What Are the Downsides of Using Kajabi? Key Drawbacks Explained

Kajabi is a popular all-in-one platform for creating, marketing, and selling online courses, memberships, and coaching programs. While it boasts a plethora of powerful features, it’s essential to weigh the pros and cons before committing to the platform. In this post, we’ll dive deep into the downsides of using Kajabi, such as high pricing, limitations on products and members, and the cost of removing Kajabi branding.

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1. High Pricing: A Premium Platform Comes with a Premium Cost 💲

One of the primary concerns regarding Kajabi is its high pricing. The platform’s plans start at $103 per month for the Basic plan and can go up to $719 per month for the Premium plan. While Kajabi includes an extensive suite of tools for course creation, email marketing, and website hosting, many users feel that the price tag is steep, particularly if they don’t need all its features.

Kajabi Pricing Tiers Overview:

• Basic Plan ($103/month): Limited to 3 products and 3 pipelines.
• Growth Plan ($209/month): Includes up to 15 products and 15 pipelines, plus affiliate marketing capabilities.
• Pro Plan ($719/month): Offers 100 products and pipelines, with additional advanced features.

For small businesses or solopreneurs, these monthly fees can add up quickly. Additionally, if users find they don’t utilize most of Kajabi’s features, the value diminishes, especially when compared to more affordable alternatives like Teachable or Thinkific.

2. Limitations on the Number of Products and Members 👥

Kajabi imposes certain limitations on the number of products you can offer and the number of members you can serve, based on your plan. These restrictions can hinder business growth and scalability.

Basic Plan Limitations:

• 3 Products: With the Basic plan, you can only create 3 products, which can be restrictive for course creators with multiple offerings.
• 10,000 Contacts: This may seem like a large number, but rapidly growing businesses could exceed this cap sooner than expected.
• 1,000 Active Members: For membership-based businesses, this cap may be too restrictive as your community expands.

As businesses grow and evolve, the need for more offerings or members may require upgrading to the Growth or Pro plans, which can strain budgets.

3. Extra Costs to Remove Kajabi Branding 💵

Another significant drawback is the presence of Kajabi branding on all plans except the Pro plan. Users may find it unprofessional to have another company’s logo on their courses, websites, and emails.

Branding Removal Costs:

• Basic and Growth Plans: Kajabi branding appears by default unless you upgrade to the Pro plan.
• Pro Plan: At $719 per month, this plan allows you to remove Kajabi branding, providing you with complete control over your business’s appearance.

For those focused on brand image and professionalism, the necessity to pay extra to remove branding can be frustrating, especially when competitors often offer these features at lower price points.

4. Limited Advanced Customization Options ⚙️

While Kajabi provides a range of templates and themes, some users find that the customization options are limited. If you seek a unique look and feel for your brand, you may find Kajabi’s customization options restrictive.

Although the templates are designed to be user-friendly, they might not provide enough flexibility for businesses that want a tailored design. Users seeking advanced customization may need to hire developers or utilize third-party tools, adding to overall costs.

5. Lack of 24/7 Customer Support 👩🏻‍💻

Finally, a common concern among users is the lack of 24/7 customer support. Kajabi offers live chat and email support, but it's not available around the clock. This can be particularly frustrating for users in different time zones or those facing technical issues outside of business hours.

While Kajabi does offer extensive self-help resources like tutorials and FAQs, some users prefer direct support, especially when dealing with urgent matters.

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Conclusion: Are the Downsides of Kajabi Worth It?

While Kajabi offers powerful tools for creating and managing your online business, it’s crucial to consider the downsides. From high pricing to product limitations and branding issues, Kajabi might not be the ideal fit for everyone. However, if you’re looking for an all-in-one solution that simplifies course creation, marketing, and website management, Kajabi could still be a worthwhile investment.

By weighing these pros and cons, you can determine if Kajabi’s features and limitations align with your business goals. Kajabi’s 30-day free trial offers a risk-free way to explore the platform and see if it meets your needs.