ClickFunnels is one of the most well-known sales funnel builders in the world, created by marketing legend Russell Brunson. It lets you build landing pages, sales funnels, webinar funnels, and automated follow-up sequences all without needing a developer. In 2026, it remains a powerful tool, but it's not cheap, and it's not for everyone. Read this full review before spending a dollar.
There’s an uncomfortable fact about having a website for small businesses:
Just building a website isn’t good enough.
Building a website is similar to opening a store in the desert. Customers may visit it, walk through it, become lost, and then depart — without making a single purchase. This is not a way to sell; it is merely a method to wish you were selling.
Russell Brunson wanted to help resolve this problem by developing ClickFunnels in 2014. His goal with ClickFunnels was to create a funnel system where people could be guided along each stage of a sales process (as if they had hired a professional salesperson) as they went from being an unknown customer to a paying customer.
By now, in 2026, ClickFunnels has processed trillions of dollars in sales for its user base. As well as helping coaches, agencies, e-commerce stores, course developers, and consultants worldwide turn their cold traffic into paying customers.
Is ClickFunnels the top funnel builder on the market today? Are the costs associated with ClickFunnels worth it? How do newer competitors in the industry stack up against ClickFunnels?
We are going to answer these questions and provide more in-depth details on why ClickFunnels remains one of the leading funnel builders available. We will present the true information with no additional marketing or hype.
Click Funnels is an on line Cloud Based Software Platform. That provides users with tools to create a “Sales Funnel”. A Sales Funnel is basically a group of Web Pages (Pages) that have been developed to take someone from being in a “Browsing Mode“, to wanting to purchase something.
Think of it like this:
VISITOR ARRIVES
↓
Landing Page (Capture attention + offer something valuable)
↓
Sales Page (Explain the product, show the price)
↓
Order Page (Enter credit card details)
↓
Upsell Page (Want to add this too? One click!)
↓
Thank You Page (Confirm the purchase + next steps)
Every page in all of these websites has only one objective: to move visitors further down the path. This is the advantage of a ClickFunnels funnel, as they are designed to remove obstacles (distracting elements), to create trust quickly, and to ask for the sale at the appropriate time.
Russell Brunson did not simply develop a software program. Russell Brunson developed an entire marketing philosophy based on funnels, and ClickFunnels was developed to support this philosophy.
Designed to be user-friendly for new users, but robust enough to allow experienced marketers to build sophisticated automated multi-step funnels.
Let’s go over an actual use case to help illustrate how the ClickFunnels builder functions as it relates to building a funnel.
You are a personal trainer offering a 12-week online transformation program for $497.
Open up the ClickFunnels builder. Choose a template – there are literally hundreds of templates to choose from. Then, add your branding. On this first landing page, visitors will be able to download a free PDF titled “5 Biggest Mistakes Keeping You Fat” if they provide their email address.
Once the user provides their email address, ClickFunnels will automatically add that person to your email list, trigger a welcome sequence, and you now have possession of that lead.
Next, we’re going to create the second page, which will be our Sales page. Our Sales page will explain your 12-week program, including customer testimonials, describe all components of your product, and include a large “Enroll Now” button.
When the user clicks the “Enroll Now” button, they will arrive at your order form. This should look very professional and trustworthy. All they’ll need to do is enter their credit/debit card information.
Immediately after paying, ClickFunnels will show a one-click-up-sell: “add three personalized coaching calls for just $197 more.” The user won’t have to re-enter their credit/debit card information. one click. Most users say yes.
Finally, once they’ve completed their purchase, they will arrive at your confirmation page. They should feel great about themselves, and you should receive a notification. And, of course, money will now be in your bank account.
It took you only a few hours to design and build that funnel using ClickFunnels. You didn’t hire any programmers or spend thousands on high-priced designers. That is why Russell Brunson’s funnel model was such a hit. It is not just theory – it actually works.
Let’s go through the key features you get inside ClickFunnels in 2026.
The core of ClickFunnels is the ClickFunnels Builder. This utilizes a Drag & Drop Visual Editor for creating funnels by allowing users to:
ClickFunnels’ 2.0 (their most recent release) version made large upgrades to the ClickFunnels Builder. It allows for greater flexibility & speed of use along with Global Sections – so if you make a change to an element located in a single area of your site, all locations where that element appears will be updated automatically.
The landing page is the “Front Door” of your funnel. Clickfunnels has Templates for all types of landing pages.
Each Template has already been optimized for Conversion. This means that each Template has already been tested and proven to be effective. You simply enter your own Content into the pre-tested template.
The best thing about the ClickFunnel Landing Pages is that they do NOT have navigation menus or other Distractions on them. Each ClickFunnel Landing Page is designed for One Thing Only…
Get the Visitor to Take Action.
Clickfunnels allows you to create fully functional sales funnels. These can consist of:
Clickfunnel’s order form is very professional and connects natively with both Stripe and PayPal. If you sell something online, that alone would make it worth buying into Clickfunnels.
Also, Order Bumps can be extremely effective. By adding a small but relevant offer at the time of your customer checking out (for example, “Add my Video Course for only $27”), I have found that it will consistently increase your total amount of each sale by 10-25%. Without a funnel, you leave money behind.
The new ClickFunnels CRM, with the release of ClickFunnels 2.0, will now allow you to store all of your contacts and leads within ClickFunnels, track the progression of each lead through your sales funnel, segment your target audience, send out mass emails, create automated email marketing campaigns (known as drip campaigns), and much more.
Before the CRM was built into ClickFunnels, you would have to use an outside email tool such as Active Campaign or MailChimp to automate your follow-up sequence. With the addition of a native email automation system directly inside ClickFunnels, you do not need to worry about integrating another application.
Will the ClickFunnels CRM be as robust as Go High Level or HubSpot? Most likely no. However, for many small business owners who are creating and selling products using funnels, the CRM that has been added by ClickFunnels is more than sufficient – and also provides the benefit of having everything under one roof.
Click Funnels is one of the top converting sales strategies in history, and it is very effective for higher ticket items. The Click Funnels platform offers a specific webinar funnel type, which contains all you need to create your own successful webinar funnel.
This includes:
A webinar can be either a LIVE event, OR an EVERGREEN WEBINAR (a pre-recorded version) that runs automatically. A single Click Funnels webinar funnel, by itself, could easily cover the total annual costs of using Click Funnels for Coaches & Consultants who sell coaching programs priced at $500+, and up.
The Clickfunnels Marketplace is a place where you can buy pre-built Clickfunnel templates created by successful marketers. Also, you can also use this as a way to sell your own Clickfunnel template(s) that you’ve made to others using the marketplace.
There are also many free ClickFunnels templates available for download directly from the marketplace (thanks to the community). This is a great underutilized part of the platform. If you run a Clickfunnels Agency (you build funnels for clients), you can sell your Clickfunnel templates on the marketplace and add another revenue stream to your business. Many successful marketers earn thousands of dollars every month just selling templates in the marketplace.
The data that ClickFunnels provides you with will help to monitor:
A/B Testing (Split Testing) allows you to create two versions of a page (for example: Red Button vs Green Button; Two Different Headlines, etc.) and have ClickFunnels automatically drive more traffic to the version that performs better.
As important as this is for generating maximum revenue from your funnels over time, even a 1% increase in conversion rate can lead to an extra $10,000+ in revenue.
As an owner of a marketing firm, ClickFunnels offers some of the best possible tools for you to work with as well:
I am extremely impressed with the Share Funnel option. I create a funnel for one client, earn money off of it, copy it for my next client (while changing all of the brand elements), and this is the ultimate way to grow/leverage your ClickFunnels Agency business.
Let’s talk money. The cost of ClickFunnels has always been a hot topic.
| Plan | Monthly Price | Annual Price | Funnels | Contacts | Users |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Startup | $97/month | ~$81/month (billed annually) | Unlimited | 10,000 | 3 |
| Pro | $297/month | ~$248/month (billed annually) | Unlimited | 25,000 | 10 |
The pricing changed after Clickfunnels eliminated two old plans ($97/month basic and $297/month platinum), which are now both replaced with new pricing options. I would recommend checking the ClickFunnels website for current pricing, as they have changed several times.
If you are an active seller, then yes, the cost is worth it. This is based on some simple math:
If you are planning to use it, but do not intend to generate leads through it, then NO. As stated above, Click Funnels is most profitable for users who generate leads through it. If you are currently generating leads with another product, consider using something else before spending money on Click Funnel.
Click Funnels has a 14-day free trial – all features included. Use this to build one of your funnels. Cancel within the 14 days if you do not make traction and/or earn money, and pay nothing.
Start Your Free ClickFunnels Trial Here →
In addition to these use cases, there are several other ways in which businesses can leverage Clickfunnels to increase their revenue.
For example, a business that sells high-ticket items may want to create a funnel with multiple steps that allow customers to purchase increasingly expensive products. This type of funnel would be ideal for selling products such as courses or consulting services.
Additionally, an information-based business could also utilize Clickfunnels by creating a self-liquidating offer, where a low-cost item is used as an entry point into higher-priced items.
As an example, a company selling books might sell them at an introductory price of $9.99 and then follow up with more expensive offers for digital versions or live events. Another way to generate additional income through Clickfunnels is by creating a membership site.
A membership site allows members to access exclusive content. Memberships can range from monthly fees to yearly fees, depending on the level of service desired. Membership sites can be great options for those who have created extensive libraries of content related to their niche.
The potential for generating additional income using Clickfunnels is limitless, whether you choose to develop a funnel focused on selling high-priced tickets, offering memberships, or increasing your average sale amount through additional products or services. Each of these strategies will ultimately help to grow your bottom line. When developing a funnel, it is essential to consider the needs of your target audience.
| Feature | ClickFunnels 2.0 | GoHighLevel | Kartra | Leadpages | Systeme.io |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drag & Drop Builder | ✅ Excellent | ✅ Good | ✅ Good | ✅ Good | ✅ Basic |
| Sales Funnels | ✅ Core Feature | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Limited | ✅ Yes |
| Email Automation | ✅ Built-in (2.0) | ✅ Advanced | ✅ Advanced | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| CRM | ✅ Basic | ✅ Full CRM | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ⚠️ Basic |
| Webinar Funnels | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Agency Features | ✅ Good | ✅ Best-in-class | ⚠️ Limited | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Marketplace | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Affiliate Program | ✅ Yes (40%) | ✅ Yes (40%) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Starting Price | $97/month | $97/month | $99/month | $49/month | Free plan |
| Best For | Funnels + selling | Agencies + CRM | All-in-one | Simple pages | Budget/beginners |
| Pro | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Proven funnel templates | Built from Russell Brunson’s marketing expertise — not random designs |
| All funnel types covered | Lead gen, sales, webinar, membership, product launch |
| ClickFunnels marketplace | Buy proven templates or sell your own |
| Strong community | Facebook group, live events, Funnel Hacking Live — the community is genuinely valuable |
| 14-day free trial | Full access, no credit card required upfront |
| Share funnels | Build once, share with clients — massive time-saver for agencies |
| A/B testing built in | Optimize without third-party tools |
| ClickFunnels CRM (2.0) | No more juggling separate email tools for basic needs |
| Educational resources | Russell Brunson’s books (DotCom Secrets, Expert Secrets) + trainings are genuinely world-class |
| Con | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Expensive for beginners | $97/month is steep if you haven’t made your first sale yet |
| Learning curve | Powerful, but it takes time to learn properly |
| ClickFunnels CRM is basic | Not a replacement for HubSpot or GoHighLevel for complex pipelines |
| Page load speed | Historically slower than custom-built pages (improving in 2.0) |
| Limited design flexibility | Templates are great, but sometimes feel templated/generic |
| No native blogging | If you want SEO traffic alongside funnels, you’ll need WordPress, too |
| Customer support | Has had mixed reviews historically — can be slow on basic plans |
If you are going to be creating an agency or want to have both CRM features as well as funnel functionality with your business, GoHighLevel is a better option. This is because it offers everything that ClickFunnel does but also provides clients with a full-fledged CRM, the ability to use pipeline management, the opportunity to monitor a client’s reputation, and the ability for clients to create their own “white label” branded versions of your services — all of which can start at the same $97 per month price point.
Use GoHighLevel if: You are working with multiple customer/client accounts and want to utilize CRM (customer relationship management) along with funnel functionality and automated processes, all within one white-labeled system.
You can get started by using the free version of Systeme.io, which is an excellent option for someone in this position. The free version includes all the features necessary to build a sales funnel.
Beginners should choose Systeme.io if they are on a limited budget and want to experiment with building a funnel before committing to a paid service.
Kartra is a single platform that includes all of your funnel creation, email marketing, membership site functionality, affiliate management, and video hosting. The cost will likely be higher than using individual app;, however, since it combines four to five different services into one tool, it can potentially save you money.
Use Kartra when: Your business model involves selling memberships and/or courses/products, and you would like to have access to all of these tools within the same platform.
If all you‘re looking for are easy-to-build (clean) landing pages and you don’t plan on using a complete funnel solution, then Leadpages will be less expensive and simpler. Excellent option for lead gen campaigns.
Use Leadpages when: All you need/want is an opt-in page(s) and no multiple-step funnel functionality.
QuickFunnel is another newer player in the space, which has been receiving a lot of buzz lately because it is an affordable option to ClickFunnels. The company sells its funnel builder for less than what ClickFunnels charges each month. QuickFunnel also operates under a “one-time purchase” model rather than a subscription model.
Use QuickFunnel when: you’re looking for a one-time payment solution and do not require ClickFunnels’ full-featured ecosystem and user community.
Here’s where things get really interesting. ClickFunnels isn’t just a tool you use — it’s a tool you can monetize in multiple ways.
ClickFunnels affiliates receive 40% recurring commission from referrals. In other words, if you can find an individual who pays a $97 monthly fee for their subscription, then you will be paid $38.80 per month for each of those individuals who continue to pay the same amount every month, as long as those subscribers stay with ClickFunnels.
Action Step: Get signed up with the ClickFunnels Affiliate Program. Once you have been accepted into the program, locate your unique link and place it within your content and comparison articles.
Start your own ClickFunnels Agency. For every local business, you will charge them a fee of $1500-$5000 to build their Lead Generation Funnel. Then, for each month, they are going to pay you anywhere from $300-$800 per month in order to manage and optimize that funnel.
What you’ll need is:
This model can be very profitable with as few as 3-4 clients.
Create attractive, effective funnel templates and create listings for each of those templates in the ClickFunnels marketplace. List the templates in a price range of $47 to $197.
The template should solve a specific problem that is clearly identified by a title such as: “Lead Generation Funnel For Real Estate Agents,” “Webinar Funnel To Sell High Ticket Coaching.” Your templates will be able to sell passively with no work on your part.
Design a full, branded funnel for a niche you are interested in (for example, a Gym Owner Funnel Package that includes a Landing Page, Email Sequence & Upsell Pages). Offer your Full Funnel Package with Set-up Service on Freelance Platforms like Fiverr or Upwork for $$500-$2000. This is the digital version of flipping houses.
Follow the principles of what Russell Brunson has to say about creating a basic Tripwire Funnel. Develop a low-cost ($7-$27) “Tripwire” product and follow that with an upsell for your “Main Offer” ($97-$497). You are going to run Traffic (visitors) from Facebook, YouTube, or Paid Ads. With little to no visitors to your website, you can still make money every day from a well-designed funnel.
To wrap up on all we have gone over, this is what matters most:
ClickFunnels is still the “Gold Standard” for creating sales funnels as well as earning that same title at the end of 2026.
No platform has combined as many features as ClickFunnels has, including:
And like I said before – nothing is perfect. ClickFunnels does come with a price tag, and depending on your current financial situation, if you are brand new with zero income, ClickFunnels could be a large monthly expense. Therefore, start with either Systeme.io or LeadPages to create some momentum by getting your initial sales, and once you can afford it, upgrade to ClickFunnels.
If you currently generate revenue and would like to expand upon your business and scale your business, or if you plan on developing a ClickFunnels Agency, there is no better Ecosystem than the one offered through ClickFunnels.
ClickFunnels is a web-based application developed by Russell Brunson, which enables users to create multi-page marketing funnels, including a landing page, sales page, order form, upsell page, and thank-you page. These connected pages enable visitors to navigate from initial interest through to a sale. Users simply select a template for their funnel, input their content into each section, connect to a payment gateway, and then send targeted traffic to the funnel.
The price of ClickFunnels ranges from $97 per month for the Start-Up Plan and $297 per month for the Pro Plan. The pricing model also offers an annual billing option, which decreases the overall monthly cost. A complimentary fourteen-day trial is offered. Please note that there may be additional fees associated with ClickFunnels (such as paying for traffic, integrations, etc.), as well as optional premium templates.
This question can be answered in both yes and no. Yes, because ClickFunnels is user-friendly and doesn’t require any programming knowledge. They offer many pre-made templates to help users get started. No, because creating a successful funnel requires some foundational knowledge about marketing. If you want to become proficient at creating a profit-generating funnel, I highly recommend reading Russell Brunson’s books – DotCom Secrets and Expert Secrets – before launching your first funnel.
While both products allow you to create funnels, GoHighLevel is primarily a fully functional agency platform featuring a full CRM (Contact Relationship Manager), white labeling, and customer relationship management. ClickFunnels focuses more directly on funnel creation and has a larger marketplace and a greater variety of training materials related to the marketing philosophies of Russell Brunson.
Therefore, if you’re looking for an all-around solution for your agency needs, GoHighLevel is generally the better choice. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a way to create funnels and generate revenue from those funnels using ClickFunnels’ large array of training resources, you may find that ClickFunnels provides everything you need.
Yes, you can definitely make money using ClickFunnels as an affiliate. Russell Brunson pays affiliates 40% recurring commissions for all referrals. As long as you write articles (like this post) that include relevant search terms such as “ClickFunnels review”, “how much is ClickFunnels”, or “what is ClickFunnels builder”, you’ll likely appear in the top spot on Google and receive continuous passive income through affiliate commissions each month. One of the greatest affiliate programs out there for marketing bloggers is ClickFunnels.
Yes, as of ClickFunnels version 2.0, a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system has been integrated into the software. The system contains basic contact information storage, lead tracking, and limited email automation capabilities. While the native CRM within ClickFunnel is sufficient for basic funnel-based companies, it is still far short of offering the level of CRM functionality required for more complex business operations.
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