When it comes to managing your brand’s reputation and automating marketing tasks, there are a lot of tools to choose from, but two names often stand out: Climbo and GoHighLevel. Both are leading platforms in reputation management and marketing automation, and they each bring their own unique strengths to the table. With so many options available, it can be tough to decide which one is right for your business.
In this article, I’m here to share my firsthand experience with both Climbo and GoHighLevel. I’ve used each of these platforms extensively, and I’m excited to break down my thoughts in a way that will help you make the best choice for your needs. If you’re a small business looking for a reputation boost or a large agency that needs streamlined marketing automation, this in-depth comparison will cover everything you need to know.
We are going to compare Climbo and GoHighLevel in the following areas:
- Background
- Core Features
- Pricing
- User Interface and Experience
- Integration Capabilities
- Customer Support
- Pros and Cons
- And More
Stay with me as we dive deep into these areas, and by the end, you should have a clear understanding of which platform will work best for your business.
Company Backgrounds
Climbo
Founding History and Mission
Climbo was established in 2020 in Rome, Italy, with a mission to empower marketing agencies and online entrepreneurs. The company specializes in white-label review management software for digital marketing and reputation management sectors, so businesses can easily offer review management services with their own branding.
Evolution and Key Milestones
Climbo has developed a robust platform that integrates with over 85 review platforms, including Google, Facebook, and TripAdvisor. This allows local businesses to request, manage, and share online reviews, as well as collect private feedback and video testimonials. Climbo’s growth was supported by an investment from LVenture Group, which enabled them to expand their services to include private feedback collection and video testimonial capture, making it easier for clients to stay engaged and involved.
GoHighLevel
Establishment and Core Objectives
GoHighLevel was founded in 2018 by Shaun Clark, Varun Vairavan, and Robin Alex. The platform was designed as an all-in-one sales and marketing solution to help marketing agencies reduce client churn and enhance service delivery. It offers comprehensive tools, including CRM functionalities, marketing automation, and sales pipeline management, to make everyday business tasks simpler and more efficient.
Growth Trajectory and Significant Achievements
GoHighLevel is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and has experienced significant growth, now employing over 646 people. The platform serves more than 40,000 agencies and facilitates over 1.2 million business accounts, showcasing its widespread adoption and reliability. In April 2024, GoHighLevel secured a minority growth investment from General Atlantic, which has further supported its innovation and expansion efforts across product and AI. The company also achieved impressive revenue growth, boasting a two-year growth rate of 1,651%. Additionally, GoHighLevel has hosted multiple community events, such as the LevelUp Summit, which fosters connections and learning opportunities for its customers.
If you’re wondering, Is GoHighLevel Worth It in 2024? Our In-Depth Review and Test has all the answers you need.
Core Features Comparison
Climbo Core Features
Review Management Across 85+ Platforms
Climbo’s review management feature is really about making it easier to keep up with all the reviews across different platforms. You can manage reviews from over 85 places, including Google, Facebook, and TripAdvisor, all from one dashboard. Instead of logging into each site separately, you have everything in one spot where you can monitor, respond, and take action on customer feedback. The dashboard is super easy to use, and it makes it simple to stay organized and on top of things without wasting time.
From my own experience, having everything centralized made managing reviews so much easier. We could monitor and respond to customer feedback without jumping between different platforms, which saved us tons of time and effort. It was super convenient to just log in and have all the reviews at our fingertips. This really streamlined our process and made it so much easier to stay on top of customer opinions, which ultimately helped us maintain a positive online reputation.
Private Feedback Collection Mechanisms
Climbo’s private feedback feature is all about helping businesses get honest, direct feedback from customers without it going public. Instead of having customers air their complaints on public review sites, they can share their thoughts privately with us. It’s pretty straightforward: we send a request to our customers, inviting them to provide feedback through a private link. All of that feedback goes into a centralized dashboard, where we can easily review and respond. This feature is really great because it helps us catch issues early before they become bigger problems.
Personally, I found this feature incredibly valuable. It gave us the opportunity to tackle problems early on and protect our brand image. It was really satisfying to see unhappy customers turn into loyal ones just because we were able to respond quickly and privately to their concerns.
Video Testimonial Capture Capabilities
Climbo’s video testimonial feature is designed to make it easy for businesses to collect and use customer testimonials in video format. The way it works is simple: Climbo allows you to send a link to your customers, inviting them to record a quick video sharing their experiences. These videos are then collected in a centralized dashboard, where you can review and decide which ones to use in your marketing campaigns.
Having our customers share their experiences on video felt much more personal and authentic compared to just text reviews. These testimonials added a real human touch to our marketing, and honestly, it helped us build a lot of trust with potential clients. I remember one campaign where a video testimonial performed way better than expected—it drove more engagement than any other content we had, and it showed us just how powerful these authentic customer stories could be.
Automated Review Requests
Climbo’s automated review request feature makes it easy to get customer feedback without having to chase people manually. Basically, you set up triggers in the system so that when a customer makes a purchase or uses your service, Climbo automatically sends them a review request. You can adjust when these requests go out and tweak the message to make it feel personal and relevant. This way, you’re asking for feedback while the experience is still fresh in their minds, which really helps in getting more responses.
SMS and Email Integration
Climbo makes it super easy to reach out to customers using either SMS or email, depending on what they prefer. You can set up the system to send review requests through text messages or emails, which means you’re more likely to get a response because you’re reaching out in the way that suits them best. Using both SMS and email helped us make sure our customers could easily share their thoughts without any hassle.
Multi-location Management
If your business has multiple locations, Climbo’s multi-location management feature is a real game changer. Instead of juggling each location separately, you can manage all your reviews and feedback from one simple dashboard. It helps you see how each branch is doing, compare their performance, and make sure everyone is maintaining the same high standard. This feature made our job so much easier because it gave us a clear view of all our locations without the headache of switching between systems.
GoHighLevel Core Features
Comprehensive CRM Functionalities
GoHighLevel provides a comprehensive CRM system that does so much more than just manage leads—it keeps all your customer interactions organized in one place. Unlike Climbo, which is mainly focused on reviews, GoHighLevel helps manage leads, track interactions, and maintain detailed client profiles. This means you can personalize your communication more effectively, which really helps in building stronger relationships with clients. The CRM is super customizable too, which makes it easy to adapt to whatever your business needs.
Having having all our customer data in one place was a significant boost. We could easily track everything about our leads, from the first point of contact to the most recent communication. This made our team so much more efficient. Instead of trying to pull information from different systems, we had everything right there, which helped us provide a really personalized service—something that wasn’t as smooth when we were only using Climbo.
Sales Pipeline Tracking and Management
While Climbo excels at managing customer reviews, GoHighLevel goes beyond that with a full-fledged sales pipeline management feature. With GoHighLevel, we could visualize our entire sales process from start to finish, track each deal’s progress, and even forecast our revenue. It was a complete solution that made managing sales much easier. For me, having this level of insight was a major turning point—it allowed us to clearly see where each lead was in the process and what steps we needed to take to move them forward. This kind of visibility is something we didn’t have with Climbo, and it made a huge difference in how we approached our sales strategy.
Social Media Management Tools
GoHighLevel also comes with powerful social media management tools that let you schedule, publish, and monitor posts across various platforms. This is something Climbo simply doesn’t offer, and it really makes GoHighLevel stand out. Having having all our social media activities managed from one place saved us so much time and hassle. Before GoHighLevel, we were using multiple tools just to handle our social media posts and engagement, which felt inefficient. With GoHighLevel, it was all under one roof, which made the whole process so much more straightforward. The ability to easily schedule and track our posts meant we could focus more on content quality and engagement rather than logistics.
Email Marketing and Automation Features
Climbo allows you to send review requests via email, but GoHighLevel takes it way further with its full email marketing automation. You can set up drip campaigns, personalize messaging, and ensure that leads stay engaged at every stage of the sales journey. We used GoHighLevel’s email automation a lot, and I can honestly say it made a big impact. The automated sequences saved us hours of manual follow-up, and our audience stayed consistently engaged because they were receiving timely, relevant messages. This is one area where GoHighLevel really shines compared to Climbo—having these advanced email tools meant we could keep our prospects interested without needing constant hands-on effort.
Landing Page and Website Builders
GoHighLevel’s landing page and website builder is another area where it stands out from Climbo. Climbo doesn’t offer any tools for building landing pages, but with GoHighLevel, you get a drag-and-drop builder that’s incredibly user-friendly. Creating landing pages for one of our campaigns was so easy, and the customizable templates made the whole process straightforward. We didn’t need a designer to make it look professional, which saved us both time and money. The landing pages helped us capture more leads and really pushed our campaigns forward—it was a big advantage that Climbo simply couldn’t match.
Appointment Scheduling and Calendar Management
GoHighLevel also comes with integrated appointment scheduling, something Climbo doesn’t offer at all. With GoHighLevel, clients could book appointments directly through the system, and the automatic reminders really helped reduce missed appointments. Managing our calendar became so much easier—no more back-and-forth emails trying to find a good time. Clients loved being able to book their own appointments, and for us, it meant fewer headaches and more time to focus on providing great service. The calendar management tools kept everything organized, and it genuinely made our operations more efficient.
Winner: GoHighLevel
GoHighLevel wins for its versatility and wide range of features. Unlike Climbo, which focuses on review management, GoHighLevel includes CRM, sales tracking, social media, email automation, landing pages, and appointment scheduling. This all-in-one tool centralizes business functions and boosts efficiency, making it the better choice for integrated reputation management and marketing.
If you’re curious about how GoHighLevel stacks up for small businesses, make sure to read our full analysis: What Does GoHighLevel Do for a Small Business?
Pricing Structures
Climbo Pricing
Climbo offers both a free plan and a paid plan. The Free Plan requires no credit card and allows users to add up to 10 clients, making it easy to try the platform risk-free.
If you need more advanced features, Climbo offers a White-Label Plan. This plan includes a custom domain and unlimited sub-accounts for a one-time payment of $2,995. Although the initial cost is high, there are no monthly fees, making it a good long-term option. However, be aware that optional features or integrations may have extra costs, so it’s a good idea to review those before deciding.
GoHighLevel Pricing
Starter Plan: $97/Month
The Starter Plan provides essential tools for capturing more leads, nurturing them, and converting them into customers. It includes features such as online booking, pipelines, social calendar, website builder, and more. You can add unlimited contacts and users and set up to three sub-accounts.
Unlimited Plan: $297/Month
The Unlimited Plan builds on the Starter Plan by adding API access to connect with other tools and services. It also lets you create unlimited sub-accounts, which means agencies can manage all their client accounts for one price. Plus, you get a branded desktop app, so you can use your own domain and fully customize how the platform looks.
Agency Pro Plan: $497/Month
The Agency Pro Plan encompasses all features of the Unlimited Plan and introduces SaaS mode for auto sub-account creation. It enables rebilling with the ability to set your own markup and offers full API access. This plan is tailored for agencies aiming to generate recurring SaaS revenue.
Winner: GoHighLevel
After comparing the plans, GoHighLevel stands out for its flexibility, scalability, and pricing options that suit a variety of needs. Unlike Climbo’s one-time high fee, GoHighLevel offers affordable monthly plans, making it more accessible and easier to grow with.
Target Audience and Use Cases
Climbo
Climbo is best for agencies and businesses that focus on managing their reputation. If your primary goal is to improve your online reviews and get more customer feedback, Climbo is a great choice. It’s ideal for businesses that want to boost their online presence by building positive customer relationships and making sure they have a good image online. Essentially, if you want a simple solution that helps you gather and manage customer reviews effectively, Climbo has you covered.
GoHighLevel
GoHighLevel is perfect for marketing agencies and businesses that need an all-in-one solution. It combines a powerful CRM with marketing automation tools, making it ideal for managing everything in one spot. If you’re an agency juggling multiple clients or a business looking to make your marketing more efficient, GoHighLevel provides the tools for lead generation, client communication, and running marketing campaigns all in one easy-to-use platform. GoHighLevel can capture leads, automate follow-ups, and manage campaigns, making it a great choice for anyone looking to simplify their marketing and customer management.
User Interface and Experience
Climbo
Climbo’s user interface is simple and easy to navigate. The dashboard is designed to be straightforward, so users can find the features they need without much hassle. It’s great for those who prefer a clean and minimalist setup. However, the customization options are pretty limited, which can be a drawback if you want to adjust things to better fit your needs. It works well for agencies focused on managing reviews and customer feedback, but it lacks the flexibility that some businesses might need.
GoHighLevel
On the other hand, GoHighLevel offers a more feature-rich interface. The layout is well-organized, but there’s a lot more to explore compared to Climbo. It might take a bit of time to get familiar with everything, but once you do, it becomes incredibly powerful. The customization options are extensive that allows you to tweak the platform to fit your business needs perfectly. You can create custom dashboards, set up workflows, and adjust the interface to match the way you work. This makes GoHighLevel ideal for those who want more control and flexibility.
Winner: GoHighLevel
GoHighLevel wins in user interface and experience. Climbo is simple and easy to use, but GoHighLevel’s rich customization options and flexible layout make it a better choice for businesses needing more control. It might take some time to learn, but the ability to tailor it to your needs makes it worth it.
Integration Capabilities
Climbo Integration
Integration with Zapier and Major Social Media Platforms
Climbo integrates with Zapier, which means you can connect it to over 3,000 different applications, including popular tools like Google Sheets, WooCommerce, and Streak. This makes it easy to automate tasks, such as sending review requests or notifications when certain actions are triggered. Climbo also supports sharing positive reviews across major social media platforms, which is great for boosting your online reputation.
API Availability and Third-Party Integrations
Climbo also offers API access, which means developers can create custom integrations that suit specific business needs. This makes it easier to connect Climbo with other tools you use and create a seamless experience. Additionally, Climbo integrates with platforms like Albato, giving you access to over 600 more applications to help streamline your review management process.
GoHighLevel Integration
Native Integrations with Various Tools and Platforms
GoHighLevel, on the other hand, comes with a wide range of native integrations. It works directly with tools like Zoom for video conferencing, Shopify for e-commerce, and Outlook for calendar management. These native integrations make it easy to manage different parts of your business from one place, saving you time and reducing the need to switch between multiple apps.
API Access for Custom Integrations
GoHighLevel also provides API access, which means you can build custom integrations that fit your business workflows. This flexibility allows GoHighLevel to adapt to your unique processes and ensures that everything works smoothly together.
Compatibility with Third-Party Applications
Beyond its native integrations, GoHighLevel is also compatible with many third-party apps. For example, using Zapier, you can connect GoHighLevel to thousands of other applications, making it easy to automate tasks and create streamlined operations for your business.
Winner: GoHighLevel
For integration capabilities, GoHighLevel is the winner. While Climbo offers decent options, GoHighLevel’s native integrations and compatibility with third-party tools make it more versatile.
Customer Support and Resources
Climbo Support and Resources
Climbo provides support through email, chat, and community forums. While the chat support can be helpful, it may be slow at times due to high request volumes. Email support is reliable, though not always the quickest.
To help users get started, Climbo offers training materials and documentation. However, these resources are somewhat limited compared to more comprehensive platforms. The basic guides and FAQs are useful for simple tasks, but for more advanced assistance, you might need to reach out to their support team.
The Climbo community is quite active, and the forums are a good place to get answers from other users. However, compared to larger communities, it lacks depth, and finding specific information can sometimes be challenging.
GoHighLevel Support and Resources
GoHighLevel offers multiple support options, including live chat, email, and phone support, which makes it easy to get assistance based on your needs. The live chat is very responsive and often the fastest way to get help, while phone support is available for urgent issues, making the support system well-rounded and efficient.
Additionally, GoHighLevel provides a comprehensive knowledge base filled with tutorials and guides. This makes it easy for users to find answers on their own without always needing to contact support. The resources are detailed and cover a wide range of topics, which is incredibly helpful, especially for new users.
On top of that, GoHighLevel has a vibrant community with forums and user groups where users can share tips, troubleshoot issues, and get advice. The community engagement is strong, making it easy to find help for almost any question you have.
Winner: GoHighLevel
When it comes to customer support, GoHighLevel is the clear winner. Climbo offers decent support, but GoHighLevel’s variety of options, responsive live chat, and comprehensive resources make it far more user-friendly, especially when you need help quickly.
Pros and Cons
Climbo Pros and Cons
Pros:
- One-Time Payment: You pay once and avoid monthly fees, which can save money over time.
- Review Platform Integration: It connects with over 85 review sites like Google and Facebook, making it easy to manage reviews.
- Easy to Use: The platform is simple and easy to use without much of a learning curve.
- Great for Reputation Management: Perfect if you mainly want to boost your online reputation.
- Quick Setup: Setting it up is straightforward, and you can start managing reviews quickly.
Cons:
- Focused on Reviews Only: Climbo mainly focuses on reviews and reputation management, so it lacks broader marketing tools.
- Limited Marketing Features: It doesn’t have as many marketing automation tools compared to platforms like GoHighLevel.
- No Built-In CRM: Without a CRM, it’s harder to manage customer relationships effectively.
- Limited Customization: There are only basic customization options, which might not suit all needs.
- Not for Complete Marketing: If you need more than just review management, Climbo won’t cover all your needs.
GoHighLevel Pros and Cons
Pros:
- All-in-One Marketing Tools: GoHighLevel combines CRM, email marketing, and sales pipeline tools in one place.
- Flexible Pricing: The different pricing tiers make it easy to scale as your business grows.
- Strong Integrations: It integrates well with many apps, which makes workflows smoother.
- Customizable: You can adjust dashboards and workflows to match how you want to run your business.
- Lead Generation: Built-in tools make it easy to capture leads, follow up, and manage campaigns.
Cons:
- Monthly Fees: GoHighLevel has a monthly subscription cost, which can add up over time.
- Can Be Overwhelming for Beginners: The range of features might be too much if you’re just starting out.
- Complex Setup: Getting everything set up can take time, especially if you need a lot of customization.
- Not Ideal for Small Businesses: Some of the advanced tools might be more than a small business needs.
- Learning Curve: It takes a bit of time to get familiar with all the features and make the most out of the platform.
Final Thought
To wrap things up, let’s recap the key differences between Climbo and GoHighLevel. Climbo is a strong choice for businesses that primarily want to focus on reputation management. It offers a straightforward interface, centralized review management, and simple features, making it ideal for agencies that want a hassle-free way to improve online reviews. The one-time payment model is also great for those who want to avoid ongoing subscription fees.
On the other hand, GoHighLevel goes beyond just reputation management. It’s a complete sales and marketing solution, combining CRM, email automation, sales pipeline management, and more. If you need a platform that can manage different aspects of your business—from marketing to sales to customer relationships—GoHighLevel is the better fit.
In the end, choosing between Climbo and GoHighLevel comes down to your business’s specific needs. If your focus is mainly on managing and boosting online reviews, Climbo is a simple and cost-effective solution. But if you’re looking for an all-in-one platform that can grow alongside your business, handle various tasks, and streamline your marketing efforts, GoHighLevel is the better option.
Both platforms offer value to their users, but the best choice will depend on what you need most—simplicity and cost savings with Climbo or comprehensive features and scalability with GoHighLevel.