Close vs Aircall
Short version: Close is the better fit for SMB inside-sales teams that want calling and email inside the CRM, while Aircall is built for sales and support teams that want a CRM-native business phone system.
Close
CRM with calling & email built for closers
$9/mo
From ~$9/seat/mo annual (Solo); built-in calling, SMS, email
Aircall
Cloud phone system wired into your CRM
$30/mo
From ~$30/seat/mo (3-seat minimum); annual billing
At a glance
| Spec | Close | Aircall |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $9/mo | $30/mo |
| Budget tier | Budget-friendly | Mid-range |
| Complexity | Beginner-friendly | Beginner-friendly |
| Primary category | CRM | Phone System & Dialers |
| Integrations | 100+ | 100+ |
| Founded | 2013 | 2014 |
Feature comparison
Close offers 2 of 11 tracked phone system & dialers features; Aircall offers 9.
| Feature | Close | Aircall |
|---|---|---|
| Power / auto dialer | ||
| Parallel dialing | ||
| Local presence numbers | ||
| Call recording | ||
| Voicemail drop | ||
| IVR & call routing | ||
| SMS / texting | ||
| CRM integration | ||
| Free plan | ||
| API & webhooks | ||
| Priority / 24-7 support |
Close
Pros
- Built-in dialer, SMS, and email sequences
- Fast, activity-focused workflow
- Great for high-volume inside sales
Cons
- Less suited to complex enterprise process
- Fewer third-party integrations than Salesforce
- Reporting is solid but not deep
Aircall
Pros
- Fast setup and deep CRM/helpdesk integrations
- Automatic call logging and clean admin
- Power dialer, IVR, and SMS in one place
Cons
- 3-seat minimum and per-seat pricing add up
- Not built for high-volume parallel dialing
- Advanced analytics need higher tiers
Which should you choose?
Choose Close if…
- you want built-in dialer, SMS, and email sequences
- you want fast, activity-focused workflow
- you want great for high-volume inside sales
Choose Aircall if…
- you want fast setup and deep CRM/helpdesk integrations
- you want automatic call logging and clean admin
- you want power dialer, IVR, and SMS in one place
The verdict
Both are solid phone system & dialers tools. The best choice comes down to fit: Close for SMB inside-sales teams that want calling and email inside the CRM, and Aircall for sales and support teams that want a CRM-native business phone system.
Browse all tools →Frequently asked questions
Is Close or Aircall cheaper?
Close is the more affordable option ($9/mo versus $30/mo). The lower sticker price isn't always the better value, though, weigh the tier your team will actually land on and any add-ons.
Which is better, Close or Aircall?
Neither is strictly better, they're built for different priorities. Close is the stronger pick for SMB inside-sales teams that want calling and email inside the CRM, while Aircall suits sales and support teams that want a CRM-native business phone system.
What's the main difference between Close and Aircall?
Close is beginner-friendly and budget-friendly, while Aircall is beginner-friendly and mid-range. On tracked phone system & dialers features, Close covers 2 and Aircall covers 9.