Kahana
Chicago, Illinois, United States
What it is
Kahana is a digital library for creators who assemble and share hubs, and learners who browse and open them. Each hub brings together files, notes, links, and collaborators, and begins as a private space. Hubs support uploaded images, video, audio, PDFs, Office documents, and ZIP files, as well as YouTube and webpage embeds. PDFs open in Kahana’s reader; public-domain or openly licensed ebooks can be imported from Internet Archive. Clubs offer a place to read, make lists, and talk together, and new clubs also begin private. Role-based access controls are available. Creators can charge once or monthly for hub access through Stripe Connect, even on the Free plan. Free costs $0.00 per free and includes three hubs, 10 counted uploads per hub, unlimited members, files up to 5 MB, and custom hub and profile URLs. Growth costs $29.99/mo and includes unlimited hubs and uploads, files up to 5 GB, 100 GB of cloud storage, and priority live chat. Transaction fees are 5% on Free and 3% on Growth, separate from Stripe processing. The web app works in desktop and mobile browsers.
For and against
For
- Hubs combine files, notes, links, and collaborators.
- Supports video, audio, documents, and web embeds.
- PDF reader and Internet Archive ebook import.
- Role-based access controls.
- Free plan permits paid hub access.
Against
- Free limits uploads to 10 per hub.
- Free files are limited to 5 MB.
- Free and Growth charge transaction fees.
- Paid content is not guaranteed DRM protection.
The verdict
Kahana combines private-by-default hubs, reading tools, and clubs in a web app. Compare the upload limits and transaction fees with how you plan to share or monetize content.
Who it suits
Kahana suits creators who want to organize and share curated hubs, and learners looking to browse and open them. It may also fit creators charging for access to their hubs.
Plans and prices
Free
3 hubs · 10 counted uploads per hub · Unlimited members · Files up to 5 MB
Read 8 Oct 2026 · newsroom.kahana.io
Growth
Unlimited hubs and uploads · Unlimited members · Files up to 5 GB · 100 GB cloud storage
Read 8 Oct 2026 · newsroom.kahana.io
On the record
- Community
- Clubs are groups for reading, listing, and talking together; new clubs start private.newsroom.kahana.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Content protection
- Kahana says paid content uses short-lived file links and access checks, while noting that this is not a DRM guarantee.newsroom.kahana.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Fees
- The pricing page states a 5% transaction fee on Free and 3% on Growth, separate from Stripe processing.newsroom.kahana.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Files and embeds
- Hubs can contain uploaded images, video, audio, PDFs, Office documents, and ZIP files, plus YouTube and webpage embeds.newsroom.kahana.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Hubs
- A hub is a curated place for files, notes, links, and collaborators, and starts private.newsroom.kahana.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Kahana’s pricing comparison lists YouTube and webpage embeds and Internet Archive ebook import among its included features.newsroom.kahana.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- Kahana describes the product as serving creators who build and share hubs and learners who browse, save, and open them.newsroom.kahana.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Monetization
- Creators can offer one-time or monthly paid hub access using Stripe Connect, including on the Free plan.newsroom.kahana.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Platform
- Kahana’s pricing page lists a web app for desktop and mobile browsers.newsroom.kahana.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Product
- Kahana describes itself as a digital library for hubs, clubs, and files.newsroom.kahana.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Reading
- PDFs open in Kahana’s reader, and public-domain or openly licensed ebooks can be imported from Internet Archive.newsroom.kahana.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Security and trust
- Kahana says adult hubs require login and age verification, and that it is not a DRM guarantee.newsroom.kahana.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Support
- The pricing comparison lists Help Center and tickets for Free and priority live chat for Growth.newsroom.kahana.io · read 8 Oct 2026
