Alternatives
Salesloft Alternatives
Quick answer: Close is the best all-in-one alternative to Salesloft for lean sales teams, combining calling and sequences with pipeline in a single CRM at a fraction of the setup and cost.
Why teams look for Salesloft alternatives
Salesloft is a sales engagement platform built for larger sales orgs running structured cadences across big teams, and its pricing and implementation effort reflect that. Smaller teams and lean sales orgs often find it more infrastructure than they need — a lot of admin overhead to configure cadences, seats priced for enterprise budgets, and a platform designed to sit alongside a separate CRM rather than replace one. For teams that don't need that much machinery, a single CRM that handles both pipeline and outreach can cover the same ground with far less setup. It's worth saying plainly that Salesloft's cadence engine and dialer are deep, purpose-built tools — for teams that specifically need enterprise-grade sequencing at scale, a dedicated sales engagement platform is still the more direct alternative. But for teams that want to fold outreach into a simpler, single system, the CRMs below are the more practical move.
Salesloft alternatives at a glance
| CRM | Best for | Learning curve | Starting price tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Close | Calling and sequences built into one CRM | Medium | Mid |
| HubSpot | Sales tools plus marketing in one platform | Low–Medium | Free tier available |
| Pipedrive | Lightweight pipeline for smaller sales teams | Low | Budget |
| ActiveCampaign | Automated follow-up sequences with a CRM attached | Medium | Mid |
1. Close — best all-in-one alternative
Close is built around the same core job Salesloft does — getting reps through calls and email sequences efficiently — but as a single CRM rather than a layer that sits on top of one. For a smaller team, that means one login, one price, and one place where outreach and deal history live together.
Pros
- Built-in dialer, SMS, and multi-step email sequences
- Pipeline and outreach activity in one system, no integration needed
- Priced and scaled for smaller sales teams, not enterprise orgs
Cons
- Cadence/sequence engine is less deep than Salesloft's at very large scale
- No free tier
2. HubSpot — best if you want marketing folded in too
Teams that want sequencing and calling without a separate engagement tool, plus marketing alignment on top, can get all three from HubSpot's connected hubs. It's a heavier platform than Close, but the free CRM tier makes it easy to start small and add sales tools as needed.
Pros
- Free CRM tier plus sequences and calling in Sales Hub
- Marketing and sales data connected in one system
- Large ecosystem of integrations
Cons
- Costs can climb quickly once you add paid hubs and contacts
- More setup complexity than a single-purpose sales tool
3. Pipedrive — best lightweight pipeline pairing
For teams that want to keep sequencing simple rather than replicate Salesloft's cadence depth, Pipedrive's pipeline plus its lighter email and activity tracking can cover a smaller team's outreach needs without much overhead.
Pros
- Simple, fast pipeline setup
- Reasonably priced entry tiers
- Low admin overhead compared to enterprise engagement platforms
Cons
- Sequencing and cadence tools are more basic than Salesloft's
- No native calling as deep as Close's
Other solid options
ActiveCampaign is a reasonable fit if your outreach leans more on automated email sequences than live calling — its automation builder can substitute for a good chunk of Salesloft's cadence functionality, with a CRM layer included for the resulting pipeline.
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. |
| Pipedrive | Lite $14 · Growth $39 · Premium $59 · Ultimate $79 | Per seat/month, billed annually (monthly billing costs more). 14-day free trial. |
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 feels great until you need one specific automation feature or cross a random contact threshold, and suddenly the bill goes from zero to terrifying.”
How to choose
If your team is smaller than the enterprise sales orgs Salesloft is built for, consolidating into one CRM that also handles calling and sequences — like Close — usually means less admin work and a lower bill than running a separate engagement platform. Only stick with a dedicated engagement tool if your cadence complexity genuinely requires it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best CRM overall for this use case?
Close is our top overall pick for this use case, based on ease of setup, pricing, and fit for typical workflows — though the right choice depends on team size and budget, covered in the sections above.
Do I need a paid CRM, or is a free plan enough?
A free plan is usually enough for a single user or a very small team just getting started. Growing teams typically outgrow free tiers once they need automation, reporting, or more than a couple of users.
How long does it take to set up a CRM?
Simple CRMs can be set up in under an hour. More full-featured platforms with custom pipelines, automations, and integrations typically take a few days to a few weeks to configure properly.