education
Kartra vs ThriveCart: Which One Should You Choose in 2025?
Confused between Kartra and ThriveCart? You’re not alone. If you’re trying to sell online courses, digital products, or memberships, both of these tools look great. But the truth is, they are made for different types of people.
Choosing the wrong one can waste your money, time, and energy.
So, in this 2025 updated comparison, we’ll break down everything you need to know about Kartra vs ThriveCart. Let’s find the one that fits your business like a glove.
Quick Comparison Table
Feature | ThriveCart | |
Funnel Builder | Yes | No (only checkout pages) |
Checkout Pages | Yes | Yes |
Email Marketing | Yes (built-in) | No (needs 3rd-party) |
Membership Sites | Yes | Yes (via integrations) |
Affiliate Center | Yes | Yes |
Pricing | Starts at $99/month | One-time payment (if deal available) |
Video Hosting | Yes | No |
Helpdesk | Yes | No |
What is Kartra?
Kartra is an all-in-one marketing platform. It helps you build landing pages, email campaigns, sales funnels, membership sites, and even host videos – all from one dashboard. It was created by Genesis Digital, the same team behind WebinarJam and EverWebinar.
Kartra is like a complete business in a box. If you want everything under one roof, this tool is for you.
Key Features of Kartra
- Drag-and-drop page and funnel builder
- Email marketing and automation
- Built-in video hosting
- Membership site builder
- Affiliate management
- Customer support desk
- Analytics and lead tracking
What is ThriveCart?
ThriveCart is mainly a high-converting checkout platform. It helps you sell products online with beautiful checkout pages, one-click upsells, downsells, and bump offers. It doesn't have email or funnel features like Kartra, but it integrates with your favorite tools.
Many creators love it because of its simple one-time pricing and powerful sales features.
Key Features of ThriveCart
- High-converting checkout templates
- 1-click upsells & downsells
- Subscription management
- Automatic tax calculation
- Affiliate tracking
- A/B testing for pages
- Membership tool integration (Teachable, Thinkific, etc.)
Kartra vs ThriveCart: Feature-by-Feature Breakdown
Ease of Use
Kartra has a steeper learning curve. It offers many tools, and it can feel overwhelming at first. But once you learn it, you can do everything inside it.
https://www.storeboard.com/blogs/education/kartra-vs-kajabi/6176845
ThriveCart is super simple. Just log in, set up your product, and create a checkout page in minutes. No fluff.
https://www.storeboard.com/blogs/education/kartra-website-templates/6176847
Funnel Building
Kartra wins here. It has a full drag-and-drop funnel builder with landing pages, email sequences, and automation rules. ThriveCart doesn’t offer funnel building; you’ll need to connect external tools like Leadpages or ClickFunnels for that.
https://www.storeboard.com/blogs/education/kartra-black-friday/6176849
Checkout and Payment
ThriveCart shines here. It’s built for checkout optimization.
https://www.storeboard.com/blogs/education/kartra-pricing/6176850
- You get custom checkout templates that convert well.
- It supports one-time payments, subscriptions, pay-what-you-want, and more.
- 1-click upsells and bump offers help increase revenue.
- https://www.storeboard.com/blogs/education/how-to-create-a-discount-code-in-kartra/6176851
Kartra has checkouts too, but they’re not as flexible as ThriveCart’s.
Email Marketing & Automation
Kartra includes full email marketing tools. You can create beautiful emails, set up automation workflows, and track engagement. It even has behavior-based tagging.
ThriveCart does not have email marketing. You need to integrate it with platforms like ConvertKit, ActiveCampaign, or Mailchimp.
https://online-course-creation.hashnode.dev/kartra-black-friday
Membership Sites
Kartra lets you create and host your own membership site inside the platform. No external tools needed.
https://online-course-creation.hashnode.dev/kartra-website-templates
ThriveCart doesn’t offer this directly but integrates well with Teachable, Thinkific, Wishlist Member, and others.
https://online-course-creation.hashnode.dev/kartra-vs-kajabi
Affiliate Management
Both platforms offer affiliate centers. You can track affiliate links, payouts, and performance. Kartra’s is more advanced because of its built-in CRM features.
https://hackmd.io/@johniee123/kartra-vs-kajabi
Integrations
- Kartra offers limited direct integrations because it tries to do everything internally.
- ThriveCart connects easily with major tools via Zapier, webhooks, and native apps.
Analytics & Reporting
Kartra shows deep insights into funnels, emails, and user behavior.
ThriveCart focuses more on sales performance – conversion rates, upsells, revenue, and taxes.
Customer Support
- Kartra offers email support, live chat (for higher plans), and a big knowledge base.
- ThriveCart has email-based support, but no live chat.
Kartra vs ThriveCart Pricing
Kartra Pricing (2025)
- Starter: $99/month
- Silver: $199/month
- Gold: $299/month
- Platinum: $499/month
No free plan, but a 14-day trial for $1 is available.
ThriveCart Pricing (2025)
- One-time payment: ~$495 (if lifetime deal is still available)
- Pro upgrade: ~$195 (for affiliate management, sales tax, etc.)
Important: ThriveCart lifetime deal may end soon. Check their official page for the latest info.
Verdict on Pricing
- Kartra is expensive but offers everything in one place.
- ThriveCart is cheaper in the long run but needs other tools to complete the stack.
https://hackmd.io/@johniee123/how-to-create-a-discount-code-in-kartra |
Pros and Cons
Kartra Pros
- ✅ Complete all-in-one platform
- ✅ Saves money on other tools
- ✅ Professional email and funnel builder
Kartra Cons
- ❌ Monthly cost adds up
- ❌ Takes time to learn
ThriveCart Pros
- ✅ Simple and fast setup
- ✅ Powerful checkout optimization
- ✅ No monthly fee (if lifetime deal still active)
ThriveCart Cons
- ❌ No email marketing or funnel builder
- ❌ Needs external tools for full features
Who Should Use What?
Use Kartra If...
- You want everything in one place.
- You run online courses, memberships, or coaching.
- You don’t mind paying monthly for ease and control.
Use ThriveCart If...
- You already use other tools for email, landing pages.
- You want a high-converting cart.
- You prefer a lifetime deal and want to save money.
Alternatives to Kartra and ThriveCart
- ClickFunnels – Great for funnel building, expensive.
- SamCart – Checkout focused, with some funnel features.
- Systeme.io – All-in-one like Kartra, with a free plan.
- Kajabi – Built for course creators, beautiful UI.
- Teachable – Best for selling online courses.
Final Verdict: Kartra vs ThriveCart
Both Kartra and ThriveCart are amazing tools, but they serve different goals.
Choose Kartra if you want to run your entire business from one dashboard. It’s ideal for creators who want funnels, emails, videos, and memberships without juggling tools.
Pick ThriveCart if you already have email or course tools, and you want a killer checkout system that boosts your revenue without monthly fees.
Whichever you choose, remember: The best tool is the one you will actually use.
FAQs
1. Is ThriveCart still offering a lifetime deal in 2025?
Yes, but it's limited-time only. Check their official site before it expires.
2. Does Kartra have a free plan?
No, but they offer a 14-day trial for $1.
3. Can I use ThriveCart for physical products?
Yes, but it’s mainly built for digital goods.
4. Which is better for beginners?
ThriveCart is easier to start with. Kartra has a learning curve but gives you more power.
5. Does Kartra integrate with WordPress?
Yes, you can embed forms, pages, and pop-ups on your WordPress site.
Still confused? Start a free trial with Kartra or check if ThriveCart’s lifetime deal is still live. You won’t go wrong with either choice, as long as it fits your needs.
Which one are you leaning towards? Let us know in the comments!