Close
PhantomBuster
| Feature | Close | PhantomBuster |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $49/mo | Free / from $69/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Best For | inside-sales-teams, startups, smbs, call-heavy-teams | sales-teams, recruiters, growth-hackers, lead-generation |
| Founded | 2013 | 2016 |
| Calling | ✓ | ✗ |
| Email Sequences | ✓ | ✗ |
| Pipeline | ✓ | ✗ |
| Sms | ✓ | ✗ |
| Predictive Dialer | ✓ | ✗ |
| Reporting | ✓ | ✗ |
| Workflows | ✓ | ✗ |
| Linkedin Automation | ✗ | ✓ |
| Data Extraction | ✗ | ✓ |
| Email Finder | ✗ | ✓ |
| Workflow Chains | ✗ | ✓ |
| Scheduling | ✗ | ✓ |
| Crm Export | ✗ | ✓ |
| Api Access | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 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
✓ PhantomBuster Pros
- Pre-built automations for LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.
- No coding required for complex scraping workflows
- Cloud-based (runs 24/7 without your computer)
- Chain multiple Phantoms for sophisticated workflows
✗ PhantomBuster Cons
- Violates most social platform terms of service
- Account ban risk on LinkedIn and other networks
- Credits system limits usage on lower plans
The Verdict
Close is built for inside sales teams and startups, with a focus on calling and email-sequences. PhantomBuster targets sales teams and recruiters and leads with linkedin-automation and data-extraction.
On pricing, Close is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $49/mo compared to $69/mo for PhantomBuster. That $20/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
PhantomBuster has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. Close requires a paid subscription from day one.
Close edges out on user ratings (4.5 vs 4.1). While both are well-regarded, that gap reflects real differences in user satisfaction worth considering.
Bottom line: Close has a slight overall edge — but if pre-built automations for linkedin, twitter, etc. matters most to you, PhantomBuster may still be the right call.