Salesforce
Salesforce Inc.
4.5
Overall Score / 10
Close
Close Inc.
7.4
Overall Score / 10
Our Verdict
Choose Salesforce if:
- —Large enterprises needing maximum CRM customization
- —Organizations requiring a massive app ecosystem (AppExchange)
- —Companies with complex sales processes and large teams
Choose Close if:
- —Inside sales teams at startups and SMBs
- —Teams that want calling, email, and CRM in one tool
- —Sales organizations focused on high-volume outreach
The biggest difference: Salesforce is the enterprise CRM standard with infinite customization via Apex and 4,000+ AppExchange apps starting at $25/seat/mo. Close at $59/seat/mo is purpose-built for inside sales with native calling, SMS, and email — no add-ons needed.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Criteria | Salesforce | Close |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest Paid Plan | $25/mo (Starter Suite)Source: Salesforce Inc. pricing page → | $19/mo (Solo)Source: Close Inc. pricing page → |
| Free Tier | No | No |
| Value for Money | 4 | 7 |
| Ease of Use | 3 | 8 |
| Feature Power | 10 | 7 |
| Setup Ease | 2 | 8 |
| Migration Ease | 2 | 6 |
| Transparency | 3 | 8 |
| Deployment | cloud | cloud |
| API Available | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web |
| Compliance | SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA, FedRAMP | SOC 2 Type II, GDPR |
Feature Comparison
Feature Comparison Matrix
21 features compared · 20 differences
| Feature | Salesforce | Close |
|---|---|---|
| Core | ||
| AppExchange marketplace | Full | None |
| Built-in calling (Power Dialer, Predictive Dialer) | None | Full |
| Call coaching (Enterprise) | None | Full |
| CPQ (Configure-Price-Quote) | Full | None |
| Lead and opportunity management | Full | None |
| Mobile app | Full | None |
| Pipeline management | None | Full |
| Sales forecasting | Full | None |
| Smart Views | None | Full |
| SMS messaging | None | Full |
| Task management | None | Full |
| Territory management | Full | None |
| Advanced | ||
| Custom activities | None | Full |
| Custom objects and fields | Full | None |
| Einstein AI | Full | None |
| Email sequences | None | Full |
| Reporting | None | Full |
| Reports and dashboards | Full | None |
| Workflow automation | Full | None |
| Workflows | None | Full |
| Integrations | ||
| API Access | Full | Full |
Pricing Comparison
Salesforce Pricing
Basic CRM features, lead/contact/opportunity management, email integration
Complete CRM, forecasting, quotes, custom dashboards
Advanced customization, workflow automation, API access
Unlimited customization, 24/7 support, sandbox, Einstein AI
Close Pricing
1 user only, basic CRM features
Leads, contacts, opportunities, email & calendar sync, Power Dialer (3 users max)
Multiple pipelines, custom activities, workflows, call recording
Predictive Dialer, custom objects, custom roles, call coaching
Who Should Choose Which?
Who should choose Salesforce
Best for
- Large enterprises needing maximum CRM customization
- Organizations requiring a massive app ecosystem (AppExchange)
- Companies with complex sales processes and large teams
Avoid if
- You're a small business on a budget
- You want simple, quick setup without a consultant
- You need a lightweight CRM for a small sales team
Who should choose Close
Best for
- Inside sales teams at startups and SMBs
- Teams that want calling, email, and CRM in one tool
- Sales organizations focused on high-volume outreach
Avoid if
- You need a free CRM tier
- You need marketing automation features
- You have complex enterprise deal cycles
Switching Guidance
Switching from Salesforce
Common triggers to leave:
- •Cost for small/mid-size teams
- •Complexity and admin overhead
- •Need for Salesforce-certified consultants
Potential blockers:
- •Deep customizations (Apex, Flows, custom objects)
- •AppExchange integrations
- •Years of sales data and reporting
Switching from Close
Common triggers to leave:
- •Need marketing automation
- •Need free tier
- •Need field sales features
Potential blockers:
- •Built-in dialer setup
- •Email sequence history
- •Call recordings
Try Salesforce
Plans from $25/mo
Try Close
Plans from $19/mo