The 7 Best GoHighLevel Alternatives in 2025 | (READ FIRST)

I spent over six months testing major GoHighLevel alternatives in the market, invested nearly $3,000 in subscriptions, built real campaigns, tested automation, and ran my projects on each platform.

The result? GoHighLevel is solid, but it’s not for everyone. (I explain exactly why in my detailed GoHighLevel review).

You may find it too complex or pricey or doesn’t fit your workflow.

Whatever your reason for seeking an alternative to GoHighLevel, I’m here to save you months of research and potential subscription regrets.

Let’s dive in!

Why You Might Want to Jump Ship from GoHighLevel

After months of using GoHighLevel with different clients and projects, I noticed problems that only show up once you’re using it daily.

The workflow builder gets messy fast. Building complex automation feels like playing Jenga with your marketing tools. Your team will need weeks to get comfortable, and the mobile app is basic at best.

The pricing starts at $97/month, but watch for extra charges:

• White-label mobile apps: $497/month extra
• HIPAA Compliance: $297/month
• LC-Email: $0.675 per 1,000 emails sent (Costs add up quickly)

📖 Read more: Gohighlevel Pricing Plans (Hidden Cost Included)

Daily frustrations include calendar syncs dropping appointments, campaign builders freezing during complex builds, and slow support for API problems.

You should probably switch if:

• You focus on courses or membership sites
• You need solid ecommerce features
• Your team keeps hitting technical walls

But stay if:

• You run a multi-client agency
• SMS/voice marketing is your main focus
• Your team already knows the platform well

GoHighLevel works great for many businesses. But if you fight with the platform more than you use it, it’s time to look at other options.

7 Best GoHighLevel Alternatives: Comparison Table

Let’s skip the marketing hype. After spending over $3,000 testing these platforms, here’s what you need to know:

For ease of use:

• Weekend Warriors: Systeme.io, OptimizePress
• Need Some Training: Kartra, ClickFunnels 2.0
• Get Ready to Study: Keap, Vendasta

For support quality:

• 24/7 Champions: Vendasta
• Business Hours Heroes: Kartra, Kajabi, OptimizePress
• Hit or Miss: ClickFunnels 2.0, Keap, Systeme.io

💡 Pro Tip: Always start with the trial version and test the specific features you need most. Don’t get swayed by feature lists – focus on what you’ll use daily.

1. Kartra – Best Gohighlevel Alternative Overall

After countless hours of testing both Kartra and GoHighLevel (my coffee intake hit record levels), I can say Kartra wins in several key areas – though it’s not perfect for everyone.

Why Choose Kartra Instead of GoHighLevel?

The biggest difference is how Kartra handles automation.

While GHL’s automation builder feels like solving a puzzle blindfolded, Kartra’s visual workflow builder makes sense. I built complex marketing sequences in about half the time it took in GHL.

Here are the standout features where Kartra beats GoHighLevel:

However, Kartra isn’t perfect. If text message marketing is important, Kartra’s SMS tools are basic.

If you need reliable scheduling for your business, note that Kartra’s scheduling tools are basic compared to a dedicated booking system.

Bottom Line: If email marketing and funnels are your main focus, Kartra could save you time and make you more money. But if you text customers often or run a business that needs serious scheduling, you might need extra tools or a different platform.

📖 Read More: Kartra review: Everything you Should Know

2. Clickfunnels 2.0 – Best for Sales Funnel Specialists

It’s a BEAST.

ClickFunnels 2.0 is an all-in-one marketing platform for building websites, sales funnels, hosting courses, and managing customers, all in one place.

It includes almost all the features of GoHighLevel, except advanced agency tools like white labeling and reselling.

Why Choose ClickFunnels Instead of GoHighLevel?

I love this tool!

Clickfunnels is what I use for my business, and here’s why.

At $97/month, you get everything most businesses really need—nothing fancy, just tools that work. I can build a complete sales funnel in about an hour.

Here’s why ClickFunnels 2.0 is worth it:

Having everything in one place saves me time and money. The quiz builder helps me understand exactly what my customers want.

Their “Funnel Hacking Library” is like having a marketing teacher on speed dial. I’ve learned so much about online selling from their resources.

The downsides?

If you’re running an agency and need white-label features, you’ll have to look at GoHighLevel – though be ready to pay $297-$497 per month. Also, ClickFunnels doesn’t do SMS marketing.

Is ClickFunnels right for you? They offer a 14-day free trial (you can get up to 30 days through this exclusive link) so you can test everything. It might be exactly what your business needs.

Give it a shot – you can start building your first funnel today!

📖 Read More: Clickfunnels 2.0 review: My Experience After 2 Years

3. Systeme.io – Best Budget-Friendly Alternative

Tired of paying hundreds for marketing tools when you’re just starting out? Meet Systeme.io, the budget-friendly option that might surprise you.

Systeme.io stands out by focusing on simplicity and affordability.

While GoHighLevel targets agencies, Systeme.io is built for entrepreneurs and small businesses who need basic marketing tools without breaking the bank.

Why Choose Systeme.io Instead of GoHighLevel?

One of my clients, a new online course creator, started with ZERO budget for marketing tools.

Their story shows why Systeme.io makes sense for beginners.

Instead of spending $297+ monthly on GoHighLevel, they began with Systeme.io’s free plan, and here’s what happened:

First Month:

• Built their first email list using the free landing page templates
• Created a simple 3-step sales funnel for their mini-course
• Set up automated welcome emails for new subscribers
• Published their first blog posts on the included website

Three Months Later:

• Grew to 1,500 email subscribers without paying a dime
• Successfully launched their main course using the built-in course platform
• Generated their first $2,000 in sales using just the basic automation
• Only needed 2-3 hours per week to manage everything

The best part? When they outgrew the free plan, upgrading to the $27/month plan was easy because they were already making money. No need to learn a new system or move their data.

But let’s be honest about the limitations:

• If you’re planning to serve multiple clients or need advanced marketing automation, GoHighLevel’s extra features might be worth the price.
• You can’t white-label the platform to resell it as your own, which could be a deal-breaker for agencies.

Reality check: Do you need all those advanced features when starting out?

Most beginners waste time and money on complex tools they don’t fully use. Systeme.io gives you exactly what you need to start making money online, with room to grow.

Think of it like learning to drive – you don’t start with a Ferrari. You start with a reliable car that gets you where you need to go.

Systeme.io is a reliable car for your online business journey.

📖 Read More: The Ultimate Systeme.io Review: Is This All-in-One Platform Worth It?

5. Vendasta – Best Gohighlevel Alternative For Agencies And Resellers

Looking for a serious agency platform that won’t break the bank?

Vendasta offers similar (and sometimes better) features than GoHighLevel at a more competitive price, starting at just $99/month.

Why Choose Vendasta Instead of GoHighLevel?

Vendasta shines because it’s built specifically for service providers who want to scale.

One agency owner I worked with switched from GoHighLevel and immediately saved $198/month while getting more features.

They especially loved the automated ROI reporting that SHOWS clients exactly what they’re getting for their money.

But there’s something even better for scaling agencies – the marketplace. When clients wanted new services, they didn’t have to partner with outside vendors or build new capabilities from scratch. They could activate new services from the marketplace and start earning additional revenue immediately.

Think of it as having a Swiss Army knife for your agency.

Everything you need is right there, and you can pull out new tools whenever clients need them.

This means you can grow your agency without constantly hunting for new tools or juggling multiple platforms.

Yes, there’s that learning curve to deal with, but the potential for growth makes it worth the initial effort.

Bottom Line: For agencies serious about scaling, Vendasta offers cost savings, automated reporting, and expandable services that make managing multiple clients much easier.

5. Keap – Best for Small Business Automation

Are you tired of juggling multiple tasks in your small business? Meet Keap (formerly Infusionsoft), a powerful automation platform built specifically for small business owners.

Unlike GoHighLevel’s agency focus, Keap is built specifically for small business owners who want to automate their marketing and sales without needing a tech degree.

It might seem pricier at first, starting at $299/month, but there’s a reason thousands of small business owners swear by it.

Why Choose Keap Instead of GoHighLevel?

Think about your typical workday. You probably spend hours on repetitive tasks – sending follow-up emails, updating customer records, scheduling appointments, and tracking leads in your sales pipeline.

Sound familiar?

Here’s what Keap can do for you:

Imagine automating your entire customer journey. Your leads would automatically be sorted and nurtured with personal emails, and your appointments would be scheduled without your help.

Your team gets notified exactly when they need to step in. All while you focus on the parts of your business that actually need your personal touch.

What makes Keap different from GoHighLevel comes down to support and pricing.

The crucial difference: While GoHighLevel supports you as an agency owner, they don’t support your clients – that job falls on you.

With Keap, you and your clients get direct access to their support team, saving you countless hours of technical support work.

Let’s talk about real costs:

• GoHighLevel requires additional fees for essential services: $35-$400/month for email (Mailgun), $297/month for HIPAA compliance, and per-minute phone service rates (Twilio).
• With GoHighLevel, you handle all client technical support, which means more work for you or hiring support staff.
• Keap’s $299/month includes everything you need, and their support team helps both you and your clients.

The best part? 

The best part? Keap’s business automation education helps you understand how to use the tool and grow your business with automation.

You get access to their comprehensive training resources, proven templates, and expert support team – all focused on helping small businesses succeed.

Bottom Line: With Keap, you’re not just getting software; you’re getting a partner who helps both you and your clients succeed without putting the entire support burden on your shoulders.

6. OptimizePress – Best Gohighlevel Alternative For Wordpress Users

OptimizePress makes sense if you’re already using WordPress and don’t need all the bells and whistles of GoHighLevel.

Why Choose OptimizePress Instead Of GoHighLevel?

First, let’s talk money—because that matters. GoHighLevel costs $297/month, while OptimizePress only asks for $99/year or $199/year for advanced features (sales funnels, marketing funnels, and checkouts).

That’s a big saving. There’s no reason to pay for features you’ll never use if you’re not running a full-service agency.

Here’s what really sold me on OptimizePress for WordPress users:

But let’s be real – OptimizePress isn’t GoHighLevel’s twin.

Email marketing is basic (I pair it with Getresponse), and the CRM features are simple. But OptimizePress pages load faster because they’re built specifically for WordPress, which matters for conversions.

Bottom line: Go with OptimizePress if you’re a WordPress user who wants solid marketing tools without the complexity and high costs of GoHighLevel. It’s perfect if you need good landing pages, membership features, and basic marketing tools while staying in the WordPress ecosystem. Remember, add some extra tools for serious email automation or CRM needs.

7. Kajabi – The Course Creator’s Alternative

Kajabi works best for businesses focused on selling courses and digital products.

The platform’s core strength lies in its course delivery tools – including student assessments, progress tracking, and a built-in community space.

While GoHighLevel specializes in marketing automation, Kajabi prioritizes the learning experience.

Why Choose Kajabi Instead Of GoHighLevel?

The difference is clear when looking at business models.

Kajabi serves course creators and digital product sellers, while GoHighLevel caters to service businesses and agencies. Each platform’s features reflect these priorities.

Here are 3 key features of Kajabi that beat GoHighLevel:

Now, let’s talk about pricing.

Kajabi’s Kickstart plan is $69/month but only offers 250 contacts. The Basic plan is $149/month, which is higher than GoHighLevel’s $97 per month.

If you want to create a membership site or online course with advanced features, Kajabi can be fantastic! It has great tools for engaging with your audience and managing content.

However, if you need a simple platform for a basic course, GoHighLevel works well too!

It covers the essentials without extra frills, making it perfect for those who want to keep things simple. Both platforms have their strengths.

The choice depends on your business focus. If you primarily sell digital products and courses, choose Kajabi. If you need advanced marketing tools for service-based businesses or agency work, choose GoHighLevel.

What I Learned After Testing Every GoHighLevel Alternative

First, that “all-in-one” promise? It’s usually “most-in-one.”

Every platform has gaps.

Kartra nails marketing automation but stumbles with CRM. ClickFunnels excels at sales funnels, but support response time needs to be improved. Regardless of which platform you choose, you’ll likely need additional tools.

The CHEAP options can get expensive fast.

Take Systeme.io – starting at $27 sounds great until you need basic automation or hit their contact limits. Add integration costs and premium features, and suddenly that “budget” option isn’t so budget-friendly.

Migration is a nightmare nobody talks about.

Speaking of support – response times vary wildly. During U.S. business hours? Great. Outside those times? Good luck. Only Vendasta consistently delivered 24/7 support that actually solved problems.

Sometimes staying with GoHighLevel makes sense, especially if:

• You’ve already built complex automation
• Your team knows the platform inside out
• You’re running a marketing agency
• You heavily use their SMS/voice features

Remember: The best platform isn’t the one with the most features – it’s the one that solves your specific problems without creating new ones.

How To Choose The Best GoHighLevel Alternative

Let me save you weeks of research and potential headaches. After helping dozens of businesses switch platforms, here’s your roadmap to choosing the right alternative.

Essential Questions (Answer These First):

1. What features do you actually use daily in GoHighLevel? Don’t get distracted by shiny features you’ll never touch. Write down your daily tools. 80% of usage usually comes from 20% of features.
2. Which tasks take up most of your team’s time? This matters. If your team spends 5 hours weekly fighting with email automation, that’s where you need a rock-solid solution.
3. How many clients/contacts do you need to manage? Got a growing agency? Watch out – most alternatives have hidden contact limits that get expensive fast.
4. What’s your deal-breaker feature? For one client, it was SMS automation. They almost switched to Kartra until we discovered its SMS limitations.
5. Which integrations are critical? Write these down now. Nobody wants to discover their essential Zoom integration costs extra after migration.

Red Flags (I Learned These the Hard Way):

• Support replies with generic documentation links during your trial.
• “Unlimited” features have hidden limits in the fine print.
• The interface lags with just 100 contacts.
• Sales team avoids pricing questions.
• No clear migration support.

Here’s Why This Matters: Must-Haves vs. Nice-to-Haves:

Must-Haves (Don’t Compromise):

• Features you use daily (check your GoHighLevel activity)
• Critical integrations for your workflow
• Support during your business hours
• Essential user roles
• Data export flexibility

Nice-to-Haves (Be Honest):

• Fancy automation you might use “someday.”
• Pretty dashboards that look good in sales calls
• Template libraries you’ll probably never use
• Mobile apps if you rarely work on the phone
• AI features that sound cool but aren’t essential

The Real Budget (Beyond That Monthly Fee): Base subscription? That’s just the start. Here’s what people forget:

• Per-user costs (usually $20-50/month each)
• Integration fees (Zapier can add $100+/month)
• API access ($50-200/month extra)
• Storage fees (especially for course creators)
• Training costs (your team’s time = money)
• Migration support (often $500-2000)
• Custom domain fees ($10-50/month each)

Your Migration Game Plan: Week-by-Week Breakdown:

• Week 1: Platform setup (faster isn’t better)
• Week 2-3: Move your data (expect surprises)
• Week 4: Train your team (crucial for adoption)
• Week 5: Move your smallest client first
• Week 6: Fix what breaks (something always does)
• Week 7-8: Move everyone else

Smart Moves That Save Pain:

• Keep GoHighLevel running alongside the new platform
• Start with your most understanding client
• Document every step (future you will thank you)
• Have a backup plan (trust me on this)
• Add 2 weeks to whatever timeline you plan

Bottom Line: You’re not just choosing software; you’re choosing your business’s daily workflow for the next few years. A rushed decision here costs way more than a few extra days of research.

My Honest Recommendations Based on Your Business Type

For Agency Owners

Vendasta is your best bet if you can afford it.

Built for agencies from the ground up.

Why? White-label features, solid client management, and reliable support when things break (and trust me, they will).

For Solo Entrepreneurs

You don’t have time to mess around with complex setups. Period.

Systeme.io, Clickfunnels 2.0 or Kartra are your friends here – not perfect, but everything just works together.

The email marketing is solid, and you won’t hit weird limitations as you grow.

For E-commerce

ClickFunnels 2.0 is a solid choice.

It handles everything from shopping carts to shipping labels, with smart features that automatically organize products and suggest upsells.

The built-in fulfillment system takes care of all the tedious stuff – calculating sales tax, figuring out shipping costs through Shippo, and automatically creating shipping labels from major carriers.

Not feeling ClickFunnels? Just go with Shopify – a tried-and-true solution that won’t disappoint you.

For Real Estate Professionals

Never lose another lead.

That’s why I recommend Keap for real estate. Long-term nurture? Check. Mobile access? Solid. Lead tracking? Amazing.

If that’s too much, OptimizePress with FluentCRM works great for WordPress fans.

Essential Lead Nurture Features:

• Automated follow-up sequences
• SMS integration
• Property alerts
• Showing scheduler
• Lead scoring

For Enterprise Organizations

When Your Business Gets Big, Vendasta Has Your Back

Let’s be real – you need software that won’t crash as your business grows. Vendasta shines here. Think of it like a fortress for your business data – secure and reliable, exactly what you want for customer information.

What makes it special? It works with over 500 other business tools you already use, and you can even build custom connections if needed. It’s like having a Swiss Army knife that keeps getting new attachments as your needs change.

Here’s what makes it perfect for bigger companies:

• You control exactly who can do what in your system – so Bob from accounting doesn’t mess with your marketing campaigns.
• Your tech team can build custom tools using Vendasta’s programming interface.
• Your whole team can work together in one place – no more endless email chains or lost messages.
• You get detailed reports that show what’s working – in plain English, not tech jargon.

Best part? You can put your own company’s logo and colors on everything. Your clients never know you’re using Vendasta – it looks like your own system.

Vendasta is built for businesses serious about growing big without things falling apart.

For Budget-Conscious Businesses

Systeme.io is like finding a Honda Civic in a lot full of luxury cars: reliable, gets the job done, and affordable.

You can start for free with room for 2,000 contacts before paying anything.

For Tech-Savvy (Hybrid Approaches)

For the Tech-Savvy: Building Your Perfect Marketing Stack

Let’s talk about mixing and matching tools – like building your own perfect pizza instead of ordering a pre-made one. After trying just about every combination out there (and, yeah, hitting some dead ends), I’ve found two setups that really work.

Option 1: The WordPress Combo ($200/month)

• WordPress as your foundation
• OptimizePress for making things look good
• FluentCRM for managing your customer relationships

Option 2: The Automation Route ($150/month)

• Systeme.io as your base
• Zapier connects everything
• Active Campaign for serious email marketing

Now, here’s how to build your stack without giving yourself a headache:

1. Start Simple: Don’t try to set up everything at once. Get your basics working first – like getting a car running before adding the fancy stereo system.
2. Grow Slowly: Add one new tool each month. It’s like learning to juggle – start with two balls before adding a third.
3. Keep Notes Write down everything you set up: Trust me, you’ll thank yourself later when you need to fix something.
4. Test First Before going all-in on a new tool, give it a good test drive: It’s cheaper to find problems early than to discover them when you’re already committed.
5. Have a Backup Plan: Always keep a Plan B ready. If one tool crashes, you need a way to keep your business running – like keeping a spare tire in your car.

The perfect stack isn’t about having the most expensive tools – it’s about having the right tools that work together smoothly for your business.