The uncomfortable truth upfront

Agencies are not leaving ClickFunnels because it “stopped working.”

They’re leaving because ClickFunnels was never built to run an agency in the first place.

ClickFunnels is excellent at:

• building funnels
• selling offers
• launching fast

But agencies in 2025 care about:

• lead tracking
• follow-up
• retention
• attribution
• client management
• recurring revenue
• systemized delivery

That’s where the shift happens.

This article explains exactly why agencies move, when they should, and when they shouldn’t.

The typical agency journey (this matters)

Most agencies don’t start with GoHighLevel.

They start with ClickFunnels.

Here’s the real progression:

1. Agency launches using ClickFunnels
2. Funnels work, leads come in
3. Clients ask:
   • “Did they reply?”
   • “Did they book?”
   • “Who followed up?”
4. Agency duct-tapes tools together
5. Costs rise, visibility drops
6. Churn increases
7. Agency looks for a system

That’s the moment GoHighLevel enters the picture.

What ClickFunnels does well for agencies (let’s be fair)

Before explaining the move, it’s important to be clear:

ClickFunnels is not a bad tool.

Agencies use ClickFunnels successfully for:

• front-end funnels
• VSL pages
• lead magnets
• tripwire offers
• productized funnels

For front-end conversion, ClickFunnels is still excellent.

The problem starts when agencies try to use it for operations.

Where ClickFunnels breaks for agencies (specific, not vague)

These are not theoretical issues — they are the exact pain points agencies hit.

1. No real CRM

Agencies need to see:

• where leads are
• who followed up
• what stage deals are in
• which clients are performing

ClickFunnels:

• has contacts
• does not have a true pipeline CRM

This creates blind spots that agencies can’t afford.

2. Follow-up is fragmented

Agencies rely on:

• SMS
• email
• reminders
• reactivation
• no-show reduction

With ClickFunnels, agencies usually stack:

• email tool
• SMS tool
• Zapier
• calendars
• spreadsheets

Each layer increases:

• cost
• failure points
• complexity

3. Client management is painful

ClickFunnels was not designed for:

• multiple client accounts
• standardized onboarding
• cloning systems
• consistent delivery

Agencies end up:

• rebuilding funnels repeatedly
• manually configuring automations
• supporting custom setups

This kills margins.

4. No SaaS-style recurring leverage

Agencies want:

• predictable monthly revenue
• low fulfillment load
• sticky clients

ClickFunnels revenue is:

• front-loaded
• funnel-dependent
• not retention-focused

That’s fine for marketers.
It’s a problem for agencies.

What GoHighLevel does differently (this is the real reason for the shift)

GoHighLevel is not “a better ClickFunnels.”

It’s a different category of product.

ClickFunnels = conversion tool
GoHighLevel = business operating system

That distinction matters.

The 5 real reasons agencies move to GoHighLevel

1. Agencies need visibility, not just conversions

With GoHighLevel, agencies can see:

• every lead
• every message
• every booking
• every missed opportunity

Pipelines show reality.

Clients stop asking:

“Did anyone follow up?”

Because the answer is visible.

2. Follow-up becomes a product, not a task

GoHighLevel includes:

• native SMS
• native email
• native workflows

Agencies stop selling:

• “funnels”
  and start selling
• “systems that convert leads into booked appointments”

This dramatically increases perceived value.

3. Snapshots replace custom builds

Agencies using GoHighLevel stop rebuilding from scratch.

They:

• create one proven setup
• clone it instantly
• onboard clients faster
• deliver consistent results

This is one of the biggest margin unlocks agencies experience.

4. SaaS Mode changes the revenue model

This is the turning point.

With GoHighLevel SaaS Mode, agencies can:

• white-label the software
• charge monthly subscriptions
• automate billing
• reduce churn

Agencies stop selling hours and start selling access.

This is why $10k–$50k/month SaaS agencies are becoming common.

5. Clients stay longer

Clients churn when:

• results feel inconsistent
• systems feel fragile
• follow-up breaks

GoHighLevel reduces churn because:

• it becomes embedded in the client’s business
• replacing it feels painful
• switching costs are high

Retention improves naturally.

👉Try GoHighLevel Free (14 Days)

The mistake agencies make when switching (important)

Many agencies fail with GoHighLevel for the wrong reason.

They try to:

• recreate ClickFunnels inside GoHighLevel
• overbuild
• sell features instead of outcomes

That’s a positioning failure, not a platform failure.

When agencies SHOULD NOT move off ClickFunnels

This matters for trust.

Agencies should stay on ClickFunnels if:

• funnels are their only service
• they don’t manage follow-up
• they don’t offer CRM or automation
• they don’t want recurring SaaS revenue
• they sell one-off funnel builds

ClickFunnels is still fine in those cases.

The most common successful hybrid phase

Many agencies don’t switch overnight.

They run:

• ClickFunnels → front-end funnels
• GoHighLevel → CRM + follow-up

This works temporarily, but most agencies eventually consolidate to reduce complexity.

Cost reality (this influences decisions)

Agencies often don’t switch because of headline pricing, but because of stack costs.

Typical ClickFunnels agency stack:

• ClickFunnels
• email platform
• SMS platform
• CRM
• calendar tool
• Zapier

GoHighLevel replaces most of that.

When agencies do the math, the switch makes sense.

The real reason agencies move in 2025 (the big one)

Agencies in 2025 are optimizing for:

• leverage
• predictability
• retention
• systemization

ClickFunnels optimizes for:

• speed
• simplicity
• front-end sales

Neither is wrong.

But agencies outgrow front-end tools.

That’s why the migration trend exists.

Final clarity (no hedging)

Agencies are not abandoning ClickFunnels out of frustration.

They’re moving because:

• their business matured
• their needs changed
• systems matter more than pages

This is evolution, not replacement.

Clear takeaway

• ClickFunnels is where many agencies start
• GoHighLevel is where many agencies end up

Trying to skip that progression usually causes problems.

👉Try GoHighLevel Free (14 Days)

👉Try ClickFunnels Free (14 Days)

Common questions (direct answers)

Is ClickFunnels dying?
No. It’s just not an agency OS.

Is GoHighLevel only for agencies?
No, but agencies benefit the most.

Do agencies regret switching?
Only when they switch without changing their offer.

Should beginners start on GoHighLevel?
Only if they’re service-focused from day one.