Comparing Close and Pipedrive

About Close

Close is a CRM built for small and mid-sized sales teams that need to make calls and send emails at scale. It combines contact management with built-in phone and SMS capabilities, including automated dialers that can call multiple prospects without manual intervention. The platform focuses on outbound sales workflows, letting teams set up email sequences and track deals through customizable pipelines.

Close connects with common business tools through direct integrations and APIs, though it's designed specifically for sales rather than broader marketing activities.

About Pipedrive

Pipedrive is a CRM that centers around visual pipeline management and deal tracking.
It offers email sync, automations, and AI features across plans that range from around $14 to $79 per user monthly, with additional modules like email marketing and lead capture available as add-ons.
The platform relies on a marketplace of apps for calling functionality rather than built-in telephony, and emphasizes extensibility through what they claim are hundreds of integrations.

Support varies by tier, with higher-priced plans getting around-the-clock chat support and phone callbacks.

What do users say?

We've used AI to analyze a number of reviews from third-party sites like G2, Reddit, and Capterra, and here's what the AI found:

Based on reviews, Close is praised for its intuitive, user-friendly interface and comprehensive communication tools, with users highlighting features like the auto-dialer, email templates, workflows, and the ability to consolidate calling, email, and SMS into one platform. Many reviewers appreciate how the streamlined design reduces complexity typically associated with CRM systems, allowing sales teams to focus more on selling activities and less on system management. However, some users note that the platform may require manual work and scripting.

Based on reviews, Pipedrive is consistently praised for its user-friendly interface and visual pipeline management system that makes it accessible even for non-technical users, with strong mobile functionality and reliable customer support. Users frequently highlight its effectiveness for small to medium-sized sales teams who value simplicity and straightforward CRM functionality, particularly noting the seamless email integration and intuitive setup process. However, some users indicate Pipedrive may have limitations in advanced reporting features and customization options compared to more comprehensive enterprise-level platforms.

Comparison

Close

Based on reviews, Close is recognized for its intuitive interface and comprehensive communication tools, with users frequently highlighting features like the auto-dialer, email templates, and the ability to consolidate calling, email, and SMS into one platform. However, some users note that the platform can require significant manual work and may present challenges in tracking deal progress compared to more advanced solutions.

Pipedrive

Based on reviews, Pipedrive is consistently praised for its user-friendly interface and visual pipeline management system that makes it accessible even for non-technical users, with strong mobile functionality and reliable customer support. However, some users indicate that while Pipedrive excels as a basic CRM solution, it may have limitations in advanced reporting features and customization options compared to more comprehensive platforms.

Built-in Calling

Close provides native VoIP calling with Power Dialer and Predictive Dialer options built directly into the CRM, eliminating the need for third-party calling solutions. Teams can make calls, log conversations, and access call recordings without switching between platforms. Pipedrive does not offer built-in VoIP calling for new customers and instead relies on marketplace apps or web-to-mobile functionality to place calls. This approach requires additional setup and often involves separate billing for calling features.

SMS Messaging

Close includes native SMS capabilities that integrate seamlessly with email sequences and calling workflows, allowing teams to create multi-channel outreach campaigns. The SMS feature shares the same contact database and activity timeline as other communication tools. Pipedrive does not provide built-in SMS functionality and requires third-party integrations from their marketplace to add text messaging capabilities. This adds complexity and potential additional costs for teams that need SMS outreach.

Email Automation

Close offers robust email sequence automation with triggers based on deal stages, contact activities, and time delays. The platform includes email templates, snippets, and the ability to create complex multi-step workflows that integrate with calling and SMS activities. Pipedrive provides email automation capabilities through their built-in tools and additional Campaigns add-on, allowing users to create sequences and track email performance. Their email features integrate well with their visual pipeline system for comprehensive lead nurturing.

Pipeline Management

Close includes customizable deal pipelines with Smart Views that allow teams to filter and organize opportunities based on various criteria. The platform supports multiple pipelines and provides sales reporting dashboards to track performance across different deal stages. Pipedrive is built around visual pipeline management as its core strength, offering intuitive drag-and-drop deal tracking with customizable stages. Their pipeline interface is particularly praised for its simplicity and effectiveness in helping teams visualize their sales process.

Mobile App

Close provides a mobile application that maintains full functionality for calling, texting, and email management on the go. The mobile app includes the same communication tools and pipeline access as the desktop version, ensuring teams can work effectively from any location. Pipedrive offers a highly-rated mobile app that provides access to pipeline management, deal tracking, and contact information. Users frequently praise the mobile experience for its intuitive design and reliable functionality across different devices.

API Access

Close provides an open REST API that allows for custom integrations and data synchronization with other business tools. The API supports comprehensive access to contacts, deals, activities, and communication data for teams that need custom workflows. Pipedrive offers API access along with their extensive marketplace of over 500 integrations. Their API and integration approach focuses on extensibility, allowing teams to connect with a wide variety of third-party applications and services.

Marketing Features

Close is designed specifically for sales teams and does not include built-in marketing automation features like lead scoring, landing pages, or comprehensive campaign management. The platform focuses on sales communication and deal closing rather than broader marketing activities. Pipedrive offers marketing capabilities through add-ons like Campaigns for email marketing and LeadBooster for lead capture and qualification. These features extend beyond basic CRM functionality to support broader revenue operations and marketing activities.

Conclusion

Close is ideal for SMB sales teams that prioritize high-volume outbound activities and need integrated calling, SMS, and email capabilities in a single platform. The solution works particularly well for inside sales teams, SDRs, and organizations that want to minimize complexity by avoiding multiple communication tools and their associated costs. Pipedrive serves teams that value visual pipeline management and prefer a modular approach with extensive third-party integrations. It's well-suited for businesses that need basic CRM functionality with the flexibility to add specialized tools through their marketplace, making it a solid choice for teams that don't require heavy calling capabilities or prefer to customize their tech stack incrementally.

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