Freshsales vs Close
Short version: Freshsales is the better fit for SMBs that want an easy, affordable CRM with built-in AI and phone, while Close is built for SMB inside-sales teams that want calling and email inside the CRM.
Freshsales
Freshworks' sales CRM with built-in AI
$9/mo
Free plan; paid from ~$9/seat/mo, AI on higher tiers
Close
CRM with calling & email built for closers
$9/mo
From ~$9/seat/mo annual (Solo); built-in calling, SMS, email
At a glance
| Spec | Freshsales | Close |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2017 | 2013 |
Feature comparison
Freshsales offers 10 of 11 tracked crm features; Close offers 10.
| Feature | Freshsales | Close |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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
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
Which should you choose?
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
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
The verdict
Both are solid crm tools. The best choice comes down to fit: Freshsales for SMBs that want an easy, affordable CRM with built-in AI and phone, and Close for SMB inside-sales teams that want calling and email inside the CRM.
Browse all tools →Frequently asked questions
Is Freshsales or Close cheaper?
Freshsales and Close 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, Freshsales or Close?
Neither is strictly better, they're built for different priorities. Freshsales is the stronger pick for SMBs that want an easy, affordable CRM with built-in AI and phone, while Close suits SMB inside-sales teams that want calling and email inside the CRM.
What's the main difference between Freshsales and Close?
Freshsales is beginner-friendly and budget-friendly, while Close is beginner-friendly and budget-friendly. On tracked crm features, Freshsales covers 10 and Close covers 10.