Migrating from HubSpot to GoHighLevel: Step-by-Step Guide

Migrating from HubSpot to GoHighLevel is a decision typically driven by cost reduction, desire for SMS and phone capabilities, or the need for white-label SaaS functionality. Whatever your reason, a successful migration requires careful planning to avoid data loss, workflow disruption, and client impact.

This guide provides a step-by-step migration plan that minimizes risk and ensures business continuity throughout the transition.

Pre-Migration Assessment

What to Evaluate Before Starting

Before exporting anything from HubSpot, audit what you currently use:

1. Contact volume -- How many contacts, companies, and deals do you have?
2. Active workflows -- List every active automation and its purpose
3. Email templates -- Catalog all email templates and sequences
4. Forms -- Identify all forms and where they are embedded
5. Integrations -- List every third-party tool connected to HubSpot
6. Custom properties -- Document all custom fields and their data types
7. Reports -- Screenshot or export critical reports and dashboards
8. Team members -- Note all users and their permission levels

Creating a Migration Timeline

A typical HubSpot to GoHighLevel migration takes 2-4 weeks:

| Week | Tasks | |------|-------| | Week 1 | Set up GoHighLevel, configure settings, export HubSpot data | | Week 2 | Import contacts, recreate pipelines and custom fields | | Week 3 | Rebuild workflows and email templates, set up integrations | | Week 4 | Parallel run both systems, test thoroughly, cut over |

For agencies with multiple client accounts, add 1-2 weeks for client communication and training.

Step-by-Step Migration Process

Step 1: Set Up Your GoHighLevel Account

Before touching HubSpot, get GoHighLevel ready:

1. Create your GoHighLevel account (Unlimited or SaaS Pro plan)
2. Configure company settings (name, logo, timezone, address)
3. Set up your sending domain (SMTP, SPF, DKIM, DMARC)
4. Connect your phone provider (Twilio or LC Phone)
5. Create sub-accounts if migrating multiple clients
6. Add team members with appropriate roles

Step 2: Export Data from HubSpot

HubSpot allows data export from multiple sections:

Contacts: Navigate to Contacts > Actions > Export. Choose all properties or select specific ones. Export as CSV.

Companies: Navigate to Companies > Actions > Export. Export as CSV.

Deals: Navigate to Sales > Deals > Actions > Export. Export as CSV.

Notes and Activities: Export from individual contact records or use the HubSpot API for bulk export.

Email Templates: Copy and save each template manually (HubSpot does not offer bulk template export).

Forms: Document form fields and embed locations. You will recreate these in GoHighLevel.

Lists: Export each contact list as a separate CSV for easier segmentation in GoHighLevel.

Step 3: Prepare Data for Import

Before importing into GoHighLevel, clean and map your data:

1. Remove duplicates -- Use a spreadsheet tool to identify and merge duplicate contacts
2. Map fields -- Create a mapping document matching HubSpot properties to GoHighLevel fields
3. Standardize formats -- Phone numbers need country codes, dates need consistent formatting
4. Create custom fields first -- Set up all custom fields in GoHighLevel before importing
5. Tag for segmentation -- Add a column for tags that correspond to HubSpot lists or lifecycle stages

Step 4: Import Contacts into GoHighLevel

Navigate to Contacts > Import in GoHighLevel:

1. Upload your CSV file
2. Map CSV columns to GoHighLevel fields
3. Set duplicate handling rules (update existing, skip, or create new)
4. Add tags during import (e.g., HubSpot-Import, lifecycle stage tags)
5. Review the import preview
6. Execute the import and verify results

Step 5: Recreate Pipelines and Deals

Map your HubSpot deal pipelines to GoHighLevel:

1. Create pipelines in GoHighLevel matching your HubSpot pipeline structure
2. Add stages that correspond to HubSpot deal stages
3. Import deals manually or use the API for large volumes
4. Verify deal values, stages, and assigned owners
5. Set up pipeline automation triggers

Step 6: Rebuild Workflows and Automations

This is typically the most time-consuming step:

1. Document each HubSpot workflow (trigger, actions, conditions)
2. Recreate in GoHighLevel workflow builder
3. For email sequences, recreate each email in the GoHighLevel email builder
4. For HubSpot features not available in GoHighLevel (social posting, ad management), identify alternative tools
5. Test each workflow with test contacts before activating

Step 7: Migrate Forms and Landing Pages

1. Recreate HubSpot forms in GoHighLevel (Forms section or within funnels)
2. Build replacement landing pages in GoHighLevel funnel builder
3. Update embedded forms on your website to point to GoHighLevel
4. Set up form-to-pipeline and form-to-workflow connections

Step 8: Update Integrations

Replace HubSpot integrations with GoHighLevel equivalents:

| HubSpot Integration | GoHighLevel Alternative | |---------------------|----------------------| | Zapier HubSpot triggers | Zapier GoHighLevel triggers or native webhooks | | Google Ads integration | GoHighLevel tracking pixel + UTM parameters | | Stripe payments | GoHighLevel native Stripe integration | | Calendly scheduling | GoHighLevel built-in calendar | | Typeform | GoHighLevel forms and surveys |

Step 9: DNS and Domain Updates

Update your domain configuration:

1. Point landing page domains to GoHighLevel (CNAME records)
2. Update email sending domains if changing SMTP providers
3. Redirect any HubSpot-hosted pages to new GoHighLevel pages
4. Update tracking codes on your website (replace HubSpot tracking with GoHighLevel)

Step 10: Parallel Run and Cutover

Run both systems simultaneously for 1-2 weeks:

1. Route new leads to both HubSpot and GoHighLevel
2. Compare data capture accuracy
3. Verify automation execution in GoHighLevel
4. Ensure email deliverability from GoHighLevel matches HubSpot performance
5. When confident, disable HubSpot automations and cancel your subscription

Common Migration Pitfalls

Losing deal history -- HubSpot stores rich deal activity history that cannot be fully migrated. Export deal notes and activity logs separately and save them as contact notes in GoHighLevel.

Email deliverability drop -- New sending domains need warmup. Start your GoHighLevel email volume low and increase gradually over 2-3 weeks.

Missing automations -- Complex HubSpot workflows with many branches are easy to partially recreate. Document every branch and condition before rebuilding.

Form embed issues -- After switching forms, test every page where forms are embedded. Old HubSpot form embeds will stop working once your HubSpot account is deactivated.

Team resistance -- Your team knows HubSpot. Budget time for GoHighLevel training and expect a 2-4 week productivity dip during transition.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a HubSpot to GoHighLevel migration take?

For a single business, 2-4 weeks is typical. For agencies migrating multiple client accounts, plan for 4-8 weeks. The timeline depends on the number of contacts, complexity of automations, and number of integrations. The actual data migration takes hours; rebuilding workflows and training the team takes weeks.

Will I lose any data during migration?

Contact data, deals, and custom field values can be fully migrated via CSV export/import. What you cannot migrate includes email engagement history (opens, clicks), detailed activity timelines, HubSpot-specific analytics, and form submission history. Export and archive this data before canceling HubSpot.

Can I migrate HubSpot workflows to GoHighLevel automatically?

No. There is no automated workflow migration tool between HubSpot and GoHighLevel. Each workflow must be manually recreated. Document your HubSpot workflows thoroughly before starting, and use GoHighLevel workflow templates where available to speed up the process.

Should I cancel HubSpot immediately after migration?

No. Maintain your HubSpot account for at least 30 days after completing the migration. This gives you a safety net if you discover missing data or need to reference historical information. Export all data and reports before canceling. Note that HubSpot typically requires contract fulfillment, so check your billing terms.

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Need professional help migrating from HubSpot to GoHighLevel? Explore our migration services or contact ECOSIRE for a free migration assessment and timeline estimate.