Kartra vs GoHighLevel – An In-Depth Comparison

Ever feel torn between Kartra and GoHighLevel?

Both platforms promise to be the ultimate all-in-one marketing solution, but they cater to different types of users.

Having worked with both extensively, I’ve seen firsthand how they’ve evolved—especially in automation, CRM, and client management.

Let’s dive into this Kartra vs. GoHighLevel comparison to help you decide which one aligns best with your business needs.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is based on public data and analysis. Verify Kartra and GoHighLevel details on official websites as features and pricing may change. Not professional advice.

Kartra vs. GoHighLevel: Quick Comparison 

Feature	Kartra	GoHighLevel
Ease of Use	Beginner-friendly ✅	Advanced features, steep learning curve ❌
Onboarding	Video guides + Kartra Academy	Zoom support + Q&A calls
Sales Funnels	Advanced tools for pros	Built-in + automation combo
Marketing Automation	Focused on email only	Multi-channel (email, SMS, social)
CRM & Lead Management	Basic CRM with tagging ✅	Smart CRM with automation
Courses & Memberships	Great for courses but no certificates ❌	Built-in certification system ✅
Webinars	Built-in webinar hosting	No native webinar feature ❌
Landing Pages	Kartra has Beautiful templates  (extra setup needed)	Effortless + integrated into funnels
Integrations	Limited external tools	Extensive integrations
Customer Support	24/7 live chat (higher plans)	Email + Zoom support (limited live chat)
Pricing	Starts at $119/month	Starts at $97/month
Free Trial	30 days	14 days
Agency Features	Basic tools for agencies	Advanced, including white-label SaaS
Multi-Channel	Email-focused only ❌	Email, SMS, calls, social ✅
Updates	Stable but infrequent updates ⚙	Regular new features & tools

What Is Kartra?

Kartra is a full-featured marketing platform designed to be the all-in-one solution for running an online business.

If you’re searching for a tool that lets you build high-converting sales funnels, automate email marketing, host online courses, and even manage memberships—Kartra has you covered.

Originally developed by the creators of WebinarJam, Kartra was made available to select users in 2016 and officially launched to the public in 2018. Since then, it has become a go-to choice for digital entrepreneurs looking for a streamlined business management solution.

Who Is Kartra For?

Kartra is built for: ✅ Digital marketers who need an all-in-one platform ✅ Small businesses and entrepreneurs managing online sales ✅ Coaches and course creators hosting training programs ✅ Agencies and larger businesses (with higher-tier plans)

If you want a powerful yet user-friendly platform to sell products, manage customers, and automate workflows, Kartra could be a great fit.

What is GoHighLevel? 

GoHighLevel, often called HighLevel or GHL, is a rising star in the marketing automation space, especially for agencies.

This platform is built to handle everything from lead generation and client management to full-scale marketing automation—all from a single dashboard.

What truly sets GoHighLevel apart is its advanced CRM capabilities and multi-channel automation tools. Whether you need to run SMS campaigns, manage email sequences, or automate follow-ups, GHL can do it all.

It also offers a unique SaaS mode, allowing agencies to white-label the platform and sell it as their own—creating a whole new revenue stream.

Who Is GoHighLevel For?

GoHighLevel was initially designed for marketing agencies, but its features make it a powerful tool for a variety of businesses: ✅ Agency owners who need an all-in-one client management system ✅ Local businesses looking to capture and nurture leads ✅ Consultants and sales professionals who rely on automation ✅ B2B companies needing a centralized platform for marketing and communication

If your business relies on generating leads, nurturing client relationships, and automating outreach, GoHighLevel could be the powerhouse you need.

Kartra vs. GoHighLevel – Key Similarities and Differences

After using both Kartra and GoHighLevel, I’ve noticed some key areas where they overlap and where they take different paths. Let’s break it down!

Similarities

Both Kartra and GoHighLevel are premium all-in-one marketing platforms, meaning they come with a higher price tag—but for a good reason. They replace multiple tools, saving you from juggling multiple subscriptions.

They’re built to be end-to-end business solutions, offering:
✅ Sales funnel builders for seamless lead generation
✅ Affiliate management tools to scale your business
✅ Course & membership site hosting to create and sell online programs
✅ Client management dashboards (especially useful for agencies)

If you’re an agency, both platforms offer high-tier plans that allow you to manage multiple clients from one place, making them an excellent investment for businesses serious about automation and scaling.

And if you want to test-drive the software before committing, both offer free trials:

• Kartra: 30-day trial
• GoHighLevel: 14-day trial

Differences

Despite their similarities, these platforms have distinct strengths that cater to different types of businesses.

Feature	Kartra	GoHighLevel
Ideal For	Course creators, online businesses, and solopreneurs	Marketing agencies, consultants, and businesses needing advanced automation
SaaS Mode	❌ No SaaS resale option	✅ Allows agencies to white-label & resell the platform
User Limits	Plans come with usage restrictions	Unlimited team members & core feature usage, even on entry plans
Sub-Accounts	No dedicated sub-accounts	✅ Unlimited sub-accounts for higher-tier plans
Automation & CRM	Strong automation for campaigns, but less agency-focused	✅ Advanced CRM and automation, ideal for agencies managing multiple clients

Kartra vs. GoHighLevel – Detailed Comparison

Both Kartra and GoHighLevel are powerful all-in-one marketing platforms, but they serve different types of users. While Kartra is well-suited for entrepreneurs, course creators, and small businesses, GoHighLevel is tailored for marketing agencies and businesses needing advanced automation and CRM capabilities.

If you’re trying to decide between these two, let’s break down their features in detail to help you make an informed choice.

1. User Experience and Interface

The ease of navigating a platform plays a big role in how quickly you can set up and run your marketing campaigns.

Kartra

Kartra offers a modern, visually appealing interface that makes navigating its features easy. It’s designed with beginners in mind, providing step-by-step tutorials and an intuitive dashboard that allows users to set up campaigns without much technical knowledge.

Its drag-and-drop builder for pages, emails, and funnels makes it simple for users to create professional marketing assets without needing a designer or developer.

GoHighLevel

GoHighLevel’s interface is more functional than visually polished. It prioritizes efficiency over aesthetics, making it better suited for experienced marketers who know their way around marketing automation tools.

Unlike Kartra, GoHighLevel doesn’t offer much onboarding support, meaning users might struggle initially. However, once you get familiar with it, the platform offers powerful tools that agencies and businesses can use to scale their operations quickly.

Comparison Table: User Experience and Interface

Feature	Kartra	GoHighLevel
Ease of Use	Beginner-friendly, intuitive interface	More advanced, requires marketing experience
Dashboard Design	Sleek, modern, and visually appealing	Functional but less polished
Onboarding & Tutorials	Step-by-step guides, video tutorials	Limited onboarding support, assumes prior knowledge

🏆 Winner: Kartra

Kartra’s user-friendly interface and guided onboarding make it a better choice for those new to all-in-one marketing platforms.

2. Pricing Comparison

Both platforms have tiered pricing plans, but their structures cater to different types of businesses.

Kartra

Kartra’s pricing is straightforward, offering three plans based on the size of your business.

• Starter – $119/month: Ideal for solopreneurs and small businesses.
• Growth – $229/month: Adds advanced automation, affiliate marketing, and higher usage limits.
• Professional – $549/month: Designed for agencies and large businesses needing more powerful tools.

Kartra also offers up to 22% off with annual billing, making it a cost-effective choice for long-term users.

GoHighLevel

GoHighLevel’s pricing is geared towards agencies and businesses needing unlimited access to its features.

• Starter – $97/month: Provides core features like CRM and automation.
• Freelancer/Unlimited – $297/month: Adds white-labeling and membership functions.
• Agency Pro – $497/month: Unlocks full SaaS capabilities, AI chatbots, and other advanced tools.

GoHighLevel offers a 16% discount on annual billing, which is slightly lower than Kartra’s but still valuable for those committing long-term.

Comparison Table: Pricing

Plan	Kartra Pricing	GoHighLevel Pricing
Starter Plan	$119/month	$97/month
Mid-Tier Plan	$229/month	$297/month
Top-Tier Plan	$549/month	$497/month
Annual Discount	Up to 22% off	Up to 16% off

🏆 Winner: GoHighLevel

GoHighLevel provides more value with unlimited users and accounts at a lower price point, making it the best choice for agencies and businesses managing multiple clients.

3. Course Creation and Membership Sites

If you sell online courses, memberships, or digital products, both platforms offer tools to help you build and manage them. However, their approaches are different.

Kartra

Kartra comes with a Launch Builder, which lets you create visually appealing course modules and membership sites.

• You can add progress bars, audio playlists, webinars, and multimedia content to enhance the learning experience.
• However, structuring modules and lessons is not as intuitive as dedicated learning management systems like Kajabi or Thinkific.
• No built-in certificate generation, meaning you’ll need third-party tools like Zapier for certifications.

GoHighLevel

GoHighLevel is better aligned with specialized course platforms like Teachable and Kajabi.

• More structured and user-friendly for setting up modules and lessons.
• Provides pre-designed course blueprints, making setup faster and easier.
• Built-in certificate generation, eliminating the need for third-party integrations.

Comparison Table: Course Creation & Membership Sites

Feature	Kartra	GoHighLevel
Ease of Course Setup	Somewhat complex, less intuitive	More user-friendly, easier to organize
Customization	Highly customizable but requires manual setup	Pre-designed templates for faster setup
Certificate Generation	Requires third-party tools like Zapier	Built-in certification feature

🏆 Winner: GoHighLevel

GoHighLevel makes course creation easier, more structured, and includes built-in certification, making it the better option for those selling online programs.

4. Landing Pages, Sales Funnels, Surveys, and Forms

Both platforms provide powerful funnel-building capabilities, but they have some key differences.

Kartra

Kartra offers a funnel mapping tool, allowing you to create complex sales funnels with ease.

• Provides sleek, modern templates for landing pages.
• Requires you to customize landing pages separately before adding them to funnels, which adds extra steps to the setup process.
• Survey tool is flexible, allowing for interactive quizzes to engage users.

GoHighLevel

GoHighLevel simplifies the funnel-building process by integrating landing pages directly into sales funnels.

• Templates are available for each funnel step, making the process faster and easier.
• Includes a built-in website builder, whereas Kartra only offers website templates under “Personal Branding.”
• Survey tool is less interactive than Kartra’s but still functional.

Comparison Table: Landing Pages & Funnels

Feature	Kartra	GoHighLevel
Sales Funnel Setup	Requires separate customization of landing pages	Landing pages are built into funnel steps
Survey & Forms	Interactive quizzes available	Basic surveys and forms
Website Builder	Limited, only available under templates	Full-fledged website builder included

🏆 Winner: GoHighLevel

GoHighLevel’s integrated landing pages, built-in website builder, and smoother funnel setup make it the more efficient choice.

5. CRM and Lead Management

Managing leads effectively is crucial for agencies and businesses.

Kartra

Kartra offers basic CRM tools, such as:
✅ Contact tagging and segmentation
✅ Automated email follow-ups
✅ Basic lead tracking

GoHighLevel

GoHighLevel takes CRM to another level with:
✅ Smart Lists for advanced lead segmentation
✅ Automated SMS and email follow-ups
✅ A unified inbox for Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and SMS

Comparison Table: CRM & Lead Management

Feature	Kartra	GoHighLevel
Lead Tracking	Basic CRM tools	Advanced CRM with segmentation
Communication Channels	Primarily email-based	Email, SMS, WhatsApp, Messenger
Automation	Limited lead nurturing	Advanced automation for follow-ups

🏆 Winner: GoHighLevel

GoHighLevel’s powerful CRM and multi-channel communication features make it the superior choice for businesses focused on lead nurturing and conversion.

6. Customer Support and Training

A platform’s customer support and training resources can make a huge difference, especially if you’re new to the software or run into technical issues. Let’s see how Kartra and GoHighLevel compare in this area.

Kartra

Kartra offers comprehensive customer support and a well-structured knowledge base to help users navigate its features.

🔹 Support Channels:
✅ 24/7 live chat support (for Growth and Professional plan users)
✅ Email support for all plans
✅ Ticket-based support system

🔹 Training & Learning Resources:
✅ Extensive knowledge base with guides and tutorials
✅ Step-by-step video walkthroughs on using key features
✅ Official Kartra Academy – a free resource with in-depth lessons
✅ Regular webinars and community discussions

Kartra’s support page is well-organized, making it easy to find answers to common problems. You can also submit a support ticket without logging into your account, which is a time-saver if you’re facing login issues.

GoHighLevel

GoHighLevel also provides strong support, but the experience differs slightly from Kartra’s.

🔹 Support Channels:
✅ Live chat support (available for agency-level users)
✅ Email support for all users
✅ Phone support (only for Agency Pro plan users)
✅ Live Zoom support calls – A unique feature that allows users to share their screen and get help directly from support reps

🔹 Training & Learning Resources:
✅ Extensive knowledge base (but some articles may be outdated due to frequent updates)
✅ Community Facebook group with active discussions
✅ Weekly training sessions and Q&A calls
✅ GHL University – A dedicated learning platform with detailed tutorials

One standout feature in GoHighLevel’s support system is Zoom calls with the support team, which is rarely offered by other platforms. This allows users to get real-time help by sharing their screen, making troubleshooting much easier.

Comparison Table: Customer Support & Training

Feature	Kartra	GoHighLevel
Live Chat Support	Available 24/7 (Growth & Professional plans)	Available for Agency-level users only
Email & Ticket Support	Yes, available for all users	Yes, available for all users
Phone Support	No phone support	Available for Agency Pro users
Live Zoom Support Calls	❌ No Zoom calls	✅ Yes, allows real-time troubleshooting
Knowledge Base	Well-organized, easy to navigate	Large but some outdated articles
Video Tutorials & Academy	Kartra Academy with step-by-step courses	GHL University with detailed courses
Webinars & Q&A Sessions	Yes, regular training webinars	Yes, weekly live Q&A calls

🏆 Winner: Tie

Both platforms excel in customer support but in different ways.

Pros and Cons of Kartra

Pros

✅ Easy Onboarding with a Welcome Video & Interactive Guide
Kartra makes it simple for new users to get started with a step-by-step guide and an interactive walkthrough right from the start.

✅ Strong Community & Reliable Support
With an active Facebook group, helpful tutorials, and Kartra Academy, you’ll never feel lost when using the platform.

✅ 30-Day Free Trial
Kartra gives you a full month to test out its features before committing, which is great if you want to explore the platform risk-free.

✅ Built-In Webinar Functionality
Unlike many other platforms, Kartra lets you host webinars without needing third-party software, making it a great choice for coaches and course creators.

✅ Powerful Sales Funnel Features
Kartra’s advanced funnel-building tools allow you to create highly optimized sales sequences, helping you convert leads into customers with ease.

Cons

❌ Not the Cheapest Option
Even Kartra’s basic plan is priced on the higher side, making it less ideal for beginners on a tight budget.

❌ Limited Third-Party Integrations
Unlike some competitors, Kartra doesn’t integrate with as many external tools, which can be a drawback if you rely on other software.

❌ Usage Caps on Certain Features
Some of Kartra’s plans limit the number of contacts, team members, and emails you can have, which might be restrictive as your business grows.

Pros and Cons of GoHighLevel

Pros

✅ 14-Day Free Trial
GoHighLevel offers a trial period to let you explore its tools before making a financial commitment.

✅ Advanced CRM & Marketing Automation
The platform provides powerful automation for emails, SMS, calls, and workflows, making it an excellent choice for businesses that rely on multi-step client engagement.

✅ Constant Updates & New Features
GoHighLevel is continuously improving, frequently rolling out new tools and updates to enhance user experience.

✅ Powerful Agency-Focused Features
If you’re running a marketing agency, GoHighLevel gives you game-changing tools like missed call text-back, client account management, and white-label SaaS reselling.

✅ Multi-Channel Marketing Capabilities
Unlike Kartra, GoHighLevel supports email marketing, SMS, phone calls, voicemails, and even social media messaging, allowing you to reach leads through multiple channels.

Cons

❌ Expensive, Just Like Kartra
GoHighLevel’s pricing isn’t budget-friendly, especially for solopreneurs or small businesses just starting out.

❌ Can Feel Overwhelming
With so many features packed into one platform, new users may find it a bit intimidating to navigate everything.

❌ Some Tools Could Be More Refined
A few areas of GoHighLevel, like the website builder and certain automation features, could use improvements to enhance usability.

❌ Customer Support Isn’t Always Easily Accessible
While GoHighLevel offers Zoom support for troubleshooting, live chat and phone support are limited to higher-tier users, which can be frustrating if you need immediate assistance.

Which One Should You Choose?

💡 Go with Kartra if:
✅ You’re a solopreneur, course creator, or online business owner
✅ You prefer a beginner-friendly interface with guided tutorials
✅ Your focus is on sales funnels, email marketing, and membership sites

💡 Go with GoHighLevel if:
✅ You run a marketing agency or manage multiple clients
✅ You need powerful automation and advanced CRM tools
✅ You want to white-label and resell SaaS solutions

Both are great options—it just depends on your business model and growth goals!

Final Thoughts

After breaking down the key differences between Kartra and GoHighLevel, have you identified which platform aligns best with your business goals?

We’ve explored everything—from their sales funnels and automation tools to their CRM, lead management, and customer engagement features.

Kartra shines with its intuitive interface, structured funnel mapping, and creative course-building tools, making it a solid choice for solopreneurs, course creators, and small business owners.

On the other hand, GoHighLevel stands out as a powerhouse for agencies, offering a robust CRM, advanced automation, and multi-channel marketing tools that help businesses scale and manage clients more efficiently.

So, which one comes out on top? While Kartra is a fantastic choice for individual entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel takes the lead when it comes to comprehensive automation, agency-focused features, and overall business growth potential.

But don’t just take my word for it—both platforms offer a free trial, so why not give them a spin and see which one fits your needs best? 

FAQs 

1. Can I switch from Kartra to GoHighLevel easily? 

Yes, both platforms support data export and import, but manual adjustments may be required. 

2. Which platform is better for beginners? 

Kartra is more beginner-friendly with its intuitive interface. 

3. Does GoHighLevel support integrations? 

Yes, GoHighLevel supports third-party integrations via APIs and Zapier. 

4. Is Kartra suitable for agencies? 

Not entirely; it’s better suited for solopreneurs or small businesses. 

5. Which platform has better customer support? 

Both offer excellent support, but Kartra’s 24/7 chat is more accessible for individuals.