Choosing the right CRM as a coach often comes down to one big question:
Do you want simplicity or automation?
That’s exactly what separates GoHighLevel and Paperbell — two platforms that aim to help coaches manage clients, sessions, and payments but take completely different approaches.
If you’re trying to decide between these tools, this in-depth comparison will help you understand their strengths, weaknesses, and which one fits your business best in 2026.
We’ve tested both systems in real-world coaching workflows — from client onboarding to payment processing — and ranked them across automation, usability, pricing, and support.
Let’s see which CRM deserves a spot in your business.
Quick Verdict
Paperbell is perfect for new or solo coaches who want a lightweight, elegant system for scheduling and payments.
GoHighLevel is better for growth-oriented coaches who want to automate lead generation, follow-ups, and client management.
Summary:
Paperbell helps you manage your business.
GoHighLevel helps you scale it.
Overview: Two Platforms, Two Different Coaching Journeys
GoHighLevel — The Automation Powerhouse
GoHighLevel (GHL) is a full-service CRM designed for service providers, agencies, and coaches who need automation, marketing, and client organization in one system.
It combines CRM, email/SMS marketing, funnels, booking, and payments — everything a coach would otherwise handle across 5–7 tools.
Paperbell — The Elegant Simplicity
Paperbell, on the other hand, is designed specifically for coaches.
It keeps things simple: client scheduling, contracts, and payments all in one minimalist interface.
It doesn’t try to automate everything — instead, it focuses on reducing admin time for smaller, relationship-based coaching practices.
At a Glance: GoHighLevel vs Paperbell
| Feature | GoHighLevel | Paperbell |
|---|---|---|
| CRM | ✅ Advanced pipelines & tagging | ⚠️ Basic client tracking |
| Scheduling | ✅ Built-in booking calendar | ✅ Integrated scheduler |
| Payments | ✅ Stripe & PayPal | ✅ Stripe |
| Automations | ✅ Email + SMS workflows | ⚠️ Limited reminders only |
| Funnels | ✅ Full funnel builder | ❌ None |
| Contracts | ⚠️ External integration | ✅ Built-in e-signature |
| Client Portal | ✅ Membership option | ✅ Clean client dashboard |
| Pricing | 💰 From $97/mo | 💰 From $57/mo |
| Free Trial | ✅ 14 days | ✅ 7 days |
| Best For | Scaling & automation | Simplicity & ease of use |
1. Setup & Ease of Use
Paperbell: Built for Coaches, Not Coders
Paperbell’s biggest advantage is simplicity.
It was built from the ground up for coaches, not marketers or agencies.
When you sign up, it walks you through setup step-by-step:
- Add your coaching packages
- Connect your calendar
- Link Stripe for payments
- Upload your contract templates
In under an hour, you can accept bookings and payments online.
There’s no complicated configuration or learning curve — it feels intuitive from the start.
Verdict:
Paperbell is easier for beginners and solo coaches.
GoHighLevel: More Powerful, More Setup
GoHighLevel gives you everything — but that means more setup.
You’ll spend more time configuring automations, funnels, and integrations before you’re fully operational.
However, once it’s built, it saves massive amounts of time.
The initial learning curve pays off with long-term automation and scalability.
Verdict:
GoHighLevel is more powerful but requires a few hours of onboarding.
2. CRM & Client Management
GoHighLevel: Full CRM Functionality
GoHighLevel provides a complete CRM dashboard with contact management, pipelines, and tagging.
You can:
- View every client’s stage in your sales funnel
- Add notes, tags, and session details
- See full communication history
- Automate follow-ups and reminders
It’s like having a digital assistant that tracks every lead and client automatically.
For business or executive coaches managing multiple clients, this is a major advantage.
Paperbell: Simple Client List
Paperbell’s CRM is minimal — intentionally so.
It provides a client list showing all active and past clients, along with their packages, session credits, and payment status.
You can’t create multi-stage pipelines or segment leads by behavior.
But for solo coaches who prefer manual control, that’s often enough.
Verdict:
GoHighLevel wins for scalability and tracking.
Paperbell works fine for small, personal coaching practices.
3. Scheduling & Appointments
Paperbell: Excellent Built-In Scheduler
Paperbell’s scheduler is its crown jewel.
It eliminates the need for tools like Calendly or Acuity.
You can:
- Set available times
- Offer group or one-on-one sessions
- Link sessions to specific packages
- Handle time zones automatically
Clients can book directly, and Paperbell automatically tracks how many sessions they’ve used.
GoHighLevel: Integrated Calendar System
GoHighLevel also includes built-in booking features.
You can create appointment calendars, link them to pipelines, and automate reminders.
Unlike Paperbell, GoHighLevel connects scheduling to marketing.
For example:
- When someone books, they’re added to your CRM.
- They automatically receive pre-call reminders.
- If they don’t show up, an SMS follow-up can be triggered.
Verdict:
Paperbell is simpler and beautiful.
GoHighLevel is more intelligent and automated.
4. Payments & Contracts
Paperbell: Contracts + Payments in One Flow
Paperbell truly shines here.
When a client books, they’re prompted to sign your coaching agreement and pay — all in one seamless checkout.
It integrates with Stripe and automatically creates receipts.
You can sell:
- Packages (e.g. 6 sessions for $1,000)
- Subscriptions (e.g. $200/month)
- Group programs
This setup is perfect for high-touch, personal coaching offers.
GoHighLevel: Stripe & PayPal + Checkout Pages
GoHighLevel also supports Stripe and PayPal, but you’ll usually use its funnel builder to create checkout pages.
It doesn’t include a built-in contract signature tool, though you can integrate one (like HelloSign or Jotform).
The trade-off is flexibility: GoHighLevel can handle more complex offers, upsells, and multi-step funnels.
Verdict:
Paperbell wins for simplicity.
GoHighLevel wins for customization.
5. Automation & Follow-Ups
GoHighLevel: Advanced Workflows
Automation is where GoHighLevel becomes a time-saving machine.
You can:
- Send welcome emails after sign-up
- Text clients reminders before calls
- Trigger “thank you” messages after sessions
- Add leads to funnels automatically
- Create onboarding sequences
You can even build conditional logic — for example, “If a client hasn’t booked in 14 days, send a re-engagement email.”
This kind of automation can easily save 6–10 hours per week.
Paperbell: Light Automation Only
Paperbell includes basic automations, such as:
- Sending reminder emails before sessions
- Sending post-purchase confirmation emails
And that’s about it.
There’s no drip campaign, SMS automation, or workflow builder.
For new coaches, this simplicity is refreshing.
But if you want to grow using marketing automation, Paperbell can’t keep up.
Verdict:
GoHighLevel wins by a wide margin.
6. Funnels, Marketing, and Lead Capture
GoHighLevel: Full Marketing Suite
GoHighLevel includes landing pages, opt-in forms, and funnel templates designed for coaching and consulting.
You can build:
- Discovery call funnels
- Webinar sign-ups
- Lead magnets
- Sales pipelines
Each funnel connects to your CRM automatically.
You can track lead sources, conversion rates, and even run email or SMS campaigns without any extra tools.
Paperbell: No Funnel Features
Paperbell doesn’t include funnels or landing pages.
You’ll need to host your website elsewhere and link to your booking or package pages.
This keeps it simple but also limits your marketing potential.
Verdict:
If marketing is part of your growth plan, GoHighLevel wins easily.
7. Client Experience
Paperbell: Seamless & Personal
Paperbell delivers a beautiful, stress-free experience for your clients.
They can log in to view:
- Session balance
- Book upcoming sessions
- Review their contract and payment history
It’s clean, professional, and perfect for high-trust relationships.
GoHighLevel: Functional but Less Polished
GoHighLevel’s interface is more utilitarian — focused on data, not design.
It’s not ugly, but it doesn’t match Paperbell’s simplicity.
However, GoHighLevel allows you to build client portals or memberships if you want to deliver resources or session replays.
Verdict:
Paperbell wins for aesthetics.
GoHighLevel wins for customization.
8. Pricing and Value
| Plan | GoHighLevel | Paperbell |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $97/month | $57/month |
| Pro | $297/month | N/A |
| Trial | 14 days | 7 days |
At face value, Paperbell is cheaper.
But it offers fewer tools — so you’ll still pay for other apps like Mailchimp or Calendly.
GoHighLevel costs more but replaces most of your tech stack.
When you factor in savings from canceled subscriptions, it often ends up cheaper long-term.
Verdict:
Paperbell wins for affordability.
GoHighLevel wins for overall value.
9. Support & Community
Both tools provide responsive support and helpful documentation.
- GoHighLevel: 24/7 live chat, video tutorials, and a huge Facebook community of coaches and marketers.
- Paperbell: Email support and an intuitive help center focused on common coaching workflows.
Verdict:
Both offer good support; GoHighLevel’s community is larger and more active.
10. Real Coach Use Cases
When Paperbell Is Perfect
- You’re a solo coach managing up to 20 clients.
- You offer a few set packages (e.g. 3-month coaching plans).
- You prefer simplicity over automation.
- You don’t want to deal with funnels or tech setup.
When GoHighLevel Is Perfect
- You’re scaling or building a small coaching team.
- You run discovery call funnels or ads.
- You want to automate client communications.
- You plan to expand into courses, group programs, or agencies.
11. GoHighLevel vs Paperbell — Head-to-Head Summary
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | Paperbell | Clean and simple for beginners |
| CRM Features | GoHighLevel | Full pipeline management |
| Scheduling | Tie | Both have built-in calendars |
| Payments & Contracts | Paperbell | Seamless checkout with contracts |
| Automations | GoHighLevel | Multi-step workflows |
| Marketing Tools | GoHighLevel | Funnels and campaigns |
| Pricing | Paperbell | Lower cost for small businesses |
| Scalability | GoHighLevel | Built to grow with your business |
| Client Experience | Paperbell | Elegant client-facing interface |
12. Final Verdict — Which One Is Best for Coaches?
The answer depends on what kind of coaching business you run.
If you’re just starting out, managing a few clients, and prefer a clean, simple system, Paperbell is perfect.
It’s intuitive, beautiful, and built with coaching in mind.
If you’re ready to grow, automate, and scale your business beyond manual management, GoHighLevel is the clear winner.
It consolidates your entire tech stack — CRM, funnels, automation, booking, payments, and even websites — into one powerful system.
In short:
- Choose Paperbell if you value ease and simplicity.
- Choose GoHighLevel if you value power and automation.
Both tools do what they promise — they just serve different stages of a coach’s business journey.
13. Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Paperbell a full CRM?
A: Not exactly. It offers basic client management but lacks pipelines, tags, and automation features typical of full CRMs like GoHighLevel.
Q: Can GoHighLevel replace Paperbell?
A: Yes. GoHighLevel can handle everything Paperbell does and more, though it requires more setup time.
Q: Can I use both together?
A: Some coaches do. They use Paperbell for session bookings and GoHighLevel for marketing automations.
Q: Which one is cheaper long-term?
A: Paperbell is cheaper upfront, but GoHighLevel often saves money by replacing 5–6 other tools.
Q: Which is easier to use daily?
A: Paperbell. It’s built for non-technical users. GoHighLevel takes more time but provides more control.
Final Thoughts
Both GoHighLevel and Paperbell are excellent tools — but they were built for very different coaches.
If you’re new to coaching and want a simple way to manage sessions, payments, and contracts, Paperbell is your best starting point.
If you’re established and ready to systemize your growth, GoHighLevel will transform how you run your business.
Think of Paperbell as your “starter system” — perfect for managing 1:1 clients.
Think of GoHighLevel as your “scaling system” — perfect for automating and expanding your coaching practice.
For most coaches looking to grow in 2026, GoHighLevel wins overall.