Part of our guide: GoHighLevel in the UK.
Written by Dan Sagar, FoundationsAI. Updated October 2026.
Salesforce is the best-known CRM, built for sales teams that need deep reporting, strict permissions and room to grow into thousands of users. For a UK service business with 1 to 10 staff that needs enquiries answered, texted, booked and reviewed, GoHighLevel usually does more for less, and doesn't need a consultant to set up. We sell GoHighLevel, so we're biased. These are the facts as of 25 October 2026.
Side by side
Prices checked on 25 October 2026 on Salesforce's UK website, per user per month. Dollar prices converted at about $1 = £0.755.
| Salesforce | GoHighLevel direct | FoundationsAI | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Starter Suite £20 and Pro Suite £80 per user a month. Sales Cloud Core £156, Advanced £316 and Max £440 per user a month, billed yearly | $97 a month (about £73) or $297 a month (about £224) | £49 to £249 + VAT a month |
| How it's priced | Per user | Flat monthly price | Flat monthly price per plan |
| Contract | Starter monthly or yearly. Pro Suite and above need a yearly contract | Monthly | Rolling monthly with 30 days' notice. Managed has a 12-month minimum |
| Texting and calls | Not included in Starter or Pro Suite. Usually an add-on or a separate app | Built in, from a UK number, charged as you use it | Built in, with a UK number set up for you, about 6p a text |
| Website and online booking | Not included in Starter or Pro Suite | Built in | Built in, from the Website plan |
| Setup | Often a paid consultant, typically £500 to £1,000 a day | You set it up yourself | 5-hour setup session included, or we build it all on Managed |
| Best for | Sales teams that need deep reporting, forecasting and strict permissions | Agencies and technical owners | Small UK service businesses |
What it costs for a small team
- 1 person on Starter Suite: £20 a month
- 5 people on Pro Suite: £400 a month, or £4,800 a year, on a yearly contract
- 10 people on Sales Cloud Core: £1,560 a month
That's before texting, phone calls, a booking tool, a website or a consultant. FoundationsAI Pro is £149 + VAT a month, with texting, calls, booking and a website built in.
Salesforce changed its plans in September 2026
On 3 September 2026, Salesforce replaced its Enterprise and Unlimited editions with Core, Advanced and Max. Many comparison pages still quote the old plans, so check any price you read against Salesforce's own site.
What Salesforce does well
- Deep reporting and forecasting for sales teams
- It grows with you to thousands of users
- Strict permissions and security for larger companies
- A huge marketplace of add-on apps
When Salesforce is the better choice
- You have a sales team of 20 or more
- You sell complex deals to other businesses
- You have strict IT or data rules, or an IT team to run it
- You already use Salesforce and it works for you
When GoHighLevel, through FoundationsAI, is the better choice
- You're a small team that wants it to just work
- You want calls, texts, booking, reviews and a website in one place
- You don't want to pay a consultant to set it up
Moving from Salesforce
Your contacts and deals come across from a Salesforce export, which is a spreadsheet file. Automations and reports have to be rebuilt, and we can help with that during your setup session.
Common questions
Is Salesforce too expensive for a small business?
Starter Suite is £20 per user a month, which is reasonable. Costs rise with Pro Suite at £80 per user on a yearly contract, plus setup help and add-ons for texting or calls.
Can I text customers from Salesforce?
Not with Starter or Pro Suite as standard. Texting usually needs an add-on or a separate app.
Do I need a consultant to set up Salesforce?
For anything beyond the basics, most businesses use one. UK Salesforce consultants typically charge £500 to £1,000 a day.
Can GoHighLevel do everything Salesforce does?
No. Salesforce goes deeper on sales reporting, forecasting and permissions for large teams. GoHighLevel does more of what a small service business needs day to day: calls, texts, booking, reviews and a website.
Want an honest view of your setup?
Book a 45-minute demo and we'll tell you honestly which suits your business. For more comparisons, see the best marketing software for UK small businesses.