Comparisons
Close vs HubSpot: Which CRM Should You Choose?
Quick answer: Close is the better fit for lean, high-velocity sales teams that live on calls and email, while HubSpot is the better fit for teams that want marketing, sales, and service tools bundled into one platform.
Close vs HubSpot at a glance
| Close | HubSpot | |
|---|---|---|
| Core focus | Sales calling and email sequences | Marketing, sales, and service combined |
| Best for | Lean, high-velocity sales teams | Teams wanting marketing + CRM unified |
| Free tier | No | Yes, genuinely usable |
| Built-in calling | Yes, core feature | Available, less central |
| Learning curve | Medium | Low to medium, more if using multiple hubs |
Choose Close if...
Your sales process runs mostly through calls and email follow-up, and you want those tools built into the CRM itself rather than connected via integrations. Close's interface is optimized for reps who spend most of their day dialing and sending sequences, with speed as a first-class design goal.
Choose HubSpot if...
You want a single platform that covers marketing, sales, and customer service, or you're not ready to commit budget to a paid CRM yet. HubSpot's free tier is a real starting point, and its ecosystem of connected hubs means you're not stuck re-platforming later if you add marketing automation or a help desk.
Pricing philosophy
Close prices around sales seats with no free tier, reflecting its focus on dedicated sales users. HubSpot uses a freemium model across separate "hubs" (marketing, sales, service), which keeps entry cost low but can add up as you attach more hubs and grow your contact count — check both providers' current pricing pages before deciding, since list prices shift over time.
Pricing (entry-level plans)
| CRM | Starting price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Close | Solo $9 · Essentials $35 · Growth $99 · Scale $139 | Per user/month. Free 14-day trial, no credit card required. |
| HubSpot | Free $0 · Starter from ~$15–20 · Professional/Enterprise Suite bundles from ~$1,000+/mo | HubSpot prices per "Hub" (Marketing/Sales/Service/etc.) and by contact tier, so the total varies a lot by what you bundle. |
Prices above are current as of writing and shown for the entry-level tiers — always confirm the latest numbers on each provider's pricing page before buying, since SaaS pricing changes often.
“HubSpot charges both per seat AND per contacts in your database, so the bill grows in two directions at once.”
Try Close if you sell by phone
Try HubSpot for an all-in-one platform
Frequently asked questions
Is Close or HubSpot better for small teams?
It depends on workflow: Close and HubSpot both work for small teams, but they differ in setup speed, pricing structure, and built-in features — see the comparison table above for the specifics that matter most for a small team.
Can I switch from Close to HubSpot later?
Yes. Both Close and HubSpot support CSV import/export and most competitors provide migration guides or support to help move contacts, deals, and pipeline stages.
Which one is cheaper?
Pricing changes often on both sides, so check each provider's current pricing page for exact numbers before deciding — this guide focuses on fit rather than fixed prices, since list prices shift throughout the year.