In the modern e-commerce world, transforming browsers into purchasers is the key focus for every digital enterprise. This is where sales funnel software demonstrates importance, and ClickFunnels remains one of the most recognized names in this space.
Founded by Russell Brunson in 2014, ClickFunnels has reimagined the way businesses and digital marketers manage online sales, working to simplify the customer journey from first interaction to conversion.
But is ClickFunnels worth pursuing? Does it match its expectations? Whether you’re a digital marketing veteran or launching your first venture, this comprehensive review will provide you with all the details you need to make an educated judgment about ClickFunnels.
Introducing ClickFunnels?
ClickFunnels is an unified marketing platform designed to help businesses build optimized sales funnels without requiring technical expertise or a team of developers. At its center, ClickFunnels allows users to design landing pages, establish email sequences, handle payments, and administer customer relationships-all within a centralized platform.
The Idea of Sales Funnels
Ahead of diving deeper into ClickFunnels, it’s crucial to understand what a sales funnel is. A sales funnel represents the path customers go through from being introduced to your product or service to buying.
It typically includes parts like visibility, appeal, evaluation, and purchase.
Traditional websites are often built without a defined route for visitors to follow. This can produce high bounce rates and lost potential customers. Sales funnels, alternatively, are intentionally built to navigate visitors through a defined path, enhancing the likelihood of sales at each step.
ClickFunnels’ Philosophy
ClickFunnels has reduced complexity in the process of creating these funnels with its point-and-click editor and ready-to-use templates. The platform’s philosophy centers around not just creating web pages but creating impactful conversion paths that transform visitors into customers and customers into brand ambassadors.
Main Capabilities of ClickFunnels
1. Funnel Creator
The essence of ClickFunnels is its user-friendly funnel builder. Users can choose from a variety of funnel types, including:
- Opt-in funnels: Made to collect email addresses
- Sales funnels: For selling products or services
- Webinar funnels: To advertise and register users for webinars
- Membership funnels: For ongoing products
The point-and-click interface makes it easy to add features like text, images, videos, forms, and buttons without writing a single line of code.
2. Pre-designed Templates
ClickFunnels delivers over 100 ready-made templates for various industries and purposes. These templates, crafted by marketing specialists, are structured for performance and can be tailored to match your brand.
3. Comparative Testing
Knowing what resonates with your audience is critical for maximizing conversions. ClickFunnels’ A/B testing option allows you to develop multiple versions of your pages and test different elements to see which delivers better results.
4. Email Automation
ClickFunnels features email marketing capabilities, allowing you to design automated email sequences started by specific actions. This feature helps foster leads and push them further down the sales funnel.
5. Billing Integration
The platform flawlessly integrates with payment processors like different payment solutions, empowering you to accept payments immediately through your funnels without transferring customers to external sites.
6. Subscription Areas
For experts selling courses or subscription content, ClickFunnels offers the ability to create restricted membership areas where subscribers can access restricted content.
7. Performance Tracking
ClickFunnels provides detailed analytics on funnel metrics, including page views, conversions, and earnings. These data help users optimize their funnels for greater results.
8. Affiliate Management
If you have an affiliate program, ClickFunnels makes it easy to handle your affiliates, track their performance, and administer commission payments.
ClickFunnels 2.0: The Advancement
In 2022, ClickFunnels released its most noteworthy update: ClickFunnels 2.0. This new version marks a complete revamp of the platform with expanded features and capabilities.
Enhancements in 2.0?
- Better Website Builder: A more comprehensive website builder that allows for full website creation, not just funnels
- Improved E-commerce Capabilities: Better product management, inventory tracking, and order fulfillment
- Blog Creation: The ability to build and run a blog directly within ClickFunnels
- Sophisticated Customization: More freedom in design and functionality
- Better User Interface: A cleaner dashboard and editor
- Technical Improvements: Faster page loading times and better mobile responsiveness
- Advanced CRM Features: More comprehensive customer relationship management tools
The upgrade to 2.0 resolves many of the restrictions users experienced with the original version, making it a more robust marketing solution.
Cost Options
ClickFunnels offers different pricing tiers to support businesses of various sizes:
Fundamental Plan
The Basic plan (now called the “Standard” plan in ClickFunnels 2.0) costs $147 per month and includes:
- Up to 20 funnels
- Up to 100 pages
- 3 payment gateways
- 3 domains
- 1 admin user
- Email automation
- Basic analytics
Plus Plan
At $197 per month, the Pro plan features:
- Unlimited funnels
- Unlimited pages
- 9 payment gateways
- 9 domains
- 3 admin users
- Advanced automation
- Enhanced analytics
Elite Plan
For $997 per month, the Funnel Hacker plan provides:
- All Pro features
- Unlimited funnels and pages
- 27 payment gateways
- 27 domains
- 15 admin users
- Priority support
- Advanced API access
- Advanced training
All plans typically offer a 14-day free trial, allowing users to evaluate the platform before subscribing financially.
The Advantages of Using ClickFunnels
1. Complete Solution
Perhaps the largest advantage of ClickFunnels is that it combines multiple tools into one platform. Instead of switching between different services for landing pages, email marketing, payment processing, and membership sites, users can operate all these aspects in one place.
2. No Development Experience Required
The platform’s drag-and-drop interface takes away the need for coding or design skills. This democratizes the funnel-building process, making it manageable to entrepreneurs without technical backgrounds.
3. Fast Implementation
With existing templates and a efficient workflow, ClickFunnels significantly cuts the time needed to initiate a marketing campaign. What might take weeks with custom development can be completed in days or even hours.
4. Community and Support
ClickFunnels has created a vibrant community of users who share strategies, successes, and advice. The official ClickFunnels Facebook group has over 250,000 members, creating a beneficial resource for marketers at all levels. Additionally, the platform offers complete documentation, tutorials, and responsive customer support.
5. Validated Conversion Frameworks
The templates and funnel structures within ClickFunnels are created from proven marketing principles and tested conversion strategies. This means users benefit from established best practices rather than working from nothing.
6. Knowledge Base
Beyond the software itself, ClickFunnels offers a variety of educational resources. Russell Brunson’s books, such as “DotCom Secrets” and “Expert Secrets,” provide insightful marketing insights, while the ClickFunnels training programs offer structured learning opportunities.
Disadvantages and Drawbacks
Despite its many advantages, ClickFunnels isn’t without limitations:
1. Pricing
Starting at $147 per month, ClickFunnels represents a significant investment, especially for one-person operations or startups with limited budgets. Many competitors offer more cost-effective entry-level options.
2. Training Requirement
While designed to be user-friendly, mastering all of ClickFunnels’ features and understanding funnel strategy demands time and dedication. New users might feel overwhelmed by the platform’s capabilities.
3. Finite Design Flexibility
Though the intuitive editor is capable, designers accustomed to more advanced tools might find it limiting. The balance between simplicity and flexibility sometimes prioritizes the former.
4. Page Performance
Prior to 2.0, some users reported difficulties with page loading speed, which can hurt SEO and user experience. While ClickFunnels 2.0 has improved performance, optimizing for speed requires attention.
5. Email Marketing Restrictions
While ClickFunnels features email marketing features, they’re not as robust as dedicated email marketing platforms. Power users might still need additional tools for advanced email campaigns.
ClickFunnels Rivals: How They Compare
The sales funnel and landing page builder market has become increasingly competitive. Here’s how ClickFunnels fares against its main competitors:
1. Kartra
Advantages relative to ClickFunnels:
- More all-encompassing marketing automation
- Built-in video hosting and advanced video marketing features
- More capable email marketing capabilities
- Helpdesk and ticket system included
Drawbacks:
- Steeper learning curve
- Fewer templates specifically optimized for sales funnels
- Less active community
2. Leadpages
Strong points:
- More economical entry point ($37/month)
- Strong focus on lead generation
- Excellent mobile-responsive designs
- Solid WordPress integration
Drawbacks:
- Less full-featured than ClickFunnels (primarily focuses on landing pages)
- Limited checkout and payment processing options
- No built-in email marketing
3. Unbounce
Advantages:
- Advanced A/B testing capabilities
- Highly versatile design options
- Strong analytics and conversion intelligence
- More affordable starting point
Shortcomings:
- Primarily focused on landing pages rather than complete funnels
- No built-in payment processing
- Less user-friendly for non-technical users
4. Systeme.io
Benefits:
- Significantly more cost-effective (starting at $27/month, with a free plan available)
- All-in-one solution similar to ClickFunnels
- Simple, intuitive interface
Disadvantages:
- Fewer templates and design options
- Less powerful feature set
- Smaller community and fewer educational resources
5. Instapage
Strong points:
- Superior design flexibility and customization
- Advanced collaboration features
- Excellent analytics and heatmaps
- Strong AdWords and Facebook Ads integration
Limitations:
- Higher price point (starting at $149/month)
- Focus on landing pages rather than complete funnels
- No built-in payment processing
6. WordPress + Plugins (DIY Approach)
Strong points:
- Most economical option if you already have WordPress
- Ultimate flexibility and customization
- Complete ownership and control
- One-time purchases versus subscription model
Shortcomings:
- Requires technical knowledge to set up and maintain
- Multiple plugins may cause compatibility issues
- No unified support system
- Time-intensive to implement and manage
Who Would Benefit From ClickFunnels?
ClickFunnels is particularly ideal for:
1. Digital Educators and Coaches
The platform specializes in creating sales funnels for digital products like courses, coaching programs, and membership sites. The built-in membership functionality makes it straightforward to deliver content to paying customers.
2. Web Store Businesses
With ClickFunnels 2.0’s enhanced e-commerce features, online retailers can create effective product funnels that grow average order value through upsells, downsells, and order bumps.
3. Professional Services Businesses
Professionals, agencies, and service providers can use ClickFunnels to obtain leads, book appointments, and sell service packages without complex website development.
4. Digital Affiliates
The platform’s optimization for conversions makes it suitable for affiliate marketers looking to optimize their commissions from promotional campaigns.
5. Writers and Content Creators
ClickFunnels provides effective book funnel templates that help authors sell books while collecting reader information for long-term relationship building.
6. Code-Averse Entrepreneurs
Those without coding or design skills will benefit from ClickFunnels’ simple interface and pre-built templates.
Who Should Explore Other Options Elsewhere?
ClickFunnels may not be the best fit for:
1. New Ventures with Limited Budgets
The monthly investment might be too high for businesses just starting out or with tight marketing budgets.
2. Publishing-Oriented Websites
Businesses that rely heavily on blog content and SEO might find traditional CMS platforms like WordPress more beneficial, though ClickFunnels 2.0 has made improvements in this area.
3. Advanced Designers Seeking Complete Creative Control
Those who require flawless designs and extensive customization might prefer platforms with more design flexibility.
4. Large Scale Businesses with Complex Requirements
Very large organizations with complex integration needs and custom requirements might need more bespoke solutions.
Launching with ClickFunnels: Tips for Success
If you decide to try ClickFunnels, here are some tips to maximize your experience:
1. Start with the Right Funnel Type
Choose a funnel template that suits your specific goal, whether it’s lead generation, product sales, or webinar registration.
2. Prioritize One Funnel at a Time
Rather than trying to build multiple funnels simultaneously, focus on creating and optimizing one successful funnel before moving on to the next.
3. Leverage the Training Resources
Take advantage of the extensive training materials, including ClickFunnels’ onboarding sequence and the FunnelFlix training library.
4. Connect with the Community
The ClickFunnels Facebook group provides valuable insights and support from fellow users who can help troubleshoot issues or suggest optimization strategies.
5. Try and Optimize
Use the A/B testing features to continuously refine your funnels based on actual user behavior and conversion data.
6. Start with Available Templates
Rather than building from scratch, adjust existing high-converting templates to match your brand and offering.
Final Thoughts: Is ClickFunnels Worth It?
ClickFunnels represents a significant investment, but for many businesses, the benefit on that investment can be substantial. The platform’s strength lies in its ability to streamline the complex process of creating effective sales funnels while providing the tools needed to nurture leads and convert customers.
The decision ultimately comes down to your specific business needs, technical comfort level, and budget. If you’re serious about optimizing your online sales process and value an all-in-one solution that doesn’t require technical expertise, ClickFunnels offers a compelling package-especially with the enhanced capabilities of ClickFunnels 2.0.
For businesses that can handle the monthly subscription and are dedicated to implementing effective sales funnels, ClickFunnels provides both the tools and the strategic framework to excel in today’s competitive digital landscape. The platform consistently evolve, solving previous limitations and extending its capabilities to serve a broader range of marketing needs.
Whether you’re selling online courses, merchandise, or services, ClickFunnels offers a streamlined path from stranger to customer-and that, for many businesses, is warranted for the investment.