Best Membership Platforms for 2026 (Full Comparison + Which One Is Best for You)

Compare the best membership platforms for 2026: Zenler, Kajabi, Teachable, Thinkific & more. Learn pros, cons, pricing & which fits your needs.

If you want to start a membership site in 2026, choosing the right platform is critical. Your platform determines:

How easy it is to deliver content
Whether you can host courses, community, and live sessions
How much you'll pay each month
Your ability to scale without tech headaches

This guide compares the top membership platforms — with real pros, cons, features, and pricing — so you can choose the best fit for your business.

🎥 ▶️ Best Membership Platforms for 2026

The Top Membership Platforms for 2026

Here are the most popular platforms creators use today:

Zenler
Kajabi
Teachable
Thinkific
Circle
Mighty Networks
Podia

Below, you'll find objective comparisons — and where each platform excels.

🥇 1. Zenler (Best All-in-One Platform)

Zenler is the only true all-in-one creator platform that includes:

Memberships
Courses
Communities
Zoom + Live Classes
Email marketing
Funnels
Automation
Blog
Bundles
Challenges
Payment integrations

All in one place.

Pros

Complete all-in-one ecosystem
No external tools required
Built-in Zoom for live calls
Flexible membership structure
Thriving community feature
Affordable pricing vs competitors
Unlimited funnels, email automations, blogs, pages
Grandfathered pricing for loyal users

Cons

More features = slightly longer learning curve
No transaction fees (a pro, but worth noting against others)

Best for: Creators who want everything in one place with no extra subscriptions.

🥈 2. Kajabi

Kajabi is a polished, premium platform with strong marketing tools.

Pros

Beautiful page builder
Built-in email system
Strong marketing focus

Cons

Very expensive
Limited community tools
No built-in Zoom
Requires add-ons for certain features
Steeper learning curve than advertised

Best for: Creators who want a premium look and are comfortable paying premium pricing.

🥉 3. Teachable

Teachable is course-first, with limited membership features.

Pros

Easy to create courses
Clean student experience

Cons

Weak membership support
Limited community options
High transaction fees on lower plans
Requires integrations for most features

Best for: Simple course-based memberships with minimal live interaction.

4. Thinkific

Thinkific has great course delivery and a decent membership layout.

Pros

Strong course builder
Drag-and-drop curriculum design
Good student experience

Cons

Lacks serious community features
Requires multiple integrations
Costs add up

Best for: Course creators who want a simple membership add-on.

5. Circle (Community-First Memberships)

Circle is known for its community design.

Pros

Excellent community experience
Modern layout
Live rooms

Cons

Not an all-in-one
No courses (requires external)
No funnels, emails, or automation

Best for: Community-first memberships where content is secondary.

6. Mighty Networks

Similar to Circle but with more complexity.

Pros

Strong community
Mobile app
Multi-space structure

Cons

Confusing navigation for some users
Not ideal for course-based memberships
Requires outside platforms for funnels, emails

Best for: Community-focused creators who want mobile-first delivery.

7. Podia (Budget-Friendly)

Podia is simple and affordable.

Pros

Beginner-friendly
Simple interface

Cons

Limited automations
Weak community
Basic membership options
Very limited funnels

Best for: Beginners who want a basic, low-cost platform.

🧾 Feature Comparison Table (Short Version)

Platform	Community	Courses	Live	Email	Funnels	Price
Zenler	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	⭐ Best value
Kajabi	Limited	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Expensive
Teachable	Basic	Yes	No	No	Limited	Mid
Thinkific	Basic	Yes	No	No	Limited	Mid
Circle	Excellent	No	Yes	No	No	Mid
Mighty Networks	Great	Limited	Yes	No	No	Mid
Podia	Basic	Yes	No	No	Limited	Low

🎯 Which Membership Platform Should You Choose?

Choose Zenler if you want:

Everything in one platform
Live classes + community
Courses + memberships together
Full automation + funnels
No add-ons or extra software
Better pricing than Kajabi or Thinkific

Choose Kajabi if: You want polished visuals and don't mind paying high monthly costs.

Choose Circle if: Your membership is community-focused, not content-focused.

Choose Podia if: You want something extremely simple and basic.

🔗 If you're planning to start a membership, read the full guide: How to Start a Membership Site (Complete Guide)

❓ FAQ's

Q: What is the best membership platform for beginners? Zenler and Podia are the easiest for beginners, with Zenler offering far more long-term growth.

Q: Which platform is best for community memberships? Circle and Mighty Networks excel at community-only models.

Q: What is the most affordable all-in-one membership platform? Zenler provides the best value for money with no add-ons required.

Q: Can I host courses and memberships together? Yes — Zenler, Kajabi, and Thinkific allow this.

🚀 Call to Action

Zenler gives you EVERYTHING you need to run a membership: ✔️ Courses ✔️ Community ✔️ Live classes ✔️ Email marketing ✔️ Funnels ✔️ Templates & automation

All in one place, without extra subscriptions.

👉 Start your membership today with Zenler