Close vs Zoho CRM — Pricing, Plans, and Verified Costs (2026)
Close starts at $19/mo. Zoho CRM starts at $20/mo. Close is $1/mo cheaper on the entry tier than Zoho CRM.
Sales CRM built specifically for inside sales teams that live on the phone. Positioned as the alternative to Salesforce/HubSpot for teams whose primary activity is outbound calling. Distinctive for built-in power dialer, VoIP calling, and SMS in the base product (competitors charge add-ons). Priced $59-$149/user/month. Bootstrapped and profitable, founded 2013, popular with SDR-heavy SaaS sales teams.
Sales CRM from Zoho, the Chennai-based bootstrapped 45+ product empire. Positioned as the alternative to Salesforce for teams wanting features without enterprise pricing. Distinctive for the "Zoho One" bundle ($37/user/mo) that includes 45+ business apps — an unbeatable price/feature ratio if you can stomach the eclectic UX and inconsistent product quality across apps. Popular with SMBs in India, LATAM, and price-sensitive markets globally. Bootstrapped and profitable.
All plans compared
| Tier role | Plan | Close monthly | Close annual | Zoho CRM monthly | Zoho CRM annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free / starter | — / Free | — | — | Free | Free |
| Entry paid | Solo / Standard | $19 | $9 | $20 | $14 |
| Mid tier 1 | Essentials / — | $49 | $35 | — | — |
| Mid tier 2 | Growth / — | $109 | $99 | — | — |
| Pro / power | Scale / Professional | $149 | $139 | $35 | $23 |
| Enterprise | — / Enterprise | — | — | $50 | $40 |
Tier names differ across vendors. Rows are aligned by tier role, not name. Full tier structures on each tool's page.
What each is best for
Close is worth it if… high-velocity inside sales teams (5-50 reps) that treat email, calling, and SMS as first-class primitives — not bolted-on features. Solo covers 1 rep; Essentials scales small teams; Growth adds power dialer and workflows; Scale enterprise features.
Zoho CRM is worth it if… global SMBs (5-200 employees) that want a full CRM + marketing + finance suite at prices well below HubSpot or Salesforce — particularly if you're in India, MENA, or LATAM where Zoho has strong regional presence. Free covers small teams (3 users); Standard adds mass email and workflows; Professional adds inventory; Enterprise adds SSO and advanced customization; Ultimate adds AI and BI.
Bottom line: Similar positioning, closer to a preference call than a strategic one.
Choose Close over Zoho CRM if…
Choose Close if…
- You want fixed-price predictability (per seat, from $19/mo).
- You match the profile Close is built for: high-velocity inside sales teams (5-50 reps) that treat email, calling, and SMS as first-class primitives — not bolted-on features.
- You need a general-purpose crm & sales option rather than a vertical-specific one.
Choose Zoho CRM if…
- You want fixed-price predictability (per seat, from $20/mo).
- You match the profile Zoho CRM is built for: global SMBs (5-200 employees) that want a full CRM + marketing + finance suite at prices well below HubSpot or Salesforce — particularly if you're in India, MENA, or LATAM where Zoho has strong regional presence.
- You need a general-purpose crm & sales option rather than a vertical-specific one.
At a glance
| Close | Zoho CRM | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Entry price | $19/mo | $20/mo |
| Enterprise available | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | Per Seat | Per Seat |
| Last verified | September 12, 2026 | September 10, 2026 |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified September 12, 2026. Tracked daily.