Thinkific, Kajabi and Podia all host your course videos, take payment and deliver lessons, so the choice is mostly about monthly cost versus transaction fees, and how much marketing (email, websites, communities) you want in the same login. Prices below are as listed on each pricing page on October 7, 2026, in the dollar figures shown there. None of the three pages states a currency next to the plan price, so confirm the currency at checkout.
If you have not built a course yet, start with the online course side hustle guide and the reality of digital products. Lower-cost ways to sell files are in Teachable vs Gumroad vs Payhip.
How do Thinkific, Kajabi and Podia compare?
Podia is cheapest, Thinkific balances price and course features, and Kajabi costs the most but bundles the most marketing tools.
| Option | Best for | Pricing | In Canada | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thinkific | A serious first course with quizzes, certificates and cohorts | Basic $40/mo yearly ($54 monthly); Start $82 ($109); Grow $164 ($219) (source) | Founded in Vancouver; Thinkific Payments listed at 2.9% processing |
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| Kajabi | Established creators who want courses, email, site and community in one | Basic $143/mo yearly ($179 monthly); Growth $199 ($249); Pro $399 ($499) (source) | Sells to Canadian creators; currency not stated beside the price |
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| Podia | Low-cost launch of a course plus downloads and email | Mover $42/mo ($504/yr) + 5% fees; Shaker $84 ($1,008/yr); Earthquaker $150 ($1,800/yr) (source) | Sells to Canadian creators; processor fees are separate |
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Prices and features from each company's own pages, checked October 7, 2026. They change often; confirm on the official site before you buy.
Which course platform is cheapest for a first course?
Podia’s Mover plan has the lowest sticker price at $42 a month billed yearly, but it adds a 5% transaction fee. Thinkific Basic is $40 a month billed yearly and Thinkific says sellers using its built-in Thinkific Payments (listed at 2.9% processing) avoid the extra third-party gateway fee. Kajabi’s cheapest plan is $143 a month billed yearly.
Illustrative example: when do Podia’s 5% fees outgrow Shaker?
Assumed numbers, not a quote: compare Podia Mover and Shaker for a creator selling a $100 course.
- Mover vs Shaker price gap: $84 − $42 = $42 a month (yearly billing).
- Mover’s 5% fee on one $100 sale: $5.
- Break-even: $42 ÷ $5 = 8.4, so at roughly 9 or more $100 sales a month, Shaker costs less.
Payment processor fees apply on both plans. The course price is an assumption for the arithmetic.
Who should pick Thinkific, Kajabi or Podia?
| If you… | Lean toward | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Are testing a first course on a tight budget | Podia | Lowest monthly price, email included |
| Want quizzes, certificates and live cohorts | Thinkific | Course features are the core product |
| Already earn from courses and want one tool for site, email and community | Kajabi | Bundles marketing tools |
| Only sell PDFs or templates | See Teachable vs Gumroad vs Payhip | Cheaper for files |
| Sell many products at modest volume | Podia Shaker or Thinkific Start | No platform transaction fee |
What should Canadian course creators check before choosing?
- Total cost, not the headline. Add monthly price, platform fees and processor fees.
- Currency. If the platform bills in USD, your monthly cost in CAD moves with the exchange rate.
- GST/HST on digital sales. Once you pass the $30,000 small supplier threshold you generally need to register; see GST/HST registration and the CRA’s registration page.
- Migration. Moving students later is work; pick a platform you can live with for a year.
- Trial timing. Build the course outline before you start a 14- or 30-day trial.
Which guides help you build and sell the course?
Read course funnel red flags before buying anyone’s launch program, and ebook publishing or Notion templates for smaller first products. For recording lessons, see Descript vs Riverside.
What are the common questions?
Does Thinkific have a free plan?
No. Thinkific's pricing FAQ says it has no free plan and offers a 30-day free trial instead. Basic was listed at $40 a month billed yearly or $54 monthly on October 7, 2026.
Does Podia charge transaction fees?
Podia charges a 5% transaction fee on the Mover plan and no Podia fees on Shaker or Earthquaker, according to its pricing page. Payment processor fees are separate on every plan.
How much does Kajabi cost?
Kajabi's pricing page listed Basic at $143 a month billed yearly ($179 monthly), Growth at $199 ($249) and Pro at $399 ($499) on October 7, 2026, with a 14-day trial.
Is Thinkific a Canadian company?
Yes. Thinkific Labs Inc. was founded in 2012 in Vancouver, British Columbia, and is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, according to its own site.
Do I charge GST/HST on online course sales?
Once your worldwide taxable sales pass $30,000 in four consecutive quarters you generally must register and charge GST/HST on taxable supplies. Rules for sales to non-residents differ. This is general information, not tax advice.
Which sources support this guide?
The rules, rates, and platform requirements in this guide are checked against these primary sources. Retail price ranges are labelled as ranges to verify locally, and they are not quotes.
- Thinkific pricing and FAQ — Thinkific
- Kajabi pricing — Kajabi
- Podia pricing — Podia
- When to register for and start charging the GST/HST — Canada Revenue Agency