TL;DR
GoHighLevel is the better choice for businesses that want a funnel builder bundled with a full CRM, email, and SMS marketing suite. ClickFunnels is the better choice for businesses that only need funnel and landing page building and prefer a more dedicated, purpose-built interface for that single job.
| Quick Pick | Tool | Best For | Rating | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Overall Value | GoHighLevel | Funnels bundled with full CRM and marketing | 4.5/5 | $97/mo |
| Best Dedicated Funnel Builder | ClickFunnels | Funnel-only businesses, simpler interface | 4.3/5 | $81/mo |
| Best for Agencies | GoHighLevel Unlimited | Managing funnels for multiple clients | 4.6/5 | $297/mo |
| Best for Course Creators | ClickFunnels | Course and membership site funnels | 4.2/5 | $81/mo |
| Best Free Trial | GoHighLevel | 14-day full-access trial | 4.5/5 | Free |
ARTICLE
ClickFunnels popularized the concept of a dedicated funnel-building tool for online businesses, and it remains focused specifically on that job — sales pages, order forms, upsell and downsell sequences, and course delivery. GoHighLevel entered the same space with a similarly capable funnel builder, but wrapped it inside a full CRM and marketing platform, positioning itself as a direct alternative for businesses that want funnels without paying for a second CRM subscription.
Best overall: GoHighLevel for most businesses, ClickFunnels for funnel-only use cases
Comparison Table
| Tool | Best For | Free Tier | Paid From | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GoHighLevel | Funnels bundled with full CRM | 14-day trial only | $97/mo | 4.5/5 |
| ClickFunnels | Dedicated funnel and landing page builder | No | $81/mo | 4.3/5 |
| Leadpages | Simple landing pages, budget option | No | $37/mo | 4.0/5 |
| Kartra | Funnels plus course hosting | No | $79/mo | 4.1/5 |
GoHighLevel
GoHighLevel's funnel builder covers sales pages, order forms, upsells, downsells, and full websites, built on the same drag-and-drop editor used across the rest of the platform. The difference from ClickFunnels is scope: the funnel builder sits inside a full CRM, so every lead captured through a funnel automatically flows into pipelines, automations, and follow-up sequences without connecting a separate tool.
Key Features
- Funnel and website builder included at every tier alongside the CRM
- Automatic lead routing from funnels directly into CRM pipelines and automations
- Built-in email and SMS follow-up triggered directly from funnel conversions
- Snapshot library of pre-built funnel templates for specific industries
Pros
- No separate CRM subscription needed — leads flow directly into pipelines and automations
- SMS follow-up built in, which ClickFunnels does not offer natively
- Unlimited sub-accounts on the Unlimited plan for agencies building funnels for multiple clients
- Lower total cost than running ClickFunnels plus a separate CRM
Cons
- Funnel builder interface is less polished than ClickFunnels' more purpose-built editor
- Learning curve is longer since it is one part of a much larger platform
- Fewer funnel-specific templates than ClickFunnels' more mature template marketplace
Pricing
- Starter: $97/month — funnel builder plus full CRM, 3 sub-accounts
- Unlimited: $297/month — unlimited sub-accounts, API access
Best for: Businesses and agencies that want funnels bundled with CRM, email, and SMS follow-up in one subscription.
ClickFunnels
ClickFunnels remains the most recognized dedicated funnel-building platform, with a more mature template marketplace and an interface built specifically around the funnel-creation workflow. It does not include a full CRM or SMS marketing, positioning it as a specialist tool rather than an all-in-one platform.
Key Features
- Purpose-built funnel editor with a large, mature template marketplace
- Course and membership site hosting built into higher tiers
- Split testing tools for optimizing funnel conversion rates
- Affiliate program management for businesses running their own affiliate offers
Pros
- More polished, dedicated funnel-building interface than GoHighLevel's bundled version
- Larger, more mature template marketplace for common funnel types
- Strong built-in split testing for conversion optimization
- Good documentation and community resources specifically for funnel strategy
Cons
- No CRM or SMS marketing included — requires a separate tool for lead management
- Costs add up quickly once you add a CRM subscription on top
- Higher tiers required for course hosting and affiliate management
Pricing
- Startup: $81/month — core funnel builder, one domain
- Pro: $248/month — course hosting, more domains, higher limits
Best for: Businesses that only need funnel and landing page building and prefer a dedicated, purpose-built tool over an all-in-one platform.
Scoring
| Tool | Funnel Builder Quality | CRM Depth | Value for Money | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GoHighLevel | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | Bundled funnels plus full CRM |
| ClickFunnels | 4.5/5 | 1/5 | 3.5/5 | Dedicated funnel-only use cases |
How we score
Each tool is scored out of 10 across four weighted criteria, based on hands-on testing and public pricing pages.
Which Tool Should You Choose?
Choose GoHighLevel if you want funnels bundled with a CRM, email marketing, and SMS follow-up so every lead is automatically captured and nurtured without connecting a separate tool. The lower total cost compounds significantly once you factor in what a comparable ClickFunnels-plus-CRM stack would cost.
Choose ClickFunnels if you specifically want the most polished, purpose-built funnel editor available and either already have a CRM you are happy with or don't need one at all. Course creators and businesses running affiliate programs may also prefer ClickFunnels' more mature tooling in those specific areas.
Consider GoHighLevel Unlimited if you are an agency building funnels for multiple clients, since unlimited sub-accounts at a flat $297 per month becomes dramatically cheaper than paying per-client for ClickFunnels plus a separate CRM for each account.
FAQ
Is GoHighLevel a good ClickFunnels alternative?
Yes. GoHighLevel is one of the most common ClickFunnels alternatives because it includes a comparable funnel and landing page builder plus a full CRM, email and SMS marketing, and booking calendars in the same $97 per month subscription. Businesses that only need funnels and nothing else may still prefer ClickFunnels' more dedicated, simpler funnel-building interface.
Does GoHighLevel's funnel builder work as well as ClickFunnels?
GoHighLevel's funnel builder covers the same core use cases as ClickFunnels, including sales pages, order forms, and upsell sequences, though ClickFunnels' interface is generally considered more polished and purpose-built specifically for funnel design. GoHighLevel's advantage is that the funnel builder is bundled with a full CRM and marketing suite rather than sold as a standalone product.
Which is cheaper, GoHighLevel or ClickFunnels?
GoHighLevel is cheaper when you need both a funnel builder and a CRM, since ClickFunnels' funnel-only pricing starts around $81 per month and requires a separate CRM subscription on top. If you only need funnels and nothing else, ClickFunnels' dedicated plan can be the simpler and more focused choice.
Conclusion
The real decision between GoHighLevel and ClickFunnels comes down to scope, not funnel quality alone. ClickFunnels builds a slightly more polished funnel specifically, but GoHighLevel wraps a comparable funnel builder inside a full CRM and marketing platform for a similar or lower total price. For most small businesses and agencies, that bundled value makes GoHighLevel the stronger overall pick — ClickFunnels remains the right call only for businesses that genuinely need nothing beyond funnels.
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