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Some websites are pretty – like the cute waitress at the local diner.
Other websites are pretty while also making a ton of money – like a Kardashian.
As an entrepreneur, you want your website to be a Kardashian. And that’s where the Thrive Themes vs ClickFunnels debate comes in.
You can use ClickFunnels or Thrive Themes to build effective sales funnels. In other words, your website will be specifically designed to increase profits.
The average company’s sales funnel conversion rate is around 1-3%.1 Using Thrive Themes or ClickFunnels should help you beat that average!
I’ll help you decide which platform is best for you.
Table of Contents
Thrive Themes vs ClickFunnels Overview
When you’re deciding to use either Thrive Themes or ClickFunnels, keep this in mind: These two services are not the same.
1 – Thrive Themes is a wide collection of WordPress plugins.
2 – ClickFunnels is a tool specifically designed to create sales funnels
ClickFunnels is more expensive than Thrive Themes. But why do you think that is?
I’m encouraging you to have an abundance mindset and think about how much money you can earn. You need to spend money to make money.
However, ClickFunnels is NOT for everyone. For some of you, Thrive Themes is indeed the right choice.
Let’s examine Thrive Themes vs ClickFunnels, and I’ll help you decide. Because you can indeed build effective sales funnels with either platform.
Okay, let’s pause to define some jargon. A sales funnel? What is that? A plastic cone where I store my coupons?
No. A sales funnel is a helpful metaphor for how you lead potential customers through your website.
Ideally, you want a lot of people going to your site. These folks are at the wide top end of the funnel.
Then, you want some of those people to check out a particular product’s landing page. This is the middle of the funnel.
Finally, you want people (as many as possible) to enter their credit card information and make an actual purchase.
On a website, each section of that funnel requires its own page. Those pages should be strategically designed to keep people moving down the funnel. It’s a trick that can turn a failing website into a gold mine.
Both companies in the Thrive Themes vs ClickFunnels discussion can make the process easy!
What Is Thrive Themes and How Does Thrive Themes Work?
Thrive Themes is a suite of WordPress plugins that can help make your website more profitable.
Check out this Thrive Themes testimonial:
Thrive Theme offers a bunch of different solutions, including:
- A website builder
- Quizzes and surveys
- Membership sites
- Scarcity-based marketing campaigns
- Tools for coaches, personal brands, and affiliate marketers
- Online courses
- E-commerce page templates
- Lead generation
- Landing pages and sales funnels
In this Thrive Themes vs ClickFunnels article, I’m going to focus on Thrive Themes’ landing pages and sales funnels (since that’s what’s relevant when you’re deciding whether to use Thrive Themes or ClickFunnels).
These features are included in the Thrive Architect product. They’re also part of the “Thrive Suite,” the company’s all-access bundle of tools for WordPress. (I’ll explain the bundle further in the pricing section of this ClickFunnels vs Thrive Themes article.)
Here are Thrive Themes features to help you create landing pages:
- Over 270 landing page templates. These will give your landing pages a basic, coherent structure.
- Landing page sets. You can create sales funnels with a series of pages that share a consistent design. (This is the tool that makes the Thrive Themes vs ClickFunnels conversation worth having! Both products can be used for this purpose.)
- “One-click” color customization. Instead of playing around with a million color combinations, you can change the whole scheme with a single click.
- Global site options. You can change key text like contact information and social links in a single portal, and the update will appear on all your site’s landing pages.
- Predesigned blocks to customize pages. These allow you to give each page its own vibe.
- Mobile optimization. These pages are designed to look just as good on smartphones and tablets as they do on a computer.
- Tutorialized writing. You don’t have to be a poet or marketing master. Just follow the prompts to create copy that produces more sales.
- A/B testing for sales funnels. Want to see which design or call-to-action gets more conversions? Thrive Themes lets you test it out so you can make decisions based on cold, hard data. (You’ll need to buy a package that includes “Thrive Optimize” to access this tool.)
See how you could use those features to create an effective sales funnel? That’s why it’s tough to decide whether to use ClickFunnels or Thrive Themes! Both platforms give your business an online presence that’s designed to boost profits.
What is ClickFunnels and How Does ClickFunnels Work?
ClickFunnels is a digital marketing system that creates killer sales funnels. It doesn’t just build you a website. It builds you a money-making machine!
See this short ClickFunnels testimonial:
Building a sales funnel with ClickFunnels is a simple 3-step process:
- Choose your funnel type from a list of options.
- Drag and drop the elements you want to include in the funnel.
- Add images and text.
When you’re done, you’ll have a set of pages on your website that are strategically designed to take people from “Hmm, what’s this?” to “Nice! Purchase confirmed!”
As you decide whether to use Thrive Themes or ClickFunnels, you might wonder if ClickFunnels is limited entirely to sales funnels. And while it’s true that ClickFunnels is the more funnel-focused option in the Thrive Themes vs ClickFunnels debate (they didn’t put “funnel” in their name for nothing), the company offers a pretty wide variety of website tools.
You can use ClickFunnels to manage most aspects of your business’s online presence, including:
- Sales funnels (duh!)
- Your online store
- A membership site
- Customer relations management (CRM)
- Email marketing
- Website-related stats and analytics
All of these features revolve around a single goal: to get people to spend money on your site.
Extra Point: As your business grows, you might want to create a limited liability company (LLC). I’d use Mark Cuban’s ZenBusiness, which is the best LLC service. Or see Bizee vs ZenBusiness. If you want to maintain your privacy, check out how to avoid using home address for LLC. Learn more with Why do you need an LLC. See my LLC Checklist if you want to do it yourself, along with LLC 101.
Thrive Themes vs ClickFunnels Pricing / Thrive Themes vs ClickFunnels Cost
ClickFunnels costs about 10X more than Thrive Themes. But there’s a good reason for that.
When deciding to use Thrive Themes or ClickFunnels, you’ll want to know which platform will make you the most money, not just which costs more.
When considering ClickFunnels vs Thrive Themes, know that each has its own pricing model with different packages that don’t exactly line up.
So the best way to handle this part of the Thrive Themes vs ClickFunnels debate is just to lay out all the details, which is exactly what I’ve done below.
*Note: Thrive Themes lists annual prices, while ClickFunnels lists monthly prices. Don’t forget this key detail when making comparisons!
Thrive Themes Pricing
Thrive Themes’ pricing model is a bit complex, but the details are relevant to the Thrive Themes vs ClickFunnels debate – so bear with me!
If you want to use Thrive Themes to create sales funnels (which you probably are, if you’re asking whether to use ClickFunnels or Thrive Themes), then you’ll want the Thrive Architect plugin. This is what lets you choose landing page templates and build sales funnels that convert.
There are four Thrive Themes product packages that include Thrive Architect:
- Thrive Build Basic ($99 per year). This includes only Thrive Architect.
- Thrive Build Plus ($149 per year). Along with Thrive Architect, you’ll get the Thrive Theme Builder, which will give you more design options across your site.
- Thrive Build Pro ($199 per year). This is the package that combines Thrive Architect and Thrive Theme Builder with Thrive Optimize – which is the feature that allows for A/B testing.
- Thrive Suite All Access ($499 per year). This package gives you the whole kit and kaboodle – which will make it way easier to optimize your website.
So your job as a potential customer (or someone wading through the Thrive Themes vs ClickFunnels debate) is to decide how many tools you really need, and then buy the appropriate package.
While Thrive Themes doesn’t offer a free trial, they do have a 30-day money-back guarantee.
ClickFunnels Pricing
ClickFunnels offers two packages, each of which can be billed monthly or annually (the annual option gives you a pretty big discount).
The main difference is that the more expensive “Pro” package includes more “brand workspaces” and lets you give access to more team members.
Here’s a simple breakdown of ClickFunnels’ packages:
- Startup ($97 per month, or $81 per month if billed annually). Up to 3 “brand workspaces” and access for up to 3 team members.
- Pro ($297 per month, or $248 per month if billed annually). Up to 10 “brand workspaces” and access for up to 10 team members.
Unless you’re running a company with lots of employees, the Startup plan should be fine.
ClickFunnels also offers both a 14-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Either way, in the big picture, online sales funnels are a great business to start with 10k. This can be one of the most profitable online businesses. You can use these tools to learn how to turn 10k into 100k.
Whether you’re running one of the best business ideas for women, using hobbies to make money, or learning how to make money online for beginners, sales funnel software can turbo-boost your profits.
Thrive Themes vs ClickFunnels Pros and Cons
You know how, before the Super Bowl, the analysts break down each team’s strengths and weaknesses? We can do the same thing for the Thrive Themes vs ClickFunnels debate!
So get those nachos ready and put your drinks on ice. We’ve reached the pros and cons portion of ClickFunnels vs Thrive Themes!
Thrive Themes Pros and Cons
Thrive Themes Pros:
- They offer a wide range of WordPress plugins. This isn’t just sales funnel technology. It’s a full-scale optimizer for WordPress sites.
- There are tons of templates to choose from. Thrive Themes offers 271 landing page templates that you can customize to boost sales.
- There’s a 30-day money-back guarantee. Don’t like Thrive Themes after all? Just ask for a refund and move on!
Thrive Themes Cons:
- The comprehensive packages cost more. Thrive Themes offers lots of WordPress plugins, but you’ll need to pay extra to get all of them (the “All Access” package costs $499 per year.)
- There’s no free trial. While the 30-day money-back guarantee is nice, there’s no way to try a product without them charging your card.
- It only works with WordPress. If you don’t have or want a WordPress site, Thrive Themes is completely worthless.
ClickFunnels Pros and Cons
ClickFunnels Pros:
- They’re sales funnel specialists. Looking specifically to boost sales on your website? That’s exactly what this technology was built for.
- Even the cheapest package includes the main features. You can get the full “ClickFunnels” experience for $81 per month (billed annually).
- There’s a 14-day free trial. That gives you a chance to play around with this whole sales funnel thing before making a financial commitment.
ClickFunnels Cons:
- There aren’t as many features. Yes, you can do more than just create sales funnels – but this is still the more “niche” option in the ClickFunnels vs Thrive Themes discussion.
- You can lose your work when you cancel your membership. This is a common complaint among ClickFunnels users.
- The plans are more expensive. Even the cheapest ClickFunnels plan will cost you more per year ($972) than the most expensive Thrive Themes plan (which costs $499 per year).
Thrive Themes vs ClickFunnels Reviews
Wondering whether to use Thrive Themes or ClickFunnels? It’s helpful to consider real user reviews.
Let’s take the ClickFunnels vs Thrive Themes debate to the people!
Thrive Themes is pretty popular on the review site Trustpilot, earning an average of 4.1 stars.
One user praised the customer support in a 5-star Thrive Themes review. They said the company goes “out of their way to make sure that their plugins are working how you want/need them to.”
Another 5-star Thrive Themes review raved about the “awesome” product and support.
Alas, not all Thrive Themes reviews are positive.
In a 2-star review, someone said the Thrive Architect tool has “too many bugs.” They also complained that customer support had gotten “disappointingly slow.”
Now, let’s pivot to ClickFunnels, which gets 4.4 stars from users on Trustpilot (meaning it wins this part of the Thrive Themes vs ClickFunnels battle).
In a 5-star review, someone called ClickFunnels “the best software ever.” They loved that the product is constantly improving with new features “almost every day.”
In another 5-star review, a user said their business’s website looks “more professional” and “cleaner” thanks to ClickFunnels.
In a negative review, someone complained that their work was deleted permanently when they ended their membership.
This is definitely a downside to ClickFunnels. Basically, you have to keep paying for the service to keep the sales funnels you’ve already created.
In response to that negative review, ClickFunnels said, “We are actively exploring options to provide users with a more flexible solution when it comes to ending their memberships without losing their hard work.”
So, if you buy an online business for sale that relies on ClickFunnels, you should be aware of this factor.
Thrive Themes vs ClickFunnels: Which Is Better?
We’re getting to the end of our Thrive Themes vs ClickFunnels Super Bowl party. The nachos are gone. The carrot sticks aren’t. And we’re about to find out who wins.
Wait, what’s that, Jim Nantz? There is no winner? Impossible!
In this case, it is possible – because both sides in the ClickFunnels vs Thrive Themes debate are incredible. You just have to decide which is best for your business.
Here’s how to pick Thrive Themes or ClickFunnels.
Thrive Themes is better if:
- You have (or want) a WordPress site.
- You want to save money.
- You want a comprehensive website with a wide variety of content.
ClickFunnels is better if:
- Your main focus is a sales funnel, and you want it to be the best it can be.
- You’re willing to pay more for a sales funnel that kicks you-know-what.
It’s also worth remembering that you don’t have to choose ClickFunnels or Thrive Themes. You can also try another option like Kartra. Check out my Kartra vs ClickFunnels breakdown to learn more.
Commonly Asked Questions About Thrive Themes vs ClickFunnels
Alternatives to Thrive Themes / Alternatives to ClickFunnels?
When considering ClickFunnels or Thrive Themes, don’t forget about these alternatives:
- Elementor
- Shopify
- Kartra (read this Kartra vs ClickFunnels guide to learn more)
- WordPress (check out my ClickFunnels vs WordPress comparison)
- Sellfy
- Wix
What Is Better Than ClickFunnels?
I wouldn’t say Thrive Themes is “better” than ClickFunnels (there’s no clear winner in the Thrive Themes vs ClickFunnels debate), but it gives you another option. Thrive Themes offers a comprehensive suite of WordPress plugins, and you can build sales funnels for just $99 a year.
If you don’t want to create an entire sales funnel, you can sell your services to help others make a sales funnel. For instance, creating video sales letters (VSL) is a great way how to make money as an attractive female and how to make money as an attractive male.
How Good Is Thrive Themes?
Thrive Themes is a great product for anyone who wants to optimize a WordPress site. It has tons of landing page templates (271 and counting), and the flexible pricing model lets you choose the plan you need without paying for extra features.
Who Bought Thrive Themes?
In 2023, Thrive Themes was purchased by Awesome Motive – a massive software company that’s been around since 2009.
Is ClickFunnels Still Worth It?
ClickFunnels is definitely worth it if your goal is to supercharge your online sales process. They offer a proven method for attracting an online audience and then turning those audience members into paying customers. If you significantly boost sales, the software will pay for itself (and then some!).
With the right product, ClickFunnels is a proven way:
- How to make 50k a month
- How to make 30k a month
- How to make 20k a month
- How to make 10k a month
- How to make 20000 dollars a week
- Jobs that pay 1 million dollars a month
- Jobs that pay over 1 million a year
A sales funnel takes time to optimize. If you’re looking for fast money instead, check out:
- How to make 400 dollars fast
- How to make 600 dollars fast
- How to make 700 dollars fast
- How to make 800 dollars fast
- How to make 900 dollars fast
- How to make 3000 dollars fast
- How to make money fast
- How to double 10k quickly
- How to make more money
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