If you’re here, you’re probably asking: Which platform is actually the best for building and managing sales funnels?

You’ve heard the names. You’ve seen the debates. Maybe you’ve even tried digging through endless Reddit threads and heated Twitter takes (I salute your bravery). But now, you want real answers. No fluff. No hype. Just the truth.

And that’s exactly what you’re getting.

ClickFunnels and HighLevel are two heavyweights in the digital marketing space. They both claim to be the all-in-one solution. They both promise to help you scale, automate, and convert like a pro. But at the end of the day, you don’t need both—you need the one that actually fits your business.

So, let’s cut through the noise and break it down, side by side.

ClickFunnels vs. HighLevel: What’s the Difference?

Both platforms have strengths. Both have weaknesses. But the biggest difference? Purpose.

• ClickFunnels is a sales funnel platform. It’s built around landing pages, lead capture, and checkout flows to optimize conversions. That’s its wheelhouse.
• HighLevel is a business automation powerhouse. It builds sales funnels too, but that’s just one part of its bigger mission—helping businesses and agencies manage everything: leads, marketing, customer relationships, sales pipelines, and more.

Think of it like this:

• ClickFunnels is like a high-performance sports car—fast, sleek, and built for one thing: speeding leads through your funnel.
• HighLevel is like a fully loaded SUV—powerful, versatile, and designed to handle everything from lead capture to follow-ups, reputation management, and even reselling software.

So which one fits your needs? Let’s go deeper.

Funnel Building: Who Does It Better?

Funnels are the backbone of both platforms, but they take very different approaches.

ClickFunnels 2.0: The Specialist

ClickFunnels made its name by making funnel-building ridiculously easy. With a drag-and-drop builder, pre-optimized templates, and built-in sales psychology, it’s designed to get you up and running fast.

✅ Pros:

• Super intuitive for beginners.
• Funnels are optimized for selling digital products.
• Smart checkout options (one-click upsells, order bumps, downsells).

❌ Cons:

• Not as flexible for custom automation.
• If you want anything beyond funnels (like CRM, advanced email automation, or full business management), you’ll need additional tools.

HighLevel: The All-in-One Powerhouse

HighLevel isn’t just about building funnels—it’s about integrating them into a larger, automated marketing system. If you need more than just landing pages and checkouts, this is where it shines.

✅ Pros:

• Advanced automation and lead nurturing.
• Includes a full CRM, email & SMS marketing, and even reputation management.
• White-labeling capabilities (aka: resell it as your own software!).

❌ Cons:

• More features = steeper learning curve.
• Less plug-and-play compared to ClickFunnels.

👉 Who Wins? If you just need a funnel builder, ClickFunnels is easier to use. But if you’re serious about automation, customer management, and long-term scaling, HighLevel wins by a mile.

Shopping Cart & Checkout Features

If you’re selling online, you know that a great checkout process can make or break conversions.

ClickFunnels: Made for Selling

ClickFunnels goes all in on checkout optimization. You get features like:

• One-click upsells (increase cart value effortlessly).
• Order bumps (easy add-ons at checkout).
• Downsells & special offers (recover lost sales).

HighLevel: The Essentials

HighLevel gives you the fundamentals—a one-step or two-step checkout, order forms, and basic payment processing. But it lacks the conversion-boosting extras that ClickFunnels has.👉 Who Wins? If you’re running an eCommerce store or selling digital products, ClickFunnels has the edge. If checkout is just a small piece of your marketing puzzle, HighLevel gets the job done.

Email & Automation: Who Nurtures Leads Better?

Funnels are great, but if you don’t have a strong follow-up system, you’re leaving money on the table. This is where HighLevel dominates.

ClickFunnels: Simple but Limited

ClickFunnels gives you Follow-Up Funnels, which include:

• Email builder
• Basic automation triggers
• One-time SMS sends

It’s enough to keep leads warm, but it’s not fully built for automation.

HighLevel: A Complete Automation Machine

HighLevel goes all in with a full marketing automation suite:

• Smart Lists for audience segmentation
• Automated SMS, email, and voice drops
• Advanced workflow builder with a flowchart view

👉 Who Wins? No contest. HighLevel is a true marketing automation system, while ClickFunnels is more of a basic follow-up tool.

Pricing: Which One Gives More Bang for Your Buck?

Both platforms have almost identical pricing at the entry and mid-tier levels, but HighLevel offers way more value at the same price.

HighLevel Pricing

• Starter Plan ($97/month): CRM, sales pipelines, websites, communications, and more.
• Unlimited Plan ($297/month): Everything in Starter + unlimited sub-accounts, white-labeling, and API access.
• SaaS Pro Plan ($497/month): Full SaaS mode, meaning you can resell HighLevel as your own software.

ClickFunnels Pricing

• Basic Plan ($97/month): 20 funnels, 100 funnel steps, 3 domains.
• Platinum Plan ($297/month): Unlimited funnels & funnel steps, 9 domains.
• Two Comma Club Plan ($2,497/month): VIP support + some extras.

👉 Who Wins? HighLevel. For the same price, you get way more functionality—and the ability to resell the platform if you choose.

The Verdict: Which One Should You Choose?

So, what’s the final answer? It depends on what you need.

🚀 Choose ClickFunnels if:

• You only care about funnels and need a plug-and-play builder.
• You sell digital products like courses, memberships, or eBooks.
• You want an easy-to-use checkout system with one-click upsells.

🔥 Choose HighLevel if:

• You want more than just funnels—a CRM, email marketing, automation, and client management.
• You run an agency or service-based business and need an all-in-one solution.
• You want to resell software and turn HighLevel into your own SaaS platform.

At the end of the day, both platforms are great—but they serve very different purposes. If you need a funnel-focused tool, ClickFunnels will get you there. But if you want to build a business ecosystem that handles everything from lead capture to automation, HighLevel is the clear winner.

Want to see HighLevel in action? We can help you set it up, learn the ropes, and even manage it for you! Click here to start your HighLevel journey.