Close vs SimpleTexting
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
54/100
$25 starting
Small and midsize businesses that need a simple, affordable way to send marketing texts and manage two-way customer conv
💰 Pricing
Starting at $25
🔧 Features
✓ Ai Powered✓ Sms
📋 Assessment
💪 Strengths
- Ease of use: SimpleTexting's dashboard is intuitive. You can upload a CSV, compose a message, and hit send in under five minutes. Unlike many marketing tools that have steep learning curves, this platform requires no technical knowledge. The drag-and-drop message builder and simple campaign setup make it accessible to non-marketers, which is a significant advantage for small business owners who wear many hats.
- Affordable entry point: With plans starting at $29 per month for 500 credits, SimpleTexting is cheaper than many competitors that require monthly minimums or long-term contracts. The free trial (no credit card required) lets you test the platform risk-free. You can also start with a smaller plan and scale up as your texting needs grow, which is ideal for businesses with limited budgets.
- Two-way texting: SimpleTexting supports real-time conversations with customers. You can respond to individual texts directly from your dashboard or mobile app, making it easy to handle customer service inquiries, appointment scheduling, and order updates. This personal touch helps build customer loyalty and sets it apart from one-way blast services.
- Keyword opt-in system: The platform allows you to create custom keywords (e.g., 'SAVE20') that customers can text to join your list. This is a proven way to grow your SMS list compliantly. SimpleTexting provides dedicated numbers, tracks opt-outs automatically, and handles compliance with TCPA regulations, which is a critical feature for anyone doing SMS marketing.
- Automated messages: You can set up automated welcome messages, birthday texts, and event reminders. This 'set it and forget it' capability saves time and ensures timely communication. The automation features are basic but effective for typical small business use cases like sending a discount code after a signup or a reminder before an appointment.
⚠ Watch out for
- Limited automation and segmentation: While SimpleTexting supports basic automation, it lacks advanced triggers (like abandoned cart or post-purchase flows) and deep segmentation based on customer behavior. You cannot create dynamic lists based on purchase history or website activity unless you integrate with a third-party platform. For marketers expecting marketing-cloud-like sophistication, this will feel restrictive.
- Outdated interface: The user interface, while functional, feels dated. It's not as modern or polished as competitors like Attentive or Postscript. The text editor, contact manager, and reporting dashboard look like they haven't been updated in years, which might be a turn-off for design-conscious users. It does not hamper usability, but it’s worth noting.
- Cost per message can be high for volume: At $29 for 500 texts, the effective cost per text is about $0.058, which is comparable to industry norms. However, if you need to send thousands of messages monthly, the unlimited plans (starting at $150/month) are the only cost-effective option. For low-volume users on pay-as-you-go plans, the per-text cost can add up quickly.
- No advanced analytics: SimpleTexting's reporting is basic: you get delivery rates and click-through rates for links, but you won't find conversion tracking, revenue attribution, or detailed campaign performance comparisons. This makes it hard to measure ROI precisely. Marketers who rely on data to justify spend will need to export data to external tools or use UTM parameters.
- Integration limitations: While SimpleTexting offers integrations with Zapier, HubSpot, and Shopify, the breadth is smaller than competitors. For instance, you won't find native integrations with Slack, Intercom, or many CRMs. Setting up more complex workflows requires using Zapier, which adds another layer of cost and complexity.
🎯 Best for
Small and midsize businesses that need a simple, affordable way to send marketing texts and manage two-way customer conversations without technical complexity.
🚫 Who should skip
Enterprise teams or developers who require deep programmatic control, complex workflow automation, high-volume throughput, or extensive CRM and internal tool integrations.
📚 Learning curve
Minimal — the guided setup, clean dashboard, and drag-and-drop campaign builder let most users become productive within minutes.
🧑⚖️ Verdict
SimpleTexting is a solid choice for small businesses that need straightforward SMS marketing without a steep learning curve. It's ideal if you value ease of use, two-way texting, and a free trial. However, if you require advanced automation, deep integration, or powerful analytics, look elsewhere. B
📊 Use Case Suitability
Higher score = better fit. Scores from editorial review.
Use CaseCloseSimpleTexting
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.
Appointment Reminders—95
Scheduling and sending texts is fast and intuitive, and you can personalize remi
Marketing Blasts for Promotions—88
SimpleTexting's bulk messaging and MMS support make it easy to send time-sensiti
Customer Support and Follow-ups—90
The two-way conversational inbox allows your team to manage customer texts direc
🧭 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 SimpleTexting if...
- You are: Small and midsize businesses that need a simple, affordable way to send marketing texts and manage two-way customer conv
- 👍 Extremely user-friendly drag-and-drop interface with no coding required, making it easy for non-tech
- 👍 Built-in two-way SMS/MMS conversation tool lets you handle responses from one unified inbox, improvi
- 👍 Fast setup, with you able to send your first campaign within minutes after signing up; there are no
- 💰 From $25/mo
- ⚠ Trade-off: No free plan, only a trial, so you must commit to a paid subscription to evaluat
❓ 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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