Side-by-Side Pricing
| Plan | Pipedrive | Close |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | Lite $14/seat/mo ($168/yr) — 3,000 deals, 30 custom fields | Solo $19/seat/mo ($108/yr) — 1 user only, basic CRM |
| Growth | Growth $39/seat/mo ($348/yr) — Automations, email sync, scheduler | Essentials $49/seat/mo ($420/yr) — Power Dialer, email + calendar sync |
| Pro | Premium $49/seat/mo ($588/yr) — Advanced reporting, revenue forecasts | Growth $109/seat/mo ($1,188/yr) — Multiple pipelines, workflows, call recording |
| Top tier | Ultimate $99/seat/mo ($948/yr) — Unlimited everything, security alerts | Scale $149/seat/mo ($1,668/yr) — Predictive Dialer, custom objects |
Pipedrive is 65–70% cheaper at comparable tiers. Close includes built-in calling and SMS that Pipedrive requires add-ons for. The price gap reflects Close's integrated communication tools.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Pipedrive | Close |
|---|---|---|
| Visual pipeline | Core strength — drag-and-drop | Yes, but less visual focus |
| Built-in calling | Add-on (LeadBooster) | Power Dialer + Predictive Dialer (native) |
| SMS | Not built-in | Built-in SMS messaging |
| Email sequences | Campaigns add-on | Built-in email sequences |
| Free tier | No (14-day trial) | No (14-day trial) |
| Integrations | 400+ marketplace apps | Fewer native, relies on Zapier |
| Call recording | Via integrations | Built-in (Growth+) |
| Ideal sales motion | Relationship-driven, field sales | High-volume inside sales, outbound |
Decision Framework
Choose Pipedrive if:
- ✓Visual pipeline management is your primary need
- ✓Budget is a concern ($14/seat vs $49/seat)
- ✓You do relationship-based or field sales
- ✓You need broad integrations via marketplace
Choose Close if:
- ✓Your team makes 50+ calls per day
- ✓You need CRM + phone + email + SMS in one tool
- ✓You're an inside sales team at a startup/SMB
- ✓Speed of outreach matters more than pipeline visualization
What Pipedrive Does Better
Visual deal management. Pipedrive's drag-and-drop pipeline is the most intuitive in the CRM market. Seeing all deals across stages at a glance gives sales managers immediate visibility.
Price-to-value. At $14/seat/mo (Lite) to $39/seat/mo (Growth), Pipedrive delivers solid CRM functionality at a fraction of Close's cost. For teams that don't need built-in calling, the savings are significant.
What Close Does Better
Outreach velocity. Close's Power Dialer automatically calls the next lead when you hang up. Predictive Dialer (Scale plan) dials multiple numbers simultaneously and connects you when someone answers. This is purpose-built for high-volume outbound teams.
All-in-one communication. Email, calling, SMS, and CRM in one tool with no switching between apps. Every interaction is automatically logged. Pipedrive requires separate tools for calling and SMS.
Annual Cost at Three Team Sizes
| Team | Pipedrive (Growth) | Close (Essentials) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 reps | $1,044/yr | $1,260/yr |
| 10 reps | $3,480/yr | $4,200/yr |
| 25 reps | $8,700/yr | $10,500/yr |
Close's higher price includes built-in calling and SMS. If you add calling software to Pipedrive ($30–50/user/mo), the total cost difference narrows significantly.
Migration Between the Two
Pipedrive to Close
Effort: Low to medium. Close imports CSV data from Pipedrive. Contacts, deals, and notes transfer. What breaks: Pipedrive automations, marketplace app connections, and email sync configuration.
Close to Pipedrive
Effort: Low to medium. CSV export from Close, import to Pipedrive. What breaks: Call recordings (exportable but won't live in Pipedrive), email sequences, and SMS history. You'll need to find replacement calling tools.
Common Mistakes When Choosing
Choosing Close without a phone-heavy sales process
Close's premium is justified by its built-in calling. If your team primarily sells via email and meetings (not cold calls), you're paying for features you won't use. Pipedrive at $14–39/seat is the better value.
Not considering HubSpot Free as a starting point
HubSpot Free Tools costs $0 and covers basic CRM needs. For teams just starting with CRM, it's worth trying before committing to Pipedrive or Close's paid plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Close have a free plan?
No. Close starts at $19/seat/mo (Solo, 1 user only). Essentials at $49/seat/mo is the first plan for teams. Both come with 14-day free trials.
Can Pipedrive do cold calling?
Not natively. Pipedrive offers the LeadBooster add-on and integrates with calling tools like JustCall, Aircall, and RingCentral. But these are separate costs ($25–50/user/mo) on top of Pipedrive.
Which is better for a 3-person sales team?
If your team does significant phone outreach, Close Essentials ($1,260/yr for 3) is worth the premium. If your sales is primarily email and meeting-based, Pipedrive Growth ($1,044/yr for 3) saves money with strong pipeline management.
What about Freshsales as an alternative?
Freshsales at $11/seat/mo includes built-in phone and AI lead scoring at a fraction of Close's price. It's a strong middle ground for teams wanting some calling features without Close's price tag.
Which has better reporting?
Pipedrive has stronger visual reporting dashboards with revenue forecasts (Premium+). Close has solid reporting focused on activity metrics (calls made, emails sent, response rates) that matter more for outbound sales teams.
Explore Further on Sasanova
Comparisons