Tool Comparisons

    Closely vs Method CRM: Sales Engagement Platform vs CRM Platform Comparison

    Compare Closely (sales engagement platform) and Method CRM (CRM platform) side by side. See pricing, features, and integrations to decide which one, or both, your stack needs.

    Side-by-side panels: Closely vs Method CRM (Sales Engagement Platform, CRM Platform)
    August 31, 2026Updated September 4, 20266 min read
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    The short answer

    Closely is a sales engagement platform for multichannel outreach across LinkedIn and email starting at $49/mo, while Method CRM is a CRM platform for customer management, pipeline tracking, and QuickBooks or Xero syncing starting at $35/mo. They serve different jobs: Closely for outbound campaigns, Method CRM for organizing contacts and deals. Many teams run both together.

    Key takeaways

    • Closely's Starter plan costs $49/mo and includes 1 LinkedIn account plus unlimited email accounts.
    • Method CRM's CRM Quick Start plan costs $35/mo, making it the lower entry point compared to Closely.
    • Closely's Growth plan is $127/mo with 3 LinkedIn accounts and 3,000 bonus credits per month.
    • Method CRM syncs customer, estimate, invoice, and payment data directly with QuickBooks and Xero.
    • Gmail is the only integration listed by both Closely and Method CRM.

    Reviewed and updated September 4, 2026

    Closely vs Method CRM: Sales Engagement Platform vs CRM Platform Comparison

    Closely (sales engagement platform) and Method CRM (CRM platform) sit next to each other in many outbound stacks. They are not substitutes for each other on every job, so this comparison covers pricing, features, and integrations for each and points out where the two meet.

    The Quick Answer

    Closely is a sales engagement platform for multi-channel sales outreach and engagement tracking; Method CRM is a CRM platform for customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking. By each vendor's own wording, Closely lists multichannel campaigns across linkedin and email and conditional sequence builder, and Method CRM lists customer management with a 360-degree customer view and customer portals.

    Method CRM offers a lower entry point at $35/mo compared to Closely at $49/mo.

    If your priority is coordinating outreach across email, phone, and social channels, Closely is the one built for it; for organizing contacts, tracking deals, and forecasting revenue, that is Method CRM. Many teams run one of each.

    Understanding the Core Difference

    Closely is Outbound platform that runs automated campaigns across LinkedIn and email from a shared sender, with a conditional sequence builder, unified inbox, contact enrichment and AI personalization agents.

    Method CRM is Method CRM is a customizable CRM for QuickBooks and Xero users that syncs customer, estimate, invoice and payment data with the accounting system. It adds lead management, customer portals, email campaigns, workflow automation and job management for growing businesses.

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

    Pricing Comparison

    Pricing table: Pricing Comparison (Closely, Method CRM, Starter, CRM Quick Start)

    $49/moClosely entry plan

    Starter

    $35/moMethod CRM entry plan

    CRM Quick Start

    Entry pricing for Closely and Method CRM, as published on each vendor's own pricing page.

    Closely Pricing (as of September 2026)

    PlanPriceContacts
    Starter$49/mo1 LinkedIn account, unlimited email accounts
    Growth$127/mo3 LinkedIn accounts, unlimited email accounts, 3,000 bonus credits/mo
    Essential$205/mo5 LinkedIn accounts, unlimited email accounts, 5,000 bonus credits/mo
    CustomContact SalesUnlimited seats, custom LinkedIn accounts and credits

    Source: Closely Pricing

    Method CRM Pricing (as of September 2026)

    PlanPrice
    CRM Quick Start$35/mo
    CRM Pro$59/mo
    CRM Enterprise$97/mo
    CRM Multi-entityContact Sales

    Source: Method CRM Pricing

    Pricing Analysis

    Method CRM offers the lower entry point ($35/mo vs $49/mo). Teams watching their budget will appreciate the savings, especially when starting out.

    Features Breakdown

    Closely lists
    • Multichannel campaigns across LinkedIn and email
    • Conditional sequence builder
    • Smart Inbox unifying LinkedIn and email replies
    • LinkedIn account warmup
    • Dedicated residential IP for each LinkedIn account
    • OAuth Gmail and Outlook connection plus custom SMTP
    • and 4 more listed below
    Method CRM lists
    • Customer management with a 360-degree customer view
    • Customer portals
    • Email campaigns
    • Lead management with web-to-lead forms
    • Estimates and proposals with online approvals
    • Invoicing and online payments
    • and 4 more listed below
    What Closely and Method CRM 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.

    Closely Key Features

    • Multichannel campaigns across LinkedIn and email
    • Conditional sequence builder
    • Smart Inbox unifying LinkedIn and email replies
    • LinkedIn account warmup
    • Dedicated residential IP for each LinkedIn account
    • OAuth Gmail and Outlook connection plus custom SMTP
    • Email finder with a multi-step fallback process
    • Phone number finder
    • AI lead scoring and personalization agents
    • Export from Sales Navigator, LinkedIn posts and events

    Method CRM Key Features

    • Customer management with a 360-degree customer view
    • Customer portals
    • Email campaigns
    • Lead management with web-to-lead forms
    • Estimates and proposals with online approvals
    • Invoicing and online payments
    • Workflow automation
    • Job and work order management
    • Time tracking, scheduling and dispatching
    • Mobile app

    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 Closely

    • Multichannel campaigns across LinkedIn and email
    • Conditional sequence builder
    • Smart Inbox unifying LinkedIn and email replies
    • LinkedIn account warmup
    • Dedicated residential IP for each LinkedIn account
    • OAuth Gmail and Outlook connection plus custom SMTP
    • Email finder with a multi-step fallback process
    • Phone number finder
    • AI lead scoring and personalization agents
    • Export from Sales Navigator, LinkedIn posts and events

    Listed only by Method CRM

    • Customer management with a 360-degree customer view
    • Customer portals
    • Email campaigns
    • Lead management with web-to-lead forms
    • Estimates and proposals with online approvals
    • Invoicing and online payments
    • Workflow automation
    • Job and work order management
    • Time tracking, scheduling and dispatching
    • Mobile app

    Integration Ecosystem

    Integration flow: Integration Ecosystem (Closely, Method CRM, Gmail, Salesforce)

    Closely Integrations

    Closely connects with: Salesforce, Pipedrive, HubSpot, GoHighLevel, Gmail, Microsoft Outlook, SMTP, Webhooks.

    Method CRM Integrations

    Method CRM connects with: QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, QuickBooks Enterprise, Xero, Gmail, Google Calendar, Outlook, Zapier.

    Shared Integrations

    Both tools integrate with: Gmail.

    Integrations listed only by Closely: Salesforce, Pipedrive, HubSpot, GoHighLevel, Microsoft Outlook, SMTP, Webhooks.

    Integrations listed only by Method CRM: QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, QuickBooks Enterprise, Xero, Google Calendar, Outlook, Zapier.

    Use Case Recommendations

    Best Fit for Closely

    • Budget-conscious teams looking for an affordable sales engagement platform
    • Enterprise buyers who prefer custom pricing and dedicated support
    • SDR teams running multi-channel outreach sequences
    • Sales managers tracking team engagement metrics

    Best Fit for Method CRM

    • Budget-conscious teams looking for an affordable CRM platform
    • Enterprise buyers who prefer custom pricing and dedicated support
    • Sales teams tracking deals from first touch to close
    • Managers who need pipeline visibility and forecasting

    Feature Comparison Summary

    FeatureCloselyMethod CRM
    Starting Price$49/mo$35/mo
    Top Tier PriceContact SalesContact Sales
    Total Features Listed1010
    Integrations88

    Getting Started Checklist

    Step sequence: Getting Started Checklist (Define multi-channel sales, Estimate expected sequences, List integrations, Sign up)

    1. Define your multi-channel sales outreach and engagement tracking and customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking requirements and monthly budget
    2. Estimate your expected sequences and engagement actions and 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

    Closely serves the multi-channel sales outreach and engagement tracking side of an outbound stack and Method CRM the customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking side. Method CRM offers a more accessible entry point at $35/mo, while Closely starts at $49/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 Closely and Method CRM for current information.

    Questions

    Frequently asked questions.

    Frequently asked questions
    What is the main difference between Closely and Method CRM?
    Closely is a sales engagement platform built for multichannel outreach across LinkedIn and email, including a conditional sequence builder and unified inbox. Method CRM is a CRM platform focused on customer relationship management, pipeline tracking, and syncing with QuickBooks or Xero. They solve different core challenges rather than competing head to head.
    Which tool is cheaper, Closely or Method CRM?
    Method CRM has the lower entry price at $35/mo for its CRM Quick Start plan, compared to Closely's Starter plan at $49/mo. Method CRM's higher tiers are CRM Pro at $59/mo and CRM Enterprise at $97/mo, while Closely's higher tiers are Growth at $127/mo and Essential at $205/mo.
    Can Closely and Method CRM be used together?
    Yes, the article notes that many teams run one of each because the platforms handle different parts of the sales stack. Closely coordinates outreach across email, phone, and social channels, while Method CRM organizes contacts, tracks deals, and forecasts revenue, so they complement rather than replace each other.
    Does Method CRM integrate with QuickBooks?
    Yes, Method CRM is built for QuickBooks and Xero users and syncs customer, estimate, invoice, and payment data with the accounting system. Its listed integrations include QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, QuickBooks Enterprise, and Xero, alongside Gmail, Google Calendar, Outlook, and Zapier.
    What integrations does Closely offer?
    Closely connects with Salesforce, Pipedrive, HubSpot, GoHighLevel, Gmail, Microsoft Outlook, SMTP, and Webhooks. Gmail is the one integration it shares in common with Method CRM, based on each vendor's own published integration lists.
    CloselyMethod CRMSales Engagement PlatformCRM PlatformComparisonsales-engagementcrm
    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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