How to build a free sales funnel
A funnel is just a short, deliberate path: one page to get attention, one to take action, one to say thanks. Here is how to build it without paying for funnel software.
On this page
- Decide what the funnel is for
- The pages you need
- Step 1: Create the funnel
- Step 2: Write the opt-in or sales page
- Step 3: Set up the thank-you page
- Step 4: Add payment (for a Sell funnel)
- Step 5: Connect the funnel to email
- Step 6: Test like a stranger
- Optional: upsells and order bumps
- How many funnels do you get?
- Questions
A sales funnel is a series of web pages that moves a visitor toward one action: joining your list, booking a call, or buying. Dedicated funnel software can be expensive. Systeme.io's pricing page uses ClickFunnels at $97 per month as its comparison point. The Systeme.io free plan includes 3 sales funnels, which is enough to build and test a real one.
Decide what the funnel is for
Every funnel has exactly one job. Pick one before you open any editor:
- Build an audience: trade something useful (a checklist, a short guide, a discount) for an email address.
- Sell: take payment for a product or service.
- Book: get someone onto your calendar.
If you try to do all three on one page, you will usually do none of them well.
The pages you need
| Funnel goal | Pages | Systeme.io funnel type |
|---|---|---|
| Grow your email list | Opt-in page, Thank-you page | Build an Audience |
| Sell a product | Order form, Thank-you page (optionally a sales page first) | Sell |
| Anything else | Any pages you add | Custom |
Systeme.io also has an evergreen webinar funnel type, but its help center says that option is only on the Webinar and Unlimited plans.
Step 1: Create the funnel
- In Systeme.io, open Sites → Sales funnels and click Create.
- Name the funnel, pick the domain it should use, and choose the currency.
- Choose the funnel type: Build an Audience, Sell, or Custom.
Step 2: Write the opt-in or sales page
This page matters more than any design choice. Keep it tight:
- Headline that names the result: "Get the 12-point move-out cleaning checklist" is clear. "Unlock your potential" is not.
- Three to five bullet points saying what they get and why it helps.
- One form or one button. Ask only for what you need. Name and email is plenty for an opt-in.
- A line about what happens next: "We'll email it to you right away."
Avoid claims you cannot back up. "Customers love it" means nothing without a real review you have permission to use.
Step 3: Set up the thank-you page
People skip this, and it is a missed chance. Use it to:
- Confirm what they signed up for and where to find it.
- Tell them what email address it will come from so they can look for it.
- Offer one logical next step, such as booking a call or following you on one platform.
Step 4: Add payment (for a Sell funnel)
To take money, you first connect a payment processor:
- Go to Settings → Payment gateways and connect Stripe or PayPal. Systeme.io's help center says a PayPal Business account is needed for PayPal.
- In your funnel, open Funnel settings and tick the payment methods you want, such as credit or debit card and PayPal, then save.
- On the order form step, choose Digital product or Physical product as the offer type and create a price plan.
Systeme.io does not add its own transaction fee on any plan, according to its pricing page. Your payment processor still charges its normal fee. Stripe's standard US rate, for example, is 2.9% + 30¢ per successful domestic card transaction.
Step 5: Connect the funnel to email
A funnel that collects emails and then goes silent wastes most of its value. At a minimum, send one welcome email that delivers what you promised. Before Systeme.io sends any email for you, you need an authenticated sender domain. Our email list guide covers that setup.
Step 6: Test like a stranger
- Open the funnel in a private window on your phone.
- Sign up with a second email address you control and confirm the welcome email arrives.
- For a Sell funnel, use Systeme.io's test purchase process (described in its help center), then refund yourself.
- Click every link on the thank-you page.
Optional: upsells and order bumps
Once the basic funnel works, Systeme.io supports an upsell or downsell step after the order form, and order bumps on the order form itself. Check its pricing page for which plans include them. Add these only after the core offer is selling. They improve a working funnel; they do not fix a broken one.
How many funnels do you get?
| Plan | Price | Sales funnels |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 3 |
| Startup | $17/month | 10 |
| Webinar | $47/month | 50 |
| Unlimited | $97/month | Unlimited |
Source: Systeme.io pricing FAQ, last updated April 2026.
Questions
Do I need a website before I build a funnel?
No. A funnel can live on its own, and a funnel page can even be set as the homepage of your domain.
Does Systeme.io take a cut of my sales?
Its pricing page lists no transaction fees on all plans. Stripe or PayPal still charge their own processing fees.
Can I build a funnel on the free plan with my own domain?
Yes. The free plan includes one custom domain and three funnels. See our guide to connecting a custom domain.
What is the difference between an upsell and an order bump?
An order bump is an extra checkbox on the order form itself. An upsell is a separate page shown after the first purchase.
Sources
Checked October 27, 2026. Prices and features change, so confirm on the provider's site.