So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the radiant testimonials. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Read just how it can replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (kind of) Can I Use GoHighLevel without Stripe.
I get it. The pledge is tempting: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the idea of simplifying whatever under one roofing system seems like a productivity desire. But let me stop you right there … because I fell for the buzz. And I want someone had actually ordered me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this write-up, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic starts to a total 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the switch, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever before get that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favorite set of shoes all of a sudden really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be exact. And truthfully, it worked great.
I suggest, Keap handled everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my business. Certain, it wasn’t perfect, but it was reliable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, however it gets you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I start looking at the fancy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to glossy item syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize exactly what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are humming about a “game-changer,” you begin questioning if you’re missing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demonstrations and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Rate of Switching: What It Actually Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s entire technology pile is harsh. I want I can tell you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Here’s a look of what I in fact underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a dozen automations from scratch– points like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, task condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours adjusting setups and testing workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the psychological energy it sucked out of me. You know that worn down, brain-fried feeling after looking at your display for also long? That was my life for two weeks directly.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will deserve it.” It had not been.
When All Of It Began Falling Apart
At first, it appeared like points were working. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
After that– turmoil.
One early morning I awakened to a problem: 171 emails had been sent out to the incorrect group of get in touches with. Totally unimportant material. 3 days in a row. And not the same individuals either– various batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore through the automation settings, removed and reconstructed sequences, also reached out to sustain. Their reaction? “Server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No accountability. And the emails just kept going out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My target market mattered way too much to risk an additional screw-up.
Negative UX = Slow Death by Disappointment
Let me paint you an image. You’re trying to fine-tune a workflow. Simple task, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in places no one would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me started. You need to access 3 various configuration panels– spread across the user interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It seemed like putting together IKEA furnishings without instructions. I wanted to enjoy the versatility, but every little thing concerning the individual experience made me feel like I required a designer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who ‘d been running automations and building funnels for several years. If I was having a hard time, I can’t picture what it resembles for a person simply starting.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they do not market clearly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send out through their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little fees that begin accumulating. I noticed arbitrary $10 charges turning up– after that $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was acquiring delivery fees via Mailgun, their email company.
So what resembled an affordable, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and getting method much less reliability in return.
That felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me Can I Use GoHighLevel without Stripe.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Last lick
If you do any kind of e-mail marketing, you understand just how essential deliverability is. You spend years supporting your list, building count on, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a high cliff, it’s like enjoying your hard work get flushed down the drain.
That’s specifically what occurred when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to barely scuffing 10%. I tweaked subject lines, verified domain names, heated up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And given that GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability tools (without much guidance), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t warrant staying. I pulled the plug and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re seeking something secure, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your online reputation, your customer experience, your bottom line.
Yet if you’re still interested, at least go in with your eyes wide open. Test everything. Don’t blindly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Right here’s the reality no one tells you when you’re chasing after the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a great factor to change.
Keap had not been fancy, yet it was solid. That’s worth more than any type of new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats intricacy– whenever.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is better than a Monster system that does 100% terribly.
3. Do not fall for low prices– take a look at the actual expense.
Review the small print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “limitless” truly suggests.
4. Watch out for biased evaluations.
A lot of the beautiful testimonies around? They’re from associates attempting to rack up a commission. Locate individuals with nothing to get.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re seeking a platform that actually works the means it promises, examine these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Remarkable automation, solid deliverability, and great assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific project monitoring tools for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a polished UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— Even more project-focused, however excellent for client collaboration and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Built for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, incredibly streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to everything. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d possibly be their greatest cheerleader. Yet it really did not. And I can’t claim otherwise.
So before you study a full-blown movement– or even worse, convince your clients to do the very same– breathe. Ask the tough questions. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world compromises.
You have actually functioned too tough to develop something great. Do not risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick with tools that simply work.