Softwr

Learning Management · head to head

Coursera vs Kajabi

Coursera logo

Coursera

Learning Management

Learn from top universities and companies worldwide

From
Free
Rated
-
Kajabi logo

Kajabi

Learning Management

All-in-one platform for knowledge entrepreneurs

From
$179/month
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Coursera has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Coursera free audit does not include certificate upon completion; Kajabi starter plan limited to 1 product, 1 community, and 1 website; requires upgrade for scaling
  • They diverge on capability: Coursera covers Video lectures, Kajabi covers Course builder.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Coursera and Kajabi actually diverge.

Attributes where Coursera and Kajabi differ
AttributeCourseraKajabi
Starting priceFree$179/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
Founded20122010

Identical on both: platforms (Web, iOS, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Learning Management).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Coursera

  • Video lectures
  • Quizzes
  • Peer assessments
  • Certificates
  • Mobile learning
  • Offline access
  • Specializations
  • Degrees

Only in Kajabi

  • Course builder
  • Website builder
  • Email marketing
  • Sales funnels
  • Memberships
  • Communities
  • Mobile app
  • Analytics

Both cover

  • Web support
  • IOS support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Coursera

  • Skill developmentnot Kajabi
  • Career advancementnot Kajabi
  • Professional certificatesnot Kajabi
  • Degree programsnot Kajabi

Kajabi

  • Solo creators launching single digital products or coursesnot Coursera
  • Small coaching businesses with course, community, and email marketing needsnot Coursera
  • Multi-product creators requiring customisation and white-label optionsnot Coursera

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Coursera

  • Free audit does not include certificate upon completion
  • Limited offline access to course materials
  • Paid specializations require monthly subscription rather than one-time purchase

Kajabi

  • Starter plan limited to 1 product, 1 community, and 1 website; requires upgrade for scaling
  • Starter and Basic tiers support only 1 community each; Growth tier caps at 1 community (Pro tier reaches 3)
  • Payment processing fees 2.9%–2.7% (Kajabi Payments) plus 5%–0.5% for third-party providers, tiered by plan
  • Admin user allowances escalate significantly: Starter (default 1), Basic (2), Growth (11), Pro (26)

Pricing, plan by plan

Coursera

Free
  • Free AuditFree
  • Coursera Plus$59/month
  • Professional Certificates$39/month

Kajabi

$179/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Kajabi review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Coursera if

  • You need video lectures.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want quizzes.

Choose Kajabi if

  • You need course builder.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want website builder.

Questions people ask

Is Coursera or Kajabi better?
Neither clearly leads. Coursera starts at Free and Kajabi at $179/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Coursera or Kajabi?
Coursera has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Coursera and $179/month for Kajabi.
Does Coursera or Kajabi run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, iOS, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Coursera for free?
Yes. Coursera has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Kajabi starts at $179/month.
What is Coursera best used for?
Coursera is most often used for skill development, career advancement, professional certificates, degree programs. Of those, skill development and career advancement are not what Kajabi is typically brought in for.
What can Coursera do that Kajabi cannot?
Coursera covers Video lectures, Quizzes, Peer assessments, Certificates. Kajabi covers Course builder, Website builder, Email marketing, Sales funnels. Both handle Web support, IOS support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Coursera: Can I audit courses for free?

Yes. Most Coursera courses can be audited for free, allowing access to videos and assignments without a certificate.

Source
Coursera: What is Coursera Plus?

Coursera Plus is a subscription for $59/month or $399/year providing unlimited access to over 7,000 courses and specializations with certificates.

Source
Coursera: Do enterprises get custom integrations?

Yes. Enterprise plans include SSO, APIs, AI-assisted Course Builder, and 30+ LMS integrations with dedicated customer success managers.

Source
Coursera: What is the cost of a degree program?

Coursera offers accredited degree programs starting at $50,000 and above, with costs varying by program and institution.

Source

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