Tool Comparisons

    Close vs EngageBay: CRM Platform Comparison

    Compare Close and EngageBay side by side. See pricing, features, and integrations to choose the right CRM platform for your needs.

    Editorial illustration for Close vs EngageBay
    August 21, 2026Updated September 4, 20265 min read
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    The short answer

    Close is a CRM built for inside sales teams with built-in calling, Power Dialer, and native SMS, starting at $19/mo, while EngageBay combines CRM with email marketing, landing pages, and helpdesk tools starting free, with a paid tier reaching $119.99/mo. The right choice depends on budget, team size, and required integrations.

    Key takeaways

    • Close's entry-level Solo plan costs $19/mo and is limited to 10,000 leads.
    • EngageBay offers a free tier with 250 contacts, and its Pro plan costs $119.99/mo for 50,000 contacts.
    • Close integrates with 8 tools including Zapier, Slack, Gmail, and HubSpot, while EngageBay integrates with 10 tools including Shopify, Xero, and Stripe.
    • Close was founded in 2013, while EngageBay's founding date is not listed in the comparison.
    • Both Close and EngageBay list 8 features each on their own vendor pages.

    Reviewed and updated September 4, 2026

    Close vs EngageBay: CRM Platform Comparison

    Close and EngageBay are both CRM platforms. Choosing between them depends on your team size, budget, and specific customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking requirements. Here is what each vendor publishes about pricing, features, and integrations.

    The Quick Answer

    By each vendor's own wording, Close lists built-in calling with power dialer and native sms messaging, while EngageBay lists email marketing and landing page builder. A capability both offer can appear under different names, so read both feature lists below.

    EngageBay offers a lower entry point at $0/mo compared to Close at $19/mo.

    If your priority is organizing contacts, tracking deals, and forecasting revenue, both tools target it. The right choice depends on your budget, team size, and the specific capabilities you need most.

    Understanding the Core Difference

    Close is A CRM built specifically for inside sales teams, with built-in calling, SMS, and email functionality. Close focuses on reducing manual data entry and increasing sales velocity with features like Power Dialer, predictive dialing, and workflow automation.

    EngageBay is EngageBay lets small businesses manage marketing, sales and customer service in one platform. The CRM sits alongside email marketing, landing pages, live chat and a helpdesk, with a free tier for teams of up to 15 members.

    The two platforms take different approaches to solving the same core challenge.

    Pricing Comparison

    Pricing panels: Pricing Comparison (Close, EngageBay, Solo, Free)

    $19/moClose entry plan

    Solo

    FreeEngageBay entry plan

    Free

    Entry pricing for Close and EngageBay, as published on each vendor's own pricing page.

    Close Pricing (as of September 2026)

    PlanPriceContacts
    Solo$19/moLimited to 10k leads
    Essentials$49/mo-
    Growth$109/mo-
    Scale$149/mo-

    Source: Close Pricing

    EngageBay Pricing (as of September 2026)

    PlanPriceContacts
    FreeFree250 Contacts
    Basic$14.99/mo500 Contacts
    Growth$64.99/mo5000 Contacts
    Pro$119.99/mo50,000 Contacts

    Source: EngageBay Pricing

    Pricing Analysis

    EngageBay offers the lower entry point ($0/mo vs $19/mo). Teams watching their budget will appreciate the savings, especially when starting out.

    EngageBay includes a free tier, which is helpful for evaluating the platform without upfront cost.

    Features Breakdown

    Close lists
    • Built-in calling with Power Dialer
    • Native SMS messaging
    • Email sequences and templates
    • Automated workflows
    • Predictive dialing
    • AI Email Assistant
    • and 2 more listed below
    EngageBay lists
    • Email Marketing
    • Landing Page Builder
    • Lead Scoring
    • Marketing Automation
    • Service Automation
    • Live Chat
    • and 2 more listed below
    What Close and EngageBay each list on their own pages. The split is by exact wording, so a capability both offer can appear on both sides under different names.

    Close Key Features

    • Built-in calling with Power Dialer
    • Native SMS messaging
    • Email sequences and templates
    • Automated workflows
    • Predictive dialing
    • AI Email Assistant
    • Pipeline and activity reporting
    • Role-based access and permissions

    EngageBay Key Features

    • Email Marketing
    • Landing Page Builder
    • Lead Scoring
    • Marketing Automation
    • Service Automation
    • Live Chat
    • Helpdesk
    • Custom Reporting

    The two lists below are a diff of each vendor's own feature list by exact wording, so a capability both tools offer can appear on either side under a different name.

    Listed only by Close

    • Built-in calling with Power Dialer
    • Native SMS messaging
    • Email sequences and templates
    • Automated workflows
    • Predictive dialing
    • AI Email Assistant
    • Pipeline and activity reporting
    • Role-based access and permissions

    Listed only by EngageBay

    • Email Marketing
    • Landing Page Builder
    • Lead Scoring
    • Marketing Automation
    • Service Automation
    • Live Chat
    • Helpdesk
    • Custom Reporting

    Integration Ecosystem

    Integration grid: Integration Ecosystem (Close, EngageBay, Zapier, Slack)

    Close Integrations

    Close connects with: Zapier, Slack, Gmail, Microsoft Outlook, Zoom, HubSpot, Segment, Calendly.

    EngageBay Integrations

    EngageBay connects with: Zapier, Shopify, Xero, SendGrid, Mandrill, Stripe, Slack, Twilio, WooCommerce, Google Meet.

    Shared Integrations

    Both tools integrate with: Zapier, Slack.

    Integrations listed only by Close: Gmail, Microsoft Outlook, Zoom, HubSpot, Segment, Calendly.

    Integrations listed only by EngageBay: Shopify, Xero, SendGrid, Mandrill, Stripe, Twilio, WooCommerce, Google Meet.

    Use Case Recommendations

    Best Fit for Close

    • Budget-conscious teams looking for an affordable CRM platform
    • Sales teams tracking deals from first touch to close
    • Managers who need pipeline visibility and forecasting
    • Growing teams that need scalable contact management

    Best Fit for EngageBay

    • Budget-conscious teams looking for an affordable CRM platform
    • Organizations with complex tech stacks needing broad integration support (10 integrations)
    • Teams that want to start free and scale up as needs grow

    Feature Comparison Summary

    FeatureCloseEngageBay
    Starting Price$19/moFree
    Top Tier Price$149/mo$119.99/mo
    Total Features Listed88
    Integrations810
    Founded2013N/A

    Getting Started Checklist

    Step sequence: Getting Started Checklist (Define customer relationship, Estimate expected contacts, List integrations, Sign up)

    1. Define your customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking requirements and monthly budget
    2. Estimate your expected contacts and deals to find the right tier
    3. List the integrations your team currently relies on
    4. Sign up for free trials or demos of both platforms
    5. Run a small test with each tool before making a commitment
    6. Evaluate the onboarding experience and support quality

    Final Thoughts

    Close and EngageBay both serve the customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking market. EngageBay offers a more accessible entry point, while Close starts at $19/mo. Your decision should weigh pricing against the specific features that matter most for your workflow.

    Start with a trial of each to see which platform fits your team's daily process. The best tool is the one your team actually uses consistently.

    Pricing and features verified as of September 2026. Visit Close and EngageBay for current information.

    Questions

    Frequently asked questions.

    Frequently asked questions
    Which CRM is cheaper, Close or EngageBay?
    EngageBay is cheaper at the entry level, offering a free tier with 250 contacts, while Close's lowest paid plan, Solo, costs $19/mo and is limited to 10,000 leads. At the top tier, Close's Scale plan is $149/mo compared to EngageBay's Pro plan at $119.99/mo.
    What integrations does Close support?
    Close connects with Zapier, Slack, Gmail, Microsoft Outlook, Zoom, HubSpot, Segment, and Calendly, totaling 8 listed integrations. Zapier and Slack are the two integrations shared with EngageBay.
    What integrations does EngageBay support?
    EngageBay connects with Zapier, Shopify, Xero, SendGrid, Mandrill, Stripe, Slack, Twilio, WooCommerce, and Google Meet, totaling 10 listed integrations. This is two more than Close's 8 listed integrations.
    Which CRM is better for sales teams focused on calling and pipeline tracking?
    Close is built specifically for inside sales teams, with built-in calling, a Power Dialer, native SMS messaging, and predictive dialing to increase sales velocity. It is recommended for budget-conscious sales teams tracking deals from first touch to close and managers who need pipeline visibility and forecasting.
    Is EngageBay good for teams that need marketing tools beyond a CRM?
    Yes, EngageBay combines CRM with email marketing, a landing page builder, live chat, and a helpdesk in one platform, alongside a free tier for teams of up to 15 members. It is recommended for organizations with complex tech stacks needing broad integration support and teams that want to start free and scale up.
    CloseEngageBayCRM PlatformComparisoncrm
    Byline

    About the author.

    Tim Carden

    Tim Carden is CMO / CTO at RevenueFlow, which builds and operates outbound revenue engines for B2B companies. Studied at McGill University.

    Tim Carden · CMO / CTO

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