So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you’ve seen the radiant testimonials. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Review exactly how it might replace your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (kind of) GoHighLevel Vs Leadpages.
I get it. The promise is appealing: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of simplifying every little thing under one roof sounds like a productivity desire. But let me quit you right there … because I fell for the hype. And I desire someone had gotten me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this write-up, I’m walking you through my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from confident starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the button, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that crave something brand-new? Like when your favorite set of footwear unexpectedly feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I ‘d been using Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be precise. And honestly, it functioned great.
I indicate, Keap dealt with every little thing: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my service. Certain, it had not been best, but it was reputable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, yet it gets you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I start looking at the flashy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to glossy things syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know exactly what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are buzzing concerning a “game-changer,” you begin wondering if you’re missing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demonstrations and reasoning, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Price of Switching: What It Actually Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s entire technology stack is harsh. I wish I might inform you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Below’s a peek of what I actually experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Restore a dozen automations from scratch– things like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, task condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours fiddling with settings and testing workflows.
And allow’s not forget the mental power it sucked out of me. You understand that tired, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for also long? That was my life for two weeks directly.
I told myself, “This pain will certainly deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When Everything Started Breaking Down
In the beginning, it resembled points were working. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were live. I exhaled a little.
After that– chaos.
One morning I woke up to a nightmare: 171 emails had actually been sent to the wrong team of contacts. Entirely irrelevant material. 3 days in a row. And not the exact same people either– different batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore through the automation setups, erased and reconstructed sequences, even connected to support. Their action? “Web server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No liability. And the e-mails simply kept heading out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My target market mattered way too much to take the chance of one more error.
Poor UX = Slow Death by Irritation
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re attempting to tweak a workflow. Easy task, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in places no person would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even obtain me started. You need to access three different setup panels– spread across the user interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It felt like assembling IKEA furniture without directions. I intended to enjoy the adaptability, however everything regarding the user experience made me feel like I required a developer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from somebody who ‘d been running automations and constructing funnels for many years. If I was battling, I can’t envision what it resembles for somebody just getting going.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they do not promote plainly: GoHighLevel costs per e-mail you send with their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little costs that start accumulating. I observed random $10 charges turning up– after that $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was racking up delivery fees through Mailgun, their email carrier.
So what resembled a budget friendly, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and obtaining way less integrity in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Vs Leadpages.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last Straw
If you do any type of sort of e-mail marketing, you understand just how vital deliverability is. You invest years supporting your listing, constructing count on, make improvements subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a high cliff, it’s like enjoying your hard work get purged away.
That’s precisely what occurred when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I modified subject lines, validated domain names, heated up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And given that GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability tools (without much assistance), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
At that point, I could not justify staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not suggest it. Not if you’re searching for something stable, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your credibility, your customer experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still curious, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Do not thoughtlessly rely on the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Blunders).
Here’s the truth no one informs you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s an excellent factor to switch over.
Keap had not been showy, yet it was strong. That’s worth more than any kind of new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats intricacy– whenever.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is far better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t fall for small cost– take a look at the actual price.
Review the fine print. Ask about deliverability fees. Know what “limitless” truly suggests.
4. Look out for biased reviews.
A great deal of the beautiful reviews out there? They’re from affiliates trying to rack up a compensation. Find individuals with nothing to obtain.
5. Pay attention to your gut.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re trying to find a system that actually functions the way it promises, check these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Outstanding automation, strong deliverability, and fantastic support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent task monitoring devices for tiny groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Perfect if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— More project-focused, yet great for customer collaboration and task tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, super streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to whatever. And if it functioned flawlessly, I ‘d possibly be their most significant supporter. Yet it really did not. And I can not claim otherwise.
So prior to you study a full-scale migration– or even worse, persuade your customers to do the same– breathe. Ask the difficult inquiries. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world compromises.
You’ve functioned as well tough to develop something fantastic. Do not risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick with tools that just work.