Starts atFrom $89/mo billed yearly; 14-day free trial
- No free plan
- Free trial14 days, no card
Head-to-head
Circle vs Kajabi: where should a creator host a paid community?
At a glance
Starts atFrom $143/mo
- No free plan
- Free trial14 days
Circle is community first, with courses and events added. Professional is $89/month billed yearly plus a 2% transaction fee. Kajabi is a full business platform: courses, website, email and funnels, from $143/month billed yearly. Kajabi costs more but replaces more tools.
Quick verdict
Side-by-side comparison
| Detail | Circle | Kajabi |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | Professional: $89/month billed yearly | Basic: $143/month yearly, $179 monthly |
| Next plans | Business: $199. Scale: $419 (yearly billing) | Growth: $199 yearly / $249 monthly. Pro: $399 / $499 |
| Transaction fee | 2% (Business and Scale: 1%) | Kajabi Payments US: 2.9% + $0.30. Third-party: 2% |
| Members or contacts | Unlimited members | Basic: 2,500 contacts. Growth: 25,000 |
| Products | Not limited on pricing page | Basic: 5. Growth: 50. Pro: unlimited |
| Email marketing | Not listed on pricing page (Oct 2026) | Unlimited marketing emails |
| Free trial | 14 days, no card | 14 days, via Kajabi offer |
| Best for | Paid communities | Course businesses |
For creators growing on Shorts, TikTok and Reels
Short videos bring viewers. A paid community or course is where many creators earn. If your fans want to talk to each other, Circle is built for that. If they want lessons and you want email follow-ups, Kajabi covers both.
Kajabi's 2,500 contact limit on Basic matters if your TikTok drives lots of free sign-ups. Circle has no member cap.
How to choose
- Decide if you sell access to people (community) or lessons (course).
- Count your email list. Over 2,500 contacts puts you on Kajabi Growth at $199/month yearly.
- Add Circle's 2% fee to its price when you compare.
- Run both 14-day trials before paying yearly.
Common questions
Is Circle cheaper than Kajabi?
Yes on price: $89/month vs $143/month, both billed yearly. Circle also takes a 2% transaction fee on Professional.
Does Kajabi have a community feature?
Yes. Basic and Growth include 1 community, Pro includes 3.
Does Circle have a free plan?
No. Circle offers a 14-day free trial with no card.
Related: tools to sell digital products.
Sources: circle.so/pricing, kajabi.com/pricing. Checked on 16 October 2026. Based on published plans and terms, not a hands-on test.