Kajabi Alternatives [for Growing Courses]

Posted on December 2, 2023by Nathalie Lussier

Many course creators often start their online course journey on platforms such as Kajabi. But as they grow, they quickly realize that Kajabi and similar hosted platforms (like Podia and Mighty Networks) become limiting and prevent them from taking their course to the next level.

The need for more marketing and customization options than Kajabi can offer prompts these course creators to seek other alternatives. That’s when many creators decide to switch to a self-hosted solution – hosting their courses on their own WordPress websites with an LMS plugin.

But, migration from Kajabi to a self-hosted platform can be complex and costly. Leaving Kajabi means leaving all your content behind, which means that you’re basically starting from scratch.

So, before hosting your course on Kajabi, think carefully. If you plan on growing and scaling your course to be the primary or significant part of your business, it’s better to start with your own setup from the start. However, if you plan on having your course remain a side project, Kajabi and similar hosted course platforms can work well for you.

Not sure which path to take? Good news! Check out the flowchart below to guide you in choosing the right platform for your needs.

Why should I consider alternatives to Kajabi?

If Kajabi isn’t meeting your needs or you’ve outgrown it, you probably have reasons for wanting to switch.

Here are some common reasons why people search for alternatives to Kajabi:

Lack of integrations with other systems: Because Kajabi aims to be an all-in-one platform, it doesn’t integrate well with other tools. Relying solely on one system can be a weak point in your business. If that system fails, your whole setup does, too. But when you have multiple systems, if one fails, the rest stays unaffected.

Not open source: Kajabi’s code is not open source, meaning that you lose all of your content when you cancel your account. That’s why using a platform like WordPress to host your courses or manage memberships is much safer. You own your content and can see all the source code running your business. This way, you have complete control over everything.

Zero customization: Most course creators begin looking for a Kajabi alternative when it no longer allows them to grow. As they outgrow it, they begin to notice its limitations.

Because Kajabi is a hosted platform, you can’t do more than what the platform allows you to do, aside from waiting for them to release new features and expand their functionalities. This can often impact how you make money and manage your courses and members. Kajabi’s design options are limited because you have to work within its framework. This can be stifling for those who like custom designs and want to make their courses and membership area unique.

Limits on growth: Kajabi’s plans restrict the number of products, courses, and active members you can have, which can hold back your business from growing. For instance, if you want to give away a free course to people who join your email list, Kajabi limits you to 1,000 sign-ups on the $149/month plan or 10,000 sign-ups on the $199/month plan. This limit doesn’t work well for building your email list or turning free members into paying customers.

Kajabi Alternatives for Growing Online Courses

Although Kajabi is a great option for those course creators who don’t plan on growing their courses, those who do quickly find it limiting.

Many creators leave Kajabi when they begin to feel the need to customize their courses fully or when they decide to bring their online courses and community together in one place, which is something no standalone course platform can offer.

So, they end up switching to a self-hosted WordPress LMS plugin instead, which allows them to take full control of their courses and bring everything together in one place – their website.

Wondering which LMS plugin you should choose? Here’s a complete breakdown of the 6 most popular LMS plugins that are excellent alternatives to Kajabi.

1. AccessAlly

What Is AccessAlly?

Think of AccessAlly as an “out of the box” version of other LMS plugins. AccessAlly is the most modern LMS plugin you’ll find on the market.

Unlike other LMS plugins, AccessAlly provides its users with the full benefits of an LMS plugin without the need to install a ton of add-ons to achieve complete platform functionality.

Stacking add-ons is very common among other LMS plugins like LearnDash, and it can become a problem when too many add-ons start to create compatibility problems that can crush your site. And every time your course platform crashes or bugs, you lose money.

But if any problems do arise, AccessAlly has highly responsive and reliable customer support that can instantly help. Since AccessAlly doesn’t require you to install third-party add-ons, any issue you have with the platform can be addressed directly to AccessAlly’s support team. This means no back-and-forth finger-pointing between different providers.

So, as you can see, AccessAlly provides a smooth and seamless experience to course creators and their students. Because the platform is so modern and advanced in its functionalities, it’s easy to use, and the risk of tech issues is very low.

Who Should Use It

AccessAlly is the right option for those who want a straightforward solution for scaling their course without the hassle of dealing with tech issues or the need for multiple add-ons.

Pros & Cons

Full control over course delivery
Advanced customization options
Seamless integration with WordPress
All-in-one platform for course creation
Support memberships and member directories
Scalable with no per-student cost
Community engagement features (CommunityAlly)
No add-ons required
Top-notch customer support

Steep learning curve for beginners
Initial setup takes time

Price

AccessAlly offers three subscription plans, starting at $82 USD per month (billed annually).

Reviews

Capterra Rating: 4.5/5
G2 Rating: 4.8/5

2. LearnDash

What Is LearnDash?

LearnDash is a popular choice for many course creators who want to self-host their courses on their WordPress websites. We don’t recommend it, however, as its interface is quite outdated and hardly user-friendly.

That’s mainly because LearnDash requires its users to install add-ons to achieve the full functionality of the LMS plugin. The issue is that these add-ons are created by third parties and don’t all necessarily work well together. So, stacking many different add-ons can lead to compatibility issues, site crashes, and bugs.

This sort of “add-on duct-taping” is why many creators find LearnDash very hard to use and quickly become frustrated with the platform.