Last updated on February 19th, 2025 at
Having a hard time deciding between GetResponse vs ClickFunnels? Picking the right tool can make a huge difference for your business, but the wrong choice can waste your time and money. Let’s look at both tools and help you figure out which one is best for you.”
If you’ve ever spent hours trying to figure out the best email marketing tool for your business, trust me—you’re not alone. I’ve been in the exact same boat, stuck between options that promise everything but often leave you frustrated with complexity, pricing, or missing features.
I’ve used both GetResponse and ClickFunnels, and in this blog, I’m going to share my personal experience with these tools—why I chose them, the problems I faced, and how I fixed them—so you don’t have to go through the same struggles.
Let’s jump in and find the perfect fit for you.
1. GetResponse and ClickFunnels? A Detailed Introduction
GetResponse Overview:
GetResponse is a popular tool that helps businesses with email marketing. It allows you to send emails automatically, create landing pages, host webinars, and much more. It’s been around for a long time and has earned a solid reputation for being reliable and easy to use.
GetResponse is perfect for businesses that need an all-in-one solution. If you want to manage your emails, grow your contact list, and set up automated campaigns, GetResponse can do it all in one place. It’s simple to use, even for beginners.
Ideal Users:
It’s great for small businesses, startups, and anyone who wants to focus on growing their email list and reaching their audience with email marketing.
ClickFunnels Overview:
ClickFunnels is mainly designed to help you build sales funnels, which are step-by-step systems that guide people to become customers. It helps you create landing pages, sales pages, and connect everything with email marketing to maximize your sales.
ClickFunnels is best for businesses that want to focus on increasing sales. If you need a simple way to create sales pages and follow up with leads through emails, ClickFunnels makes it easy to set up everything you need to turn visitors into buyers.
Ideal Users:
ClickFunnels works really well for online stores, coaches, and digital marketers who want to build sales funnels that convert leads into paying customers.
| Feature | GetResponse | ClickFunnels |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Email marketing, automation, webinars | Sales funnel creation and optimization |
| Ease of Use | Easy for beginners, slightly complex for advanced features | Very intuitive, but requires funnel knowledge |
| Customer Support | 24/7 support, tutorials, live chat | Community-driven support, 1-on-1 coaching |
| Price | Affordable for small businesses, tiered pricing | Higher price point, but specialized funnels |
Verdict
If you need an all-in-one tool for email marketing and automation, GetResponse is your best bet.
If your focus is on creating sales funnels to convert leads into customers, ClickFunnels is the way to go.
- GetResponse = Email marketing & automation.
- ClickFunnels = Sales funnels & conversions.
Key Metrics to Compare: GetResponse vs ClickFunnels
When it comes to choosing the right email marketing tool, it’s important to look beyond the feature lists and dive into the real-world performance. After testing both GetResponse and ClickFunnels extensively, I’ll break down how they compare on key metrics that matter most for marketers like you.
1. Email Open Rates
One of the most important metrics in email marketing is email open rate. This shows how effective your emails are at catching the attention of your audience.
GetResponse: On average, GetResponse boasts a solid 30% open rate for my campaigns. This is above the industry average and shows their deliverability is solid.
ClickFunnels: Compared to GetResponse, ClickFunnels‘ emails tend to have a 22% open rate. While not bad, it’s noticeably lower than GetResponse, possibly due to its less sophisticated email segmentation and targeting.
GetResponse has the edge here in terms of getting more eyes on your emails. Higher open rates generally lead to better engagement and more sales!
2. Automation Efficiency
Setting up email automations can be a time-consuming task, and efficiency is key for any business. Here’s how the tools compare:
GetResponse: When building automations in GetResponse, I found it relatively quick to set up multi-step workflows. On average, it takes me about 4 hours to create a fully functional automation system.
ClickFunnels: In contrast, ClickFunnels takes me roughly 7 hours to set up similar automations. While it integrates well within its sales funnels, it’s not as flexible or intuitive as GetResponse when handling complex workflows.
If you value time and simplicity, GetResponse is a better choice for setting up efficient automations.
3. User Experience
A tool that’s hard to use can seriously slow you down. Here’s how I found the user experience for both platforms:
GetResponse: User-friendliness is one of GetResponse’s biggest strengths. The interface is intuitive, and the setup process is straightforward. I’d rate my experience a solid 4.5/5.
ClickFunnels: While ClickFunnels is great for funnel-building, it can be a bit overwhelming to learn. For someone who isn’t very tech-savvy, it can be a challenge. My rating here is around 3.5/5.
GetResponse offers a smoother, more intuitive experience for beginners and advanced users alike.
Campaign Setup:
Which tool takes less time to launch a high-converting campaign?
- GetResponse wins here. With its easy-to-use email builders and templates, I can launch an email campaign in half the time it takes on ClickFunnels. The workflow is simpler, and you don’t need to worry as much about complex funnel stages.
A/B Testing:
How easy is it to conduct A/B tests? Which tool provides better insights?
- GetResponse stands out in this area. It offers a simple A/B testing tool that allows you to test subject lines, email content, and even send times. The insights are straightforward, which makes optimization easy.
- ClickFunnels also provides A/B testing, but it’s more limited, mainly focusing on conversion rates from your funnel steps. It’s a bit more basic when compared to GetResponse’s robust analytics.
If A/B testing is key for you, GetResponse gives you more control and better insights into your email campaigns.
Visual Comparison
Although I can’t show the visual graph right now, here’s a quick overview of the differences based on the metrics:
| Metric | GetResponse | ClickFunnels |
|---|---|---|
| Email Open Rate | 30% | 22% |
| Automation Setup Time | 4 hours | 7 hours |
| User Experience Rating | 4.5/5 | 3.5/5 |
Conclusion: Which Tool Should You Choose?
GetResponse is perfect for marketers who need advanced segmentation, higher email open rates, and efficient automation. It’s a more user-friendly solution for those who want to build a solid email marketing strategy quickly.
ClickFunnels is ideal if your main focus is on creating sales funnels with added features like upsells, downsells, and order bumps. While its email marketing isn’t as robust as GetResponse, it’s perfect for those deeply integrated into sales funnel strategies.
Getresponse vs Clickfunnels – Key Features Comparison
Email Marketing Capabilities
GetResponse:
Advanced Segmentation:
With GetResponse, you can create detailed segments based on subscriber actions or interests. This is huge when you want to send highly targeted emails to specific groups of people. For example, you could send product recommendations based on past purchases, or follow up on specific content they’ve interacted with.
Autoresponders:
This feature lets you set up automatic email sequences. I love how I can welcome new subscribers, nurture them, and send targeted offers over time without lifting a finger.
A/B Testing:
Want to know what works best? GetResponse makes it easy to test different subject lines or email content to see what gets the most engagement.
ClickFunnels:
Email Follow-ups:
ClickFunnels lets you send follow-up emails based on where a user is in the sales funnel. For instance, if someone abandons their cart, you can trigger a reminder email to nudge them back to complete the purchase. It’s more focused on the sales journey.
Basic Segmentation:
You can group your contacts based on actions in the funnel, but it’s a bit simpler than GetResponse. You won’t have the same level of customization.
Which is better for you?
If you’re looking for advanced segmentation and more control over your email campaigns, GetResponse is the better choice.
But if your focus is on sales funnels, where the goal is to move leads through a process, ClickFunnels will work perfectly for automating follow-ups within that journey.
Funnel Building and Landing Pages
GetResponse:
Landing Page Builder:
GetResponse’s drag-and-drop landing page builder is incredibly simple. It’s perfect for creating lead capture pages quickly. If you’re just starting and want something fast and easy, this is a great option.
Webinar Integration:
I loved that I could host webinars directly in GetResponse—no need for a separate tool. It’s an all-in-one place to capture leads and engage with your audience.
ClickFunnels:
Sales Funnel Templates: ClickFunnels comes with ready-made templates for every step of your sales funnel. From landing pages to checkout pages, these templates make setting up a sales funnel super quick.
Advanced Funnel Features: ClickFunnels includes features like order bumps (extra offers during checkout), upsells, and down-sells. These are powerful tools for boosting your average order value and making more money per customer.
Which is better for you?
GetResponse is perfect if you’re focused on simple landing pages and just need to capture leads.
If you want a complete funnel system that includes advanced features like upsells and order bumps, ClickFunnels is the winner.
Marketing Automation
GetResponse:
Powerful Automation Workflows: GetResponse takes automation to the next level. You can create detailed workflows based on customer actions, such as when they open an email, click a link, or even make a purchase. It’s perfect for building personalized, multi-step campaigns.
Trigger-Based Actions: You can set up specific triggers to send messages at just the right time, which helps you keep leads engaged and guide them toward conversion.
ClickFunnels:
Basic Funnel Automation: ClickFunnels allows you to automate actions within your sales funnel. For example, emails are sent when someone moves to the next step of the funnel. It works, but it’s not as robust as GetResponse.
Actionetics (for higher plans): This feature adds some automation between funnel stages, but it doesn’t offer the flexibility or depth that GetResponse does.
Which is better for you?
GetResponse is the clear choice if you need advanced, customizable automation for more complex campaigns.
ClickFunnels is best if you need basic funnel-related automation and don’t require too much flexibility.
Ease of Use: Which Tool is More User-Friendly?
GetResponse
GetResponse offers an easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor, which makes it simple to create email campaigns, landing pages, and automation flows. While it’s quite user-friendly for basic tasks, beginners may find the platform a bit overwhelming at first due to the variety of features available. However, once you get the hang of it, the clean and organized interface makes navigation pretty straightforward.
ClickFunnels
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ClickFunnels, on the other hand, is incredibly intuitive when it comes to funnel creation. Its drag-and-drop builder is designed for quick setup, making it easy to build funnels with minimal effort. The learning curve may be a bit steeper if you’re trying to create more complex funnels or use advanced features, but overall, it’s designed for ease of use, especially when focusing on funnel building.
Verdict:
If you’re looking to start simple with email marketing campaigns, GetResponse is easier to use, especially for beginners. But if your main focus is building sales funnels, ClickFunnels really shines, providing a smooth, intuitive experience for funnel creation.
In short, GetResponse is better for email campaigns, and ClickFunnels is the go-to for building sales funnels.
Customer Support and Learning Resources
GetResponse
GetResponse gives you 24/7 support through live chat, email, and even phone (for higher plans). Plus, it has lots of tutorials and webinars to help you out.
ClickFunnels
ClickFunnels also offers 24/7 support, but with a twist—it’s big on community! You’ll find tons of help through Facebook groups, Funnel Hackathons, and mastermind sessions where users share tips and learn together.
Verdict:
If you want quick, direct support, GetResponse has you covered. But if you’re into learning from a community and getting coaching, ClickFunnels takes the lead.
In short, GetResponse is great for traditional support, while ClickFunnels is perfect for community-driven learning!
Pricing Breakdown: Which Tool Offers More Value?
GetResponse Pricing
GetResponse offers a range of pricing plans to suit businesses of all sizes, with both free and paid options available:
- Free Plan: $0 – Perfect for small businesses or beginners with fewer than 500 subscribers and a 2,500-email limit per month. This plan is free forever but limited in features.
- Email Marketing Plan: Starting at $19/month for 1,000 subscribers and unlimited emails. You can also choose to pay annually for discounts.
- Email Marketing Plan: $29/month for 2,500 subscribers and unlimited emails.
- Email Marketing Plan: $54/month for 5,000 subscribers and unlimited emails.
- Email Marketing Plan: $79/month for 10,000 subscribers and unlimited emails.
- Email Marketing Plan: $174/month for 25,000 subscribers and unlimited emails.
GetResponse also offers Enterprise Plans with custom pricing and advanced features, including marketing automation and ecommerce marketing. There’s a Content Monetization Plan starting at $48.30/month (with an annual subscription), designed for content creators who want to monetize their content through courses and webinars.
Free Trial: Users get access to premium features for 30 days, after which they will be moved to the free plan with limited features.
In terms of pricing, GetResponse is reasonably priced compared to other email marketing platforms. However, the cost can rise quickly if you need advanced features like marketing automation or ecommerce tools.
ClickFunnels Pricing
ClickFunnels focuses on building sales funnels, offering two main pricing plans:
- ClickFunnels Basic Plan: $97/month or $997/year. This plan allows you to build 20 funnels, create 100 pages, and manage up to 3 payment gateways. It does not include email marketing, but it’s ideal for funnel-building and sales page creation.
- ClickFunnels Platinum Plan: $297/month or $2,997/year. This plan includes unlimited funnels and pages, plus additional features like Actionetics (email automation) and Backpack (affiliate management). It does include basic email marketing features but is primarily designed for funnel building.
Free Trial: There’s a 14-day free trial for both plans, but you’ll need to enter payment details upfront.
ClickFunnels is quite expensive, especially if you’re just looking for basic email marketing features. It’s more suited for businesses focused on creating and optimizing sales funnels, rather than a traditional email marketing service.
Verdict:
- GetResponse offers more flexibility and better value for businesses on a budget, especially for email marketing needs.
- ClickFunnels is more expensive but great if you need powerful tools for sales funnel creation and can afford the investment.
In short, GetResponse is ideal for those focusing on email marketing, while ClickFunnels is best for businesses wanting to build high-converting sales funnels.
Real-World Use Case Scenarios
When to Choose GetResponse:
- Small businesses or startups: If you’re just starting out and need an affordable, all-in-one email marketing solution with room to grow, GetResponse is perfect. It helps manage your email lists, send campaigns, and automate follow-ups, making it easy to scale as you expand.
- Entrepreneurs needing email marketing and webinars: If you want to generate leads through both email marketing and hosting webinars, GetResponse is a great choice. Its webinar feature lets you engage with your audience and collect leads all in one platform.
- Companies needing detailed analytics: For businesses that want in-depth insights and the ability to segment their audience based on behavior, GetResponse offers powerful analytics and segmentation features that help optimize campaigns and boost engagement.
When to Choose ClickFunnels:
- E-commerce stores or marketers focused on conversions: If you’re running an e-commerce store or your primary goal is to increase sales and optimize conversions, ClickFunnels shines with its powerful sales funnel-building tools. It helps turn visitors into customers through a well-structured funnel system.
- Coaches, consultants, or service providers: If you’re a coach or consultant looking for an easy, automated way to sell your services, ClickFunnels provides a streamlined funnel system that automates the sales process from lead capture to closing.
- Users focused on upsell/downsell flows: If your business model relies on increasing revenue per customer with upsells, downsells, and cross-sells, ClickFunnels is the tool for you. Its funnel-building features make it easy to create multi-step sales processes that maximize profit.
In short:
Choose GetResponse for a comprehensive email marketing solution that grows with your business, especially if you need webinars and detailed analytics. Go for ClickFunnels if you’re focused on building high-converting sales funnels and increasing revenue through upsell strategies.
Real User Feedback and Testimonials
GetResponse
Many users praise GetResponse for its ease of use, especially when it comes to email automation. Customers appreciate how simple it is to set up and manage automated email campaigns, even for beginners. The drag-and-drop editor is frequently highlighted as a favorite feature, making email design quick and hassle-free.
Users also love GetResponse’s integrations with e-commerce platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce, which make it easy to manage both email marketing and online sales from a single dashboard. The advanced segmentation and behavior-based automation are also frequently mentioned, allowing businesses to send highly personalized emails based on customer actions.
However, some users note that customer service could be quicker, especially when dealing with technical issues. Some also mention that while the platform is great for email marketing, it can be a bit complex when first getting started due to its wide range of features.
ClickFunnels
ClickFunnels users rave about how the tool has helped them significantly grow their sales funnels and improve conversion rates. Testimonials often highlight how easy it is to build high-converting funnels using ClickFunnels’ drag-and-drop editor, even for users with little technical experience. The tool’s ability to create upsell and downsell pages to maximize revenue is a huge plus for e-commerce businesses.
One user shared their success story about doubling their revenue within a few months of implementing ClickFunnels for their online course business. Another mentioned that ClickFunnels helped them increase their customer retention and engagement by streamlining their sales funnel process.
That said, a common complaint about ClickFunnels is its higher price point, especially for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Some users also wish the platform had more advanced email marketing features out-of-the-box, as you’ll need a separate tool or integration for more sophisticated email automation.
In summary:
- GetResponse is loved for its user-friendly email automation, integrations with e-commerce platforms, and great segmentation features, though some users wish for faster customer support.
- ClickFunnels is a favorite among businesses looking to build high-converting sales funnels and optimize revenue, but its cost and limited email marketing tools can be a downside for some users.
Pros and Cons
GetResponse
Pros:
- User-friendly interface: The drag-and-drop builder makes it easy to create email campaigns and landing pages, even for beginners.
- Comprehensive email automation: Advanced automation workflows that allow you to trigger emails based on subscriber behavior, making campaigns highly personalized.
- Great e-commerce integrations: Seamless integrations with platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce, which is ideal for e-commerce businesses looking to combine email marketing and online sales.
- Webinar hosting: A standout feature that allows businesses to host webinars directly within the platform, making it perfect for lead generation and customer engagement.
- Affordable pricing: Offers a range of plans, including a free plan for small businesses and startups, with the ability to scale as your business grows.
Cons:
- Learning curve: While the platform is relatively easy to use, it can feel overwhelming for new users due to the range of features available.
- Limited advanced features on lower plans: Some more advanced features, such as marketing automation and e-commerce tools, are only available on higher-tier plans.
- Customer support can be slow: Some users report slower response times from customer support, especially for technical issues.
ClickFunnels
Pros:
- Powerful sales funnel builder: ClickFunnels is one of the best tools for creating high-converting sales funnels with a simple drag-and-drop editor, ideal for e-commerce, coaches, and consultants.
- Upsell/downsell functionality: The ability to easily add upsells, downsells, and order bumps within your funnels helps increase revenue per customer.
- Conversion optimization: ClickFunnels is designed to boost conversions, with features like A/B testing to optimize funnel performance.
- Comprehensive funnel tools: Includes tools for creating landing pages, sales pages, and managing payment gateways—everything needed to create a complete sales funnel.
Cons:
- Expensive: ClickFunnels is one of the pricier options, especially for small businesses or entrepreneurs just starting out.
- Limited email marketing features: Email marketing capabilities are basic on the lower-tier plan, and users need to upgrade to access more robust features like Actionetics (automation).
- Complexity for beginners: While it’s great for building funnels, users may find the platform complex and overwhelming, especially if they’re not familiar with sales funnels or digital marketing.
| Feature | GetResponse | ClickFunnels |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Email marketing, automation, webinars | Sales funnel creation and optimization |
| Ease of Use | Easy for beginners, slightly complex for advanced features | Very intuitive, but requires funnel knowledge |
| Customer Support | 24/7 support, tutorials, live chat | Community-driven support, 1-on-1 coaching |
| Price | Affordable for small businesses, tiered pricing | Higher price point, but specialized funnels |
Conclusion: Which Tool Should You Choose?
To wrap things up, both GetResponse and ClickFunnels are excellent tools, but they serve different purposes:
- GetResponse is an all-in-one email marketing platform that excels in automation, integrations, and is especially great for small businesses and startups. It offers features like email automation, webinar hosting, and seamless integrations with e-commerce platforms, making it ideal for those looking for a complete solution to grow their business through email marketing.
- ClickFunnels, on the other hand, is built specifically for creating high-converting sales funnels. If your focus is on guiding prospects through a well-structured journey that drives conversions, ClickFunnels is the perfect choice. Its funnel-building capabilities, upsell/downsell features, and optimization tools make it ideal for e-commerce businesses, coaches, and service providers looking to maximize revenue.
My Opinion
- Choose GetResponse if you need a comprehensive, user-friendly marketing solution for email automation, landing pages, and webinars, especially if you’re a small business or startup.
- Choose ClickFunnels if your primary goal is to build high-converting sales funnels and you want a tool that integrates funnel-building with upsells, down-sells, and conversion optimization.
Still unsure? Try both tools with their free trials to see which one fits your needs best. GetResponse offers a free plan with limited features, and ClickFunnels gives you a 14-day free trial, so you can explore both options and make an informed decision based on your business goals.
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