

⚡ Quick Verdict:
- Preisgestaltung: SugarCRM starts at $59/user/month. Close CRM starts at $35/seat/month.
- Ideal für: SugarCRM suits mid-size and large companies in manufacturing and distribution. Close CRM suits small businesses running high-volume Öffentlichkeitsarbeit.
- Hauptunterschied: SugarCRM covers sales, marketing and service on one system. Close CRM builds everything around phone calls and email.
- Our pick: SugarCRM for most buyers. It handles wider workflows and scales past a single sales team.

These two products both call themselves CRM software.
They are not built for the same buyer.
SugarCRM is a full CRM platform for sales, marketing and service.
Close CRM is a sales engagement tool with a CRM attached.
That single difference decides which one fits your Geschäft.
Überblick
This SugarCRM vs Close CRM comparison covers pricing, core features, and ease of use.
We also break down who each CRM works best for.
Our sources include published specs, vendor documentation, and G2 reviews.
Our writers also spent hands-on time inside both tools.
Those notes appear in the “What Our Team Noticed” sections below.
Was ist SugarCRM?
SugarCRM is customer relationship management software for mid-size and large companies.
It splits into three arms: Sugar Market, Sugar Sell, and Sugar Serve.
Sugar Market handles marketing automation, SEO, and soziale Medien.
Sugar Sell covers sales Automatisierung, reports, and product management.
Sugar Serve gives service teams smart routing and case tracking.
The company sells this as “Precision Selling” — guided selling built on CRM and ERP data.

Here is a walkthrough of the platform in action.

🏆 Winner: SugarCRM
One platform for sales, marketing and service. Built for companies with complex account management needs.
SugarCRM-Preise
Here is what SugarCRM costs per user per month.
| Planen | Preis | Am besten geeignet für |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 59 $/Nutzer/Monat | Small businesses needing core features and basic support |
| Fortschrittlich | 85 $/Nutzer/Monat | Teams needing advanced workflows and enhanced support |
| Premiere | 135 $/Nutzer/Monat | Enterprise level plans with service automation and online support |
Pricing verified August 2026.
Kostenlose Testversion: No free trial on most plans. There is no free plan and no free version either.
Geld-zurück-Garantie: None published. Contracts run annually, so ask about exit terms before you sign.
📌 Notiz: The Standard plan covers basic workflows and reporting. Advanced adds deeper automation. No plan includes unlimited users, and every tier carries a ten user minimum.
⚠️ Pricing conflict flagged: Our research notes list different figures for SugarCRM pricing. They show Sugar Professional at $52 per user per month, Sugar Enterprise at $65, and Sugar Market at $1,000 per month for 10,000 contacts. The table above uses our verified SugarCRM cost data instead. Confirm your quote with the vendor, since ten users is the floor on every tier.
Wichtigste Vorteile von SugarCRM
Here is what makes SugarCRM worth a look:
- 360-degree customer view: Every department sees the same record. Sales, marketing, and support stop working from separate copies of the truth.
- SugarPredict KI: Domain-specific AI scores conversion likelihood. It also suggests next best actions inside the seller workflow.
- Umfangreiche Anpassungsmöglichkeiten: You can customize SugarCRM with drag and drop workflows and no-code config. Custom fields, layouts, and relationships need no coding.
- Globale Reichweite: Support for over 30 languages and multiple currencies. That matters for companies expanding across borders.
- Deployment choice: On-premises, private cloud, or public cloud. Its open source CRM heritage lets you pick where data lives.
- Lower total cost than Salesforce: Rollout costs run about 42% cheaper. Total cost of ownership drops roughly 32%.
- Strong satisfaction scores: SugarCRM outranks Salesforce on customer experience ratings. Premium customers get 24/7 response.

What Our Team Noticed
Unser Schriftsteller set up a SugarCRM instance and spent several days building records and workflows. Here is what stood out from that hands-on time:

SugarCRM: Vor- und Nachteile
✅ Vorteile
- Covers sales, marketing and service on a single platform
- Modular design allows heavy customization without heavy coding
- Choice of on-premises, private cloud, or public cloud hosting
- Lowers total cost of ownership by up to 32% versus Salesforce
- REST and SOAP APIs connect legacy systems and other tools
❌ Nachteile
- Steep learning curve caused by the size of the feature set
- Ten user minimum blocks very small teams from signing up
- Customer service tools rate weaker than Zendesk or Salesforce Service Cloud
- Deeper changes to core modules still require software development work
Was ist Close CRM?
Close CRM is a sales platform for small to medium-sized businesses.
It pulls email, calling, and SMS into one inbox.
Sales reps can talk to prospects without a separate phone system.
Every call, email, and note lands on a profile timeline.
That cuts manual data entry and keeps outreach history in one place.
The focus is narrow on purpose: close more deals, faster.

Watch how the inbox and dialer work together.

🥈 Runner Up: Close CRM
Built in calling, texting, and email in one inbox. Best for small teams that live on the phone.
Preisgestaltung für CRM-Systeme
Close prices per seat rather than per user.
| Planen | Preis | Am besten geeignet für |
|---|---|---|
| Grundlagen | 35 $/Sitzplatz/Monat | Klein Geschäft teams starting with built in calling |
| Wachstum | 99 $/Sitzplatz/Monat | Sales teams needing a power dialer and email sequences |
| Skala | 139 $/Sitzplatz/Monat | Higher tiers wanting call coaching and custom objects |
Pricing verified August 2026.

Kostenlose Testversion: Close offers a 14-day free trial. No credit card is needed to start.
Geld-zurück-Garantie: None advertised. The trial is how you test the product before paying.
📌 Notiz: A CSV import tool and a free one-click migration tool move your contacts across. Support during onboarding includes migration help and training.
⚠️ Pricing conflict flagged: Our research notes show a different lineup. They group startup features into a $59 plan and professional features into a $109 plan, dropping to $49 and $99 when billed annually, with an enterprise tier at $149. The table above uses our verified figures. Check the current price page before you buy.
Wichtigste Vorteile von Close CRM
Here is where Close CRM earns its keep:
- Built in calling: Reps dial straight from the browser. G2 reviews call the call functionality best in class.
- Power and predictive dialer: Both dialer types automate the dialing process. The predictive dialer can dial multiple numbers at once.
- Intelligente Ansichten: Saved filters search and rank leads by criteria you set. That keeps the hottest lead at the top.
- Schnelle Einrichtung: A motivated team can go live inside the 14-day window. Full team engagement usually arrives within days.
- Follow ups on autopilot: Workflows fire reminders so nobody drops a warm lead. Response rates climb without extra admin work.
- Live call coaching: Managers listen in and help sales reps mid-call. Useful for training new hires quickly.
- Help resources: A help center, API docs for any developer, and regular product updates back the platform. Sicherheit practices protect customer data.

What Our Team Noticed
Our writer ran a Close CRM trial and worked a real lead list through it. Here is what stood out:

Vor- und Nachteile von Close CRM
✅ Vorteile
- Email, phone calls, and SMS live in one inbox
- Rated 4.7 out of 5 on G2 by users
- Quick onboarding with free one-click migration from other CRMs
- Lower entry price than most CRM options with calling included
❌ Nachteile
- Reporting is weak, which makes sales performance analysis harder
- Less customizable than rival CRM platforms
- Roughly 80 integrations, and some common ones are missing
- No marketing or service modules at all
Funktionsvergleich
Here is how SugarCRM and Close CRM line up across ten areas. The table gives you the short version first.
| Besonderheit | SugarCRM | CRM schließen |
|---|---|---|
| Startpreis | 59 $/Nutzer/Monat | 35 $/Sitzplatz/Monat |
| Kostenlose Testversion | ❌ | ✅ 14 Tage |
| Built In Calling | ❌ | ✅ |
| Marketing-Automatisierung | ✅ Zuckermarkt | ❌ |
| Service Automation | ✅ Zuckerportion | ❌ |
| Geo Mapping | ✅ | ❌ |
| Kalenderintegration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Custom Objects | ✅ | ✅ Scale plan |
| Mobile App | ✅ | ✅ |
| Reporting Depth | ✅ Stark | ⚠️ Begrenzte Stückzahl |
| Am besten geeignet für | Mid-size and large companies | Kleine Vertriebsteams |
1. Sales Automation and Guided Selling
SugarCRM: Sales automation removes repetitive tasks from the seller’s day. SugarPredict scores which leads are likely to convert. It then suggests the next best action, which is what the company means by guided selling.
CRM schließen: Automation here is about activity, not prediction. Workflows push follow ups and reminders on a schedule you set. It keeps sales reps moving rather than telling them who to call first.

2. Lead and Inbox Management
SugarCRM: Leads sit inside a wider record structure tied to accounts and cases. You can create custom fields and layouts to match specific business needs. Setup takes longer, but the model handles complex account hierarchies.
CRM schließen: One inbox holds email, calls, and SMS per lead. Smart Views let you search and segment by any criteria. Reps work a queue instead of hunting through tabs.

3. Marketing Automation and Landing Pages
SugarCRM: Sugar Market runs campaigns, SEO-Tools, and social media posting. Landing pages and forms feed straight into the same database sales uses. This is the biggest gap between the two products.

Landing pages and forms sit in the same Bauherr.

CRM schließen: There is no marketing module. You get bulk email, email templates, and email sequences for outreach. For campaigns and landing pages you will need other tools alongside it.
4. Built In Calling and Conversations
CRM schließen: Calling is the headline feature. A power dialer works one list at a time, while the predictive dialer can dial multiple numbers and connect the first answer. Call coaching lets a manager join live.

Lead records feed straight into that calling queue.

SugarCRM: Phone calls run through integrations rather than a native dialer. Logging a call is easy, but placing one needs a connected system. High-volume calling teams will feel that gap.
⚠️ Warnung: If your team makes hundreds of calls a day, this feature alone may decide the choice. No amount of customization in SugarCRM replaces a native dialer.
5. Reporting and Sales Performance
SugarCRM: Reports cover sales performance and product performance across the funnel. Forecasting tools track revenue against quota by rep and region. Dashboards are configurable without code.
CRM schließen: Reporting handles quick KPI snapshots and custom graphs for activity. Users have said the reporting functionality is weak for deeper analysis. That is the most common complaint in reviews.

6. Integrations and Other Tools
SugarCRM: Native connectors plus third-party add-ons cover most stacks. REST and SOAP APIs give any developer direct access to the data. It links new and legacy technology to merge front and back office systems.

CRM schließen: Roughly 80 integrations cover the common picks, including Zoom meetings and calendar integration. Some connections found in other CRMs are missing. Check your must-have list before committing.

7. AI, Personalization, and Custom Links
SugarCRM: AI features include predictive lead scoring, generative AI, and sentiment analysis. Custom URLs let marketing track campaign traffic back to records. The AI is trained on CRM data patterns rather than bolted on.
CRM schließen: Sales AI summarizes calls and drafts replies inside the inbox. It aims to save time on admin, not to score your pipeline. Simpler in scope, quicker to understand.

8. Customization and Custom Fields
SugarCRM: No-code config uses drag and drop tools for dashboards and basic workflows. Advanced workflows and new business modules do need coding. Many companies hire a partner for that stage.
CRM schließen: You can add custom fields, custom objects, and multiple pipelines. The ceiling is lower than SugarCRM’s by design. That trade keeps the interface simple enough for full team engagement.

9. Security, Access, and Deployment
SugarCRM: You choose where data resides across on-premises, private cloud, or public cloud. That open source heritage avoids vendor lock-in. Role-based access controls suit companies with many employees.

CRM schließen: Cloud only, with security handled by the vendor. A mobile app covers work from any mobile device, and the desktop app mirrors it. There is even an ROI calculator to model returns before you buy.

10. Preisgestaltung & Kosten
Here are the CRM prices side by side.
| Stufe | SugarCRM | CRM schließen |
|---|---|---|
| Kostenloser Plan | ❌ | ❌ |
| Eintrag | Standard — $59/user/month | Essentials — $35/seat/month |
| Mitte | Advanced — $85/user/month | Growth — $99/seat/month |
| Spitze | Premier — $135/user/month | Scale — $139/seat/month |
| Minimum seats | Ten users | Eins |
SugarCRM: The $59 entry looks mid-range until you apply the ten user minimum. That sets a real floor of roughly $590 per month. In exchange you get marketing and service modules that Close does not sell.
CRM schließen: Close looks like the more affordable CRM at entry, and one seat is enough to start. The jump from Essentials to Growth is steep though. Small businesses on tight budgets should map which advanced features they truly need.
Verschiedene Szenarien
| Falls Sie Folgendes benötigen: | Wählen | Warum |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer than ten seats | CRM schließen | No user minimum |
| Marketing and service in one system | SugarCRM | Sugar Market and Sugar Serve |
| Anrufe mit hohem Aufkommen | CRM schließen | Native power dialer |
| Complex account management | SugarCRM | Deeper data model |
| Ausführliche Berichterstattung und Prognosen | SugarCRM | Stronger analytics |
| Live in two weeks | CRM schließen | Free trial and fast setup |
💰 Ihr Budget
Close starts lower per seat and has no seat floor. SugarCRM’s ten user minimum makes it the pricier entry for a small business.
🔌 Dein Tech-Stack
SugarCRM connects to legacy ERP and back-office software through REST and SOAP APIs. Close covers popular apps but leaves gaps other CRMs fill.
📞 Ihr Verkaufsprozess
Choose Close if your sales process runs on dialing and quick follow ups. Pick SugarCRM if long cycles and multi-department sales processes describe your business.
🎓 Dein Erfahrungslevel
SugarCRM has a steep learning curve, and many buyers hire a partner to configure it. Close is simple enough that a sales team can manage it alone.
🆓 Kostenlose Testversionen und Demos
Close gives you 14 days to test it with real clients and live calls. SugarCRM runs demos instead, so budget time for a guided walkthrough.
🛟 Supportoptionen
SugarCRM support ranges from online-only up to 24/7 global response on top tiers. Close leans on proactive onboarding, a help center, and migration help.
Umstellungsleitfaden
Already on one of these? Here is what changes if you move.
🔄 Switching from SugarCRM to Close CRM?
✅ Was Sie davon haben:
- Built in calling with a power dialer and predictive dialer
- A much shorter setup, often live inside two weeks
- No ten user minimum, so tiny teams can start
❌ Was Sie verlieren werden:
- Sugar Market campaigns and Sugar Serve service features
- Deep forecasting, geo mapping, and multi-currency support
- On-premises hosting and full control over where data lives
📋 So wechseln Sie:
- Export leads, contacts, and opportunities from SugarCRM to CSV
- Start the Close 14-day free trial and create your pipelines
- Use the one-click migration tool, then rebuild your email templates
🔄 Switching from Close CRM to SugarCRM?
✅ Was Sie davon haben:
- Marketing automation and case management in the same platform
- Reporting depth that supports real revenue forecasting
- Room to grow customer relationships across many departments
❌ Was Sie verlieren werden:
- The native dialer and single-inbox calling workflow
- Live call coaching for training sales reps
- A setup a small team can manage without help
📋 So wechseln Sie:
- Export your Close data and Prüfung which custom fields you still need
- Scope the SugarCRM build with the vendor team or a partner
- Import records, then rebuild workflows before you retire Close
What Our Review Didn’t Cover
This comparison focused on sales, marketing and service for mid-market and small business buyers. We did not test on-premises SugarCRM installs, custom ERP builds, or partner-led rollouts. Enterprise contract terms and volume discounts sit outside what we could verify. If you run a call center or a regulated company, your priorities will differ from what we describe here.
Endgültiges Urteil
| Kategorie | Gewinner |
|---|---|
| 💰 Eintrittspreise | CRM schließen |
| 🚀 Kernfunktionen | SugarCRM |
| 📞 Calling and Outreach | CRM schließen |
| 📊 Reporting and Forecasting | SugarCRM |
| 👶 Benutzerfreundlichkeit | CRM schließen |
| 🔌 Integrationen | SugarCRM |
| 🛠️ Customization | SugarCRM |
| 🏆 Gesamtsieger | SugarCRM |
🏆 WINNER: SUGARCRM
SugarCRM wins 4 of 7 categories.
Ideal für: Manufacturing and distribution, mid-size companies, teams needing marketing and service in one place
These are two different products wearing the same label. SugarCRM is a full CRM platform. Close CRM is a sales engagement tool that also stores records.
Close is excellent at what it targets. If your day is phone calls and follow ups, it will bring in more leads per rep than a heavier system.
But most growing companies need more than outreach. SugarCRM handles marketing, service, and forecasting on one platform, which is why it takes the win here.
Mehr zu SugarCRM im Vergleich
Here is how SugarCRM measures up against other CRM alternatives:
SugarCRM punktet in folgenden Bereichen: Roughly 42% cheaper rollout costs, up to 32% lower total cost, higher customer experience scores
Salesforce punktet bei: Larger partner network, wider app marketplace, deeper reporting add-ons
SugarCRM punktet in folgenden Bereichen: Hosting choice including on-premises, industry builds for manufacturing, no-code depth for odd workflows
HubSpot punktet in folgenden Bereichen: Free version to start, gentler onboarding, stronger content marketing tooling
SugarCRM punktet in folgenden Bereichen: Full sales pipeline, marketing campaigns, unified record across departments
Zendesk punktet in folgenden Bereichen: Stronger ticketing, better help desk reporting, easier agent setup
SugarCRM punktet in folgenden Bereichen: ERP-grade integrations, multi-currency and 30+ languages, deployment flexibility
Insightly punktet in folgenden Bereichen: Lower starting cost, project management built in, faster time to first value
Mehr von Close CRM im Vergleich
Here is how Close CRM stacks up against other CRM options:
Close wins on: Native dialer, tighter inbox workflow, faster rollout for a small sales team
HubSpot punktet in folgenden Bereichen: Free tier, marketing hub, far more integrations
CRM schließen vs. CRM am Montag
Close wins on: Calling and SMS built in, sales-first defaults, call coaching for reps
Montags-CRM-Erfolge bei: Visual boards, wider team use beyond sales, cheaper mid tiers
Close wins on: Predictive dialer quality, quicker onboarding, one-click migration from other CRMs
Freshsales punktet bei: Lower entry price, built-in chat, broader reporting for the money
CRM schließen vs. Capsule CRM
Close wins on: Outbound calling volume, sequences and bulk email, sales automation depth
Capsule wins on: Cheaper seats, simpler contact management, lighter admin load
Häufig gestellte Fragen
Wofür wird SugarCRM verwendet?
It manages sales, marketing and service on one platform. Companies use it to track customer relationships, run campaigns, and forecast revenue across departments.
Worin unterscheidet sich Close von anderen CRM-Systemen?
It bundles calling, SMS, and email into the record itself. Most rivals treat outreach as an add-on, so Close feels closer to a sales engagement tool.
Was kostet ein CRM-System üblicherweise?
Most business plans land between $25 and $150 per user per month. SugarCRM starts at $59 per user per month and Close starts at $35 per seat.
Welche Nachteile hat SugarCRM?
The learning curve is steep and the ten user minimum shuts out tiny teams. Service tools also trail dedicated help desk products.
Ist Close.io ein CRM-System?
Yes. Close.io was the original name for Close, and it works as a CRM with calling, texting, and email built into the same app.













