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Technology · head to head

Close vs HubSpot Live Chat

Close logo

Close

Technology

The inside sales CRM of choice for startups & SMBs

From
$9/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
HubSpot Live Chat logo

HubSpot Live Chat

Live Chat

Live chat integrated with HubSpot CRM platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only HubSpot Live Chat has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Close hidden costs beyond subscription: calling charges (~$0.02/minute), SMS usage fees, phone numbers ($1-5/month), AI call assistant ($50/month + $0.02/min transcription); HubSpot Live Chat no specific pricing published on the live chat product page; pricing requires navigation to separate Marketing Hub pricing page
  • They diverge on capability: Close covers Built-in calling, HubSpot Live Chat covers Live chat messaging.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Close and HubSpot Live Chat actually diverge.

Attributes where Close and HubSpot Live Chat differ
AttributeCloseHubSpot Live Chat
Starting price$9/monthFree
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb, Mobile app, IOS, Android
CategoryTechnologyLive Chat
Founded20132006

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Close

  • Built-in calling
  • Email automation
  • SMS messaging
  • Pipeline management
  • Lead management
  • Activity tracking
  • Reporting
  • Mobile app

Only in HubSpot Live Chat

  • Live chat messaging
  • CRM integration
  • Visitor identification
  • Chatbot builder
  • Salesforce
  • Gmail
  • Outlook
  • Mobile app support

Both cover

  • Slack
  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Close

  • Inside salesnot HubSpot Live Chat
  • Outbound salesnot HubSpot Live Chat
  • Lead managementnot HubSpot Live Chat
  • Sales engagementnot HubSpot Live Chat
  • Pipeline trackingnot HubSpot Live Chat

HubSpot Live Chat

  • Customer engagementnot Close
  • Lead generationnot Close
  • Customer supportnot Close
  • Sales automationnot Close

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Close

  • Hidden costs beyond subscription: calling charges (~$0.02/minute), SMS usage fees, phone numbers ($1-5/month), AI call assistant ($50/month + $0.02/min transcription)
  • No built-in lead lists, company intelligence, or contact enrichment; must source leads separately
  • Limited marketing automation compared to competitors like HubSpot; lacks lead scoring and nurturing campaigns
  • Calling cost at scale can double effective monthly cost for high-volume SDR teams making 50+ calls per day
  • Limited customization of data model compared to Salesforce; cannot create fully custom objects or complex relationships

HubSpot Live Chat

  • No specific pricing published on the live chat product page; pricing requires navigation to separate Marketing Hub pricing page
  • Live chat pricing bundled with broader Marketing Hub plans rather than offered as standalone product pricing
  • Free tier features not detailed on product page, requiring contact or additional navigation for feature clarity

Pricing, plan by plan

Close

$9/month
  • Solo$9/month (annual)
    • 1 user only
    • 10,000 leads max
    • Calling, email, SMS
  • Essentials$35/month (annual)
    • Unlimited contacts
    • Team collaboration
    • 1,000 AI credits/month
  • Growth$99/month (annual)
    • Automation workflows
    • Power dialer
    • Bulk email
  • Scale$139/month (annual)
    • Role-based permissions
    • Predictive dialer
    • Unlimited recording

HubSpot Live Chat

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Live chat
    • CRM
    • Basic features
  • Starter$50/month
    • Marketing automation
    • Enhanced features
  • Professional$320/month
    • Advanced workflows
    • Custom reporting

Which should you pick?

Choose Close if

  • You need built-in calling.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want email automation.
Close review

Choose HubSpot Live Chat if

  • You need live chat messaging.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile app, IOS, Android.
  • You also want crm integration.
HubSpot Live Chat review

Questions people ask

Is Close or HubSpot Live Chat better?
Neither clearly leads. Close starts at $9/month and HubSpot Live Chat at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Close or HubSpot Live Chat?
HubSpot Live Chat has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $9/month for Close and Free for HubSpot Live Chat.
Does Close or HubSpot Live Chat run on more platforms?
Close runs on Web, iOS, Android. HubSpot Live Chat runs on Web, Mobile app, IOS, Android.
Can I use HubSpot Live Chat for free?
Yes. HubSpot Live Chat has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Close starts at $9/month.
What is Close best used for?
Close is most often used for inside sales, outbound sales, lead management, sales engagement. Of those, inside sales and outbound sales are not what HubSpot Live Chat is typically brought in for.
What can Close do that HubSpot Live Chat cannot?
Close covers Built-in calling, Email automation, SMS messaging, Pipeline management. HubSpot Live Chat covers Live chat messaging, CRM integration, Visitor identification, Chatbot builder. Both handle Slack, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Close: What are Close's pricing plans and what do they include?

Close offers four plans: Solo ($9-19/user/month), Essentials ($35-49), Growth ($99-109), and Scale ($139-149). All include calling, email, SMS, and Chloe AI agent access. Essentials adds unlimited contacts and team collaboration. Growth adds automation, power dialer, and custom activities. Scale adds role-based permissions and unlimited recording. Annual billing saves up to 50%.

Source
HubSpot Live Chat: What does HubSpot live chat cost?

HubSpot live chat is available free with core functionality and no credit card required. Premium features are available through Marketing Hub Starter, Professional, and Enterprise plans starting at $7/month annually, with details available on the main pricing page.

Source
Close: What are the hidden costs in Close's pricing beyond the subscription?

Close charges usage-based fees for calling (~$0.02 per minute), SMS charges per message, and phone number rentals ($1-5/month). The AI Call Assistant add-on costs $50/month plus $0.02 per minute for transcription. Heavy outbound calling teams can see their total costs increase 30-50% beyond the base seat price.

Source
HubSpot Live Chat: Is there a free version of HubSpot live chat?

Yes, HubSpot live chat and chatbot builder are available free with core functionality including CRM integration and mobile app access, requiring no credit card to start.

Source
Close: What is Chloe, Close's AI sales agent, and what can it do?

Chloe is an AI sales agent built into Close that automatically calls leads, qualifies prospects through real conversations, and can book meetings while updating the CRM automatically. Chloe features AI-generated call summaries, transcripts, and action items automatically logged to contacts.

Source
HubSpot Live Chat: What premium features are included in paid HubSpot live chat plans?

Paid tiers include advanced automation and scaling features through Marketing Hub Starter, Professional, and Enterprise editions with varying levels of functionality and support.

Source
Close: Does Close include lead lists, data enrichment, or contact information?

No. Close does not provide built-in lead lists, company intelligence, or contact enrichment features. Organizations must source leads separately or use third-party data providers. This differs from platforms like HubSpot which include integrated lead databases.

Source
Close: What communication features does Close include?

Close includes built-in calling with automatic call logging, email templates and bulk email capabilities, SMS messaging with tracking and automation, email syncing with Gmail, and automated follow-up workflows. All communication happens within the CRM platform.

Source
Close: Does Close have marketing automation capabilities?

Close's marketing automation features are limited compared to HubSpot. It includes basic email sequences, task reminders, and workflow automation, but lacks advanced lead scoring, nurturing campaigns, and detailed marketing analytics. Organizations requiring extensive marketing automation need separate tools.

Source
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