ThriveCart vs ClickFunnels: Brutally Honest Comparison After 7+ Years Using Both

ClickFunnels vs ThriveCart, what’s the better pick for your business?

After seven years of using both, I’ve got thoughts. Lots of them.

I’ve built entire product launches with ThriveCart Funnels and tested nearly every ClickFunnels best funnel template available.

I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the painfully overpriced.

So if you’re stuck wondering things like “Is ClickFunnels worth it?” or “What is ThriveCart used for?”, you’re in the right place.

This isn’t a shallow comparison. It’s the kind of breakdown I wish I had when I was bouncing between ThriveCart login tabs and hunting for free ClickFunnels funnels.

Let’s make this choice easy for you.

ThriveCart vs ClickFunnels: Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Features	ThriveCart	ClickFunnels	Winner
Starting Price	$495 one-time payment	$97/month	ThriveCart
Free Trial	No	14-day free trial	ClickFunnels
Funnel Building	Basic cart funnels only	Full drag-and-drop funnel builder	ClickFunnels
Checkout Page Design	Limited but highly optimized	More visual freedom, less conversion-focused	ThriveCart
Upsells, Downsells, Order Bumps	Built-in, fast setup, very effective	Also included, more flexible layout options	Tie
Affiliate Management	Simple, clean, and reliable (Pro+)	Clunky affiliate center	ThriveCart
Course/Membership Hosting	Thrive Learn (Pro+), clean and focused	Memberships + course delivery via funnel steps	ThriveCart (for courses)
Website Builder	None	Full website and blog builder	ClickFunnels
Templates	Few checkout templates	Hundreds of funnel, page, and niche templates	ClickFunnels
Email Marketing	Requires external tool	Built-in email with Follow-Up Funnels	ClickFunnels
CRM	None built-in	In-built contact management and tagging system	ClickFunnels
Analytics & Reporting	Deep cart-level reporting (esp. in Pro+)	Funnel-wide analytics	Tie
A/B Testing	On checkout pages only	Full-funnel split testing	ClickFunnels
Integrations	Growing list, supports major tools	More native third-party integrations	ClickFunnels
Mobile Optimization	Fully mobile-optimized out of the box	Mobile responsive, but needs manual tweaking sometimes	ThriveCart
Smart Automation	Needs external tools	Built-in automations based on user behavior	ClickFunnels
Video Hosting	Requires external hosting (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.)	Native video hosting for courses and funnels	ClickFunnels
Appointment Booking	No native booking tools	Built-in appointment scheduling + calendar tools	ClickFunnels

Why You Should Listen to Me

Look, I’m not just another guy regurgitating specs from sales pages.

I’ve lived inside both ClickFunnels and ThriveCart for years. I got my start with funnels back in 2018, thanks to ClickFunnels. I was a paying subscriber, an affiliate, and even won a few contests (including a free ticket to Funnel Hacking Live).

I was even featured by ClickFunnels at one point. So if you’re wondering “Is ClickFunnels worth it?”, I’ve got real receipts.

Now let’s talk ThriveCart. I’ve been on the ThriveCart lifetime deal since 2020, and it’s been my go-to for launching digital products ever since.

As a ThriveCart affiliate, I’ve driven over $ 100,000 in sales and have used it to sell my products.

My most recent launch?

The Content Profits Blueprint course.

I built the sales page on my WordPress site (yes, I appreciate the flexibility), plugged in ThriveCart Funnels for checkout, and had the whole thing generating 4 figures in under two weeks. View my Thrivecart checkout here.

So yeah, I’ve tasted both sides.

I’ve played the long game with both. And I’m here to give you the straight-up, no-fluff breakdown.

But if you’re in a hurry? Here’s my quick and brutally honest recommendation:

Overview of ThriveCart and ClickFunnels

In this first part of this comparison, we are going to take a detailed look at both tools and what they aim to help you achieve.

ThriveCart Overview

ThriveCart is a self-hosted shopping cart platform designed to convert clicks into sales quickly.

ThriveCart emerged in 2016, created by Josh Bartlett, and took a different path. Instead of trying to do everything, it focused on doing one thing ridiculously well: high-converting checkouts.

Thanks to its one-time pricing and no-fuss setup, it built a cult following. Today, over 50,000 users trust it, has processed billions in transactions, and pulled in over $10.5 million in revenue just in 2024 alone

You don’t need a team or advanced technical skills to make it work. Just plug it into your site, choose a template, set up your funnel or cart, and go live.

It’s seriously that simple.

I’ve had lifetime access to ThriveCart for a while now, and just recently used it to soft-launch a new ebook.

Within hours, I had the sales page running on my WordPress site , connected checkout with ThriveCart, and started taking orders.

Here’s the sales report from that mini-launch:

And what made that possible? Features like:

• A/B testing
• One-click upsells
• Order bumps
• Checkout templates
• Affiliate management system
• Funnel/cart sharing
• Embeddable templates
• Digital sales tax calculation
• And loads more…

Most of these were covered in my earlier ThriveCart review, but in this comparison post, we’ll keep things focused, especially on what it does better, or worse, than ClickFunnels.

However, the real standout is where ThriveCart truly excels: checkout performance.

If you need to launch fast, test offers, and keep more profit in your pocket, this thing’s a beast.

What I Love About ThriveCart

• Lifetime pricing: Pay once, and that’s it. No monthly fees ever. It’s significantly cheaper in the long term than any recurring plan.
• Quick digital product setup: You can launch ebooks, courses, or offers in under an hour—even if it’s your first time.
• Affiliate-friendly: Built-in ThriveCart affiliate tracking is rock-solid, with no extra plugins or costs.
• Checkout-first approach: Their optimized templates convert, and you can A/B test everything.
• No platform fees: You pay your payment processor, that’s it. ThriveCart doesn’t skim off your sales.
• Works great with WordPress: Seamlessly embed carts or link from pages you’ve already built.
• Solid integrations: Connects with Stripe, PayPal, email tools, CRMs, and more.

What’s Not Great About ThriveCart

• Not a complete funnel builder: It’s built for selling, not for hosting full websites or content journeys.
• Basic design options: The checkout templates convert well, but they’re not visually “wow.”
• No built-in email marketing: You’ll need something like ConvertKit or MailerLite.
• Upsell flows aren’t as customizable: You get bumps and upsells but no deep funnel logic or automation flows.

Who ThriveCart Is Best For

• Solo creators and digital sellers who want to launch fast without overcomplicating things
• WordPress users looking for a simple checkout solution that converts
• Course and ebook sellers who need clean delivery and checkout without monthly fees
• Affiliate marketers who want a no-fuss way to manage partners and commissions
• Anyone who hates subscription bloat and loves a solid lifetime deal.

ClickFunnels Overview

ClickFunnels isn’t the new kid on the block; you’ve most likely heard of it, seen a YouTube ad, or maybe even tested one of the free ClickFunnels funnels.

ClickFunnels launched in 2014, co-founded by Russell Brunson and Todd Dickerson, and it didn’t take long to blow up. It became the “funnel builder” everyone was talking about, thanks to its all-in-one toolkit for building pages, running webinars, selling courses, and more.

Fast forward to today? ClickFunnels powers over 182,000 live websites, has helped generate billions in sales, and boasts more than 150,000 paying users worldwide

I was a ClickFunnels user way before I touched ThriveCart. I started my funnel journey here, built loads of pages, and even climbed a few affiliate leaderboards.

Some of my favorite parts of the platform? The education (Funnel Flix is gold), the big active community, and the ability to build unlimited funnels on the ClickFunnels annual plan.

And yes, the drag-and-drop builder does make things super easy once you learn your way around.

Here’s what you get under the hood:

• Inbuilt affiliate system (Affiliate Center)
• Email automation system (Follow-Up Funnels)
• Built-in shopping cart & order forms
• Drag-and-drop funnel/page builder
• Huge template library
• Membership site builder
• Split testing
• Deep funnel analytics
• And a seriously loyal user base

It’s more than just a cart or a funnel, it’s an all-in-one business builder if you’re willing to commit.

What I Love About ClickFunnels

• True all-in-one platform: Landing pages, funnels, email marketing, memberships, it’s all built in.
• Extremely flexible funnel builder: If you can dream it, you can probably build it here.
• Massive template library: Tons of high-converting templates for every niche.
• Built-in email and automation tools: No need for extra software (though you can still integrate).
• Affiliate tools included: Affiliate Center helps you manage affiliate programs.
• Massive community & education: Funnel Flix is stacked with courses, and support groups are everywhere.

What’s Not So Great About ClickFunnels

• High recurring cost: ClickFunnels is still pricier than many tools, especially compared to ThriveCart’s lifetime pricing.
• Can feel bloated: It tries to do everything, which means it’s not always the fastest or cleanest tool to use.
• Learning curve: There’s a lot to learn if you’re a beginner, especially with automation and page logic.
• Limited checkout customization: The checkout options don’t convert as well as ThriveCart’s, and you can’t fine-tune them as much.

Who ClickFunnels Is Best For

• Entrepreneurs who want an all-in-one solution to build pages, send emails, host courses, and manage affiliates
• Coaches or info product creators who need funnels + email + membership site all in one spot
• Agencies and pros who build funnels for clients and want done-for-you templates
• People who are okay with paying more to have everything under one login
• Anyone focused on building a brand within the ClickFunnels ecosystem

ThriveCart vs ClickFunnels: Which One’s Easier to Work With?

Let’s be real, no one wants to spend hours clicking around trying to figure out how to launch a product.

ThriveCart is built for speed. The setup process is clean, the dashboard is simple, and launching a product or setting up a cart takes minutes, not hours.

You don’t need a tech background or a bunch of tutorials, you can log in and start selling.

That’s why so many solo creators and course sellers love it.

ClickFunnels, on the other hand, offers significantly more flexibility, but it comes with a steeper learning curve.

The drag-and-drop builder is powerful but can feel overwhelming if you’re new. A lot is going on inside the platform: funnels, pages, automations, courses, email, so it takes time to learn where everything lives and how it works together.

ClickFunnels vs ThriveCart – What Both of Them Do

At this part, I’d have to say that, this ClickFunnels vs ThriveCart isn’t supposed to be an apple to apple comparison.

They are two distinctive kings that rule at their own pace. (more on their differences soon)

However, there are a few similar things I have to show that are present on both platforms:

Upsell, Downsells and Order Bumps to maximise revenue

If you’ve read DotCom Secrets, you already know that upsells, downsells, and order bumps aren’t just “nice to have.” They’re how you turn a $27 customer into a $200 one without spending more on ads.

Luckily, both ClickFunnels and ThriveCart come with these built in.

ClickFunnels lets you create full post-purchase sequences with upsells, downsells, and thank-you pages, all linked inside your funnel flow. It’s highly visual and flexible, allowing you to stack offers in any way you prefer.

ThriveCart also handles one-click upsells, downsells, and order bumps directly on the checkout and post-checkout pages.

It’s simpler and faster to set up, and the offers feel native, like a natural part of the buying journey, not a distraction.

In real use?

Cart Abandonment Recovery

We’ve all been there, someone clicks “Buy Now”… then ghosts at the checkout.

Luckily, both ThriveCart and ClickFunnels have built-in cart abandonment recovery features to help you win those people back.

They let you trigger follow-up emails when someone ditches their cart mid-checkout, so you can nudge them back to complete the sale.

ThriveCart makes this super simple to set up, especially when paired with email tools like ConvertKit or MailerLite. ClickFunnels also handles it well via Follow-Up Funnels or third-party email integrations.

In-built A/B Testing

Both ClickFunnels and ThriveCart come with built-in A/B testing, and if you’re not using it, you’re leaving money on the table.

ClickFunnels lets you test everything, including opt-ins, sales pages, upsells, and even webinar sign-ups.

It’s full-funnel experimentation for the nerds (like me) who want to test every pixel.

ThriveCart keeps it lean, focused on the checkout. But here’s the thing: that’s precisely where conversions live or die.

You can test different cart designs, copy, buttons, and even price points right at the money moment.

So who wins?

Functional Mobile Optimization

Both ClickFunnels and ThriveCart understand that most people shop on their phones now, and they’ve built with that in mind.

Each platform delivers mobile-responsive pages and checkouts that look good and function smoothly across all screen sizes. Whether your customer is browsing on a desktop, tablet, or mobile device, the experience remains clean and seamless.

ClickFunnels gives you control to fine-tune how your pages appear on mobile devices. ThriveCart takes a more automatic approach; its checkout pages are optimized out of the box.

Online Store Capabilities

Neither ThriveCart nor ClickFunnels is trying to replace Shopify, but if you want to sell multiple products without the e-commerce bloat, they have you covered.

ClickFunnels allows you to create your mini-storefront using its drag-and-drop builder. You can design product pages, link them together, and funnel traffic however you like.

It’s flexible, flashy, and fabulous if you want complete creative control.

ThriveCart takes a more no-nonsense approach.

You can bundle products, offer variations, set up multiple pricing tiers, and group everything into product funnels. It’s not flashy, but it’s fast and super conversion-focused.

Checkout Page Optimization to win back lost sales

The checkout page is where it all counts, and both ThriveCart and ClickFunnels know it.

Each platform provides you with tools to tweak and test your checkout experience, allowing you to improve conversions. Consider layout options, A/B testing, button placements, and trust boosters such as testimonials or guarantees.

ThriveCart focuses hard on this. Its checkout templates are built for speed and conversion, and you can easily customize fields, add bump offers, and test variations right where the money is made.

ClickFunnels gives you more creative freedom, but sometimes that flexibility leads to clutter. You can make your checkout pages look great, but you’ll need to know what converts.

Membership Site Features

Both ClickFunnels and ThriveCart let you create membership sites but they approach it differently.

With ClickFunnels, you can create a thriving community where your members can connect, learn, and grow every day. With the Community App, you can create clean, focused spaces for real conversations.

ClickFunnels has long supported membership areas where you can gate content, create login portals, and drip material over time. It’s handy for creators who want to bundle community access, lessons, and upsells under one roof.

ThriveCart offers similar functionality through Thrive Learn, included in their Pro+ plan. You can protect content, assign access after purchase, and manage memberships directly within your dashboard.

Online Course Management

Selling online courses? You’re covered either way.

ClickFunnels lets you host basic courses using its membership site feature. You can deliver lessons, add videos, and structure simple curricula within your funnels.

But ThriveCart Learn steps in with a cleaner, course-focused setup. It offers dedicated modules, progress tracking, drip schedules, and a significantly enhanced student experience. Everything integrates smoothly with your checkout, no extra tools needed.

Built-in Affiliate Management Platform

ClickFunnels includes an affiliate system now referred to as the Affiliate Center, but let’s be real, it’s clunky.

It only works in USD, doesn’t track referrals outside of ClickFunnels pages, and managing more than one program in the same browser is a mess. You can’t even delete commission plans once they’re set up. It works, but it’s frustrating and feels dated.

ThriveCart, on the other hand, provides a clean, modern affiliate dashboard that makes sense. Everything’s in one place.

You can set different commission rules, offer recurring payouts, and even run JV deals. Plus, Pro+ users get deeper analytics, auto-payouts, and easy access to resources, all baked right into the same dashboard where you manage your products.

Funnel & Cart Sharing

This is how cart sharing on Thrivecart looks like:

While on the ClickFunnels – this is how it looks:

This feature’s a quiet powerhouse, especially if you build funnels for clients or sell templates.

Both ClickFunnels and ThriveCart let you share your entire funnel or cart with a simple link. That means you can duplicate setups, hand them off to clients, or just back things up without starting from scratch.

ClickFunnels makes funnel sharing extremely easy, especially when sending templates to other users.

ThriveCart does the same with carts and product funnels, great for course creators or affiliate marketers who want to pass ready-to-go offers to others.

Whether you’re cloning your work or handing it off to a client, this feature saves you serious time.

Supports Integrations

Is there any serious marketing tool that doesn’t play nice with others these days?

I doubt!

Maybe I’m not even supposed to add this as a similarity of both software, right?

Both ClickFunnels and ThriveCart support integrations with major tools, including email platforms, CRMs, webinar software, payment processors, and more.

Yes, you can plug in your favorite tools and keep your business flowing.

That said, ClickFunnels edges ahead here. It offers a broader range of native third-party integrations out of the box.

ThriveCart’s list is solid and constantly growing, but ClickFunnels still gives you more flexibility, especially if you’re running a complex stack.

In Depth Analytics

Both ClickFunnels and ThriveCart give you the numbers that matter, because if you’re not tracking, you’re just guessing.

ClickFunnels offers funnel-wide analytics, allowing you to see how each page, upsell, and automation is performing.

You can track conversion rates, opt-ins, sales, and even see where people are dropping off in the funnel.

ThriveCart keeps it more checkout-focused, but it’s super detailed.

You get clean insights on sales, refunds, revenue per visitor, order bump/upsell performance, and subscription churn. If you’re using Pro, you get even more granular reporting.

Supports Multiple Payment Options

Both ThriveCart and ClickFunnels allow you to accept payments through the major players, with Stripe and PayPal being the most popular.

Want to offer one-time payments, subscriptions, trials, or even split-pay options? No problem. Both platforms support all of that right out of the box.

ThriveCart shines a little more here if you’re focused on flexibility.

It allows you to create multiple pricing tiers for a single product, offering more control over features such as tax handling, dunning (for failed payments), and subscription logic.

ClickFunnels handles payments well, but it’s more closely tied to the funnel flow. This is great for one-time offers and upsells, but it’s a bit less robust when it comes to subscription management.

Automatic Sales Tax Calculation

Nobody likes dealing with sales tax, but both ClickFunnels and ThriveCart make it a lot easier.

Each platform has built-in support for calculating digital sales tax, which is especially helpful if you’re selling to customers in regions with complex tax rules (hello, EU VAT).

This means you don’t have to figure out who owes what manually; it’s handled automatically during checkout.

That said, ThriveCart takes this a step further.

It offers more advanced tax rules, automatic location detection, and solid support for digital goods tax compliance globally. It’s convenient if you sell internationally or deal with VAT.

Reliable Support

When something breaks (and it will), good support makes all the difference.

Both ThriveCart and ClickFunnels offer solid customer support, with helpful docs, email support, and active user communities. You’re not left hanging.

ClickFunnels has a bigger team and faster response times during business hours. Plus, their massive Facebook group and community forums mean you’ll usually find someone who’s faced your exact issue.

ThriveCart’s support is a bit more low-key, but still responsive, and their knowledge base is packed with straightforward how-tos.

Additionally, ThriveCart support continues to improve, particularly for Pro+ users.

ThriveCart Vs Clickfunnels – Differences

This is the part most people care about the most.

It’s the main reason I wrote this post in the first place. Many of you still struggle to identify the key differences between ClickFunnels and ThriveCart.

Let’s clear that up right now.

One Is Funnels, Other Is Shopping Cart

Letting the cat out of the bag.

I have to start with this because it’s the BIGGEST difference between ThriveCart and ClickFunnels. One is a full-fledged funnel builder while the other a complete cart platform.

This is the core difference most people miss.

ClickFunnels is designed to create funnels, multi-step sequences that guide visitors from opt-in to upsell to a thank-you page. It’s like a Swiss army knife for marketers: sales funnel builder, landing pages, lead magnets, webinars, membership sites, you name it.

ThriveCart, on the other hand, is a shopping cart. It’s laser-focused on the moment of conversion.

You won’t build entire sales pages inside it, but when it comes to checkout, upsells, and managing products, it’s fast, clean, and built to convert.

So think of it this way:

ClickFunnels is your sales journey. ThriveCart is your closing tool.

Difference in Templates

When it comes to templates, ClickFunnels is the clear heavyweight.

You get hundreds of funnel templates for almost every industry, opt-ins, sales pages, webinar funnels, product launches, and more.

Whether you want to build from scratch or start with a proven layout, ClickFunnels provides design freedom and a high level of visual polish.

ThriveCart, in contrast, keeps things simple. ThriveCart templates are focused on one thing: checkout pages that convert. You won’t find flashy funnel layouts or endless design options, but the templates are clean, tested, and optimized to drive sales.

Advanced Design Options

When it comes to design flexibility, ClickFunnels runs circles around ThriveCart.

ClickFunnels provides a full drag-and-drop editor, allowing you to customize every section, color, image, and font across your funnel pages.

Want a fully branded, pixel-perfect experience? You’ve got the freedom to build it exactly how you want.

ThriveCart, on the other hand, keeps things minimal. Its design options are limited to preset layouts and basic customizations, such as colors, logos, and text.

You can make it look clean and professional, but not “custom.”

Checkout Flexibility

If you want total control over how your checkout looks, feels, and flows, ThriveCart wins this one hands down.

It’s built to give you every lever possible to maximize conversions.

ClickFunnels does offer checkout pages, but they’re not nearly as customizable.

You can sell, yes, but your options are more limited when it comes to payment setups, design tweaks, and on-page behavior.

Impressive Website Builder

ClickFunnels isn’t just for funnels, it can also serve as your full-blown website builder.

Home page? About page? Blog? Product catalog? You can build it all with the same drag-and-drop editor.

It’s perfect for creators or small businesses that want their entire digital presence under one roof; there’s no need to mess with WordPress if you don’t want to.

ThriveCart, though? It’s laser-focused on checkout. You won’t be building websites here; instead, you’ll be creating carts, upsells, and product funnels. You’ll still need something like WordPress, Webflow, or Leadpages to build out your actual site.

Built-In Email Marketing Capabilities

Here’s where the gap widens.

ClickFunnels has built-in email marketing baked right in.

You can create emails, send broadcasts, set up automations, tag subscribers, and keep your whole funnel + email workflow under one roof.

It’s not as advanced as a full-blown ESP, but for basic to mid-level automation, it’s a suitable option. It does the job.

ThriveCart, though? No built-in email system. None. Zip.

You need to integrate with a third-party tool, such as ConvertKit, MailerLite, or ActiveCampaign, to send emails, which isn’t a deal-breaker, especially if you already use one; however, it’s still worth knowing.

Smart Automation

This is where ClickFunnels flexes hard.

With its Follow-Up Funnels and tagging system, ClickFunnels enables you to build intelligent, behavior-based automation that responds to what your leads do (or don’t do).

You can trigger emails, assign tags, show different offers, and move people through your funnel automatically, like having a 24/7 marketing assistant on autopilot.

ThriveCart, while solid at selling, doesn’t do native automation. You’ll need to connect it to an external email or CRM tool to build out any real automation flows. It can trigger things, but it doesn’t orchestrate them.

In-Built CRM

If you like seeing all your customer data in one place, behavior, tags, purchases, and email history, ClickFunnels delivers.

Its built-in CRM lets you track leads, segment users, monitor funnel activity, and manage your entire customer journey from opt-in to post-purchase. You can tag actions, trigger automations, and follow up like a pro, all without leaving the platform.

ThriveCart? Not so much.

While it provides you with buyer data and allows you to pass information to your email tool or membership area, it’s not a proper CRM. You can see who bought what, but can you track deeper relationships? That’s up to your integrations.

Inbuilt Blogging Capabilities

Want to publish blog posts right alongside your funnels? ClickFunnels lets you do that.

With its newer versions, ClickFunnels includes built-in blogging features, allowing you to create and manage content without needing WordPress.

It’s not a full-scale CMS like a traditional blog platform, but for creators who want SEO juice, lead magnets, and content in one place, it gets the job done.

ThriveCart, on the other hand, doesn’t even try. No blog. No content hub. If you want to blog, you’ll need to do it elsewhere and link back to your products or carts.

Interactive Survey Workflows

ClickFunnels enables you to build interactive survey funnels directly into your sales process. You can ask questions, segment leads based on their answers, and guide them to different offers or pages.

It’s a great way to personalize the funnel experience and boost conversions.

ThriveCart, on the other hand, doesn’t have native survey functionality. If you want to collect detailed responses or create quiz-style flows, you’ll need to connect an external tool or embed a form.

Video Hosting

Let’s talk video, because in 2025, your funnel needs more than just walls of text.

ClickFunnels lets you host videos directly inside the platform (especially with the FunnelFlix and course/membership setup).

No need to rely on YouTube or Vimeo unless you want to. This gives you control over branding, autoplay settings, and how your content shows up in your funnels.

ThriveCart, on the flip side, doesn’t host videos. At all. You’ll need to embed from YouTube, Vimeo, Bunny.net, or wherever you’ve uploaded your content. It works fine, but you’re always depending on an outside service.

Built-in Appointment Booking Features

ClickFunnels makes scheduling a breeze.

With its built-in appointment booking features, you can enable leads to book calls directly within your funnel. No bouncing them off to another site or tool, they stay right where they’re already ready to take action.

It’s perfect for coaches, consultants, and sales teams that want to maintain a tight and seamless sales flow. Drop a booking form onto your page, and you’re all set.

ThriveCart, on the other hand, doesn’t offer native scheduling.

If you need to book appointments, you’ll have to embed a third-party tool like Calendly or redirect users after checkout.

Webinar Capabilities

If webinars are your thing—live launches, evergreen funnels, automated replays—ClickFunnels has you covered.

You can create comprehensive webinar funnels with registration pages, countdown timers, confirmation sequences, replay rooms, and follow-up emails, all without piecing together ten different tools. It’s built for the “sell-on-a-live-call” crowd.

ThriveCart? No built-in webinar tools.

You can sell webinar access or embed a third-party player, sure, but you’ll need tools like Zoom, Demio, or EverWebinar to handle the actual event.

Difference in Pricing Model

This is where the divide is massive, and it matters.

ThriveCart is a one-time purchase. You pay once, and that’s it. No monthly bills. No price creeping up every year.

If you grab the ThriveCart lifetime deal, you own it for life, including all future updates (and even Thrive Learn if you go Pro+).

ClickFunnels, on the other hand, runs on a subscription model.

Plans start monthly, and if you want access to full features like email automation, affiliate tools, and more funnels, you’ll be looking at the higher-tier plans or the ClickFunnels annual plan. Over time, it can get pricey.

Built-in Message Hub

ClickFunnels comes with a built-in Message Hub, which is essentially your inbox within your funnel system.

You can track conversations, respond to leads, manage inquiries, and keep all your funnel-related messages in one place without jumping between email tabs or CRMs. It’s beneficial if you’re running a sales team or doing high-touch client onboarding.

ThriveCart? No built-in messaging.

If someone has a question, they’ll need to email you or submit a form through a connected tool. It works, but it’s not centralized or real-time.

Countdown Funnels

Scarcity sells, and ClickFunnels makes it incredibly easy to capitalize on that with built-in countdown timers.

Whether it’s a limited-time offer, an expiring bonus, or an evergreen webinar funnel, you can add timers to pages, emails, and follow-ups that reset based on each user’s activity.

It’s perfect for creating urgency without manually managing anything.

ThriveCart does offer countdown timers on checkout pages, but they’re basic and don’t come with advanced evergreen logic. If you want personalized, behavior-based timers, you’ll need external tools or scripts.

ClickFunnels vs ThriveCart: Price Difference

Starting with ThriveCart Pricing… (aka Pay Once, Smile Forever)

ThriveCart keeps it simple: no monthly fees, no confusing tiers, no price hikes. Just a one-time payment, and you own it for life.

Yep, lifetime access. That’s the deal.

And if you know how rare that is in this space, you already know that’s huge.

Here’s what you get with ThriveCart Pricing Plans:

Standard Plan – $495 (one-time payment)

You get full access to ThriveCart’s core features:

• High-converting checkout pages
• One-click upsells & order bumps
• Cart sharing
• Basic affiliate management
• Integrations with Stripe, PayPal, email tools, and more
• A/B testing
• Sales tax handling
• Embeddable cart options

Pro Upgrade – Additional $195 (one-time)

Want more power? Pro unlocks:

• Thrive Learn (online course platform)
• Advanced affiliate center
• Subscription management tools (like dunning & auto-retries)
• JV contracts
• Client usage mode
• Powerful reporting & analytics

Total: $690 for Pro+—still cheaper than 3 months of ClickFunnels Optimize.

Now let’s talk about ClickFunnels’ price (And What You Get)

ClickFunnels doesn’t play the lifetime deal game.

It’s subscription all the way, but with different tiers based on how deep into the funnel life you are.

Here’s ClickFunnels Pricing Plans:

Launch – $97/month ($81/month if billed annually)

Perfect if you’re just getting started. 1 workspace, one website, three courses, 10,000 contacts, unlimited funnels, AI tools, basic automation.

You get the essentials, without the fluff.

Scale – $197/month ($164/month annually)

This is the sweet spot for most serious users. 5 workspaces, 5 team members, 75,000 contacts, advanced API/webhooks, custom code, priority support.

It’s like Launch, but on caffeine.

Optimize – $297/month ($248/month annually)

For growing businesses with multiple brands or a team that needs room to stretch. 10 workspaces, 150,000 contacts, VIP support, extra AI credits, and more.

Dominate – $5,997/year only

This one’s for agencies and funnel powerhouses. 20 workspaces, 400K contacts, top-tier onboarding, full access to everything, plus bragging rights.

What’s Included?

• Unlimited funnels, pages, automations, and products across all plans
• Built-in CRM, email marketing, blog, community, affiliate center, and course platform, all under one login
• AI tools, FunnelFlix (training vault), and onboarding support scale up with each tier
• Annual plans = decent savings (up to $594 off, depending on the tier)

Can You Integrate ClickFunnels and ThriveCart?

Yes, you can use ClickFunnels and ThriveCart together, and many people do.

Why? Because ClickFunnels excels at creating beautiful, high-converting pages and funnels…

And ThriveCart excels at handling checkouts and payments.

So if you want the best of both worlds, here’s how it works:

You build your funnel pages in ClickFunnels like usual, but instead of using ClickFunnels’ native checkout, you link out to a ThriveCart checkout page.

You can either embed the cart directly or use a button that redirects to your ThriveCart offer.

After purchase, you can send customers to a thank you page in either ClickFunnels or ThriveCart, your choice.

It might sound a bit techy, but it’s super simple.

ClickFunnels sells. ThriveCart collects. Everybody wins.

Then after the checkout, you can decide to use ClickFunnels or ThriveCart as the thank you page.

It’s either you embed ThriveCart on ClickFunnels’s pages or you just link out to your cart already built on ThriveCart from your ClickFunnels sales page.

ClickFunnels sells. ThriveCart processes payments. How about that?

Final Thoughts – Which Should You Use?

If you’ve made it this far, you already know ClickFunnels and ThriveCart aren’t direct competitors. They’re built for different jobs.

Choose ClickFunnels if you want an all-in-one marketing machine. Funnels, emails, courses, blogs, CRMs, webinars—it does a bit of everything.

Yes, it’s more expensive. But if you need it all in one place and don’t mind paying for convenience, it’s a powerhouse.

Choose ThriveCart if you want a high-converting checkout, killer value, and a tool built to sell digital products quickly. It’s lean, powerful, and the lifetime deal means you won’t see another bill, ever.

And honestly? You can use both together.

Let ClickFunnels build the funnel. Let ThriveCart close the sale.

Best of both worlds.

Either way, you’re not choosing between good and bad. You’re choosing what works best for your business model, and now, you’ve got everything you need to make that decision confidently.

Frequently Asked Questions on ClickFunnels and Thrivecart comparison