ClickFunnels and ConvertKit are popular platforms tailored for digital marketers, creators, and online entrepreneurs. They serve different but occasionally overlapping purposes.
ClickFunnels focuses heavily on sales funnel creation and lead conversion, while ConvertKit targets creators looking to nurture their audience through email automation and basic ecommerce features. Each platform has grown in functionality over the years, expanding to cover broader digital marketing needs.
However, their foundational principles and ideal user bases remain distinct. Understanding how these tools differ in features, pricing, underlying models, and user experiences can help you choose which is better suited for your goals. Some users might benefit from using both in combination, but budget and business goals will ultimately dictate the right fit.
- What is ClickFunnels?
- What is ConvertKit?
- ClickFunnels vs ConvertKit: Feature Comparison
- ClickFunnels vs ConvertKit: Pricing Comparison
- ClickFunnels vs ConvertKit: Model Comparison
- ClickFunnels vs ConvertKit: User Comparison
- ClickFunnels vs ConvertKit: Honest Review
- When Should You Use ClickFunnels
- When Should You Use ConvertKit
- FAQs
What is ClickFunnels?
ClickFunnels is an online platform designed to help users build effective sales funnels that convert leads into customers. It offers drag-and-drop tools to create landing pages, product pages, email sequences, and full websites without coding. ClickFunnels integrates sales, checkout, upsells, and affiliate tracking into one platform, reducing the need for third-party tools. Users can manage digital products, deliver courses, and even run webinars through ClickFunnels. It’s built primarily for marketers and business owners aiming to optimize their customer acquisition paths.
What is ConvertKit?
ConvertKit, now known as Kit, is an email marketing platform designed for online creators such as bloggers, authors, and influencers. It allows users to build email subscriber lists, design automation flows, and tag and segment their audience. ConvertKit emphasizes simplicity, clean UI, and creator-first tools such as opt-in forms, landing pages, and digital product sales. While not a full sales funnel builder, it supports monetization through email-focused ecommerce. Its strengths lie in email automation and community building rather than deep sales integrations.
ClickFunnels vs ConvertKit: Feature Comparison
| Feature | ClickFunnels | ConvertKit | Notes |
| Funnel Builder | Yes | No | ClickFunnels specializes in funnels |
| Email Marketing | Basic | Advanced | ConvertKit excels here |
| Landing Pages | Yes | Yes | Both offer landing page builders |
| Automation Workflows | Limited | Robust | ConvertKit provides better automation |
| Ecommerce | Strong | Moderate | ConvertKit supports digital sales |
| Membership Sites | Yes | Basic | ClickFunnels more feature-rich |
| Affiliate Management | Yes | No | Built into ClickFunnels |
| CRM Capabilities | Basic | Tag-Based | ConvertKit uses tagging for segmentation |
| Webinars | Yes | No | Included in ClickFunnels |
| Course Delivery | Yes | Yes | ClickFunnels more comprehensive |
ClickFunnels vs ConvertKit: Pricing Comparison
| Plan Tier | ClickFunnels Basic | ClickFunnels Pro | ConvertKit Free | ConvertKit Creator |
| Monthly Cost | $147 | $197 | $0 | $15+ (based on list size) |
| Users | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Contacts | 20,000 | 100,000 | 1,000 | Unlimited |
| Funnels | 20 | Unlimited | 0 | Limited |
| Email Sends | Basic Automation | Full Automation | 1,000 | Unlimited |
| Landing Pages | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ecommerce | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Support | Priority Support | Email + Chat | ||
| Affiliate Program | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Free Trial | 14 Days | 14 Days | Forever Free | 14 Days |
ClickFunnels vs ConvertKit: Model Comparison
| Category | ClickFunnels | ConvertKit |
| Business Focus | Funnels and Sales | Email Marketing for Creators |
| Monetization Tools | Full Stack | Light Ecommerce |
| Audience | Marketers, Coaches, Businesses | Bloggers, Authors, Creators |
| Learning Curve | Moderate | Low |
| Technical Skills Required | Low | Low |
| Automation Depth | Moderate | Advanced |
| Platform Philosophy | Conversion-Centric | Creator-Centric |
| Revenue Features | Upsells, Subscriptions | Product Checkout |
| Templates | Funnel Templates | Email & Landing Templates |
| Community | Strong Affiliate Focus | Strong Creator Network |
ClickFunnels vs ConvertKit: User Comparison
| Metric | ClickFunnels | ConvertKit |
| Ease of Use | Moderate | Very Easy |
| Ideal For | Entrepreneurs, Agencies | Bloggers, Creators |
| Email Campaign Tools | Limited | Extensive |
| Funnel Depth | High | None |
| Form Builders | Basic | Robust |
| Deliver Courses | Yes | Yes |
| Templates Variety | High | Moderate |
| Customer Support | Tiered | Flat |
| Custom Domain Support | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Optimization | Yes | Yes |
ClickFunnels vs ConvertKit: Honest Review
ClickFunnels
I explored ClickFunnels by creating a simple product funnel and found its drag-and-drop editor highly intuitive. It walks you through funnel steps like opt-in, sales, checkout, and thank you pages seamlessly. The ability to insert upsells and downsells without coding is a major plus.
However, some of the UI elements felt dated and loading speed wasn’t always snappy. I tried the membership area and course builder, which worked well but lacked depth compared to dedicated platforms.
While testing the email automation, I noticed it’s usable but less powerful than ConvertKit. For serious funnel marketing, though, it’s hard to beat. I found the integration with Stripe and PayPal smooth. One thing I didn’t like was the occasional upsell attempt inside the app. For marketers wanting control over the full journey, it’s impressive. But for someone needing just email or content delivery, it’s overkill. The pricing also leans premium, which may not suit solopreneurs.
ConvertKit
I created a new account on ConvertKit and was welcomed by a clean dashboard with prompts to build a list and automate emails. Setting up a form, connecting it to a sequence, and scheduling an email was incredibly fast.
The platform is polished and intuitive, ideal for creators who want results without technical setup. The visual automation editor stands out, it makes building paths with triggers and conditions a breeze. I tested selling a digital product and was surprised how easy it was, even though ecommerce options are basic.
Compared to ClickFunnels, the landing pages were simpler but elegant. I found ConvertKit more personal, with resources designed for creators rather than businesses. One downside was the lack of full funnel functionality, no upsells, no complex checkout flows. Still, for managing an audience and nurturing them with emails, it’s fantastic. The free plan is generous for new users starting out. Its strength is in community, segmentation, and simplicity.
When Should You Use ClickFunnels
- You’re launching digital products and want a sales funnel that optimizes every conversion step.
- You need built-in affiliate marketing tools without relying on third-party platforms.
- You want to upsell and cross-sell products during the checkout process to maximize revenue.
- You plan to run webinars and integrate them into your marketing funnel seamlessly.
- You want to build membership sites or gated course platforms with access management.
- You have a multi-product business model and need funnel variations for each.
- You need complete control over page layout and buyer experience with visual editors.
- You’re targeting cold traffic and need to guide users through a structured purchase flow.
- You plan on hiring a team and want multi-user access with role-based permissions.
- You’re okay with a higher monthly fee in exchange for replacing multiple tools.
When Should You Use ConvertKit
- You’re a blogger or creator growing your email list and want personalized automation.
- You sell digital products and want simple email-driven ecommerce without full funnel tools.
- You prioritize ease of use and prefer tools that work right out of the box.
- You publish regular newsletters and want clean, branded email layouts.
- You’re not technical and want to avoid hiring developers for marketing campaigns.
- You rely on segmentation and want to target different audience types with unique messages.
- You use other tools and need lightweight landing pages or opt-in forms to collect emails.
- You run a small team or solo operation and want simple tools that scale with you.
- You appreciate platforms that invest in creator education and offer community support.
- You want a generous free plan to test features and build an audience without pressure.
FAQs
What is the main difference between ClickFunnels and ConvertKit?
ClickFunnels is a complete sales funnel builder designed for marketers and sales-driven businesses. ConvertKit is an email marketing tool designed for creators. ClickFunnels handles more sales processes, while ConvertKit focuses on nurturing and communication.
Can ConvertKit replace ClickFunnels for funnel building?
ConvertKit does not support multi-step sales funnels like ClickFunnels. It includes landing pages and email automations, but lacks upsell, downsell, and advanced checkout features. It can complement, but not replace, a tool like ClickFunnels for funnel-heavy use cases.
Is ClickFunnels or ConvertKit better for digital product sales?
Both can handle digital product sales. ClickFunnels excels with full checkout funnels, upsells, and order bumps. ConvertKit is simpler, ideal for single-product sales via email. The choice depends on how complex your sales strategy is.
Which is more beginner-friendly?
ConvertKit is generally easier for beginners due to its clean design and simpler features. ClickFunnels has more advanced options that may overwhelm users not familiar with funnels, though it offers tutorials to ease onboarding.
Can I use ClickFunnels and ConvertKit together?
Yes, many users integrate both. ClickFunnels can manage the front-end funnel and sales, while ConvertKit handles post-purchase email automations and subscriber management. Using both offers more flexibility if budget allows.
Find More Comparison Between Different Tools
