Choosing the right CRM in 2025 isn’t just about tracking contacts—it’s about powering your entire sales, marketing, and customer service engine. For many businesses, the choice often comes down to two big names: HubSpot and GoHighLevel.
Both platforms promise to streamline your workflows and grow your business. But which one delivers the functionality, flexibility, and ROI you actually need?
At The Diamond Group, we’ve worked with both platforms. Whether you’re a growing service business, a multi-location practice, or a digital agency, we’ve helped clients implement CRM systems that support their marketing goals and sales processes. Here’s what you need to know before making the call.
HubSpot: The Smart Choice for Growth-Focused Teams
What It Is:
HubSpot is a powerful, cloud-based CRM platform that unifies marketing, sales, service, and website management in one place. Known for its user-friendly design and deep automation capabilities, HubSpot is often the go-to for businesses that need a system that scales with them.
Why Businesses Choose HubSpot:
- Clean, intuitive interface for marketing and sales teams
- Marketing automation that integrates email, landing pages, lead scoring, and more
- Custom reporting dashboards that are easy to build and share
- Strong SEO and content tools natively built into the CMS
- CRM, CMS, and analytics all under one login
Who It's Best For:
- B2B service businesses
- Teams ready to align sales and marketing
- Businesses focused on SEO and inbound content
- Businesses wanting long-term growth strategy
Learn more about HubSpot’s CRM system here.
GoHighLevel: A Swiss Army Knife for Agencies and Local Businesses
What It Is:
GoHighLevel is an all-in-one CRM and funnel builder geared toward marketing agencies and local service providers. It combines CRM features with landing pages, automated follow-ups, text messaging, and even call tracking—often replacing a full stack of tools.
Why Businesses Choose GoHighLevel:
- White-label ready: perfect for agencies reselling services
- Built-in funnel builder similar to ClickFunnels
- Native SMS and voicemail drops without third-party integrations
- Automated appointment booking and pipelines
- Affordable flat pricing for unlimited accounts/users
Who It's Best For:
- Solo marketers or small agencies
- Local businesses who need basic CRM + follow-up tools
- Budget-conscious teams looking for an all-in-one stack
Want to see how GoHighLevel compares on automation? Explore GoHighLevel capabilities here.
5 Key Differences That Matter in 2025
1. Ease of Use
HubSpot wins for clean design and user experience. You don’t need a tech team to run campaigns or track leads.
GoHighLevel’s interface has improved, but it can feel clunky or complex for new users.
Verdict: HubSpot is more beginner-friendly, GoHighLevel takes more tinkering.
2. Automation Capabilities
GoHighLevel shines for SMS automation, call triggers, and voice drops. It’s especially strong for local businesses that rely on text-based outreach.
HubSpot provides deeper logic, smart workflows, and behavior-based email automation that’s ideal for long nurturing cycles.
Verdict: GoHighLevel is best for fast responses and local lead capture; HubSpot excels in advanced segmentation and long-term nurturing.
3. Reporting and Analytics
HubSpot’s custom dashboards and CRM insights are built-in and beautiful. You can track attribution across email, ads, content, and sales stages without third-party tools.
GoHighLevel offers reporting, but it often requires more setup and lacks the polish of HubSpot’s native analytics.
Verdict: If data visibility matters, HubSpot wins.
4. Cost Structure
GoHighLevel’s flat monthly rate is appealing, especially for agencies managing multiple clients under one roof.
HubSpot uses a tiered pricing model. The free CRM is generous, but you’ll need Marketing Hub or Sales Hub Pro to unlock its real power.
Verdict: GoHighLevel is cheaper upfront; HubSpot becomes more valuable as your marketing complexity grows.
5. Scalability and Support
HubSpot offers enterprise-level features, strong support, and integrations with tools like Salesforce, ZoomInfo, and QuickBooks.
GoHighLevel supports scaling through white-labeled sub-accounts but can hit limits with more complex sales teams or marketing data needs.
Verdict: HubSpot is better for scaling teams and growing brands.
So… Which One Is Right for You?
Let’s simplify:
|
Use Case |
Best Platform |
|
Local business texting leads |
GoHighLevel |
|
Inbound content + SEO strategy |
HubSpot |
|
Simple, budget-friendly CRM |
GoHighLevel |
|
CRM + CMS + blog + email in one place |
HubSpot |
|
Agencies managing many clients |
GoHighLevel |
|
Need powerful sales & marketing reports |
HubSpot |
How The Diamond Group Helps You Choose and Implement the Right CRM
As a digital marketing agency in Wilmington, NC, we specialize in helping businesses implement and use the CRM platform that works for them. Whether that’s HubSpot, GoHighLevel, or something else, our team knows how to align your tech stack with your growth strategy.
- Certified HubSpot Platinum Partner
- Experienced with GoHighLevel builds and automation
- Website design, SEO, and managed CRM support all in-house
- Hands-on onboarding, workflow setup, and staff training
Ready to choose a CRM that works as hard as you do? Learn more about digital marketing with The Diamond Group.
Let’s Build a Smarter Tech Stack in 2025
Choosing between HubSpot and GoHighLevel comes down to your business model, budget, and goals. But here’s what matters most: your CRM should help you close more deals, not complicate your day.
At The Diamond Group, we don’t just implement CRMs—we make sure they’re working for you 24/7.
Let’s build your next phase of growth, one smart tool at a time.
