Drop Funnel

Let me paint you a picture from last year. I was:

• Paying $1,200/month for HubSpot
• Using about 17% of its features
• Still needing 3 other tools to fill gaps
• Constantly confused by their pricing tiers

Then I switched to GoHighLevel at 1/4 the cost. Some things got better. Some got worse. Here’s what I wish someone had told me before I spent $8,000 learning this lesson the hard way.

The Price Tag That Almost Made Me Cry

HubSpot:

• Started at $45/month (basic CRM)
• Quickly ballooned to $1,200+ as we needed marketing/sales tools
• Extra charges for:
  • Additional users
  • Extra contacts
  • Premium features

GoHighLevel:

• Flat $97-$297/month (all features included)
• Unlimited users
• No surprise charges

Reality check: My agency saved $9,000+ in the first year switching to GHL. But…

Where HubSpot Still Wins (Damn It)

1. Email Marketing
   • HubSpot’s deliverability is noticeably better
   • Templates are more polished
   • Analytics are superior
2. Reporting
   • HubSpot’s dashboards are prettier
   • Easier to customize
   • Client-facing reports look more professional
3. UI Polish
   • Everything feels more “finished”
   • Fewer weird glitches
   • Mobile app actually works

Where GoHighLevel Crushes It

1. All-In-One Functionality
   • Built-in:
     • CRM
     • Funnels
     • Calendars
     • SMS
     • White-labeling
   • No more juggling 5 tools
2. Automation Power
   • Visual builder is more intuitive
   • Easier to connect different functions
   • Fewer arbitrary limits
3. Client Management
   • Built for agencies specifically
   • White-labeling is seamless
   • Client portals just work

The 3 Dealbreakers That Made Me Switch

1. HubSpot’s Pricing Jumps Were Killing Me
   • Every new feature = new subscription
   • User limits felt predatory
2. I Was Still Using Other Tools Anyway
   • Needed ClickFunnels for… funnels
   • Needed Calendly for scheduling
   • Needed ManyChat for SMS
3. My Team Actually Used GoHighLevel
   • HubSpot’s complexity meant low adoption
   • GHL’s simpler interface got used daily

Who Should Stick With HubSpot?

✔️ If you have enterprise clients who expect HubSpot
✔️ If email marketing is your #1 focus
✔️ If you have budget to burn

Who Should Switch to GoHighLevel?

✔️ If you’re tired of the “HubSpot tax”
✔️ If you need SMS/voice alongside email
✔️ If you manage multiple clients
✔️ If you want true all-in-one

My Hybrid Solution (That Actually Works)

1. Primary System: GoHighLevel
   • Client management
   • Automations
   • CRM
   • SMS
2. HubSpot Free Tier:
   • Just for email marketing
   • Basic contact management
3. Zapier Connection:
   • Syncs important data between them

Final Verdict (After $15k in Wasted Spend)

For most small agencies:

• GoHighLevel is the better choice – it just does more of what you actually need
• HubSpot is overkill unless you have specific enterprise needs

But if you:

• Live in email marketing
• Need fancy reports
• Have clients who demand HubSpot

…then maybe the premium is worth it.

Want to see my exact setup in both? Reply and I’ll send screenshots – no fluff, just what actually works after burning through both systems.

• Martin

PS: If you’re currently on HubSpot’s “starter” plan but feel the pricing walls closing in – make the switch before your next contract renewal. Your CFO will thank you.

PPS: That $1,200/month I was paying HubSpot? It’s now $297 with GHL – and I actually use MORE features. The math doesn’t lie.