Close
Nutshell
| Feature | Close | Nutshell |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $49/mo | From $16/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Best For | inside-sales-teams, startups, smbs, call-heavy-teams | small-businesses, sales-teams, b2b-companies, non-technical-teams |
| Founded | 2013 | 2009 |
| Calling | ✓ | ✗ |
| Email Sequences | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pipeline | ✓ | ✗ |
| Sms | ✓ | ✗ |
| Predictive Dialer | ✓ | ✗ |
| Reporting | ✓ | ✓ |
| Workflows | ✓ | ✗ |
| Pipeline Management | ✗ | ✓ |
| Web Forms | ✗ | ✓ |
| Team Collaboration | ✗ | ✓ |
| Email Marketing | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Close Pros
- Built-in VoIP calling and SMS
- Powerful email sequences with tracking
- Designed specifically for inside sales workflow
- Fast setup — productive in minutes not weeks
✗ Close Cons
- No free tier available
- Limited marketing automation
- Fewer integrations than HubSpot or Salesforce
✓ Nutshell Pros
- CRM + email marketing in one platform
- Very intuitive for non-technical users
- Unlimited contacts on all plans
- Great customer support
✗ Nutshell Cons
- Fewer integrations than HubSpot
- Limited customization
- No free plan
The Verdict
Close is built for inside sales teams and startups, with a focus on calling and email-sequences. Nutshell targets small businesses and sales teams and leads with pipeline-management and email-sequences.
On pricing, Nutshell is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $16/mo compared to $49/mo for Close. That $33/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Neither tool offers a free plan, so factor the subscription cost into your decision from the start.
Feature-wise, Close offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Nutshell takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Bottom line: Close has a slight overall edge — but if crm + email marketing in one platform matters most to you, Nutshell may still be the right call.