How Kajabi and Substack compare
Kajabi is a proven all-in-one for experts who sell courses, coaching, and memberships, then market them with funnels and email from one vendor. That is real strength. If the product is a program people log in to and work through inside Kajabi, it is built for exactly that.
Substack made paid newsletters normal. You write, it sends, and readers can subscribe or pay in one click. The network effects are real: recommendations, Notes, the app, and discovery bring new readers you did not have to find. There is no monthly fee, and for a writer who wants to write rather than run software, that is a gift.
Where they are different
Choose Kajabi when the center of the business is courses, a sales pipeline, and memberships that live inside Kajabi.
Choose Substack when you want to write, get paid, and be discovered with the least possible setup.
Compare features
What's on Kajabi and Substack
A check means that capability is available. Kajabi and Substack are marked only when the offer is comparable, not the same product.
Site and brand
- Workspace siteKajabi: IncludedSubstack: Included
- Custom domainKajabi: IncludedSubstack: Included
- Theme and fontsKajabi: IncludedSubstack: Included
Public content
- BlogKajabi: IncludedSubstack: Included
- Showcase pagesKajabi: IncludedSubstack: Not included
- Shop pagesKajabi: IncludedSubstack: Not included
Reach and quality
- SEOKajabi: IncludedSubstack: Included
Audience and email
- AudienceKajabi: IncludedSubstack: Included
- Marketing emailsKajabi: IncludedSubstack: Included
- Campaign workflowsKajabi: IncludedSubstack: Not included
Messaging
- Built-in chatKajabi: IncludedSubstack: Included
Commerce
- Shop paymentsKajabi: IncludedSubstack: Not included
- Scheduling and bookingsLink to external scheduling available on Starter.Kajabi: IncludedSubstack: Not included
Team
- Admin usersKajabi: IncludedSubstack: Included
- AI AssistantKajabi: IncludedSubstack: Not included
* Note: This table does not capture every feature of Kajabi or Substack, and is not intended as a comprehensive list. We keep this page current, but Kajabi or Substack may add or remove features that are not shown here.
Kajabi vs Substack pricing
Compare plans, prices, and what it costs to get started.
Kajabi
Current plans and prices
See what Kajabi charges on their pricing page.
Substack
Current plans and prices
See what Substack charges on their pricing page.
Cardel: An alternative to
Kajabi and Substack
You don't pay until you publish.
Cardel provides a home for your craft. Share and sell your work, grow your audience, and bring your community together on a site of your own.
Common questions
Is Cardel an alternative to Kajabi or Substack?
Cardel is a home for your craft: a site of your own with a blog, newsletter, shop, community, and one inbox. It can replace Kajabi or Substack when you want your work, audience, and sales in one place. The feature list on this page shows where Kajabi and Substack are marked.
Can I use Cardel with Kajabi or Substack?
Yes. Cardel pages can link out to other products, so you can keep Kajabi or Substack for what it does best and bring the rest of your work to Cardel.
How much does Cardel cost compared with Kajabi and Substack?
You don't pay for Cardel until you publish. Choose Starter, Pro, or Studio when your site goes live. Kajabi and Substack set their own prices, so check their pricing pages on this page for current plans.
How do I switch from Kajabi or Substack to Cardel?
Start with Build Your Site, set up your home, and bring your work over at your own pace. You do not have to move everything on day one.