A website is a brochure. A funnel is a machine. The difference between a static homepage and a properly built sales funnel can be the difference between a handful of random visitors and a predictable stream of paying customers.
Sales funnel builders let you create multi-step sequences that guide visitors from awareness to purchase: opt-in pages, sales pages, order forms, upsells, downsells, and thank-you pages — all connected with automation that moves people through the process without manual effort.
We tested five of the top funnel builders by building the same three-step funnel on each platform: a lead magnet opt-in page, a sales page with an order form, and a one-click upsell. Here is how they compare.
Quick Comparison
| Tool | Best For | Starting Price | Free Plan | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ClickFunnels | Complete funnel platform | $97/mo | 14-day trial | 9.1/10 |
| Systeme.io | Best free funnel builder | $27/mo | Yes (3 funnels) | 8.8/10 |
| Kartra | All-in-one marketing | $119/mo | 30-day trial ($1) | 8.6/10 |
| Leadpages | High-converting landing pages | $49/mo | 14-day trial | 8.4/10 |
| GrooveFunnels | Lifetime deal value | $42/mo | Yes (limited) | 7.9/10 |
1. ClickFunnels — The Industry Standard Funnel Builder
ClickFunnels pioneered the funnel builder category, and it remains the most recognized name in the space. The platform is built around one concept: making it as easy as possible to create complete sales funnels that convert visitors into customers.
The funnel builder itself is drag-and-drop and template-driven. You select a funnel type (lead generation, product launch, webinar, membership, etc.), choose templates for each step, customize them with your content, connect your payment processor, and you are live. The entire process can take under an hour for a simple funnel.
ClickFunnels 2.0 expanded the platform significantly beyond basic funnels. It now includes a full website builder, blog, CRM, email marketing, course hosting, and membership site functionality. Whether you need all of that depends on your business, but it means you can run a large portion of your online business from a single platform.
The funnel-specific features are where ClickFunnels earns its price. One-click upsells and downsells work seamlessly — after a customer completes a purchase, they can add an upsell with a single click without re-entering payment information. Order bumps on checkout pages are easy to add. A/B split testing is built into every funnel step, so you can continuously optimize conversion rates.
The community and educational resources around ClickFunnels are also a real asset. Thousands of pre-built funnel templates are shared by the community, and there is no shortage of tutorials, courses, and case studies showing how to build effective funnels for specific industries.
Pros
- Most mature and proven funnel building platform
- One-click upsells and downsells that boost average order value
- Extensive template library with community contributions
- Built-in A/B testing for every funnel step
- All-in-one platform (website, email, CRM, courses)
- Large community and educational ecosystem
Cons
- $97/mo starting price is the highest on this list
- Page editor can feel sluggish on complex pages
- Learning curve for the full platform
- Email marketing features are basic vs. dedicated tools
Try ClickFunnels Free for 14 Days
Build your first funnel with full access to all features. No commitment required.
Start Free Trial →2. Systeme.io — Best Free Funnel Builder
Systeme.io is the disruptor in the funnel builder space. It offers a free plan that includes three complete sales funnels — something that would cost you $97/month on ClickFunnels. For bootstrapped entrepreneurs and small businesses testing the funnel approach, this changes the math entirely.
The funnel builder is straightforward and functional. It does not have the polish or template variety of ClickFunnels, but it covers the essential funnel types: squeeze pages, sales pages, order forms, upsells, downsells, and webinar funnels. The drag-and-drop editor is responsive and easy to learn.
What makes Systeme.io remarkable is the scope of what you get at each price point. Even the free plan includes email marketing (up to 2,000 contacts), a blog, course hosting, and automation workflows. The $27/month Startup plan increases limits across the board and adds custom domains, while the $47/month Webinar plan adds evergreen webinar functionality.
The automation engine connects your funnels to your email marketing seamlessly. When someone opts in, they automatically enter an email sequence. When they purchase, they get tagged, moved to a customer list, and receive access to their product or course — all without Zapier or third-party integrations.
The trade-off is design flexibility. Systeme.io's templates are functional but not as visually impressive as ClickFunnels or Kartra. If your brand demands a highly polished, custom design, you may feel constrained. But if conversion matters more than aesthetics (and for funnels, it usually does), Systeme.io delivers outstanding value.
Pros
- Free plan includes 3 complete funnels
- All-in-one: funnels, email, courses, blog, automation
- Paid plans start at just $27/month
- Built-in affiliate program management
- No third-party integrations needed for core workflows
- Fast page load times
Cons
- Templates are more basic than ClickFunnels
- Page editor has fewer design customization options
- Smaller community and fewer shared templates
- Advanced reporting is limited
Start With Systeme.io Free
Build 3 complete sales funnels for free. No credit card required. Includes email marketing and course hosting.
Get Started Free →3. Kartra — Most Complete All-in-One Marketing Platform
Kartra bills itself as an all-in-one marketing platform, and it delivers on that promise more comprehensively than any other tool on this list. Funnels, pages, email, automation, memberships, video hosting, helpdesk, calendars, forms, surveys, and affiliate management — it is all under one roof.
The funnel builder uses a visual canvas where you map out your entire funnel flow, including all the conditional logic and automation that connects each step. This bird's-eye view of your funnel is useful for complex multi-path sequences where different customer segments experience different journeys.
Kartra's behavioral automation is particularly sophisticated. You can trigger actions based on video watch time (e.g., if someone watches 75% of your sales video, send them a specific follow-up), page time spent, scroll depth, and click behavior. These behavioral triggers let you create highly personalized experiences without manual intervention.
The built-in video hosting with marketing triggers is a feature unique to Kartra. You can host your sales videos directly on the platform and set up automations based on viewing behavior — no need for Wistia or Vimeo with complex integrations.
The downside is price and complexity. At $119/month for the Starter plan, Kartra is a significant investment. And the sheer number of features means there is a real learning curve before you can take full advantage of the platform.
Pros
- Most comprehensive all-in-one marketing platform
- Visual funnel mapper for complex sequences
- Behavioral automation based on video views and page interactions
- Built-in video hosting with marketing triggers
- Helpdesk and calendar scheduling included
- Done-for-you campaign templates
Cons
- $119/mo starting price is steep for small businesses
- Significant learning curve due to feature depth
- Page editor is functional but not the most modern
- Can feel overwhelming for simple funnel needs
4. Leadpages — Best for High-Converting Landing Pages
Leadpages approaches funnels from a different angle: rather than being a dedicated funnel builder, it is the best landing page builder on the market that also supports funnel workflows. If your funnel strategy is primarily built around high-converting landing pages and lead generation, Leadpages is a strong contender.
The template library is Leadpages' strongest asset. Every template has been tested for conversion performance, and the platform regularly publishes data on which templates convert best for different industries and use cases. This data-driven approach to design takes a lot of the guesswork out of building pages that actually work.
The drag-and-drop builder is polished and fast. Building a landing page takes minutes rather than hours. Leadpages also includes a built-in A/B testing engine, pop-up builder, alert bars, and opt-in forms that you can embed on any website.
For funnel building specifically, Leadpages lets you connect multiple pages into a sequence with checkout integration through Stripe. The funnel capabilities are more basic than ClickFunnels — there are no native one-click upsells or complex conditional logic — but for straightforward lead generation and sales funnels, it covers the essentials at a lower price point.
Leadpages integrates with every major email marketing platform, CRM, and webinar tool, so it fits naturally into an existing marketing stack. If you already use ActiveCampaign for email and Calendly for scheduling, Leadpages slots in as the front-end conversion tool.
Pros
- Highest-converting landing page templates in the industry
- Fast, intuitive page builder
- Built-in A/B testing and conversion analytics
- Pop-ups, alert bars, and embeddable forms included
- Extensive third-party integrations
- Conversion-focused design guidance
Cons
- Funnel capabilities are basic compared to ClickFunnels
- No native one-click upsells or downsells
- No built-in email marketing (requires integration)
- Checkout features limited to Stripe integration
Try Leadpages Free for 14 Days
Build unlimited landing pages with conversion-tested templates.
Start Free Trial →5. GrooveFunnels — Best Lifetime Deal Value
GrooveFunnels gained attention with its aggressive lifetime deal offers, positioning itself as a one-time payment alternative to the monthly subscriptions that dominate this category. While the lifetime deal availability varies, the platform's paid plans remain competitively priced.
The funnel builder covers the basics well: landing pages, sales pages, checkout pages, upsells, and thank-you pages. The editor is functional and includes a decent selection of templates to start from. Page building is straightforward, though the editor is not as refined as ClickFunnels or Leadpages.
GrooveFunnels includes a broader platform with GrooveSell (digital sales and affiliate management), GrooveMail (email marketing), GrooveMember (membership sites), GrooveBlog (blogging), and GrooveVideo (video hosting). Getting all of these tools in one package, especially at the lifetime deal price when available, represents significant value.
The platform has matured considerably since its early days, but it still has rough edges. The user interface can feel inconsistent between different modules, documentation has gaps, and customer support response times vary. If you are willing to work through some growing pains in exchange for long-term cost savings, GrooveFunnels is worth considering.
Pros
- Lifetime deal option (when available) eliminates monthly costs
- Comprehensive tool suite included in one package
- Built-in affiliate management with GrooveSell
- Free plan available to test the platform
- Video hosting included at no extra cost
Cons
- Interface is less polished than established competitors
- Inconsistent experience across different platform modules
- Documentation and tutorials are incomplete
- Customer support response times can be slow
- Fewer third-party integrations than competitors
Try GrooveFunnels Free
Free plan available. Explore the full platform before committing.
Get Started Free →Which Sales Funnel Builder Should You Choose?
Our Verdict
For serious funnel builders: ClickFunnels remains the gold standard. Its one-click upsells, extensive templates, and proven track record justify the $97/month price if funnels are central to your business model.
For bootstrapped entrepreneurs: Systeme.io is the clear winner. Three free funnels with email marketing, course hosting, and automation included — at no cost — is an unbeatable starting point. The $27/month Startup plan remains a fraction of what competitors charge.
For complex marketing operations: Kartra's behavioral automation and all-in-one depth make it the pick for businesses running sophisticated multi-channel campaigns.
For lead generation focused businesses: Leadpages offers the best landing page conversion rates and fits naturally into an existing marketing stack.
For long-term cost savings: GrooveFunnels' lifetime deal (when available) eliminates recurring costs entirely, making it the most economical long-term choice if you are willing to accept a less polished experience.
Related Guides
Need a full-featured online store instead of a sales funnel? Our best ecommerce platforms guide compares Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, and other options for dedicated storefronts.
Want to track and nurture leads after they enter your funnel? See our best CRM for small business roundup covering HubSpot, Salesforce, Zoho CRM, and more.
How We Tested
We built the same three-step funnel on each platform: a lead magnet opt-in page, a sales page with a checkout form, and a one-click upsell page. We evaluated the page builder quality, funnel setup process, template selection, automation capabilities, checkout experience, and overall value at each price tier. Each funnel was tested with live traffic over a two-week period to compare conversion rates.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools we've personally tested and believe in.