Sales-focused CRM with built-in calling, SMS, and email for inside sales
Close is a CRM built exclusively for inside sales teams, combining pipeline management, built-in VoIP calling, SMS, email sequences, and call coaching in a single platform. Unlike general-purpose CRMs, every feature in Close is designed to reduce the time sales reps spend on admin and increase time on actual selling.
Close is a strong fit if its core strengths match your workflow, budget, and support needs. Use the quick signals below before opening the full review.
Close was built in 2013 by a team that had experienced the frustration of using general-purpose CRMs for inside sales work: tools designed for all workflows, and therefore optimal for none of them. Close's founding premise was that a CRM for sales reps should be organised entirely around the activities that generate revenue — calls, emails, and follow-up — with everything else reduced to minimum friction.
Close's communication layer is its defining feature. The built-in VoIP system includes: local presence dialling (showing a number in the prospect's area code to improve answer rates), a power dialler that automatically queues the next lead when a call ends, a predictive dialler that initiates multiple simultaneous calls and connects the rep to the first answered call, call recording with automatic CRM logging, and voicemail drop (leaving a pre-recorded voicemail with one click without waiting for the beep).
For teams making 50–200 calls per day, these tools are not nice-to-haves — they are the difference between a rep making 40 dials and 80 dials in the same time. The power dialler alone typically increases daily call volume by 40–60% compared to manual dialling, which directly impacts pipeline throughput.
Close's live call monitoring allows managers to join any active call in three modes: listen-only (manager hears the call without any parties knowing), whisper (manager speaks to the rep without the prospect hearing), and barge (manager joins the call as a participant). For new rep onboarding and performance management, this real-time coaching capability compresses the feedback loop from weekly call review sessions to in-the-moment guidance.
Close's Smart Views replace the manual pipeline management that consumes sales rep attention in traditional CRMs. A Smart View is a dynamic lead queue filtered by any combination of criteria: leads that have not been contacted in 7 days, opportunities over $10k that are due to close this month, accounts that opened an email in the last 48 hours. Smart Views surface the right leads at the right time without requiring reps to manually triage their own pipeline — a significant reduction in decision fatigue.
Close Sequences automate multi-channel follow-up across calls, emails, and SMS. A sequence might define: Day 1 call attempt, Day 2 email, Day 4 call attempt with voicemail drop, Day 7 SMS, Day 10 follow-up email. When a prospect responds at any point, they exit the sequence automatically. For SDR teams running outbound campaigns, this automation creates consistent follow-up across hundreds of leads without manual tracking.
Close's deliberate narrow focus is also its main limitation for teams with broader needs. There is no marketing automation, no customer support ticketing, no project management, and no complex approval workflows. Close is a sales tool. Companies that need these adjacent capabilities must integrate external tools or choose a broader platform like HubSpot or Zoho CRM.
Pricing is above average for the category. The Startup plan at $49/user/month is the entry point. Professional at $99/user/month and Enterprise at custom pricing put Close in the premium tier. Teams choosing between Close and Pipedrive ($14/user/month) are paying a 3x premium for Close's calling infrastructure.
Close is the best CRM for inside sales teams whose primary workflow is phone-based outreach. Its calling infrastructure, power dialler, and Smart View system are purpose-built in a way that general CRMs are not. Teams whose sales process is primarily meeting-based or primarily email-based will find the premium difficult to justify.
Score: 8.0/10 — Best-in-class for high-volume inside sales; premium price and narrow scope limit suitability beyond the core use case.
$49/mo
$588/mo billed annually
$99/mo
$1,188/mo billed annually
$139/mo
$1,668/mo billed annually
Close is best for Inside sales teams making 50–200 calls per day who need power dialling, call recording, and pipeline management in one interface, Startup and growth-stage B2B sales teams wanting a tool built entirely around sales rep productivity rather than CRM feature breadth, Sales managers who need live call monitoring, rep leaderboards, and activity tracking to coach distributed teams.
No. Close does not currently list a permanent free plan in ToolRankr data.
Paid plans start at $49/mo.
Close is reviewed using ToolRankr's scoring model for ease of use, value, features, support, and overall quality. Affiliate links may earn a commission, but sponsored labels do not change editorial scoring.
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