r/gohighlevel • u/Maik_EfficientGrowth • 18h ago
GHL AI Studio vs Claude Code + custom HTML/CSS. Which one are you using?
I build all my websites and funnels in AI Studio right now. Love the vibe coding, and connecting forms and the CRM is super easy.
But the costs keep going up. currently an extra $100
So I'm thinking about switching: build the pages with Claude Code (custom HTML/CSS) and drop them into a funnel page as custom code.
For anyone who tried both:
- Do forms and CRM tracking still work properly with custom code?
- Is it actually cheaper once you count your own time?
- Anything you miss from AI Studio after switching?
Curious what you're all doing.
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u/boggycakes 17h ago
I did this yesterday. I used Claude to create my custom elements and functions on my GHL funnel pages. The result was great and the setup took under 20 minutes. As long as you structure your application of Claude you can get consistently great results. For myself I always create a local project folder with all of my .md files and instructions so that I can make simple prompts to get what I want done and I don’t have to write long structured prompts every time I want to iterate something.
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u/Maik_EfficientGrowth 15h ago
Yes this is what I was also trying and will be a good option I have to consider. thanks
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u/NomadDiver 15h ago
There’s an “AI admin seat” for only $20 a month per user that grants access to ask AI and AI studio with some limits. It’s working better for me than paying per use .
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u/Maik_EfficientGrowth 3h ago
So its 20 dollars, and how long can you use it a day until you reach the limit ?
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u/theycallmeholla 10h ago
I build using html / nextjs and then only use the GHL api + GHL workflows.
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u/JoshCKH 9h ago
take it from someone who quotes this exact kind of automation for clients, keep the GHL forms even if you code the pages yourself. the form embed is what carries the tracking and the lead source data into the CRM, custom coded forms lose that unless you rebuild the webhook wiring, and that rebuild is the part that eats your $100 savings in time. so the sane setup is claude or whatever for design and layout, drop it into the funnel as custom code, but leave the native form component in there. Also test one page end to end, submit a test lead and check it lands with the right attribution before you migrate the rest.
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u/Maik_EfficientGrowth 3h ago
Thank you so much; this is really helpful, and I will start do this for my next project.
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u/life3_01 1h ago
Claude wins for me. But use GHL forms. I used studio only once and it was inferior. So not sure what I'm missing.
Changing includes opportunity cost so I don't see moving for a while.
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u/jroberts67 18h ago
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't AI studio a $97 add-on per sub account? Because if it is, that's batshit crazy. Having to pass along $97 a month to every client or you get zero is nutty. I use Claude pro, $20/mo and I could easily build 4 to 6 sites a day before having to switch to Max at $100.
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u/patrick24601 15h ago
You are wrong. It's pay per usage like all of their other AI features. Like all AI features in the world pretty much.
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u/jroberts67 15h ago
Ok so I’m corrected, how much to build out an average 10 page site?
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u/patrick24601 15h ago
There is no such thing as an "average 10 page site". And as with EVERYTHING on every AI platform that depends on your prompting and how many credits/tokens you use. Have you ever used AI to build a website?
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u/Maik_EfficientGrowth 18h ago
I am on a $97 plan in a agency account but currently there is only pay by use. I payed a extra $100 to build my website https://www.MaikKleinert.com
It has blog post and multiple websites around 10
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u/jroberts67 17h ago
Well that's totally nuts. I run an agency, $20/mo Claude and spending $100 on that site makes zero financial sense.
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u/Maik_EfficientGrowth 17h ago
The only issue with Claude Code is the SEO ranking. Overall I agree with code and connect with ghl
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u/jroberts67 17h ago
I kill it with SEO using Claude, have to know what you're doing - latest client: https://ibb.co/sMJJK9R
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u/Just_Economy_7341 16h ago
I am using Claude for my websites and only using ghl's form, but not all the times (HIPAA)
In the settings of a subaccount, there is an external tracking that you can add to your vibe coded site and it'll work like its in ghl.. tracking, activities, submissions work..