So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you have actually seen the glowing testimonials. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Read exactly how it could replace your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) Can I Use GoHighLevel For Free.
I get it. The promise is appealing: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the idea of simplifying everything under one roofing sounds like an efficiency desire. But let me stop you right there … since I succumbed to the hype. And I want someone had actually grabbed me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this write-up, I’m strolling you through my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the switch, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever before get that crave something new? Like when your preferred pair of shoes suddenly really feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I ‘d been utilizing Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– 5, to be precise. And truthfully, it worked excellent.
I indicate, Keap managed whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my business. Certain, it wasn’t excellent, however it was trusted. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it obtains you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I start considering the fancy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to glossy object syndrome. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you know exactly what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are buzzing about a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re losing out. And prior to I recognized it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Cost of Switching: What It Really Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your company’s whole technology stack is brutal. I desire I could inform you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Below’s a glimpse of what I really went through:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a lots automations from square one– things like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, job condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Used close to 40 hours adjusting setups and screening workflows.
And allow’s not neglect the mental power it sucked out of me. You recognize that tired, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for as well long? That was my life for two weeks right.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When Everything Started Falling Apart
In the beginning, it looked like points were functioning. Automations were firing. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
After that– turmoil.
One morning I woke up to a nightmare: 171 e-mails had been sent to the wrong group of calls. Completely pointless content. 3 days straight. And not the exact same people either– various batches each time. I was frightened.
I tore via the automation setups, erased and rebuilt series, also reached out to sustain. Their action? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No accountability. And the emails simply kept going out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything essential. My audience mattered way too much to take the chance of one more screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Aggravation
Let me repaint you a picture. You’re trying to modify a workflow. Simple job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in position no person would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also obtain me started. You need to accessibility 3 different setup panels– scattered throughout the user interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It seemed like constructing IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I wished to love the versatility, however everything concerning the user experience made me feel like I needed a designer resting next to me 24/7.
And this is coming from a person who ‘d been running automations and building funnels for many years. If I was battling, I can’t envision what it resembles for a person simply getting going.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t advertise clearly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send via their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little costs that begin accumulating. I saw random $10 charges popping up– then $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was racking up delivery costs with Mailgun, their email carrier.
So what appeared like an affordable, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and getting way much less integrity in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me Can I Use GoHighLevel For Free.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Last Straw
If you do any kind of sort of email marketing, you recognize just how important deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your checklist, building trust fund, make improvements subject lines. So when your open prices leave a cliff, it resembles enjoying your effort obtain flushed away.
That’s precisely what occurred when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to barely scuffing 10%. I tweaked subject lines, verified domain names, heated up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And since GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability devices (without much guidance), I was left playing email live roulette.
Then, I could not justify staying. I pulled the plug and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not suggest it. Not if you’re trying to find something stable, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your online reputation, your customer experience, your bottom line.
Yet if you’re still interested, at least share your eyes wide open. Test everything. Don’t blindly trust the buzz.
Lessons Learned (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Here’s the fact nobody tells you when you’re going after the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a very good factor to switch.
Keap wasn’t flashy, yet it was solid. That deserves more than any type of brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity beats complexity– every single time.
An user-friendly device that does 80% well is far better than a Monster platform that does 100% terribly.
3. Don’t succumb to low prices– consider the actual expense.
Check out the small print. Ask about deliverability fees. Know what “unrestricted” really implies.
4. Keep an eye out for biased testimonials.
A great deal of the radiant endorsements around? They’re from affiliates attempting to score a payment. Locate individuals with absolutely nothing to gain.
5. Pay attention to your intestine.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re searching for a system that actually works the way it guarantees, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Impressive automation, solid deliverability, and fantastic assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful project management devices for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a refined UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— Even more project-focused, however great for client cooperation and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, very structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the answer to every little thing. And if it worked faultlessly, I ‘d possibly be their biggest cheerleader. Yet it didn’t. And I can not act or else.
So before you study a full-scale migration– or even worse, convince your customers to do the same– take a breath. Ask the difficult concerns. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world compromises.
You have actually functioned too difficult to develop something great. Don’t risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick with devices that simply work.