Close vs HubSpot: Which CRM Wins in 2024?

Close vs HubSpot: Which CRM Wins in 2024?

Updated May 18, 20261,221 words5 tools compared

Choosing between Close and HubSpot can make or break your sales strategy. Both platforms promise to streamline your customer relationship management, but they cater to vastly different business needs and budgets. Close positions itself as the go-to CRM for inside sales teams, offering built-in calling and AI automation starting at $49 per user monthly. Meanwhile, HubSpot attracts businesses with its freemium model and comprehensive marketing, sales, and service tools that scale from free to enterprise-level pricing.

The decision isn't just about features—it's about finding the right fit for your team's workflow, budget, and growth trajectory. Startups often gravitate toward Close's specialized sales focus, while growing companies appreciate HubSpot's all-in-one ecosystem. This comprehensive comparison examines seven top CRM alternatives, diving deep into pricing, features, and real-world performance to help you make the smartest choice for your business.

Quick Comparison

ProductBest ForStarting PriceRatingKey Feature
HubSpotSMB to EnterpriseFree4.4/5All-in-one platform
CloseInside Sales Teams$49/user/mo4.6/5Built-in calling & SMS
SalesforceEnterprise$25/user/mo4.3/5AI-powered automation
PipedriveSmall Businesses$14.90/user/mo4.5/5Visual pipeline
AttioStartupsFree4.7/5Flexible customization
FolkRelationship BuildingFree4.8/5AI-powered simplicity
FreshsalesHigh-velocity TeamsFree4.4/5AI lead scoring

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: Small to medium businesses seeking an all-in-one growth platform with marketing automation

HubSpot stands as the most comprehensive CRM platform, offering marketing, sales, customer service, and content management tools in one ecosystem. Its freemium model attracts startups, while enterprise features scale with growing businesses. The platform excels at inbound marketing automation and provides extensive integrations that connect every aspect of customer engagement.

Pricing: Free tier available, paid plans start at $45/month per user with advanced features scaling to enterprise pricing

Key Features

  • Marketing automation
  • Lead nurturing workflows
  • Content management system
  • Email marketing tools
  • Social media management

Pros

  • +Extensive free tier with core CRM functionality
  • +Seamless integration between marketing and sales tools
  • +Outstanding educational resources and community support

Cons

  • -Can become expensive as you add more features and users
  • -Steeper learning curve for advanced marketing features

Verdict

HubSpot wins for businesses prioritizing inbound marketing and comprehensive customer engagement. Its ecosystem approach makes it ideal for companies wanting unified marketing and sales operations.

#2

Close

Best For: Inside sales teams and startups focused on phone-based selling and outbound prospecting

Close specializes in inside sales with built-in calling, email, and SMS capabilities that eliminate the need for multiple tools. Its AI-powered automation handles follow-ups and context capture, making it particularly effective for sales teams focused on outbound prospecting and phone-based selling. The platform prioritizes simplicity without sacrificing powerful sales features.

Pricing: $49 per user monthly with 14-day free trial, includes calling, email, and SMS functionality

Key Features

  • Built-in VoIP calling
  • Email and SMS integration
  • AI follow-up automation
  • Call recording and analytics
  • Pipeline management

Pros

  • +All communication tools integrated in one platform
  • +Excellent call quality and reliability
  • +Strong automation features for follow-ups

Cons

  • -Higher starting price compared to basic CRM options
  • -Limited marketing automation capabilities

Verdict

Close excels for sales-focused teams that rely heavily on phone communication. Its integrated approach eliminates tool switching and streamlines the sales process effectively.

#3

Salesforce

Best For: Large enterprises with complex sales processes and extensive customization requirements

Salesforce dominates the enterprise CRM space with its comprehensive AI-powered platform that handles complex sales processes and extensive customization needs. The platform's strength lies in its scalability and deep integration capabilities, making it suitable for large organizations with complex sales workflows and multiple departments requiring CRM functionality.

Pricing: Starting at $25 per user monthly, with multiple tiers scaling to enterprise-level pricing and features

Key Features

  • AI-powered lead scoring
  • Advanced workflow automation
  • Extensive customization options
  • Enterprise-grade security
  • AppExchange marketplace

Pros

  • +Highly customizable for complex business needs
  • +Extensive third-party integrations and apps
  • +Strong reporting and analytics capabilities

Cons

  • -Complex setup and administration requirements
  • -Can be overwhelming for smaller teams

Verdict

Salesforce suits enterprises needing maximum customization and scalability. However, smaller businesses may find it overly complex for their straightforward CRM needs.

#4

Pipedrive

Best For: Small to medium businesses seeking straightforward pipeline management and ease of use

Pipedrive focuses on visual pipeline management with an intuitive interface designed by salespeople for salespeople. Its strength lies in simplicity and ease of use, making it accessible for small businesses and teams new to CRM systems. The platform emphasizes deal tracking and sales activity management without overwhelming users with complex features.

Pricing: Starting at $14.90 per user monthly with 14-day free trial, multiple tiers available for growing needs

Key Features

  • Visual sales pipeline
  • Activity reminders
  • Email integration
  • Sales reporting
  • Mobile app access

Pros

  • +Intuitive interface that's easy to learn
  • +Affordable pricing for small businesses
  • +Strong focus on sales pipeline visualization

Cons

  • -Limited marketing automation features
  • -Fewer advanced customization options

Verdict

Pipedrive works best for small businesses wanting straightforward CRM functionality without complexity. Its visual approach makes sales tracking intuitive and actionable.

#5

Attio

Best For: Startups and growing businesses requiring flexible CRM customization and modern interface design

Attio brings flexibility to CRM with its data-driven approach that adapts to unique business workflows. The platform allows extensive customization while maintaining user-friendly design, making it particularly appealing to startups and growing businesses that need CRM functionality tailored to their specific processes rather than forcing adoption of rigid structures.

Pricing: Free tier available, paid plans start at $29 per user monthly with advanced customization features

Key Features

  • Flexible data modeling
  • Custom workflow creation
  • Modern user interface
  • Integration capabilities
  • Team collaboration tools

Pros

  • +High degree of customization without technical complexity
  • +Modern, intuitive interface design
  • +Strong data management capabilities

Cons

  • -Newer platform with smaller user community
  • -May require time to set up custom workflows

Verdict

Attio appeals to businesses wanting CRM flexibility without technical overhead. Its modern approach suits teams that value customization and clean design.

Frequently Asked Questions about close vs hubspot

For startups, the choice depends on your primary focus. HubSpot offers a comprehensive free tier that includes basic CRM functionality, making it budget-friendly for early-stage companies. However, Close provides superior value for sales-focused startups that rely heavily on phone outreach and need integrated calling capabilities. HubSpot wins if you need marketing automation and content management, while Close excels for pure sales execution with built-in communication tools that eliminate the need for separate phone systems.

HubSpot starts with a robust free tier and scales to $45/month per user for paid features, while Close begins at $49/month per user with no free option. However, Close includes built-in calling, email, and SMS in its base price, which could cost extra with HubSpot through third-party integrations. HubSpot becomes more expensive as you add marketing automation and advanced features, potentially reaching hundreds per month per user. Close maintains more predictable pricing focused on sales functionality.

HubSpot provides extensive integration options with over 1,000 apps in its marketplace, covering marketing tools, social media platforms, and business applications. Its ecosystem approach means many integrations are native and deeply connected. Close focuses on sales-specific integrations and offers solid API access but has a smaller integration library. HubSpot wins for comprehensive business tool connectivity, while Close provides targeted integrations for sales workflows. Consider your specific tool stack when evaluating integration needs.

Both platforms work well for small businesses but serve different needs. HubSpot's free tier makes it accessible for budget-conscious small businesses, and its educational resources help teams learn CRM best practices. Close suits small businesses with dedicated sales teams that make frequent calls and need streamlined communication tools. Small businesses should choose HubSpot for comprehensive marketing and customer management, or Close for focused sales execution. Both offer scalability as businesses grow, though in different directions.

Conclusion

The Close vs HubSpot decision ultimately comes down to your business priorities and growth strategy. HubSpot excels as a comprehensive platform for businesses seeking integrated marketing, sales, and customer service capabilities. Its freemium model and extensive educational resources make it particularly attractive for growing companies building their first CRM system. The platform's strength lies in its ability to nurture leads through complex buyer journeys while maintaining unified customer data across all touchpoints.

Close dominates in specialized sales environments where phone communication drives revenue. Its integrated calling, email, and SMS capabilities eliminate tool switching while AI automation handles routine follow-ups. For inside sales teams and businesses focused on outbound prospecting, Close offers superior functionality without the complexity of broader marketing platforms. Consider your team's primary activities, budget constraints, and growth trajectory when making this critical decision. Both platforms offer free trials, so testing each with your actual workflows provides the clearest path to the right choice.

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