SamCart Alternatives
SamCart has become a popular tool for selling digital products, physical goods, and services with its user-friendly checkout system and eCommerce capabilities. However, it’s not the only solution available. If you’re considering alternatives, you’re likely looking for other platforms that offer a range of features, pricing options, and unique tools to enhance your online business.
Below, we’ll explore some of the main alternatives to SamCart, comparing their pros and cons, pricing, features, and integrations. This comparison aims to give you a clear, easy-to-understand guide on which tool might suit your needs best.
Best Alternatives to SamCart
- ClickFunnels
- ThriveCart
- Podia
- WooCommerce
- Gumroad
- Kajabi
- Stan Store
- Teachable
- Thinkific
If you want to learn how the best competitors differ from SamCart, we also covered you by discussing three main alternatives.
SamCart vs. ClickFunnels
ClickFunnels is widely known for its comprehensive sales funnel-building capabilities. While SamCart focuses heavily on checkout and sales page optimization, ClickFunnels offers a broader range of marketing tools designed to help you nurture leads and convert them into paying customers.
Key Features:
- Drag-and-drop funnel builder
- Email marketing automation
- Membership site creation
- A/B testing
PROs & CONs:
- Comprehensive funnel-building tools: Ideal for creating end-to-end sales funnels.
- Drag-and-drop editor: Makes it easy to create custom landing pages and checkout flows.
- Email marketing automation: Integrates directly with email marketing for nurturing leads.
- Higher pricing: ClickFunnels is generally more expensive than SamCart.
- Learning curve: More advanced features may require time to learn.
Pricing:
- Startup Plan: $97/month
- Pro Plan: $297/month
While SamCart is ideal for straightforward eCommerce operations, ClickFunnels is a better fit if you need a robust sales funnel strategy that covers everything from lead generation to conversion. It might be overkill for businesses just needing a checkout solution, though.
SamCart vs. ThriveCart
If you are looking for the best alternative to SamCart, then check out ThriveCart.
ThriveCart is often seen as the most direct competitor to SamCart. Both platforms focus on providing high-conversion checkout pages, but ThriveCart offers lifetime pricing and built-in features like affiliate management and subscription billing.
Key Features:
- One-time lifetime pricing
- High-converting checkout pages
- Built-in affiliate management
- Subscription and payment plan options
PROs & CONs:
- One-time pricing: ThriveCart offers a lifetime license option, which can save money compared to monthly subscription models.
- Affiliate management: Built-in tools for managing affiliates and commissions.
- Advanced checkout templates: Provides a range of customizable checkout templates for optimization.
- Limited funnel-building tools: Lacks advanced sales funnel-building features like ClickFunnels.
- Fewer integrations: ThriveCart integrates with fewer third-party tools compared to SamCart and ClickFunnels.
Pricing:
- Lifetime License: $495 (one-time)
- Pro Lifetime License: $690 (one-time)
Podia vs. SamCart
Podia is an all-in-one platform that allows users to create and sell online courses, digital products, and memberships. Unlike SamCart, which primarily focuses on optimizing the checkout process, Podia provides a platform for creating entire product ecosystems.
Key Features:
- Online course creation
- Membership site capabilities
- Email marketing built-in
- Live chat support
PROs & CONs:
- Simple, user-friendly interface
- Unlimited courses, downloads, and customers
- No transaction fees on sales
- Limited customization for checkout pages
- Lacks advanced sales funnel features
Pricing:
- Mover Plan: $39/month + 5% transaction fees
- Shaker Plan: $89/month – No transaction fees
Podia is perfect for creators who want to sell digital products without worrying about checkout optimization. If your focus is on course creation and community building, Podia is a great fit. However, SamCart offers more advanced features for sales and checkout page optimization.
WooCommerce vs. SamCart
WooCommerce is a powerful WordPress plugin that allows you to turn any WordPress site into a fully functional online store. Unlike SamCart, which is a standalone platform, WooCommerce operates within WordPress and offers deep customization options.
Key Features:
- Extensive customization options
- Hundreds of plugins and extensions
- Flexible payment gateways
- Open-source and scalable
PROs & CONs:
- Free to start
- Complete control over the look and feel of your store
- Wide variety of plugins and themes
- Requires WordPress hosting
- Can become costly with add-ons and hosting fees
Pricing: Free (but with costs for hosting, themes, and plugins)
WooCommerce is ideal for those already using WordPress and needing full customization. SamCart is more focused on quick setup and optimized checkout experiences, making it easier for non-technical users to sell products online without needing to build a full website.
Gumroad vs. SamCart
Gumroad is a lightweight platform aimed at creators who want a simple, hassle-free way to sell digital products. It doesn’t offer the extensive features found in SamCart, but it’s highly accessible and easy to use for newcomers.
Key Features:
- Easy-to-use digital storefront
- Simple checkout process
- Email marketing tools
- Free to start
PROs & CONs:
- No monthly fees (free plan available)
- Super simple for beginners
- Built-in audience analytics
- Limited advanced features
- Transaction fees on sales
Pricing:
- Free Plan: 9% + $0.30 per transaction
- Pro Plan: $10/month with 3.5% + $0.30 per transaction
If you’re looking for a quick, free option to start selling digital goods, Gumroad is a great alternative to SamCart. However, SamCart offers more advanced features like upsells and subscription billing, making it a more complete eCommerce platform.
Kajabi vs. SamCart
Kajabi is designed for creators who want to build an entire online business, including marketing, course creation, and customer management. It’s more of an all-in-one solution compared to SamCart, which focuses specifically on checkout optimization.
Key Features:
- Course creation tools
- Built-in CRM and marketing automation
- Membership site support
- Customizable landing pages
PROs & CONs:
- All-in-one platform for course creators
- Advanced marketing automation
- Integrated video hosting
- Higher pricing
- Can be overwhelming for beginners
Pricing:
- Basic Plan: $149/month
- Growth Plan: $199/month
- Pro Plan: $399/month
Kajabi is a powerful tool for creators focused on course creation and marketing. SamCart may not offer the same all-in-one experience, but it’s easier to use for sales and checkout processes, making it more suitable for sellers focused primarily on eCommerce.
SamCart vs. Shopify
Both SamCart and Shopify are great. SamCart offers a direct eCommerce consumer platform, whereas Shopify lets businesses create their web store differently. Technically, it is hard to compare them as Shopify falls under small-scale online stores like Squarespace or Weebly.
Both offer their own set of excellent features. With SamCart, you do not need to know coding to get your site online. You can choose between pre-defined templates to get started. On the other Shopify also offers a similar experience where you can create your storefront with professionally designed themes. They also let you connect better with your audience.
For newbies, Shopify can be a good platform to start as it offers an easy-to-use, clean interface, especially aimed at newbies. In addition, Shopify’s use of Stripe also means that you do not need to pay transaction fees (only if you opt to use Stripe as your payment method).
Conclusion: Choosing the Right SamCart Alternative
When deciding between SamCart and its alternatives, the best platform depends on your business needs, budget, and desired features.
ClickFunnels is ideal for businesses needing a complete sales funnel solution, while ThriveCart offers a cost-effective lifetime license with robust checkout and affiliate management tools. For content creators and educators, Podia, Kajabi, Teachable, and Thinkific provide powerful course creation and membership features, each with varying levels of flexibility and pricing.
If you’re looking for simplicity and affordability, platforms like Stan Store and Gumroad are excellent choices, particularly for selling digital products or services quickly. WooCommerce offers unmatched customization for WordPress users, though it requires more technical know-how.
Ultimately, if your primary focus is optimizing checkout experiences with advanced marketing tools, SamCart remains a strong contender. However, exploring these alternatives can help you find a solution that aligns more closely with your specific goals, whether it’s funnel-building, course creation, or straightforward product sales.