So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you have actually seen the glowing reviews. Read about the all-in-one magic. Check out just how it might replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (kind of) GoHighLevel Vs Builderall.
I get it. The promise is alluring: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the concept of streamlining whatever under one roofing seems like a performance dream. However let me quit you right there … due to the fact that I fell for the hype. And I desire somebody had actually gotten me by the shoulders and stated: “Do not do it.”
In this article, I’m walking you with my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a full 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the button, read this initial. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Considered GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that itch for something new? Like when your favorite set of shoes suddenly feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I ‘d been utilizing Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– 5, to be specific. And honestly, it worked excellent.
I indicate, Keap handled everything: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my company. Sure, it had not been perfect, however it was trusted. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, however it obtains you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin eyeing the showy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to glossy object syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know precisely what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming regarding a “game-changer,” you begin questioning if you’re losing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demonstrations and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Price of Changing: What It Actually Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s entire tech stack is ruthless. I want I could inform you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a glance of what I actually experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a lots automations from scratch– points like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, task condition, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near 40 hours fiddling with settings and screening workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the mental power it drew out of me. You know that exhausted, brain-fried feeling after looking at your screen for as well lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks straight.
I told myself, “This pain will certainly be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Began Falling Apart
At first, it appeared like points were functioning. Automations were firing. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
Then– turmoil.
One morning I awakened to a problem: 171 emails had been sent to the wrong group of calls. Totally unimportant material. 3 days straight. And not the exact same individuals either– various batches each time. I was frightened.
I tore with the automation settings, removed and reconstructed series, also connected to support. Their response? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No responsibility. And the emails simply kept heading out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything important. My audience mattered excessive to risk one more screw-up.
Bad UX = Slow Fatality by Frustration
Let me repaint you an image. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Straightforward task, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in places nobody would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me started. You have to access three various arrangement panels– scattered across the user interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It felt like constructing IKEA furniture without directions. I wanted to like the flexibility, but every little thing concerning the customer experience made me feel like I needed a developer resting next to me 24/7.
And this is coming from a person who ‘d been running automations and developing funnels for years. If I was struggling, I can not visualize what it resembles for somebody simply getting going.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they do not promote plainly: GoHighLevel costs per e-mail you send out through their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little costs that begin piling up. I saw arbitrary $10 costs turning up– after that $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was racking up distribution fees through Mailgun, their e-mail company.
So what appeared like an affordable, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and getting means much less dependability in return.
That felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Vs Builderall.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Final stroke
If you do any type of sort of email marketing, you know how important deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your checklist, constructing depend on, tweak subject lines. So when your open prices drop off a high cliff, it resembles viewing your effort get flushed down the tubes.
That’s specifically what took place when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, verified domain names, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And considering that GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability devices (without much support), I was left playing email roulette.
At that point, I could not validate staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not suggest it. Not if you’re seeking something steady, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your credibility, your customer experience, your profits.
But if you’re still curious, at least share your eyes wide open. Test everything. Don’t thoughtlessly trust the hype.
Lessons Learned (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Here’s the truth nobody informs you when you’re chasing the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s a very good reason to switch.
Keap had not been flashy, but it was strong. That deserves greater than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness beats intricacy– whenever.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% severely.
3. Do not fall for affordable price– consider the actual expense.
Review the small print. Ask about deliverability charges. Know what “limitless” actually means.
4. Look out for biased testimonials.
A lot of the radiant testimonies around? They’re from associates trying to score a commission. Find people with absolutely nothing to get.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re seeking a platform that in fact works the means it promises, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Fantastic automation, strong deliverability, and excellent support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful task monitoring devices for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a refined UX. Ideal if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet fantastic for client collaboration and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, very structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the answer to whatever. And if it functioned faultlessly, I ‘d possibly be their largest cheerleader. But it really did not. And I can’t claim otherwise.
So before you dive into a full-scale movement– or even worse, convince your clients to do the exact same– take a breath. Ask the difficult questions. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually worked too difficult to develop something terrific. Don’t risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick to tools that simply function.