How to Build a Sales Funnel in Systeme.io (Free Plan)

You can build a working sales funnel in Systeme.io on the free plan in one afternoon. That funnel can include an opt-in page, a sales page, a checkout, a one-click upsell and an automated email follow-up. The free plan covers a real funnel for a single product. You’ll need a paid plan once you outgrow the funnel, contact or automation limits.

Bottom line

• A complete Systeme.io sales funnel has five parts: lead magnet opt-in, email nurture, sales page, order form and thank-you page. Add an upsell when you’re ready.
• The free plan supports a small number of funnels and contacts. Check the current pricing page for the exact limits before you plan multiple launches.
• Connect Stripe or PayPal before you build pages so the checkout works on the first test.

Create a free Systeme.io account and follow along.

What is a sales funnel in Systeme.io?

A sales funnel in Systeme.io is a linked sequence of pages, called steps, that moves a visitor from first visit to purchase. Each step has one job: collect an email, explain the offer, take payment or confirm the order.

Systeme.io groups these steps inside a single “funnel” object. Every step gets its own URL, template and settings. Because forms, checkout and email live in the same account, you don’t need Zapier or a separate email tool to connect them. That is the main reason creators choose it over stacking several apps together. For the full picture of what’s included, see our Systeme.io review.

What does the free plan include for funnels?

The free plan includes funnels, email marketing, a course, a blog and a checkout with no Systeme.io transaction fee. Plan limits cap how many funnels, steps and contacts you can have.

Systeme.io’s pricing page lists the free plan at up to 2,000 contacts and a small number of funnels. Paid tiers start around $27/month and raise those caps. Limits change, so confirm the current numbers on the pricing page before you plan. Stripe and PayPal still charge their standard processing fees on every sale.

For a deeper look at what you can and can’t do without paying, read our breakdown of the Systeme.io free plan.

Step 1: Set up payments and your domain first

Connect your payment processor and domain before you build any pages. A checkout with no payment gateway can’t be tested, and switching domains later breaks links you’ve already shared.

In Settings, open Payment gateways and connect Stripe, PayPal or both. Stripe handles cards and Apple Pay. PayPal catches buyers who won’t enter a card number.

Next, add your custom domain under Custom domains. You’ll add DNS records at your registrar. Systeme.io shows the exact values. Expect DNS to take anywhere from minutes to a day to propagate.

Finally, fill in your sender name and email under Email settings, and verify the domain for sending. This keeps your follow-up emails out of spam folders.

Step 2: Create the product before the funnel

Create your product inside Systeme.io first. The order form needs something to sell.

If you’re selling a course, build it under Courses. Add at least the module titles so access can be granted automatically. If you’re selling a template or PDF, upload the file as a digital product or deliver it through a thank-you page download.

Pick a single price for launch. One clear offer converts better than three options on day one, and you can add payment plans later.

Step 3: Build the lead magnet opt-in page

The opt-in page trades a free resource for an email address. It is the entry point for cold traffic from Pinterest, social posts or search.

Create a new funnel and choose the Build an audience goal. Systeme.io adds an opt-in step and a thank-you step automatically.

Keep the opt-in page short:

• A headline that names the outcome (“Plan your first course in 7 days”)
• Three bullets on what’s inside
• One form field: email (first name is optional)
• One button

On the thank-you step, deliver the freebie right away and point readers to the paid offer. Visitors are most engaged in the minute after they opt in.

Step 4: Write the email follow-up sequence

An email campaign in Systeme.io is a timed sequence of emails sent to anyone who enters it. Use it to turn new subscribers into buyers.

Under Emails → Campaigns, create a sequence of four to six emails:

1. Deliver the freebie and set expectations.
2. Teach one useful idea from your paid product.
3. Share the problem your product solves and who it’s for.
4. Introduce the offer with a link to the sales page.
5. Answer objections (time, price, “will this work for me”).
6. Last call, if you use a deadline.

Then go back to your opt-in step. Under its automation settings, add a rule: when the form is submitted, subscribe to campaign. Add a tag too, such as “lead-course,” so you can segment later.

Step 5: Build the sales page and order form

The sales page explains the offer, and the order form takes payment. Keep them as two separate steps so you can edit each one without touching the other.

Inside a new funnel with the Sell your product goal, Systeme.io creates a sales page and an order form step. On the sales page, cover:

• The specific result the buyer gets
• What’s included, item by item
• Who it is and isn’t for
• Price and guarantee
• A buy button linking to the order form

On the order form step, attach your product and price under the Products tab. Add an order bump, a small checkbox add-on such as a template pack, to raise your average order value without an extra page.

Then set what happens after purchase. Add an automation rule that enrolls the buyer in the course or sends the download, and tags them as a customer.

Step 6: Add a one-click upsell (optional)

A one-click upsell is an offer shown right after checkout that the buyer can accept without re-entering payment details. It’s the highest-leverage page in most funnels.

Add an upsell step after the order form. Offer something that makes the first purchase faster or easier, like a coaching call, a done-for-you template set or an advanced module. Add a downsell step with a cheaper version for buyers who decline.

Price the upsell close to, or below, the main product. A much larger jump right after a purchase tends to get skipped.

Step 7: Test the whole funnel before launch

Test with a real transaction before you send any traffic. Most broken funnels fail on payment or access, not design.

Run through it as a buyer: opt in, check that the email arrives, click through to the sales page, buy with a live card, accept the upsell, then confirm course access or the download. Refund yourself afterward in Stripe or PayPal.

Check every page on your phone. Most Pinterest and social traffic is mobile, and a cramped order form loses sales.

Who should build their funnel in Systeme.io

Systeme.io fits creators who want one tool for pages, checkout, email and course hosting at little or no monthly cost. It works especially well for:

• First-time course or template sellers validating an offer
• Newsletter writers adding a paid product to an existing list
• Pinterest-driven creators who need fast opt-in pages for many pins

If you’re still choosing a platform, our Kajabi vs Systeme.io comparison covers the trade-offs.

Who should look elsewhere

Look elsewhere if you need advanced design control or deep checkout customization. The same goes if you already run a large email list in another tool. The editor is simpler than dedicated page builders, and complex branching automation sits on paid plans. Sellers moving thousands of contacts will pass the free contact cap quickly. Price out the paid tier before migrating.

FAQ

Can you really build a sales funnel in Systeme.io for free?

Yes. The free plan includes opt-in pages, sales pages, checkout, email campaigns and course hosting, which is enough for one complete funnel. Limits on contacts and funnels apply, so check the current pricing page.

Does Systeme.io take a cut of my sales?

Systeme.io does not charge its own transaction fee on any plan, including free. Stripe and PayPal still charge their standard processing fees on each payment.

How many pages should a beginner funnel have?

Start with five: opt-in, opt-in thank-you, sales page, order form and purchase thank-you. Add an upsell once the core funnel is converting.

Can I use my own domain on the free plan?

Yes. Systeme.io’s free plan allows one custom domain, which makes your pages and emails look more professional. You’ll add DNS records at your domain registrar to connect it.

Start building your funnel

The fastest path to your first sale is a simple funnel live this week, not a perfect funnel next month. Systeme.io lets you build every piece of it (opt-in, emails, sales page, checkout and upsell) without paying for software until you outgrow the limits. Open your free Systeme.io account, connect Stripe, and work through the seven steps above in order. When you need more funnels or contacts, compare the paid Systeme.io plans on the current pricing page.