ClickFunnels vs. WordPress: Which One To Use?

If you want to build websites, sales funnels, or landing pages, there are plenty of options at your disposal. WordPress and ClickFunnels are two popular solutions, but which is right for you?

Both platforms offer drag-and-drop editors, templates, and integrations. But there are also some key differences between them. ClickFunnels is an all-in-one solution, while the flexibility of WordPress means your content can be configured in endless ways.

In this post, we’ll introduce you to WordPress and ClickFunnels and discuss five differences between them to help you pick the right solution. Let’s get started!

An Introduction to ClickFunnels

As the name suggests, ClickFunnels is ideal for building sales funnels that convert visitors into customers:

A sales funnel is a series of steps that strategically lead people toward a purchasing decision. These funnels are typically used by marketers or small businesses who want to increase revenue or build email lists.

While ClickFunnels isn’t a full website builder, you can still use it to generate sales and landing pages, and create upselling/cross-selling opportunities.

Key Features

• Pre-built funnel templates
• Drag-and-drop funnel builder
• Email sequences
• A/B testing
• Analytics
• Integrated tools (e.g. email marketing tools, marketing automation, etc)

Ideal Use Case

ClickFunnels is perfect for putting together a well-structured sales journey that drives customers towards a desired action, like signing up for a mailing list. Therefore, it can be a suitable option for marketers, entrepreneurs, and small businesses.

An Introduction to WordPress

While ClickFunnels has a singular focus, WordPress can be used for a variety of projects. In fact, it powers over 40 percent of all websites:

WordPress is a versatile content management system (CMS). For instance, you could use it to build a large ecommerce store or set up a simple blog.

Due to its open-source nature, WordPress offers endless customization possibilities via plugins and themes. This makes it ideal for building more unique and complex websites.

Key Features

• Open-source software
• Highly customizable
• Visual editor
• Low initial costs (since the software itself is free)
• Suitable for all kinds of website owners
• Thriving WordPress community

Ideal Use Case 

While ClickFunnels has a very narrow focus, you can use WordPress for many types of websites. With the help of plugins, it’s possible to create portfolios, blogs, online stores, membership sites, and more.

ClickFunnels vs WordPress: 5 Factors Compared

Now that you know more about WordPress and ClickFunnels, let’s look at some key differences between them.

1. Ease of use

The first way to settle the ClickFunnels vs WordPress debate is to look at usability.

WordPress can be overwhelming at first, due to the large number of options and settings available. However, once you get to grips with the platform, building a site becomes relatively straightforward.

Most WordPress themes come with ready-made templates for key pages. Plus, you can create new posts and pages with the Block Editor, which is very user-friendly.

If you want to design sales funnels with WordPress, you’ll need to install a plugin like WPFunnels:

This can be more complicated than working with a blog or business website. But thanks to the popularity of WordPress, you’ll find tons of online resources to help you build sales funnels on this platform.

Similarly, ClickFunnels offers a user-friendly interface that allows you to design sales funnels visually, without coding skills. Additionally, it comes with several built-in tools. This can be more convenient than WordPress, which requires you to install individual plugins when you require extra functionality.

2. Customization

You can’t beat WordPress when it comes to customization. Thanks to its open-source nature, WordPress offers a lot of ways to build custom pages and posts.

For example, you’ll find plenty of free and premium themes to change the look of your WordPress website:

If you need additional functionality, you can install free plugins from the WordPress repository or purchase premium plugins (from third-party providers).

For more substantial changes, you might want to hire a developer. Not only can they make tweaks to your existing WordPress website, but they can also build new plugins from scratch to make more unique websites.

ClickFunnels is much more limited in terms of customizability. It comes with pre-built funnels and templates, but you’ll only get access to tools that the ClickFunnels team has created.

Integrations provide a bit more flexibility. For instance, you can connect your sales funnels to email marketing services or payment processors. However, there are fewer integrations compared with WordPress.

3. Security

As a self-hosted platform, WordPress puts the onus on you to secure your site. That means you have to be careful about which themes and plugins you install as they can contain vulnerabilities (especially if they’re not regularly updated).

The good news is that you can install a security plugin to access malware scans, web application firewalls, login protection, and more. Better yet, a secure web host like NameHero will offer robust security measures like daily backups and SSL certificates.

ClickFunnels is a SaaS platform, so the team handles all security measures, including SSL encryption and two-factor authentication. This way, you don’t need to worry about setting up defenses or carrying out website maintenance tasks.

4. Ecommerce

If you want to sell products online, you’ll require ecommerce functionality.

Luckily, WordPress offers a seamless integration with WooCommerce, which is the leading ecommerce platform worldwide:

The guided setup makes it quick and easy to launch your store. You’ll also find dedicated WooCommerce themes, which allow you to change the design of the checkout and cart pages.

Additionally, you can add and categorize products in the same way that you add posts/pages. You’ll still be able to use plugins (and WooCommerce extensions) to customize the default setup.

ClickFunnels comes with ecommerce functionality built-in, but customization is limited. While you can add products and process transactions, that’s about it. However, ClickFunnels takes care of ecommerce setup and maintenance for you, which makes it more convenient.

5. Cost

ClickFunnels is more expensive than WordPress.

It uses a subscription pricing model, so you’ll either pay $97 per month (for the Startup Plan) or $297 per month (for the Pro Plan):

However, you can get a discount if you pay annually.

On the other hand, WordPress is free so you can download it right away. That said, there are costs associated with running a WordPress site, like domains, SSL certificates, and web hosting.

Ideally, you’ll choose a hosting service like NameHero that bundles everything together:

NameHero offers dedicated WordPress packages, which are optimized specifically for the CMS. These range between $1.34 and $5.99 per month but renew at a slightly higher rate.

Some of our plans come with free domain names, free SSL, daily backups, automatic updates, and more. Plus, NameHero will set up WordPress for you.

Besides hosting and a domain name, you’ll only need to pay for premium plugins and themes (which are optional).

ClickFunnels vs WordPress: Which Should You Choose?

If you have a specific goal like launching a new product or building an email list, ClickFunnels is a great option. It’s a convenient funnel builder that comes with built-in templates and tools.

The ClickFunnels team handles all security and ecommerce maintenance. However, customization is limited, which makes it unsuitable for those interested in anything beyond sales funnels.

If you need something more flexible and scalable, WordPress is the winner. There are tons of ways to customize the setup to meet your unique needs and preferences.

You can use WordPress as a blogging platform, ecommerce store, portfolio, or something else entirely. The software is also free, so you’ll only pay for associated costs like web hosting and domains (unless you use a premium WordPress theme or plugin).

Note that WordPress comes with a steep learning curve, but there are plenty of resources available to help. You’ll also be responsible for website management and security, but with the right hosting company, you can offload some of these tasks.

Conclusion

ClickFunnels and WordPress enable you to generate web pages and sales funnels. While ClickFunnels is focused specifically on lead generation, WordPress is a highly versatile platform that’s suited to a range of use cases.

ClickFunnels is super easy to set up and offers built-in tools for ecommerce, marketing, and security. However, it’s more expensive and lacks customization. With WordPress, you’ll be responsible for your site’s maintenance and security, but the software is unparalleled when it comes to customization and it’s completely free.

Do you have any questions about building marketing funnels? Let us know in the comments below!