TinyCRM vs Close
Skip the outbound machine
Close is a powerful outbound sales CRM with calling, sequences, and pipelines — but it starts at $29/user/month and is built for sales reps, not indie hackers. TinyCRM is $9/month flat: a pure customer database with an NPM SDK.
Pricing comparison
TinyCRM
$9/month
Flat pricing. Unlimited users. All features.
- 14-day free trial
- Unlimited team members
- NPM SDK included
Close
$29–$149/user/month
Per-seat pricing.
- Startup: $29/user/month
- Professional: $109/user/month
- Business: $149/user/month
| Team size | TinyCRM / year | Close Startup / year | Close Pro / year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 user | $108 | $348 | $1,308 |
| 5 users | $108 | $1,740 | $6,540 |
| 10 users | $108 | $3,480 | $13,080 |
Three key differences
Inbound, not outbound
TinyCRM tracks customers who signed up for your product — automatically, via an NPM SDK. Close is for outbound reps chasing leads.
$9/month flat
Close's Startup plan is $29/user/month. TinyCRM is $9/month total. For indie hackers, that's 97% cheaper.
No calling or sequences
TinyCRM doesn't have calling, email sequences, or SMS. If you need those, Close is a strong choice. TinyCRM is a pure customer database.
Feature comparison
| Feature | TinyCRM | Close |
|---|---|---|
| Flat monthly pricing (no per-seat) | ||
| NPM SDK (identify + ping) | ||
| Unified view across multiple products | ||
| Setup in under an hour | ||
| CSV import & export | ||
| Custom fields / params | ||
| Customer status tracking | ||
| Built-in calling (VoIP) | ||
| Email sequences | ||
| SMS outreach | ||
| Sales pipeline | ||
| Activity timeline | ||
| Reporting & analytics |
Built for developers, not sales reps
Close is built around the daily workflow of a sales rep: make calls, send sequences, track deals through stages. It's excellent at that job. But for an indie hacker, that's the wrong starting point.
TinyCRM starts from your code. Install the NPM SDK, and every time a user signs up for one of your products, they appear automatically in your customer database. No manual entry, no sequences to configure — just identify() and done.
// Install
npm install tinycrm-sdk
// In your sign-up handler
import { TinyCRM } from "tinycrm-sdk";
const crm = new TinyCRM({
apiKey: process.env.TINYCRM_API_KEY,
});
await crm.identify({
email: user.email,
name: user.name,
status: "trial",
params: { source: "product_hunt" },
});What is Close?
Close is a sales CRM founded in 2013, built around the needs of outbound sales teams. Its flagship feature is built-in VoIP calling — sales reps can call leads directly from the CRM without switching tools. Close also offers email sequences, SMS outreach, pipelines, and activity tracking. It's popular with B2B startups that have dedicated SDRs or account executives doing outbound.
Close is a strong choice for startups with outbound sales motions and sales reps who need to manage high call and email volume. It is not designed for indie hackers who want a lightweight, programmatic customer database for tracking product users.
How to migrate from Close to TinyCRM
Export leads from Close
In Close, go to Leads → Export. Download all leads with contact information as CSV.
Import into TinyCRM
In TinyCRM, go to Import → CSV. Map Close's email and name fields. Custom Close fields can map to TinyCRM's JSONB params.
Install the SDK
Run npm install tinycrm-sdk in your backend. Get your API key from TinyCRM Settings → Projects.
Add identify() to your sign-up flow
Call crm.identify() from your sign-up handler. New customers appear automatically — no manual import needed going forward.
Verify and cancel Close
Confirm all contacts migrated correctly, then cancel your Close subscription.
Frequently asked questions
Is TinyCRM cheaper than Close?
Yes. TinyCRM is $9/month for your whole team. Close's Startup plan is $29/user/month, Professional is $109/user/month, and Business is $149/user/month. A solo founder on Close Startup pays $348/year; on TinyCRM they pay $108/year.
Does TinyCRM have calling or email sequences like Close?
No. TinyCRM is a pure customer database — it tracks who your customers are, which of your products they use, and their status. Close is a full outbound sales CRM with built-in calling, email sequences, and SMS. Different tools for different needs.
Who should use Close vs TinyCRM?
Close is built for SDRs and account executives who do outbound sales — cold calling, email sequences, and pipeline management. TinyCRM is built for indie hackers who want to see all their product users in one place, tracked automatically via an NPM SDK.
Can I import Close contacts into TinyCRM?
Yes. Export your Close leads or contacts as CSV and import them into TinyCRM using the built-in CSV importer. Map email and name fields; custom fields from Close can map to JSONB params.
Does TinyCRM have an NPM SDK?
Yes. tinycrm-sdk has identify() and ping(). Install it in your Node.js, Edge, or serverless backend and call identify() from your sign-up handler. Close doesn't have a comparable server-side tracking SDK.
Start building with TinyCRM
14-day free trial. $9/month after. No per-seat fees, ever.
npm install tinycrm-sdk
Also see: All CRM comparisons · Framework integrations