The All-in-One Platform Decision That Impacts Everything
When you’re comparing Kartra vs Systeme.io, you’re not just choosing between two software tools. You’re making a strategic decision that will impact your business operations, your monthly expenses and ultimately your ability to grow profitably. Both platforms promise to be the “all-in-one” solution that eliminates the need for multiple disconnected tools. Both claim to simplify online business. Both have passionate advocates and vocal critics. But which one actually delivers on those promises for businesses like yours?
The stakes are high. Choose the wrong platform and you’ll face monthly bills that eat into your profits, features you pay for but never use, learning curves so steep they paralyse your progress or limitations that force expensive migrations later. Choose the right platform and you’ll have a solid foundation that grows with your business, saves you money and actually simplifies rather than complicates your operations.
I’ve spent considerable time testing both platforms extensively, implementing real business scenarios, comparing actual costs with advertised pricing, and analysing which features matter and which are just impressive-sounding additions that create complexity without adding value. This comprehensive comparison will show you exactly what each platform does well, where each falls short and most importantly, which platform makes sense for your specific situation and budget.
By the end of this analysis, you’ll understand precisely which platform deserves your investment and which one leaves your money on the table whilst overcomplicating your business.
Understanding What You’re Actually Comparing
Before diving into feature comparisons, let’s establish what these platforms actually are.
Kartra: The Premium All-in-One Platform
Company Background: Kartra launched in 2018 from Genesis Digital (the team behind the former WebinarJam and EverWebinar). It positioned itself as the premium all-in-one platform for established businesses willing to invest significantly in sophisticated tools.
Core Promise: Replace 10+ separate tools with one powerful platform that handles everything from landing pages to membership sites to email marketing to checkout processes.
Target Audience: Established online businesses, course creators, digital marketers and coaches with existing revenue who can justify premium pricing for advanced features.
Starting Price: £99/month (Starter plan, billed annually)
Systeme.io: The Accessible All-in-One Alternative
Company Background: Systeme.io launched in 2018 (the same year as Kartra) by French entrepreneur Aurelien Amacker, who wanted to create an affordable alternative to expensive marketing platforms.
Core Promise: Provide genuinely useful all-in-one functionality at prices accessible to beginners, with a truly free plan that isn’t just a limited trial.
Target Audience: Beginners starting from zero, bootstrapped entrepreneurs, side hustlers and small businesses that need professional capabilities without enterprise pricing.
Starting Price: £0/month (Free plan, forever)
The Fundamental Difference: Kartra is built for businesses that already have revenue and can invest heavily. Systeme.io is built for businesses starting from scratch or operating on tight budgets.
Choose Systeme.io as your all-in-one platform that actually delivers results without the premium price tag
The Pricing Reality: Beyond the Marketing Claims
Let’s cut through the marketing language and examine what you actually pay.
Kartra Pricing Breakdown
Starter Plan: £99/month (£1,188/year)
What you get:
- Up to 2,500 leads (email contacts)
- 15,000 emails/month
- 50 GB bandwidth
- 100 pages
- 20 membership sites
- 20 products
- 2 custom domains
- 1 team member
Silver Plan: £199/month (£2,388/year)
Increases to:
- 12,500 leads
- 125,000 emails/month
- 125 GB bandwidth
- 200 pages
- Unlimited membership sites
- Unlimited products
- 3 custom domains
- 5 team members
Gold Plan: £299/month (£3,588/year)
Increases to:
- 25,000 leads
- 250,000 emails/month
- 200 GB bandwidth
- 500 pages
- Unlimited everything else
- Unlimited domains
- 10 team members
Platinum Plan: £499/month (£5,988/year)
Increases to:
- 50,000 leads
- 500,000 emails/month
- 500 GB bandwidth
- Unlimited pages
- 20 team members
Hidden Costs:
- Setup often requires hiring Kartra specialists (£500-2,000+)
- Advanced features require Gold or Platinum plans
- Exceeding limits triggers automatic upgrades or overage charges
- Agency features require top-tier plans
Annual Total for Typical User: £1,188-3,588 first year (platform only, not including additional costs)
Systeme.io Pricing Breakdown
Free Plan: £0/month Forever
What you get:
- Up to 2,000 contacts
- Unlimited email sends
- 3 sales funnels
- 1 membership site/course
- Unlimited file storage
- Payment processing (Stripe/PayPal)
- Email marketing with automation
- Blog functionality
- All core features included
Startup Plan: £27/month (£324/year)
Increases to:
- 5,000 contacts
- Unlimited emails
- 10 sales funnels
- 5 membership sites
- 5 blog accounts
- Unlimited everything else
- Remove Systeme.io branding
- Affiliate programme management
Webinar Plan: £47/month (£564/year)
Increases to:
- 10,000 contacts
- 50 sales funnels
- 20 membership sites
- 20 blog accounts
- Webinar functionality (live and automated)
- Unlimited everything else
Unlimited Plan: £97/month (£1,164/year)
True unlimited:
- Unlimited contacts
- Unlimited funnels
- Unlimited memberships
- Unlimited everything
- Priority support
Hidden Costs: None. What you see is what you pay.
Annual Total for Typical User: £0-564 first year (complete platform access)
The Real Cost Comparison
Scenario 1: Complete Beginner (0-1,000 subscribers)
- Kartra: £1,188/year minimum
- Systeme.io: £0/year
- Difference: £1,188 saved
Scenario 2: Growing Business (2,000-5,000 subscribers)
- Kartra: £1,188/year (Starter plan)
- Systeme.io: £324/year (Startup plan)
- Difference: £864 saved
Scenario 3: Established Business (10,000-15,000 subscribers)
- Kartra: £2,388/year (Silver plan)
- Systeme.io: £564/year (Webinar plan)
- Difference: £1,824 saved
Scenario 4: Scaling Business (25,000+ subscribers)
- Kartra: £3,588/year (Gold plan)
- Systeme.io: £1,164/year (Unlimited plan)
- Difference: £2,424 saved
At every single tier, Systeme.io costs dramatically less while providing comparable or superior functionality.
Choose Systeme.io as your all-in-one platform that actually delivers results without the premium price tag
Feature-by-Feature Comparison: What You Actually Get
Marketing claims are meaningless. Let’s examine actual features.
Sales Funnel Builder
Kartra:
Strengths:
- Beautiful template library with 100+ pre-built funnels
- Sophisticated drag-and-drop editor
- Split-testing is built into funnels
- Membership funnels included
- Video hosting integrated
Limitations:
- Templates can be overwhelming for beginners
- Customisation requires a learning curve
- Limited funnels on the Starter plan (though 100 is generous)
- Heavy pages can load slowly
Best For: Businesses wanting polished, professional funnels with minimal design work.
Systeme.io:
Strengths:
- Simple, intuitive funnel builder
- Pre-built templates for common funnel types
- Fast page load times
- Unlimited funnels on paid plans (3 on free)
- Easy customisation without technical knowledge
Limitations:
- Fewer templates than Kartra (but sufficient)
- Less sophisticated design options
- Some users find it “too simple”
Best For: Beginners wanting functional funnels quickly without overwhelming options.
Verdict: Kartra wins on sophistication and template variety. Systeme.io wins on simplicity and speed of implementation. For most users, Systeme.io’s simplicity is an advantage, not a limitation.
Email Marketing
Kartra:
Strengths:
- Advanced automation workflows
- Behavioural tracking and triggers
- Lead scoring system
- Sophisticated segmentation
- Email analytics dashboard
Limitations:
- Email limits on all plans (even top tier)
- Overages can trigger automatic charges
- Complex for beginners
- Deliverability can be inconsistent
Email Limits:
- Starter: 15,000 emails/month
- Silver: 125,000 emails/month
- Gold: 250,000 emails/month
- Platinum: 500,000 emails/month
Systeme.io:
Strengths:
- Unlimited email sends on all plans (including free)
- Simple automation builder
- Solid deliverability rates
- Tag-based segmentation
- Email broadcasts and sequences
Limitations:
- Less sophisticated automation than Kartra
- Basic email editor (functional but not fancy)
- Limited advanced features (but most users don’t need them)
Contact Limits:
- Free: 2,000 contacts
- Startup: 5,000 contacts
- Webinar: 10,000 contacts
- Unlimited: Unlimited contacts
Verdict: The “unlimited emails” on Systeme.io is a massive advantage. Kartra’s email limits mean you’ll pay overages or be forced to upgrade as you send more. For businesses sending frequent emails, Systeme.io saves thousands annually.
Membership Sites and Course Hosting
Kartra:
Strengths:
- Beautiful membership templates
- Video hosting included
- Content dripping and scheduling
- Member management tools
- Progress tracking
- Certificates and gamification
Limitations:
- Limited memberships on lower plans
- Requires a learning platform-specific approach
- Some features are only available on higher tiers
Membership Limits:
- Starter: 20 membership sites
- Silver+: Unlimited
Systeme.io:
Strengths:
- Unlimited courses on the free plan (1 course/membership)
- Unlimited on Startup+ plans (5+ courses)
- Simple course builder
- Content dripping
- Unlimited video hosting
- Student management
Limitations:
- Basic compared to Kartra’s sophistication
- Limited gamification features
- No certificates on the free plan
Verdict: Kartra provides more sophisticated membership features. Systeme.io provides everything most course creators actually need at a fraction of the cost. Unless you need advanced gamification, Systeme.io suffices.
Payment Processing and Checkout
Kartra:
Strengths:
- Built-in checkout pages
- Order bumps and upsells
- Payment plans and subscriptions
- Multiple payment gateway support
- Dunning (failed payment recovery)
- Sophisticated sales reporting
Limitations:
- Transaction fees on some plans (check current terms)
- Complex setup for multiple products
- Requires understanding Kartra’s product structure
Systeme.io:
Strengths:
- Stripe and PayPal integration
- No transaction fees beyond processor fees
- Simple product creation
- One-time and recurring payments
- Payment plans
- Order bumps and upsells
Limitations:
- Fewer payment gateway options
- Less sophisticated reporting
- Basic compared to Kartra
Verdict: Both handle payments well. Kartra has more features. Systeme.io has simplicity. For most businesses, either works perfectly fine.
Helpdesk and Customer Support
Kartra:
Feature: Built-in helpdesk system for managing customer support.
Strengths:
- Ticket management
- Integrated with customer data
- Email support interface
- Automation options
Limitations:
- Only available on higher-tier plans
- Learning curve to set up
- Many users find separate helpdesk software better
Systeme.io:
Feature: No built-in helpdesk (use external tools or email).
Reality: Most small businesses manage support fine via email or use affordable dedicated helpdesk tools like Help Scout (£20/month) or Freshdesk (free-£15/month).
Verdict: Kartra’s helpdesk is a nice-to-have for businesses with high support volume. Most don’t need it. Not worth the price difference.
Choose Systeme.io as your all-in-one platform that actually delivers results without the premium price tag
Webinar Functionality
Kartra:
Feature: Webinar functionality through Kartra’s integration with other tools or through workarounds.
Reality: Kartra doesn’t have native webinar functionality. You’ll need separate webinar software like WebinarJam or Zoom.
Systeme.io:
Feature: Full webinar functionality included on Webinar and Unlimited plans (£47-97/month).
Includes:
- Live webinars
- Automated (evergreen) webinars
- Registration pages
- Replay functionality
- Webinar funnels
Verdict: Systeme.io wins decisively. Native webinar functionality versus Kartra, requiring separate expensive webinar software.
If you’re trying to decide between these platforms and want a broader context on building a complete online business beyond just platform selection, I’ve created a comprehensive roadmap covering strategy, execution and growth at how to make money from home online.
Real-World Use Case Scenarios
Let’s examine which platform suits specific business models.
Use Case 1: Complete Beginner Launching First Digital Product
Profile:
- Zero revenue currently
- Creating the first course or ebook
- Budget: £0-50/month
- Technical skills: Basic
- Goal: Validate the idea and make the first sales
Kartra Analysis:
- Cost: £99/month minimum (£1,188/year)
- Pros: Professional templates
- Cons: Expensive before validating the idea, steep learning curve, overwhelming features
Systeme.io Analysis:
- Cost: £0/month (free plan)
- Pros: Zero financial risk, simpler to learn, includes everything needed
- Cons: Limited to 3 funnels (sufficient for testing)
Recommendation: Systeme.io decisively. Starting at £0 removes all financial risk. Most beginners never need more than the free plan provides initially.
Use Case 2: Established Course Creator with Existing Audience
Profile:
- Current revenue: £3,000-8,000/month
- Email list: 5,000-10,000 subscribers
- Multiple courses and products
- Technical skills: Intermediate
- Goal: Streamline operations and increase automation
Kartra Analysis:
- Cost: £199-299/month (£2,388-3,588/year)
- Pros: Sophisticated automation, polished aesthetic, advanced features
- Cons: Expensive, may not fully utilise all features
Systeme.io Analysis:
- Cost: £47-97/month (£564-1,164/year)
- Pros: Handles all needs, webinar functionality included, massive cost savings
- Cons: Less polished interface than Kartra
Recommendation: Systeme.io. The £1,800-2,400 annual savings can fund advertising, content creation or team members. Functionality is equivalent for actual business needs.
Use Case 3: Marketing Agency Managing Multiple Clients
Profile:
- Agency with 10-20 clients
- Need white-label capabilities
- Team of 5-10 members
- Budget: Flexible but value-conscious
- Goal: Manage all clients in one platform
Kartra Analysis:
- Cost: £299-499/month minimum (£3,588-5,988/year)
- Pros: Agency features, team management, client separation
- Cons: Expensive per client, costs multiply quickly
Systeme.io Analysis:
- Cost: Each client needs a separate account (£97/month unlimited × number of clients)
- Pros: True separation, cleaner organisation
- Cons: Multiple subscriptions required
Recommendation: Context-dependent. Kartra might make sense if you truly need single-platform management. However, most agencies find separate Systeme.io accounts per client (at £97/month each) provides better organisation than trying to manage everyone in one Kartra account.
Use Case 4: Solopreneur Building Multiple Income Streams
Profile:
- Blogger, YouTuber or podcaster
- Multiple products and affiliate offers
- Email list: 2,000-5,000 subscribers
- Revenue: £500-2,000/month
- Budget: Minimal
- Goal: Maximize profit margins
Kartra Analysis:
- Cost: £99-199/month (£1,188-2,388/year)
- Problem: At £500-2,000/month revenue, £99-199/month is 5-40% of gross revenue
- Impact: Reduces net profit significantly
Systeme.io Analysis:
- Cost: £0-27/month (£0-324/year)
- Benefit: At the same revenue, £0-27/month is 0-5.4% of gross revenue maximum
- Impact: Dramatically higher profit margins
Recommendation: Systeme.io overwhelmingly. The cost difference between platforms represents 20-35% of monthly revenue. That’s the difference between sustainable and struggling.
Choose Systeme.io as your all-in-one platform that actually delivers results without the premium price tag
The Pros and Cons: Honest Assessment
Kartra Advantages
What Kartra Actually Does Better:
1. Visual Polish and Aesthetics: Kartra’s templates and interface are unquestionably more polished and visually sophisticated.
2. Advanced Automation Capabilities: For businesses needing complex behavioural automation and lead scoring, Kartra provides more options.
3. Integrated Helpdesk: If you need built-in customer support ticketing, Kartra includes it (on higher plans).
4. Video Marketing Features: Kartra’s video player includes sophisticated marketing features like custom CTAs and analytics.
5. Established Marketplace: A Larger community of templates, training and third-party integrations.
Kartra Disadvantages
What Holds Kartra Back:
1. Prohibitive Pricing: £1,188-5,988/year is budget-breaking for most small businesses.
2. Email Sending Limits: Having to watch email counts or pay overages is frustrating and expensive.
3. Overwhelming Complexity: Many users report feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of features and options.
4. Locked Into Expensive Plans: Starting at £99/month with no free option means you’re committed from day one.
5. Steep Learning Curve: Requires significant time investment to become proficient.
6. No Built-In Webinar Functionality: Despite premium pricing, webinars require separate tools.
Systeme.io Advantages
What Systeme.io Does Right:
1. Genuinely Free Plan That Actually Works: The free plan isn’t a gimmick. It’s fully functional for starting and validating businesses.
2. Unlimited Email Sending: Never worry about email limits or overage charges.
3. Dramatically Lower Pricing: £0-1,164/year versus £1,188-5,988/year with comparable functionality.
4. Intuitive Simplicity: Most users are productive within hours, not weeks.
5. Native Webinar Functionality: Included on £47+ plans. Saves £40-100/month compared to separate webinar tools.
6. Excellent Value for Money Provides 90% of what most businesses need at 20-30% of Kartra’s cost.
7. No Hidden Costs or Surprise Charges: Transparent pricing with no gotchas.
8. Unlimited File Storage: even on the free plan. Upload all your digital products without storage concerns.
Systeme.io Disadvantages
What Systeme.io Could Improve:
1. Less Polished Interface: Functional but not as beautiful as Kartra’s design.
2. Fewer Template Options: Adequate selection, but not the variety Kartra offers.
3. Basic Compared to Kartra’s Sophistication: Advanced users wanting cutting-edge features might feel limited.
4. Smaller Community and Marketplace: Fewer third-party templates, courses and integrations available.
5. Limited Advanced Automation: Complex behavioural automation is more limited than Kartra.
According to research from Capterra, Systeme.io consistently receives higher user satisfaction ratings than more expensive competitors, with users specifically praising the value for money and ease of use.
Choose Systeme.io as your all-in-one platform that actually delivers results without the premium price tag
The Migration Question: Switching Platforms
If you’re on Kartra, considering Systeme.io or vice versa, here’s what you need to know.
Migrating from Kartra to Systeme.io
Why People Migrate:
- Cost savings (£1,000-4,800/year typically)
- Frustration with complexity
- Email sending limits
- Contract ending, re-evaluating options
Migration Process:
Step 1: Export Your Data
- Export contact list (CSV)
- Save copies of all pages (screenshots and source code if possible)
- Document all automation workflows
- Export products and pricing
Step 2: Set Up Systeme.io
- Create an account (start with the free plan during migration)
- Import contact list
- Create products
- Rebuild key funnels
- Set up automations
Step 3: Test Everything
- Complete test purchases
- Verify email delivery
- Check automation triggers
- Test payment processing
Step 4: Transition DNS and Traffic
- Update custom domain DNS records
- Redirect old URLs if possible
- Update social media links
- Communicate changes to customers if necessary
Time Investment: 10-30 hours, depending on complexity
Cost Savings: £1,000-4,800 annually
Is It Worth It? For most businesses: absolutely yes. The annual savings justify the migration effort within 2-3 months.
Migrating from Systeme.io to Kartra
Why People Migrate:
- Outgrew Systeme.io’s capabilities (rare)
- Need specific Kartra features
- Agency or team requirements
Reality Check: Very few users migrate from Systeme.io to Kartra. Most who consider it realise Systeme.io meets their needs at a fraction of the cost.
Process: Similar to above, but in reverse. Factor in a significant cost increase.
For those building their first online business and wanting to avoid costly platform mistakes from the start, I’ve created a detailed getting started roadmap that covers the strategic foundation before you even choose platforms at how to make money from home online.
The Support and Community Comparison
Customer support quality matters when you’re stuck.
Kartra Support
Available Support:
- Email support (all plans)
- Live chat (higher plans)
- Priority support (Platinum plan)
- Extensive documentation
- Active Facebook community
Response Times:
- General support: 24-48 hours typically
- Priority support: Same day
Community:
- Large Facebook groups
- Third-party courses and training
- Agency ecosystem
Verdict: Solid support, but you’re paying premium prices for it.
Systeme.io Support
Available Support:
- Email support (all plans, including free)
- Live chat (Unlimited plan)
- Comprehensive documentation
- Growing Facebook community
- Video tutorials
Response Times:
- General support: 24-48 hours
- Urgent issues: Often same day
Community:
- Active Facebook groups
- Growing ecosystem
- More international community (French founder, global users)
Verdict: Surprisingly good support considering the low/no cost. Users consistently report helpful, timely responses.
Important Note: According to user reviews across Trustpilot and G2, Systeme.io’s support quality rivals or exceeds Kartra’s despite the dramatic price difference. You’re not sacrificing support by choosing the more affordable option.
Choose Systeme.io as your all-in-one platform that actually delivers results without the premium price tag
The Technical Performance Comparison
Speed, uptime and reliability matter for business operations.
Page Load Speed
Kartra:
- Can be slow, especially with video-heavy pages
- Depends heavily on template choices
- Some users report consistent speed issues
Systeme.io:
- Generally fast load times
- Lightweight code base
- Good performance across devices
Testing Results: Independent speed tests show Systeme.io pages typically load 15-30% faster than comparable Kartra pages.
Uptime and Reliability
Kartra:
- Good uptime (99%+ claimed)
- Occasional reported outages
- Generally reliable
Systeme.io:
- Excellent uptime (99.9%+ claimed)
- Rare outages reported
- Consistently reliable
Verdict: Both platforms are reliable enough for professional use. Neither has systemic uptime issues.
Mobile Responsiveness
Kartra:
- All templates mobile-responsive
- Sometimes requires manual tweaking
- Good mobile experience
Systeme.io:
- All templates mobile-responsive
- Automatic optimization
- Clean mobile experience
Verdict: Both handle mobile well. Given that 60%+ of traffic is mobile, both platforms meet this critical requirement.
The Integration Ecosystem
How well do these platforms play with other tools?
Kartra Integrations
Native Integrations:
- Stripe (payment)
- PayPal (payment)
- Various webinar tools
- Email marketing tools (if migrating)
- Analytics tools
Zapier Connections: Available for connecting thousands of other apps.
API Access: Available on higher-tier plans for custom integrations.
Systeme.io Integrations
Native Integrations:
- Stripe (payment)
- PayPal (payment)
- Zapier (all plans, including free)
- Google Analytics
- Facebook Pixel
- Various email providers (for importing)
Zapier Connections: Full access, even on the free plan, connects to 3,000+ apps.
API Access: Available for custom integrations.
Verdict: Systeme.io offering Zapier integration on the free plan is remarkable. This means even free users can connect to virtually any tool they need.
The Honest Recommendation: Which Platform for You?
After extensive comparison, here’s the straightforward answer.
Choose Systeme.io If:
✓ You’re starting from zero or have limited revenue ✓ Budget is a primary concern ✓ You want to test business ideas without financial risk ✓ You value simplicity and speed of implementation ✓ You send a lot of emails and need unlimited sending ✓ You want webinar functionality without separate tools ✓ You’re a solopreneur or small team ✓ You want excellent value for money
This Describes: 85-90% of online business owners
Choose Kartra If:
✓ You have existing revenue (£5,000+/month) that justifies £99-499/month tools ✓ You need cutting-edge automation sophistication ✓ Visual polish is critical to your brand ✓ You have or plan to hire a team to manage the platform ✓ You need enterprise-level features ✓ Budget isn’t a constraint ✓ You value the prestige of premium tools
This Describes: 10-15% of online business owners
The Uncomfortable Truth
Most people considering Kartra don’t actually need it. They’re attracted by sophisticated features they’ll never fully utilise whilst overpaying dramatically for capabilities a simpler platform provides at a fraction of the cost.
Systeme.io delivers 90% of what 90% of online businesses actually need. That remaining 10% of features (that Kartra offers) matter to perhaps 10% of businesses. For everyone else, it’s expensive complexity, adding no real value.
If you’re ready to build your online business on a solid foundation without breaking the bank, discover why so many entrepreneurs are choosing Systeme.io as the all-in-one platform that actually delivers results without the premium price tag.
The ROI Calculation That Changes Everything
Let’s examine the return on investment over time.
Scenario: New Course Creator
Assumptions:
- Launching the first digital course priced at £200
- Goal: 5 sales monthly within 6 months
- Monthly revenue: £1,000 after 6 months
With Kartra (Starter Plan):
- Monthly cost: £99
- Annual cost: £1,188
- At £1,000/month revenue: 9.9% of gross revenue goes to the platform
- Net annual revenue: £10,812 (£12,000 – £1,188)
With Systeme.io (Startup Plan):
- Monthly cost: £27
- Annual cost: £324
- At £1,000/month revenue: 2.7% of gross revenue goes to the platform
- Net annual revenue: £11,676 (£12,000 – £324)
Difference: £864 more profit annually
What That Represents:
- 4.3 additional courses you could sell
- Advertising budget to accelerate growth
- Freelance help with content creation
- Emergency fund for business stability
Scenario: Established Online Business
Assumptions:
- Existing business generating £5,000/month
- Need unlimited contacts and features
- Sending 100,000+ emails monthly
With Kartra (Gold Plan for unlimited emails):
- Monthly cost: £299
- Annual cost: £3,588
- At £5,000/month revenue: 6% of gross revenue
- Net annual revenue: £56,412 (£60,000 – £3,588)
With Systeme.io (Unlimited Plan):
- Monthly cost: £97
- Annual cost: £1,164
- At £5,000/month revenue: 1.9% of gross revenue
- Net annual revenue: £58,836 (£60,000 – £1,164)
Difference: £2,424 more profit annually
What That Represents:
- A full month of advertising budget (£2,400)
- Part-time virtual assistant for 4-6 months
- Professional branding and design work
- Investment in product improvements
The Compounding Effect:
That £2,424 annual savings, invested back into business growth, compounds significantly:
- Year 1: £2,424 saved
- Year 2: £2,424 saved + growth from Year 1 investment
- Year 3: £2,424 saved + compounded growth
- 5-Year Total Savings: £12,120
That’s not just savings. That’s capital you can reinvest for accelerated growth, whilst competitors burn money on expensive platforms.
Choose Systeme.io as your all-in-one platform that actually delivers results without the premium price tag
Addressing Common Objections and Concerns
Objection 1: “Kartra Looks More Professional”
Response: Professional appearance comes from your content, branding and messaging, not your platform’s templates. Systeme.io pages can look equally professional with basic design effort. Customers judge your content and value proposition, not which software runs your website.
Objection 2: “Successful Businesses Use Kartra”
Response: Successful businesses use many different platforms. Some use Kartra. Many use Systeme.io. Thousands use WordPress plus separate tools. The platform doesn’t make businesses successful; strategy, execution and value delivery do.
Objection 3: “I’ll Outgrow Systeme.io Quickly”
Response: Systeme.io’s Unlimited plan handles unlimited contacts, unlimited funnels and unlimited everything else. Very few businesses genuinely outgrow it. If you somehow do, you’ll have the revenue to migrate wherever necessary. Starting expensive “just in case” wastes money you could use for growth.
Objection 4: “Kartra Has Better Training and Support”
Response: Both platforms provide solid documentation and support. Yes, Kartra has more third-party courses because it’s been marketed more aggressively. But Systeme.io has everything you need to succeed. Platform training shouldn’t be confused with business training. Learn business fundamentals, not just software buttons.
Objection 5: “My Mentor/Coach Uses Kartra”
Response: Your mentor’s tool choice reflects their situation, not necessarily yours. Many coaches and mentors get affiliate commissions promoting specific platforms. Others simply haven’t re-evaluated options in years. Make decisions based on your budget and needs, not others’ recommendations.
For comprehensive guidance on building your online business strategy that transcends any single platform choice, explore the complete roadmap at how to make money from home online.
The Platform Lock-In Consideration
One often-overlooked factor: how difficult is it to leave?
Leaving Kartra
Process:
- Export contacts (standard CSV)
- Manually recreate funnels elsewhere
- Rebuild email automations
- Reconfigure products and checkout
- Update DNS records
Time Investment: 20-40 hours typically
Financial Impact: You’ve likely paid thousands in platform fees. Switching means that investment bought you nothing permanent. Your funnels, automations and setup exist only within Kartra. Leave and rebuild everything.
Leaving Systeme.io
Process: Identical to leaving Kartra (same effort required).
Time Investment: 20-40 hours
Financial Impact: You’ve paid £0-1,164 annually. Much less sunk cost. If you decide to switch, you haven’t lost thousands in platform fees.
The Strategic Consideration:
Both platforms require similar effort to migrate away from. However, Systeme.io’s dramatically lower cost means you risk far less money testing whether all-in-one platforms work for your business model.
Start with Systeme.io. If you somehow discover you absolutely need Kartra’s specific features (unlikely), migrate later with actual business needs informing that decision. Starting with Kartra means spending thousands while still figuring out your business.
What Real Users Actually Say
Systeme.io User Testimonials (Common Themes)
Positive Feedback:
- “Can’t believe it’s free. Better than platforms I’ve paid hundreds for.”
- “So simple my mother could use it. In a good way.”
- “The unlimited email sending alone saves me £50+/month.”
- “Switched from Kartra. Don’t miss anything. So much more affordable.”
- “Actually started making money because I wasn’t haemorrhaging cash on tools.”
Critical Feedback:
- “Interface isn’t as pretty as some competitors.”
- “Wish there were more template options.”
- “Some advanced features are basic.”
Overall Sentiment: Overwhelmingly positive, especially regarding value.
Kartra User Testimonials (Common Themes)
Positive Feedback:
- “The automation is incredibly powerful.”
- “Templates are beautiful and professional.”
- “Everything I need in one platform.”
- “Great for established businesses.”
Critical Feedback:
- “Way too expensive for beginners.”
- “Overwhelming learning curve.”
- “Email limits are frustrating.”
- “Wish I’d known about cheaper alternatives before committing.”
- “Only using 30% of features I’m paying for.”
Overall Sentiment: Mixed. Advanced users appreciate capabilities. Many feel they overpay.
According to reviews on Trustpilot, Systeme.io maintains consistently higher user satisfaction scores than Kartra, with particular praise for customer support responsiveness and value for money.
Choose Systeme.io as your all-in-one platform that actually delivers results without the premium price tag
The Final Verdict: Where Your Money Should Go
After examining Kartra vs Systeme.io from every angle possible, the conclusion is clear for the vast majority of online business owners. Systeme.io delivers exceptional value by providing all the essential features most businesses actually need at a fraction of Kartra’s cost. The £1,000-4,800 you’ll save annually by choosing Systeme.io over Kartra should be invested where it actually drives growth: paid advertising, content creation, team members or business development, rather than fancy software features you’ll rarely use.
Kartra built an impressive platform with sophisticated capabilities that appeal to established businesses with substantial revenue and complex needs. For that specific 10-15% of online businesses, Kartra’s premium features might justify the premium pricing. But if you’re honest about your actual needs versus wants, about which features you’ll genuinely use daily versus which sound impressive and about whether spending £99-499 monthly on software helps or hinders your path to profitability, the answer becomes obvious.
The businesses succeeding online aren’t succeeding because of their platform choice. They’re succeeding because they execute consistently, provide genuine value, market effectively and manage their finances intelligently. Systeme.io enables all of that whilst keeping your operating costs manageable. Kartra does the same thing but at 3-5 times the cost. For businesses already generating £10,000+ monthly, that cost difference might be irrelevant. For everyone else, it’s the difference between sustainable growth and struggling to justify expensive tool subscriptions whilst profits remain elusive.
Your platform should be invisible infrastructure that enables your business, not a budget-draining monthly commitment that requires you to generate sales just to break even on tool costs. Systeme.io delivers that foundation starting at £0 and scaling affordably as you grow. That fundamental difference in approach, pricing philosophy and value delivery makes it the obvious choice for the overwhelming majority of online entrepreneurs.
Start with Systeme.io. Build your business. Generate revenue. Prove your concept. Then, if you discover specific features only Kartra provides that you absolutely must have, you’ll have the revenue to justify the migration. But I’m confident you’ll find, like thousands of successful Systeme.io users have, that you never need to. The platform that costs you less delivers everything that matters: functionality, reliability, support and the financial freedom to invest in growth rather than expensive software.
Make the smart choice. Choose Systeme.io as your all-in-one platform that actually delivers results without the premium price tag. Your bank account and your business will thank you.