FunnelMates vs ClickFunnels [2025]: Best Funnel Builder for Small Business

The price difference between $47 and $297 per month for business tools makes everyone stop and think. Small business owners looking for the best funnel builder in 2025 need to look beyond just these numbers when comparing FunnelMates and ClickFunnels.

ClickFunnels is a 10-year old platform with detailed features like landing page builders and email marketing automation. FunnelMates takes a different approach as an intuitive sales funnel builder that works great for beginners. These tools have their own unique ways to create and optimize sales funnels.

Both platforms pack different features – from pre-built templates to email sequences and payment processing integration. ClickFunnels lets you try their platform for 14 days, while FunnelMates gives you a longer 30-day trial period on premium plans to explore their features fully.

Our analysis of both platforms will help you pick the right tool for your small business. Let’s dive into the pricing structures and core features of these popular funnel builder options.

Core Features Face-Off: FunnelMates vs ClickFunnels

The core features of both platforms show different approaches to funnel building. FunnelMates prioritizes optimized functionality with pre-built templates and sequences you can deploy quickly. ClickFunnels delivers a complete suite of tools that builds on data from over 100,000 users.

Landing Page Builder Comparison

FunnelMates keeps things simple with ready-made landing pages built for lead generation. ClickFunnels takes a different approach with an advanced drag-and-drop builder that has sophisticated features like layout hierarchy control and mobile responsiveness. ClickFunnels’ AI writer helps create copy, which sets it apart from simple builders.

Email Marketing Capabilities

ClickFunnels brings email marketing right into its platform with automated sequences and broadcast capabilities. The system lets you:

• Segment lists with precision
• Create behavioral trigger workflows
• Send one-off broadcast emails
• Set up automated follow-up sequences

FunnelMates keeps its approach targeted by merging with popular email platforms like Mailchimp and Aweber.

Sales Funnel Templates

ClickFunnels excels with 24 high-converting sales funnel templates that have been optimized through extensive testing data. These templates work for businesses of all types:

On top of that, ClickFunnels’ templates have features for one-click upsells and downsells, which boost revenue potential. FunnelMates offers targeted lead magnets and automated sales generation tools, but focuses on a smaller template selection you can deploy quickly.

Pricing Plans That Work for Small Business

Small business owners need a really good understanding of what ClickFunnels costs before choosing it as their funnel builder. The original pricing comes with two main tiers: the Startup plan at $97 per month and the Pro plan at $297 per month.

Monthly vs Annual Costs

Annual billing will save you money on both platforms. You’ll pay only $81 per month with ClickFunnels’ Startup plan on yearly billing, which saves $194 annually. The Pro plan becomes even more affordable at $248 monthly with annual billing and gives you a $594 yearly discount.

The pricing structure has:

Hidden Fees to Watch Out For

The base subscription isn’t your only cost. ClickFunnels charges extra for these specific features:

• Email services: $0.68 per 1,000 emails sent
• Email validation: $2.50 per 1,000 validations
• Video hosting: $0.10 per video and $10 per 1TB bandwidth
• Integration runs: $0.01 per action

Payment processing adds more costs. We found that the platform’s native Payments.ai processor charges 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction and 0.5% extra for subscriptions. Using Stripe or PayPal will cost you an additional 1% on top of their regular fees.

Both plans give you unlimited core features if you need advanced functionality. These features include funnels, courses, members, contacts, pages, and domains. Your costs won’t increase as your business grows.

The platform gives you a 44-day risk-free period that combines a 14-day free trial with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Small businesses can test all the platform’s features before making a long-term commitment.

Getting Started: Setup and Onboarding

Sales funnel builders are the first stepping stones to digital success. FunnelMates and ClickFunnels welcome their new users differently. FunnelMates aims for quick setup while ClickFunnels offers a full onboarding experience.

First-Time User Experience

Research shows that 40-60% of users who sign up for a free trial use it just once. This makes first impressions crucial. ClickFunnels starts by sending a welcome email with password setup and simple account details. Users then fill out basic information like their name, phone number, and time zone.

FunnelMates takes pride in their “27-Second Activation” that needs no coding. This efficient approach works best for beginners who want quick results. Their interface cuts out distractions and guides users through funnel creation step by step.

Learning Resources Available

ClickFunnels helps users learn through several channels:

• ClickFunnels 2.0 Academy with full guides
• Live training programs with platform experts
• Active member community forums
• Detailed knowledge base articles

Users get access to over 200 customizable templates alongside these resources. FunnelMates keeps things simpler with clear documentation and tutorials that users can implement quickly.

Technical Support Quality

Support quality differs a lot between these platforms. ClickFunnels runs live chat support from 8 AM to 8 PM Eastern Time. Users often wait about 20 minutes to reach a human agent. The support team knows the platform well and maintains professional service standards.

FunnelMates handles support through email with an accessible dashboard to track issues. Their system focuses on fixing technical problems and helping users navigate their efficient interface.

Both platforms know that good onboarding leads to long-term success. ClickFunnels’ data shows that positive first experiences help convert users into paying customers. This shapes how they approach user education and support, helping small businesses get the most from their funnel tools.

Integration Capabilities for Growth

Integration capabilities are vital factors when choosing the best funnel builder for growing businesses. Each platform takes a unique approach to connecting with business tools and services.

Payment Gateway Options

Payment processing flexibility is the life-blood of both platforms. ClickFunnels supports two types of payment gateway integrations: API and third-party product access. The platform’s native Payments AI system works with multiple payment gateways. It focuses on credit card processing, Apple Pay, and PayPal options.

ClickFunnels connects directly with these payment processors:

• Stripe (recommended for most features)
• PayPal
• NMI
• Authorize.Net

You get three payment gateway integrations with the Basic plan. The Platinum plan lets you connect with nine payment gateways.

CRM Compatibility

ClickFunnels comes with a built-in CRM system made specifically for sales funnels. This native CRM includes:

The MessageHub app brings all customer communications together in the CRM. You can handle emails, SMS, and social media messages from one dashboard. This setup means you won’t need to jump between different platforms.

Third-Party Tool Connect

ClickFunnels works well with many external services beyond payment and CRM features. You can connect with:

• Email Marketing: Mailchimp, Aweber
• Communication: Twilio for SMS, Slybroadcast for voicemails
• E-commerce: Shopify, Warrior Plus
• Shipping: Shipstation, ZenDirect
• Calendar: Various scheduling software options

Zapier integration lets you link with almost any popular service if you need special connections. Small businesses can keep their existing tech stack while using the funnel builder’s core features.

The platform’s automation works through these integrations. You can set up automated follow-ups, scheduled reminders, and targeted workflows based on customer actions. This connected ecosystem helps small businesses optimize their operations for growth.

Real Performance Metrics

Performance metrics show how well funnel building platforms really work. Page load speed and conversion rates are two key factors that determine if a platform works well.

Page Load Speed Test Results

Speed tests show ClickFunnels 2.0 loads faster than its major competitors. The platform beats its competition consistently in direct comparisons.

Load times can make or break user engagement. Research proves this:

• 47% of visitors want pages to load within 2 seconds
• Pages that load in 1 second convert 3x better than those taking 5 seconds
• Bounce rates go up by 30% when pages take 3 seconds to load instead of 1

ClickFunnels 2.0’s React Javascript architecture delivers faster page speeds. This speed boost matters even more because pages take an average of 10.3 seconds to load on desktop and 27.4 seconds on mobile devices across industries.

Conversion Rate Data

Conversion rates change a lot between funnel stages and industries. The platform’s analytics give us clear insights into funnel performance:

ClickFunnels tracks everything you need with detailed analytics:

• Unique page views tracking
• Opt-in rate calculations
• Earnings per click metrics
• Average cart value monitoring

The platform’s stats reveal that bounce rates jump by 123% once pages take 10 seconds to load. These numbers show how technical performance shapes business results.

You can track many performance metrics including:

• Gross sales monitoring
• Sales count analytics
• Recurring value calculations
• Earnings per page view analysis

Better speed optimization helps your search engine rankings. Google’s algorithm favors faster websites, which affects your organic traffic and conversion opportunities directly.

Customer Support Experience

Customer support without doubt makes the most important difference in any funnel builder software’s success. Both platforms take different approaches to help their users. They focus on specific support channels and ways to solve problems.

Response Time Analysis

ClickFunnels runs its support from Monday through Friday, 3:00 AM to 8:00 PM Eastern Time. Users get answers within 1-2 hours during business hours. The platform uses different levels of support:

The AI Support Bot helps users right away with common issues. Users need to talk to this bot before they can reach human support. Some users find this step takes too long.

Problem Resolution Quality

The quality of problem-solving depends on several things. ClickFunnels’ support team shows great skill once you connect with them. Their agents know the platform inside out. The support includes:

• Knowledge Base: Detailed guides with tutorials, troubleshooting help, and platform features
• AI-Powered Solutions: A trained bot that gives quick answers and walks you through fixes
• Ticketing System: A well-laid-out way to track and fix complex issues

The platform’s support works best when users give:

• Clear descriptions of their problems
• What they’ve tried already
• What they want to happen
• Their ideal fix

Recent updates have fixed many old support issues. The company has boosted their response times and made their policies clearer. They also send updates about accounts and renewals more often.

Users who need faster help can get premium support plans. These accounts get quicker responses and can chat directly with support staff.

The platform’s community gives users extra help through:

• ClickFunnels 2.0 Academy training
• Live expert-led programs
• Active member forums
• Detailed knowledge base

This layered support system helps with all kinds of user needs, from quick tech fixes to learning the whole platform. The mix of AI and human support creates a balanced system, though some users say it takes time to reach actual people sometimes.

Comparison Table

Conclusion

Small business owners can choose between FunnelMates and ClickFunnels based on their needs and growth stage. ClickFunnels shines with its advanced features, wide range of integrations, and proven performance metrics. However, it costs more and takes longer to learn.

FunnelMates works great as a starter solution that’s quick to set up and available at a lower price point. Businesses looking for simplicity and quick deployment will appreciate its straightforward approach that doesn’t need much technical knowledge.

ClickFunnels 2.0 update has improved page load times and delivers better speed test results and conversion data. You’ll get detailed analytics to improve your pages and a huge library of templates that work well for businesses of all types.

Both platforms offer good support, but ClickFunnels has an edge with multiple support channels and learning resources. Response times can be slow sometimes, but their organized system helps solve problems consistently.

Your choice really depends on your business size and tech skills. ClickFunnels works best for bigger businesses ready to invest in detailed marketing automation. FunnelMates is perfect for entrepreneurs who want to start their digital marketing experience.

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