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Exotel vs Close vs Bigin by Zoho CRM Comparison

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Exotel

4.4(16 reviews)

Starting at $200

  • Free Trial
  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

Exotel is a cloud telephony platform used by call centers and customer support operations in India and Southeast Asia that need reliable call routing, recording, and CRM integration. It lets agents access call logs, reco…

Close

4.6(220 reviews)

Starting at $9 /user/month

  • Free Trial
  • Individuals
  • Freelancers / Consultants

Close is a sales engagement CRM built for SMBs that lets teams email, call, and text leads directly from the platform without additional add-ons. It includes Sequences, task reminders, and a Power Dialer, with all activi…

Bigin by Zoho CRM

4.6(294 reviews)

Starting at $7 /User/Month

  • Free Trial
  • Small Business

Bigin is Zoho's lightweight CRM designed for small teams under 50 people running straightforward sales cycles. Its drag-and-drop pipeline and email sync with Gmail and Outlook allow reps to get productive within a day wi…

Close leads on user satisfaction with a 4.6-star rating across 220 reviews.

Exotel vs Close vs Bigin by Zoho CRM — at a glance

FeatureExotelCloseBigin by Zoho CRM
Rating4.4 / 54.6 / 54.6 / 5
Reviews16220294
Starting price$200$9 /user/month$7 /User/Month
Free trial Yes Yes Yes
Free version No No No
Best forLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessIndividuals, Freelancers / Consultants, Medium BusinessSmall Business
CategoryCall Center SoftwareCRM SoftwareCRM Software
Integrations1+ apps
PlatformsSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOSSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS
APIAvailableAvailableAvailable
Support modes24/7 (Live rep)Business Hours, OnlineBusiness Hours, Online
CertificationsGDPRSOC 2, GDPR
Data residencyGlobalUSGlobal

Key differences between Exotel and Close

  • Pricing: Exotel starts at $200, while Close starts at $9 /user/month.
  • Target audience: Exotel is built for Large Enterprises and Medium Business, while Close targets Individuals and Freelancers / Consultants.
  • User satisfaction: Close scores higher with a 4.6-star average.
  • Deployment: Exotel supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; Close supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS.

Compare Exotel vs Close vs Bigin by Zoho CRM — and walk away knowing which one fits.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Call Center Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

Exotel - Call Center Software
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Close - CRM Software
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Free PDF comparison

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Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Exotel

Best for call centers needing real-time agent performance tracking and CRM integration.

Choose if
  • You require real-time metrics on agent performance like open cases and punctuality.
  • Your team values seamless integration with CRM systems to boost productivity.
  • You manage a medium to large enterprise with 50 to 500 employees in fintech, SaaS, or martech.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your organization depends on extensive third-party app marketplace integrations.
  • You are a new user needing comprehensive onboarding due to complex feature sets.

Close

Best for

Individuals, Freelancers / Consultants, Medium Business

Bigin by Zoho CRM

Best for

Small Business

Exotel typically suits Large Enterprises and Medium Business. Close tends to fit Individuals and Freelancers / Consultants better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.

Description

Exotel is a cloud telephony platform used by call centers and customer support operations in India and Southeast Asia that need reliable call routing, recording, and CRM integration. It ... Read More about Exotel

Close is a sales engagement CRM built for SMBs that lets teams email, call, and text leads directly from the platform without additional add-ons. It includes Sequences, task reminders, and ... Read More about Close

Bigin is Zoho's lightweight CRM designed for small teams under 50 people running straightforward sales cycles. Its drag-and-drop pipeline and email sync with Gmail and Outlook allow reps to ... Read More about Bigin by Zoho CRM

Entry Level Pricing

  • Starts from $200
  • Starts from $9 , yearly
  • Starts from $7 , Billed Yearly

Free Trial Availability

SpotScore

What's this? ↗

9.0/10

8.6/10

9.0/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

4.4

(16)

4.57

(294)

Best Company Size

50 to 500 employeesMedium to Large Enterprises
5–100 employees
Get pricing help
Get pricing help

Where each option fits best

See where each product is strongest, which teams it fits, and what causes buyers to keep looking — before you commit.

Based on buyer reviews and verified product data collected by Spotsaas.

Strengths

Key strengths

Exotel

  • Smooth Communication: Exotel lets your team communicate easily across multiple channels, so no customer query goes unanswered. You'll appreciate how straightforward it is to manage all conversations in one place.
  • Scalable Solutions: Whether you’re a small startup or a large enterprise, Exotel grows with you. You can easily scale your communication infrastructure without the headache of technical complexities, allowing you to focus on what truly matters—your business.
  • Improved Customer Experience: With call tracking and personalized messaging, Exotel lets you deliver high-quality service. Your customers feel valued and understood, which increases loyalty and retention.

Close

  • All-in-One Communication: Hub Close integrates calling, emailing, and texting directly into the CRM, eliminating the need for third-party tools. This unified approach increases efficiency and reduces costs for growing sales teams.
  • Built for Productivity: With features like Sequences, Power Dialer, and task reminders, Close helps sales reps stay organized, automate outreach, and follow up with leads at the right time — all of which drive higher conversion rates.
  • Transparent Collaboration with Coaching Tools: The single timeline view gives complete team visibility on lead activities, and the built-in call coaching lets sales leaders mentor and improve team performance directly within the platform.
Best fit

Best fit

Exotel

  • 50 to 500 employees
  • Martech, Fintech, SaaS, and Consulting
  • Sales Managers, Account Executives, Business Development Representatives, and CRM Administrators

Close

  • 5–100 employees
  • SaaS, Marketing Agencies, E-commerce, EdTech, Consulting Services, B2B Tech, Remote-first Startups
  • Account Executives, Sales Development Representatives, Sales Managers, Founders, Revenue Operations Managers, Customer Success Managers
Watchouts

Reasons buyers look elsewhere

Exotel

  • Users may seek alternatives to Exotel due to pricing concerns, as some businesses find more cost-effective options that provide similar features, enabling them to maintain budgets while still accessing essential communication tools.
  • Companies with specific integration needs might look for alternatives if Exotel lacks compatibility with their existing systems or software, prompting a search for solutions that offer seamless integration capabilities.
  • Businesses experiencing rapid growth may require scalable solutions beyond what Exotel can provide, leading them to explore options that can easily adapt to increasing communication demands without compromising performance.

Close

  • Close is specifically built for SMBs, so larger enterprises with complex sales processes or deeper customization needs may seek platforms with more robust enterprise features.
  • While strong on sales engagement, Close doesn’t offer native marketing automation or lead nurturing workflows that other CRMs like HubSpot or ActiveCampaign may provide.
  • Users looking for highly customizable or advanced analytics and forecasting capabilities may find Close’s reporting features less extensive compared to solutions like Salesforce or Zoho CRM.

Software Demo

Demo

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How do Exotel, Close and Bigin by Zoho CRM Compare on Features?

Total Features

8 Features

15 Features

10 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

No unique features

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Get Quote

Compare Exotel, Close and Bigin by Zoho CRM on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

        Starting From

        • $200
        • $9 , yearly
        • $7 , Billed Yearly

        Pricing Plans

        • Not Available
        • Solo

          $19

          /user/month

          • Everything in Essential but:

          • Limited to 1 user

          • Limited to 10k leads

        • Essentials

          $49

          /user/month

          • Unlimited contacts & leads

          • Multiple pipelines

          • Advanced lead & activity filters

          Show more +

        • Growth

          $109

          /user/month

          • Everything in Essentials plus:

          • Automated workflows

          • Power Dialer

          Show more +

        • Browse all pricing plans
        • Free

          • Single Pipeline

          • 500 Records

          • Instant Workflows (3)

          Show more +

        • Express

          • Includes features of Free plan, plus

          • Team Pipelines (3)

          • 50,000 Records

          Show more +

        • Premier

          • Includes features of Express Edition plan. plus

          • Team Pipelines (5)

          • 100,000 Records

          Show more +

        Pricing Page

        Exotel pricing
        Close pricing
        Bigin by Zoho CRM pricing

        Other Details

        Organization Types supported

        • Large Enterprises
        • Medium Business
        • Small Business
        • Freelancers
        • Individuals
        • Large Enterprises
        • Medium Business
        • Small Business
        • Freelancers
        • Individuals
        • Large Enterprises
        • Medium Business
        • Small Business
        • Freelancers
        • Individuals

        Platforms Supported

        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Mobile - Android
        • Mobile - iOS
        • Installed - Windows
        • Installed - Mac
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Mobile - Android
        • Mobile - iOS
        • Installed - Windows
        • Installed - Mac
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Mobile - Android
        • Mobile - iOS
        • Installed - Windows
        • Installed - Mac
        • Browser Based (Cloud)

        Modes of support

        • 24/7 (Live rep)
        • Business Hours
        • Online
        • 24/7 (Live rep)
        • Business Hours
        • Online
        • 24/7 (Live rep)
        • Business Hours
        • Online

        API Support

        • Available
        • Available
        • Available
        Get help choosing
        Get help choosing

        Security & Compliance

        Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

        SOC 2

        ✓ Yes

        HIPAA

        ✗ No
        ✗ No

        GDPR

        ✓ Yes
        ✓ Yes

        ISO 27001

        ✗ No

        Single Sign-On (SSO)

        ✓ Yes

        Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)

        ✓ Yes

        Data Encryption

        ✓ Yes
        ✓ Yes

        Audit Logs

        ✓ Yes

        Data Residency

        🌐 Global
        🇺🇸 US

        Exotel vs Close User Reviews & Rating Comparison

        User Ratings

        Rating Distribution

        49

        21

        5

        0

        1

        604

        31

        1

        2

        1

        204

        66

        7

        1

        1

        Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

        Buyer sentiment

        Overall positive user sentiment highlights ease of use and reliable call management, tempered by concerns over limited integrations and inconsistent support.

        What buyers like

        • Ease of use
        • Call management efficiency
        • CRM integration

        Common complaints

        • Limited app marketplace
        • Post-sale support quality

        Buyer sentiment

        Buyer sentiment is very strong across 639 reviews, with consistently positive feedback.

        What buyers like

        • Provides a centralized CRM platform for managing leads, calls, emails, and workflows in one place.
        • Interface is easy to navigate, with straightforward setup and strong support for onboarding and troubleshooting.
        • Automation features including smart views, predictive dialing, and workflows reduce manual effort in sales processes.

        Common complaints

        • Reporting features are limited and could be more in-depth, especially for tracking lead lists and success rates by category.
        • Some users find the cost of calling features and overall pricing high, although they believe the value justifies it.
        • Occasional technical glitches like software crashes and dialer issues with integrations such as JustCall.

        Buyer sentiment

        Buyer sentiment is very strong across 279 reviews, with consistently positive feedback.

        What buyers like

        • Simple design with a short learning curve — accessible for non-technical users.
        • Pricing targets startups and small businesses with core CRM features at low cost.
        • Pipeline management and workflow automation reduce manual steps in sales processes.

        Common complaints

        • Limited integrations with social media apps and LinkedIn or Facebook ad platforms.
        • Lacks advanced features needed by larger enterprises or complex workflows.
        • Customer support availability is inconsistent, affecting issue resolution during critical moments.

        Pros and Cons

        • User-friendly interface suitable for both beginners and experienced users

        • Efficient call management with auto-saving and easy access to call recordings

        • Easy integration with CRM solutions enhancing productivity and tracking

        • Limited app selection in the marketplace restricting advanced features

        • Inconsistent post-sale service and support experience

        • Provides a centralized, all-in-one CRM platform for managing leads, calls, emails, and workflows seamlessly, saving time and boosting productivity.

        • Intuitive and user-friendly interface with easy setup and excellent support for onboarding and troubleshooting.

        • Highly efficient automation features like smart views, predictive dialing, and workflows that reduce manual effort and streamline sales processes.

        • Reporting features are limited and could be more in-depth, especially for tracking lead lists and success rates by category.

        • Some users find the cost of calling features and overall pricing high, although they believe the value justifies it.

        • Real-time updates keep teams informed.

        • Integration with email and calendar enhances productivity.

        • User-friendly interface simplifies navigation.

        • Customization options may not meet all needs.

        • New users may find the interface complex.

        Positive Reviews

        No reviews available for the product

        No reviews available for the product

        No reviews available for the product

        Negative Reviews

        No reviews available for the product

        No reviews available for the product

        No reviews available for the product

        Used Exotel, Close, or Bigin by Zoho CRM? Tell buyers what actually differs.

        Integrations

        Integration with other apps

        No Integration information available.

        No Integration information available.

        List of Customers

        Customers

        OLA

        OLA

        BYJU'S

        BYJU'S

        Quikr

        Quikr

        Toggl

        Toggl

        Bench

        Bench

        Freightview

        Freightview

        Antech Microsystem Pvt.Ltd

        Antech Microsystem Pvt.Ltd

        Investacc

        Investacc

        Hire

        Hire

        Media and Screenshots

        Screenshots

        IVR menu

        1 Screenshots

        All Leads

        12 Screenshots

        Videos

        video-0

        4 Videos

        video-0

        1 Videos

        Alternatives

        Expand your shortlist

        Add another option to compare side by side

        Search by product name to compare pricing, fit, and buyer feedback in one view.

        Compare similar software options

        Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

        Frequently asked questions

        Which is better, Exotel or Close?
        Close edges out the other on user ratings (4.6 vs 4.4). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
        Do Exotel and Close offer a free trial?
        Yes, both Exotel and Close offer a free trial.
        What is the starting price of Exotel vs Close?
        Exotel starts at $200. Close starts at $9 /user/month.
        What are the top alternatives to Exotel?
        Top alternatives to Exotel include Nextiva, Knowlarity, CloudTalk, Servetel, Call Center Studio.
        What are the top alternatives to Close?
        Top alternatives to Close include Bigin by Zoho CRM, ClickUp, Zoho CRM, Freshsales, Thryv.