Keap vs Systeme.io
Keap and Systeme.io are both popular choices in the all-in-one marketing platform space. Keap has been around since 2001, giving it a 16-year head start over Systeme.io (founded 2017). Systeme.io is the more affordable option at $17/mo — that's $282 less per month than Keap's $299/mo entry point. Systeme.io offers a free plan (2,000 contacts, unlimited emails, 3 funnels (15 steps), 1 blog, 1 course, 1 automation workflow, 1 custom domain), while Keap does not. Keap has the edge with A/B testing, SMS marketing, advanced analytics.
Quick Verdict
Systeme.io wins on price, deliverability, rating, free tier.
Best for most users: Systeme.io (solopreneurs).
Keap
CRM-powered sales and marketing automation for small businesses
Keap (formerly Infusionsoft, founded 2001, acquired by Thryv in 2024) is a premium all-in-one CRM and marketing automation platform built for sales-driven small businesses that need contact management, email sequences, SMS marketing, invoicing, and appointment scheduling in a single tool. Its strength lies in powerful automation workflows and a dedicated Customer Success Manager, but the $299/month starting price for just 1,500 contacts makes it one of the most expensive options in its category.
Systeme.io
Budget-friendly all-in-one marketing platform for solopreneurs
Systeme.io is a bootstrapped French all-in-one marketing platform founded by Aurelien Amacker in 2017 that bundles email marketing, sales funnels, online courses, blogs, affiliate management, and payment processing starting at $0/month with 2,000 contacts and unlimited emails. With its $17/month Startup plan and $97/month Unlimited tier, it targets solopreneurs and creators who want to consolidate their entire marketing stack without paying for multiple subscriptions, though it trades design flexibility and advanced features for simplicity and affordability.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Keap | Systeme.io |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.2/5 | 4.8/5 |
| Starting Price | $299/mo | $17/mo |
| Free Plan | No free plan | 2,000 contacts, unlimited emails, 3 funnels (15 steps), 1 blog, 1 course, 1 automation workflow, 1 custom domain |
| Founded | 2001 | 2017 |
| Email Templates | 70 | 50 |
| Integrations | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| Deliverability Rate | 93% | 95% |
| Marketing Automation | ✓ | ✓ |
| A/B Testing | ✓ | ✕ |
| Landing Pages | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segmentation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Drag & Drop Editor | ✓ | ✓ |
| SMS Marketing | ✓ | ✕ |
| Ecommerce Features | ✓ | ✓ |
| API Access | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-Language | ✕ | ✓ |
| Web Push Notifications | ✕ | ✕ |
| Live Chat | ✓ | ✕ |
| Advanced Analytics | ✓ | ✕ |
Keap: Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Powerful drag-and-drop automation builder that handles complex multi-step sales workflows with conditional triggers
- +True all-in-one platform combining CRM, email, SMS, invoicing, payments, and appointment scheduling
- +Dedicated Customer Success Manager included with every plan for hands-on onboarding and support
- +Deep contact management with tagging, segmentation, and centralized views that reduce manual data entry
- +Built-in text marketing with tiered messaging plans and voice minutes integrated directly into automations
Cons
- −Extremely expensive at $299/month for only 1,500 contacts, with costs escalating quickly for additional contacts and users
- −Steep learning curve with complex campaign builder layouts and no undo button, causing frustration during setup
- −Email marketing capabilities feel half-baked compared to dedicated email platforms despite the premium pricing
- −Invoicing feature is rigid and does not support hourly billing or flexible customization
- −Dated mobile experience and slow feature development compared to more agile competitors like GoHighLevel
Systeme.io: Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Exceptionally generous free plan with 2,000 contacts, unlimited emails, funnels, blog, course, and affiliate program management
- +All-in-one platform replaces 5-6 separate tools (email, funnels, courses, blog, affiliate management, payments) at a fraction of the cost
- +Startup plan reduced to just $17/month in May 2025 while competitors raised prices, offering outstanding value
- +60% lifetime recurring affiliate commission with second-tier payouts makes it one of the highest-paying affiliate programs in SaaS
- +Zero transaction fees on any plan with support for Stripe, PayPal, Razorpay, Flutterwave, Mercado Pago, and Paystack
Cons
- −Limited design customization -- pages and emails lack the visual polish of dedicated tools like Leadpages or Mailchimp
- −No A/B split testing for emails, limiting optimization capabilities for serious email marketers
- −Community feature has no dedicated mobile app, requiring browser-based access which feels outdated
- −Recurring technical issues reported by users including Stripe integration failures and payment messaging problems lasting multiple days
- −Course creation is functional but basic compared to specialized platforms like Teachable or Thinkific
The Verdict
Systeme.io edges ahead with a 4.8/5 rating compared to Keap's 4.2/5. The gap comes mainly from value for money (4.9 vs 3.7) and deliverability (4.6 vs 3.9). On deliverability, Systeme.io reports 95% compared to 93% for Keap — a meaningful difference if inbox placement is critical for your campaigns.
| Criterion | Weight | Keap | Systeme.io |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $299/mo | $17/mo |
| Deliverability | 25% | 93% | 95% |
| Rating | 25% | 4.2/5 | 4.8/5 |
| Integrations | 10% | 5000 | 5000 |
| Free Tier | 10% | No | Yes |
Weights determine how much each criterion counts toward the final score. See full methodology
Choose Keap if…
- + You need SMS marketing
- + You need A/B testing
- + You need advanced analytics
- + You're a sales driven small businesses
Choose Systeme.io if…
- + You want lower starting costs ($17/mo)
- + You need a free plan to get started
- + You're a solopreneurs
- + You're a course creators