Vibecode Kajabi
track this build5 steps, step by step0%You can build one course checkout or landing funnel, but Kajabi bundles site, course, community, email, automations, payments, analytics, and support.
You are building a lean indie version of Kajabi. Create the following project files first, then implement the application by following them. Keep the files updated as decisions change. Do not collapse this into a single README or prompt. ===== README.md ===== # Kajabi indie build ## Goal Build the smallest trustworthy replacement for the core Kajabi workflow for one developer or a tiny team. ## Scope Build the specific funnel/course/membership needed with Stripe, a CMS, email provider, and gated content. ## Quick start 1. Install the documented dependencies. 2. Copy `.env.example` to `.env`. 3. Run the development command chosen during implementation. 4. Complete the acceptance checks in `BUILD_PLAN.md`. ## Honest limits This build deliberately does not replace: - all-in-one stack - funnels - email automations - communities - course delivery - analytics - customer support If those capabilities are essential, use Moodle instead of pretending the gap is solved. ===== AGENTS.md ===== # Agent instructions - Optimize for a working, understandable weekend build. - Prefer the fewest moving parts that satisfy the brief. - Do not invent cryptography, security guarantees, APIs, or compliance claims. - Keep secrets out of source control and logs. - Add focused tests for destructive, security-sensitive, and data-loss paths. - Run the project checks before declaring the build complete. - Record any deliberate shortcut in the README under "Tradeoffs". ===== BUILD_PLAN.md ===== # Build plan ## Original build brief Build me a one-course sales-and-delivery site to replace Kajabi. Requirements: - Node + Express + better-sqlite3 on my own VPS behind a reverse proxy. One product, one price, that is the scope. - A server-rendered landing page: course pitch, curriculum list, and a Buy button that goes straight to Stripe Checkout (keys in .env). - A Stripe webhook marks the buyer enrolled and emails a magic sign-in link via Resend or SMTP (creds in .env). No passwords, magic links only. - Course content is a content/ folder of Markdown lessons with embedded video (self-hosted MP4 or unlisted Bunny/Vimeo links), rendered as an ordered lesson list with a per-student complete checkbox on each lesson. - Students table in SQLite: email, purchase date, Stripe id, lessons completed. - A small admin page on localhost only: enrollments, revenue total, and a button to comp someone free access. - No telemetry, no third-party analytics; the only external services are Stripe and the email sender. - Out of scope: email marketing automations, community features, funnels, and a multi-course catalog. One course, sold from one page. - README: Stripe webhook setup, .env keys, and how to add a lesson. ## Required capabilities - Stripe - email provider - CMS/course content - auth - hosting - analytics - automations ## Delivery order 1. Scaffold the smallest runnable application and document its commands. 2. Implement the primary data model and core workflow. 3. Add validation, safe failure states, and persistence. 4. Cover the critical path with automated tests. 5. Exercise a clean install from the README and fix every missing step. ## Done when - A new user can go from clone to first successful workflow using only the README. - The core workflow works without paid infrastructure unless the brief requires it. - Tests cover the highest-risk behavior. - Known limitations are explicit rather than hidden. ===== .env.example ===== # Copy to .env and document every variable when it is introduced. # Never put real credentials in this file. APP_ENV=development # Add only values required by the selected implementation.
You are building a lean indie version of Kajabi. Create the following project files first, then implement the application by following them. Keep the files updated as decisions change. Do not collapse this into a single README or prompt. ===== README.md ===== # Kajabi indie build ## Goal Build the smallest trustworthy replacement for the core Kajabi workflow for one developer or a tiny team. ## Scope Build the specific funnel/course/membership needed with Stripe, a CMS, email provider, and gated content. ## Quick start 1. Install the documented dependencies. 2. Copy `.env.example` to `.env`. 3. Run the development command chosen during implementation. 4. Complete the acceptance checks in `BUILD_PLAN.md`. ## Honest limits This build deliberately does not replace: - all-in-one stack - funnels - email automations - communities - course delivery - analytics - customer support If those capabilities are essential, use Moodle instead of pretending the gap is solved. ===== AGENTS.md ===== # Agent instructions - Optimize for a working, understandable weekend build. - Prefer the fewest moving parts that satisfy the brief. - Do not invent cryptography, security guarantees, APIs, or compliance claims. - Keep secrets out of source control and logs. - Add focused tests for destructive, security-sensitive, and data-loss paths. - Run the project checks before declaring the build complete. - Record any deliberate shortcut in the README under "Tradeoffs". ===== BUILD_PLAN.md ===== # Build plan ## Original build brief Build me a one-course sales-and-delivery site to replace Kajabi. Requirements: - Node + Express + better-sqlite3 on my own VPS behind a reverse proxy. One product, one price, that is the scope. - A server-rendered landing page: course pitch, curriculum list, and a Buy button that goes straight to Stripe Checkout (keys in .env). - A Stripe webhook marks the buyer enrolled and emails a magic sign-in link via Resend or SMTP (creds in .env). No passwords, magic links only. - Course content is a content/ folder of Markdown lessons with embedded video (self-hosted MP4 or unlisted Bunny/Vimeo links), rendered as an ordered lesson list with a per-student complete checkbox on each lesson. - Students table in SQLite: email, purchase date, Stripe id, lessons completed. - A small admin page on localhost only: enrollments, revenue total, and a button to comp someone free access. - No telemetry, no third-party analytics; the only external services are Stripe and the email sender. - Out of scope: email marketing automations, community features, funnels, and a multi-course catalog. One course, sold from one page. - README: Stripe webhook setup, .env keys, and how to add a lesson. ## Required capabilities - Stripe - email provider - CMS/course content - auth - hosting - analytics - automations ## Delivery order 1. Scaffold the smallest runnable application and document its commands. 2. Implement the primary data model and core workflow. 3. Add validation, safe failure states, and persistence. 4. Cover the critical path with automated tests. 5. Exercise a clean install from the README and fix every missing step. ## Done when - A new user can go from clone to first successful workflow using only the README. - The core workflow works without paid infrastructure unless the brief requires it. - Tests cover the highest-risk behavior. - Known limitations are explicit rather than hidden. ===== .env.example ===== # Copy to .env and document every variable when it is introduced. # Never put real credentials in this file. APP_ENV=development # Add only values required by the selected implementation.
You are building a production product version of Kajabi. Create the following project files first, then implement the application by following them. Keep the files updated as decisions change. Do not collapse this into a single README or prompt. ===== PRODUCT.md ===== # Kajabi product brief ## Problem You can build one course checkout or landing funnel, but Kajabi bundles site, course, community, email, automations, payments, analytics, and support. ## Product outcome Build the specific funnel/course/membership needed with Stripe, a CMS, email provider, and gated content. ## Target user A serious builder who needs a maintainable product foundation rather than a one-off demo. ## Required capabilities - Stripe - email provider - CMS/course content - auth - hosting - analytics - automations ## Explicit non-goals for v1 - all-in-one stack - funnels - email automations - communities - course delivery - analytics - customer support ## Success criteria - The primary workflow is measurable end to end. - Setup is reproducible in a clean environment. - Failure, recovery, and support paths are documented. - Product claims match what the implementation actually guarantees. ===== ARCHITECTURE.md ===== # Architecture ## Starting brief Build me a one-course sales-and-delivery site to replace Kajabi. Requirements: - Node + Express + better-sqlite3 on my own VPS behind a reverse proxy. One product, one price, that is the scope. - A server-rendered landing page: course pitch, curriculum list, and a Buy button that goes straight to Stripe Checkout (keys in .env). - A Stripe webhook marks the buyer enrolled and emails a magic sign-in link via Resend or SMTP (creds in .env). No passwords, magic links only. - Course content is a content/ folder of Markdown lessons with embedded video (self-hosted MP4 or unlisted Bunny/Vimeo links), rendered as an ordered lesson list with a per-student complete checkbox on each lesson. - Students table in SQLite: email, purchase date, Stripe id, lessons completed. - A small admin page on localhost only: enrollments, revenue total, and a button to comp someone free access. - No telemetry, no third-party analytics; the only external services are Stripe and the email sender. - Out of scope: email marketing automations, community features, funnels, and a multi-course catalog. One course, sold from one page. - README: Stripe webhook setup, .env keys, and how to add a lesson. ## Boundaries Separate the product into replaceable modules for interface, application logic, persistence, external integrations, and operational concerns. Keep domain logic independent from delivery frameworks and vendors. ## Production baseline - Configuration: validated at startup with safe local defaults where possible. - Security: least privilege, input validation, secret redaction, rate limits on abuse-prone paths, and no invented security primitives. - Data: explicit schema and migrations, transactional writes where integrity matters, backup and restore instructions. - Integrations: adapters around third-party providers, idempotent webhook or job processing, bounded retries, and timeouts. - Observability: structured logs with request or operation IDs, an error-tracking hook, and health/readiness checks where a server exists. - Quality: unit tests for domain rules, integration tests at module boundaries, and one end-to-end critical-path test. ## Decision records For each major dependency, document why it was chosen, its failure mode, and how it can be replaced. Do not introduce infrastructure until a requirement justifies it. ===== AGENTS.md ===== # Agent instructions - Read `PRODUCT.md` and `ARCHITECTURE.md` before changing code. - Implement milestone by milestone; keep each change reviewable and leave the application runnable. - Treat authentication, payments, encryption, imports, webhooks, and destructive actions as high-risk boundaries when present. - Never invent cryptography or silently weaken a requirement to make a test pass. - Use provider interfaces for external services and deterministic fakes in tests. - Add migrations and rollback or recovery notes for persistent data changes. - Log useful operational context without credentials, tokens, passwords, or personal data. - Update documentation and run all checks before completing a milestone. ===== MILESTONES.md ===== # Delivery milestones ## M0 — Decisions and scaffold - Confirm the runtime, persistence model, threat boundaries, and deployment target. - Create a reproducible local environment and continuous checks. ## M1 — Core workflow - Implement the smallest end-to-end product path with validation and tests. - Keep integrations behind interfaces. ## M2 — Trust layer - Add secure failure behavior, recovery paths, audit-relevant events, and data safeguards. - Test abuse cases and destructive operations. ## M3 — Operability - Add structured logs, error reporting hooks, health signals, backup/restore documentation, and deployment configuration. ## M4 — Release gate - Run a clean-install test, critical-path end-to-end test, dependency review, and documented rollback exercise. - Compare the shipped behavior with `PRODUCT.md` and publish remaining limitations. ===== OPERATIONS.md ===== # Operations ## Before release - Validate configuration and secrets at startup. - Define backup, restore, and rollback procedures and test them. - Document logs, error tracking, health signals, and alert ownership. - Set dependency update and vulnerability review expectations. ## Incident checklist 1. Contain the issue without destroying evidence or user data. 2. Record the timeline and affected scope. 3. Rotate exposed secrets and revoke compromised sessions or credentials. 4. Restore from a verified source when needed. 5. Document the root cause, remediation, and regression test. ## Launch constraint Do not market omitted Kajabi capabilities as implemented. The v1 non-goals in `PRODUCT.md` remain user-visible limitations until they are deliberately delivered.
# Kajabi indie build ## Goal Build the smallest trustworthy replacement for the core Kajabi workflow for one developer or a tiny team. ## Scope Build the specific funnel/course/membership needed with Stripe, a CMS, email provider, and gated content. ## Quick start 1. Install the documented dependencies. 2. Copy `.env.example` to `.env`. 3. Run the development command chosen during implementation. 4. Complete the acceptance checks in `BUILD_PLAN.md`. ## Honest limits This build deliberately does not replace: - all-in-one stack - funnels - email automations - communities - course delivery - analytics - customer support If those capabilities are essential, use Moodle instead of pretending the gap is solved.
# Agent instructions - Optimize for a working, understandable weekend build. - Prefer the fewest moving parts that satisfy the brief. - Do not invent cryptography, security guarantees, APIs, or compliance claims. - Keep secrets out of source control and logs. - Add focused tests for destructive, security-sensitive, and data-loss paths. - Run the project checks before declaring the build complete. - Record any deliberate shortcut in the README under "Tradeoffs".
# Build plan ## Original build brief Build me a one-course sales-and-delivery site to replace Kajabi. Requirements: - Node + Express + better-sqlite3 on my own VPS behind a reverse proxy. One product, one price, that is the scope. - A server-rendered landing page: course pitch, curriculum list, and a Buy button that goes straight to Stripe Checkout (keys in .env). - A Stripe webhook marks the buyer enrolled and emails a magic sign-in link via Resend or SMTP (creds in .env). No passwords, magic links only. - Course content is a content/ folder of Markdown lessons with embedded video (self-hosted MP4 or unlisted Bunny/Vimeo links), rendered as an ordered lesson list with a per-student complete checkbox on each lesson. - Students table in SQLite: email, purchase date, Stripe id, lessons completed. - A small admin page on localhost only: enrollments, revenue total, and a button to comp someone free access. - No telemetry, no third-party analytics; the only external services are Stripe and the email sender. - Out of scope: email marketing automations, community features, funnels, and a multi-course catalog. One course, sold from one page. - README: Stripe webhook setup, .env keys, and how to add a lesson. ## Required capabilities - Stripe - email provider - CMS/course content - auth - hosting - analytics - automations ## Delivery order 1. Scaffold the smallest runnable application and document its commands. 2. Implement the primary data model and core workflow. 3. Add validation, safe failure states, and persistence. 4. Cover the critical path with automated tests. 5. Exercise a clean install from the README and fix every missing step. ## Done when - A new user can go from clone to first successful workflow using only the README. - The core workflow works without paid infrastructure unless the brief requires it. - Tests cover the highest-risk behavior. - Known limitations are explicit rather than hidden.
# Copy to .env and document every variable when it is introduced. # Never put real credentials in this file. APP_ENV=development # Add only values required by the selected implementation.
# Kajabi product brief ## Problem You can build one course checkout or landing funnel, but Kajabi bundles site, course, community, email, automations, payments, analytics, and support. ## Product outcome Build the specific funnel/course/membership needed with Stripe, a CMS, email provider, and gated content. ## Target user A serious builder who needs a maintainable product foundation rather than a one-off demo. ## Required capabilities - Stripe - email provider - CMS/course content - auth - hosting - analytics - automations ## Explicit non-goals for v1 - all-in-one stack - funnels - email automations - communities - course delivery - analytics - customer support ## Success criteria - The primary workflow is measurable end to end. - Setup is reproducible in a clean environment. - Failure, recovery, and support paths are documented. - Product claims match what the implementation actually guarantees.
# Architecture ## Starting brief Build me a one-course sales-and-delivery site to replace Kajabi. Requirements: - Node + Express + better-sqlite3 on my own VPS behind a reverse proxy. One product, one price, that is the scope. - A server-rendered landing page: course pitch, curriculum list, and a Buy button that goes straight to Stripe Checkout (keys in .env). - A Stripe webhook marks the buyer enrolled and emails a magic sign-in link via Resend or SMTP (creds in .env). No passwords, magic links only. - Course content is a content/ folder of Markdown lessons with embedded video (self-hosted MP4 or unlisted Bunny/Vimeo links), rendered as an ordered lesson list with a per-student complete checkbox on each lesson. - Students table in SQLite: email, purchase date, Stripe id, lessons completed. - A small admin page on localhost only: enrollments, revenue total, and a button to comp someone free access. - No telemetry, no third-party analytics; the only external services are Stripe and the email sender. - Out of scope: email marketing automations, community features, funnels, and a multi-course catalog. One course, sold from one page. - README: Stripe webhook setup, .env keys, and how to add a lesson. ## Boundaries Separate the product into replaceable modules for interface, application logic, persistence, external integrations, and operational concerns. Keep domain logic independent from delivery frameworks and vendors. ## Production baseline - Configuration: validated at startup with safe local defaults where possible. - Security: least privilege, input validation, secret redaction, rate limits on abuse-prone paths, and no invented security primitives. - Data: explicit schema and migrations, transactional writes where integrity matters, backup and restore instructions. - Integrations: adapters around third-party providers, idempotent webhook or job processing, bounded retries, and timeouts. - Observability: structured logs with request or operation IDs, an error-tracking hook, and health/readiness checks where a server exists. - Quality: unit tests for domain rules, integration tests at module boundaries, and one end-to-end critical-path test. ## Decision records For each major dependency, document why it was chosen, its failure mode, and how it can be replaced. Do not introduce infrastructure until a requirement justifies it.
# Agent instructions - Read `PRODUCT.md` and `ARCHITECTURE.md` before changing code. - Implement milestone by milestone; keep each change reviewable and leave the application runnable. - Treat authentication, payments, encryption, imports, webhooks, and destructive actions as high-risk boundaries when present. - Never invent cryptography or silently weaken a requirement to make a test pass. - Use provider interfaces for external services and deterministic fakes in tests. - Add migrations and rollback or recovery notes for persistent data changes. - Log useful operational context without credentials, tokens, passwords, or personal data. - Update documentation and run all checks before completing a milestone.
# Delivery milestones ## M0 — Decisions and scaffold - Confirm the runtime, persistence model, threat boundaries, and deployment target. - Create a reproducible local environment and continuous checks. ## M1 — Core workflow - Implement the smallest end-to-end product path with validation and tests. - Keep integrations behind interfaces. ## M2 — Trust layer - Add secure failure behavior, recovery paths, audit-relevant events, and data safeguards. - Test abuse cases and destructive operations. ## M3 — Operability - Add structured logs, error reporting hooks, health signals, backup/restore documentation, and deployment configuration. ## M4 — Release gate - Run a clean-install test, critical-path end-to-end test, dependency review, and documented rollback exercise. - Compare the shipped behavior with `PRODUCT.md` and publish remaining limitations.
# Operations ## Before release - Validate configuration and secrets at startup. - Define backup, restore, and rollback procedures and test them. - Document logs, error tracking, health signals, and alert ownership. - Set dependency update and vulnerability review expectations. ## Incident checklist 1. Contain the issue without destroying evidence or user data. 2. Record the timeline and affected scope. 3. Rotate exposed secrets and revoke compromised sessions or credentials. 4. Restore from a verified source when needed. 5. Document the root cause, remediation, and regression test. ## Launch constraint Do not market omitted Kajabi capabilities as implemented. The v1 non-goals in `PRODUCT.md` remain user-visible limitations until they are deliberately delivered.
$ choose a build depth, inspect the files, then open the complete pack in your agent · this prompt is generated from the build plan · improve it via PR
They pay to avoid stitching and maintaining a dozen creator-business tools.
xall-in-one stack
xfunnels
xemail automations
xcommunities
xcourse delivery
xanalytics
xcustomer support
Don't feel like building it? These folks already made it free.
no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real
Kajabi pricing
| plan | monthly | annual (per mo) | what you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| basic | $179/workspace | $143/workspace | 5 products; 2,500 contacts; 1 website; 1 community; 2 admin users; 0 included AI credits. |
| growth | $249/workspace | $199/workspace | 50 products; 25,000 contacts; 1 website; 1 community; 11 admin users; 500 AI credits. |
| pro | $499/workspace | $399/workspace | Unlimited products; 100,000 contacts; 3 websites; 3 communities; 26 admin users; 1,000 AI credits. |
free tierno free tier; 14-day trial
billingmonthly + annual (-20%)
hidden costsKajabi Payments rates are 2.9% + $0.30 / 2.8% + $0.30 / 2.7% + $0.30; third-party gateways add 2% / 1% / 0.5%. Basic/Growth pay $199/month for a branded app and $25/month for public API access; 500 AI-credit top-ups are $15; extra Backstage seats are listed at $20/seat/month on the detailed help page.
verified 2026-08-14 · source ↗
Vibecode Kajabi
Kinda. The core of Kajabi is buildable in a weekend with the prompt on this page, but there are real gaps: all-in-one stack, funnels. Read the honest list above before committing.
How much does Kajabi cost?
Kajabi costs about $179/month (Basic, checked 2026-07-30), which is $2148 per year.
What do I lose by replacing Kajabi?
Honestly: all-in-one stack; funnels; email automations; communities; course delivery; analytics; customer support. If any of those are load-bearing for you, keep paying.
Is there an open-source alternative to Kajabi?
Yes: CourseLit (Courses, downloads, pages, email automation and paid communities in one self-hosted product; bookings remain elsewhere.) systeme.io (One course, three funnels, email, a community and 2,000 contacts for free; enough for a small business, not a growing empire.) The prompt is for when you want it exactly your way.