The short verdict
Pick Systeme.io if you're starting out or price-sensitive: its free plan covers a course, funnels and email for up to 2,000 contacts, and paid plans start at $17 a month. Pick Kajabi if you already have revenue, want a premium all-in-one with a polished student experience, and the option of a branded mobile app (Pro plan) is worth paying well over $100 a month for.
Systeme.io vs Kajabi at a glance
| Systeme.io | Kajabi | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes: 2,000 contacts, 1 course, 3 funnels, unlimited emails | No (free trial and 30-day money-back guarantee) |
| Entry paid plan | Startup: $17/month (5,000 contacts, 5 courses) | Basic: $143/month billed annually or $179 monthly (2,500 contacts, 5 products) |
| Mid plan | Webinar: $47/month (10,000 contacts, 20 courses) | Growth: $199/month annually or $249 monthly (25,000 contacts, 50 products) |
| Top self-serve plan | Unlimited: $97/month | Pro: $399/month annually or $499 monthly (100,000 contacts) |
| Marketing emails | Unlimited on all plans | Unlimited on all plans |
| Platform transaction fee | 0% | No revenue share; extra 2% / 1% / 0.5% fee if you use a third-party processor instead of Kajabi Payments (where offered) |
| Branded mobile app | No | Included on Pro |
| AI credits | Not listed on pricing page | 0 / 500 / 1,000 per plan |
| Our rating | 9.2/10 | Not currently ranked |
Sources: Systeme.io pricing and Kajabi pricing, both checked 22 October 2026. All prices are listed in US dollars.
Price: the biggest difference
There's no getting around it: Kajabi is a premium product priced like one. Its cheapest plan, Basic, is listed at $143 a month on annual billing ($179 month to month). Systeme.io's most expensive plan, Unlimited, is $97 a month, and you can run a small course business on its free plan or $17 Startup plan.
Over a year, the gap between Systeme.io Startup and Kajabi Basic (annual) is roughly $1,500 at list prices, before exchange rates. For a sole trader validating a first course, that is real money. Kajabi's argument, made on its own pricing page, is that it replaces separate email, website, community and checkout tools. That's true, but Systeme.io makes exactly the same all-in-one pitch for much less.
Contacts and products
Look closely at the limits, because they shape which plan you actually need:
- Kajabi limits contacts (2,500 / 25,000 / 100,000) and products (5 / 50 / unlimited) by plan. Kajabi says extra contacts come in blocks of 25,000 for $125 a month.
- Systeme.io limits contacts (2,000 free / 5,000 / 10,000 / unlimited) plus funnels, courses and automation rules by plan.
So a coach with 3,000 contacts and two courses would need Kajabi Basic or Systeme.io Startup. The price difference at that size is large.
Where Kajabi is stronger
- Branded mobile app. Kajabi's Pro plan includes a branded app, which its pricing page values at $199 a month. Systeme.io doesn't offer one.
- AI credits and newer AI tools. Kajabi lists 500 AI credits on Growth and 1,000 on Pro, with more "coming soon" agent features.
- More admin users. Kajabi lists 2, 11 and 26 admin users by plan.
- Polish. Kajabi is designed as a premium experience for established "expert businesses"; its own FAQ says Basic is for people who haven't sold yet and Growth is for those with revenue coming in.
Where Systeme.io is stronger
- Free plan. Kajabi has none. Systeme.io's free plan never expires (with an inactivity rule) and needs no card. Read our Systeme.io free plan review for its limits.
- 0% transaction fees on every plan. Kajabi takes no revenue share either, but adds a fee of 2% (Basic), 1% (Growth) or 0.5% (Pro) if you use a third-party payment provider instead of Kajabi Payments, where Kajabi Payments is offered. Kajabi's card fees vary by country, so check its fee table for the UK.
- Unlimited sub-accounts on every plan, each with the same limits, useful if you run more than one brand.
- Built-in affiliate programme on every plan, including Free.
UK-specific points
- Both list prices in US dollars, so what you pay in pounds moves with the exchange rate, and your card provider may add a foreign transaction fee.
- Selling digital courses to UK consumers has VAT and consumer-rights implications (for example the right to cancel digital content). Neither platform removes your own obligations; check HMRC guidance or an accountant.
- Both connect to Stripe, which supports UK businesses.
Who should pick which?
Choose Systeme.io if…
- You're launching your first course, membership or coaching offer.
- Keeping costs under £20 a month matters.
- You want funnels, checkout, email and courses in one cheap package.
Choose Kajabi if…
- You already have steady course or coaching revenue.
- A branded mobile app or more admin seats matter to your business.
- You'd rather pay more for a premium, design-led platform.
Bottom line
For most UK sole traders and small teams, Systeme.io gives you the same building blocks as Kajabi (courses, funnels, email, checkout) for a fraction of the price, and you can start free. Kajabi is a credible upgrade path for established creators who want premium extras. Our suggestion: build and validate on Systeme.io first, and only consider Kajabi once revenue justifies $143+ a month.
Frequently asked questions
Is Systeme.io cheaper than Kajabi?
Yes, by a wide margin at list prices. As of October 2026, Systeme.io has a free plan and paid plans from $17 to $97 a month; Kajabi has no free plan and starts at $143 a month billed annually ($179 monthly).
Does Kajabi have a free plan?
No. Kajabi offers a free trial and says every plan has a 30-day money-back guarantee, but there's no free-forever tier (checked Oct 2026).
Can Systeme.io host online courses?
Yes. The free plan includes 1 course with up to 500 students; Startup includes 5 courses and Webinar 20.
Does Kajabi take a percentage of sales?
Kajabi says it takes no revenue share. It charges card processing fees on Kajabi Payments and an extra 2%, 1% or 0.5% (by plan) if you use a third-party payment processor where Kajabi Payments is available.
Which is better for a UK coach?
If you're starting out, Systeme.io is usually the better value. Kajabi suits established coaches who want premium features such as a branded app.
Related guides
- Systeme.io free plan: what you really get in 2026
- Systeme.io vs ClickFunnels for small businesses
- Systeme.io vs MailerLite vs Kit for small business email
- The best Mailchimp alternatives for UK small businesses
- See our full ranking of AI tools for small business
Prices and plan limits change frequently. We note the date we checked each fact; always confirm on the vendor's official pricing page before buying. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.