Close CRM Alternatives (2026): 10 Tools Compared

Close describes itself on its own site as a CRM with a built-in AI teammate that calls leads, qualifies prospects, books meetings and keeps the CRM up to date, alongside email, calls and SMS in one inbox, a power dialer, workflows and reporting. It's built for sales teams who live on the phone, so alternatives need to suit that pace or offer something simpler.

Below are ten Close CRM alternatives in no particular order, sorted alphabetically. Each description comes from the tool's own website, re-checked today. If you'd like to tighten your process first, my piece on the importance of a sales pipeline is a quick read.

Close CRM alternatives at a glance

In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site describes a free plan or free self-hosted use. Trial only means a free trial with no ongoing free tier. No means the site states neither. Free plans usually limit users or contacts.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
Agile CRM	All-in-one CRM	Sales, marketing and service with a free tier	Yes
Attio	Modern CRM	Flexible records and a free plan	Yes
Copper	Google Workspace CRM	Selling from Gmail	Trial only
folk	Contact CRM	Relationship-led selling	Trial only
Gmelius	Gmail workspace	Shared inboxes and pipelines in Gmail	Trial only
Nutshell	Sales CRM	Pipeline with email marketing	Trial only
Pipeline CRM	Sales CRM	Visual deal tracking	Trial only
Salesflare	Automated CRM	Contacts captured from email and calendar	Trial only
Salesmate	Sales CRM	Calling, automation and ticketing	Trial only
Twenty	Open source CRM	Self-hosted, modern CRM	Yes

Ten sales CRMs to compare with Close

Agile CRM

Best for: Small teams who want a broad CRM with a free tier to begin with.

Attio

Best for: Start-ups who want a customisable CRM that adapts to how they sell.

Copper

Best for: Sales teams who live in Gmail and want the CRM alongside it.

folk

Best for: Small teams who sell through relationships and want a friendly contact CRM.

Gmelius

Best for: Teams who want shared inboxes and deal boards inside Gmail.

Nutshell

Best for: Small sales teams who want marketing emails alongside their pipeline.

Pipeline CRM

Best for: Sales teams who want a clear visual pipeline with simple reporting.

Salesflare

Best for: Busy sellers who want contact details and interactions logged automatically.

Salesmate

Best for: Teams who want calling and automation with simple support ticketing.

Twenty

Best for: Technical teams who want an open source CRM they can host.

The UK calling rule every Close CRM alternative user should know

If your team makes sales calls, this matters more than any feature. The ICO's guide to PECR says that, in general, you mustn't make marketing calls to any number listed on the Telephone Preference Service or Corporate TPS unless that person has specifically consented to your calls, so numbers need screening first. Other countries have their own rules. This isn't legal advice; check what applies to the people you call.

Email follow-up and consent

Here's the rule many small businesses miss once contacts sit in a CRM. The ICO's guide to PECR says you mustn't send marketing emails or texts to individuals without specific consent, apart from a limited soft opt-in for your own previous customers. You can email companies, but sole traders and some partnerships are treated as individuals. Record where each contact came from and what they agreed to. This isn't legal advice, so check what applies to your business.

Dialer, inbox and logging checks for Close CRM alternatives

• Calling: built-in dialer, phone integrations or none.
• Email: sync, templates and sequences.
• Activity logging: automatic or manual.
• Pipeline views and forecasting.
• Reporting on calls, emails and deals.
• Phone apps for sellers on the move.

Moving calls, leads and deals out of Close

1. Export leads, contacts, opportunities and activity history.
2. Map pipeline stages to the new CRM.
3. Import a small batch and check calls and emails came across.
4. Reconnect email and phone tools.
5. Run a short team session on logging activity.

Which Close CRM alternative fits a phone-led or email-led team

• Phone-heavy teams want calling built in or tightly integrated.
• Gmail-first teams may prefer a CRM inside Google.
• Relationship sellers often like contact-focused CRMs.
• Technical teams may want open source.

Why a smaller sales CRM can suit you

Smaller sales CRMs often do a few things very well, such as automatic contact capture or a clean pipeline, without the weight of a big platform. Check update history, integrations with your phone and email tools, and how easily you can export your data. Then try it with real deals, not demo data.

If your lead flow needs work as much as your CRM does, my guide to lead generation tactics has fresh ideas.

Do you make a sales CRM? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

My plain advice on replacing Close CRM

Decide how central calling is to your sales. If it's everything, insist on strong calling and screen numbers carefully against preference lists. If email and relationships matter more, a simpler CRM will save your team time every day.

Frequently asked questions

What does Close do?

Its own site describes a CRM with an AI teammate, email, calls and SMS in one inbox, a power dialer, workflows and reporting.

Do I need to screen numbers before sales calls?

In the UK, the ICO says you generally mustn't make marketing calls to numbers on the TPS or Corporate TPS without consent. This isn't legal advice.

Can I email contacts from my CRM?

The ICO says marketing emails to individuals need consent or the soft opt-in, while companies can be emailed. Check what applies to you.

Which CRMs include calling?

Some include calling and others integrate with phone systems. Check the descriptions and each site.

Is an open source CRM practical?

It can be if you can host and maintain it. Otherwise a hosted CRM is simpler.

Will my call history move across?

Often, if you export activities and map them carefully. Test with a few records first.

How long does switching take?

For a small sales team, a couple of weeks is realistic if you move in stages.

Can I make calls from a browser?

Many CRMs and phone tools let you call from the browser with a headset. Test call quality on your own connection before you rely on it.

Should calls be recorded?

If you record calls, tell people at the start and check the rules where you and they are. It's a trust issue as much as a legal one.