I’m always on the lookout for tools to help me streamline the many resources I use to run my digital businesses.
A great all-in-one platform can save me a significant amount of time and help cut costs, which is something I’m sure you’d appreciate for your own business too.
My search led me to GoHighLevel, along with other alternatives I’ve reviewed here, like Kajabi, Systeme.io, ClickFunnels, and Kartra.
So, is GoHighLevel legit?
Does it live up to the hype?
Having used GoHighLevel in practice, I can say it’s definitely worth your time to hear about my experience before committing to an annual subscription.
I’ll keep it short, sweet, and insightful.
We’ll also tap comparisons with GHL alternatives like Kajabi, ClickFunnels, and Systeme.
That way, you’ll make a buy decision you won’t regret.
What I like about GoHighLevel 👍
- All-in-one platform: GoHighLevel combines essential sales and marketing tools to replace multiple standalone solutions.
- SMS messaging: Two-way communication that’s more engaging than traditional email.
- Robust CRM: Comparable to ActiveCampaign and ClickFunnels in features.
- Advanced automation: Strong workflow tools for segmentation, contact management, and custom processes.
- Cost-effective: Plans from $97-$497/month, competitive with Kajabi and ClickFunnels alternatives ($150+/month).
- SaaSPreneur program: Popular among agency owners for GoHighLevel reselling.
- Integration-friendly: Works with Zapier, email tools, and texting platforms.
What I don’t like about GoHighLevel 👎
- Email broadcasts can get costly with more subscribers: You pay $0.01 per email, which, with say, 30,000 subscribers, can blast past $300 per month. That’s more expensive than the $297 Unlimited plan.
- Jack of all trades and a master of few? While workflow automations are pretty good, alternative platforms go deeper for several of the other key functions, such as course creation, community engagement, etc. But then again the likes of Kajabi cost over $159/month to create or sell more than 3 courses/products.
- Ideal for digital agencies and software resellers: GoHighLevel’s capabilities will make the most sense (and ROI) if you are doing B2B business, not so much if you are a content creator.
Upfront bottomline
I like that GoHighLevel bundles a wide range of tools under one roof.
For digital agencies that aren’t focused on flashy features, some of these tools—like the CRM and sales funnel builder—can easily replace platforms like ClickFunnels and Kajabi.
However, while tools for course creation and memberships are functional, they don’t stand out as special.
That said, GoHighLevel offers unlimited funnels, websites, and products starting at just $97/month, which is a huge plus for agencies managing multiple clients or projects.
I think this pricing structure aligns perfectly with their target market.
Plus, I love the organization it provides (I can create and manage sub-accounts for different clients under a single main account).
Overview: What Does GoHighLevel Do?
GoHighLevel aims to be a comprehensive platform that meets most of your agency’s digital sales and marketing needs.
It includes tools for email marketing, course creation, workflow automation, CRM, website and landing page building, and more.
Its goal is to replace all the other tools you might currently be using, and it’s not shy about that.
Picture this:
GHL is unique from most similar platforms (like ClickFunnels and Kajabi) as a place for marketing agencies and software resellers.
Its pricing seems fair, too ($97, $297, and $497).
Or is it? We’ll see.
GHL Interface
The GoHighLevel dashboard has a friendly, straightforward layout that makes it easy to jump right in and get to work.
It provides valuable progress and performance details, including lead sources, leads in the pipeline, conversion rates, assigned tasks for specific users, custom KPIs, reports, and more.
Add more data in there, and it still feels clean and well-organized.
I also like that you can create multiple dashboards if you want to organize different reports in separate dashboards.
It is also great for maintaining different views for the account owner (you) and sub-accounts (your customers).
GoHighLevel Funnels
To build a client’s website, make landing pages, or create a sales funnel in GoHighLevel, you must first create a sub-account by adding their details.
After this, switch to the created sub-account (“Switch to Sub-Account”), click on Sites, and then Funnels. No worries. It took me several tries before I got the flow, too.
HighLevel Funnels lets you create unlimited sales funnels, unlike platforms like Kajabi that have limits.
Additionally, there are decent funnel templates (more than 1,000) to get you started quickly here.
From my experience, you won’t need much expertise to create landing pages and sales funnels with GoHighLevel.
You can also customize the templates yourself or have GoHighLevel do it for you.
I chose myself because I wanted to create elaborate, custom funnels from scratch with its drag-and-drop builder. You just add the steps.
Something else here.
GoHighLevel’s Snapshots feature lets you clone successful funnels to sub-accounts, saving setup time.
You can also copy individual steps, split test, and edit your funnels.
Additionally, GoHighLevel allows for trigger-based notifications to keep you updated on your lead progression.
It seamlessly integrates voice calls, SMS, and Facebook Messenger into your funnels, furthering your lead nurturing efforts.
Plus, its visual pipeline management makes tracking leads a breeze, with the option to automatically move underperforming leads to different campaigns.
👉 To simplify things further, GHL offers a ClickFunnels import feature for easy funnel migration.
Page and Website Builder
GoHighLevel lets you create pages from scratch or select a template to customize using the intuitive drag-and-drop builder.
You are also free to add ready-made page sections as you please. Or, use code to create custom functions.
It feels as smooth as Elementor for WordPress, by the way. Then again, Elementor offers a bit more, like:
- A wider array of custom fonts/typography
- Robust text animations
- Extensive widget library, and
- Advanced background capabilities, such as parallax scrolling, video backgrounds, and more
Yet, I dare say HighLevel will be sufficient for many (most) of your clients.
The pages can integrate directly with your GHL sales and marketing automation features, including CRM, appointment scheduling, and email capture/nurturing/pipeline.
Pretty handy!
I also like that you can create “global sections” or page sections that are automatically filled in when you create new pages, saving you time and ensuring a consistent look and feel throughout. Another Elementor-like function I love.
With Brand Boards (under “Marketing>Brand Boards”), you can do the same for texts and other branding essentials.
And, yes, the stats page shows everything happening on your sub-accounts website, including page visits and sales.
Email Marketing
For email marketing automation, GoHighLevel lets you create intricate email campaigns and sequences, complete with triggers and automatic follow-ups.
You can easily add links in both emails and SMS texts, allowing you to track your recipients’ actions and trigger automated interactions—something I like.
You can also save, send, or schedule emails for optimal times. This is great for reaching your audience when they’re most likely to open.
GoHighLevel suggests Mailgun for bulk emails (their LC service may have lower delivery rates).
However, GoHighLevel offers unlimited contacts, campaigns, and emails, even on the base plan. It’s uncommon, especially if you’re used to platforms like Kajabi and ClickFunnels.
👎 Now, I heard there are over 400 customizable email templates on HighLevel. Despite searching the Template Library, I was unable to locate them within a sub-account (Sub-Account Mode).
You do get quite a variety of templates when you switch to Agency Mode.
And, you can add your custom-made templates although you’ll have to be on the $497 per month reseller plan.
Within a sub-account, I could only see these six plain templates and the option to create and save email templates from scratch (and reuse them in other campaigns).
Here’s what one of them, the “Strategic Planning” template, looks like inside the GHL email design editor:
Not too shoddy, but not special either.
However, I do like that GHL integrates workflow automation into email marketing, including:
- Welcome and Thank You emails
- Automated abandoned cart messages
- Follow-ups for lead nurturing
- Split testing for conversion optimization, and more.
Additionally, real-time analytics provide insights into your email campaign performance. And this can help you seize opportunities or address any potential misses as they come up.
HighLevel CRM
GoHighLevel’s CRM tool reminds me of ClickFunnels, which feels thorough.
GoHighLevel includes a client portal that allows you to track project progress and view past communications.
Its workflow automation feature helps you streamline tasks like contact management, segmentation, and lead movement through your pipeline.
Plus, and this is a big plus: GoHighLevel facilitates engaging interactions with leads through text messages (SMS/MMS), voicemail drops, and Facebook Messenger. This flexibility means you can connect with different customer segments through their preferred communication channels.
Just a heads up, though—SMS charges apply separately from the subscription fee.
I also like the GoHighLevel Social Planner.
It lets you create, save, edit, schedule, post, and analyze your social media content across various channels.
It works like a solid replacement for social media scheduling tools like Buffer, SproutSocial, and HootSuite—without any additional costs.
But that’s not all; the CRM tool also offers several helpful features:
- Schedule appointments directly within the platform from the Calendars tab.
- Merge multi-channel communications to support your clients’ preferred methods of communication and relationship-building.
- Use tags and smart lists to segment customers for more targeted campaigns.
- Add extensive customer data to each entry under the Opportunity tab, giving you a clearer understanding of your prospects, leads, and customers as they move through your visual pipeline.
- Advanced lead scoring helps prioritize lead nurturing based on their actions along your pipeline.
And speaking of leads, let’s talk about the key products and services you can sell on GoHighLevel.
GoHighLevel Products
Like Kajabi, ClickFunnels, and Systeme.io, GHL supports small and comprehensive courses, complete with memberships, communities, and other related resources.
👉 GHL also lets you sell physical products using e-commerce pages, like Systeme.io. But Dropshipping is not available.
GoHighLevel courses support a variety of content formats, including audio, video, and documents.
This means you can cater to different learning styles and appeal to a broader range of students.
Plus, it lets you import a course from Kajabi, adding even more flexibility to your course creation efforts.
In my experience, dedicated online course tools like Kajabi, LearnWorlds, and Thinkific offer more sophisticated options. These include course dripping, social profiles, and advanced community building and management tools. However, GHL’s offerings will suffice for many creators.
GoHighLevel also provides course certificates and various payment options, including installment plans and free courses.
You can easily link your courses to your community for quick access and to enhance monetization potential.
What I particularly like is how straightforward it is to integrate course products directly with your sales funnels and CRM for automated nurturing, lead scoring, conversions, follow-ups, and more.
It’s one of my go-to favorites about Kajabi, too.
Reputation Management by GHL
Ratings are crucial online, and GoHighLevel understands that well.
So, it automatically sends review requests via SMS, email, and QR code after a transaction.
This feature ensures you don’t miss any opportunities to build credibility and trust with your audience.
You can also monitor online reviews about your services or business, allowing you to respond appropriately.
For instance, you can redirect negative feedback to a private form before it’s made public.
Or, you can choose who can leave a comment based on their rating.
This approach empowers you to engage directly with clients to resolve their issues without damaging your reputation.
Plus, GoHighLevel simplifies things by letting you review client feedback across various platforms—like Yext, Google (Google My Business), and Facebook—directly from your GHL account. Pretty neat!
GHL Integrations
The platform supports standard integration options across payment processing, social media, and Zapier.
Additionally, the App Marketplace, which features both paid and free app integrations, is accessible in Agency Mode (for account owners) as well as for your clients in sub-account mode.
I found around 350 apps across various business areas, including SMS and live chat integrations, social media, and marketing automation tools.
You can also integrate WhatsApp and Twilio for texting, enable two-way syncing with other CRMs, and manage appointments and scheduling with Google Calendar.
Plus, QuickBooks integration is available for financial management, among other options.
HighLevel Reselling and SaaSpreneur Program
This is one of GoHighLevel’s biggest draws.
Just remember that you need to be in Agency Mode (not within a Sub-Account) in the Reselling tab to access these capabilities.
The Unlimited Plan (for $297/month) lets you fully rebrand your GHL sub-accounts and customize each one’s features.
You can create unlimited sub-accounts for an unlimited number of clients—designed specifically for agencies—at no extra cost.
With this plan, you can add as many sub-accounts (client accounts) as you wish.
Plus, you get API access to integrate different tools into your tech stack and provide even more value to your clients.
👎 To resell these ready-to-go GHL sub-accounts at a markup, you’ll need to get the $497/month SaaS Pro plan.
When you do this, you can also resell other software solutions to your customers (sub-accounts) at a markup.
GoHighLevel requires you to charge a minimum of $97 per month for each client.
This means you’ll need at least five clients renewing monthly to break even. Any additional clients beyond that will contribute directly to your income.
The tools you can resell within your sub-accounts include core services like Google Ad Manager, WordPress, Conversation AI, and WhatsApp, as well as dozens of Marketplace apps such as AWeber, Constant Contact, and Wrike.
If you want to succeed with the GoHighLevel reseller program, I strongly encourage you to add valuable frameworks, snapshots, ready-to-go integrations, and custom tools/workflows to your sub-accounts before reselling them.
Otherwise, you might not add much value to what GoHighLevel already provides, and your clients (sub-accounts) may prefer to go directly through GoHighLevel instead of paying your marked-up price.
Additionally, the SaaS Mode supports white-labeling for iPhone/Android and desktop apps, allowing you to present them as your own.
From these apps, you can manage all your social media, SMS, and email interactions from one central location.
Or, you can “gray-label” a mobile app to connect your GHL leads without them needing to go back to your branded GHL pages.
In total, these are three different mobile apps you can choose from based on your goals.
GoHighLevel Pricing and Support Plans
I like that HighLevel’s support is available right from the dashboard (the Help and live chat buttons on the top right and bottom left).
Once you sign up for a trial, you gain free access to a welcome course, onboarding video tutorials, and a phone number for support. And yes, they actually answer!
👉 I did reach out to Travis (their tech support guy) for help with creating funnels and websites, which I had searched all over for. The response came within 24 hours, the follow-ups were awesome. He certainly knew his stuff around the platform, which is always a plus.
As for payment plans, there’s a robust Starter plan available for $97, which includes unlimited contacts, emails, products, funnels, and more.
Still, you’ll likely want to consider upgrading to the $297/month plan for comprehensive agency needs. Alternatively, you can resell the GHL platform as a SaaS for $497/month.
For support, expect a vibrant Facebook Group community, paid onboarding, and a done-for-you setup option (also paid).
There’s 24/7 live chat available directly from your GHL dashboard, along with helpful documentation for self-service assistance.
Need help configuring GHL?
Setup plans are available for an additional cost, including a $297 option for HIPAA compliance if that’s something you require.
GoHighLevel Alternatives
All in all, GoHighLevel bills itself as a complete online business platform.
Although it isn’t as comprehensive in specific areas as some other platforms (like Kajabi and Podia for courses and communities), it does a good job in most domains.
You’ll likely want to run with it if you’re pragmatic.
In this regard, the top alternatives to GHL are ClickFunnels, Kajabi, Systeme, and Kartra.
Check out these more in-depth reviews of the best GoHighLevel alternatives I’ve used so far:
- ClickFunnels is a great CRM and funnel building alternative to GHL. Or, see my GoHighLevel vs ClickFunnels review here.
- Kajabi offers excellent online tools for course creators, coaches, and gamifying communities. It’s equally pricier. Check out my unbiased GoHighLevel vs Kajabi hands-on review here.
- Systeme.io is the most affordable GoHighLevel alternative around. Find my honest GoHighLevel vs Systeme.io comparison here.
- Kartra is a powerful GHL alternative but pricier than Systeme.io and GoHighLevel.
