Top Kartra alternatives to build funnels, courses and automations your way

Membership & Courses| Automation| Funnel

February 12, 2026•8 min read

Most marketers either already use or plan to use marketing automation to manage funnels, email and customer journeys as their businesses grow.

Automation is no longer an edge. It is the baseline for operating online at scale.

Kartra fits neatly into that story. On the surface, it checks a lot of boxes. Funnels, email marketing, courses, checkout and automation all live in one platform. For creators and agencies getting started, that sounds ideal. One login, fewer tools, faster launches.

The question usually shows up later.

Once funnels become more complex, courses expand and automation needs to adapt to real customer behavior, people start asking whether Kartra is still the best fit. Or whether other Kartra alternatives offer more flexibility, better automation depth or a smoother path to scale.

That is what this guide explores.

We will look at why creators and agencies are searching for Kartra competitors in 2026, what to prioritize in a modern funnel and course platform and how the top alternatives compare across features, pricing and long-term usability.

Why creators and agencies are looking for Kartra alternatives in 2026

Kartra did a lot right. It helped normalize the idea of an all-in-one marketing platform. But the way businesses operate online has changed.

Funnels are no longer single-page paths to checkout. Courses are no longer standalone content portals. Automation now needs to respond to timing, intent and behavior across email, SMS, booking and conversation channels.

Many Kartra users run into friction as these needs grow. Automations become harder to adapt. Journeys feel rigid. Reporting lacks context across touchpoints. Agencies managing multiple clients often need more CRM flexibility and better separation between accounts.

Pricing also becomes part of the conversation. As lists grow and features stack up, users start comparing affordable marketing automation tools that scale without penalizing growth.

None of this means Kartra stopped working. It means the bar moved.

What to look for in a funnel + course + automation platform

Before comparing Kartra alternatives, it helps to get clear on what actually matters in 2026.

A drag-and-drop funnel builder is still essential. Funnels should be quick to build, easy to test and flexible enough to support different offers without rebuilding from scratch.

Email and funnel automation should react to behavior, not just triggers. Modern platforms need to understand where someone is in the journey and adjust follow-up accordingly.

A course and funnel platform works best when courses are not isolated. Lesson progress, engagement and completion should connect directly to messaging and automation.

CRM depth is often overlooked. An all-in-one marketing platform only delivers value when customer context flows across funnels, email, conversations and sales pipelines.

With that framework in mind, let’s look at the leading Kartra competitors.

Top Kartra alternatives compared by flexibility, price and features

1. HighLevel

Best for: agencies and SMBs that want funnels, courses, CRM and automation connected by AI.

HighLevel consistently appears in Best Funnel Builders 2026 discussions for businesses that want more than funnel-first tools. It approaches automation as a system rather than a set of features.

HighLevel includes a drag-and-drop funnel builder, a native course builder and a full CRM for agencies. What stands out is how everything connects. Funnels, courses, email, SMS, conversations, reviews and pipelines all share the same customer context.

HighLevel’s AI understands intent and carries context forward. A funnel opt-in can trigger personalized email and SMS follow-ups, update CRM records, move pipeline stages or prompt human outreach. Course engagement can trigger automation based on lesson progress or inactivity.

Pricing starts at $97 per month per sub-account and includes CRM, funnels, email and funnel automation, SMS, workflows, reporting and AI tools. There is no per-contact pricing, which becomes increasingly important as lists grow.

2. ClickFunnels

Best for: creators focused on rapid funnel launches and conversion templates.

ClickFunnels remains one of the most recognizable Kartra competitors. It is often chosen for speed and simplicity when launching funnels.

The platform offers a strong drag-and-drop funnel builder with prebuilt templates, upsells and order bumps. It works well for straightforward sales funnels and campaign-driven offers.

Automation depth is limited. Email and funnel automation cover basic sequences, but advanced personalization often requires additional tools. CRM functionality is minimal, which can make managing long-term customer relationships harder as businesses scale.

Pricing is higher at entry level and total cost often increases as more tools are added.

3. Kajabi

Best for: solo creators selling courses and memberships.

Kajabi is widely known as a course and funnel platform designed for content creators. Course delivery is polished and user-friendly and setup is relatively simple.

Kajabi works well for creators who prioritize content experience and community. Basic email automation is included and the platform handles memberships smoothly.

Automation and CRM capabilities are limited compared to platforms built for complex journeys. Customer data does not flow deeply across funnels, courses and sales activity, which can make advanced segmentation and personalization difficult.

Pricing can become a factor as audiences and offers expand.

4. Systeme.io

Best for: budget-conscious creators and early-stage businesses.

Systeme.io often shows up in searches for affordable marketing automation tools and lightweight Kartra alternatives.

It includes funnels, email automation and course hosting at a lower price point. For beginners or simple use cases, this can be appealing.

Customization options, automation logic and CRM features are basic. Systeme.io works best for linear funnels and simple follow-up sequences. As complexity grows, limitations become more noticeable.

5. ActiveCampaign combined with a funnel builder

Best for: teams prioritizing advanced email automation over native funnels.

Some businesses move away from Kartra by pairing ActiveCampaign with a separate drag and drop funnel builder such as Leadpages or Webflow.

ActiveCampaign offers strong email and funnel automation, segmentation and behavioral tracking. It performs well when email logic drives the customer journey.

The downside is fragmentation. Funnels, courses, CRM data and automation live across multiple tools. Maintaining context requires integrations and ongoing management, which adds overhead.

Why HighLevel is a powerful alternative for funnels, courses and CRM in one

HighLevel approaches the all-in-one concept differently. Funnels and courses are treated as entry points into a broader customer journey rather than isolated features.

AI as connective intelligence

HighLevel’s AI is embedded across the platform. It understands context, carries it forward and helps determine what should happen next based on behavior and intent.

When someone opts into a funnel, enrolls in a course, replies to a message or books a call, automation adapts accordingly. This elevates email and funnel automation beyond static sequences.

End-to-end customer journey orchestration

Workflows act as the coordination layer inside HighLevel. Funnels, conversations, courses, reviews and CRM updates move together as one system.

A lead can enter through a funnel, receive personalized follow-ups, progress through a course and trigger upsells or renewals without losing continuity.

Built for agencies and scale

HighLevel supports unlimited users and contacts. Agencies can manage multiple client accounts, apply templates, automate reporting and white-label the platform as their own SaaS offering.

This makes HighLevel the best Kartra alternative, especially if you’re interested in building an infrastructure for long-term growth.

Conclusion: Choose a platform that fits your process, not the other way around

Choosing among Kartra alternatives comes down to how you want to operate as you grow. Funnels, courses and automation should work together without forcing you into rigid workflows or disconnected tools.

Kartra continues to work well for certain use cases. But as customer journeys become more contextual and automation more intelligent, many creators and agencies look for platforms that adapt alongside them.

HighLevel brings funnels, courses, CRM and AI-driven automation into a single operating system designed to move customers forward with clarity and intent.

If you want to explore a flexible alternative built for scale, a free 14-day trial of HighLevel is a practical way to see how it works. You can build funnels, launch courses, automate journeys and even explore white-label options without commitment.

FAQs

What is the best Kartra alternative in 2026?

The best option depends on your goals, but HighLevel stands out for businesses that want funnels, courses, automation and CRM in one scalable platform.