ClickFunnels vs Drip Comparison: Which One Is Right For You?

ClickFunnels (Visit Website) and Drip (Visit Website) both offer fast, user-friendly lead capture and nurture platforms that are efficient at what they do well. Each is a powerful solution that was specifically developed with eCommerce in mind. With actionable metrics, you’ll access the information you need for creating data-driven, targeted marketing campaigns. You’ll also enjoy easy integration no matter what else is in your tech stack.

It’s in the little details that you’ll find the differences that inform your decision.

Drip is more than just an email automation platform. It’s a complete customer relationship management system that’s great for solo entrepreneurs and SMEs. ClickFunnels offers a broader set of solutions that can transform a basic eCommerce website into an automated sales funnel.

If what you’re looking for is workflow automation and a robust marketing solution that keeps your customers in the loop, either choice will fit your needs. Read on for the details on how these platforms stack up against each other for specific key features.

Below, we’ve compared ClickFunnels and Drip to focus on where these platforms measure up in key areas. Both offer many of the same features, integration with WordPress and other platforms, and simplicity of use. Their strengths and differences lie in their main features, such as opt-in forms, page builders, and workflow management.

Is ClickFunnels the solution you’ve been searching for or would you be better off with Drip?

Head-to-Head: ClickFunnels vs Drip Features

Opt-in Forms

Both ClickFunnels and Drip allow you to create opt-in forms to build your subscriber list. ClickFunnels forms are not embedded, but you can choose from among dozens of premade opt-in pages to select the one that most closely fits your needs. Drip provides a little more customization with its form builder. Every element of their form templates can be changed to suit your preferences and keep you on-brand. You’ll also have the option for hosted or embedded forms, create a widget, and set triggers.

To create an opt-in page for ClickFunnels, you’ll need an existing funnel to work from. Choose your funnel, and then add and name a step to create the page. You’ll then select “optin” from the drop-down menu and choose “Optin Pages” to view the template selection.

Drip offers two ways to create an opt-in form. You can create them from within an existing campaign or choose directly from the “Form” selection at the top of the Drip form page. From there, you can choose from an existing form or create a new one. Any changes will automatically update, but it’s a good idea to save them anyway.

Landing Page Builders

With ClickFunnels, you’ll get a built-in page creator. The visual editor uses a WYSIWYG interface with customizable CSS integration. Their templates are also customizable and constructed for optimal lead generation with compelling headlines, an elegant layout, and a clear, single CTA.

Drip doesn’t have a built-in page creator. However, the platform integrates seamlessly with Leadpages and Instapage. This takes a few additional steps since you must set or edit triggers within the Leadpages builder. Any leads captured through landing pages with either platform are automatically updated and sent to Drip. With Instapage, you’re also able to conduct an A/B split test on various page design elements.

Smarter Email Marketing Automation

One area where both platforms shine is email marketing automation. Drip offers up five pre-made workflow templates to automate New Customer welcome workflows, customer retention/re-engagement workflows, and several follow-up email/nurture workflow series.

Their email workflows integrate with Magento, Shopify, WooCommerce, and Shopper Activity API. Workflows are event-based, using tags, paths, and steps to trigger email. It’s a simple process that requires no coding or email marketing experience to get results.

ClickFunnels converts an email marketing campaign into an automated email marketing funnel. The tagging system allows you to easily segment and refine your list based on customer activity and purchase history, method of initial contact, and demographic. One click allows you to add or remove contacts. There is the additional benefit of combining your email marketing with SMS automation. As with Drip, there is no coding experience needed to create a comprehensive customer insight platform that converts.

Workflow Management

The more complicated your marketing strategies, the greater the need for automated workflow management. Both platforms offer this capability to varying degrees. Drip is more laser-focused on email marketing and customer relationship management, while ClickFunnels seeks to provide broader support as an overall online marketing system for eCommerce.

With ClickFunnels, the marketing platform is fully automated in order to streamline the customer experience and move them with intention through the sales funnel. Their lead generation system allows you to develop keen insights into customer behavior and preferences, nurture them through their journey with targeted emails, and initiate follow-up through pre-defined triggers.

Drip workflow management is initiated via pre-made visual workflows that are purpose-built. They offer 20 workflow templates that integrate with various eCommerce platforms. You can choose from among Welcome or First Time shopper workflows, Post-purchase customer loyalty messages, or segment according to first-purchase or post-repeat purchase automated messaging. There are also templates designed to neutralize cart abandonment and save the sale.

Other Essential Features

Both platforms allow you to conduct an A/B split test with ease. In order to split test with ClickFunnels, you’ll go to an existing funnel and select “Create Variation”. Next, you’ll create a duplicate page and edit test elements for each page version. You can then adjust the slider to add traffic to test pages and save your changes. At the end of the testing phase, simply hover your mouse over the pages and click on “Declare as Winner” to keep the best version.

Split testing with Drip is conducted through Workflow Split Tests. For email, you can test various subject lines, senders, or send times. There is also a workflow for marketing strategies on various platforms, such as Facebook audiences, email campaigns, and discounts. Simply add an action and click “Split test” from the menu. Name the specific split test and use the drop-down menu to select a path. Save and select parameters for each path. Toggle the workflow to “On” to activate the test. Rather than hover to select the winner, you’ll click on a “Select Winner” action and allow the automation to select the winning path according to your parameters.

ClickFunnels and Drip also support Zapier integration. Although there is no native integration with SalesForce, you can automatically send information between SalesForce and either ClickFunnels or Drip via Zapier.

In fact, you’ll find a high degree of integration with a number of eCommerce, payment, and website builders. This includes support for social media marketing. For example, Drip integrates with Facebook Custom Audiences to bolster customer re-engagement and shopping cart abandonment retargeting. With ClickFunnels, you can add select “Social Share” through the “Add New Element” option and select your platform. You’re also able to integrate social media platforms such as InstaGram, Facebook, and video viewing platforms via Zapier.

Although neither marketing platform was built for WordPress, plugins offer WP integration to carrying degrees.

For example, you can use the Drip WP plugin to add opt-in forms with just a click. The WP plugin for ClickFunnels allows you to import sales funnels to your website. You can even import and use your ClickFunnels page as your WP home page.

By far, the best feature of both platforms is the data collection and analytics capabilities. ClickFunnels offers granular sales funnel analytics that allows you to spot the weak spots in your marketing, make sense of them, and visualize solutions. It monitors traffic, conversions by filtered categories, sales, and revenue.

They use a Value Ladder sales funnel that deploys four phases to attract leads, generate interest, build trust, and convert. Automation makes upselling effortless by offering frontend value and retargeting once the lead converts.

Drip analytics takes the guesswork out of online marketing by allowing you to visualize successful paths to conversion. Automated audience segmentation highlights revenue attribution by the number of sales, purchase totals, and other metrics. Benchmarking and guidance demonstrate performance in key areas and offer suggestions to improve each KPI.

Pros and Cons of ClickFunnels

ClickFunnels is more than just a customer engagement platform. It’s a customer insight powerhouse that converts eCommerce websites into automated sales funnels. With this platform, brands with large subscriber lists, heavy sales volume, and multiple product lines can easily attract, convert, and retarget leads.

Pros:

• ClickFunnels offers drag-and-drop simplicity. You can move any element exactly where it needs to be for maximum impact.
• With ClickFunnels, you’ll get live, on-page editing with no frustration or coding involved.
• Setup for shopping cart and pay portals is fast and easy. You can handle the entire physical product sales and fulfillment process (including automated sales tax calculation) in one platform.
• ClickFunnels integrates with a broad range of automated email platforms, social media, and eCommerce platforms. You can even make it the homepage for your WordPress website.
• Highly responsive customer support that’s available 24/7/365 through multiple channels.
• Extensive knowledge base and customer support resources available on their website.
• Highly scalable without a large price increase.

Cons:

• Advanced email options not available with the Basic plan.
• Can be glitchy and slow at times, especially when saving changes.
• Limited of customization with templates.

Pros and Cons of Drip

Drip is an automated email marketing platform and CRM that’s focused on the needs of bloggers, freelancers, and small eCommerce companies. If you’re new to online marketing, they’ll get you up and running fast.

Pros:

• Easy, user-friendly interface and a shallow learning curve. They’ll get your campaign up and running in minutes.
• Several options for opt-in pages and forms, You can embed your form, add a widget, or trigger a popup if someone tries to leave the page.
• Workflow modules make customized automation easy. Even new users with no coding experience can set goals, triggers, and timing options.
• Identify and refine leads via auto-tagging by activities like purchase history or page views.
• Drip provides built-in performance tracking according to the KPIs that matter most. They also help you visualize the path to success and offer suggestions to boost performance.
• Drip integrates with the most commonly used eCommerce platforms, pay portals, social media, and page/website builders.
• Extensive on-site knowledge base with tutorials and supplementary information to get the most out of their platform.

Cons:

• Cost can add up if you have a large mailing list or send a high volume of emails.
• The landing page builder isn’t included, so you’ll need to subscribe to a service like Unbounce or Instapages if you want to customize for PPC or display advertising.
• Customer support is only available via email.

Platform Pricing

Currently, there are more than 101,000 customers using ClickFunnels to manage customer relationships. What are they paying for the features and functionality?

Basic plans start at $80.84, billed annually. For that, you’ll get 20 funnels, 100 pages, and 20,000 monthly visits. However, you’re limited to only one sub-user and three each for custom domains and payment portals.

Upgrading to the Platinum plan accesses unlimited funnels, pages, and visits in addition to 3X the other basic features. You’ll also gain priority support access and Backpack affiliate tools. all of this for only $247.50 per month, billed in advance as a yearly fee. Both plans offer a 14-day free trial.

By comparison, Drip is trusted by more than 6,000 brands. Pricing begins at $39 per month for up to 2,500 contacts and scales according to the length of your contact list. There’s a handy slider bar on their pricing page so you can check on pricing yourself.

Included with your subscription are unlimited email sends and support. Drip also offers a 14-day free trial so you can try it out before you commit.

Both companies are free to join, and there’s no contract. Subscriptions start from the first month. ClickFunnels offers a 30-day money-back guarantee that you can request via email. Drip will refund the balance from the month of cancellation if you’re not happy with the service.

Final Verdict

When you’re comparing marketing automation platforms, some things are subjective. It really depends on your unique requirements and company goals.

ClickFunnels combines some of the best features of website builders and marketing funnels into one user-friendly platform. It’s comparable to eCommerce platforms like Shopify and HubSpot, integrates with popular pay portals, and converts your website into a feature-rich sales funnel. Make it your landing page or homepage.

Drip, on the other hand, offers smarter email marketing automation that’s great for small businesses but scalable enough for a large enterprise. When you want to build customer relationships through insightful email marketing, Drip is a cost-effective addition to your corporate tech stack.

In the end, you should choose the platform that’s right for the needs of your business and audience.