So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you have actually seen the radiant evaluations. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Read how it might change your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) GoHighLevel Vs Teachable.
I get it. The pledge is tempting: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the idea of enhancing everything under one roof seems like a productivity desire. But let me quit you right there … because I fell for the hype. And I desire someone had actually ordered me by the shoulders and claimed: “Do not do it.”
In this post, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a full 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the button, read this first. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that itch for something new? Like when your favorite pair of footwear all of a sudden feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be precise. And honestly, it worked great.
I mean, Keap handled every little thing: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my company. Certain, it had not been ideal, yet it was reliable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, however it gets you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin looking at the flashy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny item syndrome. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you understand specifically what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming about a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re losing out. And prior to I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demonstrations and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Price of Switching: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your firm’s whole technology pile is ruthless. I want I could inform you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Right here’s a glimpse of what I actually experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a lots automations from scratch– points like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, task standing, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Used near 40 hours fiddling with setups and screening workflows.
And let’s not neglect the psychological energy it drew out of me. You know that worn down, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for too lengthy? That was my life for two weeks right.
I told myself, “This pain will certainly be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When Everything Started Breaking Down
At first, it appeared like things were functioning. Automations were firing. Emails were heading out. Funnels were online. I breathed out a little.
Then– chaos.
One early morning I got up to a problem: 171 emails had been sent to the incorrect group of calls. Completely unimportant material. 3 days straight. And not the same people either– different sets each time. I was horrified.
I tore via the automation settings, erased and restored sequences, also reached out to support. Their reaction? “Server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No liability. And the e-mails simply kept going out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything important. My audience mattered way too much to risk an additional error.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Frustration
Let me paint you a photo. You’re trying to modify a workflow. Straightforward task, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in position nobody would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even get me began. You need to gain access to 3 various arrangement panels– scattered across the interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It seemed like assembling IKEA furnishings without instructions. I intended to like the versatility, yet whatever concerning the customer experience made me seem like I required a designer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who ‘d been running automations and developing funnels for several years. If I was battling, I can not imagine what it’s like for a person just getting going.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they do not promote plainly: GoHighLevel charges per email you send through their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little costs that begin piling up. I noticed random $10 charges appearing– after that $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was acquiring distribution costs with Mailgun, their e-mail carrier.
So what appeared like an inexpensive, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and getting way much less dependability in return.
That felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Vs Teachable.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Final stroke
If you do any type of type of email marketing, you recognize how essential deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your listing, building depend on, tweak subject lines. So when your open prices leave a cliff, it resembles watching your hard work get flushed away.
That’s precisely what happened when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to barely scratching 10%. I tweaked subject lines, validated domains, heated up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And considering that GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability tools (without much support), I was left playing email roulette.
Then, I couldn’t warrant staying. I pulled the plug and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t advise it. Not if you’re searching for something steady, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your credibility, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
Yet if you’re still curious, at the very least go in with your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Don’t blindly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Found Out (So You Do Not Repeat My Mistakes).
Right here’s the truth 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 switch over.
Keap wasn’t fancy, but it was strong. That’s worth greater than any new feature.
2. Simpleness beats complexity– each time.
An user-friendly device that does 80% well is far better than a Monster platform that does 100% badly.
3. Do not fall for small cost– take a look at the real price.
Review the fine print. Ask about deliverability fees. Know what “limitless” actually suggests.
4. Keep an eye out for prejudiced evaluations.
A lot of the beautiful testimonials available? They’re from associates attempting to rack up a payment. Find people with nothing to get.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re searching for a platform that in fact works the means it promises, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Fantastic automation, solid deliverability, and wonderful assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful job monitoring devices for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a sleek UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— Even more project-focused, but fantastic for client partnership and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, super streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the answer to everything. And if it functioned faultlessly, I ‘d probably be their greatest supporter. Yet it really did not. And I can’t pretend or else.
So before you dive into a full-scale migration– or worse, convince your customers to do the exact same– take a breath. Ask the tough inquiries. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world compromises.
You have actually worked also tough to develop something great. Do not risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick to tools that just work.