If you’re a coach building your business online, you’ve probably come across both GoHighLevel and Kajabi.
At first glance, they look similar — both claim to help you run your entire coaching business from one platform.
But dig a little deeper and you’ll find that these two tools were built for very different kinds of entrepreneurs.
In this in-depth comparison, we’ll look at how GoHighLevel and Kajabi stack up for coaches — in real-world use, pricing, automation, course delivery, and scalability.
By the end, you’ll know exactly which one fits your coaching business in 2026.
Quick Verdict
GoHighLevel is best for coaches who want an all-in-one CRM and automation system to manage leads, clients, and marketing.
Kajabi is better for coaches who focus on creating and selling online courses or digital memberships.
Here’s the one-sentence summary:
Kajabi helps you teach, while GoHighLevel helps you scale.
Overview: Two Different Origins, Two Different Goals
GoHighLevel — Built for Service Providers and Agencies
GoHighLevel started as an agency automation tool and evolved into a complete CRM system.
Its main focus is helping coaches, consultants, and agencies manage every aspect of their business — from funnels to follow-ups.
It’s designed around the client lifecycle:
- Capture leads
- Nurture with automations
- Convert with booking & payment
- Retain with follow-ups and pipelines
You can automate almost anything — texts, emails, reviews, onboarding — all from a single dashboard.
Kajabi — Built for Creators and Educators
Kajabi’s DNA is different.
It began as a course and content platform, allowing experts to package and sell knowledge online.
Over time, Kajabi added marketing features like landing pages and email sequences, but its strength remains content delivery.
It’s the go-to platform for coaches who sell structured courses, group programs, or memberships.
At a Glance: GoHighLevel vs Kajabi Comparison Table
| Feature | GoHighLevel | Kajabi |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | CRM & automation | Courses & content |
| CRM | ✅ Full pipeline management | ⚠️ Basic contacts list |
| Email + SMS | ✅ Both channels | ⚠️ Email only |
| Funnels & Pages | ✅ Drag-and-drop builder | ✅ Landing pages |
| Scheduling | ✅ Built-in calendar | ⚠️ Integration required |
| Payments | ✅ Stripe + PayPal | ✅ Stripe |
| Memberships | ✅ Basic portals | ✅ Advanced |
| Automation | ✅ Multi-step workflows | ⚠️ Limited sequences |
| Pricing | 💰 From $97/mo | 💰 From $149/mo |
| Free Trial | ✅ 14 days | ✅ 14 days |
| Best For | Coaches scaling systems | Coaches creating content |
1. Client Management & CRM Capabilities
GoHighLevel: True CRM Power
GoHighLevel offers a full CRM built specifically for service businesses.
You can track every lead, deal, and client using pipelines — much like Salesforce, but simpler.
Each contact can be tagged, segmented, and tracked across stages (e.g. Lead → Discovery Call → Active Client).
You can view client notes, call logs, and session history all in one place.
For coaches managing dozens of clients or high-ticket programs, this level of organization is invaluable.
The automation engine ties directly into the CRM, so every client movement can trigger an action — like sending a welcome email or reminder SMS.
Verdict:
GoHighLevel easily wins on client management. It’s a full CRM, while Kajabi is not.
Kajabi: Limited CRM, More for Content Delivery
Kajabi includes a “People” tab where you can see who signed up for your programs or courses.
You can tag users, segment them by offer, and send email sequences.
However, it lacks a full pipeline view or deal tracking. You can’t easily visualize where clients are in your coaching journey.
For coaches running structured group programs, this may be fine. But for 1:1 or sales-driven businesses, it’s limited.
2. Automation and Workflows
GoHighLevel: Advanced Multi-Step Automation
Automation is where GoHighLevel shines.
You can create visual workflows that connect every part of your business — from lead capture to payment.
Examples of what you can automate:
- Send SMS + email reminders before sessions
- Follow up after missed calls
- Deliver onboarding messages automatically
- Assign leads to different pipelines based on behavior
- Send post-session surveys or testimonials
It’s more than marketing automation — it’s a true operations system.
Bonus: GoHighLevel integrates SMS directly, which Kajabi doesn’t.
Kajabi: Simpler Email-Based Automation
Kajabi’s automation features revolve around its email system.
You can trigger emails based on actions like:
- Purchasing a product
- Completing a lesson
- Joining a list
This works well for course delivery but falls short for business automation. There are no SMS workflows, no visual builders, and no multi-branch logic.
Verdict:
GoHighLevel is more flexible for automating a coaching business. Kajabi automations are fine for course-based workflows but limited beyond that.
3. Funnels, Pages, and Website Building
GoHighLevel: Funnels + Websites in One
GoHighLevel includes a funnel builder, website builder, and page editor all in one.
It’s modeled after ClickFunnels — meaning you can design landing pages, thank-you pages, and checkout pages with drag-and-drop ease.
Every funnel connects to your CRM and automations.
That means when someone opts in, they instantly appear as a lead, get added to a pipeline, and receive follow-up emails automatically.
Coaches can build:
- Free session opt-in funnels
- Webinar registration pages
- Group program application funnels
- Payment pages
You can even connect custom domains and host your main website inside GoHighLevel.
Kajabi: Polished Pages with Better Design Options
Kajabi’s website builder is more visually appealing out of the box.
You get clean templates, modern typography, and easy customization without touching code.
If branding and aesthetics matter most — for example, you’re building a public-facing course site — Kajabi delivers a better user experience.
However, Kajabi’s funnels (called “Pipelines”) are limited compared to GoHighLevel. They’re more linear and less customizable in automation logic.
Verdict:
Kajabi wins in design polish, GoHighLevel wins in funnel control.
4. Booking, Scheduling, and Payments
GoHighLevel: Built-In Calendar + Stripe/PayPal Integration
GoHighLevel includes a booking system that rivals Calendly.
You can embed your calendar on any page, let clients choose available time slots, and automatically sync with Google Calendar.
The system can:
- Send automated reminders via SMS or email
- Collect payments before confirming bookings
- Limit session availability per day
Combined with Stripe or PayPal, this gives coaches a seamless “book and pay” flow.
Kajabi: Requires Third-Party Scheduling
Kajabi doesn’t include a booking calendar.
Most coaches integrate tools like Calendly, Acuity, or SavvyCal. While this works, it adds complexity and extra cost.
Kajabi also uses Stripe for payments but doesn’t tie them directly to booking. That means clients book in one tool and pay in another — less ideal for high-volume coaching.
Verdict:
GoHighLevel wins this one easily — native scheduling is a big advantage.
5. Memberships and Client Portals
Kajabi: The King of Course Hosting
Kajabi was built for this.
You can create beautifully branded course portals, drip content, add video lessons, and track progress.
For coaches who sell hybrid coaching + course bundles, Kajabi is almost unbeatable.
Its mobile app also gives clients easy access to your content from anywhere.
GoHighLevel: Functional but Basic Memberships
GoHighLevel includes membership areas, but they’re more practical than polished.
You can host content and videos, but the layout isn’t as sleek or flexible as Kajabi’s.
Verdict:
Kajabi wins this category hands down — it’s purpose-built for content delivery.
6. Pricing and Value
| Plan | GoHighLevel | Kajabi |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $97/month | $149/month |
| Pro | $297/month | $199/month |
| Premium | $497/month (multi-account) | $399/month |
| Free Trial | 14 days | 14 days |
GoHighLevel offers more tools per dollar — CRM, funnels, emails, SMS, scheduling, and payments in one.
Kajabi charges more but provides unmatched polish for courses and digital products.
If you’re optimizing for functionality per dollar, GoHighLevel wins.
If you value brand presentation, Kajabi earns its price.
7. Ease of Use and Learning Curve
Kajabi: Simple, Beginner-Friendly
Kajabi’s interface is modern, minimal, and intuitive.
You can set up a course or landing page in under an hour, and everything feels smooth.
It’s ideal for coaches who want a tool that “just works” without deep customization.
GoHighLevel: More Powerful, Slightly More Complex
GoHighLevel has more features — which means it takes a little longer to master.
The dashboard can feel busy at first, but once you understand it, it’s incredibly efficient.
The platform includes onboarding tutorials, templates, and support to help new users get started quickly.
Verdict:
Kajabi is easier out of the box. GoHighLevel rewards you with more power once you learn it.
8. Support and Community
Both platforms offer 24/7 support and active user communities.
Kajabi has a large creator community and dedicated knowledge base — great for course creators.
GoHighLevel has a strong Facebook group and weekly training calls specifically for service businesses.
Support response times are similar (usually under 24 hours).
Verdict:
Tie — both provide good customer support and educational resources.
9. Real Coach Use Cases
GoHighLevel works best for:
- Coaches running discovery call funnels
- Business coaches offering high-ticket programs
- Coaches managing multiple team members or assistants
- Agencies and multi-coach practices
Kajabi works best for:
- Coaches selling pre-recorded courses
- Group program facilitators
- Hybrid educators (course + coaching)
- Coaches prioritizing aesthetics and simplicity
10. Final Verdict — Which CRM Is Better for Coaches?
If your business is service-driven, GoHighLevel is the better long-term choice.
It automates lead capture, follow-ups, onboarding, and payments — saving hours every week.
If your business is content-driven, Kajabi shines with a beautiful client experience and seamless course delivery.
Here’s the summary:
| Best For | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| 1:1 Coaching | GoHighLevel |
| Group Programs | GoHighLevel or Kajabi |
| Online Courses | Kajabi |
| Automation & Scaling | GoHighLevel |
| Simplicity & Aesthetics | Kajabi |
Our Recommendation:
Start with GoHighLevel if you’re ready to automate your coaching business.
If your primary offer is educational content, Kajabi is your best fit.
11. Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Kajabi a CRM?
A: Not really. Kajabi is primarily a content and marketing platform. It includes contact management, but lacks full CRM functionality.
Q: Can GoHighLevel host online courses?
A: Yes, though its membership areas are simpler than Kajabi’s. It’s better suited for client management and automation.
Q: Which platform is cheaper overall?
A: GoHighLevel costs less and includes more tools. Kajabi is pricier but offers design polish and content delivery tools.
Q: Is there a free plan?
A: No. Both offer 14-day free trials — enough to test workflows before committing.
Q: Can I migrate from Kajabi to GoHighLevel later?
A: Yes. You can export your contacts, emails, and content manually, though it takes time.
Final Thoughts
Both GoHighLevel and Kajabi are powerful platforms — but they serve different purposes.
If your goal is automation, lead generation, and scaling your coaching business, GoHighLevel is the best fit.
If your goal is building and selling digital courses or memberships, Kajabi delivers a more refined learning experience.
For many coaches, the best strategy is hybrid:
Use GoHighLevel to manage your CRM and marketing, and Kajabi to host your courses.
Still, if you must choose one, GoHighLevel gives you more control, more automation, and better long-term scalability — at a lower cost.