Close vs HubSpot CRM — Which One Wins?
Pick Close if: Inside sales teams that live on the phone and want calling built directly into their CRM
Pick HubSpot CRM if: Growing companies that want a free CRM now and a full marketing/sales suite later
Our take: Close is easier to pick up, but HubSpot CRM is more powerful long-term.
| Close | HubSpot CRM | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Startup $49/user/mo | Free CRM with unlimited users and up to 1M contacts | Starter $15/mo/seat |
| Features | Built-in calling and SMS, Email sequences, Pipeline and activity reporting, Smart Views for filtering, Predictive dialer | Contact and deal management, Email tracking and templates, Meeting scheduler, Marketing hub integration, Reporting dashboards |
| Best for | Inside sales teams that live on the phone and want calling built directly into their CRM | Growing companies that want a free CRM now and a full marketing/sales suite later |
| Learning Curve | Easy | Medium |
The Real Difference
HubSpot CRM has a free plan; Close doesn't. Budget-conscious? That's your answer.
Close stands out with Built-in calling and SMS and Pipeline and activity reporting. HubSpot CRM counters with Contact and deal management and Meeting scheduler.
Close's Achilles heel: no free plan and expensive entry point — $49/user/mo is steep for early-stage startups. HubSpot CRM's: the jump from free to paid is steep — professional tier locks in annual contracts and costs add up with add-ons. Pick whichever weakness you can live with.
Bottom Line
If you value built-in calling and sms and inside sales teams that, go with Close. If growing companies that want matters more, HubSpot CRM is your pick. Neither is a bad choice — but one will fit your workflow better.