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Kajabi vs Skool: Who Wins in 2025?

Written by Akash Patil | 11 Aug, 2025 1:16:21 PM

In 2025, the creator economy will focus on creating active communities rather than merely marketing courses. A more recent platform called Skool has begun to gain significant traction among creators who place a higher priority on community-first learning, even though Kajabi has long been a leader in the all-in-one course + marketing space.

In this comparison, we will examine the key features that set Skool and Kajabi apart, present Learnyst in the context of pricing, and assist you in selecting the platform that best suits your teaching style, budget, and brand.

What Makes Skool and Kajabi So Popular?

Kajabi: The Marketing Machine for Digital Businesses

For digital entrepreneurs, instructors, and coaches seeking a comprehensive system for creating, promoting, and selling their online courses, Kajabi was created. Kajabi places a strong emphasis on assisting creators in growing their revenue with its landing page builders, email automation, sales funnels, and memberships.

Skool: Community-First Course Experience

Skool changes the course of events. Skool is designed for creators who wish to transform their courses into interactive communities rather than funnels. Imagine Teachable meets Facebook Groups, but without the interruptions. It provides a simple interface with calendars, content, and community all coexisting.

 

Feature-by-Feature Comparison (Paragraph Format)

1. Course Delivery & Learning Experience

Kajabi

With videos, downloads, tests, and drip content, Kajabi provides a well-designed interface for delivering courses. Lessons can be organized into modules by creators, who can also provide completion certificates. On the other hand, Kajabi's course interface is more conventional, designed for linear learning pathways and passive content consumption.

Skool

Skool merges community and course content into a single feed. Though less customizable, the course layout is neat and responsive to mobile devices. The smooth integration is noteworthy because it allows students to interact with peers, leave comments, and ask questions while they are learning—all in one location. It is perfect for learning that is community-driven or cohort-based.

 

2. Community & Engagement Tools

Kajabi

The "Community" feature is integrated into Kajabi's mid- and higher-tier plans. It feels a little disconnected from the course experience, despite being functional. You can make events, threads, and groups, but moving users to another area is frequently necessary for engagement.

Skool

Skool was made to encourage participation. The main hub is the community. Students can interact in real time, upvote, comment, and receive post notifications. A leaderboard and gamification system are also included, which makes participation enjoyable and addictive. Skool is a great option for teachers who want active, peer-supported learning communities.

 

3. Website and Landing Page Builder

Kajabi

A robust drag-and-drop website builder is part of Kajabi. SEO-optimized landing pages, blog entries, sales funnels, and homepages can all be made. You don't require an outside CMS, and you have total control over structure and branding.

Skool

Skool does not provide a conventional website builder. Although your group receives a neat, branded landing page, it is devoid of personalized sections and sales funnels. This makes it easy to start, but it's not the best option if you want to manage your entire digital business from one location.

 

4. Email & Marketing Automation

Kajabi

A CRM with email sequences, audience segmentation, and behavior-triggered automation is integrated into Kajabi. Using pre-made pipeline templates, you can create intricate sales journeys. For course developers who are serious about scaling, this is one of Kajabi's best features.

Skool

Skool maintains his weight on purpose. Email marketing tools are not included; you will need to integrate with third-party apps such as Mailchimp or ConvertKit. If you require sophisticated automation, this creates friction even though it keeps the interface tidy.

 

5. Calendar, Scheduling & Live Calls

Kajabi

Calendars, webinar scheduling, and Calendly integration are all possible with Kajabi. Although it isn't designed with live learning in mind, you can use Zoom, events, and email reminders to create a workflow.

Skool

A built-in calendar function in Skool allows you to plan weekly check-ins, group calls, and live sessions. It promotes involvement and is seamlessly incorporated into the community feed. This feature is very beneficial for coaching or cohort-style learning.

 

6. Gamification & Student Motivation

Kajabi

Although Kajabi has limited gamification features, it does offer certificates and course progress indicators. Achievement and organized content are the main sources of motivation.

Skool

Skool has leaderboards, levels, and points based on participation and engagement. Users are kept engaged, competitive, and connected by this extra layer of motivation. It is particularly helpful for coaching programs run by the community.

Pricing Comparison (Including Learnyst)

1. Kajabi Pricing:

  • Kickstarter: $89/month
  • Basic: $149/month
  • Growth: $199/month
  • Pro: $399/month

2. Skool Pricing:

  • Hobby: $89/month + Transactional charges
  • Pro: $149/month

3. Learnyst Pricing:

  • Essential: ₹3,499/month (~$42)
  • Professional: ₹8,999/month (~$108)
  • Premium: ₹14,999/month (~$180)
  • Business: ₹49,999/month (~$584)

 

Kajabi is strong but premium.
Skool lacks sophisticated marketing tools but is more affordable and community-focused.
For Indian creators seeking affordability and control, Learnyst provides branded experiences, mobile apps, DRM security, and support for Indian payments.

 

Why Learnyst Can Be a Better Choice (Especially for Indian Educators)

Learnyst offers features tailored to the requirements of Indian educators, trainers, and coaching institutes.

  • Accept INR payments through Paytm, Razorpay, and UPI.
  • Personalized iOS and Android apps for your school
  • Watermarking, device limitations, and DRM video protection
  • Comprehensive test builder, student analytics, and certifications
  • Reasonably priced without incurring foreign exchange charges
  • No extra platform charges—100% revenue

You get the accessibility of Skool and the professionalism of Kajabi, but with better pricing and local support.

Final Thoughts: Which Platform is Right for You?

  • If you want to manage a comprehensive, funnel-driven online business with integrated marketing and automation, go with Kajabi.
  • If you want an engagement-first design for a community-focused coaching program or cohort-based course, choose Skool.
  • If you're an Indian educator searching for mobile apps, DRM security, and INR payments—at a significantly lower cost—check out Learnyst.

The right choice depends on your goal: sell courses, build community, or grow a learning brand.
Each platform is great—but only one will feel like home.

FAQs

1. What is the main difference between Kajabi and Skool?

The main distinction is that, whereas Skool is focused on creating vibrant online communities where course content and discussions take place in one location, Kajabi is more concerned with being an all-in-one business platform with tools for course creation, email marketing, landing pages, and automation.

2. Can I use Kajabi or Skool to host live UPSC coaching classes?

Yes, live classes can be supported on both platforms, but in different ways. Zoom and Calendly are examples of external integrations that Kajabi needs. In contrast, Skool offers an integrated calendar system that allows you to plan live sessions right within your community hub, which makes it easier for interactive or cohort-based instruction. Learnyst is a specialized platform that is optimized for UPSC.

3. Is there a better alternative to Kajabi and Skool for Indian educators?

Yes, Learnyst is a strong substitute for Skool and Kajabi for Indian teachers. It provides branded mobile apps, DRM-protected content, support for INR payments (Razorpay, UPI), and no revenue cuts. For UPSC coaching centers trying to grow safely and economically, it's perfect.