GoHighLevel vs Zapier vs Make: Which Fits Your Business?
GoHighLevel, Zapier, and Make solve different problems: GoHighLevel is an all-in-one CRM and marketing platform, while Zapier and Make are automation tools that connect separate apps together. Many businesses actually use GoHighLevel alongside Zapier or Make, not instead of them.
Why this comparison isn't quite apples-to-apples
GoHighLevel is fundamentally a different type of product than Zapier or Make. GoHighLevel is an all-in-one CRM and marketing platform — it includes a CRM, funnel builder, email/SMS marketing, and appointment booking all in one system, popular with marketing agencies managing multiple clients. Zapier and Make are automation platforms — they don't replace your CRM or marketing tools, they connect the ones you already use.
So the real question usually isn't "which one should I pick," it's "do I want an all-in-one platform, or do I want to connect the separate best-in-class tools I already have?"
Side-by-side comparison
| Factor | GoHighLevel | Zapier | Make.com |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | All-in-one CRM + marketing platform | App automation platform | App automation platform |
| Replaces your CRM? | Yes, it includes one | No | No |
| Best for | Agencies managing client CRMs/funnels | Simple app-to-app automation | Complex, multi-step automation |
| Learning curve | Moderate — many features to learn | Low | Moderate |
| Typical starting cost | ~$97-$297/month | Free - $30+/month | Free - $20+/month |
Can you use them together?
Yes, and many businesses do. A common setup: GoHighLevel as the core CRM and marketing hub, with Zapier or Make.com connecting it to tools GoHighLevel doesn't natively integrate with — accounting software, project management tools, or a client's existing systems. This gets you the all-in-one convenience of GoHighLevel for what it's good at, plus the flexibility of automation for everything it doesn't cover.
The real decision: replace or connect?
If you're starting fresh with no existing tools, GoHighLevel's all-in-one approach can genuinely simplify things. If you already have a CRM, email tool, and project management system your team knows well, automating the connections between them (with Zapier or Make) usually costs less and disrupts less than migrating everything into GoHighLevel.
Which should you choose?
- Choose GoHighLevel if you're a marketing agency managing multiple client CRMs/funnels, or starting from scratch and want one tool to learn.
- Choose Zapier or Make if you already have tools you like and just need them to talk to each other.
- Use GoHighLevel + Zapier/Make together if you want GoHighLevel's marketing features but still need to connect it to tools outside its ecosystem.
Ready to see this applied to your business?
Book a free 30-minute audit and we'll tell you honestly what to fix first.
Book a Free Call →Frequently asked questions
Not exactly. GoHighLevel is an all-in-one CRM and marketing platform, while Zapier and Make are automation tools that connect separate apps. Many businesses use GoHighLevel as their CRM and still use Zapier or Make to connect it to other tools.
Yes, GoHighLevel has native integrations with both Zapier and Make, so you can trigger automations based on GoHighLevel events (like a new lead) and connect it to tools outside its built-in ecosystem.
GoHighLevel typically starts around $97-$297/month since it includes a full CRM and marketing suite. Zapier and Make both have free tiers and paid plans starting around $20-$30/month, but they don't include CRM or marketing features on their own.
Related reading: Make.com vs Zapier compared · Business systems integration guide