What is Close?
Close is a sales CRM designed specifically for inside sales teams—the reps who live on the phone, in email, and in follow-ups all day. Unlike generic CRMs that force you to bolt on a dialer, email tool, and SMS app, Close combines calling, email, SMS, pipeline management, and reporting in one platform built for high-velocity outbound and inbound sales.
If your team is juggling a CRM, a phone system, an email sequencer, and spreadsheets to track activity, Close replaces that stack with a single inbox where every call, email, text, and note lives on the lead record. That means less context-switching, cleaner handoffs, and a clearer picture of what's actually moving deals forward.
🚀 Start Your 14-Day Free Trial of Close
Key Features That Make Close Stand Out
Unified Sales Inbox
All Communication in One Place: Calls, emails, SMS, and meeting notes are logged automatically on each lead and contact. Reps see the full conversation history without digging through separate tools.
Activity Timeline: Every touchpoint—outbound dials, opened emails, replies, voicemails, and tasks—appears on a single timeline so managers and reps always know what happened last.
Team Visibility: Shared inboxes and lead ownership rules help SDRs, AEs, and managers stay aligned without duplicate outreach or dropped follow-ups.
Built-In Calling (Power Dialer & Predictive Dialer)
Call Directly from Close: No separate VoIP app required. Reps click to call from any lead record, and calls are recorded and logged automatically.
Power Dialer: Burn through call lists efficiently with one-click dialing, local presence numbers, and automatic call logging—ideal for SDR teams running high-volume outbound.
Predictive Dialer: For larger teams, predictive dialing connects reps to live answers faster by dialing multiple numbers and routing only connected calls.
Call Recording & Coaching: Record calls for QA, onboarding, and coaching. Review what top performers say on winning calls and replicate it across the team.
Email Sequences & Templates
Automated Follow-Up: Build multi-step email sequences that send on a schedule, pause when a lead replies, and resume based on engagement—so no lead falls through the cracks.
Personalization at Scale: Use merge fields, snippets, and templates to personalize outreach without rewriting every email from scratch.
Open & Click Tracking: See who opened, clicked, or ignored your emails so reps prioritize the hottest leads.
SMS Messaging
Text from the CRM: Send and receive SMS directly in Close, with messages attached to the lead record like calls and emails.
Compliance-Friendly Workflows: Manage opt-outs and consent alongside your other outreach so SMS fits cleanly into your existing sales process.
Pipeline & Opportunity Management
Custom Pipelines: Create stages that match your sales process—whether you're running SMB outbound, enterprise cycles, or a hybrid model.
Deal Tracking: Track value, close dates, owners, and next steps on every opportunity. Drag-and-drop kanban views make pipeline reviews fast and visual.
Smart Views & Filters: Save filtered lists (e.g., "No activity in 7 days," "Opened email but no reply," "Demo scheduled this week") so reps always know who to work next.
Reporting & Dashboards
Activity Metrics: Track calls made, emails sent, meetings booked, and conversion rates by rep, team, or time period.
Pipeline Reports: Forecast revenue, spot bottlenecks in your funnel, and see win rates by stage or lead source.
Leaderboards: Motivate SDR and AE teams with transparent activity and results dashboards.
Integrations & Automation
Zapier & Native Integrations: Connect Close to Slack, Calendly, Stripe, and hundreds of other tools via Zapier and native integrations.
API Access: Build custom workflows or sync data with your product, billing, or marketing stack.
Workflows: Automate lead assignment, task creation, and status updates when leads take specific actions.
Close Pricing: What Does It Cost?
Close offers tiered plans based on team size and features. All paid plans include a 14-day free trial so you can test calling, sequences, and pipeline workflows with your real leads before committing.
Starter
Best for: Small teams getting started with a dedicated sales CRM
Typical features:
- Core CRM (leads, contacts, opportunities)
- Built-in calling and email
- Pipeline management
- Basic reporting
Basic
Best for: Growing SDR teams that need sequences and more automation
Typical features:
- Everything in Starter
- Email sequences
- SMS messaging
- Advanced reporting
- More integrations
Professional
Best for: Established inside sales orgs with power dialer and team workflows
Typical features:
- Everything in Basic
- Power dialer and predictive dialer options
- Custom roles and permissions
- Priority support
Enterprise
Best for: Larger sales organizations with custom requirements
Typical features:
- Custom onboarding and success support
- Advanced security and admin controls
- Dedicated account management
*Note: Pricing varies by seats and features. Check the Close website for current plans and your 14-day free trial.*
How to Use Close: Step-by-Step Guide
1. Sign Up and Start Your Free Trial
Go to Close and create your account. The 14-day trial gives you access to core CRM, calling, and email features so you can import real leads and test your workflow—not just click around an empty demo.
2. Set Up Your Workspace
Invite your team: Add SDRs, AEs, and managers with appropriate roles so everyone sees the leads and reports they need.
Configure pipelines: Create stages that match your sales process (e.g., New Lead → Contacted → Qualified → Demo → Proposal → Closed Won/Lost).
Connect email: Sync your work email so outbound and inbound messages log automatically on lead records.
Set up calling: Assign phone numbers (including local presence if needed) and verify your team can place and receive calls from Close.
3. Import or Create Leads
CSV import: Upload a spreadsheet of leads with company, contact, and custom fields.
Manual entry: Add leads one at a time for inbound or referral opportunities.
Integrations: Pull leads from web forms, ads, or other tools via Zapier or native integrations.
Lead assignment: Use rules or manual assignment so every new lead has an owner from day one.
4. Run Outbound with Calling & Email
Build a Smart View: Filter leads who haven't been contacted in X days or match your ICP criteria.
Start calling: Use the built-in dialer from the lead list or individual records. Log outcomes (connected, voicemail, wrong number) as you go.
Launch sequences: Enroll leads in email sequences for nurture or follow-up after calls. Sequences pause when someone replies.
Send SMS when appropriate: Follow up with a short text after a voicemail or to confirm a meeting time—all from the same inbox.
5. Manage Your Pipeline
Convert qualified leads to opportunities: Move deals into your pipeline with value, expected close date, and next step.
Update stages daily: Reps should drag deals forward (or mark lost) so forecasts stay accurate.
Use tasks & reminders: Schedule follow-ups, demo prep, and contract reviews so nothing slips.
6. Review Performance
Check activity dashboards: Managers monitor calls, emails, and meetings by rep to coach consistently.
Run pipeline reports: Identify stages where deals stall and fix process or messaging.
Iterate on sequences: A/B test subject lines and steps based on open, reply, and meeting-booked rates.
Who Should Use Close?
Perfect for:
✓ Inside sales & SDR teams running high-volume outbound
✓ SMB and mid-market B2B companies selling via phone and email
✓ Teams tired of CRM + dialer + sequencer stacks that don't talk to each other
✓ Sales managers who need activity visibility and pipeline forecasting in one place
✓ Startups scaling sales from spreadsheets to a proper CRM without enterprise complexity
Maybe not ideal for:
✗ Field sales teams who rarely use phone/email from a desk (though mobile access exists)
✗ Marketing-only teams that don't need calling or pipeline management
✗ Enterprises that require heavy custom ERP-style CRM customization out of the box
Close vs. Competitors
Close vs. HubSpot Sales Hub: HubSpot is strong for marketing + CRM breadth; Close is optimized for inside sales velocity—built-in dialer, sequences, and SMS without stacking add-ons.
Close vs. Salesforce: Salesforce is highly customizable at enterprise scale; Close is faster to deploy for phone-heavy teams who want calling and email native on day one.
Close vs. Pipedrive: Pipedrive excels at visual pipeline management; Close adds deeper calling, power dialer, and unified communication for outbound-heavy workflows.
Close vs. Capsule CRM: Capsule focuses on simplicity for small businesses; Close targets active sales teams running daily outbound and multi-touch sequences.
Pros and Cons
What Users Love
✓ All-in-one sales inbox — Calls, email, SMS, and notes on one lead record
✓ Built for inside sales — Dialer and sequences included, not bolted on
✓ Fast setup — Most teams are calling and emailing within a day
✓ Activity transparency — Managers see exactly what reps are doing
✓ 14-day free trial — Test with real leads before paying
✓ Clean UI — Less clutter than legacy enterprise CRMs
Common Considerations
✗ Pricing scales with seats — Larger teams should model cost per rep
✗ Learning curve for sequences — Worth spending time on templates and automation rules upfront
✗ Best for phone/email motion — Less tailored to purely inbound or ecommerce use cases
Real-World Use Cases
SDR Outbound Teams
SDRs import a target list, enroll prospects in a call + email sequence, and work Smart Views daily to book meetings for AEs—all without leaving Close.
Inbound Lead Follow-Up
Marketing sends form fills into Close via integration; reps get instant tasks to call within minutes while the lead is hot.
Account Executive Pipeline Management
AEs manage opportunities from demo to close, with full history of every SDR touch visible on the record for smooth handoffs.
Sales Manager Coaching
Managers review call recordings, compare activity metrics, and adjust sequences based on what's booking meetings.
Is Close Worth It?
Close is worth it if you:
- Run inside sales with significant phone and email volume
- Want one tool instead of CRM + dialer + email automation
- Need clear activity and pipeline reporting for your team
- Are ready to invest in a CRM built for sales execution, not just contact storage
- Want to try before you buy with a 14-day free trial
Bottom Line
Close is a purpose-built sales CRM for teams that sell by phone, email, and SMS. By combining dialing, sequences, pipeline management, and reporting in one platform, it removes the friction of juggling multiple sales tools and gives managers the visibility they need to coach and forecast effectively.
If your team lives in outbound and follow-up—and you're tired of leads slipping through the gaps between disconnected apps—Close is worth a serious look. Start your 14-day free trial, import a batch of real leads, and run your actual sales motion before you decide.
🚀 Start Your 14-Day Free Trial of Close
Important Disclaimers
Please read these important legal disclaimers carefully:
Affiliate Disclosure: BetterAiBots.com has an affiliate relationship with Close. This means we may receive compensation if you sign up for Close through links in this article. While we strive to provide honest, unbiased reviews, readers should be aware that we have a financial incentive when you choose to use this service. This review is based on publicly available information and our analysis, but our affiliate relationship may influence our perspective.
Independent Review: The views, opinions, and assessments expressed in this article are those of the author and do not constitute an endorsement or recommendation from Close or any affiliated organizations. Readers should conduct their own research and due diligence before making any purchasing decisions.
No Guarantees: Results described in this article, including specific outcomes and metrics, are examples for illustrative purposes. Individual results will vary based on numerous factors including team size, sales process, industry, and usage patterns. Past performance and example outcomes do not guarantee future results.
Pricing & Features: Close pricing, features, and trial terms may change. Always verify current plans and terms on the official Close website before signing up.
Third-Party Information: Some information in this article comes from third-party sources and public statements. While we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee the completeness or accuracy of all third-party information. Readers should verify critical information independently.