What Is ClickFunnels? (And should I use it?)
Introduction
This guide gives a clear, straightforward explanation of ClickFunnels — what it does, who it suits, and whether it’s genuinely worth the price for beginners and small creators. If you’ve seen people online talking about funnels and high-converting systems, this post will help you cut through the noise.
My aim is to explain ClickFunnels in simple terms, without hype or pressure, so you can make an informed decision. It’s a powerful tool, but it’s not right for everyone — especially if you’re just starting out.
What ClickFunnels Is
ClickFunnels is a premium sales funnel platform designed to help businesses create structured, conversion-focused sales journeys. Instead of building separate pages, emails, and checkouts across multiple tools, ClickFunnels puts everything in one system.
It’s typically used by coaches, consultants, course creators, and established online businesses with clear offers. The platform focuses heavily on marketing and is built to help people sell products more effectively — whether that’s digital courses, high-ticket programmes, or physical items.
How It Works
ClickFunnels works by guiding you through a funnel-building process:
Choose a funnel type (lead magnet, sales page, webinar, product launch).
Select a template and customise it in the editor.
Add funnel steps — such as upsells, downsells, and order bumps.
Connect your email provider or use ClickFunnels’ own email tools.
Integrate Stripe or PayPal to take payments.
Test, launch, and monitor performance with analytics.
Optimise with split testing to improve conversion rates.
It’s designed to take the guesswork out of building a complete sales journey.
Key Features / Key Components
Funnel Builder
A powerful drag-and-drop editor for building multi-step funnels.
Why it matters: You can add upsells, downsells, order bumps, and multiple steps without technical work.
Who benefits: Coaches, marketers, and anyone selling higher-ticket offers.
Follow-Up Funnels (Email Automation)
ClickFunnels includes email automation on certain plans.
Why it matters: Lets you automate your follow-up without external tools.
Who benefits: Businesses wanting everything in one place.
Membership & Course Hosting
Create simple course areas or protected content.
Why it matters: Good for delivering digital products quickly.
Who benefits: Coaches and course creators.
Analytics & A/B Testing
Built-in conversion tracking and split testing.
Why it matters: Helps improve funnel performance over time.
Who benefits: Anyone running paid ads or scaling aggressively.
Checkout & Order Bumps
Optimised checkout pages designed to boost average order value.
Why it matters: Clear revenue advantage for higher-priced offers.
Who benefits: Businesses selling mid-ticket and high-ticket items.
Pros
Very powerful and flexible
Designed specifically for selling, not just landing pages
Strong analytics and testing tools
Ideal for upsells and multi-step funnels
Great for scaling businesses
Large template library
Integrates with most major tools
Cons
Expensive, especially for beginners
High learning curve
Page designs can feel slightly dated
Membership features are basic
No true free plan
Can feel overwhelming if you only need a simple setup
Pricing
ClickFunnels does not offer a permanent free plan, only a 14-day free trial.
Paid Plans (Approx UK Pricing):
Basic: ~£80–£100/month
Pro: ~£150–£170/month
Funnel Hacker: ~£250–£300/month
Is It Good Value?
For beginners — not really.
For experienced creators selling mid-ticket or high-ticket offers — it can be worth it.
It’s a “serious business” tool rather than something for testing early ideas.
Who It Suits
ClickFunnels is a strong choice if you:
Sell coaching, consulting, or online courses
Have a validated offer already selling consistently
Want advanced funnel structures
Use upsells, webinar funnels, or launches
Are scaling beyond £1,000/month
Prefer everything in one robust system
Who It Doesn’t Suit
It’s not ideal if you:
Are just starting and don’t have an offer yet
Are on a tight budget
Prefer simple, clean landing pages
Only need one or two pages
Want a lightweight tool for low-ticket items
Feel overwhelmed by too many features
Getting Started / Setup Guide
Start the free trial.
Select your funnel type and template.
Add your funnel steps (sales page, order page, upsell, thank-you page).
Add your product and pricing.
Connect Stripe or PayPal.
Set up your email automation or integrate your provider.
Test the entire flow thoroughly.
Publish and begin sending traffic.
Expect a learning curve — but it becomes easier with practice.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Building complex funnels before testing a simple offer
Paying for ClickFunnels without having a validated product
Forgetting to test checkout and email automation
Trying to use every feature too early
Spending too long on design instead of clarity
Assuming funnels generate traffic on their own
Best Use Cases
ClickFunnels works best for:
High-ticket coaching funnels
Webinar and challenge funnels
Multi-step product launches
Evergreen sales systems
Upsell/downsell flows
Agencies building funnels for clients
Realistic Outcomes
Here’s the grounded version:
You won’t make sales simply because you own ClickFunnels
You need traffic and a clear offer first
The tool helps you optimise conversions, not create demand
Beginners may find it overwhelming or unnecessary
With experience, it becomes a highly effective sales engine
Most value comes once you’re already generating consistent income
Alternatives
Systeme.io
A simple, budget-friendly option.
Better when: You’re starting out or selling low-ticket products.
Kajabi
A polished all-in-one platform for course creators.
Better when: Your main focus is delivering quality courses rather than running advanced funnels.
GoHighLevel
A powerful automation and CRM tool.
Better when: You’re running an agency or scaling bigger systems.
Honest Verdict
ClickFunnels is a strong, capable platform designed for serious marketers and businesses who prioritise advanced sales funnels. It’s expensive and not always beginner-friendly, but if you’re selling mid-ticket or high-ticket offers and want a robust sales engine, it can be genuinely valuable.
For beginners or anyone still testing the waters, it’s usually unnecessary. Start simple, prove your offer, and upgrade tools when the business demands it — not before.
Links
If you’d like to explore ClickFunnels further, the link is here or below — completely optional. Or feel free to browse my other tool breakdowns for more balanced comparisons. Take your time and choose whatever suits your goals best.