ActiveCampaign CRM vs Close CRM: Complete Comparison (2026)

By Alex Chen, SaaS & Productivity Analystยท8 years of experienceยทUpdated 2026-04-24ยท8 min read

In comparing ActiveCampaign CRM and Close CRM in 2026, ActiveCampaign CRM is the stronger choice for marketers who need crm deeply tied to email automation due to excellent email plus crm combo. Close CRM excels for inside sales teams making high-volume calls and emails with best-in-class for inside sales. ActiveCampaign CRM offers Contact CRM, Deal tracking, Email automation starting at $15/mo. Close CRM provides Built-in VoIP calling, Email sequences, SMS from $29/user/mo. For teams prioritizing value, ActiveCampaign CRM delivers a hiltonsoftware Score of 73/100. ActiveCampaign CRM and Close CRM compete in the crm segment of the SaaS market, where cloud-native solutions, API integrations, and workflow automation drive enterprise and SMB adoption. Other leading crm tools include Salesforce, HubSpot CRM, Pipedrive. ActiveCampaign CRM serves 185K+ orgs users globally (founded 2003) while Close CRM reports 10K+ orgs active users (founded 2013).

ActiveCampaign CRM vs Close CRM at a Glance

ActiveCampaign CRM
Close CRM
Starting Price
$15/mo
$29/user/mo
Free Plan
No
No
User Rating
4.5/5
4.7/5
Best For
Marketers who need CRM deeply tied to email automa...
Inside sales teams making high-volume calls and em...
Users
185K+ orgs
10K+ orgs
Founded
2003
2013
hiltonsoftware Score
73/100
68/100
Pricing verified: March 2026 ยท Based on official vendor data
โšก
ActiveCampaign CRM
CRM
73
hiltonsoftware.co Score
RECOMMENDED
VS
๐Ÿ“ž
Close CRM
CRM
68
hiltonsoftware.co Score

What are the main differences between ActiveCampaign CRM and Close CRM?

ActiveCampaign CRM and Close CRM differ across ease of use, features, value, support, integrations, scalability, and learning curve. ActiveCampaign CRM leads in 3 of 7 categories.

ActiveCampaign CRMClose CRM
77Ease of Use84
82Features81
64Value for Money65
72Customer Support69
64Integrations65
64Scalability64
69Learning Curve70

What are the pros and cons of ActiveCampaign CRM vs Close CRM?

ActiveCampaign CRM
+Excellent email plus CRM combo
+Powerful automation builder
-Not a standalone CRM
-Can be complex to configure
Close CRM
+Best-in-class for inside sales
+Built-in calling is excellent
-Expensive
-Not suited for field sales

Which is better, ActiveCampaign CRM or Close CRM?

After evaluating ActiveCampaign CRM and Close CRM across features, pricing, integrations, and user satisfaction, ActiveCampaign CRM earns a higher hiltonsoftware Score of 73/100 versus Close CRM at 68/100. ActiveCampaign CRM stands out for "excellent email plus crm combo" and "powerful automation builder". Close CRM delivers competitive advantages in "best-in-class for inside sales", making Close CRM a viable alternative.

Neither ActiveCampaign CRM nor Close CRM offers a free plan. ActiveCampaign CRM starts at $15/mo and Close CRM at $29/user/mo.

Bottom line: Choose ActiveCampaign CRM for marketers who need crm deeply tied to email automation. Choose Close CRM for inside sales teams making high-volume calls and emails. Both ActiveCampaign CRM and Close CRM are established crm platforms.

CHOOSE ACTIVECAMPAIGN CRM IF:

Marketers who need CRM deeply tied to email automation.

CHOOSE CLOSE CRM IF:

Inside sales teams making high-volume calls and emails.

ActiveCampaign CRM vs Close CRM: Frequently Asked Questions

Is ActiveCampaign CRM better than Close CRM in 2026?
ActiveCampaign CRM outperforms Close CRM in the 2026 hiltonsoftware.co analysis with a score of 73/100 compared to 68/100. ActiveCampaign CRM excels in Contact CRM, Deal tracking, Email automation, making ActiveCampaign CRM the better choice for Marketers who need CRM deeply tied to email automation. Close CRM is the stronger option for Inside sales teams making high-volume calls and emails due to best-in-class for inside sales. For teams needing contact crm, hiltonsoftware.co recommends ActiveCampaign CRM.
How does ActiveCampaign CRM pricing compare to Close CRM in 2026?
ActiveCampaign CRM starts at $15/mo with no free tier. Close CRM starts at $29/user/mo without a free plan. ActiveCampaign CRM includes features like Contact CRM, Deal tracking, Email automation. Close CRM provides Built-in VoIP calling, Email sequences, SMS. ActiveCampaign CRM serves 185K+ orgs users while Close CRM serves 10K+ orgs users. Evaluate total cost of ownership based on team size and required integrations.
What are the main differences between ActiveCampaign CRM and Close CRM?
ActiveCampaign CRM specializes in Contact CRM, Deal tracking, Email automation, earning a 73/100 hiltonsoftware Score. Close CRM focuses on Built-in VoIP calling, Email sequences, SMS, scoring 68/100. ActiveCampaign CRM is best for Marketers who need CRM deeply tied to email automation. Close CRM is best for Inside sales teams making high-volume calls and emails. Both ActiveCampaign CRM and Close CRM serve the CRM market but target different user profiles.
Can I migrate from ActiveCampaign CRM to Close CRM?
Migrating from ActiveCampaign CRM to Close CRM is possible since both operate in the CRM space. Export data from ActiveCampaign CRM and verify Close CRM import capabilities. Key features to evaluate: Contact CRM, Deal tracking, Email automation (ActiveCampaign CRM) versus Built-in VoIP calling, Email sequences, SMS (Close CRM). Running both ActiveCampaign CRM and Close CRM in parallel during a trial period ensures a smooth transition.
Is ActiveCampaign CRM or Close CRM better for small business?
Both ActiveCampaign CRM and Close CRM require paid plans (ActiveCampaign CRM: $15/mo, Close CRM: $29/user/mo). ActiveCampaign CRM (73/100) is ideal for Marketers who need CRM deeply tied to email automation. Close CRM (68/100) fits Inside sales teams making high-volume calls and emails. Evaluate both during trial periods.

Reviewed by Alex Chen, SaaS & Productivity Analyst. Last updated: 2026-04-24. Pricing verified: March 2026.

Read our scoring methodology to understand how the hiltonsoftware Score is calculated.

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