ThriveCart is a shopping cart platform with a one-time payment model, while ClickFunnels is an all-in-one sales funnel builder with monthly subscription pricing. Both platforms let you keep your recurring payments if you leave.
When the Platform Gets in the Way
You want to sell a digital product. An ebook, a course, a coaching program. Should be simple.
But then you start looking at platforms like ClickFunnels. Landing pages. Email sequences. Membership areas. Automation workflows. Funnel templates. A/B testing. The feature list goes on forever.
ClickFunnels is an all-in-one sales funnel builder designed for marketers who want complete sales funnels with complex automation. For some business owners, that’s exactly right. For others, it’s overwhelming.
You just wanted to sell a PDF. Now you’re watching tutorials about funnel architecture.
ThriveCart takes a different approach. ThriveCart is a shopping cart focused on the checkout page, not the entire sales process. You build your landing page somewhere else. ThriveCart handles the cart, the upsells, the payment options.
Simpler in scope. But ThriveCart comes with its own problems.
Users report bugs. Lots of them. Features that break. Updates that cause issues.
And when something goes wrong? Customer support has a reputation for slow responses and deleted feedback in their Facebook community.
ThriveCart offers a one-time payment model, which appeals to creators who hate monthly fees. But that lifetime deal comes with trade-offs in reliability and support quality.
Neither platform is perfect. Both require you to accept compromises. Deciding between ThriveCart and ClickFunnels means choosing which trade-offs you can live with.
A Simpler Way to Sell Digital Products
What if the platform just got out of your way?
That question led to CartMango. The idea was simple: a checkout platform built specifically for solo digital creators who want to start selling fast without complexity.
No monthly fees. No commission fees. You just pay Stripe or PayPal fees (directly to them).
Build your checkout page in minutes, and keep everything you earn. CartMango is totally free until 2027.
This isn’t about being better than ThriveCart or ClickFunnels. Both are solid tools with years of development. It’s about a different philosophy.
ClickFunnels is built for marketers who want to build entire sales funnels from scratch. Every feature imaginable, all in one place. That power comes with complexity. The learning curve is real. The monthly cost at 297 per month for the top tier is real too.
ThriveCart is great for creators who prefer paying once upfront. But the bugs and support issues mean you’re often troubleshooting alone. ThriveCart isn’t as polished as its one-time price suggests.
CartMango focuses on something else entirely: getting you from 0 to selling in the shortest time possible. Fast setup. Clean checkout. Human support from the founder, not chatbots.
If you need complex sales funnels with deep automation, ClickFunnels is the better choice. If you want a proven cart with strong integrations and can handle occasional frustrations, use ThriveCart.
But if you’re a solo creator who wants simplicity, zero platform fees, and actual human support when things go wrong, that’s who CartMango is built for.
ThriveCart vs ClickFunnels vs CartMango
This ThriveCart vs ClickFunnels comparison includes CartMango to help you decide which one fits you best. Here’s how these three platforms stack up across the features that matter when selling digital products.
| Feature | ThriveCart | ClickFunnels | CartMango |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your recurring payments gone if you leave the platform? | ✅ You keep recurring payments | ✅ You keep recurring payments | ✅ You keep recurring payments |
| TOTALLY free? (note: Stripe/PayPal fees are standard across all cart platforms) | ❌ No, $495 for the base plan. $295/yr extra for more features. $195 extra for the LMS system. | ❌ $97/mo, $197/mo, $297/mo | ✅ Yes, 0 monthly fees, 0% commission. All features included (free until 2027). |
| Learning management system (LMS) | ✅ Yes for an extra $195 | ✅ Yes | 🔜 Future |
| Funnels (upsells and downsells) AFTER customers paid for the main product | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Customer support | Numerous user reports of poor customer support and deleted feedback posts in their official Facebook group. | ⚠️ Works for simple issues with its AI bots. Basic-tier users with complex problems or cancellation needs face long waits and frustration. | Founder-led personal support, no chatbots, no live chat. Average response time is 1hr+ |
| Buy now, pay later (BNPL) support for your customers (boost your sales) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Order bumps to boost sales | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Subscriptions (support trials and set up fees) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Dynamic coupons and discounts | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Optimized and fast checkouts | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Customers need NOT log in before buying (quick checkout experience) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Direct, instant payout to your Stripe/PayPal (no withholding payments) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| If download links are shared by rogue customers, will they work? | ❌ Your downloads can be pirated since links are not protected | ✅ Links are protected | ✅ Links are protected |
| Integrations | ✅ Huge integration lineup: connects to top email, membership, fulfillment, analytics, webinars, payments, plus Zapier for thousands more apps. | ✅ Integrations with major apps including Email (Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign), CRM (HubSpot, Salesforce). Connect to thousands more like Pipedrive, Slack, and Trello via Zapier or Make. | ⚠️ Limited native integrations, but its Make.com integration gives you access to 3,000+ apps. Current native integrations: Kit, ActiveCampaign, Beehiiv, and BirdSend, with more coming soon. |
| Affiliate management | ⚠️ Yes for an extra $295/yr | ✅ Yes | 🔜 Coming soon |
| Best for | Creators who’d rather pay once upfront than pay monthly fees to access most features (not all), and can tolerate mediocre support. | Savvy marketers who want a high-converting, all-in-one sales machine focused on complex funnels and deep automation. | Solo digital creators who don’t want their recurring revenue held hostage, plus instant setup, human support, and 0 platform fees (free until 2027). |
| Free migration | ❌ No free migration | ❌ No free migration | ✅ Free migration included |
These are the links for each platform: ThriveCart, ClickFunnels, CartMango.
CartMango Isn’t for Everyone. Here’s Who It’s For.
CartMango works best for solo digital creators, coaches, and consultants who want to sell digital products without monthly fees eating into profits.
If you value fast setup over feature depth, CartMango delivers. You can go from nothing to a working checkout page in minutes. No tutorials required. No funnel architecture to learn.
But it’s not for everyone.
If you need a learning management system right now, ClickFunnels includes one and CartMango doesn’t yet. If you need an affiliate program today, both ThriveCart and ClickFunnels offer affiliate management while CartMango is still building that feature.
If you’re building complex sales funnels with multiple steps, conditional logic, and deep automation, ClickFunnels is designed for exactly that. CartMango focuses on straightforward checkout flows with upsells and downsells, not elaborate funnel sequences.
If you need protected download links, CartMango has that covered. ThriveCart doesn’t protect your files, which matters if you’re selling digital downloads that could be easily shared.
CartMango is built for independent creators who value simplicity and ownership. You get upsells and downsells, order bumps, subscription billing with payment plans, coupons, and fast checkout. You pay nothing in platform fees until 2027. And support comes from an actual human, not a chatbot.
That trade-off makes sense for some sellers. Not all.
ThriveCart
ThriveCart is a powerful tool built around one compelling pitch: pay once, use it forever. No monthly fees. ThriveCart has a lifetime deal that appeals to creators tired of subscription costs.
What ThriveCart offers:
- High-converting checkout pages with drag-and-drop editing
- Upsells and downsells for complete sales funnels after purchase
- Order bumps to increase average order value
- Subscription billing with payment plans and trials
- Built-in affiliate program for affiliate management
- Huge integration lineup connecting to email marketing tools, membership site platforms, webinars, and fulfillment services
- Zapier access for thousands more apps
ThriveCart integrates with practically everything. If you already use specific tools for your online business, ThriveCart allows you to connect them without switching.
ThriveCart pricing structure:
ThriveCart pricing starts at $495 for the base license. This gets you the core checkout features, upsells and downsells, and affiliate management.
Want more advanced features? ThriveCart provides a Pro upgrade at $295 per year. This adds advanced funnel options, sales tax calculations, and additional customization.
Need to host online courses? That’s another $195 for ThriveCart Learn, their LMS functionality.
So the “one-time payment” can become $495 + $295/year + $195 depending on your needs. Still cheaper than ClickFunnels pricing over time, but not as simple as the marketing suggests.
The limitations:
ThriveCart is a shopping cart, not a complete funnel builder. You need landing pages and sales pages from somewhere else. If you use ThriveCart, expect to pair it with another tool for the front end of your funnel.
The bigger issue: bugs and support.
ThriveCart isn’t as stable as its price implies. Users report features breaking after updates. Checkout pages that stop working. Integration issues that take days to resolve. The platform is very buggy according to many users.
And when something goes wrong, customer support is slow. Multiple users report waiting days for responses. Negative feedback in the official Facebook group gets deleted. ThriveCart focuses on its product, but the support experience leaves many creators frustrated.
Download links aren’t protected either. If a customer shares your file link, anyone can access it. This matters if you’re selling digital downloads like ebooks or templates.
Best for:
Creators who want to avoid monthly fees with a lifetime deal, already have landing page tools, need strong integrations, and can handle troubleshooting issues without support. ThriveCart is ideal for those who prioritize the one-time payment model over polished user experience.
This is the link for ThriveCart.
ClickFunnels
ClickFunnels is an all-in-one platform designed for marketers who want to build entire sales funnels without juggling multiple tools. Everything lives in one system.
What ClickFunnels offers:
- Landing pages and sales page templates with drag-and-drop editing
- Complete checkout process built into your funnel
- Email marketing tools for sequences and broadcasts
- Membership site functionality for gated content
- Learning management system for hosting online courses
- Upsells and downsells with features like one-click upsells
- Affiliate management for running your own affiliate program
- Deep automation for complex sales funnels
ClickFunnels offers a comprehensive suite that covers the entire sales process from first click to final purchase. Using ClickFunnels means you don’t need separate tools for landing pages, email, checkout, or course hosting.
ClickFunnels pricing structure:
ClickFunnels pricing breaks down into three tiers:
- Startup: $97/mo
- Pro: $197/mo
- Funnel Hacker: $297/mo
ClickFunnels requires ongoing monthly payments regardless of whether you sell anything. At the popular Pro tier, that’s $2,364 per year. At the top Funnel Hacker tier, you’re paying $3,564 annually.
ClickFunnels includes the LMS at no extra cost, unlike ThriveCart. If you’re selling courses and want hosting built into your funnel platform, this matters. ClickFunnels also offers email marketing built right in, which ThriveCart doesn’t.
The limitations:
ClickFunnels is powerful, but that power creates complexity. The learning curve is steep. You’ll spend hours watching tutorials before creating sales funnels that actually convert.
For solo creators who just want to sell a digital product, ClickFunnels might be overkill. All those features come with cognitive overhead. You’re paying for capabilities you may never use.
ClickFunnels supports integrations with major tools like Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, HubSpot, and Salesforce. But because it’s designed as an all-in-one, the assumption is you’ll use their built-in tools instead. ClickFunnels allows you to connect external tools, but it’s not the primary workflow.
Customer support experience:
Support quality depends on your plan tier. Lower tiers get AI chatbots first. ClickFunnels also offers higher-tier users priority access to human support.
Users on basic plans report frustration with complex issues and cancellation requests. The all-in-one nature means you’re dependent on one company for everything. If support is slow, your entire business workflow is affected.
ClickFunnels gives priority to higher-paying customers. If you’re on the $97/mo Startup plan, expect longer wait times for anything beyond simple questions.
Best for:
Marketers who want landing pages, funnels, email, and checkout in one place. Those building complex sales funnels with deep automation. Business owners who accept ongoing monthly investment and want everything under one roof. ClickFunnels is ideal for creating sales funnels from scratch when you need the full toolkit.
This is the link for ClickFunnels.
Pricing Simulation: What You Pay
Here’s what each platform costs at different revenue levels. All scenarios include Stripe/PayPal processing fees (2.9% + $0.30 per transaction) calculated at $50 average order value.
| Monthly Revenue | ThriveCart (Year 1) | ThriveCart (Year 2+) | ClickFunnels | CartMango | You Save with CartMango |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000/mo | $495 + $406 = $901 | $0 + $406 = $406 | $1,164 + $406 = $1,570 | $0 + $406 = $406 | $495 – $1,164 |
| $5,000/mo | $495 + $2,030 = $2,525 | $0 + $2,030 = $2,030 | $1,164 + $2,030 = $3,194 | $0 + $2,030 = $2,030 | $495 – $1,164 |
| $10,000/mo | $495 + $4,060 = $4,555 | $0 + $4,060 = $4,060 | $2,364 + $4,060 = $6,424 | $0 + $4,060 = $4,060 | $495 – $2,364 |
| $50,000/mo | $495 + $20,300 = $20,795 | $0 + $20,300 = $20,300 | $2,364 + $20,300 = $22,664 | $0 + $20,300 = $20,300 | $495 – $2,364 |
Pricing summary:
ThriveCart wins on long-term value compared to ClickFunnels. After year one, ThriveCart’s platform cost drops to zero while ClickFunnels continues at $1,164 to $2,364+ annually.
The difference between ClickFunnels and ThriveCart becomes dramatic over time. At $10,000/mo revenue over three years, ThriveCart costs $4,555 + $4,060 + $4,060 = $12,675. ClickFunnels costs $6,424 × 3 = $19,272. ThriveCart makes financial sense if you plan to sell for years.
CartMango charges $0 platform fees until 2027. At any revenue level, you’re keeping money that would otherwise go to platform fees.
At $50,000/mo revenue:
- That’s $2,364/year you keep instead of paying ClickFunnels, and
- $495 you keep instead of paying ThriveCart
ThriveCart vs ClickFunnels vs CartMango: Which Fits Your Situation?
These are the links for each platform: ThriveCart, ClickFunnels, CartMango.
Choose ThriveCart if:
You prefer paying $495 once over monthly fees. ThriveCart offers a one-time payment model that makes sense for long-term sellers. You already have landing page and funnel tools. You need affiliate management today (pay extra $295/year on top of the $495). You can work around bugs and slow support. ThriveCart lets you build checkout flows without monthly overhead.
Choose ClickFunnels if:
You want landing pages, funnels, email, and checkout in one place. Complex sales funnels with deep automation are core to your strategy. Built-in course hosting is a requirement. Monthly investment of $97 to $297 fits your budget. You value having everything under one roof and don’t mind the learning curve.
Choose CartMango if:
You’re a solo creator who wants zero platform fees. Fast setup matters more than feature depth. You want human support from an actual person when things go wrong. You don’t need an LMS or affiliate system right now. You value simplicity over complexity.
The bottom line:
ThriveCart and ClickFunnels both do the job for selling digital products. ThriveCart wins on cost over time but struggles with bugs and support. ClickFunnels wins on features but charges monthly fees that add up fast.
Both platforms let you keep your recurring payments if you leave. The difference between ThriveCart and ClickFunnels comes down to what you’re building and how much complexity you can handle.
CartMango takes a different approach. Zero fees until 2027. Fast setup. Human support. Built specifically for solo digital creators who want to start selling without the overhead.
Choosing between ThriveCart and ClickFunnels? Compare what you actually need. Then decide if a third option makes more sense for your online business.
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