Updated October 18, 2026 · ForgeCue Editorial Team
Close vs EngageBay
Close
EngageBay
Higher score in this comparison
Close vs EngageBay: the differences
| Compare | CloseReviewVisitVisit | EngageBayReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Price per user from | $19 | $14.99Lower |
| Free plan | No | YesHas it |
| Plan tiers | Solo, Essentials, Growth, Scale | Free, Basic, Growth, Pro |
| Product | CRM | CRM, Help deskCovers more |
| Free plan limits | Not confirmed | 250 contacts, up to 15 users |
| Free trial length | 14 days | Not confirmed |
| Integrations | Not confirmed | 250 |
| Compliance certifications | Not confirmed | GDPR, DPF |
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Key differences
- EngageBay scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.3.
- Price per user from is lower at EngageBay: $14.99 vs $19.
- Free plan: only EngageBay.
- Founded is lower at Close: 2013 vs 2017.
- Audience: only EngageBay offers Beginners.
- Pricing model: only Close offers Free trial.
- Pricing model: only EngageBay offers Free plan.
- Product: only EngageBay offers Help desk.
Our verdict on each
Close
Close is a small business CRM built on Solo, Essentials, Growth, Scale tiers, with a 14-day trial standing in for a free plan. It suits sales teams that want email, chat, phone and help centre support from Elastic Inc, and that prefer one subscription to several tools.
EngageBay
EngageBay suits small businesses and beginners seeking CRM and help-desk tools with a free entry point. Its free plan allows 250 contacts, up to 15 users, giving a clear starting check on contact and user allowances before reviewing paid tiers for your growing team.
Score breakdown
| Area | Close | EngageBay |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0Close's $19 entry places it 19 of 61 on this measure. | 9.7HigherEngageBay lists a per-user starting price of $14.99. |
| Offer | 9.9Higher | 9.5EngageBay lists CRM and help-desk coverage as CRM and help desk. |
| Trust | 8.7Higher | 8.3EngageBay lists compliance coverage as GDPR and DPF. |
Pick Close if, pick EngageBay if
Pick Close if offer and trust matter most.
Pick EngageBay if cost, price per user from, free plan, and product matter most.
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Close | EngageBay |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
If neither fits
SendPulse has price per user from at $8, against $19 for Close and $14.99 for EngageBay.
SendPulse reviewHow they place
| Ranking | Close | EngageBay |
|---|---|---|
| CRM software | 6 of 161 | 2 of 161 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Close | EngageBay |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Small business | Small business, BeginnersCovers more |
| Pricing model | Free trial | Free plan |
| Legal entity | Elastic Inc | EngageBay Inc. |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 2013Lower | 2017 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre |
Email marketing
| Fact | Close | EngageBay |
|---|---|---|
| Price at 1,000 contacts | Not confirmed | $64.99 |
| Price at 10,000 contacts | Not confirmed | $119.99 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Close | EngageBay | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per user from | $19below the median | $14.99lowest quarter | $25 |
| Free trial length | 14 daysat the median | Not confirmed | 14 days |
| Integrations | Not confirmed | 250above the median | 77 |
Median across 81 listed software products.
Pros and cons
Close
Pros
- Entry at $19 per user, comfortably under the €43.85 upper range for CRMs here.
- Support covers email, chat and phone, which is wider than email alone.
- A clear ladder of Solo, Essentials, Growth, Scale plans, so a small team can read the upgrade path.
Cons
- There is no free plan, so a small team pays for a seat before it knows the fit.
- At $19 per user it sits above Freshsales at $9, so a strict price comparison leads elsewhere.
EngageBay
Pros
- The listed allowances of 250 contacts, up to 15 users give you a clear free entry point to review contacts and users before paying.
- The listed total of 250 integrations helps you judge how EngageBay might sit alongside tools you already use.
- Contact based pricing at $64.99 and $119.99 gives you separate listed points for larger contact needs.
Cons
- The included allowances are capped at 250 contacts, up to 15 users, so a growing list or a larger team may need to look beyond the entry allowances.
- EngageBay at $14.99 is higher than Nutshell at $13, which matters when you compare per-user starting prices.
Who each suits
Close
Who it suits
- Small sales teams shopping for crm priced in the middle of the range.
- Teams willing to test on a 14-day trial rather than a permanent free tier.
- Buyers who value email, chat and phone support inside the same subscription.
Who should look elsewhere
- Price-first buyers should compare Freshsales, which starts at $9 per user.
- Anyone budgeting above Close's $19 entry can check CreatorHero at $39.99 and Infloww at $40, which price the same slot higher.
EngageBay
Who it suits
- Small businesses comparing CRM and help-desk options, with EngageBay listing coverage as CRM and help desk.
- Beginners wanting a free entry point with stated allowances of 250 contacts, up to 15 users and audience focus of small business and beginners.
- Teams that value many connections alongside clear tiers, with 250 integrations and Free, Basic, Growth, Pro.
Who should look elsewhere
- If a lower listed per-user starting price is your main concern, check Nutshell at $13 against EngageBay at $14.99.
- If your contact base already exceeds the free allowances of 250 contacts, up to 15 users, compare Bumpa and Dolisoft before settling on EngageBay.
Current offers
Close
Current offer
Free trial
14-day free trial: 14 days free
No credit card required
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
Close
How much does Close cost per user?+
Close lists entry at $19 per user, which sits under the €21.75 median across the brands compared here. Plans are named Solo, Essentials, Growth, Scale, so the entry tier is the cheapest point in the ladder. Read each tier for what it includes.
Does Close offer a free plan?+
There is no free plan, so a trial is the only route in before you pay. Close's stated model is free trial, and the trial runs 14 days, matching the 14 median for CRMs here. After the trial ends, a paid seat is the next step.
EngageBay
What is EngageBay's per-user starting price?+
EngageBay lists a per-user starting price of $14.99. That figure describes the entry per-user price and sits alongside separate contact based prices. Check which pricing basis matches the option you are reviewing so you compare matching measures.
What does EngageBay charge at the lower listed contact volume?+
For the lower listed contact volume, EngageBay gives a price of $64.99. This is a contact based price, separate from the per-user starting price of $14.99. Confirm whether you are comparing contact pricing or per-user pricing before deciding.