The short verdict
Pick Systeme.io if you want funnels, email, courses and checkout at the lowest cost, with a free plan to start and unlimited email sends on every plan. Pick ClickFunnels if you specifically want its funnel-building ecosystem, training library and onboarding calls, and you're comfortable paying from $81 a month (annual) or $97 month to month.
Systeme.io vs ClickFunnels at a glance
| Systeme.io | ClickFunnels | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes (2,000 contacts, 3 funnels, 1 course) | No (free trial; 30-day money-back guarantee) |
| Entry plan | Startup: $17/month | Launch: $97/month, or $81/month billed annually |
| Contacts on entry paid plan | 5,000 | 10,000 |
| Email sends | Unlimited on all plans | Launch: 50,000 emails/month |
| Funnels | 3 free / 10 / 50 / unlimited by plan | Unlimited (marked "limited time" on the pricing page) |
| Courses | 1 free / 5 / 20 / unlimited | Launch: 3, Scale: 6, Optimize: 10 |
| Team members | Assistant accounts vary by plan | Launch: 2, Scale: 5, Optimize: 10 |
| Cut of your sales | 0% transaction fees | None, per ClickFunnels' FAQ |
| Our rating | 9.2/10 | Not currently ranked |
Sources: Systeme.io pricing and ClickFunnels pricing, checked 22 October 2026. Prices in US dollars.
Pricing compared
ClickFunnels lists three self-serve plans: Launch ($97 a month, or $81 a month billed annually), Scale ($197, or $164 annually) and Optimize ($297, or $248 annually), plus an annual-only Dominate plan at $5,997 a year. Its FAQ mentions a 14-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Systeme.io lists Free, Startup ($17 a month), Webinar ($47) and Unlimited ($97), with "2 months free" on annual billing. Systeme.io's own pricing FAQ makes the comparison directly, pointing out that its Unlimited plan costs the same as ClickFunnels' entry plan. That's marketing from an interested party, but the list prices above bear it out.
For a small business, the practical difference is that you can build and launch on Systeme.io without paying anything, then pay $17 a month once you need more than 2,000 contacts or more automation. On ClickFunnels you'll be paying at least $81 a month from the end of your trial.
Features: where they overlap
The two products cover very similar ground: drag-and-drop funnels and landing pages, checkout with order bumps and upsells, email marketing and automations, courses and communities, a blog and website, and affiliate management. ClickFunnels adds A/B testing, a CRM pipeline and a "Message Hub", with appointments and booking calendars on Scale and above, while Systeme.io includes a booking calendar, evergreen webinars (Webinar plan and up) and unlimited sub-accounts.
Two limits are worth spotting. ClickFunnels caps monthly email sends (50,000 on Launch), while Systeme.io lists unlimited sends on every plan. And ClickFunnels lists its affiliate centre only on higher plans, while Systeme.io includes an affiliate programme on every plan, including Free.
Where ClickFunnels is stronger
- More contacts on the entry plan (10,000 vs 5,000 on Systeme.io Startup).
- Training and onboarding: group onboarding calls on all plans and its FunnelFlix training library.
- Team features: more team members and workspaces on higher plans, plus AI tools with a monthly word allowance.
- Webhooks and API from the Scale plan, if you want deeper integrations.
Where Systeme.io is stronger
- Cost: free to start; every Systeme.io plan costs the same as or less than ClickFunnels' cheapest plan.
- Unlimited email sends on every plan.
- Affiliate programme on every plan, including Free.
- Unlimited sub-accounts with the same limits as your plan, at no extra cost.
Connecting to the rest of your tools
Whichever you choose, you may want to pass leads and orders to a spreadsheet, CRM or accounting app. A no-code automation tool such as Make can do this; its free plan includes 1,000 credits a month (checked Oct 2026). See our Make free plan guide.
Bottom line
ClickFunnels is a capable, well-known funnel platform, but for a UK small business or sole trader the maths is hard to ignore: Systeme.io offers the same core building blocks with a free plan, unlimited email sends and a $17 entry price. Unless you specifically need ClickFunnels' training ecosystem or team features, start with Systeme.io.
Frequently asked questions
Is Systeme.io a good ClickFunnels alternative?
For most small businesses, yes. It covers funnels, checkout, email, courses and affiliates, has a free plan, and its paid plans run from $17 to $97 a month, versus $81 to $248 a month (annual) for ClickFunnels' self-serve plans (checked Oct 2026).
Does ClickFunnels have a free plan?
No. ClickFunnels offers a free trial (its FAQ says 14 days) and a 30-day money-back guarantee, but no free-forever plan.
How much does ClickFunnels cost in 2026?
As of October 2026, Launch is $97 a month or $81 a month billed annually, Scale $197 or $164, Optimize $297 or $248, and Dominate $5,997 a year (all USD).
Does either platform take a percentage of my sales?
ClickFunnels says it doesn't take a percentage of sales, and Systeme.io states 0% transaction fees. Your payment processor still charges its own fees.
Can I move from ClickFunnels to Systeme.io?
Systeme.io advertises free migration on its pricing page. Check what's included with its support team before you cancel your ClickFunnels plan.
Related guides
- Systeme.io free plan: what you really get in 2026
- Systeme.io vs Kajabi for UK coaches and course creators
- Systeme.io vs MailerLite vs Kit for small business email
- The best Zapier alternatives for small businesses
- See our full ranking of AI tools for small business
Prices and plan limits change frequently. We note the date we checked each fact; always confirm on the vendor's official pricing page before buying. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.