If you are building or scaling an online business, you have probably encountered two names that dominate conversations about sales automation and marketing platforms: ClickFunnels and Infusionsoft (now branded as Keap). Both tools promise to streamline your sales process and help you convert more prospects into paying customers, but they take very different approaches to achieving those goals. This leaves entrepreneurs facing a genuinely difficult decision: in the battle of ClickFunnels vs Infusionsoft, which platform actually delivers better results for businesses like yours?
In this complete comparison, I am going to examine both platforms from every angle that matters to real business owners. We will look at core features, pricing structures, ease of use, the types of businesses each platform serves best and the actual return on investment you can expect. By the end of this article, you will have a clear understanding of which tool makes more sense for your specific situation and business model.
Understanding What Each Platform Actually Does
Before we can properly compare ClickFunnels vs Infusionsoft, we need to establish what each platform is designed to accomplish. Whilst both tools exist in the marketing automation space, they evolved from different origins and serve somewhat different primary purposes.
ClickFunnels: The Sales Funnel Specialist
ClickFunnels launched in 2014 with a laser focus on one specific problem: helping businesses build optimised sales funnels without needing technical skills or developers. The platform provides drag-and-drop page builders, pre-designed funnel templates and integrated payment processing specifically designed to guide visitors through structured buying journeys.
The main idea behind ClickFunnels is that most businesses lose potential customers because their websites are too complicated or fail to guide visitors clearly toward making purchases. ClickFunnels solves this by creating linear, focused pathways that eliminate distractions and friction at every step from initial awareness to final purchase.
The platform includes landing page creation, sales page builders, order forms, upsell sequences, membership site functionality and basic email automation. Everything is optimised around the concept of funnels rather than traditional websites.
Infusionsoft (Keap): The CRM And Automation Powerhouse
Infusionsoft takes a completely different approach. The platform (rebranded as Keap in recent years, though many still know it by its original name) started as a customer relationship management system with powerful marketing automation built on top. Rather than focusing narrowly on funnels, Infusionsoft attempts to manage your entire customer lifecycle from first contact through repeat purchases and referrals.
Infusionsoft provides sophisticated contact management, detailed customer segmentation, complex automation workflows, email marketing, e-commerce capabilities, appointment scheduling and extensive reporting. The platform is designed for businesses that need to manage relationships with hundreds or thousands of contacts whilst automating personalised communication based on customer behaviour and attributes.
The main idea is that business growth comes from understanding your customers deeply, segmenting them appropriately and delivering the right message to the right person at the right time through sophisticated automation.
For a detailed walkthrough of how ClickFunnels performs in real-world usage, you can read my complete ClickFunnels review, which examines the platform beyond marketing claims
Pricing Comparison: What You Actually Pay
One of the most significant factors in any ClickFunnels vs Infusionsoft decision is cost. Both platforms position themselves as premium solutions, but their pricing structures differ substantially.
ClickFunnels Pricing Breakdown
ClickFunnels offers straightforward tiered pricing:
Basic Plan: $97 per month (or $81 monthly with annual billing) includes 20 funnels, basic features and limited contacts.
Pro Plan: $297 per month (or $248 monthly with annual billing) includes unlimited funnels, priority support and advanced features.
ClickFunnels pricing is simple to understand. You know exactly what you will pay monthly, regardless of how many contacts you have or how many emails you send. This predictability appeals to businesses that want consistent, foreseeable expenses.
Infusionsoft (Keap) Pricing Breakdown
Infusionsoft pricing is considerably more complex and varies based on several factors:
Keap Grow: Starting at $79 per month for 500 contacts, scaling up as your contact list grows.
Keap Pro: Starting at $149 per month for 500 contacts, with pricing increasing based on contact count.
Infusionsoft (Classic): Starting around $299 per month for 500 contacts, with significant price increases as your list grows.
The crucial difference is that Infusionsoft pricing scales with your contact database. A business with 10,000 contacts might pay $500-800 monthly for Infusionsoft compared to a fixed $297 for ClickFunnels Pro. This scaling can make Infusionsoft substantially more expensive as your business grows, though you also get more sophisticated contact management for that higher price.
Hidden Costs To Consider
Both platforms have potential additional expenses beyond base subscription fees:
ClickFunnels additional costs include custom domains, external email service integration for better deliverability, payment processing fees and stock images or graphics.
Infusionsoft additional costs include the almost mandatory implementation and training (often $2,000-5,000 to properly set up), ongoing consultant fees for complex automation, custom development for specific needs and payment processing fees.
Infusionsoft’s hidden costs tend to be significantly higher than ClickFunnels’. Most Infusionsoft users need professional help to implement the platform properly, whilst ClickFunnels is designed for DIY setup.
Core Features: How They Actually Compare
To make an informed ClickFunnels vs Infusionsoft decision, you need to understand how core features stack up against each other.
Funnel Building And Landing Pages
ClickFunnels excels here with a dedicated drag-and-drop funnel builder, an extensive template library specifically designed for various funnel types and straightforward workflows for creating complete sales sequences. The platform is optimised for speed, allowing you to build and launch funnels in hours rather than days.
Infusionsoft includes landing page capabilities through its Keap interface, but this is not the platform’s primary strength. The page builder is functional but feels dated compared to modern website builders. Most serious Infusionsoft users integrate with separate landing page tools for better design flexibility.
Winner: ClickFunnels dominates funnel building. This is what the platform was built to do, and it shows in every aspect of the experience.
CRM And Contact Management
ClickFunnels includes basic contact management, showing who opted in, what they purchased and their funnel activity. It is adequate for simple tracking but lacks depth for businesses needing detailed customer relationship management.
Infusionsoft was built as a CRM first. You can track every interaction with each contact, add detailed notes, assign tasks to team members, score leads based on engagement, segment contacts using virtually unlimited criteria and maintain complete customer histories.
Winner: Infusionsoft absolutely dominates CRM functionality. ClickFunnels is not even trying to compete in this category.
E-commerce Capabilities
ClickFunnels handles product sales well, including physical and digital products, subscription billing, order bumps, upsells and payment processing. The checkout process is optimised for conversion, but inventory management and complex product catalogues are limited.
Infusionsoft provides robust e-commerce features, including inventory tracking, complex product variations, subscription management, affiliate programmes and detailed sales reporting. The platform handles more sophisticated e-commerce scenarios than ClickFunnels.
Winner: Slight edge to Infusionsoft for businesses with extensive product catalogues or complex e-commerce needs. ClickFunnels works well for simpler product offerings.
Analytics And Reporting
ClickFunnels shows funnel-specific metrics, including conversion rates at each step, total revenue per funnel and traffic sources. The analytics are straightforward and focused on what matters for funnel optimisation.
Infusionsoft offers extraordinarily detailed reporting on virtually every aspect of your business, including campaign performance, contact lifecycle, sales attribution, team activity and custom reports. You can analyse your business from countless angles.
Winner: Infusionsoft provides far more detailed analytics, though ClickFunnels offers sufficient data for most funnel-focused businesses.
Email Marketing And Automation
ClickFunnels provides basic email automation sufficient for simple follow-up sequences triggered by funnel actions. You can send welcome series, abandoned cart emails and basic segmentation. The functionality works, but is quite limited compared to dedicated email platforms.
Infusionsoft is extraordinarily powerful for email automation. You can create complex, branching automation workflows based on dozens of conditions, including email engagement, purchase history, website behaviour, custom field values and much more. The campaign builder allows for sophisticated multi-step sequences that adapt based on how contacts interact with your business.
Winner: Infusionsoft crushes ClickFunnels in email automation sophistication. If advanced email marketing is your priority, Infusionsoft offers capabilities that ClickFunnels cannot match.
Ease Of Use: The Learning Curve Reality
A critical factor in the ClickFunnels vs Infusionsoft comparison is how quickly you can actually start using each platform productively.
ClickFunnels Learning Curve
ClickFunnels is designed for non-technical entrepreneurs to use independently. The interface is relatively intuitive, with most users creating their first basic funnel within hours of signing up. The template-based approach means you start with proven structures rather than building everything from scratch.
The learning curve still exists. Mastering the page editor, understanding funnel strategy and optimising for conversions takes weeks of practice. However, you can achieve basic competence quickly enough to launch your first funnel and start generating results whilst still learning advanced features.
ClickFunnels provides extensive training through Funnel University, video tutorials and an active community. Most entrepreneurs can become productive with ClickFunnels within their first week.
Infusionsoft Learning Curve
Infusionsoft is notoriously complex, with one of the steepest learning curves in the marketing automation space. The platform offers extraordinary power, but that power comes with substantial complexity. Most businesses require professional implementation help, costing thousands of dollars to set up Infusionsoft properly.
Even after a professional setup, using Infusionsoft effectively requires significant time investment in training. Creating complex automation workflows, properly segmenting contacts and leveraging advanced features takes months to master. Many businesses never utilise more than a fraction of Infusionsoft’s capabilities because the learning curve is so steep.
Infusionsoft does provide training and certification programmes, but even these assume a level of technical comfort and strategic thinking that many small business owners lack.
Winner: ClickFunnels is dramatically easier to learn and use. Infusionsoft’s power comes at the cost of accessibility.
Who Actually Benefits From Each Platform?
The ClickFunnels vs Infusionsoft debate often misses a crucial point: these platforms serve different types of businesses with different priorities and needs.
Ideal ClickFunnels Users
ClickFunnels makes the most sense for:
Product launch specialists who need to build and test funnels quickly for time-sensitive campaigns.
Course creators and coaches selling digital products through optimised sales sequences.
Solo entrepreneurs and small teams who cannot afford dedicated technical staff or complex software management.
Businesses prioritising speed over sophistication where launching quickly matters more than having every possible feature.
Companies with relatively simple sales processes that fit well into linear funnel structures.
Marketers uncomfortable with technical complexity who want tools that work without extensive training.
Ideal Infusionsoft Users
Infusionsoft is better suited for:
Established businesses with substantial contact databases (thousands of customers) requiring sophisticated relationship management.
Companies with complex, multi-touch sales processes where customers move through various stages over weeks or months.
Businesses need deep customer segmentation based on behaviour, preferences and purchase history.
Teams requiring robust collaboration features where multiple people manage customer relationships.
Service businesses like agencies, consultancies or professional services where relationship management is paramount.
Companies with budgets for professional implementation that can afford the setup costs and learning curve investment.
For a detailed walkthrough of how ClickFunnels performs in real-world usage, you can read my complete ClickFunnels review, which examines the platform beyond marketing claims
Real-World Performance: What Users Actually Experience
Moving beyond feature comparisons, what do businesses actually experience when using these platforms day to day?
ClickFunnels User Experiences
ClickFunnels users commonly report:
Positive experiences include being able to launch funnels quickly without technical help, templates that convert reasonably well with minimal customisation, straightforward analytics that clearly show what is working and predictable monthly costs regardless of business growth.
Negative experiences include the page builder feeling clunky compared to modern website tools, email functionality being too basic for sophisticated campaigns, the platform being expensive compared to alternatives like Systeme.io and hitting limitations when trying to create custom designs outside template constraints.
Overall sentiment tends to be that ClickFunnels works well for its intended purpose (building sales funnels quickly) but feels overpriced given that cheaper alternatives now offer similar functionality.
Infusionsoft User Experiences
Infusionsoft users commonly report:
Positive experiences include having extraordinary power to create complex automation that truly personalises customer experiences, complete contact management that keeps detailed customer histories, robust reporting that provides deep business insights and excellent support once the platform is properly implemented.
Negative experiences include brutal setup and learning curves requiring expensive professional help, costs that escalate dramatically as contact lists grow, feeling overwhelmed by complexity with most features going unused, frustration with the dated interface compared to modern platforms and difficulty finding affordable help when problems arise.
Overall sentiment divides sharply between power users who love Infusionsoft’s capabilities and frustrated users who feel they are paying premium prices for features they cannot effectively use.
Making The Decision: A Practical Framework
To resolve your ClickFunnels vs Infusionsoft dilemma, work through this decision framework based on your actual business circumstances.
Choose ClickFunnels If
You primarily need to build and optimise sales funnels rather than manage complex customer relationships. Your sales process is relatively straightforward, with clear linear progressions from awareness to purchase. You value being able to implement and launch quickly without technical help or extensive training. Your budget is limited, and you need predictable monthly costs that do not scale with business growth. You are a solo entrepreneur or small team without dedicated technical resources. You sell primarily digital products, courses or coaching programmes.
Choose Infusionsoft If
You manage a substantial contact database (thousands of customers) requiring sophisticated segmentation. Your sales process is complex with multiple touchpoints over extended timeframes. You need deep CRM functionality to track detailed customer relationships. You have a budget for professional implementation (plan for $2,000-5,000 minimum). You are comfortable with steep learning curves and can invest time in proper training. Your team needs robust collaboration features for managing customer interactions. You run a service business where relationship management drives revenue.
Consider Alternatives If
Both platforms feel too expensive or complex for your current situation. You are just starting and need to validate your business model before investing in premium tools. You want more modern, intuitive interfaces than either platform offers. You need specific features that neither platform provides well.
Alternatives worth evaluating include Systeme.io for affordable all-in-one functionality, Kajabi for course creators specifically, ActiveCampaign for email-focused businesses or HubSpot for companies wanting modern CRM with marketing automation. For detailed comparisons of various options, Capterra’s CRM software comparison provides user reviews across dozens of platforms.
The Integration And Ecosystem Comparison
An often-overlooked factor in the ClickFunnels vs Infusionsoft decision is how well each platform integrates with other tools you use.
ClickFunnels Integration Capabilities
ClickFunnels integrates with most major email services (Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, ConvertKit), payment processors (Stripe, PayPal), webinar platforms (Zoom, WebinarJam) and various other marketing tools. The integration library covers common use cases, though it is not as extensive as some competitors.
Most integrations work through Zapier, which adds another monthly expense and potential point of failure. Native integrations exist for major platforms, but many connections require the middleware layer.
Infusionsoft Integration Capabilities
Infusionsoft offers extensive native integrations with hundreds of business tools spanning payment processing, e-commerce platforms, appointment scheduling, webinar software, social media and more. The marketplace of available integrations is substantially larger than ClickFunnels.
Many integrations are built by third-party developers, creating a robust ecosystem around Infusionsoft. This ecosystem strength means you can usually find an integration or custom solution for specific needs.
Winner: Infusionsoft offers more integration options and a more mature ecosystem, though both platforms cover essential integration needs for most businesses.
For strategic guidance on building effective sales and marketing systems regardless of platform choice, HubSpot’s guide to marketing automation provides excellent foundational knowledge.
Support And Community: Getting Help When You Need It
When problems arise or you need guidance, the quality of support and community resources matters enormously.
ClickFunnels Support
ClickFunnels provides email support for all users, with priority support for Pro plan subscribers. Response times vary, but most users report getting answers within 24-48 hours for non-urgent questions.
The ClickFunnels community is extremely active with official Facebook groups, user-created resources and regular training events. The community culture is enthusiastic and supportive, though sometimes verging on cult-like in its devotion to founder Russell Brunson.
Training resources through Funnel University are extensive, covering both platform mechanics and funnel strategy. Most users can find answers to common questions through documentation and community resources.
Infusionsoft Support
Infusionsoft offers tiered support with phone, email and chat options depending on your plan level. Higher-tier plans include dedicated success coaches and faster response times.
The Infusionsoft community is mature with certified partners, consultants and agencies specialising in implementation and optimisation. Finding professional help is easy, though often expensive.
Infusionsoft provides extensive training, including certification programmes for serious users wanting to master the platform thoroughly.
Winner: Both platforms offer adequate support, though Infusionsoft’s ecosystem of professional consultants provides more options for businesses needing hands-on help.
For a detailed walkthrough of how ClickFunnels performs in real-world usage, you can read my complete ClickFunnels review, which examines the platform beyond marketing claims
The ROI Question: Which Actually Delivers Better Results?
Ultimately, the ClickFunnels vs Infusionsoft decision should come down to return on investment. Which platform actually helps you generate more revenue relative to what you spend?
ClickFunnels ROI Potential
ClickFunnels can deliver excellent ROI for businesses with proven products and clear funnel strategies. The platform excels at optimising conversion rates through structured sales sequences, which directly increases revenue from the same traffic.
Businesses selling digital products, courses or high-ticket coaching often see ROI within the first few months if they properly implement funnel best practices. The key is having a viable product and traffic source before expecting ClickFunnels to magically generate revenue.
The fixed monthly cost makes ROI calculation straightforward. You need to generate enough additional revenue to cover $97-297 monthly, plus see meaningful profit on top. For many businesses, this threshold is achievable.
Infusionsoft ROI Potential
Infusionsoft ROI tends to materialise over longer timeframes, but can be substantial for businesses managing complex customer relationships. The platform shines in increasing customer lifetime value through better segmentation, personalised communication and automated follow-up that maintains relationships.
Businesses with high-value customers, long sales cycles, or repeat purchase models often see significant ROI from Infusionsoft’s automation capabilities. A service business that closes one additional $10,000 client monthly through better lead nurturing easily justifies Infusionsoft’s cost.
However, the higher total cost (subscription plus implementation) means ROI takes longer to achieve. Businesses should expect 6-12 months before seeing a clear positive return, compared to 2-4 months for ClickFunnels in ideal circumstances.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
Having examined ClickFunnels vs Infusionsoft thoroughly, here are the critical mistakes to avoid regardless of which platform you choose.
Choosing Based On Features You Will Not Use
Many businesses select Infusionsoft because they are impressed by the advanced features they will never actually utilise. Paying for sophisticated automation capabilities you lack the skills or time to implement wastes money. Choose based on features you will realistically use within six months rather than theoretical possibilities.
Underestimating Implementation Time And Costs
Both platforms require meaningful implementation effort, though Infusionsoft demands far more. Budget not just for subscription costs but for the time investment or professional fees needed to properly set up and learn the platform. Underestimating these costs leads to abandoned implementations and wasted money.
Expecting Platforms To Solve Strategy Problems
Neither ClickFunnels nor Infusionsoft will fix basic business issues like having an unproven product, lacking market demand or not understanding your target audience. These platforms optimise the execution of solid strategies, but cannot create a strategy for you. Solve basic business model questions before investing in premium tools.
Ignoring Cheaper Alternatives
The marketing around both platforms makes them seem like the only viable options when numerous alternatives offer similar functionality at lower prices. Systeme.io provides funnel building and automation for $27 monthly. ActiveCampaign offers sophisticated email automation for less than Infusionsoft. Investigate alternatives before committing to premium pricing.
For objective comparisons of various marketing automation platforms, G2’s marketing automation comparison grid provides user reviews and ratings across numerous options.
The Technical Requirements Comparison
Understanding the technical demands each platform places on users helps set realistic expectations.
ClickFunnels Technical Requirements
ClickFunnels is designed for non-technical users. You need basic computer literacy, including using a web browser, uploading images and copying/pasting text. No coding knowledge is required, though understanding basic HTML helps with customisations.
The platform is cloud-based, requiring only an internet connection. No software installation or server management is necessary. Most users handle ClickFunnels independently without technical support.
Infusionsoft Technical Requirements
Infusionsoft assumes higher technical comfort. Whilst you do not need coding skills, the platform requires understanding complex logical workflows, conditional branching and database-style thinking about contact organisation.
Most businesses hire consultants for initial setup precisely because the technical and strategic complexity exceeds the typical small business owner’s capabilities. Successfully using Infusionsoft long-term requires either developing sophisticated platform knowledge internally or maintaining ongoing consultant relationships.
Future-Proofing Your Decision
When choosing between ClickFunnels vs Infusionsoft, consider how each platform will serve you as your business evolves.
ClickFunnels Scalability
ClickFunnels works well for small to medium businesses, but has limitations for very large operations. The platform handles thousands of contacts and substantial transaction volume, but extremely high-scale operations may need more robust infrastructure.
The main scalability challenge is that ClickFunnels’ feature set is relatively fixed. As your needs become more sophisticated, you may outgrow what the platform offers and need to migrate to more powerful tools.
Infusionsoft Scalability
Infusionsoft scales exceptionally well from a technical perspective, handling tens of thousands of contacts and complex automation without performance issues. Businesses can grow substantially before outgrowing Infusionsoft’s capabilities.
The scalability challenge is cost. As your contact database grows, monthly fees increase significantly. A successful business might find itself paying $1,000+ monthly for Infusionsoft, prompting an evaluation of whether alternatives offer better value.
The Final Verdict: ClickFunnels Vs Infusionsoft
After this complete look at ClickFunnels vs Infusionsoft from every relevant angle, what is the actual verdict?
Neither platform is universally superior. They serve different business types with different priorities and needs. The right choice depends entirely on your specific circumstances.
Choose ClickFunnels if you prioritise funnel-building ease and speed, want predictable pricing regardless of list growth, lack technical resources or tolerance for complexity, sell primarily digital products or coaching and need to launch quickly without extensive training or setup costs.
Choose Infusionsoft if you manage complex customer relationships requiring sophisticated CRM, have a budget for professional implementation and ongoing consultation, need extraordinarily detailed segmentation and automation, run a service business where relationship management drives revenue and have technical comfort or resources to master complex platforms.
Consider alternatives if both platforms feel too expensive or complex, you are just starting and need to validate your model first, you want more modern interfaces, or you need specific features neither platform provides well.
For a deep dive into how ClickFunnels performs in practice, I recommend reading my hands-on ClickFunnels review before making your final decision
Conclusion
The ClickFunnels vs Infusionsoft comparison reveals two powerful but completely different platforms serving distinct business needs. ClickFunnels excels at helping entrepreneurs build and launch sales funnels quickly, without the need for technical complexity. Infusionsoft dominates in sophisticated customer relationship management and complex marketing automation for businesses managing detailed customer lifecycles.
Your decision should be driven by an honest assessment of your actual business model, technical comfort level, budget constraints and strategic priorities. ClickFunnels makes sense for funnel-focused businesses wanting speed and simplicity. Infusionsoft is appropriate for established operations requiring powerful CRM and automation capabilities.
Do not choose based on which platform has the longest feature list. Choose based on which features you will realistically use and which platform aligns with how your specific business operates. For many reading this comparison, the honest answer is that cheaper alternatives like Systeme.io or ActiveCampaign might serve you better than either premium option.
Make your decision based on a clear-eyed assessment of your current situation rather than aspirational thinking about where you hope to be someday. Start with tools appropriate for your actual business stage and upgrade when genuine need justifies the investment. This pragmatic approach serves most entrepreneurs better than overbuying expensive platforms whose capabilities exceed current requirements.
