So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the beautiful testimonials. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Read exactly how it might replace your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (kind of) GoHighLevel Vs ThriveCart.
I get it. The guarantee is alluring: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the idea of enhancing every little thing under one roofing system sounds like an efficiency desire. Yet let me stop you right there … since I succumbed to the buzz. And I want someone had actually grabbed me by the shoulders and stated: “Do not do it.”
In this article, I’m strolling you with my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this very first. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that crave something brand-new? Like when your preferred set of footwear instantly really feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I ‘d been utilizing Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– 5, to be precise. And honestly, it functioned terrific.
I suggest, Keap dealt with every little thing: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the means I ran my organization. Sure, it had not been perfect, however it was dependable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it gets you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I start eyeing the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of glossy item disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you understand precisely what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are buzzing concerning a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re missing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos and reasoning, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Cost of Switching: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s whole technology pile is harsh. I want I might inform you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Here’s a glimpse of what I in fact went through:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Restore a loads automations from scratch– points like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, task standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours adjusting setups and screening workflows.
And let’s not neglect the mental power it sucked out of me. You recognize that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after staring at your display for also long? That was my life for 2 weeks directly.
I informed myself, “This pain will be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Began Falling Apart
At first, it appeared like things were functioning. Automations were shooting. Emails were heading out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
Then– mayhem.
One morning I woke up to a problem: 171 e-mails had actually been sent out to the incorrect group of contacts. Completely unnecessary material. Three days in a row. And not the exact same individuals either– various batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore with the automation settings, removed and reconstructed sequences, also reached out to sustain. Their feedback? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No accountability. And the e-mails simply kept going out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My audience mattered excessive to run the risk of one more screw-up.
Negative UX = Slow Death by Stress
Let me paint you a photo. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Straightforward task, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in places no one would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also get me began. You have to access 3 various arrangement panels– spread across the user interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It felt like setting up IKEA furnishings without instructions. I intended to like the versatility, yet whatever regarding the customer experience made me feel like I needed a developer resting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from somebody who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for years. If I was having a hard time, I can’t picture what it resembles for a person just starting.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they don’t market plainly: GoHighLevel fees per e-mail you send out via their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little costs that start accumulating. I noticed arbitrary $10 fees turning up– then $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was racking up distribution charges via Mailgun, their e-mail supplier.
So what resembled an inexpensive, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining method less integrity in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Vs ThriveCart.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Last lick
If you do any kind of type of email marketing, you understand how important deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your checklist, constructing depend on, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open prices leave a cliff, it’s like viewing your effort get purged away.
That’s specifically what took place when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to barely scratching 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, confirmed domain names, heated up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And since GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability devices (without much guidance), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
Then, I could not validate staying. I ended and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re seeking something secure, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s too much at risk– your credibility, your customer experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still interested, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Don’t blindly trust the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Blunders).
Below’s the fact no person tells you when you’re chasing the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a great factor to change.
Keap wasn’t flashy, yet it was strong. That deserves greater than any brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats complexity– every single time.
An instinctive device that does 80% well is much better than a Monster system that does 100% terribly.
3. Do not succumb to low cost– check out the genuine expense.
Check out the small print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “limitless” actually means.
4. Keep an eye out for biased reviews.
A lot of the beautiful testimonials out there? They’re from associates trying to score a compensation. Discover individuals with absolutely nothing to obtain.
5. Pay attention to your intestine.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re trying to find a platform that in fact works the means it guarantees, check these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Amazing automation, strong deliverability, and terrific support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific task management tools for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— More project-focused, yet wonderful for client cooperation and task tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for consultants and creatives. Super clean, incredibly structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the response to every little thing. And if it functioned flawlessly, I ‘d possibly be their biggest supporter. Yet it really did not. And I can not claim or else.
So before you dive into a major movement– or even worse, persuade your clients to do the very same– take a breath. Ask the hard concerns. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve worked too difficult to build something fantastic. Don’t risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick with devices that simply function.