Compare/Head to head

Aircall vs Close

Same facts, side by side: starting price, free tier, MCP, API and what each one is actually built for.

Starting price

Aircall

$30/license/mo Free trial

Cloud phone system for recruiting and sales call desks, built around CRM connectors. Essentials starts at $30 per license a month billed annually, with a three-license minimum.

Where Aircall fits

  • Recruiting and SDR teams living in a CRM
  • Agencies on Bullhorn that want a cloud handset
  • Desks that need recording plus CRM logging
  • Companies replacing desk phones with a softphone

Close

$9/user/mo Free trial

Sales CRM with a built-in power dialer. Solo is $9/user/mo billed annually ($19 monthly); trial with $5 calling credits.

Where Close fits

  • Small sales and recruiting desks that live on the phone
  • Teams that want CRM plus dialer in one login
  • Buyers who will try with no card
  • Agencies that hate Salesforce-plus-a-dialer

At a glance

DetailAircallClose
Starting price$30/license/mo$9/user/mo
Free tier–No–No
Free trialYesYes
MCP server–No✓Yes
Public API–No✓Yes
Listed underDialers, Lead generationDialers, Lead generation
Capterra4.2 from 465 reviews4.7 from 164 reviews

Where they pull apart

Aircall

Stands out: Calls log back into HubSpot, Salesforce, Bullhorn, and Slack instead of living in a separate PBX.

Watch out: Plans start at three licenses. Essentials is $30 per license a month and Professional is $50, billed annually. AI Voice Agent minutes beyond the included bundle are consumption.

Not the right fit for

  • Solo recruiters who want a cheap power dialer
  • Teams that need LinkedIn sequencing more than voice

Close

Stands out: Calling inside the CRM (not a bolted-on dialer), plus WhatsApp, Calendly, HubSpot, and a first-party MCP.

Watch out: Phone lines are $1/line/month, which is not the CRM seat. Solo annual is $9/user. Calling is usage-based on top.

Not the right fit for

  • Enterprises standardised on Salesforce
  • People who only need SMS
  • Buyers who need a sub-$9 seat

Pros and cons

Aircall

  • Named CRM and ATS connectors including HubSpot, Salesforce, and Bullhorn
  • Softphone and recording without running a PBX
  • AI summaries plus a small included Voice Agent minute bundle
  • Monthly billing costs more than the $30 annual rate
  • Three-license minimum on every plan
  • Voice-agent minutes beyond the included bundle are extra

Close

  • CRM plus dialer without a second vendor
  • Annual Solo at $9/user/mo
  • MCP, API, and a real trial
  • Phone lines are billed separately, from $1/line/month
  • Calling usage is extra
  • Not a recruiting ATS

What each one costs

Aircall

$30/license/mo

Essentials is $30 per license a month and Professional is $50 per license a month, billed annually, with a minimum of 3 licenses. Monthly billing is also offered; annual plans are 25% cheaper. Enterprise is custom priced from 25 users. AI Voice Agents start at a $100 monthly minimum, and free access is available to test the platform. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Close

$9/user/mo

Confirm current pricing on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Common questions

Is Aircall cheaper than Close?
Close starts lower, at $9/user/mo against $30/license/mo for Aircall. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.
Can you try Aircall or Close for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing. Aircall offers a free trial. Close offers a free trial.
Does Aircall or Close have an MCP server?
Close ships a first party MCP server, so an AI assistant can work the product directly.

Not the pair you wanted?

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Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 4 Nov 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?