Affiliate disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links. If you sign up through them, ToolCheckHQ may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Our affiliate disclosure and editorial policy explain how we pick and review tools.
Systeme.io starts at $17 a month. ClickFunnels starts at $97. For a lot of beginners that gap settles the question, but it helps to know what the extra money buys.
I haven’t run either tool on a paid account. This comparison comes from both vendors’ pricing pages and published reviews, and I’ll flag where sources disagree. For the full picture on one side, read our Systeme.io review.
Quick answer
Pick Systeme.io if you’re starting out or watching your budget and want funnels, email, and courses in one tool.
Pick ClickFunnels if funnels are your main business, you want its funnel-first toolset, and $97 a month won’t hurt.
Price comparison
Systeme.io has 4 plans:
- Free: $0
- Startup: $17 a month
- Webinar: $47 a month
- Unlimited: $97 a month
ClickFunnels has 4 plans:
- Launch: $97 a month ($81 on annual billing)
- Scale: $197 a month ($164 on annual billing)
- Optimize: $297 a month ($248 on annual billing)
- Dominate: $5,997 a year, annual billing only
So the cheapest ClickFunnels plan costs the same as the most expensive Systeme.io plan. Systeme.io also charges 0% transaction fees on every plan.
What the ClickFunnels entry plan limits
Published reviews list Launch at 1 workspace, 10,000 contacts, and 50,000 emails a month. They also say it has no API, webhooks, or custom code editor, and that the Affiliate Center starts at Optimize.
If you outgrow 10,000 contacts, the next jump is $100 a month. Plan around that number.
Features side by side
Funnels and pages. Both build landing pages, sales pages, order forms, and upsells. Reviewers describe ClickFunnels as one of the most complete funnel builders, with built-in split testing. Systeme.io covers the basics and runs A/B tests as your plan allows.
Email. Both include email. ClickFunnels caps sends by plan. Published guides report unlimited email sending on Systeme.io, even on the free plan.
Courses. Both host courses. Launch lists 3 courses. Systeme.io offers courses on every plan, with unlimited students per course.
Affiliate tools. Systeme.io includes affiliate program management. ClickFunnels reserves its Affiliate Center for higher plans.
Where ClickFunnels wins
It has the bigger name, a larger community, and a toolset built around funnels first. Common complaints in reviews are the price and a learning curve at the start.
Where Systeme.io wins
The price, the free plan, and the fact that you can learn the tool without paying anything. One review of ClickFunnels itself says competitors like Systeme.io offer lower-cost options for beginners.
Which one should you pick?
Systeme.io fits if you:
- Are building your first funnel
- Want email, courses, and a blog in the same account
- Sell digital products and want to keep fees low
ClickFunnels fits if you:
- Already run funnels and want its split testing and funnel tools
- Need higher contact and email limits and can pay for them
- Don’t mind the learning curve
My take
If you’re starting out, I’d begin on the Systeme.io free plan and build one funnel. If you hit a limit that only ClickFunnels solves, switch then.
Moving later costs some time. Starting on $97 a month costs money every month before you know whether you need it.
Frequently asked questions
Is Systeme.io cheaper than ClickFunnels?
Yes. Systeme.io’s paid plans run $17 to $97 a month, and ClickFunnels’ plans start at $97.
Which is better for beginners?
I think Systeme.io, mostly because of the free plan and lower cost. ClickFunnels suits people who already know they want a funnel-first tool.
Can I move from ClickFunnels to Systeme.io?
Probably. One review reports free migration help on annual plans and the monthly Unlimited plan. Confirm the current terms with Systeme.io before you count on it.
Does Systeme.io charge transaction fees?
No. Published guides report 0% transaction fees on all plans. Your payment processor still takes its normal cut.