One thing we can all agree on is that Systeme.io is a super affordable but basic platform.
While it’s very beginner-friendly, it’s also extremely easy to outgrow. So, let’s look at some suitable alternatives that are great for newbies.
Key Takeaways:
- Kajabi is the top-rated option overall for learning content creators
- ClickFunnels is the best platform for beginner marketers
- GoHighLevel is an all-in-one platform worth the steep learning curve
| Rating | Platform | Costs from | Best for | Who should use it? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kajabi | $69/month | Best overall | Learning content creators looking for an all-in-one platform |
| 2 | ClickFunnels | $97/month | Marketing | Businesses that want a superior marketing solution |
| 3 | LearnWorlds | $29/month | B2B sales | Creators focusing on structured learning solutions for businesses |
| 4 | Thinkific | $49/month | Budget option | Someone looking for a low-cost yet high-quality alternative |
| 5 | SamCart | $79/month | Shopping carts | Those with an existing website they want to monetize |
| 6 | Mighty Networks | $49/month | Communities | Creators with an established audience |
1. Kajabi: Best Overall
Kajabi is largely considered the gold standard for course-building platforms, and this still rings true.
However, at first glance, you might think it does exactly what Systeme.io does, just at a much higher price point. The truth is, the age-old saying “you get what you pay for” is accurate.
The features are much higher quality and more comprehensive, and a few extra ones are thrown in there, too.
For instance, Kajabi’s community feature extends beyond simple chat threads and offers instant live rooms, challenges, and events.
Besides courses and digital downloads, you can also offer podcasts, paid newsletters, and coaching products. And it now has its own payment processor.
The marketing tools are much easier to grasp, and its automations are more sophisticated than Systeme.io.
Overall, I’d also say that it’s one of the most user-friendly platforms and incredibly beginner-friendly. The platform provides loads of guidance, and live assistance is never far away.
Affordability
Let’s be real. Systeme.io is the cheapest platform out there of its kind. So, all the options on this list will be more expensive.
Kajabi’s entry-level plan starts at $69 per month ($55 if you pay annually). I think this is still affordable for someone just starting out.
| Plan | Monthly price | Monthly price paid annually | Total annual price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kickstarter | $69 | $55 | $660 |
| Basic | $149 | $119 | $1,428 |
| Growth | $199 | $159 | $1,908 |
| Pro | $399 | $319 | $3,828 |
All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so even if you do pay and decide it’s not for you, you can still get a full refund.
Why I Rate It
From a beginner’s perspective, Kajabi is a platform that will let you hit the ground running. Learning the tools doesn’t take long, and assistance is there if you need it.
Plus, its comprehensive feature set means you won’t outgrow it or have to jump ship once your business starts to scale.
Yes, you’ll feel like you’re paying more upfront, but the payoff is that you’ll get your business off the ground faster than you will with Systeme.io.
2. ClickFunnels: Best for Marketing
I feel that Systeme.io’s marketing tools are very beginner-friendly, but they’re also extremely easy to outgrow.
Once you start getting used to how funnels and email marketing work, you’ll be left wanting something more sophisticated and less basic.
This is where ClickFunnels might be a far better option in the long run.
Although the platform is a little more complicated to learn, it’s still incredibly intuitive and user-friendly. The platform even recently underwent a revamp, so now it’s even better in this respect.
ClickFunnels is a marketer’s dream. If you want high-converting sales funnels and campaigns and smooth-running automations, this platform will deliver.
You get all the tools required to build digital products (courses, communities, etc.) and a pretty decent site and page builder.
However, one thing that really stands out is that ClickFunnels now has proper e-commerce capabilities. This means you can sell physical products alongside your digital ones. Okay, it’s not Shopify, but it’s enough to diversify your business.
Affordability
ClickFunnels pricing is straightforward. Two plans are available, starting at $97 per month, with a 16% discount for annual subscriptions.
| Plan | Monthly price | Monthly price paid annually | Total annual price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Startup | $97 | $81 | $972 |
| Pro | $297 | $248 | $2,976 |
The only difference between the two plans is the number of branded workspaces you get.
Essentially, if you’re using the platform just for your own business, you only need the Startup plan. If you want to take on more than three clients, you’ll need the Pro plan.
Other than that, all features are unlimited on both plans. So, if you weigh up features versus cost, it’s actually a bargain.
Why I Rate It
While Kajabi is at the top of its game for digital product creation, ClickFunnels takes the crown for marketing tools.
It’s been around for a long time, and I’ve seen it go through several revamps.
It used to be an okay platform with expensive pricing, but now it’s a great platform with attractive pricing.
Plus, it’s vastly improved its help resources, so the learning curve isn’t too daunting.
3. LearnWorlds: Best LMS
LearnWorlds is a bit different from the other options on this list.
First, you’ll notice the distinct lack of marketing features. Sure, you can sell products and create a website, but there are no email or funnel-building tools.
Second, it’s classed as a lightweight learning management system (LMS).
This means that it has more in-depth student analytical tools, a comprehensive assessment builder, and inbuilt SCORM compliance.
Plus, its course-building features are excellent—especially for learning modules that require passing grades or examinations.
Essentially, the platform is designed more for B2B sales and is meant for more structured learning experiences.
For instance, I’d say LearnWorlds is perfect for building health and safety or compliance training courses, while Kajabi is more suitable for selling fitness or cookery courses.
Affordability
LearnWorlds starts off looking super-affordable. Its entry-level plan is just $29 per month, but there’s a catch: You’ll pay a $5 fee for each person who enrolls in your courses.
If you want to get rid of that (and access the advanced features), you have to upgrade your plan and pay at least $99 per month. So, it’s not as cheap as you think.
| Plan | Monthly price | Monthly price paid annually | Total annual price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $29 | $24 | $288 |
| Pro Trainer | $99 | $79 | $948 |
| Learning Center | $299 | $249 | $2,988 |
All plans have a 20% discount for annual payments and come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Why I Rate It
If you want to operate within the corporate or business training world, LearnWorlds is a great option. It gives you the flexibility to build and sell diverse courses that are compatible with other LMS platforms.
But, unlike a full-blown LMS platform, it’s much easier to learn and is, therefore, a more suitable choice for beginners in this space.
4. Thinkific: Best Budget Option
Thinkific has come on in leaps and bounds lately and has modernized its platform extensively. Plus, it has introduced new features onto the platform.
Unfortunately, it has also done away with its free plan, but nonetheless, it’s still a great budget option.
The course builder is more sophisticated than Systeme.io’s, with better tools for quizzes and assessments. It can also facilitate live coaching and webinars (as long as you use a third-party live stream tool).
I’ll also say that the AI content generation feature is pretty decent, which does a good job of speeding up the creation process.
Affordability
With plans starting at $49 per month and no transaction fees, this is the cheapest option on the list.
Annual subscribers enjoy a healthy 25% discount, too, making it even more affordable. All plans carry a 30-day money-back guarantee.
| Plan | Monthly price | Monthly price paid annually | Total annual price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $49 | $36 | $432 |
| Start | $99 | $74 | $888 |
| Grow | $199 | $149 | $1,788 |
Why I Rate It
Don’t expect anything as comprehensive as what Kajabi or ClickFunnels offers, but if you’re looking for a clean, modern, easy-to-use platform, Thinkific fits the bill nicely.
I think this is a solid, basic option that won’t break the bank.
5. SamCart: Best for Sales Tools
SamCart is primarily sales software designed to provide you with high-converting checkouts you can use on a landing page or embed on an existing website.
You get all the selling features you could ever need—upsells, bumps, coupons, abandoned carts, etc.—and the platform also provides the ability to create courses and digital products.
However, the platform lacks marketing features and CRM tools, so if you want those, it probably isn’t the right choice.
SamCart also lets you sell both physical and digital products, making it easy to broaden your range.
Affordability
It’s not the cheapest option, especially considering its limitations. Plans start at $79 per month, with a 25% discount for annual payments.
A 30-day money-back guarantee is available but only for annual subscriptions.
| Plan | Monthly price | Monthly price paid annually | Total annual price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launch | $79 | $59 | $708 |
| Grow | $159 | $119 | $1,428 |
| Scale | $319 | $239 | $2,868 |
Why I Rate It
Building checkouts can be a confusing and technical business if you don’t know what you are doing.
However, SamCart has taken care to make sure its features are usable and accessible, even to those who have never created a sales page before.
In all, I recommend this platform if you already have a website and want a simple way to add checkout functionality to sell products.
6. Mighty Networks: Best Community Builder
The last platform I recommend is for those interested in building a community away from social media platforms like Facebook.
With Mighty Networks, you get just that—a dedicated space to chat and engage with your audience without any other distractions.
The setup is unique compared with other platforms on this list. You can build courses, sell products, run live events, etc., but it all takes place within the community space.
The community interface is simple to navigate and set up, and it looks sleek and modern.
On the downside, there are no external marketing tools, and since everything takes place within the community, it can be difficult to diversify your product range.
Affordability
The Community plan starts at $49 per month, but that’s literally just for the community feature. If you want to add courses, live streaming, and all the other good stuff, you need to upgrade.
Because of this, I do think it’s quite expensive.
Annual subscribers get two months’ worth for free, but there’s no money-back guarantee.
| Plan | Monthly price | Monthly price paid annually | Total annual price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community | $49 | $41 | $492 |
| Courses | $119 | $99 | $1,188 |
| Business | $219 | $179 | $2,148 |
| Path-to-Pro | $430 | $360 | $4,320 |
Why I Rate It
It’s much easier to monetize a captive and loyal audience than it is to market externally.
Mighty Networks delivers great features that support this. Plus, it’s beginner-friendly.
This is a great option for anyone who has already built an audience.
However, if you’re starting with zero followers, you’ll probably struggle with this platform, especially considering the lack of marketing tools.
2 Systeme.io Alternatives Worth the Learning Curve
1. GoHighLevel: Best for Scaling
If I wasn’t aiming this list at beginners, I definitely would have placed GoHighLevel at the top spot.
The platform’s features are pretty incredible (as well as unlimited) and allow you to take your business in pretty much any direction you choose.
It’s a full marketing and CRM solution. You can build and sell physical and digital products and brand the platform itself to sell it as SaaS. Its automation capabilities are also the most advanced I’ve seen on a platform of this kind.
But it’s no cakewalk to learn.
I’m not saying it isn’t user-friendly. It is. However, the sheer number and complexity of its features mean you’ll be spending a good couple of months learning the ins and outs of it before you can properly get started.
It’s worth it, though, because you’ll be able to scale your business without limits.
Plans are affordable, starting at $97 per month, and you can get an extended 30-day free trial.
2. Kartra: Best for Live Webinars
I admit that Kartra is not my favorite platform. I’m not keen on its user interface, and I find it somewhat frustrating to use.
Because of this, I don’t recommend it as a beginner-friendly option (especially compared with the other platforms on this list).
However, it does have some redeeming qualities that make it worth a special mention.
Overall, its features are high-quality—the course builder, site and funnel builder, etc. Like I said, I just don’t like how you navigate them.
But what stands out is its webinar tools. The same people behind WebinarJam own the platform, so it uses the same technology.
And it’s good. Really good.
You can set up and run live, engaging webinars that include interactive elements such as polls, whiteboards, and even in-webinar offers.
It’s a super-comprehensive tool and worth the learning curve if you plan to make webinars a core part of your business.
Plans start at $119 per month, and you can check this page for the latest offer or discount.
Bottom Line
If you’re just starting out, think seriously about what you want from a platform.
Although Kajabi is certainly the option I rate highest, other platforms on this list may have features that align more closely with your needs.
What I do know, however, is that each is beginner-friendly. Additionally, all offer free courses and training programs to help you learn the tools and get started.
If you’re unsure which to pick, take advantage of the free trials. Give them a whirl, and see which one you like best.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Systeme.io Alternative Should I Avoid?
Teachable is a Systeme.io alternative that we don’t recommend. Its Basic plan carries transaction fees on all sales, and the platform is outdated and has limited features.
Is There a Free Systeme.io Alternative?
There are no free Systeme.io alternatives. Currently, Systeme.io has the best free plan available.
