Choosing between ManyChat and GoHighLevel? After 7 years of building my AI automation agency on ManyChat since 2018, I made the difficult decision to migrate to GoHighLevel in 2023. Here’s my honest experience with both platforms, what went wrong with ManyChat’s AI capabilities, and why GoHighLevel proved to be the better choice for scaling my agency.

ManyChat vs GoHighLevel: Quick Comparison

My ManyChat Journey: From 2018 to 2023

I started using ManyChat in 2018, back when chatbot automation was still relatively new, and Instagram automation was just taking off. For nearly six years, I was a die-hard ManyChat advocate. I championed this platform to anyone who’d listen, built my entire agency around it, and watched it evolve from a promising tool into an industry leader.

The automation capabilities were exceptional, and as someone who specialises in automation at The Crunch, I built my reputation on creating sophisticated ManyChat workflows that set me apart from competitors.

What made ManyChat special in those early years:

• Pioneer growth tools – Reply-to-comments automation, auto-like features, JSON ads that competitors didn’t have
• Advanced automation logic – Dynamic flows that branched based on user responses
• Industry-leading innovation – They consistently set the standard for Instagram and Facebook automation
• Proven results – My ManyChat implementations generated hundreds of thousands of leads and strong sales results for clients from 2018 to 2023

The Golden Years (2018-2022)

During those first four years, ManyChat was genuinely innovative. They were:

• First to market with Instagram comment automation
• Pioneering JSON ad integrations
• Releasing new features regularly
• Listening to their user community
• Setting industry standards

My ManyChat setups weren’t simple linear flows. I’d craft intricate automations that branched, looped, and evolved based on user feedback, creating experiences that felt genuinely responsive. I was in my element, and ManyChat was my canvas.

By 2022, I had built The Crunch PLT into a successful agency generating consistent monthly revenue, all built on the foundation of ManyChat expertise.

Why ChatGPT Changed Everything in Late 2022

When ChatGPT launched in November 2022, the entire digital landscape shifted overnight. After four years of ManyChat mastery, suddenly everyone was talking about a different kind of AI. Real AI. Conversational AI that could:

• Understand context and nuance
• Handle complex, multi-layered queries
• Actually sound human in conversations
• Learn from proprietary business knowledge
• Scale customer service without quality loss

The marketing automation world was transformed. Businesses no longer wanted simple if-then chatbot flows—they wanted intelligent systems that could think, adapt, and truly help customers.

This was the inflection point. The skills I’d spent four years mastering suddenly felt incomplete.

ManyChat’s AI Limitations: A Year of Waiting (2023)

I waited patiently for ManyChat to respond to this seismic shift. After all, they’d been innovating consistently ever since they’ve existed—surely they’d lead the charge into this new era. They were a substantial company with significant resources and market dominance.

I reassured my clients: “Give them time. ManyChat has always been ahead of the curve. They’ll catch up soon.”

The Timeline of Disappointment

Early 2023: ChatGPT was dominating headlines. My clients started asking about “AI chatbots” that could do more than trigger-based responses. My team began quietly studying GoHighLevel as a contingency, but I remained loyal to ManyChat, confident they’d announce something groundbreaking.

Mid-2023: Still nothing substantial. Competitors were rolling out AI features whilst ManyChat remained silent. I kept defending them, kept waiting, kept telling clients “soon.”

October 2023: After almost a full year of watching the industry evolve without them, I finally onboarded GoHighLevel myself—a decision I’d been resisting out of loyalty to a platform I’d built my entire business around for five years.

Late 2024: ManyChat finally launched the “AI Step”—a feature so limited it hardly deserved the “AI” label. After waiting nearly two years, this was deeply disappointing. It couldn’t do what businesses actually needed from AI.

End of 2025: Knowledge base functionality finally arrived, but only for Instagram, and still lacking the robust features businesses required.

What ManyChat’s AI Was Missing

After investing five years into their platform, the problems weren’t minor—they were fundamental:

• No proprietary knowledge base – Couldn’t train the AI on your business data
• Limited conversational ability – Basic responses, no real understanding
• Platform restrictions – Instagram-only features when businesses needed omnichannel
• Slow development cycle – Features arrived 18+ months after competitors
• No voice AI capabilities – Missing the entire phone automation opportunity
• No acknowledgement of urgency – No roadmap, no timeline, no communication

The AI world was transforming at breakneck speed, and ManyChat simply wasn’t interested in keeping pace.

The Painful Decision: Leaving Behind 5 Years of Expertise

After a full year of waiting—a year I could have been offering my clients better solutions—I finally accepted the truth: ManyChat had chosen not to evolve with the AI revolution.

Breaking up with a platform you’ve mastered for over five years is genuinely difficult. I had:

• 5 years of deep expertise (2018-2023)
• Hundreds of sophisticated workflows perfected over time
• A reputation built entirely on ManyChat implementations
• Client relationships based on ManyChat capabilities
• Emotional attachment to the platform that built my agency
• Fear of starting from scratch with a new system

This wasn’t just switching tools—it felt like abandoning my “first child.”

But as an agency owner serving clients across healthcare, automotive, F&B, property development, and oil & gas sectors, I couldn’t make decisions based on nostalgia or sunk cost fallacy.

My clients needed results, not excuses about why I was loyal to an outdated platform.

My GoHighLevel Experience: October 2023 Onwards

With considerable hesitation, I decided to give GoHighLevel a proper try in October 2023. My team had been studying it since early that year, but I’d been the one resistant to change—emotionally invested in ManyChat after five years together.

The Initial Learning Curve

I’ll be honest: the first few days felt overwhelming.

After five years of ManyChat muscle memory:

• The interface was completely different
• The logic structure wasn’t what I was accustomed to
• Features were organised in unfamiliar ways
• I questioned whether abandoning my ManyChat expertise was worth it
• I felt like a beginner again after being an expert for so long

Then something clicked. What started as reluctant exploration became genuine excitement. It was like discovering treasure every single day. The capabilities I’d been wishing ManyChat would develop were already here, already working, already generating results.

GoHighLevel Features That Won Me Over

1. The Unified CRM That Changed Everything

The first revelation was the CRM system. After five years of jerry-rigging ManyChat with external CRMs, finally I could consolidate every touchpoint:

• All lead sources in one platform – Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, WhatsApp, website, phone, email, SMS
• No per-contact pricing – Unlimited contacts without penalty
• No per-user fees – Scale your team without additional costs
• Complete interaction history – Every conversation, every touchpoint, one view
• Automated lead scoring – Prioritise hot prospects automatically

For an agency managing multiple clients, this consolidation was revolutionary. No more juggling HubSpot, Pipedrive, or other CRM tools alongside ManyChat.

This is what I’d been wanting since 2018.

2. Marketing Automation That Exceeds ManyChat

As I delved deeper, I realised GoHighLevel wasn’t just matching the ManyChat capabilities I’d mastered over five years—it was exceeding them whilst simultaneously handling CRM, communications, and conversions.

What impressed me most:

• Email marketing became genuinely enjoyable (not something I ever thought I’d say)
• WhatsApp campaigns integrated seamlessly with all other channels
• Multi-channel workflows that ManyChat could never achieve
• A/B testing built into every campaign type
• Advanced segmentation that actually works
• Everything in one platform – no more tool sprawl

3. Appointment Booking Without the Calendly Nonsense

After years of integrating Calendly with ManyChat, the appointment booking system in GoHighLevel was so seamless it felt almost too good to be true.

Features I use daily (I let AI manage my calendar for me):

• Round-robin booking across team members
• Buffer times and meeting types
• Automated confirmations and reminders
• Timezone detection and conversion
• Calendar sync with Google Calendar
• No-show management automation

One platform. Zero integration headaches. Why didn’t this exist in 2018?

4. The AI Advantage: Where GoHighLevel Truly Shines

Here’s the crucial difference that justified my switch after five years: GoHighLevel didn’t have extensive AI capabilities when I first started either, but they caught up FAST.

By mid-2024, they’d rolled out everything I’d been begging ManyChat to build:

Conversation AI:

• Qualifies leads 24/7 without human intervention
• Understands context and conversation history
• Can access your proprietary knowledge base
• Handles objections intelligently
• Books appointments autonomously
• Works across SMS, email, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, web chat

Voice AI:

• Answers phone calls with natural conversation
• Manages our calendar bookings via phone
• Handles FAQs around-the-clock
• Transfers to human when needed
• Never misses a call, never has a bad day

This was what the AI revolution promised—and ManyChat failed to deliver.

If you are intrigued to try it out yourself, don’t hesitate. Just do it. Claim your 14-days free trial from here

Real Results from GoHighLevel AI

For my agency serving clients across multiple industries, this AI capability isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s the transformation I’d been waiting for since ChatGPT launched:

• Healthcare practices: AI handles initial patient enquiries and appointment bookings
• Automotive businesses: AI qualifies dealer enquiries and distributes leads
• F&B establishments: Chatbot handles menu queries and reservation requests
• Trainer industry: Automation handles class registrations, payments and class reminders

These implementations simply weren’t possible with ManyChat’s limited AI features—even after waiting over a year.

The Migration Process: From 5 Years of ManyChat to GoHighLevel

After successfully implementing GoHighLevel for The Crunch, I felt confident recommending a migration to our clients. Having invested five years in ManyChat, I understood the hesitation, but I also knew what was possible.

What the Migration Involved

Week 1-2: Planning and Mapping

• Audit all existing ManyChat flows (5 years worth!)
• Map customer journeys to GoHighLevel structure
• Identify integration requirements
• Plan data migration strategy
• Document what worked in ManyChat to replicate

Week 3-4: Building and Testing

• Recreate workflows in GoHighLevel (often improved from original)
• Set up CRM pipelines and stages
• Configure AI conversation flows
• Test all automation triggers
• Train team on the new platform

Week 5-6: Migration and Monitoring

• Run parallel systems briefly
• Migrate contact data
• Switch traffic to the new system
• Monitor closely for issues
• Make adjustments based on real performance

The Client Response

The result? Consistently happy clients who wonder why they didn’t make the move sooner—and why I hadn’t pushed them harder when my team started studying GoHighLevel in early 2023.

The transition required careful planning and proper setup—there’s no denying that—but when configured correctly, businesses get everything from A to Z in one platform.

Several clients actually thanked me for finally making the switch.

ManyChat vs GoHighLevel: Feature-by-Feature Breakdown

Where ManyChat Still Excels

To be fair, after five years with ManyChat, I can acknowledge it isn’t terrible—it still has strengths:

• Simpler interface for absolute beginners
• Strong Instagram features for social media-focused businesses
• Lower initial learning curve for basic flows
• Established user community with lots of tutorials from the 2018-2022 era
• Nostalgia value for those of us who built businesses on it

Where GoHighLevel Dominates

• All-in-one platform – CRM, email, SMS, WhatsApp, voice, booking, pipeline management
• True AI capabilities – Both conversation and voice AI that actually works
• Unlimited scalability – No per-contact or per-user pricing penalties
• Superior email marketing – Deliverability and features exceed ManyChat
• Built-in appointment system – No need for Calendly or similar tools
• Faster AI development – Platform evolves with technology trends
• Everything integrated – No more tool sprawl across multiple platforms

The Pricing Reality

For my agency managing multiple clients after building on ManyChat since 2018, GoHighLevel’s pricing model makes significantly more financial sense.

Common Questions About ManyChat to GoHighLevel Migration

Is GoHighLevel better than ManyChat for AI automation?

Based on my 18+ months of experience after 5 years with ManyChat, yes—significantly better. GoHighLevel offers:

• More robust AI conversation capabilities
• Voice AI (phone automation) that ManyChat doesn’t have
• Proprietary knowledge base training
• Multi-channel AI (not just Instagram)
• Faster feature development cycle
• Actually delivered what ManyChat promised but never built

How long does it take to migrate from ManyChat to GoHighLevel?

With proper planning, migration takes 2-4 weeks, depending on complexity:

• Simple setups: 1-2 weeks
• Medium complexity: 2-3 weeks
• Complex multi-flow systems (like mine after 5 years): 3-4 weeks

The learning curve is real but manageable. After five years of ManyChat expertise, I found myself comfortable with GoHighLevel within days, proficient within weeks.

The technical migration is easier than the emotional one.

Does GoHighLevel have the same automation features as ManyChat?

GoHighLevel matches the ManyChat automation capabilities I mastered from 2018-2023 and adds:

• Email marketing automation
• Pipeline automation
• Appointment reminders and follow-ups
• Multi-channel workflows that span email, WhatsApp, chat, and voice
• CRM-triggered automations
• True AI conversation flows

In many cases, I found myself rebuilding my ManyChat flows in GoHighLevel and thinking, “Why couldn’t ManyChat do this?”

Can I run both platforms simultaneously?

Yes, during migration. I recommend running parallel systems for 1-2 weeks to ensure everything transfers correctly before fully shutting down ManyChat.

After five years of ManyChat, I was nervous about turning it off completely. Running both gave me confidence.

How can I try GoHighLevel before committing?

You can sign up a 14-days free trial so you can test the platform before making the switch. I recommend taking advantage of this to explore the features and see if it’s the right fit for your agency. Start your free trial here and experience what convinced me to leave ManyChat after 5 years.

What’s the biggest challenge in switching?

Honestly? Emotional resistance and sunk cost thinking.

The technical migration isn’t that difficult. The hardest part after investing 5 years is:

1. Letting go of your ManyChat expertise – Feeling like a beginner again
2. Accepting the initial learning curve – Relearning muscle memory
3. Rebuilding workflows in a new system – Starting from scratch
4. Trusting a new platform with client results – Risking what you’ve built
5. Admitting you should have switched sooner – Recognising the sunk cost fallacy

Once you push through that psychological barrier, the actual process is straightforward.

The Malaysian Context: Why GoHighLevel Works for Local Businesses

I’ve now implemented GoHighLevel across diverse industries in Malaysia. Here’s why it works particularly well locally:

• Multi-language support – English, Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin in workflows
• WhatsApp integration – Critical for Malaysian market communication
• Stripe payment gateway – Works with Malaysian banks and payment processors
• Timezone handling – Properly manages MYT for appointments
• Mobile-first design – Essential for Malaysian user behaviour

The platform’s flexibility allows me to customise implementations for uniquely Malaysian business needs—something that became increasingly difficult with ManyChat’s limitations as the market evolved from 2018 to 2023.

ManyChat Will Always Have a Special Place

I still follow ManyChat’s developments closely. They hold a special position in my heart as the platform where I built my automation expertise from 2018 onwards—like a first child you’ll always have affection for, regardless of how things turn out.

The sophisticated dynamic flows I created over five years, the campaigns that generated strong results for clients—these were built on ManyChat’s foundation, and I’m genuinely grateful for that journey.

ManyChat from 2018-2022 taught me:

• How to think in automation logic
• How to create dynamic, responsive flows
• How to optimise conversion at every touchpoint
• How to build a successful agency on one platform
• The discipline of mastering a tool completely

Those skills transferred directly to GoHighLevel and made me a better automation specialist. My five years with ManyChat weren’t wasted—they were essential training.

But Business Isn’t About Sentiment

As a user, a marketer, and a business owner, I can’t make decisions based on nostalgia or sunk cost.

After investing five years into ManyChat, switching felt like betrayal. But staying would have been worse.

I need platforms that:

• Solve real problems for my clients
• Adapt to changing technology landscapes
• Help me deliver exceptional results
• Scale without punishing success with per-contact fees
• Consolidate tools to reduce complexity
• Evolve faster than the competition
• Actually deliver on AI promises instead of empty waiting

GoHighLevel has proven it meets those needs better than ManyChat could—or would.

Final Verdict: ManyChat vs GoHighLevel After 5 Years

After 5 years with ManyChat (2018-2023) and 18+ months with GoHighLevel (2023-present), the choice is clear for AI automation agencies and growth-focused businesses.

Whilst ManyChat pioneered the social media automation space and deserves enormous credit for what they built from 2018-2022, they failed to evolve when the AI revolution arrived. GoHighLevel has delivered the AI capabilities, CRM integration, and comprehensive marketing tools that modern agencies need.

The ManyChat I loved in 2018 no longer exists—not because they changed, but because they refused to.

Choose ManyChat if you:

• Run very simple Instagram/Facebook-only campaigns
• Don’t need complex AI conversation capabilities
• Prefer a simpler interface over comprehensive features
• Don’t need email marketing or CRM
• Are on a very tight budget
• Haven’t invested years of expertise yet

Choose GoHighLevel if you:

• Want true AI conversation and voice capabilities
• Need an all-in-one CRM, email, WhatsApp, social media channel management, and booking system
• Want to scale without per-contact pricing penalties
• Need appointment booking without Calendly
• Value platform evolution and staying current with technology
• Don’t want to wait another year for basic features
• Respect your time and client relationships enough to use the best tools

The AI Revolution Isn’t Slowing Down

The pace of AI development is accelerating, not slowing. Businesses need technology partners who’ll evolve with them, not ask them to wait whilst the world moves forward.

I gave ManyChat five years of loyalty and a full extra year to catch up with AI.

They chose their path.

I’ve chosen mine.

And after 18 months with GoHighLevel, managing client implementations across healthcare, automotive, F&B, property development, and oil & gas sectors, I’m confident I made the right decision—not just for my agency, but for every client we serve.

The only regret I have is not switching sooner when my team started studying GoHighLevel in early 2023. I let loyalty to a 5-year relationship cloud my judgment for almost a year. Don’t make the same mistake.

Ready to Make the Switch?

If you are looking to implement proper AI automation that actually works with the intelligence modern customers expect, I’d be happy to discuss how GoHighLevel might transform your operations the way it has for The Crunch and our clients.

We specialise in:

• AI chatbot development (conversation and voice)
• GoHighLevel CRM implementations
• Business process automation
• Multi-channel marketing workflows
• Complete ManyChat to GoHighLevel migrations (with empathy for the emotional difficulty)

Visit thecrunch.io to learn more about our AI automation services, or reach out to discuss your specific needs.

The future of marketing automation is here—and it’s more intelligent than ever.

Don’t wait another year like I did.