Looking for the best CRM for your business? Here’s the quick answer:
- GoHighLevel: Ideal for marketing agencies needing an all-in-one platform with tools for CRM, automation, websites, and client management. Plans start at $97/month, and it supports white-label features for agencies managing multiple clients.
- Pipedrive: Perfect for small sales teams focused on managing high deal volumes with a simple, user-friendly pipeline CRM. It offers advanced deal management and over 150 integrations.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | GoHighLevel | Pipedrive |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Marketing + Sales CRM | Sales Pipeline Management |
| Best For | Agencies | Small Sales Teams |
| Key Features | All-in-one tools, white-label | Advanced deal tracking, simple UI |
| Integrations | Limited | 150+ apps via Zapier |
| Price (Starting) | $97/month | Varies by plan |
Choose GoHighLevel if you’re an agency needing comprehensive tools. Opt for Pipedrive if you’re a sales team looking for simplicity and efficiency.
What Are These Platforms?
GoHighLevel: Multi-Client CRM System
GoHighLevel is an all-in-one platform tailored for marketing and sales agencies. It supports over 54,000 customers, sends 822,000 messages monthly, and helps generate 117 leads per month. Agencies can even customize the platform with white-label options [2].
"I’ve given HighLevel to my elite clients for prospecting, sales, fulfillment, retention, and time savings. It scales businesses." – Alex Schlinsky, Founder, Prospecting On Demand™ [2]
Unlike GoHighLevel, Pipedrive focuses specifically on managing sales pipelines.
Pipedrive: Sales Pipeline Manager
Pipedrive is designed to streamline sales pipelines and is used by more than 100,000 companies in 179 countries [3]. For example, Leadspicker reported a 20% increase in sales efficiency and a 40% reduction in administrative tasks after adopting Pipedrive [3].
"Pipedrive adapts to our needs, not the other way around." – Franziska Palumbo-Seidel, CEO, Key Search [3]
While GoHighLevel covers both marketing and sales, Pipedrive is dedicated to optimizing sales pipelines.
GoHighLevel vs Pipedrive: Which CRM is Right for You?
Key Features Head-to-Head
Now that we’ve clarified their purposes, let’s compare their key features side-by-side.
Sales Pipeline Tools
Both platforms have distinct approaches to managing sales pipelines. GoHighLevel combines CRM functionality with tools for managing social media ad campaigns, giving users a unified view of their marketing and sales activities. However, users like Ben Boman note that handling over 500 deals can slow down GoHighLevel’s pipeline view [1]. On the other hand, Pipedrive handles large deal volumes more efficiently, making it a better choice for teams managing a high number of deals. Meanwhile, GoHighLevel is better suited for agencies that need integrated marketing and sales tools.
Built-in Marketing Tools
GoHighLevel offers a wide range of marketing automation features, including:
- Two-way SMS conversations
- Email marketing tools
- Social media messaging integration
- Webinar funnels
- Appointment scheduling
- Payment processing
- Advanced email workflow automation
- Campaign tracking
In contrast, Pipedrive provides basic email templates and limited workflow automation but lacks features like two-way SMS and webinar funnels.
Third-Party Integrations
GoHighLevel focuses on essential integrations, such as payments, webinars, and booking tools. This streamlined approach helps avoid unnecessary complexity. Pipedrive, however, provides access to over 150 apps through native integrations and Zapier, including popular tools like Slack, Mailchimp, and Google Workspace.
Agency-Focused Positioning
GoHighLevel is tailored for agencies, offering features like a white-label portal, multi-client dashboards, and agency-level reporting. Pipedrive, on the other hand, is aimed at single-account users and doesn’t include white-label or multi-client capabilities.
Up next: a breakdown of their pricing structures.
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Cost Breakdown
Here’s a comparison of GoHighLevel’s subscription tiers:
GoHighLevel Plans
- Starter ($97/month): Includes lead capture, online booking, sales pipelines, social calendar, website builder, 3 sub-accounts, and unlimited contacts/users.
- Unlimited ($297/month): Offers everything in the Starter plan plus unlimited sub-accounts and a branded desktop app.
- SaaS Pro ($497/month): Includes all Unlimited features with added perks like automatic sub-account creation, rebilling with markup options, and full API access.
- Enterprise (custom pricing): Tailored for businesses needing custom development, dedicated support, HIPAA compliance, a mobile app, and an account manager [4].
Optional Add-Ons
- Email automation & tracking: $10/month
- SMS messaging: $10/month
- Premium triggers & actions: $20/month
- Content AI: $50/month
- Reviews AI: $50/month [5]
If you opt for annual plans, you can save 17%. For example, the Starter plan costs $970/year, giving you $194 in savings compared to paying monthly. When deciding, consider factors like the number of sub-accounts you need, optional add-ons, and whether prepaying annually makes sense for your budget [5].
Next, take a look at Pipedrive’s pricing to see how it stacks up.
Platform Experience
When selecting a CRM, it’s not just about the cost. You also need to consider how easy it is to use, the quality of support, and mobile accessibility.
Learning Curve
GoHighLevel is designed with marketing professionals in mind. Its interface focuses on simplicity, making core tasks like campaign creation, lead management, and automation easy to navigate. The dashboard is clean and intuitive, so most users can pick up the basics after just a few sessions. This makes onboarding new team members fast and straightforward, especially for small teams and agencies [1].
Help and Support
Support is a critical factor, and GoHighLevel delivers with multiple options. Agency Administrators can tap into 24/7 Zoom assistance, live chat, email tickets, and phone support for issues like sales inquiries, billing, or login problems [2]. For quicker resolutions, Priority Support is available. To further assist users, the platform provides a knowledge base, hosts regular training events, and fosters a community through its dedicated Facebook group.
Mobile Apps
The GoHighLevel mobile app mirrors the desktop experience, allowing users to manage campaigns and track leads in real time, no matter where they are. This is particularly useful for agencies and small sales teams who often work remotely or need to stay connected on the go [3].
Best Fit By Business Type
For Marketing Agencies
GoHighLevel is designed to bring together marketing and sales workflows for agencies managing multiple clients. It connects ad campaigns with lead follow-ups and appointment scheduling. However, its interface might feel less intuitive for those outside the marketing world [1].
Key points for agencies to consider:
- Performance challenges: Users have noted that handling a high volume of deals (e.g., 500+ active deals) can slow down the pipeline view [1].
- Steep learning curve: Setting up the platform can demand significant training, particularly for those who aren’t marketers [6].
- Integration perks: Combines CRM, email/SMS automation, and funnel-building tools into one platform [6].
- White-label features: Offers sub-licensed access to data under your branding [6].
For Small Sales Teams
Pipedrive is a better fit for small sales teams, thanks to its simple pipeline tools and minimal setup requirements. In contrast, GoHighLevel’s extensive features might feel overwhelming for teams focused solely on sales [1].
Final Recommendation
Pick the CRM that aligns with your specific needs. Use the "Best Fit By Business Type" section as a guide to identify the most suitable option for your situation.
GoHighLevel might be the right choice if:
- You run an agency managing multiple client accounts.
- You need an all-in-one platform combining marketing, CRM, automation, website and funnel builders, and client communication tools.
- You’re comfortable with plans starting at $97 per month.
- You’re prepared for a steeper learning curve (G2 ease-of-use rating: 7.6).
Pipedrive could be a better fit if:
- Your main focus is managing a streamlined sales pipeline.
- You need a user-friendly CRM designed for small to midsize sales teams.
- You handle high deal volumes and require consistent performance.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | GoHighLevel | Pipedrive |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing Focus | All-in-one suite | Sales-focused toolkit |
| Sales Pipeline | Basic tools | Advanced deal management |
| Security | GDPR compliant | GDPR, SOC 2, ISO 27001 certified |
For practical advice, check out the implementation tips in the next section.
