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CRM & Sales software9 min read

Close Review 2026 — CRM & Sales

A CRM built for inside sales teams with built-in calling, SMS, email sequences, and pipeline automation designed to maximize outbound productivity.

SE
Softora Editorial

SaaS Review Team - Published June 19, 2026 - Updated June 19, 2026

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Key takeaways

1

Close earns a 8.6/10 Softora score because it is a credible CRM & Sales option with a clear strength around Built-in Calling, Email Sequences.

2

Close is best for buyers who need inside sales teams that live on the phone and email. Built-in calling, SMS, email sequences, and a power dialer mean reps never leave the CRM to prospect. If your sales motion is outbound-heavy with high call and email volume, Close eliminates the tool-switching that kills productivity in other CRMs.

3

Before buying Close, confirm pricing limits, setup effort, integrations, reporting, data export, and whether the team will keep the tool updated every week.

On this page

Key TakeawaysExpert VerdictBest FitPlatform OverviewTop FeaturesPricingBuyer ChecklistImplementationPros & ConsAlternativesFAQs

Offer

Start with Close's current plan options.

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Affiliate disclosure

Softora is audience-supported. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links, without changing our editorial score.

Best for inside sales

Overall Softora score

8.6/ 10

"A CRM built for inside sales teams with built-in calling, SMS, email sequences, and pipeline automation designed to maximize outbound productivity."

Try Close

Pricing

Paid plans; confirm current tiers, usage limits, and add-ons before buying.

Plan details vary by tier

Reliability

Reliable

1-4 weeks

Ease of use

Good

Great

Why we love it

  • Built-in calling with a power dialer, predictive dialer, and call recording — no third-party telephony tools needed.
  • Native email sequences let reps automate multi-step outreach cadences with personalization, A/B testing, and automatic follow-ups.
  • The interface is fast and opinionated — designed for reps who make dozens of calls and send hundreds of emails daily.

What to watch for

  • No free plan — pricing starts at $29/user/month, which is higher than HubSpot's free tier or Zoho CRM's entry price.
  • Marketing features are minimal. Close is a sales tool, not a marketing automation platform — no landing pages, forms, or campaign management.
  • Reporting is functional but less customizable than Salesforce or HubSpot. Teams needing advanced forecasting may find it limiting.

Who should buy Close?

Teams that need crm & sales software focused on Built-in Calling, Email Sequences.
Buyers who want a tool with a clear best for inside sales positioning in the CRM & Sales category.
Teams that can dedicate an owner to setup, permissions, reporting, adoption, and renewal review.
Businesses that have compared Close against nearby CRM & Sales alternatives and still value its core workflow fit.

Who should skip Close?

Teams that need a very unusual crm & sales workflow that Close does not support without workarounds.
Buyers who cannot confirm plan limits, renewal terms, data export, or integration requirements before purchase.
Teams that do not have anyone responsible for implementation and long-term data hygiene.
Businesses choosing only by brand popularity instead of testing the actual workflow.

What is Close?

Close is a CRM built specifically for inside sales teams. It bundles calling, SMS, email sequences, and pipeline management into a single interface so reps never leave the platform to prospect. The entire design philosophy is about maximizing outbound productivity.

Founded in 2013, Close has grown by focusing exclusively on the needs of high-velocity sales teams. Unlike general-purpose CRMs that try to serve marketing, support, and sales, Close does one thing — helps reps close more deals faster through communication tools built directly into the CRM.

Close interface preview
Interface preview
CRM & Sales team evaluating Close workflow fit
Close should be tested with a real CRM & Sales workflow, not only a product demo or pricing page.

Key Features

Built-in Calling

Make and receive calls directly in the CRM with call recording, voicemail drop, power dialer, and predictive dialer — no third-party phone system needed.

Email Sequences

Build multi-step outreach cadences with personalized templates, automatic follow-ups, A/B subject line testing, and send scheduling.

Power Dialer

Automatically dial through a list of leads one after another, logging each call and moving to the next — maximizing daily call volume for sales reps.

SMS Messaging

Send and receive text messages directly from lead records, adding SMS touchpoints to outbound sequences alongside calls and emails.

Pipeline Management

Visual pipeline with drag-and-drop deals, custom stages, expected close dates, and activity-based sorting so reps always know the next action.

Smart Views

Save filtered lead lists as Smart Views that update dynamically — create views for hot leads, stale deals, or follow-up due today.

Pricing & Plans

PlanStarting priceTarget audienceAction
Startup
Per user / month		$29Solo founders and small sales teams getting startedView plan
ProfessionalRecommended
Per user / month		$99Growing teams needing power dialer and sequencesView plan
Enterprise
Per user / month		$149Larger teams needing predictive dialer and custom rolesView plan

Buyer checklist before choosing

Recreate one real CRM & Sales workflow in Close using sample data and real user roles.
Confirm whether Built-in Calling, Email Sequences are included in the plan your team will actually use.
Check seats, usage limits, add-ons, support tiers, implementation help, and renewal terms before buying.
Review integrations, API access, exports, security documentation, and admin permissions.
Compare Close against at least two alternatives from the same CRM & Sales category before committing annually.

Pricing watchouts

Close is listed as Paid plans; verify the current vendor pricing page before buying.
Starter plans may exclude automation, reporting, integrations, admin controls, or higher usage limits.
Annual discounts can hide renewal risk if the team has not completed a realistic trial.
Total cost should include migration, implementation time, training, support, and any extra tools needed around it.

Score Breakdown

Ease of use

8.7

Designed to keep the primary workflow approachable.

Built-in Calling

8.6

Strong performance around built-in calling.

Value

8.4

Value depends on plan fit, usage limits, and team size.

Integrations

8.4

Review native integrations before relying on workarounds.

Close Pros and Cons

The Pros

Built-in calling with a power dialer, predictive dialer, and call recording — no third-party telephony tools needed.

Native email sequences let reps automate multi-step outreach cadences with personalization, A/B testing, and automatic follow-ups.

The interface is fast and opinionated — designed for reps who make dozens of calls and send hundreds of emails daily.

Built-in SMS messaging lets reps text leads directly from the CRM, adding another channel to outbound sequences.

Pipeline view is clean and focused on activity-based selling — every deal shows the last touchpoint and next action clearly.

The Cons

No free plan — pricing starts at $29/user/month, which is higher than HubSpot's free tier or Zoho CRM's entry price.

Marketing features are minimal. Close is a sales tool, not a marketing automation platform — no landing pages, forms, or campaign management.

Reporting is functional but less customizable than Salesforce or HubSpot. Teams needing advanced forecasting may find it limiting.

Not ideal for field sales or complex enterprise deals — Close is optimized for high-volume inside sales motions.

Implementation plan

1

Assign an internal owner for setup, data import, permissions, reporting, and adoption.

2

Import a small sample dataset before migrating the full workspace.

3

Create one dashboard or report that leadership will review every week.

4

Invite a small pilot group first, collect objections, and adjust templates or fields before full rollout.

5

Schedule a 30-day review to decide whether to expand, downgrade, or switch tools.

Close buyer checklist and implementation planning
A strong CRM & Sales buying decision includes pricing, setup, integrations, reporting, adoption, and long-term ownership.

Top Alternatives

HS

HubSpot CRM

The gold standard for inbound marketing and sales. HubSpot offers an incredibly powerful free tier with seamless upgrades for growing teams.

Full Review
PD

Pipedrive

Built specifically for sales teams by salespeople. Pipedrive excels at pipeline visualization and activity-based selling methodologies.

Full Review
ZO

Zoho CRM

Highly customizable and packed with features. Zoho offers an impressive ecosystem of integrated business tools at a competitive price point.

Full Review

Helpful Softora links

CRM & Sales categoryBest Software RankingsCompare Tools HubSoftware Buying ResourcesHubSpot CRM ReviewPipedrive ReviewSalesforce ReviewFreshsales ReviewZoho CRM ReviewInsightly ReviewMonday CRM ReviewCRM SoftwareHubSpot vs PipedriveBest AI Tools 2026

Common FAQs

How does Close compare to Pipedrive?
Close has built-in calling, SMS, and email sequences — Pipedrive requires third-party integrations for those. Pipedrive has a more visual pipeline and broader feature set for general sales teams. Close is better for high-volume inside sales; Pipedrive is better for visual pipeline management.
Does Close have a free plan?
No, Close does not offer a free plan. The Startup plan starts at $29/user/month with a 14-day free trial available.
Can Close handle outbound sequences?
Yes, Close has native email sequences with multi-step cadences, personalization, automatic follow-ups, and A/B testing. You can combine email, calls, and SMS in your outreach workflow.
Does Close include a phone system?
Yes, Close includes built-in VoIP calling with local and global numbers, call recording, voicemail drop, power dialer, and predictive dialer. No external phone system or integration is needed.
Is Close good for small teams?
Yes, Close works well for small sales teams doing outbound prospecting. The Startup plan at $29/user/month includes email, calling, and pipeline management. The power dialer requires the Professional plan.
Is Close worth it?
Close is worth considering if its strengths around Built-in Calling, Email Sequences match your CRM & Sales workflow and the pricing tier includes the features your team will use weekly.
Who should use Close?
Close is best for inside sales teams that live on the phone and email. Built-in calling, SMS, email sequences, and a power dialer mean reps never leave the CRM to prospect. If your sales motion is outbound-heavy with high call and email volume, Close eliminates the tool-switching that kills productivity in other CRMs.
What are the best Close alternatives?
The best alternatives depend on your team size, budget, and workflow. Start by comparing other CRM & Sales tools on Softora's category page.
How should I test Close before buying?
Run a workflow-based trial with real sample data, real users, required integrations, reporting needs, and a clear owner for implementation.

Ready to compare Close?

Review current pricing, confirm plan limits, and compare it against nearby CRM & Sales options before you commit.

Visit Close Back to CRM & Sales list

Related CRM & Sales Reviews

CL
Best for inside sales

Close Review 2026 — CRM & Sales

A CRM built for inside sales teams with built-in calling, SMS, email sequences, and pipeline automation designed to maximize outbound productivity.

HS
Best overall

HubSpot CRM Review 2026 — CRM & Sales

The gold standard for inbound marketing and sales. HubSpot offers an incredibly powerful free tier with seamless upgrades for growing teams.

PD
Best for sales

Pipedrive Review 2026 — CRM & Sales

Built specifically for sales teams by salespeople. Pipedrive excels at pipeline visualization and activity-based selling methodologies.

ZO
Best value

Zoho CRM Review 2026 — CRM & Sales

Highly customizable and packed with features. Zoho offers an impressive ecosystem of integrated business tools at a competitive price point.

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