ThriveCart Review 2024: Why I Switched from Kajabi to ThriveCart for My Courses

When I first branched into education, I had NO idea what I was doing for the tech. I tried looking at what other coaches and course creators used to host and sell their programs. That led me to Kajabi. Everyone was praising it, so I bought it. But fast forward a year and my team and I were pressed. The costs were high and the learning curve was higher. So, I made the decision to start looking elsewhere, specifically at ThriveCart.  I’m 6 months into it and am so glad we switched! 

You know I’m always going to share the behind-the-scenes of my business (the good, bad, and ugly) so, here’s my initial review of ThriveCart and how it’s been going. If you’re an educator, make sure you read this before you buy anything!

First, What is ThriveCart?

Let’s talk about what ThriveCart is because I thought it was just a cart at first. Actually, that’s what started this whole rabbit hole. I was looking for a cart to replace Kajabi and Shopify. And it was a replacement. ThriveCart is best known as a cart and checkout platform designed to make selling online super easy. It offers a user-friendly backend that simplifies the entire process, making it easy even if you’re not tech-savvy. It integrates seamlessly with a lot of other platforms and tools. Plus, it’s designed to simplify the sales process and help you manage digital products. (Hello, thank you!)

But it can be sooo much more than a cart. ThriveCart is a versatile platform. When I found out one of my mentors uses it to host her membership I knew I had to look into its capabilities more. I want to talk about how you can use it as a coach, course creator, or educator because so few people talk about it in those terms. 

But let’s go into the TL;DR points first if you’re in a hurry!

ThriveCart Pros

There’s a lot. Here’s a CliffNotes version of what makes ThriveCart shine:

• ThriveCart is Wayyy Easier Than Kajabi To Set Up And Use: The backend builder is drag-and-drop and very user-friendly. You don’t need to be tech-savvy to get your cart up and running. Compared to Kajabi, which felt like I needed an advanced degree to use, ThriveCart’s interface is straightforward. You can quickly create product pages, set up payment options, and start selling.
• ThriveCart Pricing: One of the biggest perks is its flat-rate pricing. There are no extra fees for hosting more products, which is a huge relief compared to Kajabi’s tiered pricing model. (THAT killed me.) Right now they’re still a one-time payment. You only pay once and get access to all features, without worrying about additional costs as your business grows. For me, this was a significant factor in making the switch, because as a small business owner, Kajabi got expensive real quick!
• Great Affiliate Program: ThriveCart’s affiliate program is another big pro. It allows your students to become affiliates, giving them and you a great kickback. The affiliate management area allow you to easily track performance, manage payouts, and incentivize your affiliates. This can turn your satisfied students into brand ambassadors, driving more sales and growing your community.

These were some of the main reasons why I ultimately decided to try it out, but like anything – it’s not perfect. I’m not gonna lie to you.

ThriveCart Cons

There aren’t many, but ThriveCart does have some cons. 

• ThriveCart Does Not Host Your Videos: This is probably why most people don’t see it for memberships or courses. It can be a bit of a hassle, but there are workarounds. You can host your videos on platforms like Vimeo or YouTube and embed them into ThriveCart. This is what I’m doing! While this extra step can be inconvenient, it’s still fast and manageable. 
• Not As Robust As Kajabi: Kajabi is an all-in-one platform that includes email marketing and more. ThriveCart isn’t quite there yet, so you’ll need to use integrations for certain features like email marketing. For instance, I use Flodesk to handle my emails to students. While it’s an additional step, the combination of ThriveCart and Flodesk makes up for Kajabi’s all-in-one approach. (And still cheaper!)
• Slight Learning Curve: If you’ve never used a checkout cart or CRM before, there’s a bit of a learning curve. It’s not crazy, but it’s something to be aware of. The initial setup and understanding of how ThriveCart integrates with other platforms may take a trip to YouTube University. However, once you get the hang of it, it’s pretty easy. ThriveCart also offers plenty of resources, tutorials, and support, to help you.

As someone who’s used Kajabi and ThriveCart, the cons don’t bother me much. I find the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, especially for those looking for a simpler, more cost-effective way to host courses and memberships.

Why I Switched from Kajabi to ThriveCart

So, why did I switch from Kajabi to ThriveCart? You probably know by now…it came down to pricing and ease of use. Kajabi was so complex that I felt like I needed a dedicated person just to manage it. My team and I didn’t have the bandwidth for that. ThriveCart, on the other hand, is much easier to navigate. It integrates with Flodesk for email marketing, which means my VA can handle tasks in minutes instead of half a day.

Kajabi, while powerful, often felt too complicated to be worth it. Its all-in-one nature meant that while it had many features, it didn’t excel in any of the areas. And you were paying for features even if you didn’t use them. I can see why people have to hire dedicated people to run it. It’s a lot! This year I am focused on being more streamlined and efficient with using my team, and I couldn’t do that if they were hung up trying to make this beast of a system work.

Pricing was another big factor. Kajabi is expensive and gets even more expensive as you add products, features, and students. ThriveCart’s flat-rate pricing offers a more predictable and affordable solution. This allowed me to invest more in other areas of my business, such as marketing and content creation, rather than sinking funds into platform fees.

What I Like Most About ThriveCart

There are several things I love about ThriveCart, but my top reason is definitely the ability to use it for more than one thing. Before I switched to ThriveCart, I was using Kajabi to sell my courses, Sprout Studio to sell my coaching programs, and Shopify to sell my templates. Talk about doing the most! I have a small team, so we need to look at the affordability and simplicity of our systems without investing a lot of time into learning.

My Final ThriveCart Review 6 Months In

Is ThriveCart worth it? Absolutely! I’m loving it so far. It’s simplified my business operations and freed up my team to focus on more important tasks. Even though I’m only six months in, I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to streamline their online sales process. ThriveCart has been a breath of fresh air, making everything easier and more efficient in my life. If you’re on the fence, give it a try – you might just find it’s the perfect fit for your business.

Switching from Kajabi to ThriveCart has been one of the best decisions I’ve made for my business. The ease of use, cost savings, and powerful features have transformed the way I manage my courses and memberships. If you’re looking for a way to offer your programs and memberships without the complexity and high costs of other platforms, ThriveCart is definitely worth considering.