ClickFunnels vs ThriveCart: Which One Boosts Your Sales More

Last Updated on February 27, 2025 by Arjun

In the world of digital marketing and e-commerce, sales funnels and payment processing platforms have become essential for maximizing revenue and improving customer experience. Two of the most popular tools in this space are ClickFunnels and ThriveCart. These platforms are both highly regarded for helping businesses build optimized sales processes, but they cater to slightly different needs. While ClickFunnels is a comprehensive sales funnel builder, ThriveCart specializes in payment processing and checkout pages. If you’re a business owner or marketer trying to decide between these two, you might be wondering: Which one will boost your sales more effectively in 2024? In this detailed comparison, we’ll examine both tools in depth and help you determine which one is the right fit for your business. We’ll cover everything from their core features to pricing, integrations, ease of use, and more. By the end, you’ll be equipped with all the knowledge you need to make an informed decision.

What Are ClickFunnels and ThriveCart?

ClickFunnels

ClickFunnels is an all-in-one sales funnel builder designed to help businesses build landing pages, sales pages, checkout pages, membership sites, and more. The platform is particularly popular with marketers and entrepreneurs who need to create high-converting funnels for lead generation, product sales, and automated marketing. The drag-and-drop editor makes it easy for users to create custom sales funnels without the need for coding. Additionally, ClickFunnels includes a variety of features such as email marketing automation, affiliate management, A/B testing, and more, allowing users to streamline their sales processes from start to finish.

ThriveCart

ThriveCart is primarily a shopping cart and checkout page builder. While it doesn’t offer the same comprehensive sales funnel building capabilities as ClickFunnels, ThriveCart focuses on delivering an optimized and easy-to-use checkout experience. ThriveCart enables users to create customizable checkout pages, offer one-click upsells, manage subscriptions, and handle payments seamlessly. Though not a full funnel-building tool, ThriveCart excels in payment processing and integrates with a wide variety of platforms, making it an excellent choice for businesses that are already using other tools for funnel-building and need a robust cart solution.

Why Compare ClickFunnels vs ThriveCart?

ClickFunnels and ThriveCart are often compared because they serve overlapping purposes. However, their core strengths are different. If you are a business that needs an all-in-one sales funnel solution that includes marketing automation, landing page creation, and affiliate management, ClickFunnels may be the better choice. On the other hand, if you’re primarily focused on building high-converting checkout pages with robust payment processing features, ThriveCart might be a more suitable option.

Core Features Comparison

ClickFunnels vs. ThriveCart: Key Features Breakdown

Sales Funnel Building: ClickFunnels vs. ThriveCart

• ClickFunnels: Designed as an all-in-one funnel builder, ClickFunnels enables users to create complete sales funnels that include landing pages, upsells, downsells, and more. The drag-and-drop editor allows for highly customizable funnel creation without coding, making it a favorite for marketers and business owners who need a comprehensive solution to lead generation and sales conversion.
• ThriveCart: ThriveCart focuses primarily on creating optimized checkout pages, shopping carts, and managing payments. While it offers a basic sales funnel feature (such as simple upsells), it doesn’t provide the same level of funnel-building functionality as ClickFunnels. ThriveCart integrates easily with other funnel-building tools, which makes it a good option for businesses already using other funnel-building platforms.

Checkout Pages & Payment Processing: Which One Wins?

• ClickFunnels: ClickFunnels offers a checkout page builder that can integrate with various payment gateways like Stripe, PayPal, and others. However, compared to ThriveCart, its checkout features are not as advanced. It does include order bumps, one-click upsells, and other features, but ThriveCart is the leader in this category due to its ease of use and customization options.
• ThriveCart: ThriveCart shines when it comes to checkout pages and payment processing. It offers highly customizable checkout pages that are known for their conversion optimization features. ThriveCart allows for advanced features like A/B testing on checkout pages, subscription options, one-click upsells, and detailed reporting. The platform also integrates with major payment processors like PayPal, Stripe, and Authorize.net, making it incredibly versatile.you can also see ConvertKit vs. ClickFunnels

Affiliate Management: ClickFunnels vs ThriveCart

• ClickFunnels: ClickFunnels includes an in-built affiliate management system called BackPack. With this tool, you can create an affiliate program for your business, recruit affiliates, and manage commissions easily. BackPack provides advanced features like custom commission structures and the ability to track affiliate performance in detail.
• ThriveCart: ThriveCart also includes an affiliate management system, which allows users to set up affiliate programs for their products. ThriveCart’s affiliate features are more straightforward but equally effective. You can set commission percentages, track affiliate performance, and easily pay affiliates directly from the platform. While ClickFunnels offers more extensive features, ThriveCart’s affiliate system is known for being simpler and easier to use.

Membership Sites: Which One Works Better?

• ClickFunnels: ClickFunnels offers robust tools for creating membership sites. With its funnel builder, users can set up members-only areas, restrict access to content, and deliver digital products like courses, e-books, and more. It’s an excellent solution for businesses that rely on recurring revenue from memberships or subscriptions.
• ThriveCart: ThriveCart does not offer the same membership site-building features as ClickFunnels. While it can integrate with external membership platforms like Teachable or Thinkific, ThriveCart’s main focus is on the checkout and payment processing side of things. Businesses that need an integrated membership solution may find ClickFunnels to be the better option.

A/B Testing & Optimization Tools

• ClickFunnels: ClickFunnels includes A/B testing for landing pages, which allows users to test different versions of their pages to see which one converts better. This is a valuable tool for optimizing your funnels and increasing sales.
• ThriveCart: ThriveCart also offers A/B testing, particularly for checkout pages. This allows users to test different versions of their checkout process to improve conversion rates and reduce cart abandonment. However, ClickFunnels provides a more comprehensive suite of optimization tools, especially for funnel-level testing.

Ease of Use & Customization

ThriveCart vs. ClickFunnels: Which One Is Easier to Use?

Drag-and-Drop Page Builder: ClickFunnels vs. ThriveCart

• ClickFunnels: ClickFunnels offers a user-friendly drag-and-drop editor for creating pages and funnels. The interface is intuitive, and you don’t need any coding experience to design and build funnels. However, some users report that it takes time to get used to the platform, especially when dealing with more advanced funnel setups.
• ThriveCart: ThriveCart is also incredibly easy to use, especially for creating checkout pages and carts. The interface is straightforward and intuitive, and users can create highly customizable pages in just a few clicks. While ThriveCart doesn’t offer as many design options for landing pages and funnels as ClickFunnels, it excels in simplicity and ease of use.

Customization Options & Templates

• ClickFunnels: ClickFunnels offers a wide variety of templates for different types of funnels, including lead generation funnels, product launch funnels, and webinar funnels. These templates are customizable, allowing users to modify the design, layout, and content to suit their needs.
• ThriveCart: ThriveCart also offers templates for checkout pages, but its customization options are more limited compared to ClickFunnels. ThriveCart focuses more on optimizing the checkout process rather than providing a full suite of funnel-building tools. However, users who prioritize a seamless and optimized checkout experience may find ThriveCart to be sufficient.

Pricing & Value for Money

ClickFunnels vs. ThriveCart Pricing: Which One Saves You Money?

ThriveCart Pricing Plans (Lifetime & Pro)

ThriveCart offers a one-time lifetime payment for its platform, which costs around $495 (for a one-time payment). It also has a Pro version that includes additional features like subscription management, affiliate management, and advanced analytics. The Pro plan is priced at $690 for a lifetime access fee, offering more value for businesses that need a complete payment processing solution.

ClickFunnels Pricing Plans & Monthly Costs

ClickFunnels offers several pricing plans based on the features you need:

• Basic Plan: $147/month
• Platinum Plan: $197/month
• TwoCommaClub Plan: $2,497/month

Each plan comes with different features, with higher-tier plans offering additional funnels, pages, and advanced features like affiliate management and email automation.

Hidden Costs & Extra Fees to Watch Out For

• ClickFunnels: In addition to the monthly subscription fee, ClickFunnels charges additional fees for third-party integrations (such as email marketing tools or payment processors). These can add up quickly, depending on how many services you need to integrate.
• ThriveCart: ThriveCart doesn’t charge a monthly subscription fee, which makes it more affordable for businesses that don’t need the advanced funnel-building capabilities of ClickFunnels. However, if you need advanced integrations, you may need to purchase additional tools or services.

• Does ThriveCart Offer Good Value for Money?

  Yes, ThriveCart offers excellent value for money. Unlike ClickFunnels, which charges a monthly fee, ThriveCart operates on a one-time payment model. This can be especially attractive for businesses looking to avoid recurring costs. The lifetime license gives you access to most of the platform’s features, including integrations with payment gateways like PayPal and Stripe, advanced checkout page customization, and affiliate management. ThriveCart also has no transaction fees, meaning you keep more of your revenue.

  For businesses focused primarily on checkout page optimization, ThriveCart can provide a more cost-effective and specialized solution than ClickFunnels, which has more expensive pricing plans, especially if you’re just looking for a robust shopping cart.

  Which One is Better for Affiliate Marketing?

  Both ClickFunnels and ThriveCart offer affiliate management capabilities, but ClickFunnels provides a more comprehensive suite of features for affiliate marketers. The BackPack feature within ClickFunnels allows you to create custom affiliate programs, track performance, set different commission structures, and manage affiliates with a high level of detail. It’s ideal for marketers who want to scale their affiliate programs significantly.

  In contrast, ThriveCart provides an easy-to-use affiliate management system that can track affiliate sales, manage commissions, and integrate with popular tools like Stripe and PayPal for payments. ThriveCart’s affiliate features are simpler but still robust, and they’re ideal for businesses that want a streamlined solution for managing affiliate sales.

  Which One Has Better Customer Support?

  • ClickFunnels: ClickFunnels provides excellent customer support, with access to live chat, email support, and an extensive knowledge base. Additionally, ClickFunnels offers a community forum where users can ask questions and share insights. The platform also offers training resources, including webinars and tutorials to help you get the most out of the tool.
  • ThriveCart: ThriveCart also has excellent customer support, offering email support, a dedicated help center, and instructional videos. Users often report that ThriveCart’s customer support is responsive and helpful, particularly when it comes to solving issues related to payment processing or checkout pages. However, ThriveCart lacks the extensive training and community resources that ClickFunnels provides.

  Is ClickFunnels Better for Lead Generation?

  If your primary goal is lead generation, ClickFunnels is the superior platform. Its funnel-building capabilities are designed specifically for capturing leads, with powerful tools to create high-converting landing pages, opt-in forms, and lead magnets. ClickFunnels also integrates easily with email marketing tools, which allows you to automate your lead nurturing and follow-up sequences.

  ThriveCart is not focused on lead generation and is better suited for businesses that already have a lead generation system in place and are more concerned with converting those leads through optimized checkout pages.

  Does ThriveCart Integrate Well with Other Platforms?

  Yes, ThriveCart integrates with a wide variety of third-party platforms, making it highly compatible with existing tech stacks. ThriveCart works seamlessly with email marketing tools like ConvertKit, ActiveCampaign, and MailChimp, as well as CRMs, membership platforms, and analytics tools. It can also integrate with Zapier, which allows you to connect ThriveCart with hundreds of other platforms, further extending its functionality.

  ClickFunnels also offers numerous integrations, especially with marketing automation tools, email platforms, and CRM systems. However, ThriveCart stands out in this regard due to its simplicity and ease of integration with a wide variety of platforms, especially for payment processing and shopping cart features.

  Which One Is Better for Scalability?

  If you’re planning to scale your business and need a tool that can handle complex sales funnels and multiple stages of marketing automation, ClickFunnels is the more scalable option. It provides tools for building out advanced funnels, membership areas, and automating email sequences across multiple stages of the customer journey.

  ThriveCart, while excellent for payment processing and checkout optimization, is not as scalable in terms of funnel-building and marketing automation. If you are focused on growing an e-commerce business or simply optimizing your checkout experience, ThriveCart is more than capable, but if you’re looking for an all-in-one solution that can scale as your business grows, ClickFunnels is the better choice.

  Conclusion: ClickFunnels vs. ThriveCart – Which One Should You Choose?

  After comparing ClickFunnels and ThriveCart, it’s clear that both platforms offer strong benefits, but their differences make them suitable for different business needs. Here’s a quick summary to help you decide:

  • Choose ClickFunnels if you need an all-in-one solution for building complex sales funnels, automating your marketing, managing affiliates, and creating membership sites. It’s perfect for businesses that require more comprehensive funnel-building tools, especially if you sell digital products, online courses, or memberships. ClickFunnels is a more expensive option but offers more in terms of features and scalability.
  • Choose ThriveCart if you’re primarily looking for a powerful and easy-to-use checkout system that optimizes conversions. ThriveCart excels in handling payments, offering customizable checkout pages, and providing excellent affiliate management. It’s ideal for businesses that already have a funnel in place but need an optimized solution for managing payments and boosting conversions at the checkout stage. Plus, ThriveCart offers better value for money with its one-time payment model.

  Ultimately, the right choice depends on your business needs. If you’re looking for a full-featured sales funnel builder with comprehensive marketing automation, ClickFunnels is the best option. If you need a streamlined, cost-effective solution for payment processing and checkout optimization, ThriveCart is a fantastic choice.

  Both tools are excellent in their own right, and your decision should be based on your specific business goals, budget, and the features you prioritize.