The verdict
For most lean B2B founders, Close is the better first CRM. It puts calling, SMS and email sequences inside the platform, it's running within an afternoon, and it's purpose-built for the high-volume outbound a small team actually does. Starting at 19 USD per user per month with a 14-day trial, it earns its seat the moment you start dialling, though remember calling and SMS usage is metered on top.
Salesforce earns the choice when your needs outgrow pure sales. Its free Suite for up to five users is a genuine on-ramp, and its custom objects, automation and the largest integration ecosystem in the category mean you can model almost any process. But that power is also its tax: real setup, ongoing admin, and often a consultant before it sings. You're paying for a ceiling you may not need for years.
The decisive cut: if your growth comes from more reps doing more outbound, choose Close and don't look back. If it comes from a multi-team revenue operation with bespoke workflows, Salesforce's configuration weight is the price of admission , and worth it.
Side by side
| 10 points compared | ||
|---|---|---|
| Starts at | $9/mo | €25/mo |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| MCP server | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in calling | Yes | Yes |
| Contact enrichment | Yes | Yes |
| Custom objects | Yes | Yes |
| Email sequences | Yes | Yes |
| Lead capture forms | Yes | Yes |
| Workflow automation | Yes | Yes |
| Links |
Plans and pricing
Close
- Solo$19/mo/seat
- Essentials$49/mo/seat
- Growth$109/mo/seat
- Scale$149/mo/seat
Salesforce
- Free SuiteFree
- Starter Suite€25/mo/seat
- Pro Suite€1,200/yr/seat
- Sales Cloud Core€2,340/yr/seat
- Sales Cloud Advanced€4,740/yr/seat
- Sales Cloud Max€6,600/yr/seat
Who each is for
Choose Close if…
Pick Close if you're an inside-sales team or SMB running high-volume outbound and you want the dialler, SMS and email sequences native rather than bolted on. It suits a founder who wants to be selling, not configuring, the same day , and who values a CRM built around the outbound motion rather than a blank platform to assemble. Just budget for calling and SMS usage on top of the seat.
Choose Salesforce if…
Pick Salesforce if you need deep customisation, custom objects from the start, or a CRM that scales past pure sales into service, marketing and a wider revenue org. The free Suite for up to five users makes it a low-risk on-ramp for a tiny team, and the integration ecosystem is unmatched. Choose it knowing you're taking on real setup and admin , the depth is the point, but it isn't free of effort.
Other options worth a look
Manages contacts, deals and pipelines for B2B sales teams with built-in phone and AI lead scoring.
Combines CRM, marketing, sales and customer service around a shared contact database with a free tier.
Dedicated customer relationship management platform for sales teams managing leads, deals and pipelines.
Manage your sales pipeline visually with drag-and-drop deals, contact management and workflow automation.
Centralise contacts and deal pipelines in a spreadsheet-like CRM with automatic data enrichment.