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NewFrontDesk vs HighLevel: an honest comparison
HighLevel is a broad marketing and sales platform that many agencies resell. NewFrontDesk does three things for a local business. They are different kinds of product, and we would rather show you the difference than pretend otherwise.
The short answer: HighLevel's plans start at $97 a month and include far more than NewFrontDesk does: unlimited contacts and users, email and text marketing, calling, and sub-accounts. Texts, numbers and emails are billed on top as usage. NewFrontDesk costs more ($199 to $449 a month), does only missed-call text-back, web chat and a lead inbox, includes a text allowance, and is set up for you. It is also still in preview: its texting is not live. If you want a full platform and will run it yourself or through an agency, HighLevel is the stronger choice today. Count what your missed calls cost first with the missed calls calculator.
Side by side
| HighLevel | NewFrontDesk | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A marketing and sales platform with sub-accounts, built for agencies and businesses that run it themselves | Missed-call text-back, web chat and one lead inbox for a local business, set up for you |
| Public price | Starter $97, Unlimited $297, Agency Pro $497 a month ($970, $2,970, $4,970 a year) | Starter $199, Pro $299, Premium $449 a month |
| Setup fee | None listed on the pricing page | $299 once, charged at go-live; waived on yearly |
| Texts | Extra: "Usage based charges apply" for phone numbers, texts, emails and premium AI | 500, 1,500 or 5,000 a month included; over that, carrier cost + 30% |
| Missed-call reply by text | Not named on the pricing page; it lists calling and "Email + SMS Marketing" as core features | Built, in test mode: it sends no texts yet |
| Trial | A 14-day trial at no charge on any plan; billing starts automatically when it ends | No trial. No payment is taken until the features in your plan work |
| Working for customers today | Yes, an established product | Lead inbox, web chat, form link, new-lead emails. Not yet: texting |
HighLevel's column is taken only from its own public pricing page, read on October 9, 2026. Ours matches our pricing page and the dated status board.
What HighLevel's pricing page says
We read HighLevel's own pricing page. It lists three plans with prices and a fourth, Enterprise, with no public price.
- Starter, $97 a month ($970 a year). Three sub-accounts, unlimited contacts and users.
- Unlimited, $297 a month ($2,970 a year). Unlimited sub-accounts, phone and email rebilling with no markup, basic API access.
- Agency Pro, $497 a month ($4,970 a year). Adds what it calls SaaS mode, rebilling with markup and advanced API access.
Two details matter when you compare a monthly figure. The page marks its phone and messaging features with "Usage based charges apply," and its FAQ says that covers phone numbers, texts, emails sent and premium AI. And it offers a 14-day trial at no charge, with billing that begins automatically when the trial ends unless you cancel. How texts are counted is explained in why a text is 160 characters.
The real difference: who does the work
The plan names tell the story. Sub-accounts, rebilling and SaaS mode are tools for an agency that sets the system up for many clients. A local business usually meets HighLevel through such an agency, at a price the agency sets, or signs up directly and builds its own automations.
NewFrontDesk is the opposite shape: a short list of jobs, set up for you, at a fixed price with texts included. You get less, on purpose. What those jobs are is on how it works.
When HighLevel is the better choice
- You want email marketing, pipelines, calendars and automations in one system, not only missed calls.
- You or your agency are happy to build and maintain it.
- You need texting to work now. NewFrontDesk's is not live yet.
- The lower starting price matters more to you than a fixed bill.
If that is you, go with them. A tool you can switch on today beats one that is still in preview. Either way, first find out what your missed calls are worth with the missed calls calculator.
When NewFrontDesk may fit better
- You want only three things handled (missed calls, website chat, one inbox) and do not want to build anything.
- You want a fixed monthly price with a text allowance, not usage billed on top.
- You are comfortable starting with the inbox and chat now, and texting once carrier registration is approved.
See all three plans on compare plans, or find yours with the which plan quiz.
What we have not checked
We have not used HighLevel. We read its public pricing page and nothing else, so we say nothing here about its support, its app or how well it works. Features and prices change; its own page is the final word. NewFrontDesk is in preview with no paying customers yet, which is a real difference and belongs in any fair comparison. Questions about us: call (346) 913-7215 or request setup.
Sources
Prices are HighLevel's own published figures as read on October 9, 2026, in US dollars. We are not affiliated with HighLevel and have not used its service. HighLevel is a trademark of its owner.
Found this useful? We publish practical guides like this for local businesses, and we build the tool that does the follow-up part for you.
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Next steps
Answering service vs voicemail vs text-back
What a live answering service, plain voicemail and missed-call text-back each cost and do, with public prices read on October 9, 2026, and when each one fits.
Read next →Compare plans
Starter, Pro and Premium side by side: price, texts included, locations and every feature, with where each feature stands as of October 9, 2026.
Read next →What a missed call costs
How to work out what a missed call costs a plumbing, HVAC, roofing or cleaning business, using your own call records instead of made-up averages.
Read next →Questions
About this comparison
Is HighLevel cheaper than NewFrontDesk?
Its starting plan is: $97 a month against our $199. HighLevel bills texts, phone numbers and emails on top as usage, while our plans include 500 to 5,000 texts a month, so the totals depend on how much you send.
Does HighLevel do missed-call text-back?
Its public pricing page does not name that feature; it lists calling and "Email + SMS Marketing". We only report what that page says, so check with HighLevel or your agency.
Is NewFrontDesk live?
It is in preview. The lead inbox, web chat, form link and new-lead emails work today. Missed-call text-back is built but sends no texts until carrier registration is approved, and no payment is taken until the features in a plan work. The dated list is on the status board.
Didn't find your answer? Write to [email protected], or see how it works.
Ready when you are.
Request setup now. No payment is taken until the features in your plan work.