Best Close Alternatives (2026)
Close is purpose-built for phone-heavy sales teams. If your motion is email-first or you need marketing tools, these alternatives cover more ground.
The most common complaints about Close include more expensive than pipedrive, less useful for non-phone-heavy teams, smaller integration ecosystem. These aren't minor gripes. They're the kind of friction that pushes teams to evaluate other options after months of trying to make it work.
Close scores 8.0/10 in our review, which means it's a solid tool for its target audience. But if you're not in that target audience (Inside sales teams running high-volume outbound), you'll feel the gaps quickly.
HubSpot CRM
The best free CRM on the market. Generous free tier, intuitive UI, and a massive ecosystem. The paid tiers get expensive fast, but the free ...
Free / $20/moThe best free CRM on the market. Generous free tier, intuitive UI, and a massive ecosystem. The paid tiers get expensive fast, but the free version alone beats most paid competitors. It's built for smbs who want a crm they can start using today without paying a dime. Key strengths: best free tier in the crm market and incredibly intuitive interface.
Pipedrive
A CRM built by salespeople, for salespeople. The visual pipeline is the best in the business. Lacks the depth of HubSpot or Salesforce, but ...
$14/user/moA CRM built by salespeople, for salespeople. The visual pipeline is the best in the business. Lacks the depth of HubSpot or Salesforce, but that simplicity is the whole point. It's built for small sales teams (2-20 reps) who want a pipeline-focused crm. Key strengths: best visual pipeline in the market and clean, focused interface.
Freshsales
Part of the Freshworks suite. Solid mid-range CRM with decent AI features. Good value if you already use Freshdesk or Freshchat, but nothing...
Free / $9/user/moPart of the Freshworks suite. Solid mid-range CRM with decent AI features. Good value if you already use Freshdesk or Freshchat, but nothing that stands out on its own. It's built for teams already using freshworks products. Key strengths: affordable entry point and built-in phone and email.
Apollo.io
The best value in B2B sales tools. Period. A contact database of 275M+ profiles, email sequencing, dialer, and LinkedIn integration, all sta...
$49/user/moThe best value in B2B sales tools. Period. A contact database of 275M+ profiles, email sequencing, dialer, and LinkedIn integration, all starting at $49/user/mo. Apollo took the ZoomInfo + Outreach bundle and made it affordable. The data quality isn't ZoomInfo-level, but for most SMBs, it's good enough. It's built for smbs and startups wanting prospecting data + engagement in one affordable platform. Key strengths: 275m+ contact database included and full engagement suite (email, phone, linkedin).
SalesLoft
Outreach's main competitor, now merged with Clari. Strong sequencing and coaching features, slightly more intuitive than Outreach. The Clari...
$75/user/moOutreach's main competitor, now merged with Clari. Strong sequencing and coaching features, slightly more intuitive than Outreach. The Clari merger adds forecasting but introduces uncertainty about product direction. A solid platform navigating a complex transition. It's built for sales teams wanting engagement + forecasting in one platform. Key strengths: more intuitive ui than outreach and strong coaching and analytics.
Nutshell
A straightforward CRM that does the basics well. Email marketing, pipeline tracking, and contact management in one tool. Lacks the power fea...
$16/user/moA straightforward CRM that does the basics well. Email marketing, pipeline tracking, and contact management in one tool. Lacks the power features of larger competitors. It's built for very small teams wanting crm + email marketing in one simple tool. Key strengths: simple and quick to set up and built-in email marketing.
Quick Comparison
| Tool | Starting Price | Best For | Key Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HubSpot CRM | Free / $20/mo | SMBs who want a CRM they can start using today without pa... | Paid tiers get expensive quickly |
| Pipedrive | $14/user/mo | Small sales teams (2-20 reps) who want a pipeline-focused... | Marketing features are basic |
| Freshsales | Free / $9/user/mo | Teams already using Freshworks products | AI features overpromised vs. delivered |
| Apollo.io | $49/user/mo | SMBs and startups wanting prospecting data + engagement i... | Data quality below ZoomInfo |
| SalesLoft | $75/user/mo | Sales teams wanting engagement + forecasting in one platform | Post-merger product direction is uncertain |
| Nutshell | $16/user/mo | Very small teams wanting CRM + email marketing in one sim... | Limited customization |
The Bottom Line
If you're leaving Close, HubSpot CRM is the strongest overall replacement. It scores 8.9/10 and starts at Free / $20/mo. Pipedrive is a close second, especially if you're looking for small sales teams (2-20 reps) who want a pipeline-focused crm. Don't just pick the highest-scored option though. Match the tool to your workflow, your team size, and your budget. The best Close alternative is the one that solves the specific problem that made you start looking in the first place.
What is the best Close alternative in 2026?
The Sultan's top pick is HubSpot CRM (scored 8.9/10). It offers a strong feature set at a competitive price point starting at Free / $20/mo.
Why do people switch away from Close?
Common reasons include pricing changes, missing features for specific workflows, and team size constraints. Close scores 8.0/10 overall, which means there are clear areas where alternatives can outperform it.
Is it hard to migrate away from Close?
Most Close alternatives offer import tools or migration guides. Plan for 1-3 weeks depending on your data volume and the number of integrations you need to reconnect.