In today’s competitive online environment, changing visitors to customers is the essential target for any online business. This is where sales funnel software becomes essential, and ClickFunnels remains one of the most established names in this space.
Created by Russell Brunson in 2014, ClickFunnels has reshaped the way marketers and organizations conduct online sales, striving to improve the customer journey from first interaction to final purchase.
But is ClickFunnels a good value? Does it deliver on its promises? Whether you’re a marketing professional or launching your first venture, this complete review will provide you with all the details you need to make an well-informed choice about ClickFunnels.
What Is ClickFunnels?
ClickFunnels is an integrated marketing platform created to help businesses develop optimized sales funnels without requiring technical expertise or a team of developers. At its heart, ClickFunnels allows users to create landing pages, establish email sequences, process payments, and supervise customer relationships-all within a single platform.
The Fundamentals of Sales Funnels
In advance of diving deeper into ClickFunnels, it’s necessary to understand what a sales funnel is. A sales funnel symbolizes the path customers go through from first encountering your product or service to buying.
It typically includes stages like visibility, curiosity, evaluation, and action.
Typical web pages are often constructed without a clear path for visitors to follow. This can cause high bounce rates and forfeited potential customers. Sales funnels, on the other hand, are strategically designed to guide visitors through a planned path, improving the likelihood of positive outcomes at each step.
ClickFunnels’ Philosophy
ClickFunnels has streamlined the process of creating these funnels with its user-friendly editor and ready-made templates. The platform’s concept centers around not just developing web pages but creating effective conversion paths that convert visitors into customers and customers into brand ambassadors.
Primary Elements of ClickFunnels
1. Funnel Builder
The center of ClickFunnels is its user-friendly funnel builder. Users can select a variety of funnel types, including:
- Opt-in funnels: Created to collect email addresses
- Sales funnels: For selling products or services
- Webinar funnels: To publicize and register users for webinars
- Membership funnels: For recurring products
The intuitive interface makes it easy to add features like text, images, videos, forms, and buttons without writing a single line of code.
2. Template Templates
ClickFunnels includes over many prepared templates for various industries and purposes. These templates, created by marketing specialists, are optimized for conversions and can be personalized to match your brand.
3. Split Testing
Identifying what engages your audience is key for improving conversions. ClickFunnels’ A/B testing feature allows you to create multiple versions of your pages and compare different elements to see which converts higher.
4. Email Marketing
ClickFunnels includes email marketing capabilities, allowing you to create automated email sequences triggered by specific actions. This feature helps foster leads and push them further down the sales funnel.
5. Transaction Handling
The platform seamlessly integrates with payment processors like different payment solutions, empowering you to accept payments straight through your funnels without transferring customers to external sites.
6. Member Sections
For entrepreneurs selling courses or subscription content, ClickFunnels provides the ability to create restricted membership areas where customers can access protected content.
7. Data Analysis
ClickFunnels offers detailed analytics on funnel results, including page views, conversions, and earnings. These metrics help users improve their funnels for higher results.
8. Partner Program Tools
If you have an affiliate program, ClickFunnels makes it easy to oversee your affiliates, measure their performance, and distribute commission payments.
ClickFunnels 2.0: The Upgrade
In 2022, ClickFunnels released its most major update: ClickFunnels 2.0. This new version marks a complete reconstruction of the platform with improved features and capabilities.
Improvements in 2.0?
- Better Website Builder: A more comprehensive website builder that allows for complete website creation, not just funnels
- Advanced E-commerce Capabilities: Better product management, inventory tracking, and order fulfillment
- Blog Creation: The ability to produce and manage a blog directly within ClickFunnels
- Improved Customization: More adaptability in design and functionality
- Enhanced User Interface: A more streamlined dashboard and editor
- Speed Enhancements: Faster page loading times and better mobile responsiveness
- Advanced CRM Features: More advanced customer relationship management tools
The upgrade to 2.0 resolves many of the shortcomings users experienced with the original version, making it a more comprehensive marketing solution.
Price Plans
ClickFunnels includes different pricing tiers to serve businesses of various sizes:
Fundamental Plan
The Basic plan (now called the “Standard” plan in ClickFunnels 2.0) is priced at $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
Professional Plan
At $197 per month, the Pro plan offers:
- Unlimited funnels
- Unlimited pages
- 9 payment gateways
- 9 domains
- 3 admin users
- Advanced automation
- Enhanced analytics
Ultimate Plan
For $997 per month, the Funnel Hacker plan delivers:
- 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 come with a 14-day free trial, allowing users to experience the platform before deciding financially.
The Positives of Using ClickFunnels
1. Comprehensive Solution
Perhaps the largest advantage of ClickFunnels is that it merges multiple tools into one platform. Instead of coordinating different services for landing pages, email marketing, payment processing, and membership sites, users can manage all these aspects in one place.
2. No Technical Background Required
The platform’s drag-and-drop interface removes the need for coding or design skills. This makes accessible the funnel-building process, making it manageable to entrepreneurs without technical backgrounds.
3. Quick Setup
With ready-made templates and a streamlined workflow, ClickFunnels significantly minimizes the time needed to initiate a marketing campaign. What might take weeks with custom development can be completed in days or even hours.
4. Support Network
ClickFunnels has established a engaged community of users who provide strategies, successes, and advice. The official ClickFunnels Facebook group has over 250,000 members, creating a useful resource for marketers at all levels. Additionally, the platform offers thorough documentation, tutorials, and responsive customer support.
5. Validated Conversion Frameworks
The templates and funnel structures within ClickFunnels are built upon proven marketing principles and tested conversion strategies. This means users leverage established best practices rather than beginning anew.
6. Educational Resources
Beyond the software itself, ClickFunnels offers a wealth of educational resources. Russell Brunson’s books, such as “DotCom Secrets” and “Expert Secrets,” provide useful marketing insights, while the ClickFunnels training programs offer systematic learning opportunities.
Disadvantages and Drawbacks
Despite its many strengths, ClickFunnels isn’t without limitations:
1. Price Point
Starting at $147 per month, ClickFunnels represents a substantial investment, especially for freelancers or startups with limited budgets. Many competitors offer more budget-friendly entry-level options.
2. Training Requirement
While designed to be easy to use, mastering all of ClickFunnels’ features and understanding funnel strategy calls for time and dedication. New users might feel daunted by the platform’s capabilities.
3. Restricted Design Flexibility
Though the visual editor is capable, designers accustomed to more advanced tools might find it inflexible. The balance between simplicity and flexibility sometimes leans toward the former.
4. Page Response Time
Prior to 2.0, some users reported difficulties with page loading speed, which can negatively impact SEO and user experience. While ClickFunnels 2.0 has improved performance, optimizing for speed takes attention.
5. Email Marketing Restrictions
While ClickFunnels includes email marketing features, they’re not as advanced as dedicated email marketing platforms. Power users might still need additional tools for sophisticated email campaigns.
ClickFunnels Alternatives: How They Compare
The sales funnel and landing page builder market has become increasingly crowded. Here’s how ClickFunnels stacks up against its main competitors:
1. Kartra
Advantages relative to ClickFunnels:
- More complete marketing automation
- Built-in video hosting and advanced video marketing features
- More advanced email marketing capabilities
- Helpdesk and ticket system included
Disadvantages:
- Steeper learning curve
- Fewer templates specifically optimized for sales funnels
- Less active community
2. Leadpages
Benefits:
- More economical entry point ($37/month)
- Strong focus on lead generation
- Excellent mobile-responsive designs
- Solid WordPress integration
Disadvantages:
- Less complete than ClickFunnels (primarily focuses on landing pages)
- Limited checkout and payment processing options
- No built-in email marketing
3. Unbounce
Strengths:
- Advanced A/B testing capabilities
- Highly customizable design options
- Strong analytics and conversion intelligence
- More affordable starting point
Limitations:
- Primarily focused on landing pages rather than complete funnels
- No built-in payment processing
- Less straightforward for non-technical users
4. Systeme.io
Positives:
- Significantly more economical (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 robust feature set
- Smaller community and fewer educational resources
5. Instapage
Positives:
- Superior design flexibility and customization
- Advanced collaboration features
- Excellent analytics and heatmaps
- Strong AdWords and Facebook Ads integration
Disadvantages:
- 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)
Advantages:
- Most inexpensive option if you already have WordPress
- Ultimate flexibility and customization
- Complete ownership and control
- One-time purchases versus subscription model
Limitations:
- 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 Should Use ClickFunnels?
ClickFunnels is particularly perfect for:
1. Course Developers and Coaches
The platform is optimized for creating sales funnels for digital products like courses, coaching programs, and membership sites. The built-in membership functionality makes it simple to deliver content to paying customers.
2. Online Retail Businesses
With ClickFunnels 2.0’s improved e-commerce features, online retailers can create effective product funnels that grow average order value through upsells, downsells, and order bumps.
3. B2B Service Businesses
Professionals, agencies, and service providers can use ClickFunnels to produce leads, book appointments, and sell service packages without complex website development.
4. Commission Marketers
The platform’s optimization for conversions makes it appropriate for affiliate marketers looking to maximize their commissions from promotional campaigns.
5. Content Creators and Content Creators
ClickFunnels provides effective book funnel templates that help authors market books while collecting reader information for long-term relationship building.
6. Technically Challenged Entrepreneurs
Those without coding or design skills will welcome ClickFunnels’ simple interface and pre-built templates.
Who Should Explore Other Options Elsewhere?
ClickFunnels may not be the ideal choice for:
1. New Ventures with Limited Budgets
The monthly investment might be costly for businesses just starting out or with tight marketing budgets.
2. Content-Heavy Websites
Businesses that rely heavily on blog content and SEO might find traditional CMS platforms like WordPress more fitting, though ClickFunnels 2.0 has made improvements in this area.
3. Design Specialists Seeking Complete Creative Control
Those who require flawless designs and extensive customization might prefer platforms with more design flexibility.
4. Corporate Businesses with Complex Requirements
Very large organizations with complex integration needs and custom requirements might need more dedicated 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
Opt for a funnel template that corresponds to your specific goal, whether it’s lead generation, product sales, or webinar registration.
2. Emphasize One Funnel at a Time
Rather than trying to build multiple funnels simultaneously, focus on creating and optimizing one performing funnel before moving on to the next.
3. Leverage the Training Resources
Take advantage of the comprehensive training materials, including ClickFunnels’ onboarding sequence and the FunnelFlix training library.
4. Engage with the Community
The ClickFunnels Facebook group provides important insights and support from fellow users who can help solve issues or suggest optimization strategies.
5. Evaluate and Optimize
Use the A/B testing features to regularly refine your funnels based on actual user behavior and conversion data.
6. Start with Ready-made Templates
Rather than building from scratch, customize existing high-converting templates to match your brand and offering.
Final Thoughts: Is ClickFunnels Worth It?
ClickFunnels represents a substantial investment, but for many businesses, the yield on that investment can be remarkable. The platform’s strength lies in its ability to ease the complex process of creating effective sales funnels while providing the tools needed to nurture leads and convert customers.
The decision ultimately hinges on your specific business needs, technical comfort level, and budget. If you’re serious about optimizing your online sales process and appreciate an all-in-one solution that doesn’t require technical expertise, ClickFunnels offers a appealing package-especially with the upgraded capabilities of ClickFunnels 2.0.
For businesses that can afford the monthly subscription and are serious about implementing effective sales funnels, ClickFunnels provides both the tools and the strategic framework to thrive in today’s competitive digital landscape. The platform regularly evolve, addressing previous limitations and increasing its capabilities to serve a broader range of marketing needs.
Whether you’re selling downloadable items, retail products, or consulting, ClickFunnels offers a direct path from stranger to customer-and that, for many businesses, is deserving of the investment.