Free alternatives to Close
Close costs $19/mo on the Solo plan, or $228 a year. Here are 8 free and open-source options, what each one does, and what you give up compared with paying.
01At a glance
| Alternative | Type | Where it runs | Works on |
|---|---|---|---|
| EspoCRM | Open source | You host it | Web, Your server |
| Frappe CRM | Open source | Hosted or self-hosted | Web, Your server |
| HubSpot Free CRM | Free | Hosted for you | Web, iPhone, Android |
| Twenty | Open source | Hosted or self-hosted | Web, Your server |
| Odoo CRM One App Free | Free | Hosted for you | Web |
| Zoho CRM Free | Free | Hosted for you | Web, iPhone, Android |
| Freshsales Free | Free | Hosted for you | Web, iPhone, Android |
| Bitrix24 Free | Free | Hosted for you | Web, iPhone, Android |
02Each alternative, in detail
A traditional CRM that actually lets you change the data model; polished enough, but still your server.
Versus paying: It does not match Close's tightly integrated calling, SMS and sales-sequence workflow, so communications are more fragmented.
Setup: Docker Compose or PHP/web-server installer
Watch for: A server with PHP and a supported database, or Docker; production also needs HTTPS, mail, backups and upgrades
3,200 GitHub stars (checked Aug 6, 2026)
espocrm.com →A clean leads-and-deals board with notes, tasks and email; Frappe underneath means a real server, not a toy.
Versus paying: Its calls, messaging and outbound sequences are not as unified or mature as Close's communication-first workspace.
Setup: Frappe Cloud signup, or easy-install script, Bench or Docker
Watch for: Self-hosting means Linux plus Frappe Bench or Docker, database and Redis services, a domain, mail configuration and upgrades
3,200 GitHub stars (checked Aug 6, 2026)
frappe.io →A real two-seat CRM for free; 1,000 contacts is where the upsell starts counting.
Versus paying: The free product does not provide Close-level native calling, SMS and outbound sequencing in one focused sales screen.
Setup: Hosted signup
hubspot.com →A modern pipeline CRM with custom objects, views and mailbox sync; the subscription becomes a Compose file.
Versus paying: It lacks Close's deeply integrated calling, SMS and sales-sequence experience.
Setup: Hosted signup or Docker Compose
Watch for: Self-hosting needs Docker Compose, environment variables, a domain, email, persistent storage, backups and upgrades
54,400 GitHub stars (checked Aug 6, 2026)
twenty.com →A full hosted pipeline for unlimited users, provided CRM is the only Odoo app you marry.
Versus paying: It lacks Close's communication-first calling, SMS and sequence workflow, and the one-app rule punishes expansion into other Odoo modules.
Setup: Hosted signup
Watch for: None for CRM alone; installing a second Odoo app ends the one-app-free arrangement
odoo.com →A full little CRM for three users and 5,000 records; the wider Zoho maze is optional.
Versus paying: The free tier does not reproduce Close's native calling, SMS and sales-sequence depth.
Setup: Hosted signup
zoho.com →A clean three-user pipeline with email and mobile apps; useful automation starts asking for rent.
Versus paying: The free tier lacks the advanced calling, sequencing and automation that make Close a communication-first CRM.
Setup: Hosted signup
freshworks.com →Contacts and deals for a small team, wrapped in enough menus to qualify as indoor architecture.
Versus paying: Its sprawling suite and crowded interface are substantially less focused than Close's compact sales communication workspace.
Setup: Hosted signup
bitrix24.com →03What you give up by leaving Close
- built-in email, calling, SMS, power dialer, workflows, and sales reliability
- automatic email and calendar capture
- data enrichment
- large integration ecosystem
- enterprise reporting
People still pay for Close because CRM value compounds as the system becomes the shared memory of every customer interaction and embeds itself in the rest of the stack. The recurring cost buys deduplication, permissions, imports, sync, enrichment, email capture, automations, backups, and audit history, not just the visible interface.
04Questions
Is there a free alternative to Close?
Yes. This page compares 8: EspoCRM, Frappe CRM, HubSpot Free CRM, Twenty, Odoo CRM One App Free, Zoho CRM Free, Freshsales Free and Bitrix24 Free. 3 of them are open source, so you can run them yourself.
How much does Close cost?
$19/mo on the Solo plan (monthly per user), which is $228 a year. Prices checked Aug 12, 2026.
What do you give up with a free alternative to Close?
Most often: built-in email, calling, SMS, power dialer, workflows, and sales reliability, automatic email and calendar capture, data enrichment and large integration ecosystem. Each alternative on this page lists its own gap under “Versus paying.”
Can AI build me my own version of Close?
Nah. A consolation build is possible, but the paid product's decisive value sits outside a solo rebuild. For Close, track deals and manually log communication in a focused sales workspace. The hard boundary is built-in email, calling, sms, power dialer, workflows, and sales reliability, plus integrations, data quality, and workflow lock-in.
Prices change; confirm on the vendor's site before you decide.
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