Last week, I gave you an in-depth demo of Close CRM for 2024, showcasing its powerful features and how to use it to maximize your sales process. If you missed it, click here to give it a read.
This week, we’re diving into a detailed review of Close CRM for 2024. We'll weigh the pros and cons of Close CRM across the top 10 categories that define a world-class customer relationship management tool.
Close CRM boasts a user-friendly interface that prioritizes simplicity and functionality. The tool is designed to help sales teams close more deals faster. The straightforward layout ensures that all essential information is readily accessible without navigating through multiple tabs. Sales reps can quickly identify their priorities and focus on the lowest hanging fruit for the day. Additionally, the ease of use extends to the management level, simplifying oversight and performance tracking.
For this reason, Close CRM earns a solid 9 out of 10 in this category.
Close CRM allows for efficient contact and lead management, particularly useful for B2B setups where you might deal with both companies and individual contacts. However, unlike HubSpot, Close does not allow deals or opportunities to exist independently of contacts or leads, which can be limiting in complex scenarios like commercial real estate transactions. Despite these limitations, the smart view capabilities increase its usability.
Overall, Close CRM scores 7 out of 10 for contact management.
Automation is a critical feature for any CRM, and Close has made significant strides in this area with its workflows. These workflows come with native triggers like lead status changes. However, the integration of marketing and sales automation isn't as seamless as in platforms like HubSpot or GoHighLevel. If you're comfortable using tools like Zapier, Close's automation potential expands significantly.
Given these factors, Close CRM scores 7 out of 10 for automation features.
Close CRM's built-in dialer provides a wealth of data, enhancing its reporting capabilities. The platform allows for activity comparison across sales reps and detailed exploration of lead data. However, the inability to create custom formulas for metrics like average call duration means that many users might need to supplement with external reporting tools. Despite this limitation, the reporting features are robust and practical, earning Close CRM a 7 out of 10.
If you need customized reporting dashboards, click here to get a free dashboard template tailored for your business.
Close CRM excels in customer support and training, thanks to its lean and responsive team. The support community, especially the Slack group, is active and helpful. While smaller accounts might not get dedicated customer success managers, the overall support environment is strong. The Close.com YouTube library is growing, and there are plenty of external resources available.
This category scores 8 out of 10.
Close CRM offers a variety of native integrations and excels with its API and Zapier integrations. While it may not have as many native integrations as HubSpot, the flexibility provided by Zapier compensates for this. This flexibility allows users to connect Close with a wide range of tools, making it a versatile choice for many businesses.
Close CRM earns a 7 out of 10 for integrations.
The Close CRM mobile app is a standout feature, offering nearly full functionality on the go. You can make calls, send texts, manage emails, and update your pipeline directly from your mobile device. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for sales reps who need to stay productive while away from their desks. The mobile app earns a high score of 9 out of 10.
Close CRM provides essential security features, including the ability to hide leads from other users and native call recording and transcription. However, it lacks advanced security certifications like HIPAA compliance, which might be necessary for industries handling sensitive information. As a result, Close CRM scores 6 out of 10 for security and data privacy.
The built-in dialer is one of Close CRM's strongest features. It integrates seamlessly with the platform, supports power dialing, and offers group numbers for efficient call management. While it lacks advanced features like geo-calling, the existing functionality is robust and reliable. The dialer earns Close CRM a 9 out of 10.
Pricing is a crucial factor when choosing a CRM. Close CRM offers competitive pricing, especially when compared to similar tools like HubSpot and GoHighLevel. The removal of the minimum seat requirement for the Enterprise plan makes it accessible to smaller teams. While there are cheaper options available, Close CRM's feature set justifies its cost. This category scores 8 out of 10.
After evaluating Close CRM across these 10 categories, it scores a total of 77 out of 100. While it has areas for improvement, particularly in contact management and security, its strengths in user interface, mobile functionality, and integrated dialer make it a powerful tool for sales enablement.