HighLevel vs ClickFunnels: which should you use?
Choose HighLevel if you need a CRM, two-way SMS, booking and follow-up around your funnels, especially as an agency or local service business. Choose ClickFunnels if funnels and online sales are the whole job and you want a funnel-first tool. Both start at $97/month with a 14-day trial.
Google Ads & SEO practitioner since 2014
The problem
A funnel only pays off if someone follows up with the people it captures. Many businesses build pages in one tool, then copy leads into a CRM, a texting app and a calendar. Every hand-off is a place where a lead goes cold.
Who each tool fits
Prices checked 27 Oct 2026 on each vendor's pricing page.
| Tool | Best for | Price | Not right if |
|---|---|---|---|
| HighLevel | Agencies and local service businesses that need CRM, two-way SMS, calls, booking and funnels in one account | Starter $97/mo, Unlimited $297/mo, Agency Pro $497/mo; 14-day trial source | You only need funnels and email for one online product |
| ClickFunnels | Online sellers whose business runs on funnels, checkout and email | Launch $97/mo (10K contacts), Scale $197/mo, Optimize $297/mo; 14-day trial source | You need a sales CRM with SMS and booking for a local service team |
Key differences
| Topic | HighLevel | ClickFunnels |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | $97/month (Starter) | $97/month (Launch) |
| Contacts on entry plan | Unlimited contacts listed | 10,000 contacts |
| Multiple clients or locations | Sub-accounts (3 on Starter, unlimited on Unlimited) | Check ClickFunnels' plan details |
| SMS, calls and booking | Included; usage billed separately | Check ClickFunnels' current feature list |
| Resell as your own software | SaaS Mode on Agency Pro ($497/month) | Not part of the plans listed |
How to decide, step by step
About an hour, plus a short trial.
- List what happens after someone opts in today: who replies, how, and how fast.
- Write down the funnel features you actually use (order bumps, upsells, memberships).
- If most of your gaps are after the opt-in (follow-up, booking, SMS), shortlist HighLevel; if they're in the funnel itself, shortlist ClickFunnels.
- Start one trial and rebuild one real funnel plus its follow-up.
- Decide before the trial ends, and cancel if it doesn't fit.
Our recommendation
HighLevel: our top pick for agencies and local service businesses
Why
- CRM, two-way SMS, calls, booking, reviews and workflows in one account, so leads don't fall through gaps between tools.
- Missed-call text-back and speed-to-lead automations are built in, not bolted on.
- One login for multiple client or location sub-accounts.
Not right for you if
- You only need email marketing and one simple funnel.
- Starter at $97/month is more than the problem is worth to you right now.
- You won't spend a few hours on setup, or pay someone to do it.
Price: Starter $97/month, Unlimited $297/month; 14-day free trial, no card needed to start. Source, checked 27 Oct 2026.
Alternative: If you mainly need funnels, email and courses, start with the Systeme.io free plan (2,000 contacts, no card).
Disclosure: Unircretraites is reader-supported. If you sign up through our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes our recommendations, and we say when a tool is not right for you. How we make money
HighLevel vs ClickFunnels: which should you use: questions
Related
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The evidence and tools behind this page
Our mission: help small businesses and agencies make better marketing decisions with plain-English guides, real research and free tools you can use without signing up.
The science: Switching between tools has a cost
In a lab study, interrupted work was finished faster but with more stress, frustration and time pressure. (Source: Mark, Gudith & Klocke, CHI 2008)
Scenario walkthrough
A labelled example of the setup, step by step. Not a real business; no results claimed.
Moving agency clients into one onboarding and reporting system