Fees
Kajabi and ClickFunnels have different pricing models. Kajabi operates as an all-in-one platform with tiered monthly subscriptions that bundle most features, including payment processing through Kajabi Payments.
- Kajabi: Plans are Basic, Growth, and Pro, with discounts for annual billing. Kajabi Payments charges a processing fee that decreases on higher plans. Kajabi also charges an extra percentage fee on subscriptions and payment plans. If you use a third-party processor, Kajabi adds a platform fee depending on your plan.
- ClickFunnels: Plans are Launch, Scale, and Optimize. ClickFunnels does not charge a percentage of sales itself. Instead, you process payments through a separate integration like Stripe or Payments AI. This means your total cost is the ClickFunnels subscription plus your processor's fees.
For a business focused on recurring revenue, our guide to recurring payment processors offers more specialized alternatives.
A third option: Commas
For sellers of high-ticket courses, coaching, and services, Commas (formerly FanBasis) is another option to compare. Its model centers on checkout and customer financing for higher-priced offers, which lets buyers pay for a one-time purchase over time.
Unlike Kajabi and ClickFunnels, Commas charges no monthly fee. According to its homepage FAQ, it is "Free to start selling! We make money when you make money." Platform and processing fees are not published and are instead shown in the seller dashboard or set by written agreement. The core of the Commas offer is its large suite of buy now, pay later (BNPL) and consumer financing options. It lists 10 providers on its site, with financing for amounts up to a high limit (the top end for business-to-business purchases only). This is a major advantage for creators selling programs that cost thousands of dollars, as it makes the purchase more accessible for buyers. Financing is available for one-time products, not subscriptions, and primarily serves US customers.
Commas also provides an AI-powered funnel builder, course and community hosting ("Studios"), an affiliate center with two-tier commissions, and advanced payment features. Commas says its payment routing system sends each transaction to the processor most likely to approve it and automatically retries declines. Businesses selling high-value offers can weigh these payment and financing features alongside pricing, which Commas quotes per seller. It is one of the Stripe alternatives to compare for this specific use case.
Pros and cons of each platform
Commas (formerly FanBasis)
Pros
- No monthly subscription fee.
- Extensive financing options from 10 listed providers for high-ticket offers with a set range, with the top end for B2B purchases.
- Built-in affiliate center with two-tier commissions.
- Vibe Funnels AI funnel builder can import from ClickFunnels, GoHighLevel, and more.
- Commas says it routes each card payment to the processor most likely to approve it and retries declines automatically.
Cons
- No public pricing for platform or payment processing fees.
- Financing is only for one-time products, not subscriptions.
- Most financing partners are limited to US buyers.
- New accounts face a 5-day settlement delay for the first 30 days.
Kajabi
Pros
- All-in-one platform with tightly integrated courses, community, website, and email marketing.
- Polished and professional user experience for students.
- Built-in payment processing with Kajabi Payments.
- Funnels, courses, and communities available on all plans.
Cons
- Higher starting price point than ClickFunnels.
- Affiliate marketing tools are not available on the Basic plan.
- Financing options (Afterpay, Klarna) are limited compared to Commas and only for one-time offers.
- Kajabi charges an extra percentage fee on subscriptions and payment plans.
ClickFunnels
Pros
- Powerful and highly customizable sales funnel builder.
- Lower starting price than Kajabi.
- Does not charge its own platform fee on sales; you only pay your chosen payment processor.
- Flexibility to use different payment processors like Stripe or Payments AI.
Cons
- Affiliate center is only available on more expensive plans (Optimize and Dominate).
- Courses and communities are less central to the platform than they are at Kajabi.
- The total cost can be less predictable, as payment processing fees are separate from the platform subscription.
- Plan limits apply to funnels, courses, and contacts.
Stripe
Pros
- Flexible and powerful payment processing with transparent pricing.
- Supports a wide range of payment methods, including international cards and wallets.
- Extensive developer tools and API for custom solutions.
- Offers multiple BNPL providers (Klarna, Affirm, Afterpay, Zip).
Cons
- It is only a payment processor; it does not include course, community, funnel, or affiliate marketing tools.
- Requires integration with other platforms to build a full business, adding complexity and cost.
- Disputes incur a flat fee.
- Charges extra for currency conversion and international cards.
Who should choose something else
You should choose something else if your primary need is not an all-in-one platform. If you already have a website and course platform you love, a standalone processor like Stripe might be a better fit, as it offers more flexibility for integration. Businesses that sell only subscriptions and want to offer financing should look elsewhere, as the financing options on these platforms are for one-time products only. Similarly, creators with a mostly non-US customer base will find the financing options from Commas and Kajabi restrictive. Finally, anyone who requires fully transparent, published flat-rate pricing may prefer Kajabi or a standalone processor over Commas, whose rates are provided in the seller dashboard.Verdict
For most creators, the choice between Kajabi and ClickFunnels comes down to priorities. Choose ClickFunnels if your main goal is to build and optimize powerful sales funnels. Its builder is more flexible, and it allows you to separate your platform costs from payment processing. It is the marketer's choice for maximizing conversions.
Choose Kajabi if you prioritize a seamless, all-in-one experience for you and your students. Its strength is in the polished integration of courses, communities, and marketing tools. It's simpler to manage, with most features under one roof and a predictable fee structure.
Consider Commas if you sell high-ticket products and your biggest hurdle is affordability for your customers. Its extensive financing options, payment optimization features, and lack of a monthly fee make it uniquely suited for scaling high-value coaching, courses, and digital services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does ClickFunnels or Kajabi have better affiliate marketing tools?
Both platforms offer built-in affiliate marketing centers, but access is restricted to higher-tier plans. On ClickFunnels, it's available on the Optimize and Dominate plans. On Kajabi, it's on the Growth and Pro plans. Commas, an alternative, includes an Affiliate Center with two-tier commissions on its free-to-start plan. The 'better' tool depends on your budget and which platform's ecosystem you prefer. For those on entry-level plans, neither offers a native affiliate program.
Can I use Stripe with both Kajabi and ClickFunnels?
Yes, but in different ways. ClickFunnels is designed to integrate with external payment processors, and Stripe is a primary option. You connect your Stripe account and pay Stripe's fees directly. Kajabi has its own processor, Kajabi Payments, but allows the use of third-party processors like Stripe. However, if you choose to use your own Stripe account with Kajabi, Kajabi charges an additional platform fee on top of what Stripe charges you. This makes using an external processor with Kajabi more expensive.
Which platform is better for beginners?
Kajabi is often considered more beginner-friendly. Its all-in-one nature, combined with pre-built templates for funnels and websites, simplifies the setup process. The interface is clean and focused on the creator's workflow from content creation to marketing. ClickFunnels, while also user-friendly, has a steeper learning curve due to the sheer power and number of options within its funnel builder. Beginners can certainly succeed with ClickFunnels, but Kajabi generally provides a more guided and less overwhelming initial experience for building an entire online business.
What is Commas and how is it different from Kajabi and ClickFunnels?
Commas, formerly known as FanBasis, is a platform for selling digital products, courses and coaching. Its main difference is its focus on high-ticket sales through financing: it has no monthly fee and offers a checkout with 10 listed financing partners, an AI funnel builder, and course and community hosting. Commas' terms make Commas the contracting merchant for each sale, with sellers acting as service providers. It is one option to compare for those selling expensive offers who want financing options. See also our list of the <a href="/blog/best-paypal-alternatives">best PayPal alternatives</a>.
Do I own my customer list with Kajabi and ClickFunnels?
Yes, with both Kajabi and ClickFunnels, you own your customer data, including names, email addresses, and contact information. Both platforms allow you to export your lists of contacts, members, and customers. This is a crucial feature that gives you control over your business and the ability to move to another platform in the future without losing your audience. You are not locked into their ecosystem with respect to your customer relationships.
Which platform is better for SEO?
Both Kajabi and ClickFunnels offer basic SEO features for pages and blog posts, like custom meta titles, descriptions, and URLs. However, neither is a replacement for a dedicated blogging platform like WordPress for advanced content marketing strategies. Kajabi generally has a slight edge because its website and blog features are more robust and integrated, providing a better foundation for building domain authority over time. ClickFunnels is primarily designed for creating targeted landing pages for paid traffic, where SEO is less of a focus.
Can I build a full website on Kajabi or ClickFunnels?
Yes, you can build a full website on both platforms. Kajabi is particularly strong in this area, offering customizable website themes, a blog, and the ability to create standard static pages (like an 'About' or 'Contact' page) in addition to your sales and product pages. ClickFunnels also allows you to build a homepage and other site pages, but its architecture is fundamentally centered around funnels. For businesses that envision a large, content-rich website with an extensive blog, Kajabi provides a more traditional and robust website-building experience.
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