GoHighLevel vs. Duda: Which is Better to Start Your Web Design Agency?

Adding white-labeled software to your agency’s offerings is one of the most effective ways to build recurring revenue and create more value for your clients — without significantly increasing your workload.

Today, two major platforms dominate this space: GoHighLevel (aka HighLevel or GHL) and Duda.

HighLevel is designed for agencies that prioritize lead generation, CRM, and marketing automation — but it also includes a built-in website and funnel builder to support client-facing digital experiences.

Duda, by contrast, is built specifically for agencies and freelancers who need to deliver high-quality, scalable websites with professional design tools.

This guide breaks down the strengths, limitations, and key features of both platforms, helping you choose the right solution to streamline your services, grow your client base, and maximize revenue.

(Bonus: Practical tips included to help you get the most out of whichever platform you select.)



Overview: Which Platform Powers the Services You Offer Clients?

Although both GoHighLevel (also called HighLevel or GHL) and Duda offer white-label solutions, they are fundamentally designed for two different types of agency growth:

• HighLevel equips agencies to offer their clients a full marketing and automation suite: custom CRM setups, lead generation funnels, automated SMS and email campaigns, appointment scheduling, and yes, custom-built websites.
• Duda empowers agencies to deliver professionally designed, high-performance websites, complete with scalable hosting, white-label management portals, and client collaboration tools.

If your agency plans to offer clients a complete marketing engine — beyond just websites — HighLevel is the right fit.

If you want to focus on delivering exceptional websites that are fast, scalable, and visually polished, Duda is the better choice.

The choice ultimately depends on how you plan to scale: through marketing automation or through superior web design services.

Let's Compare:

What is GoHighLevel?

GoHighLevel (also commonly called HighLevel or GHL) is an all-in-one marketing, CRM, and client automation platform designed specifically for agencies.

With HighLevel, your agency can offer clients a complete digital marketing system under your own brand, including:

• Custom CRM setups for managing leads and customer relationships
• Automated email and SMS marketing campaigns
• High-converting sales funnels and landing pages
• Online appointment scheduling
• Membership portals and subscription management
• A fully integrated website and funnel builder

Although HighLevel includes a website builder, its design tools are primarily focused on supporting lead generation and sales processes, not creating advanced, custom-designed websites. Agencies typically use it to quickly build functional marketing websites, sales funnels, and membership areas for clients.

In short, HighLevel empowers agencies to deliver comprehensive marketing solutions,  helping clients generate more leads, automate communication, and streamline customer management.

If your agency’s goal is to provide clients with more than just a website (a full marketing and sales system) HighLevel offers the infrastructure to make it happen.

What is Duda?

Duda is a professional-grade website design and management platform, built specifically for agencies and freelancers who need to create high-quality websites at scale.

With Duda, your agency can deliver fully branded, fast-loading, SEO-optimized websites — all without needing complex coding or expensive development teams. Through Duda’s platform, agencies can offer clients:

• Custom-designed, mobile-responsive websites
• AI-powered automation to accelerate site creation
• Scalable hosting and reliable site performance
• White-label client portals for collaboration and approvals
• Built-in SEO optimization tools
• Team management features for efficient project workflows

Unlike platforms that focus heavily on marketing automation, Duda is engineered purely for professional website production. It gives your agency the tools to build visually stunning websites quickly, manage multiple clients effortlessly, and maintain consistent quality across every project — all under your own branding.

If your agency’s focus is on delivering premium websites and scalable web design services, Duda provides the perfect infrastructure to help you grow.

Key Features Comparison: Highlevel vs. Duda

Choosing between HighLevel and Duda comes down to the services you want to deliver and how you want your agency to grow.

Here’s a detailed breakdown to help you match the platform to your client offerings.



Website Building and Customization

• Duda: Pixel-perfect customization, professional templates, AI-powered workflows. Ideal for agencies offering premium website design.
• HighLevel: Functional drag-and-drop website and funnel builder. Best suited for agencies building lead capture pages and simple client sites.

Agency Tip: If stunning visuals and UX matter most to your clients, Duda is the stronger choice.



Client Management and CRM Tools

• HighLevel: Built-in CRM, lead tracking, automated client communication, and appointment setting.
• Duda: Client portals, site feedback tools, and efficient multi-client project management — but no CRM functionality.

Agency Tip: Agencies selling "done-for-you" marketing systems need HighLevel. Agencies focused solely on websites benefit from Duda's client management tools.



Marketing and Automation Capabilities

• HighLevel: Complete marketing automation — email drip campaigns, SMS reminders, funnel automations, membership sites.
• Duda: Limited to site automation (e.g., template building, client workflows). No marketing funnels or CRM sequences.

Agency Tip: If you want recurring revenue through ongoing client marketing services, HighLevel is the clear winner.



SEO and Performance Optimization

• Duda: Native SEO tools, mobile optimization, site speed enhancements, custom meta fields. Duda's SEO Overview tool will also ensure all of your websites are perfectly optimized.
• HighLevel: Basic SEO capabilities geared toward funnel pages rather than full-scale SEO optimization. Slow pages drag down your SEO performance as well.

Agency Tip: Duda is the clear winner for agencies offering SEO-driven web services.



E-commerce and Membership Site Support

• Duda: Solid e-commerce support with flexible product management and online store building.
• HighLevel: Membership portals and basic product sales, strong for info products or coaching programs, less so for full e-commerce shops.

Agency Tip: Choose Duda for client stores. Choose HighLevel for coaching, online memberships, or digital product sales.

Ease of Use

• Duda: Extremely beginner-friendly. Its drag-and-drop editor, pre-built templates, and intuitive interface allow even first-time users to build professional websites quickly, with minimal technical experience. Agencies can launch client projects faster without hiring specialized developers.
• HighLevel: Powerful but complex. Even basic tasks like form creation, workflow setup, or CRM customization require multiple steps and a deep understanding of the platform’s structure. Agencies often need to either invest heavily in learning HighLevel or hire an experienced GHL expert to set everything up properly.

Agency Tip: If you want to build and launch client sites with minimal training, Duda offers a much faster, easier path. HighLevel delivers more automation power, but expect a steep learning curve and significant setup time.

Pricing and Value for Money

• Duda: Lower barrier to entry. Scales profitably as your agency adds more client sites. With a cost per site, you do bite into your profits, but Duda gives plenty of room for adding margin to your hosting + maintenance costs.
• HighLevel: Higher startup cost but consolidates CRM, funnel, automation, and website tools into one platform. With unlimited sub-accounts you can really make a great recurring income by reselling.

Agency Tip: Think about total client lifetime value. HighLevel justifies its cost if you package CRM and marketing services profitably.

Pros and Cons of GoHighLevel and Duda

GoHighLevel

Pros:

• Complete marketing and sales system
• CRM, automation, and client communication tools
• Integrated website and funnel builder
• Best for lead generation and recurring service models

Cons:

• Website design options are basic
• Steeper learning curve if you're not familiar with CRMs

Duda

Pros:

• Advanced website design capabilities
• AI-powered site building and client collaboration
• Scalable hosting and white-label solutions
• Best for fast, professional website deployment

Cons:

• No built-in CRM or marketing automation
• Less ideal for agencies focused heavily on lead generation



Need High-Quality Websites Without the Overhead?

Spearlance Media Offers White Label Duda Web Design for Agencies

If you want to offer premium websites to your clients without building an in-house design team, Spearlance Media can help.

We specialize in white label Duda website design services, delivering fast, professional, SEO-optimized sites that you can resell under your own agency brand.

Our team handles the design, build, and optimization process for you, allowing you to scale your services, impress your clients, and focus on growing your agency.

Contact us today to schedule a consultation to see if we're a good fit.

Conclusion: Choose the Right Platform to Grow Your Agency

Choosing between GoHighLevel and Duda ultimately depends on how you want to serve your clients and how you envision growing your agency.

If your priority is offering complete marketing systems that include CRM, automation, lead generation, and functional websites, GoHighLevel provides the infrastructure you need to build and scale those services.

If you aim to deliver high-quality, visually polished websites quickly and efficiently, without the complexity of marketing automation, Duda is the ideal platform to support your agency’s growth.

Both platforms offer powerful solutions, but the right choice depends on your agency’s business model and the services you want to provide.

If you are looking to expand your offerings without the overhead of building an internal team, Spearlance Media is ready to support you.
We specialize in delivering fully managed white label Duda website design services, helping you offer premium websites to your clients under your own brand.

Contact Spearlance Media today to learn how our white label solutions can help you scale your agency faster and more profitably.