Kajabi vs GoHighLevel vs Other Course Platforms, How to Choose What’s Right for You

Jan 12, 2026

The Platform Question Everyone Asks

One of the most common questions I get is:
“Should I use Kajabi or GoHighLevel for my course?”

And it’s a fair question.
There are more course platforms than ever, all promising to be the all-in-one solution.

But as a course strategist, I can tell you this upfront:
There is no universally “best” platform.

There is only the platform that fits your business.

Why This Decision Feels So Overwhelming

Most course creators don’t struggle because they lack options.
They struggle because they have too many.

Every platform highlights:

Features
Automations
Funnels
Integrations

But features don’t matter if they don’t support how you actually want to run your business.

Choosing a course platform without clarity often leads to:

Overpaying for tools you don’t use
Feeling stuck in tech
Rebuilding your systems later

I’m a Kajabi Expert, And I’ll Still Say This

I’m Stephanie, founder of stephanieHQ.
I’m a course strategist and an Official Kajabi Expert, and my own business runs entirely on Kajabi.

That said, Kajabi is not automatically the right choice for everyone.

My role as a strategist isn’t to push a platform.
It’s to help you make a decision that actually supports your goals, skills, and resources.

The Real Questions You Need to Answer First

Before comparing platforms, step back and ask yourself three key questions.

What Do You Want the Platform to Do?

Are you looking to:

Host a course only?
Build funnels and email marketing?
Run memberships or communities?
Sell multiple offers over time?

Some platforms are great at one thing.
Others try to do everything.

Clarity here matters more than the feature list.

What Is Your Budget Right Now?

Your platform should support your current stage, not just your future plans.

Ask yourself:

What can I realistically invest each month?
Do I need advanced automations now, or later?
Will this tool replace other software I’m paying for?

The best platform is one that feels sustainable, not stressful.

How Tech-Confident Are You?

This question is often overlooked.

Some platforms offer huge flexibility but require:

Technical confidence
Time to learn
Ongoing setup and maintenance

Others prioritise simplicity and ease of use.

There’s no right or wrong here, but there is a right fit for you.

Why Strategy Comes Before Software

As a course strategist, I always focus on strategy before tools.

When the strategy is clear:

Platform decisions become easier
Setups are simpler
You avoid unnecessary rebuilds

When strategy is missing:

Any platform will feel frustrating
Switching tools becomes tempting
Progress slows down

Tools should support your strategy, not replace it.

How I Help Course Creators Make This Decision

At stephanieHQ, I help course creators choose platforms based on:

Their business model
Their offers
Their level of tech comfort
Their long-term goals

Sometimes that means Kajabi is the perfect fit.
Sometimes it means another platform makes more sense.

The goal isn’t to choose what’s popular.
It’s to choose what helps you move forward with confidence.

Final Thoughts

Kajabi, GoHighLevel, and other course platforms all have strengths.

But the best platform isn’t decided by a comparison chart.
It’s decided by how well it fits you.

When your platform aligns with your strategy, budget, and skills, everything feels easier, from marketing to selling to scaling.

And that’s always the outcome worth aiming for.