Kajabi vs Circle: What Coaches and Creators Need to Know in 2025
If you're searching here, it likely means you just typed "Kajabi vs Circle" into Google.
It's understandable... Coaches, course creators, and community builders are everywhere in 2025 and looking to see which platform might be the best option.
In the following guide, we will provide a straight to the point, no-fluff breakdown of pricing, features, pros and cons, and what actual users have said. You'll also see a third option that offers a blend of both.
3. Platform Overviews
3.1 What is Kajabi?
Kajabi is a well-known platform that allows you to sell online courses, run memberships, create funnels, send emails, and even create your own website. Kajabi has been around for a while since it was launched in 2010, and it has become one of the most recognized "all-in-one" tools for creators and coaches.
What Kajabi rocks at: Kajabi offers strong and usable methods for building online courses, creating marketing funnels, and running email campaigns from a single application.
What Kajabi does not rock at: Many users report that Kajabi is not very easy for beginners to get started with. The learning curve is steep, plans are pricey, and some people said support is slow or unhelpful.
If you need a business platform that provides most of the features you may need, look no further. You will pay extra for it as an all-in-one or suite service.
3.2 What is Circle?
Circle takes a different route. Instead of funnels and sales, venues are the focus, and Circle is built for you to create interactive, engaging online spaces in which your members can connect with, learn from, and participate in.
What it does best: Circle is user-friendly for conducting live streams, creating spaces for community, and gamification tools like leaderboards and activity scores. The design is simple and people love how modern it is.
What it doesn't do well: Circle is not designed for selling. It doesn't have built-in funnels or complex automation. If you want email or workflows you are either paying extra for them, or are connecting outside apps. Circle only integrates with Stripe for payments.
If your business is built around a strong community engagement, Circle is what you're looking for - but it's not designed to run everything else.
4. Analysis of Features
Now, let's analyze based on what we see as the most valuable features to compare. At the end of each of those sections, we will provide a winner and even what we consider highMpact comparison.
1. Online Course Development
Kajabi provides a complete course creator in an easy to use platform. You can have lessons organized in modules with the ability to stagger content over a certain time, have quizzes, and provide certificates upon completion.
Circle operates differently and house courses as "spaces" inside of your community (not organizations). It's easy to use and very flexible, but you won't find quizzes or any form of assessments in Circle. If you're using Circle, keep it informal learning.
Winner = Kajabi. I would say Kajabi is built for this type of learning experience. And if you are looking for both plans for structure and community, well then highMpact has both in one place.
2. Community Building & Engagement
Circle was and is made for community. You have live events, live chat rooms, rich posts, leaderboards, ect. The communities feel like communities at Circle.
Kajabi inserted community features on their platform through the acquisition of Vibely, but these features are more simple (not as strong) such as group posts and basic challenges. They also have live rooms that are capped around ~200 people per room.
Winner = Circle. But highMpact gives you as a course creator and community leader alike community building tools that are at Circle’s level, but you also have business tools that are at Kajabi’s level without the need to stitch items together.
3. Marketing and Sales Tools
As far as marketing / sales tools, Kajabi is the clear standout. You will get email broadcasts, automations, pre-built funnels, upsells, and no transaction fees! The entire thing is designed to help convert leads.
Circle is not structured as a sales platform so you will have to bolt on extra tools for email and automation - and the checkout is very bare bones.
Winner: Kajabi. But again, highMpact has these same funnel features, email tools, and order bumps - all in the same dashboard and with human help if you need it.
4. Automation & Sales Funnels
Kajabi has strong automation built-in. You can easily tag users! Trigger emails! Build complete customer journeys, etc. - all without using zapier.
Circle has workflows - but only if you are at the $199/month or higher plan. Even then, you'll be capped unless you go enterprise.
Winner: Kajabi. But highMpact allows full automation - with no hidden caps on emails, workflows, or text - and it's a better price.
5. Ease of Use / User Interface
While Kajabi offers many capabilities, it can be tricky to learn, especially for someone just getting started. Circle, on the other hand, is lightweight, clean, and easy to learn. You will find the start-up process a breeze and visually appealing on mobile and desktop.
Winner: Circle. highMpact is also built to be just as easy with real humans to help if you ever get stuck.
6. Pricing & Value for Money
Kajabi plans start at $149/month and most creators pay $199 a month or more to get access to the tools they need. Circle plans start at $89/month but when you add workflows ($199) and email (~$99) the cost comes into the real money fast. A costly option is transaction fees (up to 4%).
Verdict: At scale both are expensive. If you want every thing, a CRM, courses, community, funnels, automations, an affiliate manager, highMpact give it to you all in simple flat rate deal.
Here is what most creators end up doing
Many will start with Kajabi or Circle... and realize that they need to bolt on other platforms just to fill the gaps.
They’ll have Kajabi + Circle + Mailchimp + Zapier + ThriveCart or whatever to just make it all work.
This is exactly where highMpact comes in: one system, everything included, no fixing it with duct tape.
6. Pros & Cons Summarized
Here’s a simple overview of what each platform does well & what it doesn’t do:
✅ All-in-one platform for courses, funnels, & email
✅ Great automation, selling features
✅ 0% transaction fees
❌ Expensive especially as your grow
❌ Limited community features
❌ A bit tough to learn first
❌ Limited customization in some areas
✅ Best in class community & engagement features
✅ Clean, modern & nice experience for members
✅ Easily setup and manage
❌ No funnels, email or selling features
❌ Very limited checkout
❌ Support is slow
❌ Add ons get expensive fast
So what is the take way?
Both tools are good…just neither solves the entire problem. Kajabi is good for selling, Circle is good for connecting, neither actually gives you everything you need in one spot without trade offs
7. Who Should Use Kajabi vs Circle?
When comparing Kajabi and Circle, your choice comes down to what is most important to your business.
Kajabi is ideal for:
Coaches who want to develop and sell structured online courses
Marketers who value funnels, upsells, and automations for email campaigns
Businesses that want everything in one dashboard (except for community)
Circle is ideal for:
Creators who prioritize interaction over sales
Group coaching programs that benefit from community interaction and live calls
Brands that want a modern, sleek space for their members
Now here's the catch...
Most coaches and content creators do not necessarily want one over the other; they want both courses and community. They want to market, sell, deliver, and consume - in one place - without having to use five other tools to do it.
This is the void that highMpact was designed to fill.
8. highMpact: The All-in-One That Performs
The reality is this: most creators are duct-taping tools together. Kajabi for courses. Circle for community. Calendly for scheduling. Zapier for automations. A CRM on top.
It's messy. It’s expensive. It’s not enjoyable.
That's why we built highMpact, the all-in-one business system for coaches and creators who have had enough of piecing things together.
Here is what you get with highMpact:
✅ Funnels, landing pages, email marketing
✅ Interactive courses + thriving communities
✅ Built-in affiliate manager
✅ Unlimited contacts, unlimited users
✅ Real humans support, 1-on-1 onboarding
✅ No transaction fees, no surprise add-ons
9. Case Studies & Success Stories
week, and was frustrated by my poor lifestyle. I wanted time to connect with my family and myself. My practice was in a complete downward spiral. After I started using highMpact, I brought in more revenues while working far fewer hours. The result was that I had time for my family, health, and reconnecting with myself. It was remarkable!”
Alexandria, leadership coach
“I moved my business over to highMpact, and it was one of the most important business decisions I’ve ever made, a true game changer! I didn’t even contemplate it at first because I had never heard of it. But Kika was so persistent and so clear about how it could help me, I decided to try it out. The clarity invited into my business by using highMpact has been incredible. I know where to focus my time and energy, my automation has taken a lot off my plate, and I know and can see my clients feel valued using highMpact. I can literally see the spark in their eyes. And Kika’s support and mentoring are invaluable.”
Mrs. Sanita, owner of a consulting business
“highMpact provides the structure I didn’t even know I needed. Before highMpact, I was all over the map. Now I have an organized approach that allows me to focus on the content and my clients instead of wasting my time and energy on administrative tasks. I feel confident in my ability to help my clients make progress. In terms of growing your business, it is worth the time and money!”
Irina Stiasny, entrepreneur
“In just a few weeks, highMpact has been a total game-changer. All my contacts, emails, texts, and data are in one place. I track sales, follow up with my leads, send newsletters, and even moved my website over. Everything seems easier!”
Regina, creator and coach
“Before I felt like I was just treading water. My business was not sustainable and I was burned out. highMpact helped me step back, refocus my business, and get my time back. I feel energized, excited and hopeful about my future. I wouldn't be here without it."
These stories demonstrate the real ROI. Coaches save time, grow faster, and get their lives back. And that is the REAL mark of the best platform - it allows you to manage your business more effectively, while helping you scale your business, all while giving you more freedom.
click here to see more reviews
10. FAQ Section
1. What’s the difference between Kajabi and Circle?
Kajabi is made to sell and deliver online courses with built-in funnels and email marketing features. Circle, on the other hand, is created to host and grow communities with chat, event handling, and gamification.
2. Which is better for online courses?
Kajabi. It offers a complete LMS along with quizzes, certificates, and drip content. Circle has only basic course spaces inside of the community.
3. Which is better for community?
Circle. With activity scores, live rooms, and modern interface, it was made for engagement. Kajabi has community tools, but they're more basic.
4. Kajabi vs Circle pricing?
Kajabi starts at $149 and goes up to $399 based on the plan you choose. Circle starts at $89, but you'll end up paying $199 or more if you want workflows and email add-on features.
5. Does Circle offer live streaming?
Yes. Circle offers live streams for up to 1,000 members and live rooms for smaller interactive calls.
6. Does Kajabi have better funnels?
Yes. Kajabi covers full funnels, upsells, order bumps, and automations. Circle doesn't have that.
7. What are real user reviews?
Kajabi users see the platform's all-in-one facilities as a major benefit but dislike how expensive they find that benefit, and that there is no customization. Circle users see the easy community experience as a great benefit, but note that the checkout process is weak, and support can take a long time to respond.
8. Are there other platforms that do this?
Yes! highMpact has the course-building and funnel capabilities that Kajabi has while including the community functionality of Circle all in one place. It has CRM and affiliate tools, unlimited contacts and real human support - all wrapped up in one product.
11. Conclusion
Kajabi has the upper hand for building funnels and for online courses. Circle has the upper hand for building communities. Neither platform gives you everything you need, without some trade offs.
highMpact is the platform that brings both worlds together, and gives you concierge support you won't get anywhere else.
If you're ready to stop using separate tools and start running your business all in one place, you need to see highMpact for yourself.
