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Artisan (Ava) vs Close

A detailed comparison of Artisan (Ava) and Close. Find out which AI SDR solution is right for your team.

📌Key Takeaways

  • 1Artisan (Ava) vs Close: Comparing 6 criteria.
  • 2Artisan (Ava) wins 5 categories, Close wins 1, with 0 ties.
  • 3Artisan (Ava): 4.7/5 rating. Close: 4.3/5 rating.
  • 4Overall recommendation: Artisan (Ava) edges ahead in this comparison.
Option A

Artisan (Ava)

4.7

AI BDR agent that automates 80% of outbound tasks including lead generation, personalized outreach, and email deliverability management

5 wins
View full review →
Option B

Close

4.3

Sales CRM built for SMBs with built-in calling, email, and SMS automation plus AI-powered features for high-velocity sales

1 wins
View full review →

5

Artisan (Ava) wins

0

Ties

1

Close wins

Feature Comparison

CriteriaArtisan (Ava)CloseWinner
Email Deliverability35Close
Personalization43Artisan (Ava)
Automation Level43Artisan (Ava)
CRM Integration54Artisan (Ava)
Ease of Use43Artisan (Ava)
Multi-channel Support43Artisan (Ava)

Detailed Analysis

Email Deliverability

Close

Artisan (Ava)

Artisan (Ava)'s email deliverability capabilities

Close

Close's email deliverability capabilities

Comparing email deliverability between Artisan (Ava) and Close.

Personalization

Artisan (Ava)

Artisan (Ava)

Artisan (Ava)'s personalization capabilities

Close

Close's personalization capabilities

Comparing personalization between Artisan (Ava) and Close.

Automation Level

Artisan (Ava)

Artisan (Ava)

Artisan (Ava)'s automation level capabilities

Close

Close's automation level capabilities

Comparing automation level between Artisan (Ava) and Close.

CRM Integration

Artisan (Ava)

Artisan (Ava)

Artisan (Ava)'s crm integration capabilities

Close

Close's crm integration capabilities

Comparing crm integration between Artisan (Ava) and Close.

Ease of Use

Artisan (Ava)

Artisan (Ava)

Artisan (Ava)'s ease of use capabilities

Close

Close's ease of use capabilities

Comparing ease of use between Artisan (Ava) and Close.

Multi-channel Support

Artisan (Ava)

Artisan (Ava)

Artisan (Ava)'s multi-channel support capabilities

Close

Close's multi-channel support capabilities

Comparing multi-channel support between Artisan (Ava) and Close.

Feature-by-Feature Breakdown

Lead Discovery & Enrichment

Close

Artisan (Ava)

Ava taps into a curated database of over 300 million verified B2B contacts, pulling data from dozens of sources (technographics, funding events, hiring news, social signals). The AI enriches each prospect in real time, ensuring that outreach is based on the latest firm‑level intelligence. This depth of data reduces manual research time, improves targeting accuracy, and enables hyper‑personalized messaging that resonates with the prospect’s current context. Higher prospect relevance and faster pipeline building

Higher prospect relevance and faster pipeline building

Close

Close's AI calling feature revolutionizes outbound prospecting by conducting autonomous phone conversations with prospects using advanced natural language processing. The system dials through prospect lists, engages in natural dialogue, handles common objections with trained responses, and qualifies leads based on your specific criteria—all without human intervention. Every call is automatically transcribed in real-time, with key information like budget, timeline, and decision-maker status extracted and logged directly to the CRM. This enables sales teams to scale their outreach to hundreds of prospects daily while ensuring human reps only spend time on pre-qualified opportunities. Scale prospecting 24/7 without hiring additional SDRs while ensuring reps only engage with pre-qualified leads.

Scale prospecting 24/7 without hiring additional SDRs while ensuring reps only engage with pre-qualified leads

Both Artisan (Ava) and Close offer Lead Discovery & Enrichment. Artisan (Ava)'s approach focuses on ava taps into a curated database of over 300 million verified b2b contacts, pulling data from dozens of sources (technographics, funding events, hiring news, social signals)., while Close emphasizes close's ai calling feature revolutionizes outbound prospecting by conducting autonomous phone conversations with prospects using advanced natural language processing.. Choose based on which implementation better fits your workflow.

Hyper‑Personalized Email & LinkedIn Generation

Close

Artisan (Ava)

Using a proprietary LLM pipeline, Ava writes emails and LinkedIn messages that adapt tone, style and call‑to‑action to each individual prospect. The system employs a "Personalization Waterfall" that selects the most specific data point (e.g., recent funding, product launch) for inclusion, creating messages that read as if drafted by a senior sales rep. This results in higher open and reply rates compared with generic templates. Improved engagement metrics and response rates

Improved engagement metrics and response rates

Close

Close's machine learning-powered lead scoring system analyzes hundreds of data points including prospect engagement patterns, company demographics, industry signals, and historical interaction data to predict conversion likelihood with remarkable accuracy. The system continuously learns from your actual deal outcomes, adapting its scoring models to reflect your specific sales patterns and ideal customer profile. Leads are automatically ranked and prioritized, with transparent scoring explanations that help reps understand why certain prospects are flagged as high-value. This eliminates guesswork from prospecting and ensures your team focuses energy on opportunities most likely to close. Identify high-probability opportunities before they're contacted and continuously improve targeting based on actual results.

Identify high-probability opportunities before they're contacted and continuously improve targeting based on actual results

Both Artisan (Ava) and Close offer Hyper‑Personalized Email & LinkedIn Generation. Artisan (Ava)'s approach focuses on using a proprietary llm pipeline, ava writes emails and linkedin messages that adapt tone, style and call‑to‑action to each individual prospect., while Close emphasizes close's machine learning-powered lead scoring system analyzes hundreds of data points including prospect engagement patterns, company demographics, industry signals, and historical interaction data to predict conversion likelihood with remarkable accuracy.. Choose based on which implementation better fits your workflow.

Multi‑Channel Sequencing & Autonomy

Close

Artisan (Ava)

Ava orchestrates multi‑step sequences across email and LinkedIn, automatically adjusting timing based on recipient behavior (opens, clicks, replies). At Level 2 autonomy she can send messages, follow‑up, and even book calendar slots without human approval, while providing a live dashboard for managers to monitor performance. Scalable outreach with minimal manual oversight

Scalable outreach with minimal manual oversight

Close

Create sophisticated multi-step email campaigns with AI-optimized subject lines, personalized content, and intelligent send-time optimization based on historical engagement data. Close's sequence engine automatically adjusts the cadence based on prospect behavior—skipping steps when prospects respond, accelerating outreach for engaged leads, or pausing sequences when negative signals are detected. Built-in A/B testing capabilities allow you to experiment with different approaches while comprehensive analytics track open rates, click-through rates, reply rates, and conversion metrics across all campaigns. The system learns from performance data to continuously improve recommendations. Scale personalized outreach while improving engagement rates through AI-driven optimization and behavioral triggers.

Scale personalized outreach while improving engagement rates through AI-driven optimization and behavioral triggers

Both Artisan (Ava) and Close offer Multi‑Channel Sequencing & Autonomy. Artisan (Ava)'s approach focuses on ava orchestrates multi‑step sequences across email and linkedin, automatically adjusting timing based on recipient behavior (opens, clicks, replies)., while Close emphasizes create sophisticated multi-step email campaigns with ai-optimized subject lines, personalized content, and intelligent send-time optimization based on historical engagement data.. Choose based on which implementation better fits your workflow.

Email Deliverability Suite

Close

Artisan (Ava)

The platform includes built‑in warm‑up, mailbox health monitoring, dynamic sending limits, and signature rotation to keep sender reputation high. Bounce testing and placement analytics ensure that high‑volume campaigns land in the inbox rather than spam folders, a common pain point for outbound teams. Higher inbox placement and reduced spam complaints

Higher inbox placement and reduced spam complaints

Close

Close eliminates the fragmentation that plagues sales teams by combining contact management, deal tracking, activity logging, and multi-channel communication into a single unified platform. Every email, call, SMS, and task is automatically captured and associated with the appropriate contact record, creating a complete audit trail of all customer interactions accessible to the entire team. Custom fields, configurable pipelines, and flexible workflows can be tailored to match your specific sales process, while role-based permissions ensure appropriate access control. The platform's architecture ensures zero data silos and complete context for every customer interaction. Eliminate context-switching between tools and maintain complete visibility into all customer interactions across your team.

Eliminate context-switching between tools and maintain complete visibility into all customer interactions across your team

Both Artisan (Ava) and Close offer Email Deliverability Suite. Artisan (Ava)'s approach focuses on platform includes built‑in warm‑up, mailbox health monitoring, dynamic sending limits, and signature rotation to keep sender reputation high., while Close emphasizes close eliminates the fragmentation that plagues sales teams by combining contact management, deal tracking, activity logging, and multi-channel communication into a single unified platform.. Choose based on which implementation better fits your workflow.

White‑Glove Onboarding & Support

Close

Artisan (Ava)

Every new customer receives a dedicated Customer Success Manager who runs a kickoff call, configures integrations (Slack, HubSpot, Salesforce), and fine‑tunes the AI’s messaging style. Ongoing quarterly business reviews and custom SLA options help enterprises align Ava’s performance with revenue goals. Rapid time‑to‑value and ongoing optimization

Rapid time‑to‑value and ongoing optimization

Close

Close's AI-powered call analytics engine automatically analyzes every phone conversation to extract actionable insights about sales performance. The system measures talk-to-listen ratios, identifies objection patterns, tracks keyword mentions, and predicts call outcomes based on conversation dynamics. Individual rep scorecards compare performance against team benchmarks, highlighting specific coaching opportunities with timestamped examples from actual calls. Managers can quickly identify winning techniques from top performers and replicate them across the team, while struggling reps receive targeted feedback based on concrete data rather than subjective impressions. Transform call recordings into actionable coaching insights that systematically improve team performance and conversion rates.

Transform call recordings into actionable coaching insights that systematically improve team performance and conversion rates

Both Artisan (Ava) and Close offer White‑Glove Onboarding & Support. Artisan (Ava)'s approach focuses on every new customer receives a dedicated customer success manager who runs a kickoff call, configures integrations (slack, hubspot, salesforce), and fine‑tunes the ai’s messaging style., while Close emphasizes close's ai-powered call analytics engine automatically analyzes every phone conversation to extract actionable insights about sales performance.. Choose based on which implementation better fits your workflow.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Artisan (Ava)

Strengths

  • Lead Discovery & Enrichment: Ava taps into a curated database of over 300 million verified B2B contacts, pulling data from dozens of sources (technographics, funding events, hirin...
  • Hyper‑Personalized Email & LinkedIn Generation: Using a proprietary LLM pipeline, Ava writes emails and LinkedIn messages that adapt tone, style and call‑to‑action to each individual prospect. The s...
  • Multi‑Channel Sequencing & Autonomy: Ava orchestrates multi‑step sequences across email and LinkedIn, automatically adjusting timing based on recipient behavior (opens, clicks, replies)....
  • Email Deliverability Suite: The platform includes built‑in warm‑up, mailbox health monitoring, dynamic sending limits, and signature rotation to keep sender reputation high. Boun...
  • White‑Glove Onboarding & Support: Every new customer receives a dedicated Customer Success Manager who runs a kickoff call, configures integrations (Slack, HubSpot, Salesforce), and fi...

Weaknesses

  • Learning curve for advanced automation features - optimal configuration may require experimentation and iteration.
  • Data accuracy varies by region - international markets may have less comprehensive or current contact information.
  • AI-generated content requires human review to ensure accuracy and brand voice consistency.

Close

Strengths

  • AI Voice Calling: Close's AI calling feature revolutionizes outbound prospecting by conducting autonomous phone conversations with prospects using advanced natural lang...
  • Intelligent Lead Scoring: Close's machine learning-powered lead scoring system analyzes hundreds of data points including prospect engagement patterns, company demographics, in...
  • Multi-Channel Email Sequences: Create sophisticated multi-step email campaigns with AI-optimized subject lines, personalized content, and intelligent send-time optimization based on...
  • Unified CRM Platform: Close eliminates the fragmentation that plagues sales teams by combining contact management, deal tracking, activity logging, and multi-channel commun...
  • Real-Time Call Analytics: Close's AI-powered call analytics engine automatically analyzes every phone conversation to extract actionable insights about sales performance. The s...

Weaknesses

  • Learning curve for advanced automation features - optimal configuration may require experimentation and iteration.
  • Data accuracy varies by region - international markets may have less comprehensive or current contact information.
  • AI-generated content requires human review to ensure accuracy and brand voice consistency.

Industry-Specific Fit

IndustryArtisan (Ava)CloseBetter Fit
FintechAva’s intent‑signal engine tracks funding rounds, regulatory updates and hiring trends that are critical for fintech sales. The platform can automatically comply with financial‑industry outreach rules while delivering personalized messages that reference recent financing events, helping fintech firms reach decision‑makers quickly.Not specifiedArtisan (Ava)
Healthcare & Medical DevicesFor highly regulated sectors, Ava incorporates compliance checks and can reference HIPAA‑aware language. The AI enriches leads with clinical trial data and device approvals, enabling precise targeting of hospital procurement officers and device distributors.Not specifiedArtisan (Ava)
E‑commerce & Local BusinessArtisan’s local business data (Google reviews, Instagram, Maps) lets Ava craft outreach that mentions neighborhood‑specific insights, driving higher reply rates for merchants, franchise owners and DTC brands seeking hyper‑local partnerships.Not specifiedArtisan (Ava)
Events & ConferencesAva can identify event‑related intent signals (speaker announcements, attendee lists) and send timely invitations or partnership proposals to exhibitors and sponsors, as demonstrated in the SaaStr and Chain of Events case studies.Not specifiedArtisan (Ava)
Business Services & SaaSThe platform’s massive B2B database and ability to personalize at scale makes it ideal for SaaS vendors targeting other tech companies. Ava can reference recent product launches, tech stack changes, or hiring spikes to position the service as a solution to emerging pain points.Not specifiedArtisan (Ava)
SaaS & TechnologyNot specifiedClose is particularly well-suited for SaaS and technology companies where inside sales models dominate and velocity matters. The platform's multi-channel automation capabilities align perfectly with the high-volume outreach required to generate and qualify leads for software products. Tech companies benefit from Close's API-first architecture that enables deep integration with product analytics, customer success platforms, and marketing automation tools. The AI lead scoring is especially valuable in SaaS where digital engagement signals—trial signups, feature usage, documentation visits—provide rich data for predicting conversion likelihood.Close
Professional ServicesNot specifiedProfessional services firms including consulting, legal, accounting, and marketing agencies leverage Close to manage business development pipelines and client relationships. The platform's deal management capabilities help track complex, long-cycle opportunities typical in professional services, while the communication logging ensures all client interactions are documented for team visibility. Close's task management and follow-up automation help busy professionals maintain relationships despite demanding client workloads, and the reporting capabilities support partner-level visibility into business development activities.Close
Financial ServicesNot specifiedFinancial services organizations including insurance agencies, wealth management firms, and lending companies use Close to manage prospect relationships while maintaining compliance with industry regulations. Call recording and complete communication logging support audit requirements, while the platform's security features meet the data protection standards required in financial services. The multi-channel capabilities enable outreach across the channels prospects prefer, and the pipeline management tools help track complex financial products with long consideration cycles.Close

Our Verdict

Artisan (Ava) and Close are both strong AI SDR solutions. Close stands out for lead discovery & enrichment. Choose based on which specific features and approach best fit your workflow and requirements.

Choose Artisan (Ava) if you:

  • You operate in Fintech
  • You prefer Artisan (Ava)'s approach to ai sdr
  • You prefer Artisan (Ava)'s approach to ai sdr
View Artisan (Ava)

Choose Close if you:

  • You need lead discovery & enrichment capabilities
  • You need hyper‑personalized email & linkedin generation capabilities
  • You operate in SaaS & Technology
View Close

Need Help Choosing?

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Frequently Asked Questions

It depends on your specific needs. Artisan (Ava) and Close each have strengths in different areas. Compare features, integrations, and pricing to determine which is best for your use case.
In some cases, yes. Many teams use complementary tools together. Check if both platforms offer integrations or APIs that allow them to work together.
Both platforms offer different onboarding experiences. Artisan (Ava) and Close each have their own setup processes. Most users can get started with either within a few hours.
The main differences are in their approach, feature set, and target use cases. Review the comparison criteria above to see detailed breakdowns of how they differ.
For small teams, consider factors like ease of use, pricing tiers, and the specific features you need most. Both Artisan (Ava) and Close can work for small teams depending on your priorities.

Sources & Evidence

  • Fully autonomous AI BDR that executes end‑to‑end outbound campaigns without human intervention

    Source: Artisan’s Ava runs Level 2 autonomy, handling lead discovery, research, hyper‑personalized email/LinkedIn sequencing, deliverability optimization and meeting scheduling on its own (source 7; source 6). The platform leverages a 300 M+ B2B contact database and real‑time intent signals to engage prospects at the optimal moment.

  • AI-powered lead qualification and automated outreach sequencing that learns from sales interactions to prioritize high-value prospects and automatically adjust engagement strategies in real-time

    Source: Close's AI engine analyzes conversation data and engagement patterns to automatically score leads and recommend next best actions. The platform uses machine learning trained on millions of sales interactions to optimize outreach timing and messaging based on historical conversion data. According to Close's documentation, their AI can identify buying signals from email opens, click patterns, and response sentiment to dynamically reprioritize leads and adjust sequence cadences—enabling sales teams to focus on the most promising opportunities without manual lead scoring or constant pipeline review.

  • Artisan Raises $25M Series A

    Source: Forbes - View source

  • Controversial "Stop Hiring Humans" Billboard Campaign Sparks Outrage

    Source: Ars Technica - View source

  • Artisan - Sales & Revenue Operations - AI Agents List

    Source: aiagentslist.com - View source

  • Artisan AI - Wikipedia

    Source: en.wikipedia.org - View source

  • Artisan - LinkedIn

    Source: linkedin.com - View source

Last updated: January 30, 2026

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