Close vs Pipedrive for Agencies (2026)

Quick picks

Short on time? Start with these picks, then scroll for details and trade‑offs.

ToolBest forLink
CloseGood fit for agencies that want a straightforward setup and a clear workflow.See current pricing
PipedriveGood fit for agencies that want a straightforward setup and a clear workflow.See current pricing
HubspotGood fit for agencies that want a straightforward setup and a clear workflow.See current pricing

Before you choose, sanity‑check these:

  • Do you need a client portal or just internal workflows?
  • Do you need approvals/sign‑offs (and an audit trail)?
  • Which integrations are non‑negotiable (email, accounting, calendar, Slack)?
  • How fast do you need to be live (today vs. next week)?

If you’re building an end‑to‑end stack, start with Stack Builder.

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Last updated: 7 Jan 2026

Close and Pipedrive both work — but they optimize for different behaviors. Close is built around fast follow‑ups; Pipedrive is built around simple pipeline clarity.

If you just want a fast answer:

  • Best for outbound sales: Close — fast follow‑ups and a sales-first workflow.
  • Best for simple pipelines: Pipedrive — clean pipeline view and quick adoption.
  • Suite alternative: HubSpot — if you want CRM + marketing together.
Quick path picker
Pick your workflow — we’ll highlight the best fit in the table below.
1 What’s your work mostly?

No JS? Use the quick comparison below.

2 What matters most right now?
3 How much setup can you tolerate?

Less generic, more useful:

Pick based on how you work (not “best overall”)

These fit checks are derived from the shortlists in Close vs Pipedrive for Agencies (2026) — use them to choose the fastest “good enough” tool for your agency.

If your priority is Outbound + follow‑ups

  • Keeps deals moving with less admin
  • Setup: 1–2 hours • Pricing: Paid

Best bet: Close

Avoid if: Less “marketing suite” than HubSpot

If your priority is Pipeline clarity

  • Easy adoption for small teams
  • Setup: 1–2 hours • Pricing: Paid

Best bet: Pipedrive

Avoid if: Needs add-ons for heavier automation

If your priority is CRM + marketing

  • Good if marketing ops live in HubSpot
  • Setup: Half day • Pricing: Free + paid

Best bet: HubSpot

Avoid if: Can get expensive with seats/features

Salesflare vs Pipedrive for Agencies (2026)

If you want a CRM that doesn’t turn into a second job, this comparison is for you. Here’s the fast take for agency sales: pipeline clarity vs “email-first” automation.

Quick comparison

ToolBest forWatch out
Salesflare
Try Salesflare
Teams that live in email + calendar and want “automatic” contact/activity capture. Less customization depth than the big CRMs if you need complex workflows.
Pipedrive
Try Pipedrive
Agencies that want a clean, visible pipeline and simple deal stages that match delivery. Still requires discipline: next-steps + deal hygiene or you’ll lose accuracy.

What to pick

  • Pick Salesflare if your team already runs sales from Gmail/Outlook and you want fewer manual updates.
  • Pick Pipedrive if you want the clearest pipeline view and simple process enforcement across the team.

Agency setup tips

  • Keep stages short (6–8). Define “exit criteria” for each stage.
  • Use one required field: next step date. This alone improves forecasting.
  • Standardize handoff to delivery: deal won → kickoff checklist/template.

Disclosure: Some links may be affiliate links. See disclosure.

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