Affiliate disclosure: We earn a commission if you sign up through our Systeme.io or ClickFunnels links, at no extra cost to you. It doesn’t change what we write. Prices change, so check current pricing before you buy.
TL;DR
- Systeme.io has a free plan that never expires (2,000 contacts, unlimited emails, 3 sales funnels, 1 course). Paid plans start at $17/month.
- ClickFunnels has no free plan. You get a 14-day free trial, then plans start at $97/month ($81/month billed annually).
- Neither takes a cut of your sales.
- Starting out or on a budget: Systeme.io. Running funnels at scale with a team and need the extras: ClickFunnels is worth a look.
Systeme.io is an all-in-one tool for solo creators: funnels, email, courses, a blog, an affiliate program and checkout in one account, with a usable free tier.
ClickFunnels is a funnel builder first, built out with courses, community, store, email, automations, CRM pipelines, appointments and A/B testing. Its pricing is aimed at businesses already making sales.
Quick comparison table
| Systeme.io | ClickFunnels | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Solo creators and beginners on a budget | Businesses with sales running funnels at scale |
| Free option | Free plan, never expires, no card | No free plan; 14-day free trial |
| Starting price | Free; paid from $17/mo | $97/mo ($81/mo billed annually) |
| Contacts (entry paid plan) | 5,000 (Startup) | 10K (Launch) |
| Emails | Unlimited on all plans | 50K/mo on Launch, capped per plan |
| Funnels | 3 / 10 / 50 / unlimited by plan | Unlimited (marked limited-time) |
| Courses (entry paid plan) | 5 (Startup) | 3 (Launch) |
| Cut of your sales | 0% transaction fees | None (“keep every penny”) |
| Money-back | — | 30-day guarantee |
Pricing (free plan vs trial)
Systeme.io’s free plan, per its pricing page: 2,000 contacts, 3 sales funnels, 1 blog, 1 course, 1 affiliate program, 1 custom domain, unlimited emails. No credit card, and it never expires. Limits to know: 1 automation rule, 1 email campaign, 500 students.
ClickFunnels has no free plan. It offers a 14-day free trial, and its FAQ also mentions a 30-day money-back guarantee.
For more on the Systeme.io free plan, see our Systeme.io tutorial.
Paid plans
| Systeme.io | ClickFunnels | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan | Startup $17/mo (5,000 contacts, 10 funnels, 5 courses) | Launch $97/mo or $81/mo annual (10K contacts, 50K emails/mo, 3 courses) |
| Mid plan | Webinar $47/mo (10,000 contacts, 50 funnels, 20 courses) | Scale $197/mo or $164/mo annual (75K contacts, 300K emails/mo, 6 courses) |
| Top plan | Unlimited $97/mo (unlimited contacts, funnels, courses) | Optimize $297/mo or $248/mo annual; Dominate $5,997/yr |
| Emails | Unlimited on all plans | Capped per plan |
Systeme.io’s top plan costs the same as ClickFunnels’ entry plan. That’s the biggest difference here.
Payments and fees
Both say they take no percentage of your sales. Systeme.io lists 0% transaction fees on all plans and supports Stripe and PayPal (plus others like Razorpay and Mercado Pago). ClickFunnels’ FAQ says “You’ll keep every penny you make.” Your payment processor still charges its own fees on either tool.
Funnel builder
ClickFunnels says “Unlimited Funnels” on every plan (labelled a limited-time offer), plus A/B testing, Smart Checkout, an AI funnel builder and countdown funnels. Scale and up add a custom code editor and webhooks/API access.
Systeme.io caps funnels by plan (3 / 10 / 50 / unlimited) and includes 1-click upsells, order bumps and A/B tests. The builder is simpler, which suits beginners.
Build your first funnel on Systeme.io
Email and automation
Systeme.io gives you unlimited email sends on every plan, including free. The free plan’s automation is thin (1 rule, 1 campaign), so you’ll feel it if you rely on sequences.
ClickFunnels includes email and automations, with sends capped per plan (50K/month on Launch). Advanced workflows come with Scale and above.
If email is your main need, compare with a dedicated tool: Systeme.io vs MailerLite and AWeber vs MailerLite.
Courses and memberships
Systeme.io: 1 course on free, 5 on Startup, 20 on Webinar, unlimited on Unlimited.
ClickFunnels: 3 courses and 3 communities on Launch, 6 on Scale, 10 on Optimize, 20 on Dominate. Membership sites are included.
Honest downsides
Systeme.io
– Free plan automation is very limited (1 rule, 1 campaign).
– Funnel and course counts are capped below the Unlimited plan.
– The builder is less flexible than ClickFunnels’.
ClickFunnels
– No free plan; $97/month is a lot before you have revenue.
– Email sends are capped per plan.
– Custom code and API access only start at Scale ($197/month).
– “Unlimited funnels” is marked as a limited-time offer, so check current pricing.
Who should pick which
Pick Systeme.io if you’re starting out, want to sell a first course or product without a monthly bill, or want unlimited email sends cheaply.
Pick ClickFunnels if you already have sales, need team seats, multiple workspaces, A/B testing and an advanced funnel builder, and $97+/month is fine. You can test it on the 14-day trial: ClickFunnels free trial.
Start with Systeme.io’s free plan
FAQ
Is Systeme.io really free?
Yes. Its pricing page says the free plan never expires and needs no credit card, with 2,000 contacts and unlimited emails.
Does ClickFunnels have a free plan?
No. It has a 14-day free trial; plans start at $97/month.
Is Systeme.io cheaper than ClickFunnels?
Yes. Systeme.io’s paid plans are $17–$97/month; ClickFunnels starts at $97/month.
Do either charge transaction fees?
Neither takes a cut of sales. Processor fees from Stripe or PayPal still apply.
Can I switch from ClickFunnels to Systeme.io?
Systeme.io’s pricing page advertises free migration. Check current terms before moving.