Close vs Gravity Forms
Side-by-side comparison — pricing, features, ratings, use cases. Find which Marketing fits you best.
🔍 Independently researched ·
📊 Data-driven
· ⭐ Ratings from G2 (real user reviews)
76/100
Free tier
Close is best for SMB sales teams that rely on high-volume phone outreach and need a simple, all-in-one CRM with built-i
★ Best
💰 Pricing
🆓 Free tier available
🔧 Features
✓ Automation✓ Crm
📋 Assessment
💪 Strengths
- Native calling and power dialer: Close integrates a full phone system directly into the CRM. Reps can make calls with one click, and the power dialer automatically loads the next number from a saved list, significantly increasing call volume. The built-in caller ID, call recording, and voicemail dropdown (with pre-recorded messages) streamline the entire process. This is a huge time-saver for outbound teams that live on the phone.
- Custom automation builder: The visual workflow automation lets you create multi-step sequences without coding. For example, you can set up a rule that triggers an email and SMS follow-up when a lead status changes to 'contacted'. It also supports conditionals and delays. This reduces repetitive manual tasks and ensures consistent follow-up, which is crucial for lead conversion.
- Coaching and training features: Close allows managers to listen to live calls, review recordings, and leave time-stamped comments directly on the conversation timeline. The 'coaching moments' feature tracks these interactions, helping managers monitor rep improvement over time. This is a powerful tool for sales enablement, and it's rarely found at this price point.
- Custom reporting and funnels: You can build tailored reports with custom widgets, such as call volume, conversion rates, and revenue by source. Funnel reports visualize the stages of your pipeline, helping identify bottlenecks. This gives managers actionable insights without needing a separate BI tool.
- Email and SMS tracking with templates: All email and SMS communications are logged automatically, with open and click tracking. You can create reusable templates for email and SMS, and even use the ' email sequence' feature to drip campaigns. This ensures that team communication is transparent and consistent.
⚠ Watch out for
- Learning curve: The interface packs a lot of functionality, and it might take new users a week or more to become productive. Especially if you're coming from a simpler tool, the sheer number of options in the UI can be overwhelming. The automation builder also requires a bit of logic-thinking.
- Limited reporting customization for advanced analytics: While custom reports are available, they don't match the depth of tools like Tableau or even built-in analytics in Salesforces. For instance, you can't create fully custom calculated fields or query the database directly. Teams with very complex reporting needs might outgrow it.
- Email integration is limited: Close works with Gmail and Outlook but has limited native integration with other email providers. Also, the email sync is two-way but can occasionally lag or miss a message. For teams that use a different email client, this can be a hassle.
- No free tier for larger teams: The free plan only supports up to 2 users, and it's quite limited (only basic features). For a growing SMB, the cost can add up quickly, especially when you add on SMS credits and additional users. Each user starts at $49/month (annual billing), which is pricier than some competitors like Pipedrive.
- Mobile app is weaker: The mobile app is functional for viewing and making calls, but it lacks some of the features of the desktop version, such as advanced automation and report building. For teams that need to operate heavily on mobile, this might be a drawback.
🎯 Best for
Close is best for SMB sales teams that rely on high-volume phone outreach and need a simple, all-in-one CRM with built-in calling and automation.
🚫 Who should skip
Skip Close if you're looking for a free CRM, an enterprise-level reporting solution, or a primarily email-only sales workflow without heavy phone usage.
📚 Learning curve
Moderate. Setup is straightforward for calling and pipelines, but configuring workflows, custom fields, and the power dialer takes time and practice.
🧑⚖️ Verdict
Close is an excellent choice for SMB sales teams that rely on phone calls and want to streamline outbound processes with integrated communication, automation, and coaching. It's not for those seeking a simple contact manager or for teams that primarily use email-only workflows. If you're serious abo
35/100
$59 starting
Agencies and WordPress developers who need a flexible, extensible form builder for complex commercial or enterprise proj
💰 Pricing
Starting at $59
📋 Assessment
💪 Strengths
- Conditional logic is exceptionally deep. You can show or hide fields, sections, or entire pages based on any combination of user inputs. This allows you to create smart, adaptive forms that guide users through complex questionnaires without overwhelming them. Unlike simpler plugins, the logic can also reroute users to different confirmation messages or URLs, making it ideal for lead qualification or dynamic sales funnels.
- The calculation fields are a standout for e-commerce and quote requests. You can build product-order forms with price-per-item, quantity multipliers, and discount codes entirely within the form. This is invaluable for businesses that need to capture orders or generate quotes without a full e-commerce platform. Calculations can be displayed live to the user, creating a transparent and interactive experience.
- The add-on ecosystem is mature and reliable. From official integrations with Salesforce, HubSpot, and Mailchimp to payment gateways like Stripe and Authorize.Net, these add-ons are maintained by the Gravity Forms team, ensuring compatibility and security. This direct integration means you don't need separate third-party services to connect your forms, a huge time-saver and cost reduction.
- Data entry is a first-class citizen. Every submission is stored in your WordPress database, and you can export entries to CSV or Excel with ease. The plugin also allows users to save and resume incomplete forms, which is a lifesaver for long applications. This focus on data integrity and accessibility sets it apart from plugins that only send emails.
⚠ Watch out for
- The free version is extremely limited, only allowing a single form to be displayed on the front end. This essentially makes it a paid-only solution for any practical use. Users expecting a viable free tier will be disappointed, especially since competitors like WPForms offer more in their free versions. This is a significant barrier for hobbyists or small sites on a budget.
- The pricing structure is a recurring yearly cost, and many essential features require the higher-tier licenses. For example, the basic license ($59/year) includes only the core plugin and a limited number of add-ons. To access the full suite of integrations, you'll need the Pro ($159/year) or Elite ($259/year) plans. This can add up quickly for businesses needing just a few key integrations, and it's a recurring expense that some competitors offset with one-time fees or cheaper annual plans.
- The user interface feels dated compared to modern form builders. The form editor is functional but cluttered, with pages and fields presented in a basic, non-visual way. Drag-and-drop is there, but it lacks the polish and intuitive simplicity of newer competitors. This makes the learning curve steeper for beginners, who might find the settings overwhelming.
- Performance can be an issue on sites with heavy traffic. The plugin's use of multiple database queries, especially with large forms or many entries, can affect page load times. While caching helps, it's not as optimized as some lightweight alternatives. For high-traffic pages, you may need extra attention to performance tuning.
- Customer support is only available for paid users, and even then, response times can be slow during peak periods. The knowledge base is thorough, but if you need quick assistance with a critical issue, the lack of a chat option (only email or a support forum) can be frustrating.
🎯 Best for
Agencies and WordPress developers who need a flexible, extensible form builder for complex commercial or enterprise projects.
🚫 Who should skip
Beginners or simple contact form users who don't need advanced logic and would be better served by free or cheaper options like WPForms Lite or Contact Form 7.
📚 Learning curve
Moderate to Steep: basic forms are easy, but mastering conditional logic, calculations, and developer hooks requires WordPress and technical knowledge.
🧑⚖️ Verdict
Gravity Forms is the best choice for developers and businesses that need deep form functionality, such as conditional logic, calculations, and CRM integrations. If you require a reliable, extensible form solution and are willing to invest in a paid license, it's a strong contender. However, casual u
📊 Use Case Suitability
Higher score = better fit. Scores from editorial review.
Use CaseCloseGravity Forms
High-volume cold calling for SMB sales teams95—
Close's power dialer and native calling are purpose-built for reps making dozens
Managing multi-stage B2B sales pipelines88—
Customizable pipelines, drag-and-drop deal stages, and activity tracking give sa
Automated email and SMS follow-up sequences82—
Workflow automation can trigger personalized follow-ups based on call outcomes,
Sales coaching and performance monitoring75—
Call recording, call coaching tools, and activity dashboards let managers review
Affiliate/partner program management via PartnerStack55—
Close integrates with PartnerStack, but it is not an affiliate platform itself.
Complex Multi-Page Applications and Quizzes—95
Gravity Forms excels at multi-page forms with advanced conditional logic, progre
Payment and Donation Collection—90
With Stripe, PayPal, and Square add-ons, it handles one-time and recurring payme
User-Generated Content and Submissions—85
It allows front-end submissions with moderation, file uploads, and integration w
🧭 Which One Should You Pick?
Choose Close if...
- You are: Close is best for SMB sales teams that rely on high-volume phone outreach and need a simple, all-in-one CRM with built-i
- 👍 Native calling with power dialer directly in the CRM, so no third-party telephony setup is needed.
- 👍 Strong activity logging: emails, calls, and SMS are automatically tracked against the contact or lea
- 👍 Flexible workflows for automating repetitive tasks like follow-up reminders and data enrichment.
- 💰 Free tier available
- ⚠ Trade-off: No permanent free tier; the trial period is only 14 days, which can be short for
Choose Gravity Forms if...
- You are: Agencies and WordPress developers who need a flexible, extensible form builder for complex commercial or enterprise proj
- 👍 Powerful conditional logic that can trigger actions, show fields, and branch form flow with granular
- 👍 Large official add-on library covering payments, email marketing, CRMs, and productivity tools.
- 👍 Excellent data integrity with real-time entry storage, export features, and customizable CRM mapping
- 💰 From $59/mo
- ⚠ Trade-off: No free tier; requires an annual license that can feel expensive compared to fre
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Close really free?
No. Close does not offer a permanent free plan; the listed 'Free' refers to a 14-day free trial. Paid plans start after the trial, with pricing based on features and team size.
Can I migrate data from another CRM into Close?
Yes, Close provides built-in CSV import and offers migration assistance from popular CRMs like HubSpot, Salesforce, and Pipedrive. Some historical data (like email threading) may need cleanup depending on the source.
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