Drift vs Close
A comprehensive head-to-head comparison of two leading saas solutions in 2026. Compare features, pricing, ratings, and more to find the right fit.
Quick Verdict
Choose Drift if you need Live chat and prefer a free starting option. Choose Close if you prioritize Built-in calling and want plans starting at $49/month. Close has a higher user rating (4.7 vs 4.4).
Drift vs Close: At a Glance
Feature Comparison: Drift vs Close
| Feature | Drift | Close |
|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ||
| AI chatbots | ||
| Meeting scheduling | ||
| Email sequences | ||
| Visitor intelligence | ||
| Conversation routing | ||
| Mobile app | ||
| Analytics dashboard | ||
| Salesforce | ||
| HubSpot | ||
| Marketo | ||
| Slack | ||
| Google Calendar | ||
| Zoom | ||
| Microsoft Teams | ||
| Built-in calling | ||
| Email automation | ||
| SMS messaging | ||
| Pipeline management | ||
| Lead management | ||
| Activity tracking | ||
| Reporting | ||
| Zapier | ||
| Segment | ||
| Google Workspace | ||
| Calendly | ||
| DocuSign | ||
| Stripe |
Drift vs Close: Pricing Breakdown
Drift Pricing
Model: per-seat
- Live chat
- Custom chatbots
- Email integration
- Meetings scheduler
- Everything in Premium
- AI-powered chatbots
- Account-based marketing
- Custom integrations
- Everything in Advanced
- Dedicated CSM
- Custom onboarding
- SLA
Close Pricing
Model: per-user
- Core CRM features
- Email sequences
- Calling
- Pipeline management
- Advanced workflows
- Power dialer
- SMS
- Custom activities
- Custom fields
- API access
- Advanced reporting
- Role management
Pros and Cons
Drift
Pros
- Highly rated by users (4.4/5)
- Free plan available to get started
- Available on 3 platforms (Web, Ios, Android)
- Rich feature set with 15+ capabilities
- Strong Live chat functionality
- Strong AI chatbots functionality
Cons
- May require time to learn advanced features
Close
Pros
- Highly rated by users (4.7/5)
- Available on 4 platforms (Web, Ios, Android, Api)
- Rich feature set with 15+ capabilities
- Strong Built-in calling functionality
- Strong Email automation functionality
Cons
- No free plan available
- May require time to learn advanced features
Who Should Use Drift vs Close?
Choose Drift if you:
- Need Live chat
- Want to start for free
- Work primarily on Web and Ios
- Value AI chatbots
Choose Close if you:
- Need Built-in calling
- Have a budget of $49/month+
- Work primarily on Web and Ios
- Value Email automation
Frequently Asked Questions: Drift vs Close
Is Drift better than Close?
It depends on your needs. Drift has a 4.4/5 user rating while Close has 4.7/5. Drift excels in Live chat and AI chatbots, while Close stands out with Built-in calling and Email automation. Consider your budget (Free vs $49/month), platform needs, and specific feature requirements.
Which is cheaper, Drift or Close?
Drift offers a free plan and starts at Free. Close starts at $49/month. Drift has a clear pricing advantage with its free tier.
Can I use Drift and Close together?
While both are saas tools, some teams use complementary software together. Check each product's API and integration capabilities for compatibility. However, most users find that one solution covers their core saas needs.
What are the main differences between Drift and Close?
The key differences include: pricing model (per-seat vs per-user), platform support (Web, Ios, Android vs Web, Ios, Android, Api), and feature focus. Drift emphasizes Live chat, AI chatbots, Meeting scheduling while Close focuses on Built-in calling, Email automation, SMS messaging. User ratings differ slightly: 4.4 vs 4.7 out of 5.
Ready to choose?
Explore detailed reviews, user ratings, and pricing for both Drift and Close.