HubSpot vs. HighLevel: A Feature-by-Feature Comparison for 2025

When it comes to choosing a CRM and marketing automation platform, the stakes are high, especially for agencies and growing businesses. The right software can streamline your entire operation; the wrong one can slow you down and bleed your budget.

HighLevel and HubSpot are two major players, but they take radically different approaches. One is built for marketers, by marketers—with agency scalability baked in. The other? A legacy platform with gated features and growing costs.

Here’s how they compare in 2025, feature by feature.

CRM Capabilities: Flexibility vs. Friction

HighLevel was built with agencies and power users in mind. You get full-feature CRM functionality—contact management, pipelines, notes, automations—without the paywall gymnastics. Custom objects, tags, triggers, and integrations are all part of the core platform.

HubSpot, by contrast, offers basic CRM access at lower tiers, but locks critical customizations behind higher-priced plans. What looks free at first can quickly become a patchwork of upgrades and feature blocks.

🟢 HighLevel gives you everything upfront—no upgrades required to unlock core CRM tools.
🔴 HubSpot's free CRM is limited, with key features trapped behind Pro/Enterprise tiers.

Marketing Automation: All-Inclusive vs. Add-On Hell

HighLevel consolidates email, SMS, funnel builders, social messaging, and full-blown automations in one platform—no need for Zapier, Mailchimp, or Kajabi on the side. You can build complex workflows, nurture campaigns, and even run calendar booking and surveys—all under one roof.

HubSpot offers marketing automation, but meaningful workflows, A/B testing, and dynamic content are restricted to high-tier Marketing Hub plans, which can cost $800/month or more.

🟢 HighLevel has the tools to replace the typical tech stack and offers automation capabilities in every plan.
🔴 HubSpot requires you to duct tape tools or pay steep fees to unlock automation.

Sales Tools: Funnel-Centric vs. Form-Fill

HighLevel is funnel-first. With built-in drag-and-drop sales pipeline builders, appointment scheduling, lead scoring, and pipeline automations, it’s designed for conversion-focused teams. You can even embed chat widgets, run SMS campaigns, and use call tracking—all built in.

HubSpot offers familiar sales tools, but key functionality (like lead scoring or advanced forecasting) is gated behind their Sales Hub Professional plan ($450/month for 5 users).

🟢 HighLevel lets you control every step of the sales process—with plans that fit your needs and your budget.
🔴 HubSpot’s features are powerful but often come at a premium price.

Customer Support Tools: Focused vs. Fractured

HighLevel HighLevel makes managing client communications a breeze with tools like review management, missed call text back, and automation-triggered responses. But it doesn’t stop there—the extensive resource library, premium support upgrades, live support Zoom rooms, and reseller support ensure agencies and SMBs have all the backup they need, so agency owners never have to go it alone.

HubSpot has a full-service ticketing system and support center, but again, it’s bundled into yet another paid hub—Service Hub.

🟢 HighLevel gives agencies the support tools they actually use—built into one system.
🔴 HubSpot splits support functionality into another pricing silo.

Pricing: Predictable vs. Pay-As-You-Scale (and Scale... and Scale)

Let’s be honest: HubSpot gets expensive fast. While the free tier is appealing, most users hit feature walls early and are pushed to upgrade. Advanced tools often require Marketing, Sales, and Service Hub Professional or Enterprise licenses—quickly jumping to over $1,000/month for small teams.

HighLevel flips that model, offering tiers that agencies can pick from based on their needs, all at bottomline-friendly flat rates.

🟢 HighLevel lets you grow without adding zeroes to your bill.
🔴 HubSpot penalizes growth with per-seat pricing and stacked hub costs.

User Experience: Built for Doers vs. Built for Teams of Buyers

HighLevel may have a learning curve (you’re getting a lot of tools), but it’s built for action-takers—agency owners, marketers, and business builders who want to move fast and automate more. Onboarding is hands-on, and there’s an engaged community plus responsive support.

HubSpot is polished and friendly, but its simplicity can mask how many core features are restricted or require integrations.

🟢 HighLevel gives you pro-level control, with an expansive feature set and automation capabilities.
🔴 HubSpot feels sleek, but the moment you scale, it asks for your credit card—again.

Conclusion: Which Should You Choose?

Final Thought:

If you're a marketing agency, coach, consultant, or growing business tired of stacking tools and climbing pricing ladders, HighLevel offers a flat-rate, all-in-one CRM model that some users prefer over HubSpot’s tiered structure. [Note: Preferences and performance may vary by business needs.Stop duct-taping your tech stack. Hire your 24/7 AI Employee and scale smarter with HighLevel.

**This disclaimer should appear either at the end of the blog post and referenced by asterisks, or below a relevant section ““According to verified user reviews, many agencies report significant cost savings and expanded functionality with HighLevel. Actual results may vary.”