Aircall vs Close

Aircall is a business phone system (VoIP) that plugs into your CRM and helpdesk, automatically logging calls, texts, and customer interactions.

If you're looking for one of the best VoIP solutions on the market and native, out-of-the-box native integration is important to you, then you'll be in good hands with Aircall would be your best bet.

While this might sound slightly confusing as we have Dialpad listed as our "Top Pick", that's because things get quite a bit more complex when you look holistically across the VoIP space. We for example chose Dialpad as the Voice over IP solution for our business, but as an integration company, we aren't afraid of building out a custom Copper + Dialpad Integration. That said, we know we aren't the average company, and to justify investing in that doesn't make sense for many companies.

Aircall actually integrates natively with many of the best CRM software and tools on the market. This means out of the box, minimal setup required. So while the integration might not be the best we've seen, it accomplishes the goal of logging texts and phone calls into the other software, which is usually what teams are ultimately looking for when it comes to a VoIP integration.

They have a relatively robust API if you do want to go the custom route, integrating Aircall into other tools.

If you're more technical and are familiar with the best integration software on the market, Aircall actually uses Tray on the back-end to integrate with many of these tools natively. Which while that's not something we particularly love, it does seem to work well enough, and it has enabled them to build more native integrations out of the gate.

Close is a CRM built primarily for sales teams that rely heavily on phone calls and SMS messaging to move deals forward. It's different from other CRMs that focus more on contact management and pipeline tracking. Close essentially tries to bring communication directly into the platform by bundling a built-in VoIP system with SMS messaging and email syncing.

Compared to tools we usually recommend for small businesses, like Copper (Google Workspace) or Pipedrive (Microsoft 365), Close feels hyper-specialized and a bit rigid. If your team spends all day making calls, Close might make sense. But for most SMBs looking for a flexible CRM to manage relationships and sales pipelines, there are better options.

Pros

• Native calling and SMS functionality inside the CRM
• Sales sequences combine email, SMS, and call reminders
• Built-in autodialer designed for high-volume outbound sales
• Good option for teams running aggressive outbound sales motions

Cons

• Limited pipeline flexibility on lower tiers
• Mobile app support has lagged behind competitors
• Email experience is weaker than modern inbox tools like Gmail
• Expensive pricing with a 3-seat minimum even at the lowest tier
• Some features feel like early versions rather than polished solutions
• Forces you into using their built-in VoIP instead of integrating external tools

Close is best known for its built-in power dialer. Sales reps are able to load a list of leads and automatically call through them one by one. The system connects the rep when someone finally answers, pauses between calls for note-taking, and then continues dialing.

So for teams doing a lot of outbound calling, this can actually speed up their workflow.

Because Close has its own VoIP and SMS tools built directly into the platform, it can create automated outreach sequences that combine multiple channels. For example, you can send an email, follow up with an SMS a few days later, and then create a task reminding a sales rep to make a call. This type of multichannel outreach is really powerful for sales teams that are mainly focused on prospecting.

Close does a good job syncing email conversations into the CRM. When you connect your Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 account, it can retroactively pull past emails into the system so you have a full history of conversations with contacts. While it's not quite as advanced as some CRM integrations we've seen, it's still better than what many competitors provide.

• Essentials: $49/mo per user. Best for small sales teams that want a CRM with additional communication capabilities.
• Growth: $109/mo per user. Best for teams that want to automate parts of their sales workflow.
• Scale: $149/mo per user. Best for larger teams that need more advanced control and dialing capabilities.
• Enterprise: Custom pricing. Designed for large organizations with complex CRM needs.