Look, I get it. You’re trying to figure out whether to go with GoHighLevel or ClickFunnels, and everyone’s got an opinion, right? 🤷‍♂️

I’ve spent way too many hours (and way too many dollars) testing both of these platforms so you don’t have to. After building dozens of funnels and automations with each one, I can save you some serious headaches by breaking down exactly what works and what doesn’t in 2025.

Here’s what’s interesting – these two platforms aren’t really direct competitors at all. It’s like comparing a Swiss Army knife to a really, really good chef’s knife. They both cut stuff, but they’re built for totally different purposes. 🤔

Let me show you what I mean…

GoHighLevel vs ClickFunnels Overview

What is GoHighLevel?

Think of GoHighLevel as your entire marketing command center. It’s built specifically for agencies and service businesses who are tired of juggling 37 different tools just to run their business. It’s not just a funnel builder; it’s a full-on ecosystem.

Here’s the rundown:

• It’s a complete CRM and marketing platform
• Built-in AI tools that actually work (not just marketing fluff)
• White-label everything
• Complete agency management system

The crazy part? All of this is included even in their basic plan. (More on pricing in a bit, because that’s where things get really interesting…)

What is ClickFunnels?

ClickFunnels is like that friend who’s insanely good at one specific thing – building sales funnels that convert like crazy. They’ve been crushing it since 2014, and they’ve really stepped up their game with their 2024 update.

They focus on:

• Creating high-converting sales funnels
• Building slick landing pages
• Running membership sites
• Selling digital products

GoHighLevel vs ClickFunnels: Which One Is Growing Faster? [Google Trends Analysis]

Still unsure which platform is gaining more traction? Let’s check Google Trends…

ClickFunnels has been around longer and everyone knows the name. But here’s the thing – while ClickFunnels has been cruising along (even dipping a bit lately), GoHighLevel is absolutely exploding on the scene. People are clearly moving away from “just another funnel builder” toward tools that do “everything under one roof”. 🚀

Key Differences at a Glance

Here’s the thing most people get wrong about these platforms (and why most comparison posts miss the mark completely)…

They’re built for totally different types of businesses.

Feature ⭐️	GoHighLevel 🚀	ClickFunnels 🏆
Primary Focus	All-in-one business platform	Expert sales funnel builder
Target Audience	Agencies, businesses of all sizes	Marketers, entrepreneurs
CRM Capabilities	Advanced	Getting more advanced
Funnel Building	Comprehensive	Specialized
Pricing Model	Tiered plans	Two main plans

GoHighLevel vs ClickFunnels Key Differences

Listen, I know what you’re thinking – “Just tell me which one to buy already!” But hang on for a sec, because this next part could save you thousands of dollars and countless headaches. 🤯

Target Audience: Who’s This For, Anyway?

Here’s something wild – almost everyone buys the wrong platform because they don’t understand this key difference:

Who It’s Built For	ClickFunnels 🏆	GoHighLevel 🚀
Course Creators	✅ Yes	❌ No
Digital Product Sellers	✅ Yes	❌ No
Membership Site Owners	✅ Yes	❌ No
People Selling Online	✅ Yes	❌ No
Agencies	❌ No	✅ Yes
Service Businesses	❌ No	✅ Yes
Marketing Consultants	❌ No	✅ Yes
SaaS Resellers (Sell software as your own)	❌ No	✅ Yes

Let me give you a real example…

I know an agency owner who was using ClickFunnels because “that’s what everyone said to use” and he was a fan of Russell Brunson. Rightly so. Russell’s a legend. 

But, he was spending $937/month on different tools to make it all work:

• $147/mo on booking software
• $199/mo on email marketing
• $97/mo on SMS tools
• $129/mo on AI agents
• Just to name a few…

Then he switched to GoHighLevel. Total cost? $297/month. That’s it.

Pretty wild, right?

Feature Set Comparison: What’s Under the Hood?

Look, both platforms have funnel builders. Both can send emails. Both can create landing pages. But that’s where the similarities end.

Let me break this down the way I wish someone had explained it to me:

With ClickFunnels, you get an amazing funnel builder. Like, seriously good. Plus:

• Basic email marketing (via Actionetics in 2.0)
• Membership sites
• Order forms
• Basic affiliate management

Clickfunnels features:

With GoHighLevel, you get all of that, plus:

• Full CRM system
• SMS/Voice/Email marketing (all built-in)
• AI tools like conversation bots (both chat and voice), reviews AI, workflow AI and more  
• Custom mobile apps
• White label capabilities
• Multi-location management

GoHighLevel features:

Integration Capabilities

Here’s something nobody talks about – the hidden costs of integrations.

With ClickFunnels, you’ll need to connect:

• AI conversation bots (if you want them) ($$)
• Some kind of email platform (so you can receive and respond to emails) ($$)
• More robust automation tools (if you’re heavy on automation) ($$)
• Tools for auto-rebilling clients ($$)
• SMS platform ($$)

Ya know what this means? More connection points that can break. Another monthly bill. Another password to remember.

And every time one of those connection points breaks at 2 AM… well, let’s just say I’ve been there. Not fun. 🤦‍♂️

GoHighLevel? Everything’s built right in. Native integrations. No middle-men. No surprise breaks.

Plus, here’s a little secret: you can actually import your ClickFunnels stuff into GoHighLevel. But it doesn’t work the other way around.

GoHighLevel vs ClickFunnels Main Features

Funnel Builder & Page Builder

Both platforms give you funnel builders that are pretty much identical – and I mean that literally. It’s like they went to the same funnel-building school or something. 😅

• Both use drag-and-drop editors
• Both let you make complex funnels
• Both give you templates to work with

But here’s the plot twist…

GoHighLevel has this thing called “Snapshots.” Think of it like cloning entire marketing systems with one click. You can copy:

• Full marketing campaigns
• Automation workflows
• Email sequences
• Landing pages
• Everything

I’ve got an agency owner friend who used this to clone his entire $50K/month agency setup for a new client in just a few minutes. Pretty wild stuff.

Pro tip: you can sell these complex snapshots for extraordinary amounts of money, too. 

But, I cannot go past CF’s funnel and page templates…Their templates are far more pretty and polished than those on GHL. 

ClickFunnels was built specifically for sales funnels – and that’s what they do better than anyone else on the market. Period. 

Website Builder

Real talk – neither platform is going to replace WordPress if you’re looking to build the next Amazon.com. That’s not what they’re for. 

Note: GoHighLevel has WordPress hosting – so if you’re a GHL user but want WordPress’ templates, SEO and plugin capabilities, then you can access and host everything inside GHL. You can even resell WordPress to your clients and make a profit. But that’s a story for another day. 

Now here’s what nobody tells you:

ClickFunnels is like having a really good set of LEGO blocks. You can build some pretty cool stuff, but you’re limited to what those blocks can do.

GoHighLevel gives you the LEGO blocks too, but also throws in some Play-Doh and a 3D printer. You’ve got more options, but it might take longer to figure out how to use everything.

Courses & Membership Sites

Here’s something that shocked me – both platforms actually crush it with membership sites, but in different ways.

ClickFunnels makes it dead simple. Like, “click three buttons and you’ve got a membership site” simple.

GoHighLevel takes a different approach. You get:

• More customization options
• Better student tracking
• Built-in discussion areas
• Whitelabeling 

Email Marketing & Automation

Here’s something most people get totally wrong about these platforms’ email capabilities. (And trust me, I’ve spent enough money testing both to know)

ClickFunnels’ email game has leveled up big time in 2025. You get:

• Beautiful, modern email templates
• Smart automation that actually works
• Solid deliverability rates
• Clean analytics dashboard

But GoHighLevel? They’ve gone completely nuclear with their communication setup. Check this out:

You can trigger emails, SMS, voice messages, and even WhatsApp – all from the same workflow. It’s like having a full marketing team working 24/7, but without the coffee breaks. 🤯

Their workflow automation feature is second to none, IMO. 

But here’s where it gets interesting…

GoHighLevel recently dropped their AI Employee feature that’s changing the game:

AI Employee	Pay Per Usage	$97/mo Unlimited Plan
Voice AI	$0.13/min	Unlimited Usage
Conversation AI	$0.02/message	Unlimited Usage
Reviews AI	$0.08/review	Unlimited Usage
Content AI	$0.09/1000 Words & $0.06/ Image	Unlimited Usage
Funnel AI	$0.99/funnel	Unlimited Usage
Workflow AI Assistant	$0.02/request	Unlimited Usage

(Quick tip: Most agencies on GHL mark these up 2-5x and turn it into a whole new revenue stream. Just saying…)

GoHighLevel Pros & Cons

Pros

Look, I’m not gonna sugarcoat this. I know it sounds like I’ve favored GoHighLevel so far (and that’s because, well, I do) BUT here’s the real deal on what makes GoHighLevel shine (and also what might drive you crazy).

The Good Stuff:

• It’s like getting 37 tools for the price of 1. You can literally cancel your CRM, email platform, SMS tool, and calendar software
• White-label the whole platform and sell it as your own (this is HUGE for agencies)
• Their AI tools are actually useful, not just marketing fluff
• Unlimited everything – no more hitting those annoying contact limits
• You can mark up their services (SMS, email, calls, AI) and create new revenue streams for your business

But here’s the real kicker – you can build your own SaaS business with it. I know an agency owner who’s making an extra $4k/month just from reselling it to their EXISTING clients alone. 🤑

Cons

Now for the transparent not-so-fun stuff:

• The learning curve for newbies is steeper than Mount Everest (seriously, block out a few days to learn this thing) – however, if you’re used to using things like CRMs, calendar bookings, AI tools, workflow automations etc, you’ll probably find it easier than most  
• With over 300 features it might be overkill if you just want simple, sleek funnels
• Some features can be a bit buggy sometimes (as of 2025 they’re pretty onto it though – I haven’t personally noticed any recently) 
• The funnel templates aren’t as polished as ClickFunnels’

ClickFunnels Pros & Cons

Pros

Here’s why people love ClickFunnels (and why it might be perfect for you):

• It’s stupid simple to build funnels – like, “build with your eyes closed” simple
• Their funnel templates are conversion machines
• Everything is focused on making sales
• The checkout process is smooth as butter
• They’ve really stepped up their game with ClickFunnels 2.0

Cons

But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows:

• You’ll need other tools to run a full marketing operation
• Limited to 3 team members on the starter plan and 10 on the Pro plan
• Can get a bit more pricey when you start to add other integrations you need
• Not built for agencies (seriously, if you’re an agency, just skip it)
• No way to white-label or resell it
• Quite buggy when version 2.0 first came out – I’m sure they’ve fixed this now though

GoHighLevel vs ClickFunnels Pricing Plans

Here’s where things get really interesting (and where most reviews totally miss the point).

ClickFunnels Pricing

• Startup Plan: $97/month (unlimited features but limited to 3 workspaces & 3 team members)
• Pro Plan: $297/month (same features but with 10 workspaces & 10 team members)

GoHighLevel Pricing

• Starter Plan: $97/month (unlimited everything but limited to 3 sub-accounts)
  Here’s where things differ:
• Unlimited Plan: $297/month (UNLIMITED sub-accounts & team members + white labeling and rebilling)
• SaaS Pro Plan: $497/month (sell GHL as your own software and markup ALL usage costs)

But here’s the thing most people miss…

If you’re running an agency or serious business, you’re probably spending around:

• $297/mo on a CRM
• $199/mo on email marketing
• $147/mo on booking software
• $97/mo on SMS tools
• $197/mo on funnel builders 

That’s $937 a month just to keep the lights on. Pretty painful, right?

Data Point: According to a 2024 Zapier report, businesses using 5+ SaaS tools spend an average of $1,200/month. GHL consolidates that into one bill—huge win.

The links in this article are affiliate links. That means I earn a small commission if you sign up through them (at zero extra cost to you). Appreciate the support!

Therefore, you can get more software consolidation out of GoHighLevel  – so if this is your primary objective (to cut costs) you can stop right here and start your 14 day free trial with GoHighLevel. Just look at what it can replace…

With GoHighLevel, you get:

• Full funnel builder
• Complete CRM
• AI tools
• Workflow automations
• Email and SMS marketing
• White labeling (on higher plans)
• The ability to sell it as your own platform (SaaS Pro)

With ClickFunnels, you might still need:

• Email platform (to receive & respond) ($49+/mo)
• SMS platform ($25+/mo)
• AI conversation bots ($97+/mo)
• Automation tools ($97+/mo)
• Client rebilling tools ($29+/mo)

That’s an extra $297/month just to match what GoHighLevel includes…

Bottom line? If you’re trying to cut costs and simplify your tech stack, GoHighLevel is the clear winner. But if you already have a working CRM setup and just want polished sales funnels, ClickFunnels might be your jam.

If you want the full breakdown of GoHighLevel’s pricing plans and hidden costs, click here.

User Experience and Learning Curve

Let me shoot straight with you about something that could save you weeks of headaches…

Interface Design and Navigation

ClickFunnels is like driving an automatic car – pretty much anyone can figure it out in a day or two. Point, click, drag, done. 🚗

GoHighLevel? It’s more like learning to fly a helicopter. Sure, once you master it you can do some pretty amazing stuff, but that first week… well, let’s just say you might want to clear your calendar. 🚁

Template Quality and Customization

Here’s the raw truth about templates:

ClickFunnels:

• Beautiful, ready-to-go templates
• Super easy to customize
• Everything just works
• Mobile-friendly out of the box

GoHighLevel:

• Templates are less polished
• More customization options (if you know what you’re doing)
• Can be a bit finicky on mobile
• Might take slightly longer to get templates looking pristine

Training Resources and Support

Both platforms offer training, but there’s a big difference in how they do it.

But here’s what’s really wild…

GoHighLevel’s support team connects with you on Zoom. Like, a real human. Live. On Zoom. In 2025. I know. Crazy, right?

PS: if you haven’t already, use this free tool to find the right platform for your needs: find your platform.

The Final Verdict: Who Wins in 2025?

Look, here’s the deal…

After spending waaay too much money and time testing both platforms (seriously, my credit card is still giving me dirty looks), I can tell you exactly who should use what.

Go with ClickFunnels if:

• You ONLY want to build funnels and sell stuff online
• You’re selling courses or digital products
• You want polished templates that just work
• You don’t need all the fancy agency features

Choose GoHighLevel if:

• You’re running an agency (this is a no-brainer) or a local business
• You’re tired of paying for 37 different tools
• You want to white-label and/or resell software
• You want to profit from usage costs 
• You need inbuilt SMS or AI tools
• You need serious automation and CRM features

Here’s the bottom line…

If you’re running an agency or service business, GoHighLevel is going to save you about $7000+/month in other tool subscriptions. Plus, you can resell it and create a whole new revenue stream. Pretty sweet deal.

But if you just want to build funnels and sell products? ClickFunnels is your jam. It’s simpler, faster to learn, and you won’t be bombarded with features you’ll never use.

Think of it this way:

ClickFunnels is like having a really good chef’s knife. If you just need to chop vegetables, it’s perfect.

GoHighLevel is like getting an entire commercial kitchen. Awesome if you’re running a restaurant, overkill if you just want to make dinner.

The choice is yours. Just don’t make the mistake of buying the wrong tool for the job like I did at first. That’s a $900/month lesson I learned the hard way. 😅

The links in this article are affiliate links. That means I earn a small commission if you sign up through them (at zero extra cost to you). Appreciate the support!

Want to try them out? Both platforms offer free trials:

• GoHighLevel: 14-day free trial
• ClickFunnels: 14-day free trial

The best part? You can cancel anytime if it’s not your thing. $0 out of pocket. Just saying…

Still unsure if GoHighLevel is for you? Check out my free GHL Profit Calculator that’ll tell you your costs, revenue, profit, ROI and cost per client… in seconds 👇