Funnel X ROI Review (2026): What David Dekel's "Free" Funnel Really Costs

Our Quick Take

Funnel X ROI is an affiliate funnel created by David Dekel. It is marketed as free to join, with a done-for-you sales funnel "worth $1,997" and claims that members can earn about $300 a day in 15 minutes. Once inside, members are directed through setup screens that ask them to buy into five third-party tools and programs, including a cash gifting program, an MLM and Dekel's own software.

Reviewers are critical. The Make Money Online Blog estimates the real cost at $782 to $3,574 before ad spend, and rates it 0.5 stars. Center for Work Life estimates $880 to $5,952 upfront plus about $50 a month. The biggest concern is Easy1Up, which BehindMLM describes as a cash gifting scheme, a model state regulators have warned is an illegal pyramid scheme. This review explains how the funnel works and why we would avoid it.

Who Is David Dekel?

David Dekel is the owner and trainer behind Funnel X ROI. The Make Money Online Blog says he began affiliate marketing in 2014, and that his first product, an email course called Stealth List Building Formula, received "very mixed reviews." He also created ROI Panel, one of the tools Funnel X ROI asks members to buy, which gives him a direct financial interest in members' purchases.

How Funnel X ROI Works

1. Join for free through an invitation or affiliate link.
2. Work through four or five setup screens, each directing you to join a third-party tool or program.
3. Provide proof of purchase to move on, according to The Make Money Online Blog, although Dekel describes the purchases as optional.
4. Buy solo ads to send traffic to your funnel.
5. Earn from referrals into the same programs you joined.

The "free" funnel is really a gateway into the add-on programs. Members earn mainly when the people they recruit join those same programs, which means income depends on recruitment rather than on selling a product people want for its own sake.

The Five Add-On Programs

What Is Easy1Up, and Why It Matters

BehindMLM's 2016 review describes Easy1Up as a "five-tier pass-up cash gifting" program with no retail products. New members "gift" $25, $100, $250 or $500, plus a 10% admin fee, to the person who recruited them, and some payments are passed up to the recruiter's own recruiter. BehindMLM concludes that the income opportunity is the real product, predicts collapse once recruitment slows, and links the program to Peter Wolfing.

State regulators have repeatedly warned about gifting schemes. In 2021, Oregon officials warned that gifting clubs are illegal pyramid schemes, as KTVZ reported. Regardless of how the program is labelled, joining a scheme where income depends on new members' payments puts your money at risk, and can expose you to legal problems if you recruit others.

How Much Does Funnel X ROI Really Cost?

Funnel X ROI sign-up$0

Best case (The Make Money Online Blog)$782

Center for Work Life low estimate$880

Worst case (The Make Money Online Blog)$3,574

Center for Work Life high estimate$5,952

The Make Money Online Blog totals the add-ons at $782 in the best case and $3,574.40 in the worst case, excluding ad spend. Center for Work Life estimates $880 to $5,952 upfront, plus about $50 a month in subscriptions. Solo ads, which members need to drive traffic, are an extra cost on top.

Refund Policy

Neither main review describes a refund policy for Funnel X ROI. Each add-on has its own terms, and cash gifting payments go to other members rather than to a company, which makes them very hard to recover. Assume you will not get this money back.

What Reviewers Say

• The Make Money Online Blog: 0.5 stars. It calls Funnel X ROI "several pyramid schemes rolled into one" and finds no pros, while also saying it is "borderline" rather than a clear scam.
• Center for Work Life: not a scam in the technical sense, because it delivers a program, but "pay-to-win" and not for beginners. It notes Funnel X ROI does not pay commissions itself.

Both reviews promote other programs, so we checked the specific claims against BehindMLM's independent analysis of Easy1Up.

Is Funnel X ROI a Scam?

We found no FTC action specifically against Funnel X ROI. But we would avoid it. Its "free" funnel leads into paid add-ons costing hundreds or thousands of dollars, one of which BehindMLM describes as a cash gifting scheme, a model state regulators have warned is illegal. The income claims are unsupported, and success depends on recruiting others into the same programs.

Why Recruitment-Based Income Rarely Works

When income comes mainly from new members joining the same programs, early joiners can earn while recruitment is strong. But every new member also needs to recruit to break even, and the pool of willing recruits shrinks quickly. BehindMLM predicts exactly this for Easy1Up: collapse once recruitment slows, with later joiners losing their money. Programs that pay you for selling a useful product to customers who want it do not depend on an ever-growing chain of recruits.

The Solo Ads Cost on Top

Both reviews say Funnel X ROI relies mainly on paid solo ads. That means you pay for the add-ons and then pay again for every visitor you send to the funnel. The Make Money Online Blog notes that solo ads often convert poorly, and Center for Work Life describes the model as "pay-to-win." Add those costs to the add-on totals and the real price of a "free" funnel can climb well beyond the estimates above.

Pros and Cons

Red Flags to Watch for in "Free" Funnels

• "Free" that is not free: setup steps that require buying several other programs.
• Recruitment-based income: money that comes from new members joining, not from customers buying a product.
• Gifting language: "gifts," "donations" or "pass-ups" instead of purchases.
• Creator-owned add-ons: required tools that pay the person promoting them.
• Big daily income claims: such as "$300 a day in 15 minutes."

Our #1 Recommendation for Making Money Online in 2026

If Funnel X ROI isn't the right fit for you, here's what we suggest instead.

After comparing hundreds of programs over the years, we know what works and what doesn't. In fact, most of the business opportunities are either instant cash grab schemes or scams or they require experience. However, this beginner-friendly system stood out and is our #1 recommendation for 2026.

Other Programs Readers Compare

• Formula Profits review: another system with big daily income claims.
• Multiple Income Funnels review: a referral-driven membership.
• Igor Kheifets review: how solo ads work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Our Verdict on Funnel X ROI

Funnel X ROI is free to join, but it funnels members into costly add-ons, including a cash gifting program and an MLM, with income that depends on recruiting. We would avoid it. If you want a better place to start, consider our #1 recommendation for making money online.