ThriveCart vs ClickFunnels: One-Time Payment or Full Funnel Builder

If you’re trying to grow your online business, there’s a good chance you’ve come across ThriveCart and ClickFunnels. Both tools promise to help you sell more — but they take two very different approaches. One is a powerful, conversion-optimized checkout tool you only pay for once. The other is a full-scale funnel builder with everything from landing pages to email automation — but with a monthly price tag.

So which is right for you: the lean, one-time-payment machine or the do-it-all marketing suite? In this post, we’ll break down the key features, pros, cons, pricing, integrations, learning curve, and hidden costs to help you make the smartest choice for your business.

What Each Platform Does Best

• ThriveCart is a shopping cart and checkout optimization tool designed to help creators, coaches, and product sellers increase conversions and average order value. It’s best for people who already have a website or email list and just want a streamlined way to sell.
• ClickFunnels is a full-service funnel-building platform made to help marketers manage the entire customer journey — from the first opt-in to the final upsell. It’s ideal for entrepreneurs who want an all-in-one system.

Pricing Breakdown

Cost Consideration: ThriveCart pays for itself in a matter of months compared to ClickFunnels’ ongoing costs. For budget-conscious creators, that can be a game-changer.

Feature Comparison

Integrations Breakdown

ThriveCart Integrates With:

• Email: ConvertKit, Mailchimp, Drip, ActiveCampaign
• Payment: Stripe, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay
• Membership: Teachable, LearnDash, MemberPress
• Zapier for everything else

ClickFunnels Integrates With:

• Email: Actionetics (built-in), plus Mailchimp, AWeber, etc.
• Payment: Stripe, PayPal, Authorize.net
• Webinar tools: Zoom, WebinarJam
• CRMs and Zapier (some integrations only available at higher tiers)

Pros and Cons

ThriveCart Pros

• ✅ Lifetime access, no recurring fees
• ✅ Excellent for upsells, order bumps, A/B testing
• ✅ Great affiliate management tools
• ✅ Simple to set up for beginners
• ✅ Works with popular tools like ConvertKit, Teachable, and Stripe

ThriveCart Cons

• ❌ No built-in landing pages or email system
• ❌ Limited funnel-building functionality
• ❌ Not ideal for complex marketing campaigns

ClickFunnels Pros

• ✅ All-in-one platform for funnels, email, membership, and pages
• ✅ Great for webinar funnels and lead generation
• ✅ Advanced analytics and split testing
• ✅ Designed for scaling full campaigns and agencies

ClickFunnels Cons

• ❌ High monthly costs
• ❌ Can be overwhelming for beginners
• ❌ Lock-in effect: migrating out is hard
• ❌ Some features restricted to premium plans (e.g., email automation, analytics)

Learning Curve and Onboarding

ThriveCart:

• Extremely beginner-friendly
• Clean, uncluttered UI
• Minimal setup required to start selling
• Ideal for users with basic tech skills who want fast implementation

ClickFunnels:

• Steeper learning curve
• More time required to build and launch full funnels
• Excellent training resources and community support
• Best suited to marketers with some experience or technical support

Who Each Platform Is Best For

Choose ThriveCart if:

• You sell digital products, coaching, or courses
• You already use separate tools for email and websites
• You want a simple, fast checkout experience
• You want to avoid subscription fees

Choose ClickFunnels if:

• You want to build full marketing funnels
• You need built-in landing pages and automation
• You’re scaling multiple products or services
• You’re comfortable with ongoing investment

Final Verdict: Which One Should You Choose?

If you’re just starting out or simply want a faster, easier way to sell, ThriveCart gives you everything you need — for life — at one flat rate. It’s ideal for solo creators, course sellers, and digital entrepreneurs who don’t need all the bells and whistles of a massive marketing suite.

If you’re running advanced campaigns, need all-in-one email, funnel, and CRM features, and don’t mind a recurring fee, ClickFunnels might be the better fit.