# Close vs Freshsales Free (2026): Free Alternative to Close

Canonical: https://caniforkit.com/vs/close-crm-vs-freshsales-free
Last updated: 2026-08-10

Compare Close ($19/mo) vs Freshsales Free ($0/mo free alternative to Close). Side-by-side breakdown of pricing, self-hosting setup, data storage, and practical trade-offs.

## Side-by-Side Comparison Matrix

| Feature / Metric | Close | Freshsales Free |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $19/mo | $0.00 / month |
| 1-Seat Annual Cost | $228/yr | $0.00 / year |
| 5-Person Team Annual Cost | $1,140/yr | $0.00 / year |
| 10-Person Team Annual Cost | $2,280/yr | $0.00 / year |
| License Model | Proprietary Commercial SaaS | proprietary, free |
| Hosting / Runtime | Vendor Cloud | Hosted |
| Data Ownership | Stored on vendor servers | CRM records and files live in Freshworks' cloud; contacts and deals can be imported or exported by CSV |
| GitHub Stars | Closed Source | ★ $0 forever |
| Code Repository | None | — |
| The Catch / Trade-off | Recurring subscription cost | The free tier lacks the advanced calling, sequencing and automation that make Close a communication-first CRM. |

## About Freshsales Free
A clean three-user pipeline with email and mobile apps; useful automation starts asking for rent.

- **Installation**: Hosted signup
- **Data Storage**: CRM records and files live in Freshworks' cloud; contacts and deals can be imported or exported by CSV
- **Supported Platforms**: mobile, web, they host it
- **The Catch vs Close**: The free tier lacks the advanced calling, sequencing and automation that make Close a communication-first CRM.

## Cost Savings Breakdown
Switching from Close to Freshsales Free eliminates ongoing per-seat subscriptions:
- **Solo / 1-seat**: Save **$228/year**
- **5-person team**: Save **$1,140/year**
- **10-person team**: Save **$2,280/year**

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Is Freshsales Free a good free alternative to Close?
Yes. Freshsales Free is a verified free replacement for Close. A clean three-user pipeline with email and mobile apps; useful automation starts asking for rent.

### What is the catch when switching from Close to Freshsales Free?
The free tier lacks the advanced calling, sequencing and automation that make Close a communication-first CRM.

## Related

- [All Close Alternatives](https://caniforkit.com/close-crm)
- [Freshsales Free Full Profile](https://caniforkit.com/fork/freshsales-free)
- [crm Category Hub](https://caniforkit.com/category/crm)
- [All Paid SaaS Alternatives Index](https://caniforkit.com/alternatives)