If you’re reading this blog, you’re asking a tricky question.
Which is a better CRM: HighLevel or HubSpot?
These are two marketing titans. Comparing them, reading reviews, and even checking both websites could take ages!
But don’t worry. We’re here to help you out.
We’ll help you understand the main features, strengths, and weaknesses of both platforms so you can decide which is the best fit for you.
Get ready! This will be a ride.
What is HighLevel?
Also called GoHighLevel, it’s an all-in-one marketing platform created back in 2016 by Shaun Clark.
HighLevel is a one-person marketing army for agencies and businesses. Its goal is to become the only platform for all marketing needs.
Anything you can think of about marketing, HighLevel can do it for you:
- CRM
- Pipeline management
- Funnel and Website Builder
- Courses & products
- Reputation management
- Communications management
- Tracking & Analytics
- White labeling
HighLevel is a great option for any business or agency looking to reduce the platforms they use for marketing and save money on subscriptions.
It was created with agencies in mind, but it can be an excellent option for any small or medium business.
What is HubSpot?
HubSpot was created in 2006 by Brian Halligan and Dharmesh Shah.
Almost 20 years ago, the internet was a whole different place, and online sales were adapting to the growing population of internauts.
In fact, Brain Halligan coined the term inbound marketing. It is mind-blowing!
HubSpot is an all-in-one marketing and sales platform.
If HighLevel is a Swiss knife for marketing, HubSpot is an ultra-specialized sales tool laser-focused on generating leads and boosting sales.
Some of the things that HubSpot can take off are:
- CRM
- Email Marketing
- Adds Management
- Form Creation
- Landing Pages
- Analytics
- Chatbots
- Customer Support
Pricing
Let’s start with something we always consider when considering new platforms: how much do they cost?
Here, we are looking at two different pricing structures.
HighLevel Pricing
HighLevel is among the most flexible and versatile plans in the industry.
The Starter Plan costs $97 a month and includes all the CRM tools, social media planning, communications management, pipeline and website creator, and more.
You can add unlimited users and contacts without additional costs for each team member, but you’re limited to 3 sub-accounts.
The Unlimited Plan costs $297 a month. You get everything from the Starter Plan, unlimited sub/accounts, a branded desktop app with your logo, and API integration access.
The most exclusive HighLevel offer is the SaaS Pro Plan, which costs $497 a month. It includes everything plus the SaaS mode, which automatically creates sub-accounts and gives you full API access.
HighLevel affordability shines in an industry where everything is a paid subscription. Instead of using several platforms, you can get HighLevel and, for a single charge, get a LOT of value.
The platform also lets you try it before paying. The Starter and Unlimited plans offer a 14-day free trial, and the SaaS Pro plan offers a 30-day free trial.
Keep in mind that SMS and emails might generate additional charges.
HubSpot Pricing
If you tried to look at the HubSpot pricing page and didn’t get anything, I won’t blame you. There’s a lot going on there.
Let’s walk through this to make it easier to understand.
HubSpot offers several products. The first ones are called “Hubs.” There are six of them, and each one has three versions: Starter, Professional, and Enterprise.
Each Hub takes care of different tasks:
- Marketing Hub: To generate leads and automate marketing.
- Sales Hub: To build and manage your sales pipelines.
- Service Hub: To scale support and drive retention.
- Content Hub: Create and manage content.
- Operations Hub: To manage your company’s data
- Commerce Hub: This is for payment, subscriptions, billing, and invoicing.
Additionally, HubSpot offers pre-made bundles. These are a mix-and-match between their different hubs.
- Starter Customer Platform – Essential marketing, sales, service, content, operation, and commerce software.
- Professional Customer Platform – Advanced Marketing, sales, service, content, operation, and commerce software.
- Enterprise Customer Platform – The most powerful marketing sales, service, content, operation
- Marketing+ – The complete marketing solution with lead generation and automation tools.
- Create a bundle – You can create your bundle with all your desired hubs and features.
The plans can start at $15 monthly for the starter version of every Hub, but those are limited to only one person getting access to the full functionality of features and tools available.
If you want the most complete options, they start at $90 monthly with an annual commitment and can go up to $3,600.
Regarding additional charges, some Professional and Enterprise plans require a one-time onboarding fee, which ranges from $1,500 to $7,000.
Also, Add-ons, increasing users, extra API, and other services generate an additional charge.
CRM
Which CRM solution is the best for me, GoHighLevel or HubSpot?
This might be the most asked question when comparing both platforms.
Both offer great solutions, but each does it in its direction.
HighLevel wants you to have everything in a single place. Instead of integrating with different platforms, it gives you everything you need to track interactions with clients.
HubSpot’s approach is different. It offers a deep level of customization and features, but it doesn’t want to substitute all the platforms you already use; it wants to integrate with them.
Let’s look at each of them to understand them better!
HighLevel CRM
HighLevel might be younger than HubSpot, but it has made a name for itself!
The concept is simple: It offers every tool an agency or business owner needs under the same roof.
This includes everything you need to manage your clients’ relationships.
Using HighLevel, you can:
- Create funnels and websites
- Manage pipelines
- Manage your business reputation
- Manage all your clients’ communications
- Tracking and analytics
HighLevel aims to be an all-in-one solution for everything related to marketing. This flexibility comes with a learning curve, which you must consider when considering the platform.
Thankfully, HubSpot prepared several guides and tutorials to help you navigate the platform. Plus, customer support is always available if you need additional help.
Lead Generation
If you can think of a way to generate leads, HighLevel can do it.
You can easily create funnels using a drag-and-drop tool to visualize your lead’s path and set up triggers and automation to keep them engaged.
There are several templates available if you want to make the process faster.
Communications
Have you ever lost a lead because you didn’t see a message on social media or an SMS?
When you need to monitor several contact points, it becomes difficult to keep track of every message.
HighLevel takes all your messages and condenses them under the communications tab.
Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, SMS, meetings, and emails can all be answered and sent without any third party involved.
It also automatically tracks the process of your leads and updates the dashboard to give you real-time data about your deals.
Automations:
In terms of automation, HighLevel is on top of its game.
The drag-and-drop builder is easy to understand when creating funnels without technical knowledge. Templates are available if you need them.
To keep users engaged, you can set up triggers and track their journey through your funnel.
HubSpot CRM
HubSpot is a heavyweight in the CRM space.
It doesn’t matter what you need; when it comes to clients’ relationships, HubSpot can do it.
With the Hubs that we mentioned in the previous section, HubSpot can take care of:
- Contact management
- Deal tracking
- Landing Pages and Website
- SEO
- Social media and analytics
- Chat automation and ticketing
- Content Creation
HubSpot is full of options, features, and solutions for businesses.
It has over 1500 integrations, on-screen tutorials, and direct support anytime if needed.
It all comes with an easy-to-use and user-friendly interface. It’s easy to navigate through menus and follow each tutorial to understand how the platform works.
Remember that even if it’s not hard to understand, the platform still does A LOT. You’ll have to get familiar with the platform first.
Lead Generation:
To generate leads, HubSpot has several options for creating and managing funnels, websites, and content.
The HubSpot templates offered are fantastic for those who want an easier solution. It also includes several forms for engaging with visitors.
Automation:
This is one of the biggest strengths of HubSpot. There’s a lot you can do!
You can:
- Set up sequences of emails to set at set-up times and triggers.
- Use subscribers’ actions to trigger workflows.
- Mix emails, SMS, and push notifications in a single workflow.
- Create multiple paths depending on the user’s actions
- Automate leads scoring and create segments.
All of this is in an easy-to-use and easy-to-understand visual workflow builder.
Integrations:
HubSpot can integrate with basically every platform you already use.
HubSpot can integrate with basically every platform you already use.
With support for over 1500 tools, HubSpot can become the single place where you can manage all your tech stacks without problems.
HubSpot Operation Hubs allows you to integrate more deeply with certain apps like Zoho, Brevo, Pipedrive, and Shopify to get real-time data synchronization.
HighLevel or HubSpot? Which is better for you?
Is a hammer better than a drill? Of course not.
As tools, each has its own use case. You wouldn’t use a hammer to drill a hole in the wall, would you?
Use this exact train of thought when thinking about which platform is the best match for you.
Here are some final considerations about each platform to help you make the final choice:
HighLevel is the best option if:
- You’re an agency or business with multiple clients and want a single tool to handle all your marketing.
- You’re looking for a way to reduce your monthly spending on platforms but don’t want to lose any functionality.
- You’re looking for a scalable solution with an accessible price that won’t charge you more as you grow.
Regarding costs, the HighLevel offer is among the best in the market.
The Unlimited Plan lets you add as many subaccounts and users as you need with no additional costs.
Remember that some services like SMS and emails might generate additional charges.
HubSpot is the best option if:
- You’re looking for a tool that integrates with all the tech you already use.
- You want the flexibility to decide the features you need on the platform.
- If budget is not an issue and you want a scalable tool.
There’s no doubt that HubSpot is a powerful tool. But it does come with a cost.
Its interface is easy to understand. You can escalate as you grow or add features if you need them.
The problem is the cost. HubSpot prices are high and can pile up if you add more seats or pay more hubs. Most of the plans also require a yearly commitment.
Remember, there’s no “wrong choice” if you keep your business goals in mind and focus on what you need.
If not, you can try both platforms for free and decide which is the best for you!
If, after reading this, you’re interested in giving HighLevel a try, why not do it with the help of experts?We can help you set up, learn how to use the platform, and even manage it! Visit https://hlprotools.com/, and let’s start your HighLevel journey.