Here’s a comparison of WordPress, Kajabi, GoHighLevel and Systeme as platforms for online course creators. It evaluates subscription cost, ease of use, and features available across all four.

1. Subscription Cost

Systeme.io

• Free Plan – $0/month; includes 1,000–2,000 contacts, 1–3 sales funnels, unlimited emails, 1 membership site/course, basic automation, blog, affiliate tools, and more.

• Startup Plan – about $27/month: expands to ~5,000 contacts, 10 funnels, 5 membership sites/courses, workflows, multiple domains.

• Webinar Plan – around $47/month: includes ~10,000 contacts, unlimited funnels, webinars, more courses, automation rules, affiliate features.

• Unlimited Plan – $97/month: unlimited contacts, funnels, courses, automation, priority support.

Recap of Costs

2. Ease of Use

WordPress + LMS Plugins

• User experience depends on the plugin—Thrive Apprentice and MemberPress are relatively intuitive; LearnDash offers powerful features with a steeper learning curve (for context using earlier WordPress sources).

Kajabi

• Known for its polished, beginner-friendly interface—designed for seamless creation, marketing, and course delivery (context from before).  If you are used to using WordPress + Elementor Kajabi leave a lot to be desired.

GoHighLevel

• Rich, powerful toolset with CRM, funnels, and automation—but complexity is higher and requires a learning curve. Most of the time you will need to hire a GoHireLevel competent VA to assist you.

Systeme.io

• Widely praised as beginner-friendly, with intuitive drag-and-drop builder, simple layout, and tailored for entrepreneurs.

• Reviews highlight high marks—Ease of Use rated 9/10, and overall user interface is clean and minimal learning curve.

3. Features Available

WordPress (with LMS plugins)

• Offers full customization, quizzes, drip content, certifications, membership options, multiple payment gateways—but often requires integrations, setup, maintenance.

Kajabi

• Fully featured platform: course builder, assessments, communities, email marketing, funnels, affiliate modules, webinars, blogging, solid analytics, no transaction fees.

GoHighLevel

• Comprehensive automation platform: CRM, funnel builder, SMS and email marketing, workflows, sub-accounts, white-labeling—courses are secondary to marketing automation. 

Systeme.io

• All-in-one tooling includes:

  • Sales funnels (landing pages, upsells, order bumps, A/B testing)

  • Email marketing & automation (unlimited emails across plans), tagging, workflows 

  • Membership/course creator with drip content, quizzes (basic), unlimited students on all plans

  • Webinars (live and evergreen)

  • Blogging module integrated inside platform 

  • Affiliate program management built-in

  • 3rd-party integrations, e.g., Zapier, WordPress, Calendly 

• Limitations:

  • Less advanced design customization than WordPress or Kajabi

  • Course layouts are fixed; quizzes are basic, no certificates 

  • Some users cite minor UI quirks, resizing issues, and limited undo functionality

4. Summary: Platform Fit

WordPress + LMS Plugins

• Best for: Technically inclined users seeking low cost, full control, and high customization.

• Pros: Flexible, cost-effective, rich plugin ecosystem.

• Cons: Requires setup, maintenance, integrations.

Kajabi

• Best for: Solo creators wanting a polished, unified platform for courses and marketing.

• Pros: User-friendly, feature-rich front to back, built-in marketing.

• Cons: Pricier, less adjustable for agencies. Dated website builder and course admin combined with an expensive price.

GoHighLevel

• Best for: Agencies or marketers needing robust CRM and automation for multiple clients.  Used by the big 6,7 and 8 figure course providers

• Pros: Advanced automation, client management, scalable.

• Cons: Complex, course features not as deep. Hard to learn and costly.

Systeme.io

• Best for: Entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, and course creators needing an affordable, all-in-one platform.

• Pros: Incredible value (even free), integrates core tools, beginner-friendly, scalable.

• Cons: Simpler design/course tools, fewer aesthetic customisations. Website functionality is somewhat limited when compared to WordPress + Elementor

5. Quick Comparison Table

Conclusion

If you need an affordable, all-in-one tool to get courses, marketing, funnels, email, blogs, and affiliate systems up and running with minimal fuss, Systeme.io is a standout option. WordPress gives you unmatched flexibility if you’re comfortable managing it yourself. Kajabi excels in polish and professionalism at a high cost, while GoHighLevel is unmatched for agency-grade automation.