10 Best Podia Alternatives for Selling Digital Products

Kajabi has a reputation for being the “all-in-one” platform for online businesses, and after digging into it, I get why. It’s not just a platform like Podia. You can build your website, run your email marketing, set up funnels, and of course, sell your courses or memberships – all with a single platform.

The main advantage of this system lies in its automated features. Users can create background workflows. It replaces their need to pursue leads and send emails manually. But the time required to set up all the equipment and the need for technical knowledge and skills outweigh the advantages of using this system.

Why I picked Kajabi

Kajabi is designed for creators who want more advanced tools. It includes automation and funnels. However, these functionalities come at a higher price and require a rapid learning curve. If you prefer something more straightforward, Sellfy is a much easier place to start – and grow from there.

Standout features

• Everything is in one dashboard: courses, memberships, landing pages, emails, and checkout.
• Access to the Creator Studio tool. It lets you turn one long video into 40 or even more pieces of marketing content.
• AIMA (or AI Marketing Assistant) that generates course outlines, lesson content, and landing page copy in mere minutes based on your simple prompt
• The automation builder is visual, so you don’t have to be super technical.
• Built-in affiliate program if you want others to promote your products.
• Strong analytics, not just for sales but also for student progress.
• A mobile app waiting to be downloaded, so you can manage things on the go.
• Behavioral trigger system that helps you automate actions based on student progress, purchase history, engagement levels, and custom tags

What you can sell

Courses, memberships, coaching programs, podcasts. You can also bundle things together or set them up as subscriptions.

Integrations

Stripe, PayPal, Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel (Meta Pixel), Google Tag Manager, Segment, Mailchimp, Drip, ConvertKit, ActiveCampaign, ClickFunnels, Xero, QuickBooks Online, Adobe, and much more.

Pricing

Starter plan: $71/month

• One product
• One funnel
• 250 contacts

Best value plan: $143/month

• 50 products and funnels
• 25000 contacts
• Advanced automation features

Pros and cons

Kajabi isn’t the “starter pack” for selling digital products. It’s the platform you move to once your business is ready to scale. Compared to Podia, it’s on the higher end of the price range and has a steeper learning curve, but it offers one of the most comprehensive toolsets available.

If you just want to get your digital stuff out there fast, Gumroad’s hard to beat. You sign up, drop in your product, and you’re ready to sell – it usually takes less than an hour. There’s no need to mess with design or pay for a monthly plan; Gumroad simply takes a fee when you make a sale. That’s why a lot of writers, musicians, and indie creators stick with it – it just works.

The platform lacks functionality for operating a complete online store, like Podia does. Gumroad functions optimally for creators who need to share links and receive payments before continuing with their daily activities.

Why I picked Gumroad

I included Gumroad because it lowers the barrier to entry for selling online. You don’t have to commit to a monthly plan or learn how to customize a storefront. Instead, you pay a fee per sale (around10% plus payment processing). That makes it especially good if you’re just starting out or testing an idea and don’t want overhead costs eating into your profits.

Standout features

Kartra isn’t really built for someone who just wants to upload a course on sites similar to Podia and call it a day. It’s more of a full-blown marketing machine. The platform combines funnels, email automation, memberships, checkout flows, analytics – basically everything you’d typically have to piece together from four or five different tools.

The big selling point here is automation. You can set up detailed customer journeys with triggers, tags, and sequences. People get different emails or offers depending on what they do on your site. For marketers who are focused on squeezing the most out of every lead, that’s gold.

Why I picked Kartra

I reviewed Kartra because it’s not just a “course platform with some extras” – it’s built from the ground up for marketers who care about conversions. The platform includes A/B testing features as well as affiliate management tools, built-in helpdesks, and webinar hosting capabilities. 

Kartra appeals to businesses that need to scale their operations. It offers advanced features. But the platform requires more time to learn because it has a more complex interface than Podia, which can be confusing for new users.

Standout features

• A funnel builder that lets you drag and drop and test different versions.
• More advanced email automations, using triggers and sequences.
• Membership sites that let you drip content at your own pace.
• Managing an affiliate program (tracking, payments, dashboards).
• Built-in helpdesk for customer support.
• Dashboards for analytics and pipelines to keep track of sales.
• Includes a calendar and the ability to make appointments.
• Hosting and automating webinars.
• Use built-in AI writing assistance to make your text fit your brand voice, target your audience, and achieve your business goals.
• Automatically tag your viewers based on their video interactions and watch time.

What you can sell

Courses, memberships, downloads, coaching, physical products, webinars. Kartra handles both one-time purchases and recurring subscriptions, so it’s flexible in that sense.

Integrations

Stripe, PayPal, Zapier, API, and webhook.

Pricing

Starter: $59/month

• 500 contacts
• 10000 emails/month
• 1 custom domain

Best Value: $119/month

• 2,500 contacts
• Unlimited email & SMS (trial limited to 1,000 emails)
• 0% transaction fees
• 1 custom domain

Pros and cons

Kartra packs in a lot of different tools, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best choice for everyone. It really stands out if your main focus is marketing – building sales funnels, automating your email campaigns, or managing affiliates. In those areas, it has plenty to help you grow your business.

That said, Kartra does take some time to learn and comes with a higher cost. If you’d rather have something more straightforward, platforms such as Podia or Sellfy are much easier to pick up and manage day to day.

Udemy is a huge learning marketplace – well over 200,000 courses across coding, business, design, art, fitness, and more. The appeal lies in speed and reach: you can publish a course and get it in front of buyers fast, no website build or ad budget required. 

Students keep lifetime access and learn at their own pace with quizzes, assignments, and Q&A. If you’re comparing Podia competitors and want discovery first, Udemy is the obvious alternative to Podia.

Why I picked Udemy

Audience, plain and simple. Millions of learners shop here daily, which takes a lot of launch pressure off solo creators. Udemy handles payments, tax/VAT, and storefront logistics so you can focus on curriculum and delivery. You’ll sacrifice branding control, but for reach, it’s hard to beat among platforms like Podia.

Standout features

• Global marketplace visibility and built-in demand.
• Lifetime student access with progress tracking.
• Q&A boards for real instructor–student interaction.
• Sales and performance analytics.
• iOS and Android apps for on-the-go learning.
• Built-in promos and coupons during site-wide sales.
• An app available on iOS and Android.
• Use the integrated email announcements to reach out to past students to drive repeat enrollments.

Products you can sell

Mighty Networks is one of the greatest platforms like Podia for building a true community, not just selling courses or running a Facebook group. It brings everything together – memberships, events, courses, and even live streams – in one place. The result feels more like your own branded space than another social page lost in the feed.

Why I picked Mighty Networks

Most platforms that advertise “community features” really just tack on a chat or forum. Mighty Networks operates with a different approach. The community stands as its foundation, while features such as courses, coaching, and monetization functions exist as additional elements. The app also feels active, especially on mobile, which is a rare quality. 

Standout features

• Branded iOS and Android apps (your name, not theirs).
• Custom “Spaces” where you can set up groups, forums, or courses.
• Member profiles that make networking less awkward.
• Live streams, events, and content sharing are built right in.
• Monetization options: memberships, courses, premium content, events.
• AI that boosts popular posts and keeps things moving.
• Gamification tools: points, badges, leaderboards.
• Custom branding so it doesn’t look cookie-cutter.
• Issue automatically certificates after course completion.

Products you can sell

Memberships, courses, coaching sessions, events, premium content, collaborations – basically, whatever your community is willing to pay for.

Integrations

You’ll have to rely on Zapier to connect services like Mailchimp, ConvertKit, or your CRM.

Pricing

Starter Plan(Community): $109/month

• Core community tools
• Branded app
• Member engagement 

Best Value Plan (Business): $189/month

• Adds courses, events
• Better analytics
• Monetization tools

Pros and cons

If you want to run a community where people actually talk to each other – and stick around – Mighty Networks is one of the strongest choices. It’s not the cheapest, nor is it the simplest, but if community is your main product, it’s built exactly for that. If you’re just after a quick place to sell courses, it’s probably overkill.

Squarespace has always been known as “the pretty website builder,” and honestly, that hasn’t changed. The templates look polished right out of the box, and if you care about branding, it’s hard to beat. You can drag and drop items, change colors and fonts – the basics are simple and easy to get right.

If you’ve never made a website before, don’t worry – Squarespace is pretty easy to figure out. There’s no coding involved at all. Over the years, it’s grown from a simple design tool into a full platform that helps you run almost every part of your online brand.

Why I picked Squarespace

I chose to include Squarespace because it nails something most builders struggle with: balancing looks and practicality. If your priority is a site that looks clean and professional but can also handle things like subscriptions or digital downloads, it’s a solid fit. 

The platform has also been leaning heavily into AI tools recently – for example, a “Blueprint AI” that sets up layouts for you and even generates images. It’s not a game-changer, but it does shave off some setup time.

Standout features

• A big library of polished, designer-made templates.
• Drag-and-drop site builder that works on desktop and mobile.
• AI tools to speed up setup and create visuals.
• Sell all kinds of products, memberships, and digital downloads.
• Built-in scheduling (handy for coaches, trainers, salons, etc.).
• SEO and blogging features are already built in.
• Email marketing and social media pop-ups without needing third-party apps.
• Analytics that actually make sense to non-data nerds.
• With adjustable access controls and content dripping, you may make content just for members, charge for subscriptions, and set up recurring memberships straight on your website.

What you can sell here

Physical products, digital files, memberships, appointment slots, and even event tickets. 

Integrations

Instagram, Mailchimp, and Google Workspace. For anything more advanced, you’ll either need Zapier or custom code, which is doable but not as smooth as Shopify’s huge app store.

Pricing

Starter Plan: $16 per month 

• Mobile-optimized website
• Full access templates
• Free custom domain
• Send invoices

Best Value Plan: $23 per month

• All Starter features
• Better website analytics
• Sell products and services
• Check on your domain

Pros and cons

Squarespace is a good pick if you care about how your site looks but still need strong features. It’s made for creatives, small business owners, and service providers who want everything – site, shop, booking, and marketing – in one place.

It does cost a little more and doesn’t have as many apps as Podia, but if design matters to you, it’s worth it.

The trade-off is that you’ll pay a little more, and you won’t have as many app options as Podia. Still, if design is important to you, it’s probably worth it.

SamCart isn’t similar to other sites like Podia. You won’t build an entire online school or manage a large store with it. What SamCart does exceptionally well is focus on the checkout process. The platform is built around high-converting product pages that push visitors to buy – and then increase order value with upsells, order bumps, and add-ons. 

Why I chose SamCart

I included SamCart because it solves a very specific problem – most people who visit your site don’t end up buying. It focuses on fixing that with high-converting product pages and a checkout process that feels fast and persuasive. You can add upsells, order bumps, and other small boosts that really help increase revenue.

It’s not as broad as a full eCommerce platform, but that’s the point. SamCart keeps things simple for creators and small businesses that want to get more value from every visitor. 

Standout features

• Templates for product pages that are already optimized for your sales.
• One-click upsells, downsells, and cross-sells (super useful for digital products).
• Order bumps (basically “add this too” boxes during checkout).
• Cart abandonment recovery emails.
• Split testing for different versions of your checkout page.
• Sales analytics that actually make sense.
• Great for physical items, downloads, memberships, subscriptions, and coaching packages.
• Plays nice with most CRMs, email tools, and payment gateways.
• A/B split testing for checkout pages.
• A built-in advanced coupon and discount system.

What you can sell

Downloads, courses, memberships, coaching calls. The platform supports physical product management, yet lacks inventory tracking capabilities. It makes it unsuitable for managing large warehouse operations.

Integrations

ConvertKit, Mailchimp, Active Campaign, and Zapier.

Pricing

Starter Plan (Best Value plan): $59 per month/annually (the price rises as income grows)

• Unlimited products, upsells, subscriptions
• Stripe/PayPal
• Basic reports
• Adds white-label checkout
• Custom domains, memberships, affiliates
• Cart recovery, split testing, and advanced analytics

Pros and cons

SamCart is worth considering if you need to increase conversions. It’s especially good for creators and entrepreneurs who sell digital products or services. Suppose you want checkout pages that are more persuasive than a PayPal button. 

Just remember, it’s not meant to replace a full online store – it’s more of a sales engine you connect to the rest of your setup.

Thinkific is pretty easy to figure out, even if it’s your first time setting up an online course. You can start small, try out your idea, and then build on it as you go. It’s simple at the beginning, but it has enough tools to grow when you’re ready. While its entry-level features are limited, they’re enough to help you get something real up and running.

Thinkific stands out because it lets you fully manage the course player interface. You can personalize your courses through layout selection, branding elements, and interactive content. As a result, a learning experience that reflects your identity. 

Why I picked Thinkific

The reason I like Thinkific is that it keeps things simple when you’re starting out, but doesn’t box you in later. The drag-and-drop builder makes putting lessons together painless, but once you’re ready, you can dive deeper into customization. That’s not something every “beginner-friendly” platform allows.

Standout features

• Build courses with simple drag-and-drop tools for videos, text, quizzes, and downloads.
• Let the AI course outline generator create a customized course structure for you.
• Create email subject lines and sequences automatically.
• Set up a website optimized for search engines.
• Add marketing tools like coupons, affiliate links, upsells, and cart recovery.
• Check student progress and activity through built-in stats.
• Create group or discussion spaces for your users.
• Adjust the course player’s layout, colors, and branding.
• Include memberships or subscriptions for ongoing revenue.
• Run live classes or coaching sessions from the same platform.

Products you can sell

Courses, memberships, coaching programs, downloads, webinars, and bundles.

Integrations

Stripe, PayPal, Mailchimp, Zapier, and a few other tools. 

Pricing

Starter plan: $36/month (billed annually)

• Unlimited courses
• 1 сommunity
• 5 digital downloads

Best value plan: $199/month (billed annually)

• Unlimited courses
• Memberships
• Advanced automations
• Bulk enrollment
• Phone support

Pros and cons

Thinkific is ideal if you want a platform that grows with you – one that’s easy to start on, yet powerful enough to support bigger ambitions. Compared to Podia, it gives you more control and flexibility, though you’ll probably pay more as your business scales.