What is the difference between Salesforce and Close?

Salesforce is best for Enterprises that need a highly customizable CRM with complex workflows, while Close is best for Inside sales teams wanting built-in calling and email. Salesforce starts at $25/user/mo and Close starts at $49/user/mo.

Salesforce vs Close

Salesforce is Enterprise CRM platform with extensive customization, automation, and app ecosystem, while Close is CRM built for inside sales with built-in calling, email sequences, and pipeline management. Salesforce comes in cheaper, but price alone does not tell the full story. Salesforce is built for enterprises that need a highly customizable crm with complex workflows, whereas Close targets inside sales teams wanting built-in calling and email.

At a glance

	Salesforce	Close
Best for	Enterprises that need a highly customizable CRM with complex workflows	Inside sales teams wanting built-in calling and email
Starting price	$25/user/mo	$49/user/mo
Free tier	—	—
Open source	—	—
Free tier available	—	—
Open source	—	—
AI Einstein	✓	—
AppExchange	✓	—
Automations	✓	—
Built-in Calling	—	✓
Custom Objects	✓	—
Email Sequences	—	✓
Pipeline	—	✓
Power Dialer	—	✓
Reporting	✓	—

Salesforce

Strengths

Most customizable CRM on the market
Massive app marketplace (AppExchange)
Handles complex enterprise sales processes
Industry-leading AI features (Einstein)

Weaknesses

Expensive — costs spiral with add-ons
Requires dedicated admin or consultant
Steep learning curve
Interface feels dated compared to modern tools

Try Salesforce → Full review

Close

Strengths

Includes Built-in Calling as a core feature, purpose-built for crm workflows
Includes Email Sequences as a core feature, purpose-built for crm workflows
Pricing starts at $49/user/mo, which includes the full crm feature set
Established product with 13+ years on the market and a mature ecosystem

Weaknesses

Starts at $49/user/mo — on the expensive side, especially for small teams or solo users
Fewer built-in features means you may need additional tools to cover gaps
Data entry overhead can slow down reps who just want to sell
Limited team/admin features if your organization eventually scales up

Try Close → Full review

The bottom line

Pricing: Salesforce starts at $25/user/mo. Close starts at $49/user/mo. Salesforce is the more affordable option.

Feature gaps: Salesforce offers AI Einstein, AppExchange and Automations that Close lacks. Close brings Built-in Calling, Email Sequences and Pipeline that Salesforce does not have.

Team fit: Salesforce is geared toward enterprise teams, while Close is aimed at small teams teams. Pick the one that matches where your team is today and where it is headed — migrating tools later is always painful.

Where each tool shines: Salesforce's biggest strengths are: most customizable crm on the market. massive app marketplace (appexchange). Close's biggest strengths are: includes built-in calling as a core feature, purpose-built for crm workflows. includes email sequences as a core feature, purpose-built for crm workflows.

Watch out for: With Salesforce, users commonly note that expensive — costs spiral with add-ons. With Close, the main complaint is that starts at $49/user/mo — on the expensive side, especially for small teams or solo users.

Choose Salesforce if...

You need a tool built for enterprises that need a highly customizable crm with complex workflows
You want to save on per-user costs — Salesforce is $24.00/user/mo cheaper
You specifically need AI Einstein and AppExchange
You care about massive app marketplace (appexchange)
Your team size fits the enterprise profile Salesforce is designed for

Choose Close if...

You need a tool built for inside sales teams wanting built-in calling and email
You specifically need Built-in Calling and Email Sequences
You care about includes email sequences as a core feature, purpose-built for crm workflows
Your team size fits the small teams profile Close is designed for