ClickFunnels has built a reputation as one of the most popular marketing platforms for creating sales funnels. It promises to be an all-in-one solution for businesses looking to convert leads and sales online. But does it live up to the hype, especially in 2024, where competition in the marketing tech space is more intense than ever?
I’ve tested ClickFunnels extensively to explore its capabilities, strengths, and areas that need improvement. This comprehensive review will delve into its funnel-building tools, email marketing features, e-commerce capabilities, course-building features, pricing, and more. Let’s find out if ClickFunnels is still a worthwhile investment.
Key Features of ClickFunnels
1. Sales Funnel and Website Builder
ClickFunnels‘ core strength lies in its sales funnel builder, a feature that allows businesses to design highly customizable sales funnels without needing technical expertise.
Funnel Builder: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The drag-and-drop interface makes creating funnels straightforward. You can use pre-designed templates or start from scratch to design landing pages, checkout pages, thank you pages, and more. Whether you’re driving leads for an email list or selling products, the funnel builder comes equipped with essential tools like:
- Split testing for optimizing page performance
- Conditional workflows based on user behavior (e.g., cart abandonment, purchases)
- Multi-step funnels for complex customer journeys
The integrated split-testing feature lets you test variations of your pages, helping you understand which design or content converts best. This is crucial for maximizing conversions, especially for marketers who are keen on A/B testing different strategies.
Website Builder: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
While the funnel builder shines, ClickFunnels’ website-building feature falls slightly short. It provides customizable website themes with templates for homepages, blog pages, and more. However, the blog functionality is far from ideal. The editing process is cumbersome, requiring extra steps that slow down content creation. If blogging is essential for your strategy, platforms like WordPress still outperform ClickFunnels.
2. Email Marketing and Workflow Automation
ClickFunnels includes email marketing tools that integrate seamlessly with the funnel builder, enabling you to nurture leads through email campaigns.
Email Marketing: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
ClickFunnels offers a solid email marketing feature that includes:
- A drag-and-drop email builder with customizable templates
- Contact management and segmentation tools
- A visual workflow automation tool for creating drip campaigns
One drawback is the sequence-building process, which involves more steps than necessary. Setting up automated email sequences can feel clunky since each email in the series needs to be added as a separate workflow step. That said, the platform excels in delivering automated, personalized emails based on user behavior.
Workflow Automation: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The workflow automation feature allows for advanced triggers based on user actions. Whether it’s a purchase, opt-in, or any other event, ClickFunnels lets you build detailed workflows to automate your marketing tasks. However, the setup can be time-consuming compared to other email marketing platforms, and the user experience is less intuitive than competitors like ConvertKit.
3. E-Commerce and Checkout System
If you sell physical or digital products, ClickFunnels’ built-in e-commerce features may eliminate the need for third-party cart builders like SamCart.
E-Commerce: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
ClickFunnels provides a robust checkout system that integrates effortlessly into your sales funnels. Its cart builder supports features like:
- Order bumps
- One-click upsells and downsells
- Discount pop-ups triggered by user behavior
These features significantly improve your chances of increasing the average order value. The checkout system supports multiple payment gateways, including Stripe, PayPal, and even cryptocurrency via Coinbase. However, the lack of support for Apple Pay and Google Pay is a downside for businesses targeting mobile users who prefer these payment methods.
4. Course and Community Building
ClickFunnels also includes tools for building and selling online courses, but it’s far from being a dedicated learning management system (LMS).
Course Builder: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The course builder allows you to create modules and lessons, drip content, and embed videos from platforms like Vimeo or YouTube. While it’s user-friendly, it lacks engagement tools such as quizzes, certificates, and student progress tracking — features that are standard in platforms like Teachable or Kajabi.
Community Features: 2/5 ⭐⭐
ClickFunnels tries to provide a community-building platform, but it feels outdated. The community section resembles a basic forum, with limited interaction tools like comments and likes. Advanced features such as polls, quizzes, or live events are missing, making it far from an ideal solution for creators who want to build a strong, engaged community.
5. Performance and User Experience
Learning Curve: Moderate to Steep
ClickFunnels offers a wide array of features, but this can feel overwhelming for new users. The platform is designed for advanced marketing strategies, and while the drag-and-drop interface simplifies certain tasks, the number of options and tools available may confuse beginners.
Performance: Mixed
While the platform offers extensive customization and flexibility, the website editor can be slow and buggy. Pages may take a while to load, and large-scale designs can cause the editor to lag, which disrupts workflow. These performance issues need to be considered if you’re looking to build and scale quickly.
6. Pricing
ClickFunnels is a premium-priced platform, with plans that may not suit every budget, especially for small businesses or solo entrepreneurs.
Pricing Plans:
- Basic Plan ($127/month annually): Limited to 1 website, 20 funnels, 3 users, and 10,000 contacts.
- Pro Plan ($157/month annually): Includes 3 websites, 100 funnels, 5 users, and 25,000 contacts.
- Funnel Hacker Plan ($208/month annually): Unlocks unlimited websites, funnels, and contacts, plus API integrations.
ClickFunnels’ pricing can seem steep, but for businesses that rely heavily on sales funnels and marketing automation, the value it offers justifies the cost. However, smaller businesses may find alternative platforms like Leadpages or Unbounce more affordable.
ClickFunnels Alternatives
While ClickFunnels excels in sales funnel building, it doesn’t outperform specialized platforms in other areas like blogging, email marketing, or course creation. Here are some alternatives worth considering:
- WordPress: Better for website and blog creation.
- Teachable/Kajabi: Superior for building online courses with engagement tools.
- ConvertKit: Offers a more intuitive email marketing experience with simpler automation tools.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Exceptional sales funnel builder
- Robust e-commerce and checkout features
- Split-testing and conditional workflows for better targeting
- All-in-one solution for businesses selling digital or physical products
Cons:
- Steep learning curve for beginners
- Slow and buggy website editor
- Lacks advanced community and course-building tools
- Pricing may be prohibitive for small businesses
Final Verdict: Is ClickFunnels Worth It in 2024?
ClickFunnels remains one of the top choices for businesses focused on creating high-converting sales funnels. It’s ideal for marketers, entrepreneurs, and creators who prioritize funnel-building and automated workflows. However, its weaker features in areas like blogging, online courses, and community building make it less suitable as an all-in-one solution for every business type.
If your primary focus is building sales funnels and converting leads into customers, ClickFunnels is well worth the investment. But if you need robust blogging tools, a sophisticated LMS, or a powerful email marketing platform, you might want to pair it with specialized tools or consider alternatives.
Ultimately, the decision comes down to your specific business needs and whether ClickFunnels aligns with your marketing strategy.
Click here to sign up for your Clickfunnels free trial today!