Comparing Affiliate Integration Features on Teachable and Kajabi
- Jurairat Ngamkornchokeanan
- Dec 18, 2025
- 4 min read
Affiliate marketing has become a key strategy for online course creators and digital entrepreneurs to expand their reach and increase sales. Choosing the right platform with effective affiliate integration can make a significant difference in managing affiliates, tracking commissions, and growing your business. Two popular platforms for online courses and membership sites, Teachable and Kajabi, both offer affiliate program features. This post compares their affiliate integration capabilities to help you decide which platform fits your needs best.
How Affiliate Programs Work on Course Platforms
Affiliate programs allow you to recruit partners who promote your courses or products in exchange for a commission on sales they generate. A solid affiliate system should provide easy setup, clear tracking, reliable payments, and useful reporting. For course creators, the affiliate feature should also integrate smoothly with course sales and user management.
Both Teachable and Kajabi include built-in affiliate management tools, but they differ in features, ease of use, and flexibility. Understanding these differences will help you pick the platform that supports your growth goals.
Affiliate Integration on Teachable
Teachable is widely known for its straightforward course creation and sales features. Its affiliate program is designed to be simple and effective for course creators who want to add affiliates without extra tools.
Key Features of Teachable’s Affiliate System
Easy Affiliate Setup
You can enable affiliate programs for individual courses or your entire school. Affiliates sign up through a dedicated page, and you can approve or reject applications manually.
Commission Settings
Teachable lets you set commission rates per course or globally. You can choose a percentage or fixed amount, and set cookie duration to track referrals over time.
Affiliate Dashboard
Affiliates get access to a dashboard where they can find their unique referral links, track clicks, and view their earnings.
Automatic Payouts
Teachable supports automatic affiliate payouts via PayPal once affiliates reach a minimum balance. This reduces manual payment work.
Basic Reporting
You can see affiliate performance reports including clicks, conversions, and commissions earned. This helps identify your top affiliates.
Limitations to Consider
Limited Customization
The affiliate dashboard and emails have limited branding options. Affiliates see a generic interface.
No Multi-Tier Commissions
Teachable does not support multi-level affiliate programs where affiliates earn from sub-affiliates.
No Advanced Tracking Features
Features like split commissions or custom tracking parameters are not available.
Example Use Case
A course creator selling a photography course on Teachable can quickly enable the affiliate program, set a 30% commission, and invite bloggers and influencers to join. Affiliates get referral links and track their earnings easily. Payments are handled automatically, saving time.
Affiliate Integration on Kajabi
Kajabi is an all-in-one platform known for its marketing and automation tools. Its affiliate program is more advanced and integrated deeply with its sales and email marketing features.
Key Features of Kajabi’s Affiliate System
Affiliate Program Setup
You can create affiliate programs for products or offers, with customizable sign-up forms and approval workflows.
Flexible Commission Structures
Kajabi supports percentage or fixed commissions, and you can set different rates for different affiliates or groups.
Affiliate Portal
Affiliates access a branded portal with referral links, promotional materials, and real-time stats on clicks, sales, and commissions.
Automated Payments
Kajabi integrates with Stripe and PayPal for automatic affiliate payouts, with customizable payment thresholds.
Advanced Tracking and Reporting
You get detailed reports on affiliate performance, including conversion rates, top-performing affiliates, and sales trends.
Marketing Automation Integration
Affiliates can be added to email sequences or tagged for targeted communication, helping you nurture relationships.
Multi-Tier Commissions
Kajabi supports multi-level affiliate programs, allowing you to reward affiliates who recruit other affiliates.
Limitations to Consider
Higher Cost
Kajabi’s plans are generally more expensive, which might be a factor for smaller creators.
Learning Curve
The affiliate system has more features but requires some time to set up and manage effectively.
Example Use Case
A fitness coach using Kajabi can build a multi-tier affiliate program, offering different commission rates based on affiliate performance. Affiliates receive branded portals with marketing materials and automated emails to keep them engaged. The coach can track detailed reports and pay affiliates automatically, all within one platform.
Comparing Teachable and Kajabi Affiliate Features Side by Side
| Feature | Teachable | Kajabi |
|-----------------------------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
| Affiliate Setup | Simple, course-level or global | Flexible, product-level with custom forms |
| Commission Types | Percentage or fixed amount | Percentage or fixed, customizable per affiliate |
| Affiliate Dashboard | Basic, generic | Branded, feature-rich |
| Multi-Tier Commissions | No | Yes |
| Automated Payouts | PayPal only, automatic | PayPal and Stripe, automatic |
| Reporting | Basic stats | Detailed analytics |
| Marketing Automation | No | Yes |
| Customization | Limited | Extensive |
| Pricing Impact | Included in plans | Higher plans required |
Which Platform Should You Choose for Affiliate Integration?
Your choice depends on your business size, budget, and affiliate program goals.
Choose Teachable if you want a simple, easy-to-use affiliate system that works well for single courses or small programs. It’s ideal if you want to start quickly without extra costs or complexity.
Choose Kajabi if you need a powerful affiliate program with advanced tracking, multi-tier commissions, and marketing automation. Kajabi fits creators who want to build a scalable affiliate network and integrate it deeply with their sales and marketing.
Tips for Running a Successful Affiliate Program on Either Platform
Recruit Affiliates Actively
Reach out to your audience, influencers, and partners to join your program.
Provide Marketing Materials
Share banners, email templates, and social media posts to help affiliates promote effectively.
Communicate Regularly
Keep affiliates engaged with updates, tips, and incentives.
Track Performance Closely
Use platform reports to identify top affiliates and optimize your program.
Pay Affiliates Promptly
Timely payments build trust and motivate affiliates to keep promoting.
Final Thoughts on Affiliate Integration for Course Creators
Both Teachable and Kajabi offer solid affiliate integration features, but they serve different needs. Teachable’s affiliate system is straightforward and budget-friendly, perfect for creators starting out or running simple programs. Kajabi provides a more comprehensive and customizable affiliate experience, suited for those ready to invest in growth and automation.
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