August 4, 2025
Sales Funnel Software: What I use to run my Funnels
How I Built a Low-Lift Sales Funnel with Simple Tools (No Tech Headaches Required)
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by tech when choosing the right or the best sales funnel software, you’re not alone. With so many tools, templates, and conflicting opinions, it’s easy to stall out before you even start. Especially if you don’t consider yourself a techy person.
In this post, I’ll walk you through the exact sales funnel software and sales funnel builder tools I used to create a funnel that sells—without needing a big team, massive ad budget, or constant babysitting. If your business is ready for systems that actually work while you live your life, this breakdown is for you.
Strategy First. Software Second.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Software can’t save a broken strategy.
Your sales funnel software is just the container. The vehicle. What really matters is how it works. How your funnel guides people to discover your brand, trust your voice, and buy your offers—ideally, more than once.
If you haven’t yet mapped out your funnel, start here: Sales Funnel Explained for Beginners. Then come back to this post. Because your tech stack is secondary.
The Sales Funnel Software Stack That Runs My Business
If you’re researching the best sales funnel builder or sales funnel software for your business, here’s what I actually use, how I use it, and why. Every tool plays a specific role in my system. And I’ve recommended all these tools to clients at different stages of growth. This stack is simple and scalable as your offers grow.
👉 Prefer to watch or listen? Here’s the link.
Next, I’ll break down the tech platforms I use at each stage of my funnel, and how these function within the entire ecosystem.
Meta Ads: Feed Your Sales Funnel Builder with Qualified Traffic
The best sales funnel software can’t help if no one’s entering your funnel. I use Meta Ads in combination with organic content to drive targeted traffic to my lead magnet or tripwire offer. Even with a modest ad budget, these campaigns bring in new leads consistently even if there are days where I can’t personally show up.
👉 Read more about my low-lift marketing strategy here.
Canva: Design Lead Magnets That Fuel Your Funnel
I use Canva to design lead magnets, promo graphics, and ad creatives. Strong visuals make a big difference in how well your sales funnel builder converts. At every stage of the funnel, and especially on landing pages and checkout offers. Canva is super easy for non-techy people and has lots of templates to start with.
ChatGPT: Speed Up Your Sales Funnel Creation Process
ChatGPT is my co-creator of the collateral that then gets plugged into my sales funnel software. I work with it to brainstorm, strategize, draft, improve, edit, revisit, and try again with everything. By getting good at prompting and building custom GPTs trained on my process, frameworks, and style, I’m able to do better with less by leaning into AI. All without sacrificing my human perspective. From email automations to tripwire headlines… so much of what I create passes through AI in varying capacities, and I think it helps create better work. When time is tight and I need to test faster, this is a tool to do that.
Showit: A Visual Sales Funnel Builder That Actually Looks Good
I use Showit for my landing pages because I want complete design flexibility without a steep learning curve. While it’s not full sales funnel software on its own, I can embed my checkout and email platforms to create a cohesive funnel experience.
ThriveCart: My Favorite Sales Funnel Software for Checkout + Upsells
ThriveCart is the heart of my sales funnel software stack. It handles checkout, order bumps, tripwires, upsells, and even location-based sales tax. I love how easy it is to build, clone, and test offers. Everything is conversion-optimized and user-friendly from day one. You need ThriveCart, for real. I love it!
Stripe: Seamless Payment Processing for Your Funnel
Stripe connects directly to ThriveCart to process secure, reliable payments. It supports global transactions, auto-calculates exchange rates, and keeps things smooth on the back end. Much better than Paypal in my opinion!
ActiveCampaign: Automate Your Sales Funnel Follow-Up
ActiveCampaign powers the follow-up inside my sales funnel builder. It delivers lead magnets, sends nurture emails, and triggers upsell sequences… All automated based on customer behavior. This is where automation replaces manual effort without losing personalization. Obsessed is an understatement.
ThriveCart Learn+: Deliver Your Digital Product with Ease
After purchase, customers get instant access to their offer through ThriveCart Learn+. Since it’s built into my sales funnel software, I don’t need a separate course platform. It’s one login, one system, and one less headache for me (and my buyers).
👉 Read my ThriveCart Learn+ review here.
Step-by-Step: A High-Level Overview of the Steps in a Sales Funnel
Where do you start actually building a sales funnel? What are all the steps that someone needs to flow through? Here’s a roadmap of the steps to expect when building your first sales funnel.
- Launch the Lead Magnet
Start with one clear problem your ideal client wants solved. You can design something quick and valuable in Canva as your MVO, then make it better as you test and get feedback. - Build the Landing Page
I use Showit for flexibility and brand alignment. No tech stress. Their support chat is always so helpful too! - Set Up Checkout with ThriveCart
Tripwires, bump offers, and upsells are built directly into the checkout experience. - Connect Stripe for Payments
Secure payments = smoother sales process. - Automate Emails with ActiveCampaign
Delivery emails, follow-ups, and strategic upsells run in the background, triggered by behavior. - Host the Product in Learn+
Everything lives in one customer portal for a seamless experience.
👉 I go into more detail about what a sales funnel is and examples in this post.
Common Sales Funnel Software Mistakes to Avoid
Even the best sales funnel builder won’t perform if it’s built on shaky foundations. Here are a few mistakes I see all the time. Especially from creators trying to move fast. We like to move fast, but don’t skip the foundations.
- Over-automating too soon. Don’t fully automate a funnel you haven’t tested. Manual delivery is fine at first. Optimize after you’ve validated your offer. Just be ready to test, iterate, and try again.
- Choosing all-in-one tools you’ll outgrow. It’s tempting to go “all-in-one,” but many platforms limit your ability to customize or scale. Choose sales funnel software that grows with you.
- Skipping mobile optimization. Most traffic hits from phones. If your landing page or checkout looks clunky on mobile, you’re losing conversions. The number of times I see wonky text on mobile. Don’t skip this check!
- Focusing on tools before traffic. No sales funnel builder can make sales if no one’s entering the funnel. Focus on your messaging and offer clarity before fiddling with tools. Focus on sales skills while building your sales funnel.
Sales Funnel Optimization Tips for After you Launch
Once your sales funnel software is up and running, the real work starts: Improving it constantly. I honestly love this part! Analyzing data and finding ways to get better is my thing. Here’s how I do this work in a manageable way.
- Track your funnel metrics weekly. Look at opt-in rate, tripwire conversions, bump offer clicks, email open/click rates. This tells you what’s working (and what’s leaking revenue). I love my weekly dates with my tracking sheets.
- Test small before big. Don’t overhaul everything at once. Start with simple A/B tests, like a new headline or adjusted tripwire price. Sometimes small tweaks make a big difference. Also, knowing your numbers will help you choose what to test first, then next. For example, maybe you don’t have a conversion problem. Maybe you just need more traffic.
- Watch warm traffic before scaling with ads. Before pouring more money into Meta Ads, check how warm leads respond. If your sales funnel isn’t converting warm traffic, it won’t convert cold traffic either. And remember that these are different! So they may require personalized sales funnels to convert.
- Time your follow-up sequences intentionally. Don’t just “set and forget” your email automations. Review how they’re performing, test subject lines, and refine CTAs to improve engagement.
How to Choose the Right Sales Funnel Builder for Your Business
Still not sure? Let’s break this down based on your needs.
| Need | Recommended Tools |
| Simple, all-in-one solution | Kajabi |
| Advanced checkout & upsells | ThriveCart (my go-to that grows with you) |
| Easy page builder | Showit, Leadpages |
| Full CRM & email automation | ActiveCampaign, Kit |
Choose a stack that supports your workflow. Not one that forces you to change it. It should feel easy! The best sales funnel software is the one you’ll actually use and grow into over time.
What Helped Me Scale Without Rebuilding Constantly
Too many people get caught in the rebuilding / pivoting game when you need to stay the course. Consider this your tough love. Here’s what works:
- I didn’t create a new funnel every month.
- I tracked drop-offs and improved the weak spots.
- I used automation to reduce repeat tasks.
- I focused on traffic and testing, not perfection.
Final Thoughts: Simple Funnels Sell Better
You don’t need a complicated system to make consistent sales. You need a clear strategy, good copy, the right sales funnel builder, and a willingness to keep testing.
Let your sales funnel software support your vision, not distract from it. Build something that works with you, and let it run in the background while you focus on what you do best.
FAQ: Sales Funnel Software + Sales Funnel Builder Basics
What is the best sales funnel builder for beginners?
I recommend ThriveCart every time! Check it out here.
What’s the difference between a sales funnel builder and sales funnel software?
A builder usually refers to the landing page/visual tool. Full software includes checkout, automation, and delivery.
Do I need a CRM to run a sales funnel?
Not always. But marketing automation tools with CRM capabilities like ActiveCampaign help automate and personalize your funnel long-term.
Can I run a sales funnel without paid ads?
Yes. SEO, GEO, lead magnets, content, collaborations, video, podcasting, social media, and partnerships can drive traffic before adding paid ads to scale.
How much does sales funnel software cost?
It varies. Expect $20–$300/month depending on features. I like ThriveCart because they have a 1-time purchase option. Start lean, then upgrade as your funnel produces revenue.
Is ThriveCart a sales funnel builder or sales funnel software?
ThriveCart is full sales funnel software that handles checkout, order bumps, upsells, taxes, and integrations.
Why do you recommend ThriveCart over other sales funnel software?
It’s a one-time purchase, built for conversions, and includes everything you need to launch.
👉 See why I recommend ThriveCart here.
Does ThriveCart include a course platform?
Yes. ThriveCart Learn+ lets you host and deliver products or courses in one clean, easy-to-use portal.
Can I use Showit as my sales funnel builder?
Yes. Showit builds beautiful, on-brand landing pages. Pair it with tools like ThriveCart + ActiveCampaign to complete your stack.
How does ActiveCampaign fit into a sales funnel software stack?
It handles email automation. Things like sending delivery emails, nurturing sequences, and upsells based on behavior.
Check out The Biz Bar for more support
Want some help with building your first sales funnel? Check out the AI tools, trainings, and marketing templates available in The Biz Bar.
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