# Close CRM Problems & Issues 2026 - Expensive Calling Costs

Source: https://www.tryorbye.com/products/close
Last analyzed: 2026-02-06
Try or Bye score: 62/100

## Verdict: Try with caution

Close works for some teams, but users report recurring problems (score 62/100). Most reported issues: Very expensive, especially for calling features; New lead page update caused productivity drop; Call quality issues with slowness and voice distortion. Not a good fit for: Budget-conscious small teams; Teams needing extensive customization; Teams requiring WhatsApp/Messenger integration. Users most often switch to Pipedrive, HubSpot, Salesforce.

## What it is

Close is a sales CRM designed specifically for inside sales teams. It features built-in calling, SMS, email sequences, and a power dialer. Founded in 2013 by Steli Efti, Close is a bootstrapped, profitable, 100% remote company focused on eliminating manual data entry and streamlining sales workflows.

## Common problems

- **Very expensive, especially for calling features** (pricing): Close is described as 'a very expensive platform, especially if you want calling features.' Growth plan starts at $99/user/month, and Scale at $139/user/month. Add-ons like AI Call Assistant cost $50/month plus $0.02/minute usage fees. Small startups find it difficult to afford, particularly when only using basic lead management.
- **New lead page update caused productivity drop** (performance): After Close introduced a new lead-page design, users reported significant productivity drops. Complaints include: crucial functions missing, bugs appearing frequently, high latency/increased loading time, no overview in dropdowns, and difficulty in general use. Support responded with templates instead of taking problems seriously.
- **Call quality issues with slowness and voice distortion** (performance): Users experience call issues including slowness, voice distortion, and missing call time details. The power dialer sometimes won't allow sending messages to certain leads, displaying errors that tell users to 'just contact Close support.' Performance during calls has been criticized as slow.
- **Limited customization - no custom features** (customization): Users express frustration with limited customization options in Close. The platform 'won't prioritize custom features for you, so if you need anything custom done, it's recommended to go somewhere else.' This impacts workflows and limits adaptability to specific business needs.
- **Limited integrations with popular platforms** (integrations): Close doesn't connect with platforms like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger. Users criticize the limited integrations which makes it difficult to connect everything smoothly and affects team workflow. Teams seeking social media integration, document management, or campaign management features often look elsewhere.
- **Duplicate leads on import - no opt-out option** (usability): The tool does not let you opt out of duplicating leads, which makes users take longer to curate each file they want to import. This creates unnecessary cleanup work and frustration during data migration or regular lead imports.
- **Difficult email analytics and cost tracking** (usability): Users find it difficult to understand and utilize email analytics like open rates and campaign effectiveness. Tracking call costs is also challenging. These analytics gaps make it harder to measure ROI and optimize sales processes effectively.
- **Support responds with templates, slow to help** (support): Users complain that support responds with templates instead of taking problems seriously. Response times are sometimes too long. This is particularly frustrating when dealing with bugs from new feature updates that significantly impact productivity.
- **Limited post-sale client relationship features** (usability): Close has limited functionality for maintaining client relationships after the sales aspect. The platform emphasizes SaaS sales where the use-case is getting the sale and passing off the client. Teams needing full customer lifecycle management find this insufficient.
- **Smart views difficult to set up** (usability): Users report difficulty in setting up smart views for organizing leads and deals. This core feature, essential for filtering and prioritizing sales activities, has a learning curve that creates friction in daily workflows.
- **AI notes sometimes inaccurate** (reliability): The AI notes feature sometimes picks up content that users heard entirely differently. This inaccuracy in automated call transcription can lead to misunderstandings and require manual correction, reducing the time-saving benefit of the feature.
- **Cannot cancel trial without contacting support** (onboarding): It's impossible to cancel a trial within the first 14 days without connecting with support. Users describe this as 'very shady dark UX.' This forces engagement with sales/support even for users who decide the product isn't right for them.

## What users like

- **Intuitive interface with smooth transitions**: Users describe Close as a 'gamechanger' with praise for the UI and smooth transitions between screens. The interface is designed for sales efficiency, minimizing clicks and keeping focus on closing deals rather than navigating complex menus.
- **Best-in-class built-in calling and SMS**: Close's built-in phone, power dialer, and SMS features are core strengths. Sales teams can call directly from the CRM without third-party tools. Call recording, voicemail drop, and automated dialing streamline high-volume outreach.
- **Designed specifically for inside sales teams**: Unlike general-purpose CRMs, Close is purpose-built for inside sales and SMB sales teams. The workflow is optimized for high-velocity sales with quick lead access, automated sequences, and minimal administrative overhead.
- **Minimal manual data entry required**: Close automatically logs calls, emails, and activities, reducing the manual data entry that plagues other CRMs. Sales reps spend more time selling and less time updating records, which increases productivity.
- **Powerful email sequences for outreach**: The email sequence feature allows automated multi-touch outreach campaigns. Users can set up personalized sequences that run automatically, with tracking for opens and replies. Particularly valued for cold outreach campaigns.
- **Bootstrapped company with sales expertise**: As a bootstrapped, profitable company founded by sales experts, Close understands the sales process deeply. The team creates content and features informed by real sales experience, and the company culture values customer success.

## Pricing

- **Startup**: $49.00 (yearly) — hidden costs: Outbound calling minutes charged separately, Limited to 3 users, $59/month if billed monthly
- **Professional**: $99.00 (yearly) — hidden costs: AI Call Assistant add-on $50/mo + $0.02/min, Premium phone numbers extra, $109/month if billed monthly
- **Enterprise**: $139.00 (yearly) — hidden costs: $149/month if billed monthly, AI features still have usage costs, Enrichment charged on usage
- **AI Call Assistant Add-on**: $50.00 (monthly) — hidden costs: Additional $0.02 per minute usage fee on top of base price

## Who should and shouldn't use it

- **Budget-conscious small teams** — Avoid: Close is expensive, especially for calling features. At $99/user/month for Growth and add-on costs for AI features, small teams with limited budgets will find better value in alternatives like Pipedrive or HubSpot's free tier.
- **Teams needing extensive customization** — Avoid: Close 'won't prioritize custom features' for individual customers. If your business requires custom fields, workflows, or unique configurations, you'll be frustrated by the platform's limitations. Consider Salesforce or Zoho for flexibility.
- **Teams requiring WhatsApp/Messenger integration** — Avoid: Close doesn't connect with WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger. If your sales process relies on these messaging platforms, Close will create workflow gaps. Look at HubSpot or dedicated messaging CRMs instead.
- **Full customer lifecycle management needs** — Avoid: Close emphasizes sales-to-close with limited post-sale functionality. If you need to manage ongoing client relationships, renewals, and customer success, you'll need supplementary tools or a different CRM entirely.
- **High-volume inside sales teams** — Good fit: Close's power dialer, automated sequences, and built-in calling are designed for inside sales teams making high volumes of calls. If your team lives on the phone and email, Close's workflow optimization will increase productivity.
- **SMB sales teams focused on outbound** — Good fit: Small to medium businesses doing outbound sales will appreciate Close's purpose-built features. The minimal data entry, automatic logging, and sequence automation reduce admin overhead significantly.
- **Startups with funded growth budgets** — Good fit: If budget isn't the primary constraint, Close delivers excellent sales-focused functionality. The Startup plan at $49/user works for tiny teams, and the platform scales as you grow (with corresponding cost increases).
- **Teams already using multiple sales tools** — Depends: Limited integrations mean you may still need separate tools for messaging, social selling, or advanced analytics. Close works well as a calling/email hub but may not consolidate your entire stack.
- **Inside sales teams** — Good fit: Built for high-velocity sales. Power dialer, SMS, email sequences - all in one. Inside sales teams love Close's calling features.
- **Field sales teams** — Depends: Less suited for field sales. Close is phone-centric - field reps may prefer Pipedrive or Salesforce with mobile features.
- **Marketing teams** — Avoid: No marketing automation. Close is pure sales CRM. Marketing teams need HubSpot or add-on marketing tools.

## Alternatives

- **Pipedrive** (https://www.tryorbye.com/products/pipedrive): Teams wanting better pipeline switch to Pipedrive. Gain: visual pipeline, more intuitive. Trade-off: weaker calling features.
- **HubSpot** (https://www.tryorbye.com/products/hubspot): Companies switch to HubSpot for a more comprehensive platform that includes marketing and service. HubSpot's free tier is generous, and the ecosystem offers features Close lacks like social media and broader integrations.
- **Salesforce** (https://www.tryorbye.com/products/salesforce): Growing companies switch to Salesforce when they need enterprise customization and scalability. Salesforce offers the flexibility Close lacks, though at higher complexity and cost.
- **Freshsales** (https://www.tryorbye.com/products/freshsales): Teams switch to Freshsales for lower pricing and Freshworks ecosystem integration. Freshsales offers similar built-in phone features at lower cost, though with its own reliability trade-offs.
- **Apollo.io**: Outbound-focused teams switch to Apollo for its prospecting database combined with sequences. Apollo offers more lead sourcing capabilities, making it a one-stop-shop for prospecting and outreach.
- **Copper** (https://www.tryorbye.com/products/copper): Google Workspace users switch to Copper for seamless Gmail integration. Copper fits naturally into Google workflows where Close requires more context-switching between tools.
- **Salesforce** (https://www.tryorbye.com/products/salesforce): Growing teams switch for scale. Gain: unlimited customization, ecosystem. Trade-off: complex, expensive.
- **Apollo**: Teams wanting prospecting switch to Apollo. Gain: better lead database, sequences. Trade-off: less CRM depth.

## FAQ

### Is Close CRM worth the price in 2026?

Close CRM is expensive compared to alternatives, with Growth at $99/user/month and Enterprise at $139/user/month. For high-volume inside sales teams that maximize the built-in calling and sequences, the productivity gains can justify the cost. For teams with simpler needs, alternatives like Pipedrive ($14.90) or HubSpot's free tier offer better value.

### What are the hidden costs of Close CRM?

Key hidden costs include: AI Call Assistant add-on at $50/month plus $0.02/minute usage, outbound calling minutes charged separately, Premium Phone Numbers add-on, text messaging costs per country, and enrichment charged on usage. Monthly billing is 35% higher than annual. Advertised plans make it seem like all features are included, but they're not.

### Why is Close CRM so slow?

Users report performance issues particularly with calling (slowness, voice distortion) and the new lead-page update (high latency, increased loading time). Some experience lag in general navigation and when working with larger datasets. These issues appear to have worsened with recent UI updates in 2025.

### What is the best Close CRM alternative?

The best alternative depends on your priority: Pipedrive for affordable sales-focused CRM with better integrations, HubSpot for all-in-one marketing/sales/service, Salesforce for enterprise customization, Freshsales for similar calling features at lower cost, or Apollo for combined prospecting and outreach. Most alternatives offer more integrations than Close.

### Can I cancel Close CRM trial without support?

No—it's impossible to cancel a trial within the first 14 days without connecting with support. Users describe this as 'very shady dark UX.' You must contact support to cancel even during the trial period, which forces interaction with the sales team even if you've decided the product isn't for you.

### Does Close CRM integrate with WhatsApp?

No, Close doesn't connect with WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger. This is a significant limitation for sales teams that use these messaging platforms for customer communication. If WhatsApp integration is essential for your sales process, you'll need to look at alternatives like HubSpot.

### Is Close CRM good for small teams?

Close can work for small teams if calling is central to your sales process and budget allows. The Startup plan at $49/user (max 3 users) is an option, but it lacks power dialer and automation. Most small teams find better value in Pipedrive or HubSpot's free tier unless high-volume calling is essential.

### Why are people leaving Close CRM?

Users leave Close for three main reasons: 1) High pricing that doesn't match their budget, especially with add-on costs, 2) Limited customization—Close won't build custom features, and 3) Recent updates causing bugs and performance issues. The new lead-page update in particular caused productivity drops for many users.

### Is Close CRM better than Pipedrive?

Close is better for high-volume phone sales with its superior built-in calling and power dialer. Pipedrive is better for teams prioritizing visual pipeline management, affordability ($14.90 vs $99), and integrations. Close wins on calling features; Pipedrive wins on value and flexibility.

### How reliable is Close CRM calling?

Close CRM calling has mixed reviews. While the built-in phone is a core strength, users report issues including voice distortion, slowness during calls, and the power dialer sometimes not allowing messages to certain leads. Call quality appears to vary, which is concerning for a CRM built around calling.

### Does Close CRM have good customer support?

Close support receives mixed reviews. Some users praise responsive help, but others complain about template responses that don't address specific problems, slow response times, and difficulty getting serious issues resolved. Support quality appears inconsistent, particularly when dealing with bug reports from new updates.

### Can Close CRM handle post-sale customer management?

Close has limited functionality for post-sale customer relationships. The platform emphasizes the sales-to-close process and is designed for SaaS sales where you close and pass off the client. If you need full customer lifecycle management including renewals and customer success, you'll need supplementary tools.

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Try or Bye aggregates problem patterns from user reviews, forums, and app stores. Methodology: https://www.tryorbye.com/methodology