Close vs Pipedrive: CRM Software Compared (2026)
Close and Pipedrive are both popular CRMs for small and mid-size sales teams, built on different beliefs about how sales works.
- Verified 27 Oct 2026Sources are dated on this page
- 7 sourcesLinked, typed and dated
- No winner declaredFit depends on your criteria
- Not tested by Stack18Editorial summary of documented facts
Close CRM vs Pipedrive: the short answer
Close and Pipedrive are both popular CRMs for small and mid-size sales teams, built on different beliefs about how sales works. Close is an outbound-focused CRM with calling, SMS and email built in, sold per user in Solo, Essentials, Growth and Scale plans. Pipedrive is a pipeline-first CRM sold per seat in Lite, Growth, Premium and Ultimate plans, with calling and outreach as add-ons.
The sources reviewed describe the choice as outbound execution against pipeline clarity. Close is described as the stronger tool for teams that dial, text and run sequences all day, with its sticker price higher but calling included. Pipedrive is described as cheaper and easier to set up, with a clean visual pipeline, but with extras billed separately.
We compare what independent 2026 sources and Close's own pricing support and mark the rest Unknown. Close's blog is vendor-authored, EngageBay sells a competing CRM, and Close's plan structure was restructured in 2026, so older guides show different plan names. No winner is declared.
Choose Close CRM if you- Outbound teams that dial, text and run sequences all day
- Founders and inside sales teams that want calling, SMS and CRM in one tool
- Teams that want AI qualification and calling included in the subscription
Choose Pipedrive if you- Teams that want a clean visual pipeline at the lowest price
- Sales teams that do not rely on calling and SMS
- Teams happy to add outreach and marketing as optional add-ons
Close CRM and Pipedrive at a glance.
One card per product, drawn from each full profile. Open a profile for features, pricing plans, limits and sources.
Close CRM
Close · CRM Software
Close is a sales CRM for founders and small to mid-sized inside sales teams that builds calling, SMS, email and workflow automation into the lead record, and includes Chloe, an AI sales agent, on every plan.
- Pricing
- No free plan; Solo from $9 per user per month billed annually ($19 billed monthly).
- Best for
- Founders and small outbound sales teams that live on the phone and email
Pipedrive
Pipedrive · CRM Software
Pipedrive is a sales CRM built around customisable deal pipelines, sold per user per month in four plans: Lite, Growth, Premium and Ultimate.
- Pricing
- No permanent free plan; plans reported from $14 per seat per month billed annually (Lite).
- Best for
- Small sales teams that want a pipeline-first CRM
Close CRM vs Pipedrive: feature-by-feature comparison.
Every row is drawn from the sources listed below. Rows that differ are marked, and you can filter the table to show only those.
- YesDocumented
- PartialAvailable with limits or on some plans
- NoDocumented as unavailable
- UnknownNot documented in the sources reviewed
| Dimension |  Close CRM |  Pipedrive |
|---|---|---|
| Product | ||
| Core approach | YesOutbound-focused CRM with built-in calling, SMS and email in one inbox. | YesPipeline-first CRM with a clean visual interface; outreach and marketing through add-ons. |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | NoNo free plan; a 14-day trial is reported. | NoNo permanent free plan; a 14-day trial is available. |
| Entry paid price (annual) | YesSolo at $9 per user per month for one user only; Essentials at $35 for teams. | YesLite at $14 per seat per month billed annually; $24 billed monthly. |
| Mid-tier price (annual) | YesGrowth at $99 per user per month; $109 billed monthly. | YesGrowth at $39 and Premium at $59 per seat per month billed annually. |
| Top tier (annual) | YesScale at $139 per user per month; custom pricing above. | YesUltimate at $79 per seat per month billed annually. |
| Calling | ||
| Built-in calling and SMSDiffers | YesCalling and SMS included, billed by usage, on every plan; power dialer on Growth and predictive dialing on Scale. | PartialCalling is described as a separate add-on or integration; native SMS is limited. |
| Automation | ||
| Workflows and sequences | PartialEmail sequences on all plans; workflows from Growth. | PartialNo automations on Lite; automations and sequences begin on Growth. |
| AI | ||
| AI agentDiffers | YesChloe AI agent for voice calling, qualification and meeting booking, reported generally available from 9 June 2026 in the US and Canada, with monthly AI credits by plan. | PartialAI Sales Assistant with deal insights and email suggestions on Growth and above; a native MCP server is mentioned in one listing. |
| Pipeline | ||
| Pipeline flexibilityDiffers | PartialPipelines arrive on Essentials; described as less visual. | YesDescribed as having a superior visual pipeline with unlimited customisable pipelines. |
| Add-ons | ||
| Extras billed separately | PartialCalling and some AI use carry usage-based charges. | PartialCampaigns, LeadBooster, documents and top-up packs are priced separately. |
| Ease of use | ||
| Learning curve | YesDescribed as easy to use for outbound reps. | YesDescribed as intuitive, with minimal setup. |
| Security | ||
| Compliance claimsDiffers | PartialOne directory reports SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001 and GDPR; confirm with Close. | UnknownCertifications were not reviewed in the sources reviewed. |
Close CRM vs Pipedrive pricing.
Close CRM pricing
Per user per month by plan (Solo, Essentials, Growth, Scale, plus custom), billed annually or monthly. Calling and some AI usage may carry usage-based charges.
- Solo$9 per user per month billed annually; $19 billed monthly
- Essentials$35 per user per month billed annually; $49 billed monthly
- Growth$99 per user per month billed annually; $109 billed monthly
- Scale$139 per user per month billed annually; $149 billed monthly
- CustomCustom pricing
Prices from a vendor-published source. Checked 17 Oct 2026.
All Close CRM plans and sources
Pipedrive pricing
Per seat per month by plan (Lite, Growth, Premium, Ultimate), with optional add-ons. Prices vary by region.
- Lite$14 per seat per month billed annually; about $24 billed monthly
- Growth$39 per seat per month billed annually
- Premium$59 per seat per month billed annually; $79 billed monthly
- Ultimate$79 per seat per month billed annually
Figures reported consistently by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
All Pipedrive plans and sourcesPipedrive is cheaper at list price, but the two bill for different things. Our arithmetic on reported annual prices for 5 users gives about $840 a year on Pipedrive Lite ($14 x 5 x 12), $2,340 on Growth ($39 x 5 x 12) and $3,540 on Premium ($59 x 5 x 12), against $2,100 on Close Essentials ($35 x 5 x 12) and $5,940 on Growth ($99 x 5 x 12). For 10 users the figures are $4,680 and $7,080 for Pipedrive Growth and Premium against $4,200 and $11,880 for Close Essentials and Growth. Close's Solo plan is limited to one user.
Calling changes the maths. Close includes calling and SMS on every plan, billed by usage, while one guide reports Pipedrive's calling and automation as separate paid add-ons that can make its total higher for outbound-heavy teams. A team that does not dial or text will find Pipedrive the cheaper fit.
Close restructured plans in 2026, so older guides show names such as Startup or Professional at different prices. Confirm current terms and usage-based calling rates with both vendors.
Prices and plans change. Confirm current terms with each vendor before you decide.
Close CRM vs Pipedrive: implementation, ecosystem, AI and security.
Ease of implementation and usability
We did not test setup or migration for either product. Guides describe both as easy to learn, with Pipedrive quick for pipeline tracking and Close quick for teams that live on the phone. Close's blog describes a free migration path from Pipedrive, which is a vendor claim we did not test.
Integrations and ecosystem
One directory reports 100+ Close integrations, and a comparison table shows Slack, Mailchimp and Google Workspace on both products. Integration depth was not independently verified for either, so check the specific tools you use.
AI capabilities
Close's Chloe agent handles voice calling, lead qualification and meeting booking, with AI credits by plan. Pipedrive lists an AI Sales Assistant with deal insights and email suggestions, and one listing mentions a native MCP server. Vendor claims about AI performance were not independently verified, so test both on your own leads.
Security, deployment and administration
One directory reports Close holds SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 and is GDPR compliant. Pipedrive reports enforced two-factor authentication on Lite and security rules on Ultimate. We did not review certifications or data residency, so request current security documentation from both vendors.
Close CRM and Pipedrive: each option, in balance.
Close CRM
Strengths and limitations from the profile
- Calling, SMS and email are built into the CRM, so teams avoid paying for and connecting separate dialer and texting tools.
- Pricing is published per user at every tier, from $9 on annual Solo to $139 on annual Scale.
- Every plan includes Chloe and a monthly AI credit allowance, so AI features can be tested without a separate subscription.
- A REST API, webhooks and an MCP server are documented, which suits teams that want to extend or automate their stack.
- Independent reviews describe a focused feature set for inside sales, including power and predictive dialers.
- There is no free plan, only a trial and a $9 annual Solo plan limited to one user.
- Workflows are only available on Growth and Scale, which are $99 and $139 per user per month billed annually.
- Calling, SMS and some AI tools can carry separate usage-based charges that affect budgeting.
- Chloe is currently English-only, and one review flags calling reliability reports from some users.
- Per-user pricing means every added rep adds a full subscription, and extra organisations cost more.
Pipedrive
Strengths and limitations from the profile
- Per-seat pricing based on users rather than contact volume makes costs predictable for stable teams.
- The entry plan covers customisable pipelines and deal tracking at a reported low per-seat price.
- A clear four-plan ladder makes it easy to see where automations and forecasting begin.
- There is no permanent free plan, only a trial.
- Automations are reported to need the Growth plan or above, so the cheapest plan lacks them.
- Add-ons such as Campaigns and LeadBooster are priced separately and can raise the total cost.
- Per-seat pricing means the bill rises with every user added, and geo-pricing makes published figures differ by region.
Close CRM or Pipedrive: which fits which situation?
No overall winner is declared. The better choice depends on the criteria that matter most to you, so test both against your own requirements.
Choose Close CRM if you…
- Outbound teams that dial, text and run sequences all day
- Founders and inside sales teams that want calling, SMS and CRM in one tool
- Teams that want AI qualification and calling included in the subscription
Choose Pipedrive if you…
- Teams that want a clean visual pipeline at the lowest price
- Sales teams that do not rely on calling and SMS
- Teams happy to add outreach and marketing as optional add-ons
Switching between Close CRM and Pipedrive.
Moving between Close and Pipedrive means exporting leads, contacts, opportunities and activity, mapping custom fields, and rebuilding sequences and automations. Call recordings and SMS history may not transfer. Run one team through a full sales cycle on the new CRM before retiring the old one.
- Export a sample of your data and test an import into the other product.
- List the automations, integrations and permissions you would need to rebuild.
- Pilot with one team before a full cut-over.
- Check contract terms and notice periods with both vendors.
General guidance, not specific to either vendor. Confirm migration options with the vendors.
Close CRM vs Pipedrive: questions and answers
Is Close or Pipedrive cheaper?
Pipedrive is cheaper at list price: $14 for Lite against $35 for Close Essentials per user per month, billed annually. Close includes calling and SMS, billed by usage, while Pipedrive sells outreach as add-ons.
Does Close have a free plan?
No. Close offers a 14-day trial, and its Solo plan starts at $9 per user per month for one user. Pipedrive also has no permanent free plan.
Does Pipedrive have built-in calling?
Guides describe Pipedrive's calling as an add-on or integration, while Close includes calling and SMS on every plan, billed by usage.
Which has better AI?
Close's Chloe agent handles voice calling and qualification, while Pipedrive's assistant gives deal insights and email suggestions. Quality was not tested here.
Which is easier to use?
Both are described as easy to use. Pipedrive is praised for its visual pipeline and Close for outbound workflow.
Which is better for outbound sales?
Guides favour Close for high-volume outbound with built-in calling and sequences, and Pipedrive for pipeline-driven deal tracking.
Did Close change its plans in 2026?
Yes. Close restructured plans into Solo, Essentials, Growth and Scale, so older guides show different names and prices.
Where this comparison comes from.
- Close plans and pricing Close Official Accessed 17 Oct 2026 Plan prices, AI credit allowances and plan inclusions are taken from Close's own plans page.
- Close vs Pipedrive in 2026: The Honest Head-to-Head for SMB Sales (vendor blog) Close Official Accessed 27 Oct 2026
- Pipedrive vs Close CRM (2026): Pricing, AI Features & Best Choice (EngageBay sells a competing CRM) EngageBay Third-party Accessed 27 Oct 2026
- Pipedrive vs Close 2026 Hack’celeration Third-party Accessed 27 Oct 2026
- Pipedrive vs Close CRM: Which Is Better for Outbound in 2026? LeadHaste Third-party Accessed 27 Oct 2026
- Close vs Pipedrive: Which CRM Fits Your Team? (2026) Prospeo Third-party Accessed 27 Oct 2026
- HubSpot vs Pipedrive in 2026: Prices, Seat Maths and When Neither Is the Answer Apexure (a CRM build agency) Third-party Accessed 27 Oct 2026
Comparison rows summarise the sources listed and the two profiles. Confirm current details with each vendor. Stack18 has not tested either product. One or both profiles are secondary-source profiles: vendor pages were not reviewed directly, so verify figures with the vendors.
Ready to test Close CRM and Pipedrive?
Check each vendor's current pricing and terms, run both against a real scenario from your business, or talk to Stack18 if off-the-shelf software is not the answer.
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