Systeme.io Vs ThriveCart: Best For Checkout And Funnels?

Are you trying to decide whether Systeme.io or ThriveCart is the better fit for your checkout and funnels?

Systeme.io Vs ThriveCart: Best For Checkout And Funnels?

You have two strong options that overlap in some areas but approach the problem differently. Systeme.io is an all‑in‑one platform designed to run your entire marketing stack, while ThriveCart is a specialized cart focused on maximizing conversions and controlling the money layer. Understanding how they differ will help you choose the right tool for your business model, tech stack, and growth goals.

The short answer

If you want an all‑in‑one tool to build pages, host courses, send emails, manage affiliates, and take payments with minimal setup and a low monthly cost, you’ll likely be happier with Systeme.io. It handles funnels end‑to‑end and includes a solid checkout that’s “good enough” for most info products and coaching offers.

If you already have or plan to assemble your own stack (for pages, email, course hosting), and your top priority is a high‑converting, flexible cart with advanced payment options, robust subscription management, dunning, and built‑in sales tax/VAT handling, ThriveCart is hard to beat. It’s purpose‑built for the checkout layer and pairs well with best‑in‑class tools you already use.

What you should consider first

Before comparing features line by line, clarify a few things about your situation. This narrows your choice and prevents costly rework later.

• Your stack philosophy: Do you prefer an all‑in‑one platform (simpler, fewer tools, lower setup friction) or a best‑of‑breed stack (more control, potentially higher performance but more integrations)?
• Your offer type: Are you selling courses/memberships, coaching, or digital downloads (both tools fit) or a complex subscription with trials, proration, or multi‑currency tax rules (ThriveCart shines)?
• Your audience location: If you sell heavily in the EU/UK and need precise VAT handling with VAT ID support and location evidence, ThriveCart typically provides stronger native tooling.
• Your team and process: Do you want everything in one login for you and your team (Systeme.io), or are you comfortable orchestrating multiple services (ThriveCart + ESP + page builder)?
• Your budget preference: Do you prefer a predictable monthly fee that includes email and hosting (Systeme.io) or a one‑time cart license (when available) plus ongoing costs for your other tools (ThriveCart)?

Core differences at a glance

It helps to see the major differences side by side. Use the table below as a reality check against your priorities.

Area	Systeme.io	ThriveCart
Core approach	All‑in‑one: funnels, pages, email, course hosting, affiliate, checkout in one	Checkout‑first: optimized cart, bump/upsell flows, taxes, dunning; pairs with other tools
Funnel/page builder	Built‑in drag‑and‑drop funnel and website builder with templates	Basic checkout/upsell page builder; you bring your own landing pages/site
Email marketing	Built‑in email with automations/segmentation	No built‑in email; integrates with ESPs (e.g., ActiveCampaign, ConvertKit, etc.)
Course hosting	Built‑in memberships/courses with lessons	ThriveCart Learn (included) for course delivery; Learn+ upgrade adds advanced course features
Checkout conversions	Strong, improving; covers upsells/downsells/bumps	Best‑in‑class cart conversion controls and flexibility
Subscriptions & dunning	Basic subscription tools; relies on gateways for some functions	Advanced subscription saver/dunning, retry rules, churn reports (often Pro features)
Taxes & EU VAT	Basic tax options; may require manual setup/third‑party help for complex VAT	Robust sales tax/EU VAT handling, VAT ID validation, location evidence
Affiliate management	Built‑in; straightforward for creators	Built‑in (often in Pro); more granular control and JV contracts
Analytics	Funnel metrics and basic sales reporting	Detailed revenue, subscription, and checkout analytics; product/affiliate attribution
Cost model	Free/low‑cost monthly plans; includes hosting and email	Typically one‑time license (periodically offered) + optional Pro/Learn+; you still pay for ESP/page builder
Best for	Solo creators and small teams wanting one tool for everything	Businesses prioritizing checkout control and subscription/tax strength

Checkout capabilities comparison

Checkout performance impacts your revenue daily. Both tools can accept payments quickly, but they differ in depth, flexibility, and compliance features.

Payment gateways

You want reliable gateways that support your currencies, payment methods, and regions.

• Systeme.io: Typically integrates with Stripe and PayPal as primary gateways. Stripe unlocks credit/debit cards, Apple Pay/Google Pay, and many local payment methods in supported countries. PayPal covers buyers who prefer wallet payments. Depending on your region, you may find additional options via Stripe’s supported methods. If you primarily sell digital products in mainstream markets, this coverage is adequate.
• ThriveCart: Integrates with Stripe and PayPal as well, plus additional gateways in some cases (such as Authorize.net). With Stripe connected, you can leverage Apple Pay/Google Pay and 3D Secure/SCA workflows. ThriveCart is known for smoother 1‑click purchases across gateways and robust multi‑currency support at checkout.

Key takeaway: If you need maximum flexibility and consistency across gateways (including 1‑click upsells with tokenized payments), ThriveCart usually offers finer control. If you just need Stripe/PayPal with a straightforward setup, Systeme.io works well.

Checkout templates and customization

Your checkout design can influence conversion by reducing friction and reinforcing trust.

• Systeme.io: Provides ready‑to‑use checkout page templates inside the funnel builder. You can customize fields, add testimonials, guarantees, and trust badges. The editor is friendly for non‑designers and keeps your brand consistent across the funnel.
• ThriveCart: Offers conversion‑optimized checkout layouts, embed forms, and pop‑ups. You can add custom fields, trust elements, and adjust form steps (e.g., two‑step checkout). Styling flexibility is strong enough for brand alignment, and you can embed the checkout on your own pages for a cohesive experience.

Key takeaway: Both provide modern, optimized checkouts. ThriveCart offers stronger “cart‑as‑a‑service” flexibility, including embeddable and pop‑up carts; Systeme.io wins if you want your checkout native inside your all‑in‑one funnel builder.

1‑click upsells/downsells and order bumps

These features directly increase average order value (AOV).

• Systeme.io: Supports order bumps, one‑click upsells, and downsells as steps in your funnel. Setup is straightforward. With Stripe tokenization, your customer can accept the upsell with a single click after the initial purchase.
• ThriveCart: Renowned for flexible post‑purchase offers, including multiple upsell/downsell sequences. You can A/B test these offers, and because ThriveCart focuses on checkout flows, it often converts better in complex upsell paths.

Key takeaway: Both have the essentials. ThriveCart gives you a more granular, checkout‑native upsell engine; Systeme.io lets you place upsells inside a broader funnel with less tech overhead.

Coupons, trials, split‑pay, and pay‑what‑you‑want

Promotions and flexible payment terms help you reach more buyers.

• Systeme.io: Offers coupons/discount codes, free trials, and payment plans. You can set limited‑time offers and quantity limits. For most info products and coaching programs, these tools cover your needs.
• ThriveCart: Adds wide payment flexibility—free/paid trials, split pay, recurring subscriptions, limited‑time/quantity coupons, bump‑only discounts, and pay‑what‑you‑want (if enabled). If your pricing strategy is nuanced, ThriveCart likely gives you more switches to flip.

Key takeaway: If you want to orchestrate complex deals and payment structures, ThriveCart has an edge. If your promotions are straightforward, Systeme.io keeps it simple.

Taxes, EU VAT, and invoicing

Compliance can be a silent revenue killer if you ignore it. This is where differences become more pronounced.

• Systeme.io: Provides basic tax settings. You can configure taxes per product/region and collect customer details. If you operate in multiple jurisdictions with strict VAT rules (e.g., EU/UK), you may need to handle VAT rates and B2B VAT ID validation externally, or rely on Stripe tax features where applicable. Check your exact needs carefully.
• ThriveCart: Known for stronger native sales tax/EU VAT support. It can calculate VAT based on customer location, collect/validate VAT numbers for B2B, and store location evidence for compliance. This reduces the need for separate tax tools for many digital sellers.

Key takeaway: If VAT compliance is a key requirement, ThriveCart is usually the safer choice out of the box. Systeme.io can work, but you may need additional tax tooling or gateway‑level features to cover the gaps.

Subscription management and dunning

Recovering failed payments boosts recurring revenue with little extra cost.

• Systeme.io: Provides basic recurring billing management and automations. You can trigger reminder emails when payments fail and prompt customers to update payment methods. The heavy lifting for retries often relies on Stripe/PayPal. For simple memberships, that’s fine.
• ThriveCart: Offers built‑in subscription saver (dunning), smart retry rules, and robust reporting on failed payments and churn. You can configure sequences to recover revenue automatically, and advanced tools (often in the Pro tier) give you better control over subscription health.

Key takeaway: If recurring revenue is central to your business, ThriveCart’s dunning and subscription analytics usually outperform an all‑in‑one’s built‑in tools.

A/B testing and analytics

Data‑driven iteration can improve conversion and revenue over time.

• Systeme.io: Supports A/B testing within funnels (e.g., split testing pages). You get funnel stats, conversion rates, and basic sales reporting. For many creators, this level of insight is sufficient.
• ThriveCart: Provides checkout A/B testing, detailed revenue analytics by product and upsell, affiliate performance, refund/chargeback stats, and subscription churn data. If you treat your checkout like its own product, ThriveCart gives you the instrumentation you want.

Key takeaway: Systeme.io gives you good funnel‑level visibility; ThriveCart gives you deeper checkout and revenue insights.

Funnel building and page creation

How you create pages and structure funnels influences speed to launch and brand consistency.

Funnel structure and steps

• Systeme.io: Funnels are a first‑class concept with steps like opt‑in, sales page, checkout, upsell/downsell, thank you. You can rearrange steps, clone pages, and track conversion through the funnel.
• ThriveCart: The funnel is primarily your checkout flow plus upsells/downsells. You design your landing pages elsewhere (WordPress, Webflow, Leadpages, etc.) and connect them to ThriveCart checkout links. This modularity is powerful if you already have a preferred page builder.

Page builder flexibility and templates

• Systeme.io: Drag‑and‑drop builder with a growing library of templates for opt‑ins, sales pages, checkout, and course areas. Consistency is easy because it’s all in one system. You can host your entire site and blog here.
• ThriveCart: Provides a checkout builder rather than a full page builder. For your main sales pages, you’ll use another tool. The upside is you can pick best‑in‑class page builders and keep your cart independent of your site platform.

A/B testing in funnels

• Systeme.io: Split test sales pages and other funnel steps to improve opt‑in and purchase rates. Tests are managed inside the funnel interface, so it’s accessible to non‑technical users.
• ThriveCart: Split test elements of the checkout experience and upsell pages, often yielding direct gains in checkout completion and AOV. Combine this with A/B tests on your external landing pages for a comprehensive optimization program.

Speed, hosting, domains, and SSL

• Systeme.io: Hosts your pages and funnels on its infrastructure, provides SSL automatically, and supports custom domains. This minimizes technical setup and typically delivers fast load times for pages built on the platform.
• ThriveCart: Hosts the checkout on its infrastructure with SSL. You can use custom domains for your cart. Your landing page hosting speed depends on your site builder and hosting provider.

Email marketing and automation

Your email system is the backbone of nurture, onboarding, and recovery sequences.

Built‑in vs integrations

• Systeme.io: Includes email marketing with broadcasts, sequences, tags, and workflows. You won’t need a separate ESP, SMTP, or integration. This is a major cost and complexity saver for many creators.
• ThriveCart: Does not include email marketing. You integrate with an ESP (e.g., ActiveCampaign, ConvertKit, Drip, MailerLite, Mailchimp, and others). This adds cost but gives you freedom to choose the ESP that fits your sophistication and deliverability needs.

Behavioral triggers and segmentation

• Systeme.io: Automations can trigger on actions like tag added, purchase completed, subscription canceled, and link clicks. You can build workflows that branch based on conditions and apply tags for segmentation.
• ThriveCart: Sends event data to your ESP and other tools via native integrations and webhooks—purchase, refund, upsell accepted, subscription rebill failed, etc. With a capable ESP, you can build very granular customer journeys triggered by checkout events.

Deliverability and compliance

• Systeme.io: Handles sending infrastructure and compliance basics (unsubscribe management, GDPR tools). You control your sender domains and authentication (SPF/DKIM) to support deliverability.
• ThriveCart: Relies on your ESP for deliverability and compliance. This can be an advantage if you invest in a high‑quality ESP known for strong inboxing.

Course and membership delivery

If you sell content, the learning experience and management tools matter.

Course hosting and student experience

• Systeme.io: Built‑in course/membership sites with modules, lessons, drip content, and student management. It’s tightly integrated with your checkout and email, reducing friction end‑to‑end.
• ThriveCart: Includes ThriveCart Learn for course delivery. You can host your lessons, control access, and deliver content securely. Learn+ (paid upgrade) adds advanced course features like bundles, more design options, and possibly team seats or advanced student roles (feature sets can evolve; check current details).

Drip content, bundles, certificates

• Systeme.io: Supports drip content schedules, bundles, and access rules. You can issue certificates via third‑party services if needed, or handle milestones via automations.
• ThriveCart: Learn offers drip and access control; Learn+ expands flexibility. If you need advanced LMS features (quizzes, certificates, SCORM), you might still prefer a dedicated LMS, but many digital creators find Learn more than sufficient.

Community features

• Systeme.io: Does not offer a fully fledged community platform but can integrate with third‑party tools or use private areas in your membership site for comments and discussions.
• ThriveCart: Similar story—you’ll add a community tool (e.g., Circle, Skool, Facebook Groups) and connect access via purchase events.

Affiliate management

Affiliates can be a core growth channel for many creators and software businesses.

Affiliate portal, payouts, and multi‑tier

• Systeme.io: Includes an affiliate program module where you can set commissions, generate links, and manage payouts. It’s suitable for creators and small programs.
• ThriveCart: Offers a robust affiliate center (often included with the Pro upgrade) with granular commission settings, JV contracts, and better reporting. If you plan to scale an affiliate program, ThriveCart’s controls are attractive.

Tracking, attribution, and fraud prevention

• Systeme.io: Tracks affiliates via standard cookies and link parameters. You can review performance and process payouts.
• ThriveCart: Provides advanced tracking options, cookie windows, conversion attribution rules, and fraud prevention features. This gives you more control over edge cases and disputed referrals.

Integrations and ecosystem

Your ability to connect tools smoothly affects how quickly you can adapt and grow.

Native integrations

• Systeme.io: Because it’s all‑in‑one, you need fewer integrations. You can still connect to common tools via Zapier or webhooks, but many users run without external apps.
• ThriveCart: Integrates natively with many ESPs and membership/course platforms. It also supports fulfillment services for physical products. If you already use specialized tools, ThriveCart usually meets you where you are.

Webhooks, Zapier, and API

• Systeme.io: Provides triggers/actions in Zapier and webhooks for key events like new sale, new contact, tag added. This is adequate for most automations.
• ThriveCart: Has robust webhook support and is well‑represented in Zapier. You can push data to your CRM, ESP, and analytics tools in near real time based on checkout events.

WordPress and CMS stack fit

• Systeme.io: You can replace WordPress entirely if you choose. If you keep WordPress, you’ll run it alongside Systeme.io, using Systeme.io for funnels and courses.
• ThriveCart: Plays nicely with WordPress, Webflow, and other CMSs. Many teams prefer this modular setup: site on WordPress/Webflow, email on ESP of choice, checkout via ThriveCart.

Pricing models and total cost of ownership

You care about what you pay now and as you scale. The two tools use very different pricing philosophies.

Systeme.io pricing approach

Systeme.io typically offers a free tier and several paid tiers with increasing limits on contacts, emails, funnels, and features. Even at the lower tiers, you often get unlimited email sending and access to funnels, automations, and course hosting. As you grow your list and products, you move up plans. The monthly costs remain modest compared to assembling separate tools for pages, email, and membership hosting.

Because pricing and limits can change, check the current plan details directly. In general, expect the total cost for funnels, pages, email, and course hosting to remain budget‑friendly compared to a multi‑tool stack.

ThriveCart pricing approach

ThriveCart is known for offering a one‑time lifetime license during promotional windows, with an optional Pro upgrade that unlocks advanced features (like affiliate management, dunning, sales tax/VAT automation, and more). Outside of promotions, you may see subscription pricing; offers can vary, so confirm current options on the official site. ThriveCart Learn is typically included; Learn+ is an additional upgrade for advanced course features.

Remember, with ThriveCart you will also pay for:

• An email service provider (e.g., ActiveCampaign, ConvertKit)
• A page/site builder and hosting (WordPress + hosting, or a hosted builder)
• Optional tax tools if your needs extend beyond ThriveCart’s native capabilities
• Any community platform you integrate

Hidden costs to consider

• Email subscriber growth: With Systeme.io, you pay as your contact list grows; with ThriveCart, you pay your ESP based on contacts and features.
• Page hosting/performance: Systeme.io includes hosting; ThriveCart requires you to host your pages elsewhere, where performance and cost can vary.
• Video hosting: Systeme.io can host course videos; if you prefer external hosting (e.g., Vimeo, Wistia), that’s an extra cost for either platform.
• Transaction fees: Both tools rely on your gateways (Stripe/PayPal) for processing fees. Review your effective fees by country and payment method.
• Integrations: If you rely heavily on Zapier or similar, factor in automation platform costs.

Example cost scenarios

The numbers below are illustrative to help you think through total cost, not guarantees of current pricing. Verify live pricing before deciding.

Scenario	Likely Stack	Monthly/One‑time Considerations
Solo course creator, 1K contacts	Systeme.io only	One monthly fee covers pages, email, checkout, course. Lowest complexity.
Established creator with custom site + ESP	ThriveCart + WordPress/Webflow + ESP	One‑time ThriveCart (if available) + monthly ESP + hosting. Higher control over site and email.
Agency building funnels for clients	Systeme.io per client or ThriveCart + chosen stack	With Systeme.io, fast end‑to‑end setup per client. With ThriveCart, reusable cart + integrate into each client’s existing stack.
SaaS or complex subscriptions	ThriveCart + ESP + site	ThriveCart’s dunning, tax/VAT, and analytics provide better recurring revenue controls.

Ease of use and team workflow

Adoption hinges on how quickly you can get from idea to revenue.

Setup time and learning curve

• Systeme.io: Shortest path to a working funnel since everything is under one roof. You can go from scratch to a functional sales flow in a day without wrestling with integrations.
• ThriveCart: Quick to get the cart running but requires hooking up your pages, ESP, and fulfillment tools. If you already have those in place, setup is still fast; if not, you’ll spend time assembling the stack.

Collaboration, roles, and permissions

• Systeme.io: Centralized environment for copywriters, designers, and ops. Permissions vary by plan; you can keep most work in one system.
• ThriveCart: Team collaboration often spreads across tools (site, ESP, cart). This can be an advantage if you have specialized team members, but you’ll coordinate across multiple logins.

Support, documentation, and community

• Systeme.io: Offers documentation, tutorials, and support channels. The community of users is active, which helps with templates and best practices.
• ThriveCart: Provides detailed docs and strong community groups. Because ThriveCart is often used by marketers and agencies, you’ll find a wealth of proven checkout patterns and advice.

Reliability, compliance, and security

Payment reliability and legal compliance are non‑negotiable.

Uptime and backups

• Systeme.io: Hosts your funnels and courses, so uptime matters. The platform is designed for stability and provides SSL. Your content lives in their environment with routine backups.
• ThriveCart: Hosts the cart experience. Your site and course hosting are separate, so reliability depends on each vendor. This decoupling can improve resilience when done well.

PCI, SCA/3D Secure, GDPR, and CCPA

• Systeme.io: Uses gateway tokenization (e.g., Stripe) for PCI scope reduction and supports SCA/3D Secure via Stripe. Provides GDPR tools like consent checkboxes and data export/delete options.
• ThriveCart: Similar reliance on gateways for PCI and SCA/3D Secure. Known for better out‑of‑the‑box EU VAT features. You still need to manage your privacy policies and DPA with all vendors in your stack.

Use cases and recommendations

You’ll make the best choice by mapping your most common use case to the strengths of each tool.

If you are a solo creator selling a course or coaching

Choose Systeme.io if:

• You want an all‑in‑one home for pages, email, courses, checkout, and affiliates.
• You care about speed to launch over maximum customization.
• You prefer a low monthly bill that scales as your audience grows.

Choose ThriveCart if:

• You already have a website and an ESP you love.
• You want best‑in‑class checkout and upsell flows for the same course.
• You’re planning more complex pricing and promotions over time.

If you run subscriptions with trials and need low churn

Choose Systeme.io if:

• Your subscription is simple and you’re comfortable relying on Stripe’s built‑in retries plus your email reminders from Systeme.io.
• You’d rather avoid stitching together multiple tools.

Choose ThriveCart if:

• You need advanced dunning controls, smart retries, and granular subscription analytics.
• You plan experiments around trials, promotions, and win‑back sequences tied to checkout events.

If you operate in the EU/UK and care about VAT compliance

Choose Systeme.io if:

• Your VAT needs are basic, and you’re comfortable managing rates or using gateway features to fill gaps.
• You want to prioritize the all‑in‑one simplicity and can work with your accountant to stay compliant.

Choose ThriveCart if:

• You require robust EU VAT handling (rate calculation, VAT ID validation, location evidence) as part of the cart experience.
• You want less reliance on third‑party tax services.

If you are an agency or consultant building funnels for clients

Choose Systeme.io if:

• Your clients need a fast, end‑to‑end solution and value unified support.
• You want to templatize funnels and replicate them quickly for new clients.

Choose ThriveCart if:

• Your clients already have sites and ESPs and just need a superior checkout.
• You want a cart you can standardize across projects and plug into diverse stacks.

If you sell physical products

Choose Systeme.io if:

• You sell a small catalog of physical items alongside digital offers and want to keep everything in one system.
• Your fulfillment is simple and you don’t need complex inventory workflows.

Choose ThriveCart if:

• You sell a limited set of SKUs with strong AOV tactics (bumps/upsells), and your fulfillment stack integrates with ThriveCart.
• You need advanced shipping/tax options and plan to combine digital and physical in the same flows.

Decision framework

Use this quick matrix to align your priorities with the right tool.

Priority	Stronger fit	Why
All‑in‑one simplicity (pages, email, courses, checkout)	Systeme.io	One login, minimal integrations, fast to launch
Checkout conversion control and upsell depth	ThriveCart	Purpose‑built cart, robust A/B testing and flows
Advanced subscriptions, dunning, and churn analytics	ThriveCart	Built‑in subscription saver and reports
EU/UK VAT handling	ThriveCart	Strong native VAT features and documentation
Lowest overall monthly spend for a new creator	Systeme.io	Includes email, hosting, funnels, and course delivery
Maximum flexibility with existing stack	ThriveCart	Easily integrates with ESPs, CMSs, fulfillment tools
Affiliate program scale and controls	ThriveCart (Pro)	Granular commissions, JV contracts, better analytics
Building many funnels fast for clients	Systeme.io	Unified builder, copy/clone funnels, fewer dependencies

Migration notes if you switch later

Switching platforms is doable if you plan it. Here’s a lightweight playbook for each direction.

Moving from Systeme.io to ThriveCart

• Products: Recreate products in ThriveCart with the same pricing, coupons, and payment plans.
• Checkout links: Update your sales pages (now hosted on your site/CMS) to point to ThriveCart checkout URLs.
• Subscriptions: For active subscriptions, consider keeping them in your existing gateway with legacy handling, or migrate customers carefully during a renewal period (coordinate with Stripe/PayPal and communicate clearly).
• Email: Move automations to your ESP; use ThriveCart events (purchase, upsell, refund, rebill failed) to trigger tags/workflows.
• Courses: Move content to ThriveCart Learn (or a dedicated LMS). Grant access to existing buyers via import or coupon workflows.
• Tracking: Set up analytics and pixels on your new pages and the ThriveCart checkout to maintain attribution.

Moving from ThriveCart to Systeme.io

• Funnels and pages: Rebuild landing, sales, and checkout pages in Systeme.io’s builder. Replace embedded carts with native checkout pages.
• Products and pricing: Recreate your product catalog and offers in Systeme.io; replicate coupons/payment plans.
• Email: Consolidate automations into Systeme.io; import contacts and respect consent statuses.
• Courses: Import content into Systeme.io memberships; map previous buyers to access levels.
• Subscriptions: For active subscriptions in your gateway, you may continue charging via Stripe/PayPal while moving new sales to Systeme.io. Plan a migration window if you aim to centralize everything.

Frequently asked decisional questions

Which tool is faster to profit with if you’re starting from zero?

Systeme.io. You can build pages, set up email, and accept payments without touching integrations. If you have an offer and copy ready, you can launch within a day.

Which tool tends to convert better at checkout?

All else equal, ThriveCart often edges out because it specializes in the checkout experience and has mature A/B testing, upsell flows, and field optimization. But your copy, offer, and traffic quality will have a larger impact than the tool alone.

Can you run everything on ThriveCart without other tools?

You can handle checkout, upsells, and course delivery (with Learn/Learn+). You still need an ESP for email and something to build landing pages unless you rely entirely on simple checkout pages.

Is Systeme.io enough for a serious 6‑figure business?

Yes. Many creators run 6‑figure and even 7‑figure businesses on all‑in‑one platforms. The decision is less about revenue level and more about your need for specialized features in taxes, subscriptions, and analytics.

What about payment method coverage like Apple Pay and Google Pay?

Both tools support these via Stripe. Confirm your Stripe account and region support them. ThriveCart is widely praised for smooth 1‑click post‑purchase flows leveraging tokenized payments through Stripe.

Do both support A/B testing?

Yes. Systeme.io supports split testing in funnels. ThriveCart supports A/B testing for checkout and upsells. Choose where you test based on bottlenecks in your metrics.

What if you already use WordPress, Elementor, and ActiveCampaign?

ThriveCart fits that stack very well. Keep your site/pages on WordPress, campaigns in ActiveCampaign, and upgrade your checkout with ThriveCart. If you’re considering consolidation, Systeme.io can replace most of that stack but would require a migration.

Verdict: who wins for checkout and funnels?

You asked specifically which is best for checkout and funnels. The answer depends on whether you value a checkout‑specialist or an all‑in‑one suite.

• For the checkout layer: ThriveCart is the winner. The cart is more flexible, the upsell/downsell system is deeper, the dunning and subscription controls are stronger, and EU/UK VAT handling is more mature. If you want to squeeze every bit of performance out of your payment flows, ThriveCart gives you the levers you want.
• For building funnels end‑to‑end: Systeme.io is the winner. It includes the funnel builder, email marketing, course hosting, blog/website, and affiliate management. You can launch complete funnels quickly without multiple subscriptions or complex integrations. For most creators and small teams, this usually means faster time to value.

A practical way to decide:

• If your priority is to grow with a simple, unified system and you’re selling info products/coaching, choose Systeme.io.
• If your priority is the most capable checkout plus advanced subscriptions/tax features—and you’re comfortable assembling your own stack—choose ThriveCart.

Next steps checklist

Use this checklist to finalize your choice and implement confidently.

• Clarify your stack philosophy:

  • You want one platform to run everything (Systeme.io), or
  • You want a modular stack with a best‑in‑class cart (ThriveCart)

• Map your core requirements:

  • Do you need advanced VAT handling?
  • Will subscriptions and dunning materially impact revenue?
  • Do you need built‑in email, or do you already own an ESP?

• Audit your current assets:

  • Landing pages (where are they hosted?)
  • Email list size and current ESP
  • Course hosting platform (if any)
  • Affiliate program needs

• Confirm gateway coverage:

  • Stripe/PayPal availability, currencies, Apple Pay/Google Pay
  • Any regional payment methods required

• Decide on data flow:

  • For Systeme.io: keep emails and automations in‑house
  • For ThriveCart: define ESP integrations, webhooks, and tags

• Outline upsell strategy:

  • Identify 1–2 bump offers and 1–2 post‑purchase offers
  • Draft copy and assets for A/B tests

• Plan compliance:

  • Taxes/VAT: confirm platform capability vs. accountant guidance
  • Privacy policy, terms, and cookie consent

• Pilot launch:

  • Build one funnel end‑to‑end (Systeme.io) or
  • Connect one product flow with your page + ThriveCart + ESP
  • Run small paid traffic to validate conversion and checkout

• Measure and iterate:

  • Track opt‑in rate, sales conversion, AOV, and refund rate
  • Turn on A/B tests for the biggest bottleneck
  • Implement dunning (ThriveCart) or failed‑payment automations (Systeme.io)

When you weigh the trade‑offs this way, your choice becomes straightforward. If the checkout is the product, ThriveCart leads. If the entire funnel is the product, Systeme.io leads. Pick the tool that aligns with your current constraints and strategy, then commit to consistent iteration—because your copy, positioning, and offers will always drive bigger gains than the platform itself.

Final guidance

• Choose Systeme.io if you value speed, simplicity, and a unified toolkit that takes you from opt‑in to delivery without extra integrations.
• Choose ThriveCart if you value maximum control of payments, stronger subscription recovery, and tax readiness, and you’re comfortable pairing it with your favorite page builder and ESP.

Either path can take you to your goals. Your best choice is the one that removes the most friction for your next launch while giving you the levers you’ll need six months from now.