Thrive Architect Vs LeadPages: Which One Is A Better Value for Your Money?
In this Thrive Architect Vs LeadPages article, we are going to see which of these page builder tools actually gives the real value for our money. Which of this is the true bang for the bucks deal?
As you may have already guessed, Thrive Architect and LeadPages both, are page builder software using which you can create landing pages, sales pages, download pages, thank you pages, webinar pages, video replay pages, bonus pages and more.
We use both of these software on a regular basis in our online business. Frankly speaking, we love both these tools.
But… there is always a but… Right?
Although both of these tools serve the same purpose, there exist some major differences, because of which we found it very hard to choose the better one between the two, in our early days as internet marketers.
As time went by, we gradually understood that both of these tools were usable for us at different levels of our business. And they may not be suitable for everyone, all the time.
And that’s why we have written this Thrive Architect Vs LeadPages article. We are going to help you make a better decision when choosing between LeadPages and Thrive Architect, depending on your budget and level of expertise. Now let’s begin our Thrive Architect Vs LeadPages showdown.
Thrive Architect Vs LeadPages: The Major Difference
There is a major difference between these two software when it comes to the core functionality. Among these two page builder tools, LeadPages is a hosted solution whereas Thrive Architect isn’t. Thrive Architect is a page builder WordPress plugin.
What does that mean for you?
It means that for using LeadPages you don’t need a WordPress site or any other site for that matter. It is standalone software. You don’t even need to pay for hosting or a domain name. The pages you design using LeadPages are hosted on their servers.
On the other hand, Thrive Architect needs a WordPress website to be functional. Obviously, that means you need to have a web hosting and a domain name.
This is the biggest difference between LeadPages and Thrive Architect. Now let’s have a look at the other differences that are noteworthy.
Thrive Architect Features Vs LeadPages Features
Thrive Architect Features
Let’s first look at the features that Thrive Architect offers.
Types of Pages
You can design any kind of web page using the Thrive Architect WordPress plugin. We mainly use it to design the lead capture pages, affiliate promotion pages, and bridge pages.
You can even create sales pages, bonus pages, download pages, thank you pages, and more, using Thrive Architect. You can also use this page builder plugin it to design an entire website.
Page Editor
The Thrive Architect editor is purely drag-and-drop. It works quite smoothly. However, it has a small learning curve. Each and every element on the editor canvas can be modified. You can also add more elements to the page as you need.
Page and Traffic Limitations
You can create unlimited pages using Thrive Architect. There is absolutely no limit. However, the number of visitors you can have on the pages you create depends on your web hosting plan.
Page Templates
There are more than 300 pre-made conversion focussed templates available inside Thrive Architect, which you can edit and use for your campaigns. You can also build a page from scratch using an ‘element’ from inside Thrive Architect.
An element is a ‘page building block’ that can be added to your page to increase its functionality. Here are the most frequently used page elements available inside Thrive Architect.
- Call to Action Buttons
- Lead Generation Forms
- Styled Lists
- Content Reveal
- Content Boxes
- Testimonials
- Pricing Tables
- Contact Forms
- Call-to-action Box
- Credit Card Icons
- Animated Countdown Timers
- Guarantee Boxes
- Paragraph/Text Block
- Heading Block
- Image Block
- Background Section
- Column Layout
- Click To Tweet Element
- WordPress Content
- Data Tables
- Social Share
- Fill Counter
- Facebook Comments
- Disqus Comments
- Fully Scalable (Retina) Icons
- Custom Menu
- Divider
- Progress Bar
- Post Grid
- Responsive Video Embed
- Star Rating
- Google Maps
- Custom HTML/CSS
- Table of Contents
Are These Pages Mobile Friendly?
Pages built with Thrive Architect are responsive. Also, there is an option to ‘hide’ or ‘show’ elements on different devices. Meaning, you can make an image shown on laptops and desktops and hide it on mobile devices and tablets.
Pop Ups
You can design beautiful pop-ups using the ‘Thrive Lightbox’ feature that comes with Thrive architect. However, if you are an advanced user and want to take your ‘pop up’ game to the next level you can use another thrive plugin named ‘Thrive Leads’, which we use in our business. Using ‘Thrive Architect’ with ‘Thrive Leads’ can take your list building efforts to the next level.
Integrations
Thrive Architect integrates with most of the major email service providers and marketing platforms. Some of the popular names in that list would be GetResponse, Aweber, ConvertKit, Zapier, InfusionSoft, SendLane, WebinarJam Studio, and more.
These were some of the important features of the Thrive Architect page builder. Now let’s compare these with LeadPages features.
LeadPages Features
What Can You Create?
You can create literally any kind of marketing page using the LeadPages software. Here are the type of pages you can create.
- About & bio pages
- Check out pages
- Consultation pages
- Contest & giveaway pages
- Event pages
- Free resource and download pages
- Lead capture pages
- Newsletter and signup pages
- Offer, discount, and coupon pages
- Sales pages
- Thank you and confirmation pages
- Waitlist and coming soon pages
- Webinar and virtual event pages
Is There Any Limit?
There is absolutely no limit on the number of pages you can create using LeadPages. There is also no limit to the traffic you can have on these pages. You can have unlimited traffic.
Page Responsiveness
Pages created with LeadPages are extremely responsive and look really beautiful on any device no matter whether you are using a laptop, tablet, or a mobile phone.
Integrations
At the time of writing this article, LeadPages had more integration options when compared to Thrive Architect. LeadPages right now has 40+ integrations with many advanced integration options.
Using LeadPages you can even book/schedule appointments and collect payments easily. Online sales payment options are available in LeadPages Pro and Advanced plans only.
Site Creation
Using LeadPages you can now create an entire site without doing any coding yourself. Everything can be done by simply dragging and dropping elements on to your canvas. These sites are also SEO friendly and are built to convert.
Free Custom Domain
If you purchase the LeadPages annual subscription you get a free custom domain name.
Pop-Ups and Other Conversion Tools
Pop-ups in LeadPages are called LeadBoxes. You can create unlimited LeadBoxes using your LeadPages account. There are other conversion tools available inside your LeadPages account, like the email trigger links, Opt-in text campaign options, and alert bars.
Lead Notification Feature
This is a unique LeadPages feature which you will not find in Thrive Architect. With this feature, you can get subscriber notification data directly sent to your email address, whenever a customer opts-in to one of your landing pages. You don’t need to have an active email marketing subscription to get this feature.
Lead Magnet Delivery
With this feature, you can deliver your lead magnets directly to your subscriber’s email inboxes once they sign up for on your landing pages. The best part is that you don’t need an email marketing service to make it happen. (Even Thrive Architect has lead asset delivery option. However, it requires a 3rd party service provider).
LeadPages Vs Thrive Architect: Plans and Pricing Comparison
Now let’s look at the different plans available for each of these software and their pricing differences.
Thrive Architect Plans and Pricing
Thrive Architect page builder plugin can be purchased as a standalone product or as a part of a membership plan.
Thrive Architect Licenses
If you don’t want to go the membership route, Thrive Architect can be purchased under a ‘single license‘ or as a ‘5 sites license pack‘.
Single License
With the single license, you can install Thrive Architect on one of your WordPress websites. This license also comes with all the available features, access to 270+ templates, lifetime updates, and one year support. You can get this license for a one time payment of $67, for lifetime access.
>>>Check Out Thrive Architect Pricing<<<
5 Sites License Pack
With this license, you can install Thrive Architect on up to 5 of your websites. You also get access to the complete set of features, unlimited updates, one year support and access to all the templates. This 5 sites license is going to cost you $97 one time fee for lifetime access.
Thrive Themes Membership
If you want to get the complete set of conversion boosting Thrive tools and WordPress themes, you can get the Thrive Themes Membership plan. This membership gives you access to all the Thrive plugins and themes for a small payment of $19/month when you pay annually.
You can use these themes and plugins on up to 25 WordPress websites. You get access to all the templates, unlimited updates, and unlimited support. With this plan, you also get 30+ exclusive training courses.
Some of the popular Thrive themes and plugins that are part of this membership plan are Thrive Architect, Thrive Leads (for amazing pop-ups), Thrive Optimize (for A/B testing), ShapeShift theme with Thrive theme builder, Thrive quiz builder, etc.
Now let’s see the plans and pricing for LeadPages.
LeadPages Plans and Pricing
LeadPages subscription can be purchased under three different plans. Standard, Pro and Advanced. If you decide to buy the Standard plan, it will cost you $25/month for the yearly subscription and $37/month for the monthly subscription.
Similarly, the Pro and the Advanced plans will cost you $48/month and $199/month for the annual plans and $79/month and $321/month for the monthly plans, respectively. Here’s what you are going to get with each of these LeadPages plans.
>>>Sign Up for LeadPages 14 Days Trial<<<
LeadPages Standard Plan
- 1 Site
- Landing Pages, Pop-Ups, Alert Bars
- Unlimited Traffic & Leads
- Free Custom Domain with annual purchase
- Free Hosting
- Mobile-Responsive Templates
- Lead Notifications
- Tech Support (via Email)
- 40+ Standard Integrations
Pro Plan
Everything in the Standard plan and the following.
- Online Sales and Payments feature
- Unlimited A/B Split Testing
- Email Trigger Links
- 10 Opt-in Text Campaigns
Advanced Plan
Everything in the Standard and the Pro plan and the following.
- Advanced Integrations
- Includes 5 Pro Sub Accounts
- 50 Extra Opt-in Text Campaigns
- 1-on-1 Quick Start Call
Do These Tools Slowdown Your Websites?
As LeadPages is a hosted solution, there is no question of slow websites. Your website speed will not be affected if you use LeadPages and integrate it with your blog or website.
But that is not the case with Thrive Architect. We have noticed that Thrive Architect and other Thrive plugins have a tendency to slow down WordPress websites. We are not talking about major slowdowns. But they do tend to decrease the speed because they are functioning using your web hosting resources.
What Happens To Your Pages If You Cancel The Subscription?
Thrive Architect and LeadPages both, act completely differently when it comes to your page status after cancelling the subscription.
What Happens If You Cancel Thrive Membership?
When it comes to Thrive Architect, the single license and the 5 site license are lifetime licenses. So there is no question of cancellation of membership.
The Thrive Membership plan, however, can be cancelled. If you cancel the Thrive subscription, the pages you created with the software, remain online. Nothing happens to the pages that are already created.
Here’s what the Thrive team says about their membership cancellation.
” Your website will remain intact as far as Thrive Themes products are concerned. We won’t remotely deactivate the products or anything like that. You’ll receive bug fixes and small updates for the products you have installed.
Obviously, you won’t be able to download any major updates or new products. Your support will end with your membership.”
Now, that’s a relief.
Let’s see what happens to your published pages once you cancel your LeadPages subscription.
What Happens If You Cancel LeadPages Membership?
You will lose all your published pages if you cancel the LeadPages subscription. Because these pages are hosted on LeadPages servers, LeadPages will not keep them active once you stop paying for their services, which also includes the hosting fees.
Now, this is one of the biggest differences between Thrive Architect and LeadPages. Before concluding this Thrive Architect Vs LeadPages article let’s see which one is actually better for your online business based on the things we discussed above.
Which Is Better? : The Verdict
We have been using both these software in our business for more than 5 years now. Here’s what we think.
Why Thrive Architect Is Better?
If you want true value for your money get the Thrive Architect plugin as a standalone product or use it as a part of the Thrive Membership plan. As you saw in our pricing comparison section above, Thrive Architect costs only a fraction of what it costs to buy the LeadPages subscription.
A single Thrive Architect license costs $67 for lifetime access whereas LeadPages standard version costs $37 per month. That’s a huge price difference. Also, the fact that we lose all our published pages if we cancel our LeadPages account, is a real let down.
But does that mean LeadPages is a loser in this battle?
Absolutely not.
Why LeadPages is Better?
Personally speaking, we felt that using LeadPages was much easier than using Thrive Architect. The LeadPages user interface is real smooth. So if you are technically challenged, LeadPages should be a better choice.
Also, when it comes to page responsiveness, we found out that pages built with LeadPages were much better than the pages built with Thrive Architect.
And when it comes to integrations, we believe that LeadPages has a slight edge over Thrive Architect. Also, the features like Lead Notification and Lead Magnet delivery are very unique to LeadPages.
Who Is It For?
Who Should Buy Thrive Architect?
You should buy Thrive Architect
- If you have a limited budget to spend on page builders.
- If you have a WordPress site.
- If you want total control and flexibility while designing pages.
You should buy LeadPages
- If you want beautiful, conversion optimised pages that are extremely responsive.
- If you want to run paid advertising campaigns.
- If you don’t want to have a WordPress website.
- If you want Lead Notifications and Lead magnet delivery features.
- If you want great customer support.
And that concludes our Thrive Architect Vs LeadPages showdown. If you have any question contact us.