How do HeyLead and WhatConverts work?
HeyLead and WhatConverts both record where each lead came from and tie it to a channel, campaign and landing page. The main difference is scope: WhatConverts tracks phone calls, web forms, chat and transactions in one lead list, while HeyLead focuses on website forms and the visits that led up to them.
WhatConverts is a lead tracking tool for small businesses and agencies that get leads in several ways. It gives you tracking phone numbers so a call can be matched to the ad or keyword that produced it, and it also records form submissions, chat conversations and ecommerce transactions. Every lead lands in a real-time, lead-level report where your team can mark lead quality and add quote values.
HeyLead is lead-source tracking software that shows which channel, campaign and page brought every lead, including leads from AI assistants. One script or the WordPress plugin detects your forms automatically. Each submission is saved with its first touch, last touch and every visit in between, plus device and country.
If your phone rings more than your inbox fills up, WhatConverts is built for you. If most enquiries come through a contact or quote form, HeyLead covers that job with less to set up and a simpler bill.
How long does setup take?
HeyLead takes about 5 minutes to set up for most websites: add one script tag, or install the WordPress plugin, and your forms start tracking on their own. There are no hidden fields to add, and a new form is tracked the moment it goes live. The install guide covers WordPress, Webflow, Wix, Squarespace, Shopify and custom sites.
WhatConverts also starts with a tracking script. Because it tracks more than forms, setup has more parts: choosing and configuring tracking numbers for your campaigns, connecting chat tools and setting up form and transaction tracking. That extra work is worth it when you need calls and chat tracked. It is extra work you don't need if your leads are forms.
| Setup step | HeyLead | WhatConverts |
|---|---|---|
| Install a script or plugin | Yes, about 5 minutes | Yes |
| Forms detected automatically | Yes | Check WhatConverts' docs |
| Set up phone tracking numbers | Not available | Yes, for call tracking |
| Connect chat tools | Not available | Yes, for chat tracking |
| Check the install is working | Live install checker | Check WhatConverts' docs |
What do you see in the reports?
Both tools report at the level of the individual lead, not just traffic totals. That is the main reason people choose either one over Google Analytics.
WhatConverts shows a real-time list of leads of every type, each tied to the campaign and keyword behind it. Its lead management features let you mark lead quality and record quote values, so you can report on the leads that turned into real work. This is useful for agencies that show clients exactly which calls and forms their ads produced.
HeyLead's dashboard shows leads, customers and revenue by channel, campaign and landing page, with a plain-English summary of what changed. You mark each lead New, Qualified, Customer or Lost and add a deal value, and the revenue reports update. Each lead also has a journey page listing every visit before they got in touch, so you can see that a customer first found you on Google, came back from a Facebook ad and finally filled in the form after an email. Our guide to reading your HeyLead dashboard walks through each report.
How do they handle leads from ChatGPT and AI assistants?
HeyLead puts visits from AI assistants in their own AI Referral channel and names the assistant: ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Copilot or Claude. Many analytics tools still file these visits under Direct or Referral, which hides a source that now sends real buyers to small business websites.
HeyLead checks for AI assistants early in its channel rules, right after your own custom rules and before ad click IDs, UTM tags and the referring site. That means a lead who arrived from a ChatGPT answer is counted as an AI lead, not as generic referral traffic. You can see how many leads each assistant sends and which pages they land on. The AI Lead Tracker page explains how it works.
Check WhatConverts' documentation for how it currently classifies AI assistant referrals, as lead tracking tools are adding this quickly.
Phone calls and chat: where WhatConverts is stronger
WhatConverts is the better tool when phone calls or chat matter to your business. It uses tracking numbers so each call is linked to the campaign and keyword that produced it, and it records chat conversations alongside forms. HeyLead does not track phone calls or chat today. Call tracking is on HeyLead's roadmap, but it is not available now.
This matters most for:
- Local service businesses such as plumbers, roofers and clinics, where many customers call rather than fill in a form
- Businesses spending heavily on Google Ads call campaigns
- Agencies that need to show clients every call, form and chat their campaigns produced
- Online shops that want transactions in the same report as leads
If that describes you, WhatConverts covers ground HeyLead does not. If phone calls are a small share of your leads, you may be paying for call tracking you rarely use, and HeyLead gives you form tracking with a journey and AI tracking at a lower price. See how HeyLead works for local service businesses.
CRM and other integrations
HeyLead sends each lead and its source wherever your team works. Zapier and webhooks send leads to HubSpot, Zoho CRM, Salesforce, Pipedrive and most other tools, Google Sheets connects directly, and native CRM sync is coming soon. You also get email notifications for new leads, team member access and optional hidden fields if you want your form tool to carry the source into your CRM. HeyLead's integrations page lists every connection.
WhatConverts also connects to other marketing tools. Check WhatConverts' docs for the current list of CRM and ad platform integrations and how source data is mapped.
How does pricing compare?
HeyLead charges a flat monthly price per plan, with no usage charges. WhatConverts charges a monthly plan fee plus usage beyond an included credit. The difference matters if your lead volume moves around from month to month.
WhatConverts lists a Call Tracking plan at $30 per month that covers calls only. Form, chat and ecommerce tracking start on the Plus plan at $60 per month, with Pro at $100 and Elite at $160. Each listed plan includes a $30 usage credit, and usage past that is charged, for example around $0.10 per extra lead, varying by country and number type. Plans are month to month with a free trial, and agency plans are listed from $500 per month.
HeyLead single-site plans cost $29, $49, $99 per month for 1,000, 2,000 or 5,000 leads. Multi-site plans for agencies start at $199/month for 10 sites with unlimited leads. The 14-day trial costs $2.99, then you pay monthly and can cancel anytime. There is no free plan. See HeyLead pricing for every plan and limit.
| Pricing detail | HeyLead | WhatConverts (listed) |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price for form leads | $29/month | $60/month (Plus) |
| Usage charges | None | Beyond a $30 monthly credit |
| Billing | Monthly, cancel anytime | Month to month |
| Agency plans | From $199/month | From $500/month |
| Trial | 14 days for $2.99 | Free trial |
Which should you choose?
Choose WhatConverts if phone calls are a big part of your leads, if you need chat and ecommerce transactions in the same report, or if you are an agency that wants call, form and chat lead management in one place. WhatConverts is the more complete tool across lead types.
Choose HeyLead if most of your leads come from website forms and you want a simpler setup, a flat price with no usage charges, the full journey behind every lead and leads from ChatGPT and other AI assistants counted as their own channel. You can also compare HeyLead with CallRail before you decide.
If you are switching or want both, you can run HeyLead alongside WhatConverts because both work from a script on your site. If you only used WhatConverts for forms, install HeyLead, send a few test leads, check they arrive with the right channel and journey, then drop the WhatConverts form tracking when you are happy.
If you rely on WhatConverts for calls, keep it for calls. Some businesses use WhatConverts for phone leads and HeyLead for form leads, journeys and AI assistant tracking.