Updated October 9, 2025

TL;DR

Choose Passion.io if you want a branded native mobile app with push notifications, offline content, and an in-app community you control. Choose Kajabi if you want an all-in-one, web-first platform with websites, email marketing, and funnels. Both sell courses and memberships. Your best pick depends on whether your customer experience lives in a phone app or on a marketing website. Use the pricing and fee notes below to estimate total cost of ownership.

Your audience lives on their phone. Does your business?

If algorithm changes and tool sprawl keep you up at night, you are not alone. Many creators juggle a website, a course tool, email software, a Facebook group, and payment links. Engagement drops. Churn rises. Revenue spikes on launch weeks, then dips.

This comparison shows where Passion.io and Kajabi excel, what they cost, and how each supports a mobile-first business with subscriptions, push notifications, and community.

Passion: The mobile-first app builder for creators

Passion.io is a no-code platform to build a branded iOS, Android, and web app for courses, coaching, and community. You publish content, set pricing, and send push notifications. The platform handles hosting and updates, and on higher tiers it supports app store listing.

Key features and value proposition

  • Native mobile app and web: Push notifications, offline playback, and in-app community are first-class features on relevant plans in the Passion.io features.
  • No-code builder and templates: Drag-and-drop lessons, challenges, habit tracking, and engaging content. Add forms with Typeform and bookings with Calendly.
  • Monetization built in: Offer subscriptions, one-time purchases, and free trials. Use PassionPayments for web checkout or in-app purchases on iOS and Android.
  • Guidance to grow: For a quick tour of the product experience, watch Welcome to a new Passion.io.

Don't take it from us. Listen to real reviews from Passion customers:

"Drag and drop and hey presto it's done!!" - Priscilla S. on G2
"The steps are detailed, simple, and easy to follow." - Lisa Begley on TrustPilot

Passion is a best fit for

  • Coaches, trainers, and course creators who want their brand on a customer's home screen.
  • Programs where push-driven engagement and community improve completion and renewals.
  • Businesses that want recurring revenue from memberships and premium communities.

Kajabi: The all-in-one web-based digital business platform

Kajabi is a web-first platform for building and selling digital products with a complete marketing stack. It includes a website builder, funnels, email automation, and course hosting. Kajabi also offers mobile access through its generic learner app and a paid Branded App add-on for creators who want their own app listing.

Key features and value proposition

  • All-in-one on the web: Website builder, landing pages, email marketing, CRM, and analytics sit under one roof.
  • Product suite: Courses, coaching, podcasts, and communities connect with offers and automations.
  • Email and automations: Broadcasts, sequences, and behavior-based workflows are built in.
  • Mobile options: Learners use the free Kajabi app. A Branded App add-on creates a white-label listing managed by Kajabi, outlined on the Branded App page.

Kajabi is a best fit for

  • Creators who want a strong web presence with email and funnels in one place.
  • Teams that prioritize a native website builder and CRM over deep control of a mobile app.
  • Businesses that prefer a managed mobile add-on if they opt into a branded app.

Feature-by-feature comparison: Passion.io vs. Kajabi

Mobile app capabilities

  • Passion.io: You build a branded native iOS and Android app plus a web app. Push notifications, offline mode, and an in-app community are core parts of the mobile experience. For a third-party walkthrough of the builder and mobile flows, watch Passion.io Review 2025 - My Honest Experience.
  • Kajabi: Learners access content in a generic Kajabi app. A paid Branded App add-on creates your own listing with push notifications and in-app purchases for supported product types.

Course creation and content delivery

  • Passion.io: Drag-and-drop courses with challenges and habit tracking. Offline playback helps students learn on the go.
  • Kajabi: Mature course hosting with themes, assessments, and drip delivery. Tight ties to its website and email tools.

Community building and engagement

  • Passion.io: Community lives inside your app. Create channels, enable DMs, share media, and trigger push alerts in one place.
  • Kajabi: Communities integrate with courses and events on the web. Gamification, meetups, and member directories are part of Kajabi Communities.

Monetization flexibility and ownership

  • Passion.io: Subscriptions, one-time payments, bundles, and trials. Choose web checkout or native app payments. Web checkouts via PassionPayments include a platform fee plus payment processing.
  • Kajabi: Offers and checkout with Stripe, PayPal, or Kajabi Payments. Kajabi advertises 0% platform transaction fees beyond processor costs on its pricing page.

Marketing and sales tools

  • Passion.io: Mobile-first funnels, sales pages, and automations. Explore Passion Funnels.
  • Kajabi: Website builder, landing pages, email marketing, and pipelines are native.

Ease of use and technical barrier

  • Passion.io: No-code app creation with templates and guided training.
"The platform is easy to use with clear directions on what to do next." - Michele D. P. on G2
  • Kajabi: Clear page and course builders. Some users report a learning curve for advanced automations, balanced by Kajabi University.

Integrations

  • Passion.io: PassionPayments for web checkout, in-app purchases on mobile, YouTube and Vimeo hosting, Calendly, Typeform, and broad automation through Zapier.
  • Kajabi: Native Stripe, PayPal, Kajabi Payments, email, and analytics integrations, with more options through Zapier.

Customer support and guidance

  • Passion.io: Help Center, email and chat support, and growth training like Passion Academy.
"Easy, Friendly staff and lots of support." - Natalie Gidas on TrustPilot
  • Kajabi: Help Center, Kajabi University, and live chat support. Premium support varies by plan.

Comparison table of Passion vs Kajabi

Capability Passion.io Kajabi Best for
Mobile app Branded native iOS, Android, and web Generic learner app plus paid Branded App App-centric programs
Push and offline Push notifications and offline playback Push in Kajabi apps, offline for select content Frequent mobile use
Community In-app channels and DMs Web-first communities with events and gamification Owned, app-based community
Monetization Subscriptions, one-time, IAP, web checkout Offers with Stripe, PayPal, Kajabi Payments Mixed IAP plus web
Marketing Mobile-first funnels, automations Websites, email, pipelines Email-first growth

Pricing and total cost of ownership

The long-term cost depends on platform plans, payment paths, and app store charges. Numbers below reflect 2025 public sources. Terms change over time, so confirm at checkout.

Passion.io pricing tiers and fees

Plan Annual price per month Key inclusions Notable fees
Launch 99 USD App builder, core courses, basic community Apple Developer 99 USD per year. Google Play Developer registration required.
Scale 239 USD Branding removal, automations, advanced drip and community PassionPayments web checkout fee 3.9% plus Stripe fees per the SchoolMaker analysis.
Expand 599 USD App Store listing support, higher or unlimited quotas In-app purchases on Apple and Google include an app store commission.
Plus Custom Done-for-you build and launch Scope-priced services.

Kajabi pricing tiers and fees

Plan Annual price per month Key inclusions Notable fees
Kickstarter 71 USD 1 product and 1 community, 250 contacts Processor fees via Stripe, PayPal, or Kajabi Payments.
Basic 119 USD 3 products, 10,000 contacts Kajabi states 0% platform transaction fee on the pricing page.
Growth 159 USD 15 products, advanced automations, affiliate 24/7 live chat support starts here.
Pro 319 USD 100 products, 3 websites, code editor Larger catalogs and teams.
Branded App add-on Paid add-on Managed, white-label mobile app Overview on the Branded App page.

Hidden costs and value notes:

  • Passion.io's TCO includes Apple and Google developer accounts and potential in-app purchase shares. In return, you get a branded app with direct push reach.
  • Kajabi's TCO centers on plan price. The Branded App is a separate add-on. You avoid app store fees unless you sell via the app.

Pros and cons: Weighing your options

Passion.io advantages and disadvantages

Pros

  • Branded native app with push-driven engagement and offline mode.
  • No-code builder plus growth training in the Passion.io features.
  • Flexible monetization with subscriptions, bundles, IAP, and web checkout.
  • Community, content, and payments live in one app experience.

Cons

  • App store commissions increase TCO if most sales happen in-app.
  • Advanced customization is lighter than custom-coded apps.

Kajabi advantages and disadvantages

Pros

  • All-in-one web platform with sites, email, pipelines, and analytics.
  • Mature product suite for courses, coaching, communities, and podcasts.
  • Kajabi advertises no platform transaction fees beyond payment processing on its pricing page.
  • Managed Branded App add-on for a mobile presence without hands-on app ops.

Cons

  • Mobile experience is generic without the Branded App add-on.
  • Deep in-app customization trails a mobile-first builder.
  • The app add-on raises TCO for a mobile-centric business.

Who should choose Passion.io and who should choose Kajabi?

Choose Passion.io if:

  • You want your brand on a native app, not in a generic container.
  • Push notifications and offline mode are core to your program's results.
  • You plan to build recurring revenue with an in-app community and subscriptions.

Choose Kajabi if:

  • You want an all-in-one web platform with sites, email, funnels, and CRM.
  • You prefer a managed mobile add-on rather than building an app yourself.
  • Your user journey starts on the web and email, with mobile access as a complement.

Make your decision

Own your audience where they already spend time, then choose the stack that supports recurring revenue. If a branded app and push engagement sit at the center of your model, try Passion which comes with a 30-day money back gurantee.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is Passion.io a native app builder or a web wrapper

Native. You get a branded iOS and Android app plus a web app, with push notifications and offline playback in the features.

2. Does Kajabi include a branded mobile app

Kajabi offers a free generic learner app. The Branded App is a paid add-on managed by Kajabi.

3. What are the real fees for selling inside a mobile app

Apple and Google typically retain 15-30% on in-app purchases. See the fee details for Google on Google Play fees. Apple's developer membership details are on the program overview.

4. What are Passion.io's web checkout fees

PassionPayments charges a 3.9% platform fee on web checkouts plus Stripe processing. See the pricing section above for details and source.

5. Does Kajabi charge platform transaction fees

Kajabi advertises 0% platform transaction fees beyond payment processing on its pricing page.

6. How long to launch an app with Passion.io

Many creators ship a web app in weeks, then submit to app stores with built-in guidance. App Store approval is at Apple and Google's discretion.

7. What support and training are included

Passion.io includes Passion Academy and guided training. Kajabi includes Kajabi University and help docs.