Alternatives
Zendesk Sell Alternatives
Quick answer: Close is the strongest Zendesk Sell alternative for calling-heavy sales teams, Pipedrive wins on pipeline simplicity, and Zoho makes sense if you're already invested in the wider Zoho app ecosystem.
Why teams look for Zendesk Sell alternatives
Zendesk Sell is often adopted because a company already uses Zendesk for support and wants sales in the same ecosystem, not because it was chosen on its own merits as a sales tool. That can leave sales teams with a CRM whose roadmap takes a back seat to the support product, thinner native calling and sequencing than dedicated sales CRMs, and an admin experience that feels bolted onto a help-desk platform rather than built for pipeline management. Teams that sell independently of their support stack are usually the ones looking to switch.
Zendesk Sell alternatives at a glance
| CRM | Best for | Learning curve | Starting price tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Close | Calling and email-heavy sales teams | Medium | Mid |
| Pipedrive | Simple, visual deal pipeline | Low | Budget |
| HubSpot | Free tier with room to add marketing/service | Low–Medium | Free tier available |
| Zoho CRM | Budget-conscious teams already using Zoho apps | Medium | Budget |
| Nutshell | Small teams that want responsive support | Low | Budget |
1. Close — best for phone- and email-driven sales
If the appeal of Zendesk Sell was having calling built into the CRM, Close does that same job with a sharper focus on sales, not support ticketing. Calling, SMS, and multi-step email sequences are core features rather than add-ons, and the interface is built to keep reps moving through call lists quickly.
Pros
- Native dialer and sequencing built for sales-only teams
- Fast, keyboard-friendly workflow for high call volume
- Reporting focused entirely on sales activity and pipeline
Cons
- No dedicated help-desk or ticketing features
- No free tier
2. Pipedrive — best for a simple, visual pipeline
Pipedrive strips sales down to a drag-and-drop board of deals moving through stages, which is a more transparent view of pipeline health than Zendesk Sell's ticket-adjacent layout offers. For a rep or manager who mainly wants to see what's stuck and why, that clarity is the whole draw.
Pros
- Minimal onboarding time for new reps
- Clear visual pipeline reduces deals falling through the cracks
- Reasonably priced entry tiers
Cons
- Customer support/ticketing isn't part of the product
- Advanced automation requires higher-priced tiers
3. HubSpot — best if you still want support tools nearby
Teams that liked having sales and support under one company, even if not one product, can replicate that with HubSpot's connected Sales and Service Hubs. The free CRM tier is a real starting point, and adding a service hub later is a subscription change rather than a full replatform.
Pros
- Free tier covers core CRM and pipeline needs
- Service Hub available if you still want support tools connected
- Large integration ecosystem
Cons
- Costs rise quickly once you add paid hubs and contacts
- More setup surface area than a single-purpose sales CRM
Other solid options
Zoho CRM is a strong pick if your company already runs other Zoho apps for finance, support (Zoho Desk), or email — the CRM plugs into that existing ecosystem at a budget-friendly price. Nutshell is worth a look if what you valued about Zendesk was responsive, human support during onboarding and beyond, since it's built specifically for small sales teams and consistently praised for that.
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. |
| Pipedrive | Lite $14 · Growth $39 · Premium $59 · Ultimate $79 | Per seat/month, billed annually (monthly billing costs more). 14-day free trial. |
| 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. |
| Zoho CRM | Standard €14 · Professional €23 · Enterprise €40 · Ultimate €52 | Per user/month (EUR pricing shown; check your region for local currency). |
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.
“They won't ask you for your firstborn, and it was developed as a CRM first, as opposed to HubSpot, which was originally a marketing platform.”
How to choose
Decide first whether you actually need support/ticketing tools connected to your CRM, or whether that was just a byproduct of already using Zendesk elsewhere. If sales stands alone, a purpose-built sales CRM like Close or Pipedrive will feel lighter day to day than any tool still carrying help-desk DNA.
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.