7 Best Close Alternatives for Sales Teams in 2024

7 Best Close Alternatives for Sales Teams in 2024

Updated May 18, 20261,085 words6 tools compared

Close CRM has built a strong reputation among inside sales teams with its integrated calling, email, and SMS capabilities. However, every business has unique needs, and what works for one sales team might not be the perfect fit for another. Whether you're looking for more advanced automation, better pricing options, or specific features that Close doesn't offer, there are several excellent alternatives worth considering.

Choosing the right CRM is crucial for your sales success. The wrong choice can lead to poor adoption rates, frustrated team members, and missed revenue opportunities. On the other hand, the right CRM can streamline your sales process, improve team productivity, and significantly boost your conversion rates. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore seven top Close alternatives, examining their strengths, weaknesses, pricing, and ideal use cases to help you make an informed decision for your sales organization.

Quick Comparison

ProductBest ForStarting PriceRatingKey Feature
HubSpotSMB to EnterpriseFree4.4/5All-in-one platform
SalesforceEnterprise$25/user/mo4.2/5Advanced customization
PipedriveSMB$14.90/user/mo4.2/5Visual pipeline
AttioStartupsFree4.7/5Flexible workflows
FolkStartupsFree4.5/5Relationship focus
FreshsalesSMBFree$15/user/moAI-powered insights

Scroll horizontally to see all columns

Detailed Reviews

In-depth analysis of each platform to help you make the right choice.

#1

HubSpot

Top Pick

Best For: Growing businesses that need marketing and sales alignment

HubSpot stands out as the most comprehensive Close alternative, offering a complete customer platform that goes beyond just CRM functionality. With integrated marketing, sales, and service tools, HubSpot provides everything growing businesses need in one place. The platform's freemium model makes it accessible to startups, while its enterprise features can scale with larger organizations. HubSpot's strength lies in its ability to align marketing and sales efforts through shared data and unified reporting.

Pricing: Free tier available, paid plans start at $45/month for advanced features

Key Features

  • Free CRM with unlimited contacts
  • Built-in marketing automation
  • Email sequences and templates
  • Meeting scheduling
  • Comprehensive reporting dashboard

Pros

  • +Generous free tier with core CRM features
  • +Seamless integration between marketing and sales tools
  • +Extensive third-party app marketplace with 1,000+ integrations

Cons

  • -Can become expensive as you add more features
  • -Learning curve for advanced automation features

Verdict

HubSpot is ideal if you need more than just a CRM and want to build a complete inbound marketing and sales machine. The free tier makes it perfect for testing before committing to paid features.

#2

Salesforce

Best For: Large enterprises with complex sales processes

Salesforce is the undisputed leader in enterprise CRM solutions, offering unmatched customization and scalability. While it may seem overkill for smaller teams, its AI-powered Einstein features and extensive automation capabilities make it a powerful Close alternative for larger organizations. Salesforce's strength lies in its ability to handle complex sales processes and provide deep insights through advanced analytics. The platform can be tailored to virtually any business model or industry requirement.

Pricing: Starting at $25 per user per month, with enterprise plans reaching $300+ per user

Key Features

  • Advanced workflow automation
  • AI-powered lead scoring
  • Custom object creation
  • Territory management
  • Advanced analytics and forecasting

Pros

  • +Highly customizable to fit any business process
  • +Powerful AI features for sales intelligence
  • +Extensive ecosystem of third-party applications

Cons

  • -Steep learning curve and complex setup process
  • -Expensive, especially for smaller teams

Verdict

Choose Salesforce if you're an enterprise with complex sales processes and need maximum customization. The investment in training and setup pays off for organizations that fully utilize its capabilities.

#3

Pipedrive

Best For: SMBs focused on pipeline visibility and deal management

Pipedrive earned its reputation by focusing on what salespeople actually need – a simple, visual way to manage their pipeline. Built by salespeople for salespeople, Pipedrive emphasizes ease of use without sacrificing powerful features. Its visual pipeline management makes it easy to see where deals stand at a glance, and its activity-based selling approach helps teams stay focused on the actions that drive results. The platform strikes an excellent balance between simplicity and functionality.

Pricing: $14.90 per user per month, with a 14-day free trial available

Key Features

  • Visual pipeline management
  • Activity-based selling approach
  • Email integration and tracking
  • Mobile app for on-the-go access
  • Customizable deal stages

Pros

  • +Intuitive interface with minimal learning curve
  • +Strong mobile app for field sales teams
  • +Excellent value for money with comprehensive features

Cons

  • -Limited marketing automation compared to competitors
  • -Reporting capabilities could be more advanced

Verdict

Pipedrive is perfect for sales teams that want a straightforward, effective CRM without complexity. Its focus on pipeline management makes it ideal for businesses with clear, defined sales processes.

#4

Attio

Best For: Modern startups and scale-ups that need flexibility

Attio represents the new generation of CRM tools, built with modern teams in mind. Its flexible, data-driven approach allows teams to build exactly the CRM they need without being constrained by rigid structures. Attio's strength lies in its ability to adapt to any workflow while maintaining clean, intuitive design principles. The platform excels at relationship mapping and provides powerful automation features that rival much more expensive solutions.

Pricing: Free plan available, paid plans start at $29 per user per month

Key Features

  • Flexible data modeling
  • Relationship intelligence
  • Advanced automation workflows
  • Beautiful, modern interface
  • Real-time collaboration features

Pros

  • +Highly flexible and customizable without complexity
  • +Modern, intuitive user interface
  • +Strong automation capabilities for the price point

Cons

  • -Newer platform with smaller user community
  • -May lack some enterprise-grade features

Verdict

Attio is ideal for forward-thinking teams that want a modern CRM experience with the flexibility to adapt as they grow. Its combination of power and simplicity makes it a strong Close alternative for startups.

#5

Folk

Best For: Relationship-focused businesses and consultative sales teams

Folk takes a unique approach to CRM by focusing on relationship building rather than just transaction tracking. This philosophy makes it particularly appealing to businesses where long-term relationships drive success. Folk's AI-powered features help automate data entry and provide insights about contacts, while its simple interface ensures team adoption won't be a challenge. The platform excels at consolidating multi-channel communication data into one organized system.

Pricing: Free tier available, paid plans start at $20 per user per month

Key Features

  • AI-powered contact enrichment
  • Multi-channel communication tracking
  • Relationship mapping
  • Automated data entry
  • Simple, clean interface

Pros

  • +Focus on relationship building over transaction processing
  • +AI features reduce manual data entry significantly
  • +Affordable pricing with generous free tier

Cons

  • -Less suitable for high-volume transactional sales
  • -Limited advanced reporting features

Verdict

Choose Folk if your business relies on building strong, long-term relationships with prospects and customers. Its relationship-centric approach makes it ideal for consultative sales environments.

#6

Freshsales

Best For: SMBs wanting AI features without enterprise pricing

Freshsales combines affordability with AI-powered intelligence, making advanced CRM features accessible to smaller teams. As part of the Freshworks suite, it offers excellent integration with customer service and marketing tools. The platform's AI capabilities help with lead scoring, deal insights, and predictive analytics, features typically found in much more expensive solutions. Freshsales strikes a good balance between ease of use and powerful functionality.

Pricing: Free plan available, paid plans start at $15 per user per month

Key Features

  • AI-powered lead scoring
  • Built-in phone and email
  • Visual sales pipeline
  • Workflow automation
  • Mobile CRM app

Pros

  • +AI features at an affordable price point
  • +Good integration with other Freshworks products
  • +Strong free tier for small teams

Cons

  • -Interface can feel cluttered with many features
  • -Customization options are somewhat limited

Verdict

Freshsales works well for SMBs that want to leverage AI for sales insights without paying enterprise prices. It's particularly valuable if you're already using other Freshworks products.

Frequently Asked Questions about close alternatives

Close CRM is specifically designed for inside sales teams and excels at built-in calling, email, and SMS functionality. However, you might need an alternative if you require more advanced marketing automation, need a more affordable solution, want better integration with specific tools, or need features like visual pipeline management that other CRMs handle better. Some teams also find Close's pricing structure expensive as they scale, or they may need more customization options than Close provides.

For startups and small teams (1-10 people), consider Folk, Attio, or HubSpot's free tier for their simplicity and cost-effectiveness. Growing SMBs (10-50 people) often benefit from Pipedrive or Freshsales for their balance of features and pricing. Larger SMBs (50-200 people) might prefer HubSpot's paid plans or Freshsales for scalability. Enterprise teams (200+ people) should seriously consider Salesforce for its advanced customization and enterprise features, despite the higher cost and complexity.

HubSpot offers exceptional value with its free tier that includes unlimited contacts and basic CRM features. For paid options, Pipedrive at $14.90 per user provides excellent pipeline management features. Folk at $20 per user offers good value for relationship-focused sales. Freshsales provides AI-powered features starting at $15 per user. The best value depends on your specific needs – evaluate based on which features are most critical for your sales process rather than just the lowest price.

Yes, most CRM providers offer migration tools or services to help transfer your data from Close. HubSpot provides free migration services and has extensive documentation for importing from various CRMs. Salesforce offers data migration tools and professional services. Pipedrive, Attio, Folk, and Freshsales all support CSV imports and many provide migration assistance. Before switching, export your Close data (contacts, deals, activities) and test the import process with a small dataset to ensure everything transfers correctly.

Conclusion

Selecting the right Close alternative depends on your specific business needs, team size, and growth plans. HubSpot emerges as the top choice for most businesses due to its comprehensive feature set and generous free tier, making it suitable for companies that want to align marketing and sales efforts. Salesforce remains the gold standard for large enterprises requiring maximum customization, while Pipedrive offers the best balance of simplicity and effectiveness for SMBs focused on pipeline management.

For modern startups seeking flexibility, Attio provides innovative features with a contemporary approach to CRM. Folk stands out for relationship-focused businesses, and Freshsales offers AI-powered insights at an accessible price point. Remember that the best CRM is the one your team will actually use consistently. Consider starting with free trials to test user adoption and ensure the platform fits your workflow before making a long-term commitment. Take time to evaluate not just current needs, but also where your business will be in 12-24 months to choose a solution that can grow with you.

Need Help Implementing These Tools?

RevAlign builds GTM flywheels for B2B startups. We integrate your tools into one system where every channel compounds.

Get StartedLearn About GTM Flywheel