Close vs Salesforce: The Complete 2026 Comparison
Choosing between Close and Salesforce for crm? This in-depth comparison breaks down pricing, features, user ratings, integrations, and real-world use cases to help you make the right decision. Both tools serve the crm category, but they take distinctly different approaches to helping teams get work done.
Founded in 2013, Close is a CRM built for inside sales teams, with built-in calling, SMS, and email sequences. Meanwhile, Salesforce was founded in 1999. Salesforce is the world's leading CRM platform, used by businesses of all sizes to manage sales, service, and marketing. Let us dive into how they stack up across every dimension that matters.
Quick Verdict
Close edges ahead with a G2 rating of 4.7/5 (based on 980 reviews) versus Salesforce's 4.4/5 (20,500 reviews). However, Salesforce holds its own with 12 key features and competitive pricing starting at $25/user/month (Essentials). If budget is your top priority, Salesforce ($80/user/month (Professional) at the pro tier) is the more affordable option.
At-a-Glance: Close vs Salesforce
Before we dive into the details, here is a high-level overview of how Close and Salesforce compare across the key criteria most teams care about when evaluating crm software.
| Criteria | Close | Salesforce |
|---|---|---|
| G2 Rating | 4.7/5 (980 reviews) | 4.4/5 (20,500 reviews) |
| Free Plan | $29/user/month (Startup) | $25/user/month (Essentials) |
| Pro Pricing | $99/user/month (Professional) | $80/user/month (Professional) |
| Enterprise | $149/user/month (Enterprise) | $165/user/month (Enterprise) |
| Founded | 2013 | 1999 |
| Key Features | 12 features | 12 features |
| Integrations | 10+ integrations | 10+ integrations |
| Category | CRM | CRM |
| Website | www.close.com | www.salesforce.com |
About Close
Close is a CRM built for inside sales teams, with built-in calling, SMS, and email sequences. Its power dialer and predictive dialer help reps maximize outbound productivity, making it the preferred CRM for high-volume sales organizations. Founded in 2013, Close has built a reputation in the crm space, earning a 4.7/5 rating on G2 from 980 verified user reviews. The platform offers 12 distinct features and integrates with 10+ third-party tools.
Close's core strengths include Built-in calling, Email sequences, SMS messaging, Pipeline management, Power dialer. Teams that choose Close typically value its approach to Built-in calling and Email sequences, which sets it apart in the crowded crm landscape.
About Salesforce
Salesforce is the world's leading CRM platform, used by businesses of all sizes to manage sales, service, and marketing. Its extensive customization, massive AppExchange ecosystem, and AI-powered Einstein analytics make it the enterprise standard. Since its founding in 1999, Salesforce has grown to serve teams worldwide, achieving a 4.4/5 G2 rating from 20,500 reviews. The platform provides 12 key features and supports 10+ integrations.
Salesforce's standout capabilities include Lead management, Opportunity tracking, Sales forecasting, Workflow automation, Einstein AI. Teams gravitating toward Salesforce often prioritize Lead management and Opportunity tracking, making it a strong fit for organizations that need these specific capabilities.
Pricing Breakdown: Close vs Salesforce
Pricing is often the deciding factor when choosing crm software. Here is how Close and Salesforce stack up across their pricing tiers. Note that both tools may offer annual billing discounts, and prices shown are for monthly billing as of 2026.
| Plan | Close | Salesforce |
|---|---|---|
| Starter / Free | $29/user/month (Startup) | $25/user/month (Essentials) |
| Pro / Business | $99/user/month (Professional) | $80/user/month (Professional) |
| Enterprise | $149/user/month (Enterprise) | $165/user/month (Enterprise) |
Pricing verdict: Salesforce is the more budget-friendly option at the pro tier, costing $80/user/month (Professional) compared to $99/user/month (Professional) for Close. However, pricing alone should not drive your decision -- consider the total value each platform delivers relative to its cost. A tool that costs more but saves your team hours each week may actually be the more economical choice in the long run.
Keep in mind that both tools offer free plans or trials, so you can test each platform before committing. For teams of 10 or fewer, both Close and Salesforce provide functional free tiers that let you evaluate the core experience without spending anything.
Feature Comparison: Close vs Salesforce
Feature availability can make or break your team's productivity. Below is a detailed comparison of every feature offered by either Close or Salesforce. This checklist covers 22 features across both platforms, giving you a comprehensive view of what each tool brings to the table.
| Feature | Close | Salesforce |
|---|---|---|
| AppExchange marketplace | No | Yes |
| Built-in calling | Yes | No |
| CPQ (Configure Price Quote) | No | Yes |
| Custom activities | Yes | No |
| Custom objects | No | Yes |
| Einstein AI | No | Yes |
| Email sequences | Yes | No |
| Lead management | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile app | No | Yes |
| Opportunity tracking | No | Yes |
| Pipeline management | Yes | No |
| Power dialer | Yes | No |
| Predictive dialer | Yes | No |
| Process builder | No | Yes |
| Reporting | Yes | No |
| Reports and dashboards | No | Yes |
| SMS messaging | Yes | No |
| Sales forecasting | No | Yes |
| Smart views | Yes | No |
| Territory management | No | Yes |
| Video calling | Yes | No |
| Workflow automation | Yes | Yes |
Close offers 12 features while Salesforce provides 12. The features unique to Close include Built-in calling, Email sequences, SMS messaging. Salesforce's unique features include Opportunity tracking, Sales forecasting, Einstein AI.
Integrations: Close vs Salesforce
In today's software landscape, no tool exists in isolation. The integrations a crm tool supports determine how well it fits into your existing tech stack. Here is how Close and Salesforce compare in terms of third-party integrations.
Shared integrations (5): Zapier, Slack, Gmail, Outlook, HubSpot. Both tools connect to these popular platforms, so if these are your critical integrations, neither tool has an advantage.
Unique to Close: Calendly, Zoom, Segment, Drift, Clearbit.
Unique to Salesforce: Microsoft Teams, Mailchimp, DocuSign, Tableau, QuickBooks.
Both platforms support Zapier or similar automation tools, which means you can build custom integrations even if a native connection is not available. When evaluating integrations, focus on the ones your team uses daily rather than the total count.
User Ratings and Community Sentiment
Real user reviews provide invaluable insight beyond feature lists. Here is how the community has rated Close and Salesforce on G2, one of the most trusted software review platforms.
| Metric | Close | Salesforce |
|---|---|---|
| G2 Rating | 4.7/5 | 4.4/5 |
| Total Reviews | 980 | 20,500 |
| Years on Market | 13 years (since 2013) | 27 years (since 1999) |
Close leads with a 4.7/5 G2 rating compared to Salesforce's 4.4/5. The 0.3-point gap is meaningful given that both tools have thousands of reviews. Close's rating is based on 980 reviews, providing strong statistical confidence in the score.
Which Tool Should You Pick? Use-Case Verdicts
The best crm tool is not universal -- it depends on your team size, budget, workflow requirements, and existing tech stack. Here are our recommendations for three common scenarios that cover most teams evaluating Close and Salesforce.
Scenario 1: Small Teams and Startups (Under 20 People)
For small teams on a budget, Salesforce offers a more affordable entry point with its $25/user/month (Essentials) free tier. Salesforce may be easier to adopt quickly due to its more focused feature set, reducing onboarding time. However, Close offers more room to grow as your team scales, with 12 features compared to 12.
Our pick: Salesforce -- Faster setup and lower complexity for small teams.
Scenario 2: Mid-Size Companies (20-200 People)
Mid-size teams need robust crm with good reporting and integrations. Close offers integrations with Zapier, Slack, Gmail, Outlook, while Salesforce connects to Slack, Microsoft Teams, Gmail, Outlook. For cross-functional teams, Salesforce provides stronger customization options. Both tools handle enterprise-grade workloads, but the Close's higher G2 rating (4.7/5 from 980 reviews) suggests better overall satisfaction at scale.
Our pick: Close -- Higher G2 rating (4.7/5) and stronger user satisfaction.
Scenario 3: Enterprise and Software Development Teams
At the enterprise level, integration depth, security, and workflow customization matter most. Close's enterprise plan ($149/user/month (Enterprise)) comes at a premium compared to Salesforce ($165/user/month (Enterprise)). For development teams specifically, look at Git integrations: .
Our pick: Salesforce -- More extensive user base providing better community support and proven reliability.
Final Recommendation: Close vs Salesforce
After analyzing pricing, features, ratings, integrations, and real-world use cases, here is our bottom line on the Close vs Salesforce decision.
Choose Close if: You want Built-in calling, Email sequences, SMS messaging, and your team values a focused tool that does fewer things well. Close's $29/user/month (Startup) entry point makes it accessible to try, and its 10+ integrations ensure it fits into most tech stacks. Despite being newer (founded 2013), Close has proven itself with 980 G2 reviews.
Choose Salesforce if: You prioritize Lead management, Opportunity tracking, Sales forecasting, and your team needs a streamlined tool without unnecessary complexity. At $80/user/month (Professional) per user per month (pro tier), Salesforce is the more affordable option. Salesforce's 27-year track record speaks to its reliability and staying power.
Whichever tool you choose, we recommend starting with the free plan or trial to evaluate how it works with your specific team's workflow. Run a two-week pilot with a small project before making a company-wide commitment. The right crm tool is the one your team will actually use consistently -- and that can only be determined through hands-on experience.
Switching Between Close and Salesforce
If you are currently using one tool and considering switching to the other, here are some tips to make the migration smoother. Most crm tools support data export in CSV or JSON formats, and both Close and Salesforce offer import functionality.
Start by exporting your current projects, tasks, and custom fields. Map your existing workflow to the new tool's structure before migrating data. Plan for a 2-4 week transition period where both tools run in parallel, and designate team champions to help with adoption. Consider using a third-party migration service if you have complex data structures or a large number of projects to transfer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Close better than Salesforce?
Close has a higher G2 rating (4.7/5 vs 4.4/5 from 980 reviews), but the best tool depends on your needs. Close stands out for Built-in calling, Email sequences, SMS messaging, while Salesforce excels at Lead management, Opportunity tracking, Sales forecasting.
How much does Close cost compared to Salesforce?
Close's pro plan costs $99/user/month (Professional) while Salesforce's pro plan costs $80/user/month (Professional). Close starts at $29/user/month (Startup) and Salesforce starts at $25/user/month (Essentials). Enterprise pricing is $149/user/month (Enterprise) for Close and $165/user/month (Enterprise) for Salesforce.
Can Close and Salesforce integrate with each other?
While direct integration varies, both Close and Salesforce connect to common platforms including Zapier, Slack, Gmail, Outlook, HubSpot. Third-party tools like Zapier can bridge any gaps between the two.
Which tool is easier to learn, Close or Salesforce?
Close (founded 2013) and Salesforce (founded 1999) take different approaches to usability. Close generally has a simpler learning curve with fewer features to master, while Salesforce offers more features but may take longer to fully adopt.
What are the main differences between Close and Salesforce?
The key differences are: (1) Pricing -- Close starts at $29/user/month (Startup) vs Salesforce at $25/user/month (Essentials). (2) G2 ratings -- Close has 4.7/5 vs Salesforce at 4.4/5. (3) Features -- Close focuses on Built-in calling, Email sequences, SMS messaging, while Salesforce emphasizes Lead management, Opportunity tracking, Sales forecasting. (4) Founded -- Close (2013) vs Salesforce (1999).
How We Compared Close and Salesforce
This comparison is based on publicly available data including G2 user ratings and review counts, official pricing pages, published feature lists, and integration directories. Ratings and pricing data are approximate and were last verified in 2026. We encourage readers to check each tool's official website for the most current information, as pricing and features may change.
Our analysis covers pricing (free, pro, and enterprise tiers), features (22 features compared), integrations (20 total across both tools), user ratings (combined 21,480 G2 reviews), and use-case suitability (small teams, mid-size companies, and enterprises). We aim to provide objective, data-driven comparisons to help you make informed decisions.
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