When it comes to finding a landing page platform, you often see two names pitted against each other — Unbounce vs ClickFunnels. Both landing page software offers great landing page features, but they’re fundamentally different from one another.
While ClickFunnels is used for e-commerce to lead generation and everything in between, Unbounce is a go-to landing page builder for advertising agencies.
At my digital marketing agency, separate from this blog, we use ClickFunnels for Google and Facebook Ads. I read up on Unbounce and saw many great PPC features, like dynamic text, which made me try it out for a few months.
But, as I covered in my Unbounce review, we ended up sticking to ClickFunnels as its ease of use was worth it compared to the gnarly SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) I was embarking on making for our team.
This isn’t to say you should disregard Unbounce; it might suit you perfectly (we may give it another chance soon). The point is I’ve used both software, and you’re getting an accurate comparison here.
In this ClickFunnels vs Unbounce comparison, we’ll look at what advantages both have over the other so you can see which is a better fit for your business.
Table of Contents
- Unbounce Versus ClickFunnels Software Overview
- Landing Page Builder
- Pop-Ups & Sticky Bars
- Unbounce Dynamic Text Replacement
- Templates
- Split Testing & Analytics
- Membership Sites
- Integrations
- Customer Support
- ClickFunnels and Unbounce Key Differences
- ClickFunnels and Unbounce Affiliate Programs
- Unbounce vs ClickFunnels Pricing
- Final Verdict — It Depends
Unbounce Versus ClickFunnels Software Overview
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Unbounce and ClickFunnels share similar features. For starters, both have a drag-and-drop editor to make it easier for their users to design landing pages. They also have email marketing tool integration, so you can connect them with the email service provider you’re using.
ClickFunnels and Unbounce also let you split test pages to determine which ones effectively convert website visitors. And both tools have conversion tracking capabilities, so you can check which page drives sales to your business.
In the following sections, I’ll explore how these two platforms stack up against each other features-wise.
Is ClickFunnels the right tool for you? Or does Unbounce make more sense for the marketing push you’re about to make?
Let’s find out.
Landing Page Builder
So how does either product handle its landing page creation? How easy is it to create landing pages for your online business & marketing campaign?
Before you discover which of the landing page builders fits your online business best, it’s important that you know the critical differences between the tools. Specifically what type of pages each can build and what types they cannot build.
You can build and edit the following landing page types on both tools:
- a sales page
- opt-in page for capturing leads (i.e. aquiring new leads for you local business, opt-ins for your new lead magnet, signs-ups for your latest webinar).
- miscelaneous pages
The above list is where the fun stops for Unbounce. But, where ClickFunnels prevails because they’re able to offer traditional sales funnel from A to Z.
In other words, with CF, you’re also able to create entire sales funnels that consist of the list above, plus:
- checkout form pages
- upsell and downsell pages
With that quick insight under your belt, let’s continue!
ClickFunnels
You can start by selecting the landing page templates available and customizing them to meet your needs. But if you want to build a landing page from scratch, it isn’t a problem. You can do that too.
You can also buy expertly designed templates through the ClickFunnels Marketplace. These are all designed to generate leads and sales.
The drag-and-drop interface makes it so easy to add, delete, or edit page elements.
Since ClickFunnels uses a visual editor, you can see all of your changes as you edit. If you have the know-how, you can use HTML, add Javascript code, or edit CSS code to make changes to a landing page.
Unbounce
Like ClickFunnels, Unbounce also uses a drag-and-drop editor to ease users into building pages. There are a ton of landing page templates to choose from. Some are even designed for a specific use case.
And if that’s not impressive enough, you can create one-step or two-step forms with checkboxes, hidden fields, radio buttons, or drop-down options.
If you know how to use code, you can change your landing page using JavaScript, HTML, or CSS.
A few things I disliked about Unbounce’s page builder experience are that there was no icon library element, secondary button text and that you need to have a good grasp of CSS to include drop shadows to elements and buttons. Basically, there were landing page elements missing that CF had and required non-beginner-friendly website programming knowledge.
All things ClickFunnels can implement with their element settings tool.
Winner: ClickFunnels for Ease of Use
ClickFunnels is the better choice for those who are only building a single landing page or a sales funnel for the first time. It’s easier to interact with, and there’s less of a learning curve.
Ease of Use
Unbounce and ClickFunnels are easy to use. But there is a big difference between the two. Unbounce specializes in building landing pages, while ClickFunnels is meant for business owners who wish to create high-converting sales funnels.
If we’re strictly speaking about landing page design and implementation, ClickFunnels has the upper hand with ease of use.
Things get a little more complex, for ease of use, when we start adding on sales funnel intricacies such as bump offers, 1-click upsells, downsells, email sequences, etc. These are feats Unbounce doesn’t have as it’s not a full-on sales funnel platform.
Pop-Ups & Sticky Bars
The PopUps feature is one of the best that Unbounce has to offer. PopUps lets you engage site visitors the moment they’re on your landing page, in a few seconds, or on exit-intent.
As an entrepreneur, you know that every second counts. So interacting with potential leads as soon as they arrive is crucial.
Another way to get attention is with Sticky Bars.
Sticky Bars are horizontal bars that you place on the top or bottom of a landing page.
Sticky bars stay in place even if your visitor scrolls up or down the page they’re on. Create sticky bars if you want to keep your core message on display until a user leaves.
Unbounce makes use of both pop-ups and sticky bars to engage visitors.
ClickFunnels also has pop-ups and sticky bars, but they aren’t as complex as those you’d find on Unbounce.
That said, ClickFunnels lets you create both these elements all within their page builder, unlike Unbounce, where you have to traverse through different parts of the dashboard.
Unbounce Dynamic Text Replacement
Unbounce has Google Ads PPC features, most notably their Dynamic Text Replacement.
This matches the text on your landing pages to include the same keywords on your pay-per-click campaigns. So when users click your ads, the same headline will show up on the corresponding landing pages.
This is not a feature that everyone will use, but it’s nice to know that it’s there should you ever need it.
Unfortunately, ClickFunnels doesn’t have this feature, and it’s a big reason why our agency may give Unbounce another shot. Learn more about Unbounce’s Dynamic Text Replacement feature.
Templates
You can use a drag-and-drop editor to create landing pages from scratch on either ClickFunnels or Unbounce.
But, the majority of business owners use templates and then make them their own custom landing pages.
ClickFunnels offers over 100 themes and templates. But if you sign up for their Starter plan, you’d only get access to 20 of those. Some of the templates are niche-specific, meaning you can find a template that’s designed to work for your industry.
Unbounce offers over 100 templates right out the gate. And if you sign up for a higher plan, you’d also get access to premium offerings.
All these templates have conversion in mind, so you should not have trouble generating leads or sales.
Winner: Unbounce
When it comes to building landing pages, Unbounce has more options and a great filtering system to help users find exactly what they’re looking for. It also helps that the templates look fresh and modern.
Split Testing & Analytics
Split testing (or A/B testing) is a feature that you want to have. It lets you create two versions of a landing page to test out minor differences and see which resonates best with your core demographic.
ClickFunnels is a sales funnel software that lets you do A/B testing on all funnel step pages. Split testing allows you to improve weak parts of a funnel.
Thanks to its A/B testing feature, you’ll finally see which are your high-converting sales funnels. It’s a great tool for any e-commerce business.
Unbounce also allows you to add a second variant of your landing page for testing and see how it affects your conversion rates.
Furthermore, Unbounce lets you test more than form submissions. If you’re running advertising for a local business, you can see which page variation brings in the most phone calls with phone call tracking integration to Callrail.
Both Unbounce and ClickFunnels have an A/B testing feature, and they’re accessible on any plan you sign up for.
Winner: Unbounce
Not only is A/B testing supported across all plans, but Unbounce also lets users integrate third-party tools to measure different conversion goals.
Membership Sites
ClickFunels, unlike Unbounce, lets you create membership sites and online courses, all while building your email list with their membership funnels.
Membership sites with ClickFunnels allow you to store content behind a wall. If users want to access the content, they’d have to register.
You can use the same drag-and-drop tool to design your membership funnel registration page and dashboard area.
It won’t win the award as one of the best online course platforms, but it beats Unbounce as they don’t have this functionality.
Integrations
Without integrations, you can’t unlock some of the features that Unbounce and ClickFunnels have to offer.
ClickFunnels
ClickFunnels lets you use its API functionality to integrate email autoresponders, social media tools, webinar apps, and payment processors. These not only make it easier to connect with potential leads, but you also expand your customers’ payment options.
These are just some third-party tools that you can integrate with ClickFunnels: Shopify, Slybroadcast, Twilio, Shipstation, Zapier, ZenDirect, and GoToWebinar, Kajabi, PayPal, Facebook. More here.
Unbounce
Unbounce also supports a lot of third-party tools. And if you can’t find support for an app you’re using, you can connect them through WebHooks or Zapier.
You can integrate some of these tools natively with Unbounce: Active Campaign, Active Demand, Autopilot, AWeber, Automate.io, CallHub, CallRail, Campaign Monitor, Drip, Facebook, Excel, Gmail, GoToWebinar, Google Analytics, HubSpot, Infusionsoft, Kissmetrics, Mailchimp, Marketo, Slack, Unsplash, WordPress, and Zapier.
Winner: Draw
Unbounce gets points for the following types of integrations: CRM, chat, productivity, automation, email marketing tools, and call tracking platforms. Unbounce has integrations that ClickFunnels don’t have.
Callrail, for instance. You can track phone call conversions within Unbounce, whereas you can’t in ClickFunnels.
On the other hand, ClickFunnels has plenty of its own unique integrations, such as its payment portals and fulfillment integrations.
Customer Support
Real-time support is a luxury part of every subscription, especially for busy business owners.
ClickFunnels
ClickFunnels have different support channels. Every CF plan provides email support. You also have a live chat support team that will respond to any of your concerns as fast as they can (only available on their Platinum plan).
There’s also the Facebook community and online documentation (with videos) for backup.
Unbounce
Unbounce has email support on weekends. But on weekdays, you can reach them via email, phone (toll-free for North America), and live chat.
If you subscribe to the Enterprise plan, then you’re assigned one custom success manager.
Unbounce has a help center and forum community if you need help with using its product.
Winner: Unbounce
Having a software company that has live support on all their plans is great. Unbounce has live chat support even on their least expensive plan, while ClickFunnels requires you to be on their $297/month plan to have live chat support.
ClickFunnels and Unbounce Key Differences
Earlier, we mentioned that while both tools can help you make landing pages, one is designed for stand-alone landing pages while the other is for high-converting sales funnels.
Let’s explore these differences further.
Key Differences
Let’s start with ClickFunnels. You want ClickFunnels if you’re building a sales funnel.
What’s a sales funnel?
A sales funnel is a series of landing pages that take a user from a business lead down to a paying customer. Using a sales funnel, you can get eyes on your product, connect with potential customers, do follow-ups, and make the sale.
It’s more complicated than a single landing page. It’s better for a business whose primary focus is to get people to buy products.
Unbounce lets a business design and launch a standalone landing page. This is ideal for a business that wants to make landing pages for their ads or sign-up sheets to capture leads.
To clarify, you can create a sales funnel using Unbounce (you’d have to create a tech stack), but ClickFunnels does a great job making the whole process seamless.
Best for Sales Funnels
If you’re going to use sales funnels to sell your products, ClickFunnels is the best platform for your business.
(Or, if you’re like me, who needs both a sales funnel platform and a page builder for lead-generation funnels, ClickFunnels is for you.)
ClickFunnels walks you through the whole sales funnel-building process.
There are templates available for full marketing funnels. And if you use their Follow-Up Funnels email automation tool, ClickFunnels can send follow-up emails automatically based on time and dates.
That’s the best part about ClickFunnels — it allows you to do what you need to capture leads, build up your email list, and get them to convert.
Best for Online Advertising
If you’re using PPC advertising to boost sales and need landing pages for them, Unbounce is the solution you’re looking for.
It has all the features you need, including Dynamic Text Replacement, which we mentioned earlier.
Ads need to link to a related landing page. If you link your PPC ad to your website’s homepage, you might end up losing a sale.
That’s not the case when you link to hyper-relevant landing pages. You can match the landing page to your ads, so your branding and message stay consistent.
Lots of big PPC firms use Unbounce as their landing page builder because of their Dynamic Text Replacement, which keeps Google Ad’s Quality Score high and cost per click low.
And when you find a landing page that performs well, you can clone that template and use it for other campaigns.
Unbounce will help you track your landing pages using Google Analytics, Google Ads, and other conversion software all from one dashboard.
ClickFunnels and Unbounce Affiliate Programs
I always like knowing if the software I invest in has an affiliate program to have the tool pay for itself eventually.
Through Unbounce’s Partner Program, you can get 20% recurring revenue for every referral you bring to the table. That means for every signup, you get a 20% lifetime cut of every transaction so long as your referrals use Unbounce.
As for ClickFunnels, their affiliate program can earn you as much as 40% monthly recurring commission on their front-end offers. And you can receive a $100 commission if you manage to sell One Funnel Away or sales that finalize within 30 days of introduction.
Unbounce vs ClickFunnels Pricing
Now that you’ve seen the features that Unbounce and ClickFunnels have to offer, let’s talk about how much they cost.
Unbounce Pricing
You can choose from one of four Unbounce pricing plans available:
- Launch — Has a starting price of $80 per month or $72 per month if paid annually.
- Optimize — Is $120 per month or $95 per month if paid annually.
- Accelerate — Is $200 per month or $158 per month if paid annually.
- Scale — Is $300 per month or $237 per month if paid annually.
Unbounce has a 14-day free trial. You can get 20% off for your first 3 months with Unbounce here.
ClickFunnels Pricing
ClickFunnels has three plans available:
- ClickFunnels — Monthly plan that costs $97.
- ClickFunnels Platinum — Monthly plan that costs $297.
- Two Comma Club — Monthly plan that costs $2,497.
ClickFunnels also has a 14-day free trial. You can sign up for it here.
Final Verdict — It Depends
Honestly, both ClickFunnels and Unbounce are great options. But you need to ask yourself: What do you plan on using them for?
Go With Unbounce If:
- You only need to create standalone landing pages.
- You plan on using landing pages as a destination for your PPC ads.
- You do not need a full-blown sales funnel.
- You want support for more third-party tools.
Go With ClickFunnels If:
- You need to create sales funnels and track their effectiveness.
- You want access to a helpful community of ClickFunnels experts.
- You want to create a series of pages quickly and easily.
- You are trying to capture leads and make sales at the same time.
- You need to create a membership funnel.
If you’re still undecided, we’d like to remind you that you can try both of these tools for free. The 14-day free trial offers from both products should give you some clue as to which of them suits you better.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is ClickFunnels better than Infusionsoft?
Yes, especially for beginners. ClickFunnels is easier to use and has more features than Infusionsoft. CF has its own email service provider called Follow Up Funnels.
Does ClickFunnels have a unique visitor cap?
Yes. When you reach 20,000 unique visitors, a ClickFunnels badge will appear in your funnel pages and will only reset on the 1st of the following month.
Can I create a sitemap using ClickFunnels?
No. There is currently no feature that lets you create sitemaps on ClickFunnels.
Am I stuck using ClickFunnels’ templates?
No. ClickFunnels has a marketplace where you can purchase page and funnel designs made by experts.
Is there a way to hide my page from search engines on Unbounce?
Yes. You can tell Unbounce to hide your page by ticking the Hide My Page from Search Engines box under Page Properties > Title and Metadata.
Are Unbounce templates mobile-responsive?
Yes. Unbounce templates are mobile-responsive but not fluid-responsive. That means you could encounter some minor issues when viewing pages from phones or tablets.
What does drag-and-drop editing mean?
This simply means that you can design pages without having to code. You can add, delete, and edit page elements without using JavaScript, CSS, or HTML.
Do I need a website to create a landing page?
If you’re using Unbounce or ClickFunnels, you don’t need a website since they can host the page on their servers.
How many users can have access to my Unbounce account?
If you subscribe to the Launch plan, you get two users. For the rest of the plans, you can have an unlimited number of users.
What is A/B testing?
A/B testing is when users launch two identical pages except for one or two elements like different logos or call to action. The objective is to test which version will convert visitors more.
Will I need to download anything before using Unbounce or ClickFunnels?
No. These are both cloud-based software with cloud-based marketing automation. You can work on your projects by going online and logging into your account.
Does ClickFunnels have a shopping cart feature?
Yes. ClickFunnels has a built-in shopping cart feature and all the tools you need to run one or multiple online businesses. The shopping cart comes as part of the sales funnel. You only need to add your products, descriptions, and prices.
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