Updated 5th December, 2025

If you're weighing platforms to package your expertise into a sustainable business, the monthly subscription fee is just the starting line. Between Kajabi's web-first design, lost mobile engagement, and the tools you'll need to patch its gaps, the real cost of choosing the wrong platform can be thousands in foregone revenue and months of wasted effort. This guide breaks down five hidden costs that don't appear on any pricing page and shows why a mobile-first approach with Passion puts more money in your pocket from day one.

The real price of "all-in-one"

Most corporate professionals exploring the creator economy start with a simple question: which platform will help me turn my skills into income without quitting my job first? Kajabi markets itself as the all-in-one solution, bundling courses, communities, email marketing, and funnels into a single monthly fee.

The problem is that "all-in-one" platforms often mean "one-size-fits-all," and when your audience lives on their phones, a web-first platform built for desktop marketers leaves money on the table. What you save on Kajabi's base price, you lose in student churn, add-on costs, and the revenue you never earn because your students never finish.

Hidden cost #1: The "fake app" tax (branding and experience)

Kajabi offers two mobile experiences, and only one of them is actually yours. The free Kajabi Mobile App is a single, Kajabi-branded container where students access content from any creator on the platform. Your courses sit alongside hundreds of others in a generic interface with the Kajabi logo, not yours. Students download "Kajabi," not your brand.

To get a true branded app with your logo in the App Store and Google Play, Kajabi's branded mobile app add-on costs an additional $199 per month on top of your base plan. That's $2,388 per year just to put your name on the app icon. For a corporate professional testing a side hustle before quitting, that's a massive commitment before you've earned a single dollar.

Passion's Launch plan at $99/month includes your own native app on iOS, Android, and web from day one. Your app name, your logo, your colors. No "Powered by Passion" branding on the Scale plan and above. Students tap your icon on their home screen, not a generic marketplace.

The cost difference is stark. On Kajabi's Basic plan at $119/month (annual billing) plus the Branded Mobile App ($199/month), you're paying $318 per month or $3,816 annually. Passion's Scale plan at $239/month annually ($2,868/year) gives you the same branded app experience, removes platform branding, and includes advanced automations for $948 less per year.

Hidden cost #2: The engagement gap (retention revenue you never earn)

Push notifications bypass cluttered inboxes and achieve significantly higher engagement than email. An alert on a user's lock screen competes with texts and calendar reminders, not 47 unread promotional emails.

But the real cost isn't the open rate. It's the revenue you lose when students don't finish. If you're charging $29/month for a membership and 30% of your students churn in month two because they never logged in, you're losing $87 in annual revenue per student.

Run that math on 100 students. A 20% improvement in retention means 20 more students staying for 12 months. That's $6,960 in additional annual revenue, more than covering the cost of a Passion plan.

Kajabi does offer push notifications, but only for creators on the $199/month Branded Mobile App add-on. Without it, you're relying on email and hoping students remember to log into a website. Passion includes push notifications on every plan, with 1,000 notifications per month on Launch and unlimited on Expand.

Offline access and completion rates

Both platforms offer offline content downloads, but the psychology matters. A student commuting on the subway or traveling without reliable Wi-Fi can still access lessons in their mobile app. However, the friction of needing to plan ahead and download content from a website versus having it available in a persistent mobile app makes a measurable difference in whether students actually complete modules.

Mobile learners often complete content faster when they can access it anytime, anywhere, and that speed and motivation translate directly into lower churn and higher lifetime value per student.

Hidden cost #3: The "all-in-one" bloat (paying for tools you don't use)

Kajabi bundles unlimited marketing emails, sales funnels, and landing pages into every plan. If your business model is "help people do the thing" through coaching, accountability, and community, you're subsidizing functionality you'll never touch. Kajabi's pricing ranges from $119-$399/month (annual billing) before add-ons.

Passion focuses on product delivery: courses, community, push notifications, and monetization. Email marketing happens through Zapier integrations with Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, or ConvertKit. You're not paying for features you don't need.

For a creator who wants to package expertise, deliver it on mobile, and collect recurring revenue, Passion's Launch plan at $99/month is a direct path without the complexity tax.

Hidden cost #4: Transaction and platform fees (the math that matters)

Transaction fees are where platform comparisons get tricky, because the right choice depends on where your students pay.

Kajabi: Zero platform transaction fees on all plans. You pay only your payment processor's standard rate (Stripe at 2.9% + $0.30 or PayPal). If you're selling high-ticket courses or coaching packages via web checkout, that's a strong value proposition.

Passion: Offers three payment paths, each with different economics.

1. PassionPayments (web checkout): PassionPayments charges a 3.9% platform fee plus Stripe's standard 2.9% + $0.30. Total: approximately 6.8% + $0.30 per transaction.
2. In-App Purchases (IAP): Apple and Google charge 15-30% commissions. Creators earning under $1 million annually qualify for the 15% rate. Passion adds no additional fee on top of IAP.
3. External Checkouts: Available on Scale, Expand, and Plus plans. Use your own Stripe account with 0% platform fee from Passion.

Let's run the math on 100 students paying $29/month for a year.

At this revenue level, Kajabi's zero platform fee gives it an edge on raw transaction costs. But that analysis ignores three things:

1. Mobile engagement: If Passion's push notifications and native app reduce churn by even 10%, you're retaining 10 more students for 12 months. That's $3,480 in additional revenue, flipping the cost equation.
2. Branded app cost: To match Passion's mobile experience on Kajabi, you need the $199/month Branded Mobile App add-on, bringing Kajabi's total to $3,816/year in subscription fees alone.
3. Developer account fees: Both platforms require Apple and Google developer accounts ($99/year for Apple, $25 one-time for Google Play) to publish an app. Budget for these upfront.

For creators prioritizing mobile-first engagement over web funnels, Passion's total cost of ownership is lower once you account for retention lifts and the cost of Kajabi's branded app add-on.

Hidden cost #5: The time tax (complexity vs. speed to launch)

Kajabi's all-in-one platform is powerful, but power comes with complexity. The learning curve for pipelines, automations, and email sequences can be steep for a corporate professional working nights and weekends.

Passion's drag-and-drop course builder is designed for non-technical creators. Upload videos, PDFs, and text. Set up lessons and modules. Choose your pricing. For a practical walkthrough of the platform's no-code builder, this Passion tutorial shows the full setup process.

Passion apps typically go live on the web in 2-4 weeks, with App Store submissions typically underway by week 3-4. For a corporate professional testing a side hustle, speed to launch means speed to validation. You can test your offer, gather feedback, and earn your first dollars without waiting months to master funnel architecture.

Passion vs. Kajabi: Feature and cost comparison

Moving from Kajabi to Passion: A migration roadmap

If you're already on Kajabi but recognize that your business needs a mobile-first home, migration is straightforward. Budget 2-3 weeks for content transfer and student transition.

1. Download course materials: Export videos, PDFs, audio files, and documents from Kajabi. Organize files by module.
2. Export student data: Download your member list (names, emails, subscription status) as a CSV.
3. Document course structure: Screenshot lesson sequences, pricing tiers, and access rules.
4. Choose your Passion plan: Scale or Expand recommended for existing creators.
5. Build your app: Use the course builder to recreate your structure, upload content, and set drip schedules.
6. Configure pricing and branding: Set up subscriptions, upload logo, and customize your app appearance.
7. Announce the transition: Email students 7-10 days before the switch, explaining the upgrade to a branded mobile experience.
8. Invite students and transition subscriptions: Import your CSV, send invitation emails, and offer a 30-day grace period where both platforms are accessible.

Passion's Plus plan offers hands-on migration support if you'd rather hand off the technical work.

Decision matrix: Choose the platform that fits your business model

Choose Kajabi if:

• You sell primarily through web-based marketing funnels and need advanced email automation.
• You plan to run an affiliate program and want built-in tracking and payouts.
• Your audience is desktop-first (corporate training, B2B courses).
• You're comfortable with a higher base price in exchange for zero transaction fees on web sales.
• You already have strong web traffic and don't need mobile engagement to drive retention.

Choose Passion if:

• Your audience lives on their phones and expects a mobile-first experience.
• You're a coach, fitness trainer, wellness expert, or skills educator who prioritizes retention and completion over lead generation.
• You want a branded app with your logo in the App Store and Google Play without hiring developers.
• Push notifications, offline access, and in-app community are core to your engagement strategy.

• You're building a membership or subscription business and value recurring revenue over one-time course sales.
• You're a corporate professional testing a side hustle and want the fastest path to validation.

For creators in fitness, mindfulness, arts, music, or any skill-based coaching where mobile access matters, Passion's mobile-first creator platform drives higher engagement and better retention at a lower total cost once you factor in Kajabi's branded app add-on. To see how other creators have built successful apps, watch Passion app examples.

The real choice: Own your audience or rent their attention

Kajabi is a powerful platform built for web marketers who need email sequences, funnels, and affiliate programs. If that's your business model, the investment makes sense. But for corporate professionals trying to escape the 9-5 by packaging their expertise into a mobile coaching business, Kajabi's web-first design and add-on costs create hidden friction that shows up in student churn and slower time to launch.

Passion's Launch plan starts at $99/month with a 30-day money-back guarantee. You get a branded app, push notifications, in-app community, and training to help you launch in 30 days. No $199/month branded app tax. No paying for email tools you already have. Just a clear path from corporate job to recurring revenue.

The hidden costs of Kajabi aren't listed on the pricing page. They show up in the students who never log in, the mobile experience you can't deliver, and the months you spend learning features you don't need. For those who want to own their time and build something real, those costs matter more than the base monthly fee.

FAQ

Does Passion offer a free trial?
No, but all plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can test the platform risk-free.

How long does it take to get my app approved by Apple and Google?
Web apps go live immediately. App Store and Google Play submissions typically take 1-2 weeks for review once submitted.

Can I use my existing Stripe account with Passion?
Yes, on Scale, Expand, and Plus plans. This gives you 0% platform fees from Passion.

Does Kajabi's Basic plan include push notifications?
No. Push notifications require the $199/month Branded Mobile App add-on.

What happens to my students if I migrate from Kajabi to Passion?
You export your student list from Kajabi, import it to Passion, and invite them to your new app. Plan a 30-day overlap period to smooth the transition.

Key terms

Native mobile app: An application built specifically for iOS or Android that users download from the App Store or Google Play. Offers better performance and features like push notifications compared to web apps.

PassionPayments: Passion's web-based payment processing system powered by Stripe. Charges a 3.9% platform fee plus Stripe's standard rates.

In-app purchases (IAP): Digital purchases made inside a mobile app. Apple and Google charge 15-30% commissions, but transactions are frictionless for users already logged into the app.

Push notifications: Direct messages sent to a user's device that appear on their lock screen or notification center. Achieve significantly higher engagement than email for time-sensitive reminders and content updates.

Churn rate: The percentage of subscribers who cancel their subscription in a given period. Lower churn means higher lifetime value per customer.