How to Migrate from HubSpot to GoHighLevel (Step-by-Step Guide)

Why Make the Switch from HubSpot to GoHighLevel?

The math is simple: HubSpot's Professional plan starts at $800/month for just 2,000 contacts, while GoHighLevel's Unlimited plan costs $297/month with no contact limits. For agencies managing multiple clients, the savings compound quickly—you could save $2,000-5,000+ monthly while gaining features HubSpot charges extra for.

After 6+ years using both platforms, I've seen agencies cut their software costs by 70% while actually improving their client results. HubSpot excels at enterprise-level marketing automation, but most agencies need something more practical: built-in SMS, AI conversation tools, white-label capabilities, and unified client management.

Pre-Migration Checklist: Document Your HubSpot Setup

Before touching any export buttons, spend 2-3 hours documenting your current HubSpot configuration. This roadmap prevents data loss and speeds up your GHL setup.

Critical Elements to Document:

• Pipeline stages: Screenshot each pipeline with stage names and probabilities
• Custom properties: List all custom contact, company, and deal fields you actually use
• Active workflows: Note triggers, actions, and delay timings for each automation
• Email sequences: Document send delays and branching logic
• Forms and CTAs: List all active forms and their field mappings
• Integrations: Note connected apps and their data sync requirements
• User permissions: Document team member access levels and responsibilities

Step 1: Export Contacts from HubSpot

HubSpot's contact export is straightforward, but the field mapping requires attention to detail.

Export Process:

1. Navigate to Contacts > Contacts in HubSpot
2. Click Actions > Export (top right)
3. Select All contacts or filter by specific criteria
4. Choose Include all properties to capture custom fields
5. Export as CSV format

The export includes standard fields plus any custom properties you've created. Pay special attention to lifecycle stages, lead sources, and owner assignments—these will need manual mapping in GoHighLevel.

Step 2: Export Deal and Pipeline Data

Deals require careful handling because they link to contacts and companies. Export these relationships intact to maintain your sales history.

Deal Export Steps:

1. Go to Sales > Deals
2. Click Actions > Export view
3. Include these essential fields:
   • Deal name and amount
   • Pipeline and deal stage
   • Associated company and contact emails
   • Close date and probability
   • Deal owner
   • Create date and last activity date
4. Export all pipeline views separately if you use multiple pipelines

The associated contact/company emails serve as your linking keys when importing into GoHighLevel's opportunity system.

Step 3: Set Up GHL Pipelines to Match HubSpot Stages

Before importing any deal data, recreate your pipeline structure in GoHighLevel. This prevents orphaned opportunities and maintains your sales process flow.

Pipeline Setup Process:

1. In GHL, navigate to Opportunities > Pipelines
2. Click Add Pipeline and name it (e.g., "Sales Pipeline")
3. Add stages matching your HubSpot pipeline exactly:
   • Use identical stage names initially
   • Set probability percentages to match HubSpot
   • Configure stage-specific automation triggers if needed
4. Test the pipeline flow with a dummy opportunity

Step 4: Import Contacts into GoHighLevel

GoHighLevel's import process is more flexible than HubSpot's, but field mapping requires careful attention to prevent data corruption.

Import Walkthrough:

1. Navigate to Contacts > Import in GHL
2. Upload your HubSpot contacts CSV
3. Map fields carefully:
   • Email → Email (required for deduplication)
   • Phone → Phone (formats automatically)
   • HubSpot lifecycle stage → GHL tags or custom fields
   • Contact owner → Assign to user
4. Set duplicate handling to "Skip" or "Update" based on email
5. Review the preview and import

GoHighLevel processes imports in batches. Large imports (10,000+ contacts) may take 15-30 minutes to complete fully.

Step 5: Recreate Email Templates

HubSpot's email templates don't export cleanly, so plan to rebuild them in GoHighLevel's email builder. This is actually an opportunity to improve your templates with GHL's enhanced personalization features.

Template Recreation Process:

1. In GHL, go to Marketing > Emails
2. Create new templates using GHL's drag-and-drop builder
3. Copy your HubSpot email content and paste into GHL
4. Update personalization tokens:
   • HubSpot: {{contact.first_name}}
   • GHL: {{contact.first_name}} (similar but test first)
5. Test templates with real contact data before using in campaigns

GoHighLevel's email builder includes AI-powered subject line suggestions and built-in deliverability optimization—features that improve open rates compared to basic HubSpot templates.

Step 6: Rebuild Automation Workflows

This step requires the most manual work but offers the biggest opportunity for improvement. GoHighLevel's automation builder combines email, SMS, and voice into single workflows—something impossible in HubSpot without multiple tools.

Workflow Migration Strategy:

1. Start with your highest-impact workflows (lead nurture sequences, follow-ups)
2. In GHL, go to Marketing > Workflows
3. Use the visual builder to recreate each HubSpot workflow:
   • Set identical triggers (form submissions, tag additions, etc.)
   • Match delay timings between actions
   • Add SMS touchpoints where email-only existed before
4. Test each workflow with a test contact before activating

For complex workflows with multiple branches, recreate the main path first, then add conditional branches. GoHighLevel's if/else logic is more intuitive than HubSpot's branch system.

Step 7: Set Up Forms and Landing Pages

GoHighLevel includes unlimited landing pages and forms on all plans—a $300+/month value in HubSpot. Migrate your highest-converting forms first to minimize lead generation disruption.

Form Migration Process:

1. Navigate to Sites > Funnels in GHL
2. Create new forms matching your HubSpot forms exactly
3. Configure field mapping to match your contact properties
4. Set up automation triggers for form submissions
5. Test form submissions and verify data appears in contacts

GoHighLevel's form builder includes conditional logic, multi-step forms, and payment collection—features requiring expensive HubSpot add-ons.

Step 8: Redirect Domain and DNS

If you're using HubSpot for landing pages or email tracking, update your DNS settings to point to GoHighLevel. This step requires coordination with your domain registrar.

DNS Update Checklist:

• CNAME records: Point subdomains to GHL's servers
• MX records: Update if using GHL for email delivery
• Tracking domains: Set up custom tracking in GHL
• Email authentication: Configure DKIM/SPF for deliverability

Step 9: Test Everything Before Going Live

Run parallel systems for at least one week before fully switching. This testing phase catches integration issues and gives your team time to adapt to GoHighLevel's interface.

Testing Checklist:

• Contact data integrity: Verify all fields imported correctly
• Pipeline functionality: Move test deals through each stage
• Email deliverability: Send test campaigns and check spam scores
• Automation triggers: Test each workflow with real scenarios
• Form submissions: Complete forms and verify proper routing
• Integration connections: Test third-party app data sync
• Team access: Verify all users can access their required features

Document any issues during testing and resolve them before canceling HubSpot. It's easier to fix problems with both systems accessible.

Step 10: Cancel HubSpot

Once you've verified everything works in GoHighLevel, cancel your HubSpot subscription. Keep access for one additional billing cycle to handle any unexpected issues.

Cancellation Process:

1. Download final exports of any remaining data
2. Cancel HubSpot subscription through account settings
3. Remove HubSpot tracking codes from your website
4. Update any direct integrations pointing to HubSpot
5. Archive HubSpot login credentials for future reference

Most agencies see immediate cost savings of $500-2,000/month after cancellation, depending on their HubSpot plan and contact volume.

What You'll Lose in the Migration

HubSpot excels in specific areas that GoHighLevel handles differently. Understanding these trade-offs prevents unrealistic expectations:

• Advanced reporting depth: HubSpot's attribution reporting and advanced analytics are more sophisticated
• Native integrations: Fewer pre-built connectors to enterprise software
• Content management: HubSpot's CMS and blog tools are more robust
• Social media scheduling: Limited social posting compared to HubSpot's social tools
• Advanced segmentation: HubSpot's smart lists are more complex than GHL's filters
• Enterprise workflows: Complex multi-branch automations require more setup in GHL

For most agencies, these limitations are minor compared to the cost savings and additional functionality gained.

What You'll Gain with GoHighLevel

The migration unlocks features that cost thousands monthly in HubSpot or require separate tools entirely:

• Built-in SMS and voice: Native text messaging and phone system included
• AI conversation tools: Automated chat and review management
• White-label capabilities: Rebrand the entire platform for clients
• Unlimited contacts: No per-contact fees regardless of database size
• Sub-account management: Separate client workspaces with individual billing
• Advanced calendar booking: Group bookings, round-robin, and payment collection
• Reputation management: Built-in review collection and monitoring
• Course creation tools: Member areas and digital product delivery

These features alone justify the migration cost for most agencies. The SMS capabilities particularly drive higher engagement rates than email-only campaigns.

Migration Timeline: What to Expect

Plan for 1-2 weeks of focused work, depending on your HubSpot complexity and team size:

Week 1: Data Migration and Setup

• Days 1-2: Export data from HubSpot and document setup
• Days 3-4: Import contacts and set up pipelines in GHL
• Days 5-7: Recreate email templates and basic workflows

Week 2: Testing and Launch

• Days 1-3: Build forms, landing pages, and advanced automations
• Days 4-5: Test all systems and train team members
• Days 6-7: Go live and monitor for issues

Complex setups with multiple pipelines, extensive custom fields, or intricate workflows may require an additional week. Factor in team training time—GoHighLevel's interface differs significantly from HubSpot.

Bottom Line

Migrating from HubSpot to GoHighLevel requires careful planning but delivers immediate cost savings and enhanced functionality for most agencies. The 1-2 week investment in migration work typically pays for itself within the first month through reduced software costs alone.

The key to success lies in thorough preparation—document your HubSpot setup completely before starting, test everything in GoHighLevel before going live, and don't rush the process. Your clients won't notice the backend change if you migrate carefully, but they'll benefit from the enhanced communication capabilities GHL provides.

For agencies spending over $1,000/month on HubSpot, this migration represents one of the highest ROI decisions you can make. The money saved can fund additional team members, better tools, or increased marketing spend—all of which drive more growth than staying on an expensive platform that over-serves your actual needs.

Ready to make the switch? Start with our complete GHL setup guide and see our detailed HubSpot vs GoHighLevel comparison for more feature analysis. The migration might seem daunting now, but six months from now, you'll wonder why you waited so long to make the change.