When comparing ThriveCart vs ClickFunnels, it’s essential to understand each platform’s core differences and strengths. ThriveCart is a robust shopping cart tool designed to optimize checkout experiences and manage subscriptions. Its simplicity, one-time payment model, and powerful features like order bumps and upsells make it highly appealing to businesses focused on maximizing transaction efficiency.
On the other hand, ClickFunnels is an all-in-one sales funnel builder. It offers more comprehensive tools for creating complete sales funnels, from landing pages to email automation, making it ideal for those needing a broader marketing suite. While ClickFunnels is a subscription-based service, ThriveCart provides lifetime access at a single cost, appealing to those with long-term goals. Depending on your business needs, one may suit you better.
What Are ThriveCart and ClickFunnels?
ThriveCart
ThriveCart is a highly optimized shopping cart and checkout platform for entrepreneurs and businesses seeking to streamline payment processes. It excels at helping users build high-converting checkout pages and offers features like one-click upsells, order bumps, and recurring subscription management. With ThriveCart, you can integrate seamlessly with payment gateways such as Stripe and PayPal, making it a top choice for businesses that need a reliable and user-friendly checkout solution. One of its standout features is its lifetime pricing model, making it more affordable in the long run than its subscription-based competitors.
ClickFunnels
ClickFunnels, on the other hand, is a more comprehensive platform aimed at building end-to-end sales funnels. It helps businesses create a seamless path for their customers, from landing pages to checkout, with minimal technical know-how. Beyond just checkout functionality, ClickFunnels allows users to create lead generation pages, marketing automation sequences, and even membership sites. It’s best suited for businesses that need to handle complex marketing strategies with tools for email follow-ups, funnel optimization, and A/B testing. However, unlike ThriveCart, ClickFunnels operates on a monthly subscription model, which can become expensive over time.

Key Features Comparison
Checkout Pages & Funnels
ThriveCart excels at optimizing checkout pages. Its drag-and-drop editor allows you to easily create high-converting checkout experiences, adding features like one-click upsells, down sells, and order bumps to maximize transaction value. ThriveCart also supports embedding checkout pages on external sites, giving it flexibility that ClickFunnels lacks.
ClickFunnels, however, is built to create entire sales funnels from scratch. While it may not have ThriveCart‘s specific checkout page focus, it offers comprehensive tools for building complex, multi-step funnels, including landing pages, upsell sequences, and membership areas. For businesses looking for an all-in-one platform, ClickFunnels provides broader funnel-building capabilities.
Subscription & Payment Management
For subscription-based businesses, ThriveCart is a clear winner. It provides robust tools to manage recurring payments, automate billing, and track customer subscriptions. It even offers flexible subscription options, such as free trials or customized payment plans, making it ideal for businesses with long-term customer relationships.
While ClickFunnels also supports subscriptions, its capabilities are more basic. It manages recurring payments without the specialized tools and detailed reporting that ThriveCart provides. ClickFunnels is better suited for businesses focusing on one-time sales or short-term subscriptions.
Affiliate Management
ThriveCart includes a built-in affiliate management system (on the Pro plan), allowing businesses to create and manage affiliate programs easily. The system enables tracking affiliate performance, automating payouts, and setting custom commission structures. This feature is particularly useful for businesses looking to expand their reach without heavy marketing expenses.
ClickFunnels offers affiliate management via its Backpack feature, available only with its higher-tier Platinum plan. While it covers basic affiliate needs, ThriveCart’s affiliate system is often praised for being more accessible and effective for businesses starting with affiliate marketing.
Email Marketing & Automation
ThriveCart does not offer built-in email marketing, but it integrates with popular email service providers like Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, and ConvertKit. This gives users flexibility in choosing their preferred email automation tools while utilizing ThriveCart’s checkout optimization features.
On the other hand, ClickFunnels provides an integrated email marketing system known as Follow-Up Funnels. This allows users to build automatic email sequences within the platform, making it easier to nurture leads and engage customers directly. For businesses looking for a more all-in-one solution with integrated email automation, ClickFunnels provides more native capabilities.
Pricing Breakdown
When it comes to pricing, ThriveCart and ClickFunnels take very different approaches. ThriveCart operates on a one-time payment model, while ClickFunnels relies on a monthly subscription model. Let’s break down the key aspects of their pricing.
ThriveCart Pricing
ThriveCart stands out for its lifetime access pricing. Currently, it offers two main plans:
- Standard Plan: This plan costs $495 and gives you access to essential features like creating high-converting checkout pages, one-click upsells, and basic subscription management.
- Pro Plan: At $690, the Pro Plan unlocks additional features, including advanced subscription management, built-in affiliate marketing, and sales tax automation.
ThriveCart’s one-time payment makes it a great long-term investment for businesses, especially those that focus on selling products through optimized checkout pages or managing recurring subscriptions.
ClickFunnels Pricing
ClickFunnels, on the other hand, offers a subscription-based pricing model. As of 2024, there are two main pricing tiers:
- Basic Plan: This plan costs $127 per month and includes funnel-building capabilities, 20 funnels, 100 landing pages, and the ability to manage three custom domains. It also covers essential marketing tools like email automation.
- Platinum Plan: At $157 per month, the Platinum Plan offers unlimited funnels and landing pages, more advanced email automation (Follow-Up Funnels), and the Backpack affiliate management feature.
While ClickFunnels provides many features for building and managing complex marketing funnels, its monthly fees can quickly add up. For example, you’ll pay around $1,524 annually for the basic plan, making it a bigger investment than ThriveCart’s one-time fee.
Pros and Cons of Each Model
The ThriveCart pricing model is highly attractive for businesses looking to minimize ongoing costs. For a one-time payment, you get lifetime access, making it a cost-effective solution if you’re focused on maximizing conversion at the point of sale. ThriveCart is ideal for businesses with straightforward needs, such as creating optimized checkout pages and managing subscriptions.
On the other hand, ClickFunnels’ pricing reflects its more extensive feature set. The subscription model might seem costly in the long run. Still, if your business requires advanced funnel-building capabilities, email marketing automation, and the ability to manage multiple customer journeys, ClickFunnels may offer a better return on investment.
For businesses weighing long-term costs versus capabilities, the decision hinges on whether you need a powerful funnel builder (ClickFunnels) or a streamlined checkout and cart solution (ThriveCart). Both platforms offer free trials, so exploring their features firsthand can help clarify which is the better fit for your needs.

Ease of Use
ThriveCart: Simplicity at its Best
ThriveCart is renowned for its clean, user-friendly interface, which makes it accessible to anyone—even if they’re not particularly tech-savvy. Thanks to its intuitive drag-and-drop builder, setting up high-converting checkout pages and managing subscriptions is straightforward. It’s designed to get your online store up and running fast so you can focus on selling rather than spending hours on configuration.
ThriveCart excels at making the essential features—like creating upsells, handling affiliate commissions, and managing subscriptions—easy to access without a steep learning curve. Whether you’re running a subscription-based business or simply need a reliable checkout tool, ThriveCart ensures that you’re not bogged down with unnecessary complexity.
ClickFunnels: More Power, More Complexity
ClickFunnels also offers a drag-and-drop builder, but due to its sheer volume of features, there can be a bit of a learning curve. This platform is incredibly powerful for users looking to build intricate, multi-step sales funnels. However, the interface may feel overwhelming, especially for beginners new to funnel creation.
ClickFunnels shines in building complex sales funnels with landing pages, order forms, upsells, and email automation all within one tool. However, the depth of functionality may take time to master the full suite of tools. While it provides a user-friendly experience for advanced users, those just starting might need more time to explore its potential.
Verdict: ThriveCart for Simplicity, ClickFunnels for Comprehensive Features
Regarding ease of use, ThriveCart wins for those who value simplicity and need a quick, efficient way to manage transactions and subscriptions. ClickFunnels, though more complex, is ideal for users who need an all-in-one solution for building and automating marketing funnels.
Who Should Use ThriveCart?
ThriveCart is best suited for businesses prioritising simplicity, affordability, and checkout optimisation. If your primary goal is to maximize conversions during checkout with features like order bumps, one-click upsells, and subscription management, ThriveCart shines. Its lifetime pricing model makes it highly cost-effective for companies looking to avoid ongoing monthly fees. Here’s a closer look at who should consider ThriveCart:
1. Subscription-Based Businesses
ThriveCart offers advanced subscription management tools, allowing businesses to easily set up recurring billing and automated payment reminders and manage failed payments. If you run a subscription service (like an online membership or SaaS product), ThriveCart’s detailed reports and billing features help ensure a smooth customer experience.
2. Small to Mid-Sized E-commerce Stores
For businesses that rely on a streamlined checkout process and aren’t looking for the complexity of a full sales funnel, ThriveCart is the go-to solution. Its drag-and-drop interface allows non-technical users to set up checkout pages quickly, while the one-time payment is ideal for small businesses on a budget.
3. Entrepreneurs Looking for Lifetime Value
One of the most compelling reasons to choose ThriveCart is its lifetime deal, which includes continuous platform updates without recurring charges. This appeals to solopreneurs, online course creators, and small agencies who want a long-term, hassle-free solution for managing sales without worrying about monthly costs adding up.
Ultimately, ThriveCart is perfect for businesses focused on checkout and conversion optimization, as it does not require the complexity of full funnel-building tools.

Who Should Use ClickFunnels?
Best for businesses that need a comprehensive sales solution
ClickFunnels is designed for businesses looking to manage their entire sales process in one place. If you’re a marketer or business owner who needs an all-in-one platform for building sales funnels, generating leads, and automating email marketing, ClickFunnels could be your best bet. It’s ideal for creating highly customized landing pages, opt-in forms, membership sites, and sales sequences without integrating multiple tools. The ability to test and optimize funnels with built-in A/B testing adds another layer of value for serious marketers.
Great for building multi-step funnels
ClickFunnels excels when it comes to building complex, multi-step funnels. From attracting leads on landing pages to nurturing them through automated follow-up funnels, it covers every customer journey stage. This platform’s extensive templates, webinar hosting, and CRM integration mean you can handle everything in one system. If your business runs webinars, sells digital products, or relies on upselling and cross-selling throughout a buyer’s journey, ClickFunnels’ comprehensive feature set is a huge advantage.
Ideal for scaling businesses with marketing automation
ClickFunnels is particularly beneficial for businesses that need marketing automation. The platform allows businesses to create automated follow-up funnels and communicate with leads and customers without manual intervention. This can be a game-changer for growing companies that need to engage with thousands of leads while maintaining personalized communication.
Works well for affiliates and high-ticket products
The affiliate program through ClickFunnels’ Backpack feature, available in the Platinum plan, makes it an attractive option for businesses that rely on affiliate marketing. It’s also excellent for those selling high-ticket products, as it can create funnels designed to nurture and convert high-value leads.
If your business requires not just a shopping cart but a full marketing suite, or if you run online courses and membership sites or need extensive funnel optimization tools, ClickFunnels offers more than just a basic checkout system. However, the monthly pricing model can become costly, especially for small businesses or solo entrepreneurs who may not utilize all the features.
In summary, ClickFunnels is best suited for businesses looking to build sophisticated funnels, automate their marketing efforts, and manage multiple sales channels in one place. Its advanced features come at a higher cost but offer significant value for scaling businesses.
Comparison Table
To help you make an informed decision between ThriveCart and ClickFunnels, let’s compare their key features side by side. This table offers a quick reference and highlights both platforms’ strengths and limitations.
Feature | ThriveCart | ClickFunnels |
Pricing | One-time fee ($495 Standard, $690 Pro) | Monthly subscription ($127 – $297) |
Checkout Page Creation | Advanced, customizable, high-conversion | Basic checkout functionality |
Sales Funnel Builder | Basic funnel features (upsells, order bumps) | Full-fledged sales funnel creation tools |
Email Marketing Integration | Requires external integrations | Built-in email automation and follow-up |
Affiliate Management | Built-in (Pro plan only) | Available with Backpack (Platinum plan) |
Subscription Management | Comprehensive and advanced | Basic recurring billing features |
Payment Gateway Integration | Supports PayPal, Stripe, and others | Supports PayPal, Stripe, and others |
Custom Membership Sites | Requires third-party tools | Built-in membership features |
Page and Funnel Templates | Limited selection of templates | Hundreds of funnel and page templates |
Analytics and Reporting | Detailed, sales-focused analytics | Comprehensive funnel and page performance |
Conclusion
In the ThriveCart vs ClickFunnels debate, the choice ultimately depends on your business needs. If you’re seeking a cost-effective solution focused on high-converting checkout pages and subscription management, ThriveCart’s lifetime deal offers unbeatable value. It simplifies the sales process and optimises transactions with advanced checkout features like order bumps and upsells. However, if your business relies on building complex sales funnels with integrated email automation and extensive marketing tools, ClickFunnels is a more robust platform. Its all-in-one funnel-building capabilities make it ideal for businesses looking to manage every aspect of the customer journey under one roof.