When it comes to choosing an online shopping cart platform for your business, two of the biggest players in the industry are SamCart and ThriveCart. Both platforms offer a range of features that can help you optimize your sales pages for conversions and increase your revenue.
Samcart and Thrivecart are very similar checkout software products. Samcart offers more customization of its sales pages which is great. Samcart also manages monthly recurring payments which might be beneficial to some people but Thrivecart allows users to use their own Stripe and Paypal accounts which allows you to change checkout software if you need to and not lose your recurring revenues.
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SamCart
SamCart is a full-service e-commerce platform that offers a range of features, including customizable checkout pages, order bumps, and upsells. It also includes a built-in affiliate program, which can help you expand your reach and increase your sales. SamCart is designed to be user-friendly and easy to set up, making it a great option for businesses of all sizes.
ThriveCart
ThriveCart, on the other hand, is primarily focused on digital products. It offers a range of features that can help you sell digital products more effectively, including order bumps, upsells, and downsells. It also includes a powerful affiliate program that can help you increase your sales and reach a wider audience.
Both SamCart and ThriveCart offer a range of integrations with other tools and platforms, making it easy to connect your shopping cart with your email marketing software, payment processor, and other tools. They also both offer a range of customization options, allowing you to create a shopping cart that is tailored to your specific needs and goals.
Core Features Comparison
When it comes to choosing between SamCart and ThriveCart, it’s important to compare their core features. Here’s a breakdown of how each platform stacks up in key areas:
Checkout Pages
Both SamCart and ThriveCart offer a range of customizable checkout page templates that can be tailored to your brand. However, SamCart has a slight edge with its ability to create upsell and bump offer pages directly within the checkout flow.
Sales Funnels
SamCart is the clear winner when it comes to creating sales funnels. Its drag-and-drop funnel builder allows you to easily create and customize multi-step funnels that can include upsells, downsells, and order bumps. ThriveCart does offer a basic funnel builder, but it’s not as robust as SamCart’s.
Upsells and Bump Offers
As mentioned above, SamCart’s ability to create upsell and bump offer pages within the checkout flow is a major advantage. ThriveCart does offer upsells and bump offers, but they’re not as seamlessly integrated into the checkout process.
Affiliate Management
Both platforms offer affiliate management features that allow you to recruit and manage affiliates who promote your products. However, ThriveCart’s affiliate system is more robust and includes features like automatic commission payouts and detailed reporting.
Email Marketing Integration
Both SamCart and ThriveCart integrate with a range of popular email marketing platforms, including Mailchimp, ConvertKit, and AWeber. SamCart also offers a built-in email marketing system that allows you to send broadcast and follow-up emails directly from the platform.
Payment Options
Both platforms support a range of payment options, including PayPal, Stripe, Google Pay, and Apple Pay. SamCart also offers support for Authorize.net and Braintree.
Pricing and Value
Pricing and value are major factors to consider when choosing between SamCart and ThriveCart.
One-Time Fee
Neither SamCart nor ThriveCart offers a one-time fee option. Both platforms require a monthly or yearly subscription fee to access their services.
Free Trial
Both SamCart and ThriveCart offer a free trial period. SamCart offers a 7-day free trial, while ThriveCart offers a 30-day free trial. This gives you ample time to test out the platforms and determine which one is the best fit for your business.
Pricing Plans
SamCart offers three pricing plans: Basic, Pro, and Premium. The Launch plan costs $79 per month, the Grow plan costs $159 per month, and the Premium plan costs $319 per month. Each plan comes with different features and capabilities.
ThriveCart, on the other hand, offers two pricing plans: Standard and Pro. The Standard plan costs $495 as a one-time payment, while the Pro plan costs $690 as a one-time payment. Both plans come with lifetime access to the platform and all its features.
Lifetime Access
ThriveCart offers lifetime access to its platform with both of its pricing plans. This means that you only have to pay once to access all of ThriveCart’s features for life. SamCart, on the other hand, requires a monthly or yearly subscription fee to access its services.
Product and Membership Management
When it comes to managing your products and memberships, both SamCart and ThriveCart offer robust features that can help you sell and deliver your digital and physical products seamlessly.
Digital Products
Both platforms allow you to sell digital products such as ebooks, courses, software, and more. You can upload your digital files, set a price, and start selling in minutes. With ThriveCart, you can also offer upsells and downsells to increase your revenue.
Physical Products
If you sell physical products, both SamCart and ThriveCart have got you covered. You can easily set up shipping rates, taxes, and handling fees. SamCart also offers inventory management, so you can keep track of your stock levels and avoid overselling.
Membership Sites
If you want to create a membership site, SamCart is the way to go. You can create different membership levels, set up recurring payments, and drip content to your members. With ThriveCart, you can sell access to a membership site, but you’ll need to use a third-party tool like MemberPress or Teachable to create the site itself.
Customization and User Experience
When it comes to customizing your checkout page and enhancing the user experience, both SamCart and ThriveCart offer numerous features. Here are some of the key areas to consider:
Templates
Both platforms provide a range of templates to choose from when designing your checkout page. SamCart offers a wider variety of templates, including options for upsells and downsells, whereas ThriveCart has a more limited selection. ThriveCart allows for more customization of their templates, giving you greater control over the look and feel of your checkout page.
Custom Domain
Both SamCart and ThriveCart allow you to use a custom domain for your checkout page. This is a great feature for branding purposes and can help to increase trust with your customers. I’s worth noting that setting up a custom domain can be a bit more complicated with SamCart than with ThriveCart.
Mobile Payment Options
With more and more people using their mobile devices to shop online, it’s important to ensure that your checkout page is optimized for mobile. Both SamCart and ThriveCart offer mobile-responsive checkout pages, but ThriveCart also provides additional mobile payment options, such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, making the checkout process even smoother for mobile users.
Interface
The interface of both platforms is user-friendly and easy to navigate. SamCart has a more polished and modern look, while ThriveCart has a more simplistic design.
Support and Updates
Customer Support
When it comes to customer support, both SamCart and Thrivecart offer a range of options. SamCart provides 24/7 email support, as well as a knowledge base and FAQs on their website. They also offer a live chat option during business hours. Thrivecart, on the other hand, offers email support during business hours, as well as a Facebook group where users can get help from other users and the Thrivecart team.
Refunds
Both SamCart and Thrivecart have refund policies in place. SamCart offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, while Thrivecart offers a 30-day no-questions-asked refund policy. It’s worth noting that both platforms require customers to provide a reason for the refund request.
Updates
Both SamCart and Thrivecart are regularly updated to improve functionality and fix any bugs. SamCart releases updates every few weeks, while Thrivecart releases updates every month. Thrivecart also has a public roadmap where users can see what features are planned for future updates.
In terms of updates, ThriveCart has an edge over SamCart. Thrivecart has a more transparent roadmap, and their updates are more frequent. Both platforms are regularly updated, so you can be sure that your checkout process will stay up-to-date and functional.
Both SamCart and Thrivecart offer solid customer support and refund policies. When it comes to updates, Thrivecart has a slight edge, but both platforms are regularly updated to improve functionality and fix any bugs.
To help you decide to choose between SmartCart and ThriveCart, you can check out this comprehensive review video below:
As you can see, both SamCart and ThriveCart offer powerful e-commerce solutions with a range of features to help you sell your products and services online. The choice ultimately comes down to your specific needs and preferences.