Close vs monday CRM 2026: Dialer-First vs Boards-First CRM
Quick verdict: Close is our overall pick for Close vs monday CRM.
Close's Solo plan is $9/user/mo annual for a single caller with calling built in; monday CRM starts at $12/seat/mo annual but bills a three-seat minimum and keeps phone depth behind integrations, not a native dialer.
| Tool | Rating | Pricing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Close Best overall Best free Best for teams | 4.0/5 | $9/user/mo | Close is a CRM for fast-moving outbound teams, with built-in calling and automation workfl… |
| monday CRM | 3.7/5 | $12/seat/mo | monday CRM is the CRM built on monday.com's visual work platform — board-based pipelines, … |
Bottom line: Close for inside-sales velocity — Solo $9/user/mo annual ($19 monthly, one-user plans allowed), Power Dialer at Growth $99/user/mo; the whole product is built around calls and sequences. monday CRM when selling is a board sport — Basic $12/seat/mo annual with a three-seat minimum and no native dialer to match Close's. Calling-centric teams pick Close; process-visualisation teams pick monday.
Pricing and details
Close · 4.0/5
14-day free trial · $9/user/mo
Solo $9/user/mo annual ($19 monthly, 1-user only); Essentials $35/user/mo; Growth $99/user/mo (Power Dialer); Scale $139/user/mo (Predictive Dialer)
$9/user/mo
Close is a CRM for fast-moving outbound teams, with built-in calling and automation workflows.
Score breakdown
Pros
- Best dimension: Core features at 4/5 — backed by verification against the official site & pricing.
- Second strong point: Ease of use at 4/5.
- Pricing: paid-only, paid from $9/mo/user — Solo (1 user); annual rate; Essentials $35/mo/user
- Positioning: Close is a CRM for fast-moving outbound teams, with built-in calling and automation workflows.
Cons
- Weakest dimension: Localization at 3/5.
- No free tier — budget teams must plan around the paid entry.
- Weigh the premium pricing for heavier usage before committing.
Pricing verified 2026-08-31
monday CRM · 3.7/5
14-day free trial · $12/seat/mo
Basic $12/seat/mo annual ($18 monthly); Standard $17 annual ($25 monthly); Pro $28 annual ($41 monthly); Ultimate custom quote; three-seat minimum on every plan; no permanent free plan (14-day trial only); contact caps: Basic 1,000 active contacts, Standard 10,000, Pro unlimited; automations: Standard 250/mo, Pro 25,000/mo; storage 5/20/100 GB by tier; 6,000 one-time AI credits included; top tier renamed from Enterprise to Ultimate (HIPAA compliance there)
$12/seat/mo billed annually (Basic)
monday CRM is the CRM built on monday.com's visual work platform — board-based pipelines, AI credits and deep automation, sold in three-seat minimums.
Score breakdown
Pros
- Best dimensions: Ease of use and Core features at 4/5 each — a visual, board-based pipeline that reviewers consistently call intuitive to set up.
- Deep automation ladder: Standard unlocks 250 custom automations/mo, Pro 25,000/mo (verified 2026-09-09).
- Pricing: Basic $12/seat/mo billed annually ($18 monthly); Pro $28 annual ($41 monthly).
- Positioning: monday CRM is the CRM built on monday.com's visual work platform — deals live as boards next to delivery work.
Cons
- Value scored 3/5: a three-seat minimum on every plan means the real entry cost is roughly $36/mo annual even for a two-person team.
- No permanent free plan — a 14-day trial is the only zero-cost path.
- Contact caps gate tiers hard: Basic 1,000 active contacts, Standard 10,000 before Pro goes unlimited.
Pricing verified 2026-09-09
Frequently asked questions
Which is better overall, Close or monday CRM?
Close is our overall pick (4.0/5 vs 3.7/5). Close's Solo plan is $9/user/mo annual for a single caller with calling built in; monday CRM starts at $12/seat/mo annual but bills a three-seat minimum and keeps phone depth behind integrations, not a native dialer.
Do Close and monday CRM offer free plans?
Neither advertises a free plan; check current trial terms before committing.
What does Close cost?
$9/user/mo — Solo $9/user/mo annual ($19 monthly, 1-user only); Essentials $35/user/mo; Growth $99/user/mo (Power Dialer); Scale $139/user/mo (Predictive Dialer). Prices were last verified on 2026-09-09.