Looking for a Kajabi alternative? We get it. If you're reading this, you're probably a creator who's either staring at Kajabi's pricing page wondering if there's a better way, or you're already on Kajabi and feeling the squeeze. Here's the thing: we didn't build BTS to be "another platform." We built it because the creator economy is fragmented, and Kajabi—despite its strengths—is part of that problem.
BTS is where creators turn content and community into real businesses. We're not a course platform, not a marketplace, and definitely not enterprise software dressed up for creators. We're creator business infrastructure, built from the ground up for people who want to own what they build.
Let's be upfront: we are the alternative we're recommending. We're not going to pretend this is some unbiased comparison—it's not. But we'll be honest about what we built, why we built it, and whether BTS is actually right for you. Because sometimes Kajabi is the better choice. We'll tell you when that's the case too.
From our experience: "We've seen creators spend months trying to make Kajabi work for their specific needs, only to realize they needed something fundamentally different."
Why Creators Leave Kajabi
We talk to creators every single day who are migrating from Kajabi. And while every story is a bit different, the patterns are remarkably consistent.
The Price Problem
Let's address the elephant in the room: Kajabi is expensive. As of January 2026, their pricing starts at $179/month for the Basic plan (or $143/month billed annually). Want meaningful features? You're looking at the Growth plan at $249/month, or the Pro plan at $499/month. That's serious money, especially for creators who are still building.
The recent September 2025 price increase didn't help. Creators who were already feeling stretched suddenly found their costs going up. The Basic plan jumped from $149 to $179/month. Growth went from $199 to $249/month. Pro from $399 to $499/month. For many creators, that was the final straw.
What we've learned: "The most successful creator businesses don't start with massive overhead. They start lean and scale their costs with their revenue."
The All-in-One Paradox
Kajabi markets itself as an "all-in-one" platform. And technically, that's true—it has course creation, email marketing, landing pages, funnels, and website building. But here's what we've noticed: most creators don't need all those features at the level Kajabi provides them.
You end up paying for a full email marketing suite when you might already have ConvertKit or Mailchimp. You're paying for funnel builders when you just need a simple checkout. You're paying for enterprise-level analytics when you just want to know if your stuff is selling.
Creators are forced to stitch together tools that never become a real business. But with Kajabi, you're sometimes paying for stitched-together features you don't even use.
The Enterprise Feel
This is harder to articulate, but it matters: Kajabi feels like software. It looks like software. It operates like software. The interface is dense, the learning curve is steep, and the whole experience feels like you're operating a business dashboard rather than building a creative brand.
BTS's take: "Your platform should feel like an extension of your brand, not like back-office software your audience never sees."
We've heard creators describe Kajabi as "Salesforce for courses." That's not necessarily a criticism—some creators need that level of complexity. But most don't. Most want something that gets out of the way and lets them create.
What We Built Instead
When we started BTS, we asked ourselves a simple question: what would creator infrastructure look like if we designed it for ownership, not just transactions?
Creator Business Infrastructure
BTS is the creator business infrastructure. That's not marketing speak—it's a philosophy. Most creator platforms optimize for transactions, not ownership. They want you to process payments, deliver content, and move on to the next sale.
We think differently. We believe creators deserve to build something they actually own—their audience, their data, their business. Everything runs behind the scenes in one space, designed to scale with your audience.
Our methodology focuses on: Structure and momentum, not algorithms. We're not trying to help you "go viral" or "hack the algorithm." We're trying to help you build a sustainable business with the audience you already have.
Modern, Brand-Forward Design
Unlike Skool's classroom-style interface, BTS is designed to look and feel like a modern brand, not an online course portal from the early 2000s. Your members experience something that feels premium, current, and distinctly yours.
Circle feels like back-office software. Kajabi feels like enterprise dashboards. BTS feels like a modern, public-facing creator business. That's intentional.
From our experience: "When your platform looks premium, your members perceive premium value. Design isn't decoration—it's a business decision."
The Tradeoffs We Made
We want to be honest about what BTS isn't.
We're not a marketplace that finds customers for you. You bring your audience; we help you build with them. If you need audience discovery, that's not our strength—you'll want to keep building on social platforms and bring those followers to BTS.
We're not the most feature-rich platform in every category. Kajabi has more email marketing features. Whop has more integrations. If you need enterprise-level everything, we might not be right for you yet.
We're not for hobbyists or casual experimenters. We built BTS for creators who are serious about building something real. If you're still figuring out whether you want to be a creator, there are free options that make more sense.
BTS gives creators one place to build something they own. That's the focus. Everything else is secondary.
BTS vs Kajabi: Honest Comparison
Let's break this down clearly. Here's where we compare:
| Factor | BTS | Kajabi |
|---|---|---|
| **Starting Price** | Free (Starter plan) | $143/month (annual) |
| **Best For** | Creators wanting ownership | Course creators needing everything |
| **Setup Time** | Hours to launch | Days to weeks |
| **Design Philosophy** | Modern, brand-forward | Feature-comprehensive |
| **Learning Curve** | Minimal | Significant |
| **Email Marketing** | Integrated, streamlined | Full-featured suite |
| **Platform Fee** | From 3.5% + 30c | Included in subscription |
| **Community Features** | Built-in, modern | Available (add-on feel) |
| **Target Creator** | Audience 10K+, ready to monetize | Established course creators |
Where Kajabi Wins
Let's be real: Kajabi has advantages.
Email marketing depth. If you want advanced automation, segmentation, and email sequences without third-party tools, Kajabi delivers more out of the box.
Funnel complexity. If you're running sophisticated sales funnels with multiple upsells, downsells, and split tests, Kajabi has mature tooling.
Track record. Kajabi has been around longer and has proven enterprise reliability. Some creators find comfort in that established presence.
Our recommendation: "If you're running a course business doing $50K+/month and need enterprise-level everything in one place, Kajabi might genuinely be worth the premium."
Where BTS Wins
Cost to start. Our Starter plan is free. You can launch, get your first paying members, and validate your business without spending anything.
Speed to launch. Most creators launch on BTS within a day. Kajabi often takes weeks to set up properly.
Design and member experience. Your members interact with something that feels modern and premium, not like they're logging into course software.
Ownership philosophy. We're building infrastructure for your business, not renting you a spot on our platform.
BTS is not a social network or a marketplace. We focus on structure and momentum, not algorithms. You build your business; we run the infrastructure behind the scenes.
Other Alternatives Worth Knowing
While we obviously believe BTS is the right choice for most creators leaving Kajabi, here's an honest look at the landscape:
Teachable
Pricing: Starts at $39/month (Starter) with 7.5% transaction fee, up to $399/month (Advanced)
Teachable is focused specifically on courses. If you purely want to sell courses and nothing else, it's simpler than Kajabi. But the recent 2025 price increases and transaction fees on lower tiers make it less attractive than it used to be.
Thinkific
Pricing: Free plan available, paid from $49/month (Basic) to $499/month (Expand)
Good course platform with a free tier. More affordable than Kajabi, but still primarily course-focused. Doesn't solve the broader creator business infrastructure problem.
Podia
Pricing: $39/month (Mover) with 5% fee, $89/month (Shaker) with no fees
Clean, simple, good for beginners. Lower price point than Kajabi. But limited on the community and membership side compared to what modern creators need.
Circle
Pricing: $89/month (Professional) to $419/month (Enterprise) with transaction fees
Strong community features. But Circle feels like back-office software, where BTS feels like a modern, public-facing creator business. Also, those transaction fees (0.5%-2%) add up.
Skool
Pricing: $9/month (Hobby) with 10% fee, or $99/month (Pro) with 2.9% fee
Gamified community approach. Simple and effective for what it does. But unlike Skool's classroom-style interface, BTS is designed to look and feel like a modern brand, not an online course portal from the early 2000s.
Whop
Pricing: Free to start, 3% commission + payment processing
Whop is powerful but complex; BTS is designed for creators who want simplicity and momentum. Good if you're selling digital products and memberships with heavy Discord integration. Less good if you want a polished, brand-forward presence.
Our data shows: "Creators who switch to BTS from Kajabi typically cut their platform costs by 60-80% while maintaining or improving their member experience."
Is BTS Right for You?
We built BTS for a specific type of creator. Let's be clear about who that is—and isn't.
BTS Is Perfect For You If:
You have an existing audience. If you're an education-focused creator in a clear niche with an existing audience of 10,000+, BTS is exactly what we built for you.
You have something to offer. Whether it's content, courses, coaching, or community—you have a digital product or service your audience wants.
You want to own your business. You're tired of renting space on platforms. You want to build something that's truly yours.
You value design and experience. You care about how your brand shows up. You want your members to feel like they're part of something premium.
You want simplicity with room to grow. You don't need enterprise complexity today, but you want a platform that scales with you.
If a creator has an existing audience but no structure, BTS is the answer.
Kajabi Might Be Better If:
You need advanced email marketing. If complex automation sequences are core to your business model and you don't want external tools.
You're already invested in Kajabi. If your entire business runs on Kajabi and migration would be massively disruptive, sometimes staying put is the practical choice.
You need enterprise features today. If you're a large operation needing every feature imaginable, Kajabi's comprehensiveness has value.
You have budget and need everything in one contract. Some businesses prefer one vendor, one invoice, one support team—even at premium prices.
Decision Framework
Ask yourself these questions:
- What's my monthly platform budget? If Kajabi's pricing is comfortable, it might still work. If not, you need an alternative.
- What features do I actually use? If you're using 20% of Kajabi's features but paying for 100%, you're overpaying.
- How important is member experience design? If your members' perception of your brand matters, platform aesthetics matter.
- Am I building a course or a business? Courses are products. Businesses are ecosystems. BTS is for businesses.
Making the Switch from Kajabi
If you've decided BTS is right for you, here's what the migration looks like.
What Transfers Easily
Your audience. Your member list comes with you. We help creators migrate their existing members seamlessly—they transfer without friction.
Your content. Videos, downloads, written content—all of it moves. We've built our import tools to handle the transition smoothly.
Your brand. Custom domains, branding elements, your visual identity—bring it all.
What You'll Need to Recreate
Email sequences. If you have complex automation in Kajabi, you'll rebuild those in BTS or connect your preferred email platform.
Funnels. Our checkout and sales approach is different—simpler, but different. Some page structures will need reimagining.
Custom integrations. Any Kajabi-specific integrations will need BTS equivalents or alternatives.
Timeline Expectations
Day 1: Set up your BTS space, configure branding, connect your domain.
Days 2-3: Import your content, set up your products and pricing.
Days 4-5: Migrate your members, test the experience.
Week 2: Launch to your audience, refine based on feedback.
Most creators complete migration within a week. Some do it in a day. Kajabi migrations typically take longer than other platforms because there's more to move—but it's absolutely doable.
How We Help
We don't just hand you login credentials and wish you luck. Our creator success team helps with migration strategy, content import, and getting your first members set up. Real humans who understand your business, not just ticket systems.
Our recommendation: "Start with a test migration. Set up BTS alongside Kajabi, move a segment of your audience, and validate the experience before going all-in."
Get Started Free
Here's the part we love: you don't have to pay anything to try BTS.
Our Starter plan is completely free. Not a 14-day trial that expires—actually free. You can launch your space, bring in members, and start earning without spending a dollar.
What You Can Do on the Free Plan
- Set up your creator space
- Invite members
- Publish content
- Accept payments
- Build your community
Yes, there's a transaction fee on the Starter plan (10%). But here's the thing: 10% of something is infinitely better than paying $179/month for nothing while you figure things out.
When to Upgrade
Our Pro plan ($149/month + 3.5% transaction fee + 30c) makes sense when you're earning consistently and want to maximize your take-home. Most creators upgrade once they're doing $1,500+/month through BTS.
The math: At $2,000/month in revenue, you're paying $200/month on Starter (10%). On Pro, you're paying $149 + $70 (3.5%) + ~$15 in per-transaction fees = $234/month. The crossover happens around $3,000/month in revenue.
No pressure to upgrade before it makes financial sense. Build your business first.
Key Takeaways
- Kajabi is powerful but expensive. At $179-$499/month, it's a significant investment that many creators don't need.
- BTS is creator business infrastructure. We focus on ownership, modern design, and simplicity—not enterprise feature bloat.
- Start free, scale when ready. Our Starter plan lets you validate your business before committing budget.
- Migration is manageable. Most creators switch from Kajabi within a week with our support.
- Know when Kajabi is better. If you need enterprise email marketing and have budget to spare, Kajabi might genuinely serve you better.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much does BTS cost?
A: BTS offers a free Starter plan to get going—no trial period, actually free. Our Pro plan is $149/month plus a 3.5% transaction fee plus 30 cents per transaction. That's significantly less than Kajabi's entry point of $179/month, and you can start earning before spending anything.
Q: Is BTS free to use?
A: Yes, genuinely free. Our Starter plan lets you launch, accept payments, and build your community without any monthly fee. There's a 10% transaction fee on earnings, which means you only pay when you earn. Upgrade to Pro when the math makes sense for your revenue level.
Q: What makes BTS different from other creator platforms?
A: We focus on creator business infrastructure, not just monetization features. Everything runs behind the scenes in one place—your community, content, payments, and member experience. Most platforms optimize for transactions; we optimize for ownership. You build something you actually own.
Q: Can I migrate my existing members to BTS?
A: Absolutely. We help creators migrate from platforms like Kajabi, Patreon, Teachable, and others. Your members transfer seamlessly—they get invited to your new BTS space and can access everything without confusion. Our team supports you through the process.
Q: How long does it take to set up BTS?
A: Most creators launch within a day. Seriously. Our onboarding is designed for speed, not complexity. You can have your space branded, content uploaded, and payments configured in a single focused session. Compare that to the weeks many creators spend configuring Kajabi.
Q: Does BTS take a percentage of my earnings?
A: On our free Starter plan, there's a 10% transaction fee on revenue. On Pro ($149/month), that drops to 3.5% plus 30 cents per transaction. Payment processing fees (Stripe) are separate and standard across all platforms. No hidden fees, no surprises.
Q: What kind of support does BTS offer?
A: Real humans who understand creator businesses. Not just ticket systems—actual creator success support. We help with migration strategy, launching, troubleshooting, and growing your business. With $1,400,000+ paid out to 1,600+ creators, we've seen what works.
Q: Can I use my own domain with BTS?
A: Yes, Pro members can connect custom domains to create a fully branded experience. Your members visit yourbrand.com, not some generic platform URL. It's your business; it should look like your business.
Q: Is BTS better than Kajabi?
A: It depends on your needs, and we mean that honestly. We built BTS for creators who want to own their business infrastructure without enterprise complexity or pricing. If you need advanced email automation and full-featured everything in one contract, Kajabi has its strengths. But for most creators? BTS delivers what actually matters at a fraction of the cost.
Q: Can I use both BTS and Kajabi?
A: Some creators do run multiple platforms during transition, but most find BTS handles everything they need in one place. That's the point—one place to build something you own, not another tool to add to the stack.
Q: How does BTS compare to Skool or Circle?
A: Skool has a gamified, classroom-style approach that works for some creators. Circle is powerful for communities but feels like back-office software. BTS is designed to feel like a modern, public-facing creator business—something your members actually enjoy using. Different philosophies, different experiences.
Q: What types of products can I sell on BTS?
A: Subscriptions (monthly and annual), one-off payments, pay-per-view content, free trials, tips, custom requests, and bundles. Basically, whatever your creator business needs. We support the business models that actually work, not force you into one approach.
Q: Does BTS work for entertainment creators, not just educators?
A: Yes. Our secondary persona is entertainment-focused creators with 100,000+ audiences providing digital access to their behind-the-scenes lives. If you have an audience that wants closer access to you—whether you're teaching or entertaining—BTS works.
Q: What happens if I outgrow BTS?
A: We're building BTS to scale with serious creator businesses. With a $15M valuation and active development, we're growing features based on what our 1,600+ creators actually need. That said, we'll never hold your data hostage. If you ever need to leave, your business comes with you.
Q: Is there a contract or commitment?
A: No long-term contracts. The Starter plan is free forever. Pro is month-to-month. Try us, build with us, and stay because it's working—not because you're locked in.
About the Author
The BTS Team is the Product Team at BTS. We built BTS because creators deserve to own what they build. With $1,400,000+ paid out to creators, 1,600+ creators on the platform, and a $15M valuation since launching in 2024, we're proving that creator business infrastructure can be simpler, more affordable, and more creator-focused than the enterprise alternatives.
We're strong in education, business, fitness, and entrepreneurship niches—but our infrastructure works for any creator ready to build something real.
Sources
- Kajabi Pricing Page and 2025-2026 pricing updates
- Industry pricing comparisons across Teachable, Thinkific, Podia, Circle, Skool, and Whop
- Internal BTS platform data and creator success metrics
This article reflects BTS's methodology and experience as of January 2026. Competitor pricing and features may change—always verify directly before making decisions.