⚡ Quick Verdict:
- Pricing: Close CRM starts at $35/seat/month. Nutshell CRM starts at $13/user/month.
- Best for: Close CRM suits high-velocity outbound sales teams. Nutshell CRM suits budget-minded small businesses.
- Key difference: Close CRM has built-in calling with a power dialer. Nutshell CRM bundles email marketing and free live support.
- Our pick: Close CRM for most sales teams. It combines CRM and sales engagement in one inbox.
Picking between Close CRM and Nutshell CRM splits along one fault line.
Do you sell by phone, or by email and pipeline?
Both are CRM software built for small businesses.
Both help you manage contacts and track deals.
But they shape the sales process in different ways.
This comparison shows which one fits your sales team.
Overview
This Close CRM vs Nutshell CRM comparison covers pricing, features, and ease of use.
We also break down who each CRM works best for.
Our sources include published specs, documentation, and G2 reviews.
Our writers also spent hands-on time with each tool.
By the end, you will know which CRM software fits you.
What is Close CRM?
Close CRM is a sales platform built for small businesses.
It focuses on turning leads into revenue fast.
The tool puts email, calling, and SMS in one inbox.
You can make phone calls and talk to prospects from your browser.
Sales automation handles follow ups and reminders for you.
Many businesses choose Close for high-velocity outbound sales.
Close CRM
Close CRM blends CRM and sales engagement in one tool. It is built for sales reps who live on the phone. The built in calling and power dialer help you reach more leads daily.
Close CRM Pricing
Here is what Close CRM costs in 2026. Let us break it down.
| Plan | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Essentials | $35/seat/month | Small teams starting outreach |
| Growth | $99/seat/month | Teams needing automation and dialers |
| Scale | $139/seat/month | Larger teams wanting call coaching |
Pricing verified June 2026.
Free trial: Yes. Close CRM offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required.
Money-back guarantee: Close CRM bills per seat. You can cancel or downgrade your plan anytime.
📌 Note: The Growth and Scale plans add advanced features like the power dialer, predictive dialer, and call coaching. Pricing scales per user, so plan for the cost as your sales team grows.
⚠️ Warning: Close CRM entry pricing sits in the mid-tier range. Smaller teams on a tight budget should weigh the per seat cost against cheaper CRM options.
Key Benefits of Close CRM
Here is what makes Close CRM worth considering:
- Built in Calling: Make phone calls from your browser without a separate phone system. Power and predictive dialer options let reps dial multiple numbers fast.
- Single Inbox: Email, calling, and SMS live in one place. This cuts the manual data entry that slows sales reps down.
- Sales Automation: Workflows send automated follow ups and reminders. Personal email sequences keep prospects warm without manual effort.
- Smart Views: Filter leads and customers by criteria for better lead prioritization. Reps focus on the deals most likely to close.
- Activity Timelines: Close captures all sales activity on profile timelines. You keep a clear picture of every outreach touch.
- Fast Onboarding: A CSV import tool and free one-click migration move your data over. Close emphasizes security so data for your clients stays protected. Most teams set up within the free trial.
What Our Team Noticed
Our writer signed up for Close CRM and spent several days inside the platform. Here is what stood out:
Close CRM Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Best-in-class call functionality lets you dial directly from the browser
- Praised for simplicity and ease of use, with quick onboarding
- Proactive customer support with free migration help and training
- Strong sales automation with workflows and follow up reminders
❌ Cons
- Reporting functionality is considered weak for deep performance analysis
- Less customizable than other CRMs, with limited custom objects
- Entry-level pricing runs higher than many CRM options
What is Nutshell CRM?
Nutshell CRM is a cloud-based platform for small businesses.
It targets small to mid-sized B2B sales teams.
The tool packs CRM, marketing, and pipeline management together.
You manage deals with visual drag-and-drop pipeline views.
Built-in email marketing and bulk email come standard.
Most users choose it for ease of use and a low price.
Nutshell CRM
Nutshell CRM is an all-in-one tool for small B2B teams. It bundles contact management, email marketing, and a visual pipeline. Free live support comes with every plan.
Nutshell CRM Pricing
Here is what Nutshell CRM costs in 2026. All plans are billed per user.
| Plan | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation | $13/user/month | Single user and tiny teams |
| Growth | $25/user/month | Small teams scaling outreach |
| Pro | $42/user/month | Teams wanting multiple pipelines |
| Business | $59/user/month | Teams needing professional features |
| Enterprise | $79/user/month | Larger teams with advanced needs |
Pricing verified June 2026.
Free trial: Yes. Nutshell CRM offers a free 14-day trial for new users.
Money-back guarantee: Plans are billed per user per month. You can switch tiers as your team changes.
📌 Note: Higher tiers unlock multiple pipelines, a full reporting suite, custom fields, and an audit log. The Foundation plan covers core contact management for a single user or a small business.
⚠️ Warning: Some advanced features only appear in higher tiers. Check that your needed tools are not locked behind the Pro or Business plan before you commit.
Key Benefits of Nutshell CRM
Here is what makes Nutshell CRM worth considering:
- Ease of Use: Nutshell is rated as one of the friendliest CRMs for small teams. The learning curve is short, so users get productive within days.
- Free Live Support: Live chat and email support come with all plans. Free data migration is included, which many rivals charge for.
- Pipeline Views: Manage multiple pipelines with Board, List, Map, and Chart views. The visual setup makes tracking deals simple.
- Built-in Marketing: Email marketing, landing pages, and web forms need no paid add-ons. You can send bulk email and run drip campaigns.
- Lead Discovery: ProspectorIQ and VisitorIQ find new leads and spot companies visiting your site. This helps you fill the funnel.
- No Data Limits: Nutshell comes standard with unlimited CRM contacts and no data limits. You import contacts from any source using a CSV file.
What Our Team Noticed
Our writer set up Nutshell CRM and tested its pipeline and marketing tools. Here is what stood out:
Nutshell CRM Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Highly rated for user-friendliness and a short learning curve
- Free data migration and live support across all plans
- Built-in email marketing without paid add-ons
- Affordable starting price for small businesses
❌ Cons
- Automation is less advanced than HubSpot and Salesforce
- Email attachment handling could use improvement
- No built-in calling or dialer for phone-heavy teams
Feature Comparison
Ready to dig into Close CRM vs Nutshell CRM in detail?
We will walk through eight key features. This helps you see which platform fits your sales process best.
| Feature | Close CRM | Nutshell CRM |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $35/seat/month | $13/user/month |
| Free Trial | ✅ 14 days | ✅ 14 days |
| Built-in Calling | ✅ | ❌ |
| Power/Predictive Dialer | ✅ | ❌ |
| Email Marketing | ❌ | ✅ |
| Multiple Pipelines | ✅ | ✅ (higher tiers) |
| Sales Automation | ✅ | ✅ |
| Free Live Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| Best For | Outbound calling teams | Budget B2B teams |
1. Calling and Communication
Close CRM: Calling is the core strength here. You make phone calls straight from the browser with no separate phone system. A stable connection lets reps respond to leads in real time. The power dialer and predictive dialer let reps dial multiple numbers in a row, which fits high-volume inside sales teams.
Nutshell CRM: Nutshell offers click-to-call and calendar sync, but no built-in power dialer. It leans on email and pipeline work rather than heavy phone calls. Phone-first teams will find Close CRM the stronger fit for calling.
2. Lead and Contact Management
Close CRM: Smart Views filter leads by criteria for sharper lead prioritization. Close captures all sales activity on profile timelines, so you keep a clear picture of every touch. This makes contact management easy for busy sales reps.
Nutshell CRM: Lead capture runs through web forms that add leads to the system automatically. Nutshell gives unlimited CRM contacts with no data limits. You import contacts from any source using a CSV file, which keeps manual data entry low.
3. Sales Automation
Close CRM: Workflows and automated follow up reminders raise response rates without manual effort. Close automates key sales tasks to cut the manual workload. Startup features cover the basics, while higher plans add deeper automation and personal email sequences across the funnel.
Nutshell CRM: Sales automation handles lead routing and follow up notifications. It reduces time-wasting tasks for the team. The automation is solid for small businesses, though it is less advanced than HubSpot and Salesforce.
4. Pipeline Management
Close CRM: A visual pipeline view helps you spot bottlenecks in the sales process. Reps see where deals stall and act fast. The layout keeps the focus on moving more deals toward close.
Nutshell CRM: Nutshell tracks deals through stages with a visual drag-and-drop interface. It offers multiple pipelines plus Board, List, Map, and Chart views. This range of views suits teams that manage several sales processes at once.
5. Email and Marketing
Close CRM: Email lives in the same inbox as calling and SMS. You send email templates and personal email sequences to leads. Close focuses on sales outreach, not full marketing campaigns.
Nutshell CRM: Marketing is built in with email marketing, landing pages, and web forms. You create lists, send bulk email, and run drip campaigns. No paid add-ons are needed, which sets Nutshell apart for marketing.
6. Reporting and Analytics
Close CRM: Reporting tools generate quick KPI reports for training and review. Sales teams track performance, though some users find the reporting weak for deep analysis. It covers the basics but lacks advanced reporting depth.
Nutshell CRM: Reporting and analytics include dashboards for tracking performance and sales KPIs. Higher tiers add a full reporting suite with custom graphs. You can customize dashboards and search records to fit specific business needs.
7. Integrations
Close CRM: Close integrates with over 80 other tools. It connects with email, Zoom meetings, and common sales apps. Some teams note it lacks a few key integrations found in other CRMs.
Nutshell CRM: Nutshell connects with Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Gmail, Outlook, and Slack. A developer can also access the API to build custom links. It supports over 5,000 more apps via Zapier, which gives you the ability to slot it into many tech stacks.
8. AI and Advanced Tools
Close CRM: Sales AI assists reps during the workday with smart suggestions. Live coaching features let managers help reps during calls. Call coaching is a draw for teams that train new sales reps often.
Nutshell CRM: Nutshell integrates AI tools to help with revenue-driving tasks. AI meeting summarization captures notes from calls. These tools lighten admin work for small teams without a heavy setup.
9. Pricing & Cost
Let us compare the pricing plans side by side.
| Plan | Close CRM | Nutshell CRM |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | Essentials $35/seat/month | Foundation $13/user/month |
| Mid | Growth $99/seat/month | Growth $25 / Pro $42/user/month |
| Top | Scale $139/seat/month | Business $59 / Enterprise $79/user/month |
Close CRM: Entry pricing starts at $35 per seat. You pay more, but you get built in calling and dialers baked in. For phone-driven sales teams, the cost can pay back through more calls and more deals.
Nutshell CRM: Nutshell starts at $13 per user per month, which is friendlier for small business budgets. The five tiers let you scale from a single user up to advanced features. You get more pricing flexibility across plans.
Different Scenarios
| If You Need… | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Tight budget | Nutshell CRM | Starts at $13/user/month |
| Built in calling | Close CRM | Power and predictive dialer |
| Email marketing | Nutshell CRM | Bulk email and drip campaigns |
| High-velocity outbound | Close CRM | Single inbox for calls and email |
| Beginner-friendly setup | Nutshell CRM | Short learning curve |
💰 Your Budget
Nutshell CRM wins on price with a $13 per user entry plan. Close CRM costs more per seat but bundles calling that would cost extra elsewhere.
🔌 Your Tech Stack
Nutshell connects with Gmail, Outlook, and over 5,000 apps via Zapier. Close integrates with 80+ other tools, with a tighter focus on sales apps.
📞 Your Sales Process
If your team lives on phone calls, Close CRM is the clear pick. If you sell through email and pipeline stages, Nutshell fits well.
🎓 Your Experience Level
Nutshell is built for ease of use, so new users get productive in days. Close is also simple, with full team engagement reported during quick onboarding.
🆓 Free Trials and Demos
Both CRMs offer a 14-day free trial. Test each one on a real sales process before you pick a plan.
🛟 Support Options
Nutshell gives free live support and free data migration on all plans. Close offers a help center, API docs, product updates, and proactive onboarding help.
Switching Guide
Already using one of these CRMs? Here is what to expect if you switch.
🔄 Switching from Close CRM to Nutshell CRM?
✅ What you’ll gain:
- A lower starting price at $13 per user per month
- Built-in email marketing with bulk email and drip campaigns
- Free live support and free data migration on every plan
❌ What you’ll lose:
- Built in calling with power and predictive dialer
- Live call coaching for sales reps
- The single inbox that ties calls, email, and SMS together
📋 How to switch:
- Export your contacts and deals from Close CRM as a CSV file
- Create a Nutshell CRM account and start the free trial
- Use the free data migration support to import your data
🔄 Switching from Nutshell CRM to Close CRM?
✅ What you’ll gain:
- Built in calling so reps dial multiple numbers from the browser
- A single inbox for calls, email, and SMS
- Live call coaching and Smart Views for lead prioritization
❌ What you’ll lose:
- Built-in email marketing and drip campaigns
- Free live support and free data migration on all plans
- The lower entry price for single user or small teams
📋 How to switch:
- Export your contacts and deals from Nutshell CRM
- Create a Close CRM account and start the 14-day free trial
- Use the CSV import tool or free one-click migration to move data
What Our Review Didn’t Cover
This comparison focused on small to mid-sized sales teams. We did not test enterprise rollouts with custom objects, territories, or a large audit log setup. Our notes are based on the June 2026 versions of each tool. If you manage 50+ users across many sales processes, your priorities may differ from what we covered here.
Final Verdict
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| 💰 Pricing | Nutshell CRM |
| 📞 Calling | Close CRM |
| 🤖 Sales Automation | Close CRM |
| 📊 Reporting | Nutshell CRM |
| 👶 Ease of Use | Nutshell CRM |
| 🔌 Integrations | Nutshell CRM |
| 🚀 Outbound Sales | Close CRM |
| 🏆 Overall Winner | Close CRM |
🏆 WINNER: CLOSE CRM
Close CRM takes the edge for sales teams built around outreach.
Best for: High-velocity outbound sales, phone calls, sales reps who want one inbox.
Close CRM and Nutshell CRM are two very different products.
Close CRM is a sales engagement tool with a CRM at its core. It shines for teams that close more deals over the phone.
Nutshell CRM is an affordable all-in-one tool for small B2B teams. It pairs contact management with built-in email marketing and free live support.
Nutshell CRM is excellent if you want a low price and simple setup. The visual pipeline and bulk email tools fit budget-minded small businesses.
If your sales process runs on calls and fast follow ups, Close CRM is the better choice. Pick the one that matches how your sales team sells.
More of Close CRM Compared
Here is how Close CRM stacks up against other competitors:
Close CRM wins on: Faster onboarding, built in calling, lower setup effort
Salesforce wins on: Deeper customization, custom objects, advanced reporting at scale
Close CRM wins on: Power dialer, sales-first inbox, simpler call workflows
HubSpot wins on: Free starter tier, marketing depth, broader app integration
Close CRM wins on: Predictive dialer, call coaching, high-velocity outbound focus
Freshsales CRM wins on: Lower entry price, free plan, built-in AI scoring
More of Nutshell CRM Compared
Here is how Nutshell CRM stacks up against other competitors:
Nutshell CRM wins on: Lower price, easier setup, free live support included
Salesforce wins on: Enterprise scale, custom objects, advanced workflow depth
Nutshell CRM wins on: Cheaper paid tiers, bundled email marketing, no add-on fees
HubSpot wins on: Larger app marketplace, stronger automation, free CRM tier
Nutshell CRM vs Keap
Nutshell CRM wins on: Lower starting cost, simpler interface, unlimited contacts
Keap wins on: Stronger automation builder, e-commerce tools, dedicated coaching
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Close CRM?
Close CRM is a sales platform for small businesses. It combines calling, email, and SMS in one inbox with sales automation to help teams close more deals.
How much is Close per month?
Close CRM starts at $35 per seat per month on the Essentials plan. Growth costs $99 and Scale costs $139 per seat per month.
Is Nutshell a good CRM?
Yes. Nutshell CRM is rated among the most user-friendly options for small B2B teams. It pairs contact management with built-in email marketing and free live support.
How much does a CRM typically cost?
CRM pricing varies by tier and features. Nutshell starts at $13 per user per month. Close starts at $35 per seat per month. Most tools charge per user.
How is Close different from other CRMs?
Close blends CRM and sales engagement, which is not typical. Its built in calling, power dialer, and single inbox suit high-volume inside sales teams.
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