Close Review
Last tested: April 2026
Our Verdict
Close is the CRM built for speed. If your startup runs on outbound sales, Close's built-in calling, email sequences, and pipeline management make it the fastest way to go from lead to closed deal.
What we like
- Built-in calling and SMS — no third-party tools needed
- Email sequences with automated follow-ups
- Fast, keyboard-driven interface
- Excellent for high-velocity sales teams
What could be better
- Less suited for inbound/marketing-heavy workflows
- Reporting is functional but not deep
- No free plan available
- Smaller integration ecosystem than HubSpot
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key Features | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Startup | $29/user/mo | Pipeline view, built-in calling, email sync | Solo founders |
| ProfessionalRecommended | $99/user/mo | Email sequences, power dialer, custom activities | Growing sales teams |
| Enterprise | $149/user/mo | Predictive dialer, custom roles, advanced reporting | Scaling sales orgs |
What is Close?
Close is a CRM purpose-built for startups and high-velocity sales teams. Unlike bloated enterprise CRMs, Close combines pipeline management with built-in calling, email sequences, SMS, and automation in a single fast interface. It's designed to help sales reps spend more time selling and less time doing data entry.
Key Features
Close offers built-in VoIP calling and power dialer, automated email sequences, SMS messaging, pipeline management with custom fields, smart views for lead prioritization, and workflow automation. The platform also includes call recording, voicemail drop, and detailed activity tracking.
Who is Close Best For?
Close is ideal for startup founders doing their own sales, SDR teams running outbound campaigns, and SMB sales managers who need a fast, all-in-one sales tool without the complexity of Salesforce or HubSpot's enterprise tiers.
Ease of Use
Close is designed for speed. The keyboard-driven interface lets reps navigate, call, and log activities without touching the mouse. Onboarding is fast — most teams are productive within a day. The UI is clean and focused on what sales reps actually need.
Integrations
Close integrates with Zapier, Slack, Gmail, Outlook, Calendly, and popular tools. The API is well-documented for custom integrations. While the ecosystem is smaller than HubSpot's, it covers the essentials.
Customer Support
Close provides email and chat support with fast response times. The knowledge base is comprehensive, and they offer migration assistance for teams switching from other CRMs.
Pricing Breakdown
Close starts at $29/user/month for the Startup plan with basic CRM and calling. The Professional plan at $99/user/month adds sequences and power dialer — the sweet spot for active sales teams. Enterprise at $149/user/month adds predictive dialing and advanced controls.
Our Testing Process
We ran an outbound sales campaign through Close for 30 days, testing the power dialer, email sequences, pipeline management, and reporting. We compared the experience against HubSpot, Pipedrive, and Apollo for startup sales workflows.
Final Score
Close earns a 4.6/5 overall rating. It's the best CRM for startups focused on outbound sales, offering built-in communication tools that eliminate the need for separate calling and email platforms.
Scoring Breakdown
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