Close
CRM built for sales teams with built-in calling, email, and sales automation....
Insightly
Insightly provides cloud-based CRM with sales, marketing, and project management...
Close vs Insightly: Which Is Better in 2026?
Comprehensive comparison of Close and Insightly covering features, pricing, pros & cons, and our expert verdict to help you make the right choice for your business.
Close vs Insightly: Overview
Choosing between Close and Insightly is a common dilemma for crm users. Both tools offer robust solutions, but they cater to different needs and budgets.
Close starts at $49/monthly, while Insightly also has a free option and begins at $0/monthly. But pricing is just one factor—let's dive into features, use cases, and which tool fits your specific needs.
Close is best known for built-in calling, whereas Insightly stands out for simple, intuitive interface for smbs. In this detailed comparison, we'll analyze both tools across pricing, features, ease of use, and ideal use cases.
Quick Overview
Close
- Best for: Inside sales teams, Startups
- Starting price: $49/mo
- Category: crm
- Founded: 2013
Insightly
- Best for: Small business sales tracking and lead management, Project-linked CRM for consulting/professional services
- Starting price: Free
- Category: crm
- Founded: 2009
Feature Comparison
Side-by-side feature comparison to help you understand the key differences between Close and Insightly.
| Feature | C Close | Is Insightly |
|---|---|---|
| Contact Management | ||
| Pipeline Management | ||
| Email Tracking | ||
| Marketing Automation | ||
| Reporting | ||
| Mobile App | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Built-in Calling | ||
| Contact tracking | Available on all plans | |
| Opportunity management | Track sales opportunities and deals | |
| Task management | Organize and track tasks | |
| Project management automation | Core platform feature | |
| Google Apps integration | Designed from launch, all plans | |
| Microsoft Office/Outlook integration | Updated 2017, all plans | |
| iOS mobile app | Mobile access all plans | |
| Marketing automation | Added 2019, higher tiers | |
| Custom pipelines | Available on all plans | |
| Custom dashboards | Available on all plans | |
| Lead creation | Point-and-click lead generation | |
| AppConnect integration tool | 2021 release, all plans | |
| Service ticketing | Insightly Service 2021, service plans |
Features Deep Dive
Both Close and Insightly offer core crm functionality, but their feature sets differ in key areas.
Shared features: Core functionality.
Close unique strengths: Contact Management, Pipeline Management, Email Tracking. This makes it ideal for inside sales teams.
Insightly unique strengths: Contact tracking, Opportunity management, Task management. This makes it better suited for small business sales tracking and lead management.
Close offers 7 core features with 5 integrations, while Insightly provides 13 features and 8 integrations.
Our Verdict
After extensive testing and analysis, Close edges out as the winner in this comparison. While both tools excel in their respective areas, Close offers better overall user satisfaction. Insightly remains a strong alternative, especially for users who prioritize small business sales tracking and lead management.
Insightly
Best for Small business sales tracking and lead management and Project-linked CRM for consulting/professional services. Simple, intuitive interface for SMBs.
Try InsightlyPros & Cons
Close Pros & Cons
Pros
- Built-in calling
- Sales-focused
- Fast and clean
- Email sequences
- Great support
Cons
- No marketing features
- Limited customization
- Can get expensive
- No free tier
Insightly Pros & Cons
Pros
- Simple, intuitive interface for SMBs
- Strong Google Apps and Office 365 integration
- Links sales and project management effectively
- Freemium access with mobile/web/API support
- Affordable for small teams
- Broad language support (6 languages)
- Recognized as 2018 Gartner Peer Insights Customers' Choice
Cons
- Occasional crashes or page refresh needs after edits
- Limited details on enterprise-scale reliability
- Primarily SMB-focused, less for large enterprises
- UI updates sporadic
- Post-merger stability unclear
Pricing Comparison
Compare the pricing plans and see which tool offers better value for your budget.
Close
subscription- 3 users
- Built-in calling
- Email sequences
- Multiple sequences
- Power dialer
- Leaderboard
- Unlimited users
- Custom objects
- Advanced permissions
Insightly
freemium- Up to 2 users
- Contact tracking
- Google Apps integration
- Unlimited users
- Project management
- Marketing automation
- Advanced reporting
- Custom dashboards
- Priority support
- Advanced security
- Custom fields
- API access
Pricing Comparison Analysis
Close Pricing: Paid plans start at $49/monthly. 3 plans available: Startup, Professional, Enterprise.
Insightly Pricing: Free tier available. Paid plans start at $0/monthly. 4 plans available: Forever Free, Professional, Plus, Enterprise.
Verdict: Insightly is more affordable at the entry level and offers a free tier. However, Close may offer better value at scale with more advanced features.
For budget-conscious teams, Insightly is the clear winner. For teams prioritizing inside sales teams, Close's pricing may be justified.
Which Tool Is Best For You?
Choose Close if you need:
- Inside sales teams
- Startups
- Cold calling teams
- B2B sales
- Built-in calling
- Sales-focused
Choose Insightly if you need:
- Small business sales tracking and lead management
- Project-linked CRM for consulting/professional services
- Marketing campaign automation for media/advertising
- Non-profit contact/opportunity management
- SMBs needing Google/QuickBooks integration
- Simple, intuitive interface for SMBs
- Strong Google Apps and Office 365 integration
Final Verdict
Choose Close if: You need inside sales teams or startups. It excels at built-in calling and sales-focused.
Choose Insightly if: You prioritize small business sales tracking and lead management or project-linked crm for consulting/professional services. It's particularly strong for simple, intuitive interface for smbs and strong google apps and office 365 integration.
Overall: Close has a slight edge with a 4.6/5 rating from our analysis.
Both tools are solid choices in the crm space. Your decision should ultimately depend on your specific requirements, team size, and budget.
Related to Close vs Insightly
Close vs Insightly FAQ
What are the main differences between Close and Insightly?
Close focuses on inside sales teams with built-in calling, while Insightly excels at small business sales tracking and lead management with simple, intuitive interface for smbs. Key differences include pricing structure, feature depth, and target user base.
Is Close or Insightly better for small businesses?
Insightly offers a free tier which is great for small businesses starting out. For small businesses with limited budgets, consider starting with the tool that offers Insightly's lower starting price of $0/month.
What is the pricing difference between Close and Insightly?
Close starts at $49/month, while Insightly starts at $0/month with a free tier available. Both offer multiple pricing tiers with different feature sets.
Can Close integrate with Insightly?
While direct integration may vary, both Close and Insightly support third-party integrations through platforms like Zapier. Close integrates with Zapier, Slack, Calendly, while Insightly works with Google Apps, Microsoft Office/Outlook, MailChimp.
Which tool is easier to use, Close or Insightly?
Based on user reviews, Close generally receives higher marks for ease of use with a 4.6 rating. However, ease of use can depend on your specific needs and technical background. Close is known for sales-focused.
Does Close or Insightly offer better customer support?
Both Close and Insightly provide customer support, with options varying by plan tier. Close offers support through standard support channels. Check each tool's specific plan for support details.
What are the pros of Close compared to Insightly?
Close's main advantages include: Built-in calling, Sales-focused, Fast and clean. Compared to Insightly, it's particularly strong for inside sales teams.
What are the cons of Close compared to Insightly?
Close's potential drawbacks include: No marketing features, Limited customization. Insightly may be a better choice if these limitations affect your use case.
Should I switch from Close to Insightly or vice versa?
Consider switching if your current tool doesn't meet your needs. Key factors include: current pain points, migration complexity, team training, and total cost of ownership. Use our ROI calculator to estimate the potential impact of switching.
Which tool is best for crm in 2026?
In 2026, Close leads in this comparison with a 4.6 rating. However, the best choice depends on your specific requirements. Close excels for inside sales teams, while Insightly is ideal for small business sales tracking and lead management.