Close CRM vs Keap: Complete Comparison (2026)

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

In comparing Close CRM and Keap in 2026, Keap is the stronger choice for small businesses wanting crm plus marketing automation together due to powerful automation for smbs. Close CRM excels for inside sales teams making high-volume calls and emails with best-in-class for inside sales. Close CRM offers Built-in VoIP calling, Email sequences, SMS starting at $29/user/mo. Keap provides CRM, Marketing automation, E-commerce from $199/mo. For teams prioritizing value, Keap delivers a hiltonsoftware Score of 69/100. Close CRM and Keap 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. Close CRM serves 10K+ orgs users globally (founded 2013) while Keap reports 200K+ active users (founded 2001).

Close CRM vs Keap at a Glance

Close CRM
Keap
Starting Price
$29/user/mo
$199/mo
Free Plan
No
No
User Rating
4.7/5
4.2/5
Best For
Inside sales teams making high-volume calls and em...
Small businesses wanting CRM plus marketing automa...
Users
10K+ orgs
200K+
Founded
2013
2001
hiltonsoftware Score
68/100
69/100
Pricing verified: March 2026 ยท Based on official vendor data
๐Ÿ“ž
Close CRM
CRM
68
hiltonsoftware.co Score
VS
๐ŸŒ€
Keap
CRM
69
hiltonsoftware.co Score
RECOMMENDED

What are the main differences between Close CRM and Keap?

Close CRM and Keap differ across ease of use, features, value, support, integrations, scalability, and learning curve. Keap leads in 1 of 7 categories.

Close CRMKeap
84Ease of Use72
81Features75
65Value for Money59
69Customer Support70
65Integrations64
64Scalability60
70Learning Curve61

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

Close CRM
+Best-in-class for inside sales
+Built-in calling is excellent
-Expensive
-Not suited for field sales
Keap
+Powerful automation for SMBs
+All-in-one platform
-High starting price
-Steep learning curve

Which is better, Close CRM or Keap?

After evaluating Close CRM and Keap across features, pricing, integrations, and user satisfaction, Keap earns a higher hiltonsoftware Score of 69/100 versus Close CRM at 68/100. Keap stands out for "powerful automation for smbs" and "all-in-one platform". Close CRM delivers competitive advantages in "best-in-class for inside sales", making Close CRM a viable alternative.

Neither Close CRM nor Keap offers a free plan. Close CRM starts at $29/user/mo and Keap at $199/mo.

Bottom line: Choose Close CRM for inside sales teams making high-volume calls and emails. Choose Keap for small businesses wanting crm plus marketing automation together. Both Close CRM and Keap are established crm platforms.

CHOOSE CLOSE CRM IF:

Inside sales teams making high-volume calls and emails.

CHOOSE KEAP IF:

Small businesses wanting CRM plus marketing automation together.

Close CRM vs Keap: Frequently Asked Questions

Is Close CRM better than Keap in 2026?
Keap outperforms Close CRM in the 2026 hiltonsoftware.co analysis with a score of 69/100 compared to 68/100. Close CRM excels in Built-in VoIP calling, Email sequences, SMS, making Close CRM the better choice for Inside sales teams making high-volume calls and emails. Keap is the stronger option for Small businesses wanting CRM plus marketing automation together due to powerful automation for smbs. For teams needing crm, hiltonsoftware.co recommends Keap.
How does Close CRM pricing compare to Keap in 2026?
Close CRM starts at $29/user/mo with no free tier. Keap starts at $199/mo without a free plan. Close CRM includes features like Built-in VoIP calling, Email sequences, SMS. Keap provides CRM, Marketing automation, E-commerce. Close CRM serves 10K+ orgs users while Keap serves 200K+ users. Evaluate total cost of ownership based on team size and required integrations.
What are the main differences between Close CRM and Keap?
Close CRM specializes in Built-in VoIP calling, Email sequences, SMS, earning a 68/100 hiltonsoftware Score. Keap focuses on CRM, Marketing automation, E-commerce, scoring 69/100. Close CRM is best for Inside sales teams making high-volume calls and emails. Keap is best for Small businesses wanting CRM plus marketing automation together. Both Close CRM and Keap serve the CRM market but target different user profiles.
Can I migrate from Close CRM to Keap?
Migrating from Close CRM to Keap is possible since both operate in the CRM space. Export data from Close CRM and verify Keap import capabilities. Key features to evaluate: Built-in VoIP calling, Email sequences, SMS (Close CRM) versus CRM, Marketing automation, E-commerce (Keap). Running both Close CRM and Keap in parallel during a trial period ensures a smooth transition.
Is Close CRM or Keap better for small business?
Both Close CRM and Keap require paid plans (Close CRM: $29/user/mo, Keap: $199/mo). Close CRM (68/100) is ideal for Inside sales teams making high-volume calls and emails. Keap (69/100) fits Small businesses wanting CRM plus marketing automation together. 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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