Systeme.io Review - Pros and Cons

Victor Chisom Frank
17 min readMay 13, 2024

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Systeme.io has emerged as a powerful all-in-one business platform that simplifies and streamlines various online operations.

From building high-converting sales funnels and launching email marketing campaigns to hosting online courses and managing affiliate programs, Systeme.io offers a comprehensive suite of tools to entrepreneurs and marketers.

In today’s digital landscape, businesses often struggle with the challenge of juggling multiple software solutions to handle different aspects of their operations. This not only increases costs but also adds unnecessary complexity.

Systeme.io aims to solve this problem by consolidating essential business tools into a single, user-friendly platform.

As the demand for all-in-one platforms continues to rise, it’s crucial to evaluate Systeme.io’s capabilities thoroughly.

This in-depth review will dissect every aspect of the platform, from its funnel builder and email automation features to its website builder, membership site creation, and online payment integration tools.

By the end of this review, you’ll have a comprehensive understanding of Systeme.io’s strengths, weaknesses, and suitability for your specific business needs.

Whether you’re a solopreneur, an online course creator, or a seasoned marketer, this review will provide valuable insights to help you make an informed decision about Systeme.io.

Systeme.io Overview

Systeme.io was founded in 2016 with the vision of creating an all-in-one platform that would empower entrepreneurs and businesses to streamline their online operations.

Since its inception, Systeme.io has evolved into a robust solution that encompasses a wide range of features, catering to diverse business requirements.

At its core, Systeme.io is designed to simplify the process of building and managing an online business. It serves as a one-stop shop for email marketing, sales funnel creation, product selling, online course hosting, and more.

By consolidating these essential tools into a single platform, Systeme.io aims to reduce the complexity and costs associated with using multiple software solutions.

One of the key unique selling points of Systeme.io is its intuitive and user-friendly interface.

The platform’s drag-and-drop functionality and visual builders make it accessible to users with varying levels of technical expertise, allowing them to create professional-looking campaigns, funnels, and websites with ease.

Systeme.io excels in several core areas, including:

  • Funnel Building: With its advanced funnel builder, Systeme.io empowers users to create highly optimized sales funnels, complete with landing pages, opt-in forms, upsells, and down sells. The platform’s A/B testing capabilities enable data-driven optimization for maximizing conversions.
  • Email Marketing: Systeme.io offers a robust email marketing solution that includes features such as contact management, list segmentation, autoresponders, and broadcast campaigns. Users can design visually appealing emails using the platform’s built-in templates or create custom designs.
  • Online Course Hosting: Creators can leverage Systeme.io to design, host, and sell online courses. The platform provides tools for course content organization, student engagement (through quizzes and discussions), and progress tracking.
  • E-commerce and Affiliate Management: Systeme.io supports the selling of both digital and physical products, with features like product listing, inventory management, and customizable checkout processes. Additionally, the platform offers a comprehensive affiliate program and marketplace integration.
  • Business Automation: With its powerful automation rules, Systeme.io enables users to streamline various processes, such as lead nurturing, customer onboarding, and post-purchase follow-ups, saving time and improving efficiency.

While Systeme.io offers a comprehensive set of features, it’s important to note that it may not be the best fit for every business.

Factors such as the size of your customer base, the complexity of your sales processes, and your specific industry requirements should be considered before making a decision.

Features Breakdown

To fully appreciate the capabilities of Systeme.io, let’s dive deeper into its core features and explore how they can benefit your business.

Funnel Builder

The funnel builder is one of Systeme.io’s standout features, empowering users to create highly optimized sales funnels with ease. Here’s what you can expect:

  • Visual Campaign Builder: Systeme.io’s intuitive drag-and-drop interface allows you to design and customize your sales funnels visually. You can add various steps, such as opt-in pages, sales pages, order forms, and upsells, without any coding knowledge.
  • Automation Rules: Each step in your funnel can be enhanced with automation rules, enabling you to trigger specific actions based on user behaviour. For example, you can automatically send a follow-up email or assign a tag to a user based on their interaction with your funnel.
  • Landing Page Builder: Creating high-converting landing pages is a breeze with Systeme.io’s landing page builder. You can choose from a variety of pre-designed templates or start from scratch, customizing every aspect of your page using the visual editor.
  • A/B Testing: Systeme.io’s A/B testing capabilities allow you to test different variations of your landing pages, sales pages, and email campaigns, helping you identify the top-performing versions and optimize for better conversions.
  • Deadline Funnel: A unique feature offered by Systeme.io is the Deadline Funnel, which enables you to create time-sensitive offers and scarcity campaigns, boosting urgency and driving more sales.

Email Marketing

Effective email marketing is crucial for nurturing leads, building relationships with customers, and driving sales. Systeme.io’s email marketing tools are designed to streamline your communication efforts:

  • Contact Management: Easily manage your email lists and segment your contacts based on various criteria, such as interests, behaviours, or purchase history, ensuring you deliver relevant and personalized messages.
  • Email Builder: Create visually appealing emails using Systeme.io’s drag-and-drop email builder. Choose from pre-designed templates or customize your own designs with various content blocks, images, and formatting options.
  • Autoresponders and Broadcasts: Set up automated autoresponder sequences to nurture leads and engage customers with relevant content based on their actions. You can also send broadcast campaigns to your entire list or specific segments.
  • Automation Rules: Integrate your email campaigns with Systeme.io’s automation rules to trigger specific actions based on user behaviour, such as adding or removing tags, updating subscriber information, or enrolling in a course.

Online Course Hosting

For online course creators, Systeme.io provides a comprehensive suite of tools to design, host, and sell your educational content:

  • Course Creation: Easily organize your course content into modules and lessons using Systeme.io’s intuitive course builder. Upload videos, PDFs, audio files, and other multimedia resources to enhance the learning experience.
  • Student Engagement: Keep your students engaged with interactive elements like quizzes, assignments, and discussions. Systeme.io’s online community feature allows students to connect with each other and foster a collaborative learning environment.
  • Progress Tracking: Monitor your students’ progress through your courses, track their quiz scores, and issue certificates upon completion, ensuring a seamless learning experience.
  • Course Selling: Integrate your online courses seamlessly with Systeme.io’s sales funnels and checkout processes. Create various pricing options, such as one-time payments, subscriptions, or payment plans, to cater to different customer preferences.

E-commerce and Affiliate

Whether you’re selling digital products, physical goods, or both, Systeme.io provides robust e-commerce capabilities:

  • Product Listing: Create visually appealing product listings with detailed descriptions, images, pricing, and variations (e.g., size, colour).
    Inventory Management: Easily manage your inventory levels, track stock availability, and receive notifications when products are running low.
  • Customizable Checkout: Design a seamless checkout experience for your customers, complete with various payment gateways (e.g., PayPal, Stripe) and options for upsells and order bumps.
  • Affiliate Program: Leverage the power of affiliate marketing by creating your own affiliate program within Systeme.io. Set commission rates, track affiliate performance, and manage payouts directly from the platform.
  • Affiliate Marketplace: In addition to running your own affiliate program, you can join Systeme.io’s built-in affiliate marketplace to promote other products and earn commissions or find affiliates to promote your offerings.

Advanced Features

Systeme.io offers several advanced features that set it apart from other all-in-one platforms:

  • Evergreen Webinars: Systeme.io allows you to create and host evergreen webinars, which are pre-recorded video presentations that can be delivered to viewers as if they were live. This feature is particularly useful for automated webinar funnels and replaying successful webinars on demand.
  • Deadline Funnel Builder: As mentioned earlier, the Deadline Funnel feature enables you to create time-sensitive offers and scarcity campaigns, leveraging urgency and FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) to drive more sales.
  • Built-in Affiliate Marketplace: In addition to running your own affiliate program, Systeme.io offers a built-in affiliate marketplace where you can promote other products and earn commissions or find affiliates to promote your offerings.
  • Custom Permissions and Team Management: Systeme.io allows you to grant customized permissions to team members or clients, ensuring they have access only to the relevant areas of your account. This feature is particularly useful for agencies or businesses with multiple stakeholders.
  • Integrated Business Analytics and Reporting: Stay on top of your performance with Systeme.io’s comprehensive analytics and reporting tools. Track key metrics such as sales, conversions, email engagement, and more, across your entire business operations.

Systeme.io Integrations

While Systeme.io aims to provide an all-in-one solution, it also recognizes the importance of seamless integration with other tools and services. Here’s an overview of the platform’s integration capabilities:

  • Payment Gateways: Systeme.io integrates with popular payment gateways like PayPal, Stripe, and Razorpay, allowing you to accept payments securely and conveniently.
  • Webinar Tools: If you plan to host live webinars, Systeme.io can integrate with dedicated webinar platforms like EverWebinar or Demio, enhancing your webinar experience.
  • CRMs and Email Marketing Tools: While Systeme.io offers robust email marketing capabilities, you can also integrate with third-party CRMs and email marketing tools like ActiveCampaign or Constant Contact if needed.
  • Zapier Integration: Systeme.io integrates with Zapier, a popular automation platform, allowing you to connect with over 3,000 other apps and services. This opens up endless possibilities for automating workflows and streamlining processes.

However, it’s important to note that while Systeme.io offers a wide range of integrations, there may be specific tools or services you require that are not currently supported.

In such cases, you may need to explore workarounds or alternative solutions.

Other Features

In addition to the core features discussed above, Systeme.io provides several other tools to enhance your online business operations:

  • Blogging and Website Builder: Create professional-looking blogs and websites using Systeme.io’s intuitive website builder. Choose from pre-designed templates, customize layouts, and publish your content with ease.
  • Membership Site Creation: Build and manage membership sites or online communities within Systeme.io. Control access levels, manage member subscriptions, and provide exclusive content to your members.
  • Business Automation Rules: Streamline various business processes by creating custom automation rules. Trigger specific actions based on user behaviour, purchase events, or other criteria, saving time and improving efficiency.

While these features may not be the primary focus for all users, they add valuable functionality to Systeme.io’s comprehensive toolkit, catering to a wide range of business needs.

User Experience & Pricing

User Interface & Ease of Use

One of Systeme.io’s standout features is its intuitive and user-friendly interface. The platform’s design prioritizes simplicity and ease of navigation, making it accessible to users with varying levels of technical expertise. Here’s what you can expect:

  • Clean and Modern Design: Systeme.io’s interface boasts a clean and modern design, with a well-organized layout that minimizes clutter and distractions. This aesthetic appeal enhances the overall user experience and makes it easier to focus on the task at hand.
  • Drag-and-Drop Functionality: Across various features, such as the funnel builder, landing page editor, and email creator, Systeme.io employs a drag-and-drop approach. This visual interface allows you to easily customize and arrange elements without the need for coding knowledge.
  • Consistent Experience: Systeme.io maintains a consistent user experience through its various tools and features. Once you become familiar with the platform’s layout and navigation, you’ll find it easy to switch between different modules without experiencing a steep learning curve.
  • Performance and Speed: Despite its feature-rich nature, Systeme.io delivers a smooth and responsive experience. Page load times are minimized, and interactions with the platform feel snappy, enhancing overall productivity.

While the user interface is generally praised for its ease of use, some users may find certain aspects counter-intuitive or lacking in advanced customization options.

However, Systeme.io strikes a good balance between simplicity and functionality, making it an accessible platform for businesses of all sizes.

Migration to Systeme.io

If you’re considering switching from another platform to Systeme.io, the migration process is an important factor to consider. Here’s what you can expect:

  • Migration Support: Systeme.io offers dedicated migration support to assist you in transitioning your data and assets from your previous platform. This support is available for paid plans, ensuring a smooth and streamlined migration process.
  • Step-by-Step Guides: The platform provides detailed step-by-step guides and tutorials to help you navigate the migration process. These resources cover various aspects, such as importing contacts, transferring course content, and setting up integrations.
  • Data Import Tools: Systeme.io offers data import tools that allow you to seamlessly transfer your existing data, such as email lists, customer information, and product catalogues, from compatible platforms.

While the migration process may vary in complexity depending on your previous platform and the amount of data involved, Systeme.io aims to make the transition as seamless as possible.

However, it’s essential to allocate sufficient time and resources to ensure a successful migration, especially for larger businesses or those with extensive data.

Systeme.io Pricing Plans

Systeme.io offers a range of pricing plans to cater to businesses of different sizes and requirements.

Systeme.io offers a tiered pricing structure with four distinct plans: Free, Startup, Webinar, and Unlimited (also known as Enterprise). Let’s break down each plan, highlighting its features and limitations:

Free Plan

Ideal for: Trying out the platform, building an email list (up to 2,000 subscribers), creating a basic sales funnel, and hosting a blog.

Limitations: Restricted features (limited marketing automation rules, storage space, and sales funnels), no custom domain, and Systeme.io branding on your website.

Startup Plan (Starts at $27/month)

Ideal for: Solopreneurs and small businesses getting started with online marketing.

Includes all Free Plan features, PLUS: Up to 5,000 emails per month, unlimited sales funnels, custom domain connection, removed Systeme.io branding, and access to file storage.

Webinar Plan (Starts at $47/month):

Ideal for: Businesses that heavily rely on webinars for lead generation and sales.

Includes all Startup Plan features, PLUS: Up to 10,000 emails per month, host webinars with up to 1,000 attendees, create evergreen webinars, and run coupon codes.

Unlimited Plan (Starts at $97/month):

Ideal for: Established businesses and large teams requiring maximum functionality.

Includes all Webinar Plan features, PLUS: Unlimited emails per month, unlimited storage space, unlimited webinars with up to 5,000 attendees, running affiliate programs, and access to priority customer support.

Systeme.io’s pricing is generally considered affordable, especially when compared to other all-in-one platforms like ClickFunnels or Kartra.

The Free plan is particularly appealing for startups and individuals looking to test the platform before committing to a paid subscription.

It’s worth noting that while the Free plan offers a good starting point, its limitations in terms of contacts, funnels, and automation rules may prompt users to upgrade as their business grows.

The Startup plan provides a reasonable set of features for small to medium-sized businesses, while the Webinar and Unlimited plans cater to more advanced and high-volume requirements.

Onboarding & Learning Curve

Systeme.io recognizes that not all users will have prior experience with sales funnels, email marketing, or online course creation.

To address this, the platform offers a range of onboarding and learning resources:

  • Knowledge Base: Systeme.io’s extensive knowledge base provides step-by-step tutorials, video guides, and articles covering various features and use cases. This self-serve resource is a valuable starting point for new users.
  • Getting Started Courses: In addition to the knowledge base, Systeme.io offers dedicated “getting started” courses that walk you through the platform’s core features and best practices.
  • Live Training Webinars: The platform periodically hosts live training webinars, where experts provide in-depth guidance and answer user questions in real time.
  • Community Support: Systeme.io has an active user community, including a Facebook group, where members can seek advice, share tips, and connect with fellow entrepreneurs.

While the onboarding process and learning curve may vary depending on your prior experience and the complexity of your business goals, Systeme.io provides ample resources to help you get up and running quickly.

However, for users with more advanced or niche requirements, additional guidance from the platform’s support team or third-party experts may be necessary.

Pros & Cons

Like any platform, Systeme.io has its strengths and weaknesses. Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons to help you make an informed decision:

Pros

  • All-in-One Solution: Systeme.io consolidates essential business tools into a single platform, eliminating the need for multiple software subscriptions and reducing complexity.
  • Affordability: Compared to other all-in-one platforms, Systeme.io offers a compelling value proposition with its affordable pricing plans, including a generous free plan.
  • User-Friendly Interface: The platform’s intuitive and visually appealing interface, combined with drag-and-drop functionality, makes it easy for users of all skill levels to navigate and create professional-looking campaigns and content.
  • Robust Sales Funnel Builder: Systeme.io’s sales funnel builder is a standout feature, offering advanced capabilities such as A/B testing, automation rules, and deadline funnels for creating time-sensitive offers.
  • Comprehensive Email Marketing Tools: From contact management and list segmentation to autoresponders and broadcast campaigns, Systeme.io provides a robust set of email marketing tools to nurture leads and engage customers.
  • Online Course Hosting: Creators can leverage Systeme.io to design, host, and sell online courses, including features like student engagement tools, progress tracking, and certification issuance.
  • E-commerce and Affiliate Management: Systeme.io supports selling both digital and physical products, with features like product listings, inventory management, customizable checkout processes, and an integrated affiliate marketplace.
  • Business Automation: The platform’s automation rules allow you to streamline various processes, such as lead nurturing, customer onboarding, and post-purchase follow-ups, saving time and improving efficiency.

Cons

  • Limited Advanced Features: While Systeme.io covers a wide range of features, it may lack some advanced or niche functionalities found in dedicated, specialized tools.
  • Steep Learning Curve for Complex Use Cases: While the platform is generally user-friendly, users with more complex or advanced business requirements may face a steeper learning curve.
  • Contact Limits: Systeme.io’s lower-tier plans have limitations on the number of contacts you can manage, which may be a drawback for businesses with large email lists.
  • Customization Restrictions: While Systeme.io offers plenty of customization options, there may be limitations in terms of advanced design customizations or integrations with third-party tools not currently supported.
  • Potential Performance Issues: As with any software, there is a possibility of experiencing performance issues or downtime, which can impact your business operations.

It’s important to weigh these pros and cons against your specific business needs and priorities.

While Systeme.io may not be a perfect fit for every business, it offers a compelling value proposition for many entrepreneurs and marketers seeking an affordable and user-friendly all-in-one solution.

Systeme.io Alternatives & Comparisons

While Systeme.io is a powerful all-in-one platform, it’s not the only available option. Here’s how it compares to some of its competitors:

Systeme.io vs ClickFunnels

ClickFunnels is one of the most well-known competitors to Systeme.io, particularly in the sales funnel and landing page builder space. Here’s how the two platforms compare:

  • Pricing: Systeme.io is significantly more affordable than ClickFunnels, with its plans starting at $27/month compared to ClickFunnels’ lowest plan at $147/month.
  • Features: Both platforms offer similar core features like sales funnel builders, landing page creators, and email marketing tools. However, ClickFunnels is more focused on advanced funnel-building capabilities, while Systeme.io provides a broader range of tools for online course hosting, e-commerce, and business automation.
  • User Experience: Systeme.io’s interface is generally considered more user-friendly and modern, with a gentler learning curve for beginners.
  • Integrations: ClickFunnels has a more extensive integration ecosystem, allowing for deeper connections with various third-party tools and services.

See Clickfunnels 2.0 Review — Pros and Cons

Systeme.io vs Kartra

Kartra is another popular all-in-one platform that offers a suite of tools similar to Systeme.io. Here’s how they compare:

  • Pricing: Kartra’s pricing is higher than Systeme.io, with plans starting at $99/month. However, Kartra does not offer a free plan.
  • Features: Both platforms offer similar core features, including sales funnels, email marketing, membership sites, and e-commerce capabilities. However, Kartra has more advanced features for video hosting, helpdesk, and calendar scheduling.
  • User Experience: Systeme.io and Kartra have similar user experiences, with drag-and-drop builders and intuitive interfaces.
  • Integrations: Kartra has a more extensive integration ecosystem, allowing for deeper connections with various third-party tools and services.

Systeme.io vs Kajabi

Kajabi is a platform that’s primarily focused on online course creation and membership sites, but it also offers some sales funnel and marketing automation capabilities. Here’s how it compares to Systeme.io:

  • Pricing: Kajabi’s pricing is higher than Systeme.io, with plans starting at $119/month. However, Kajabi does not offer a free plan.
  • Features: While Systeme.io is an all-in-one platform, Kajabi is more specialized in online course creation and membership site management. However, Systeme.io offers a more robust sales funnel and email marketing capabilities.
  • User Experience: Both platforms have user-friendly interfaces, but Kajabi’s course creation and delivery tools are more advanced and tailored for online education.
  • Integrations: Kajabi has a more extensive integration ecosystem, particularly for course-related tools and services.

When considering alternatives to Systeme.io, it’s essential to evaluate your specific business needs and priorities.

If you’re primarily focused on sales funnels and email marketing, ClickFunnels may be a suitable option. If you need more advanced course creation and membership site capabilities, Kajabi might be worth exploring.

Kartra, on the other hand, offers a more comprehensive all-in-one solution similar to Systeme.io, but at a higher price point.

Final Verdict

After an in-depth analysis of Systeme.io’s features, pricing, user experience, and comparisons with other platforms, it’s clear that the platform stands out as a compelling all-in-one solution for entrepreneurs and marketers.

Strengths

  • Affordability: Systeme.io’s pricing structure is one of its major strengths, offering a generous free plan and affordable paid plans that provide excellent value for the features included.
  • User-Friendly Interface: The platform’s intuitive and visually appealing interface, combined with drag-and-drop functionality, makes it accessible to users of all skill levels, minimizing the learning curve.
  • Comprehensive Feature Set: Systeme.io covers a wide range of essential business tools, including sales funnel builders, email marketing, online course hosting, e-commerce capabilities, and business automation tools, making it a true all-in-one platform.
  • Robust Sales Funnel Builder: The advanced sales funnel builder, complete with A/B testing, automation rules, and deadline funnels, stands out as one of Systeme.io’s strongest features, empowering users to create highly optimized and engaging sales campaigns.
  • Email Marketing and Automation: Systeme.io’s email marketing and automation capabilities are robust, allowing for effective lead nurturing, customer engagement, and streamlined business processes.
  • Online Course Hosting and E-commerce: The platform’s ability to host and sell online courses, as well as manage e-commerce operations for both digital and physical products, makes it a versatile solution for various business models.

Limitations

  • Limited Advanced Features: While Systeme.io covers a broad range of features, it may lack some advanced or niche functionalities found in dedicated, specialized tools.
  • Scaling Limitations: The lower-tier plans have limitations on the number of contacts, funnels, and automation rules, which may pose challenges for businesses with larger audiences or more complex operations.
  • Customization Restrictions: While Systeme.io offers customization options, there may be limitations in terms of advanced design customizations or integrations with third-party tools not currently supported.
  • Potential Performance Issues: As with any software, there is a possibility of experiencing performance issues or downtime, which can impact business operations.

Updates and Roadmap

It’s worth noting that Systeme.io is constantly evolving and releasing updates to address user feedback and stay competitive in the market.

The platform has a public roadmap where users can see upcoming features and improvements, and the developers are responsive to user requests and suggestions.

Recommendation

Overall, Systeme.io emerges as a compelling all-in-one platform for entrepreneurs, small to medium-sized businesses, and marketers seeking an affordable and user-friendly solution.

Its comprehensive feature set, intuitive interface, and robust sales funnel and email marketing capabilities make it a strong contender in the market.

For businesses with more advanced or niche requirements or those with larger audiences or complex operations, it may be worth exploring more specialized or enterprise-level solutions.

However, for many users, Systeme.io offers an excellent balance of features, affordability, and ease of use.

Based on the analysis, Systeme.io receives a rating of 8.5/10, recognizing its strengths while acknowledging its limitations.

It is a platform that deserves consideration for those seeking an all-in-one solution to streamline their online business operations.

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