Close vs Freshsales
Short version: Close is the better fit for SMB inside-sales teams that want calling and email inside the CRM, while Freshsales is built for SMBs that want an easy, affordable CRM with built-in AI and phone.
Close
CRM with calling & email built for closers
$9/mo
From ~$9/seat/mo annual (Solo); built-in calling, SMS, email
Freshsales
Freshworks' sales CRM with built-in AI
$9/mo
Free plan; paid from ~$9/seat/mo, AI on higher tiers
At a glance
| Spec | Close | Freshsales |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $9/mo | $9/mo |
| Budget tier | Budget-friendly | Budget-friendly |
| Complexity | Beginner-friendly | Beginner-friendly |
| Primary category | CRM | CRM |
| Integrations | 100+ | 100+ |
| Founded | 2013 | 2017 |
Feature comparison
Close offers 10 of 11 tracked crm features; Freshsales offers 10.
| Feature | Close | Freshsales |
|---|---|---|
| Visual pipeline management | ||
| Contact & company records | ||
| Email sync & tracking | ||
| Workflow automation | ||
| Reporting & dashboards | ||
| Built-in dialer | ||
| Sales forecasting | ||
| Mobile app | ||
| 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
Freshsales
Pros
- Clean UI with built-in phone and email
- Freddy AI lead scoring and insights
- Generous free plan
Cons
- AI value depends on data volume
- Deeper customization needs higher tiers
- Smaller ecosystem than Salesforce
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 Freshsales if…
- you want clean UI with built-in phone and email
- you want freddy AI lead scoring and insights
- you want generous free plan
The verdict
Both are solid crm tools. The best choice comes down to fit: Close for SMB inside-sales teams that want calling and email inside the CRM, and Freshsales for SMBs that want an easy, affordable CRM with built-in AI and phone.
Browse all tools →Frequently asked questions
Is Close or Freshsales cheaper?
Close and Freshsales sit in a similar price range ($9/mo and $9/mo), so the decision usually comes down to features and fit rather than price.
Which is better, Close or Freshsales?
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 Freshsales suits SMBs that want an easy, affordable CRM with built-in AI and phone.
What's the main difference between Close and Freshsales?
Close is beginner-friendly and budget-friendly, while Freshsales is beginner-friendly and budget-friendly. On tracked crm features, Close covers 10 and Freshsales covers 10.