As a reviewer focused on social media management tools, I look for platforms that balance powerful features with ease of use. Having reviewed the public presentations of Closely and Appy Pie extensively, I can help you understand which tool fits your specific workflow—and where a more streamlined alternative like PostFlow might be a better fit for creators who prioritize fast content creation.

Emilia Morosini, Chief Content Strategist at PostFlow

Closely

  • Platform: LinkedIn and email outreach
  • Best For: Outbound sales and lead generation
  • Strength: Multichannel campaigns with AI personalization
  • Users: Not specified

Starting at $29/month

Appy Pie

  • Platform: Mobile apps, websites, automations
  • Best For: No-code development and AI content tools
  • Strength: AI-driven builders for apps and workflows
  • Users: Not specified

Starting at €14/app/month

Looking for a simpler alternative? Try PostFlow for fast LinkedIn post generation. Try out now

At a Glance

Core Platform Support

Feature Closely Appy Pie
LinkedIn Automation Safe sequences with human-like behavior and limits No social media automation support
Email Outreach Multichannel campaigns integrating LinkedIn and email Limited to workflow automation via Appy Pie Automate
Mobile App Building Not supported No-code builder for Android/iOS with AI generator
Website Building Not supported AI Website Builder with templates
No-Code Workflow Automation Limited to sales sequences Appy Pie Automate connects 1000+ apps

AI Capabilities

Feature Closely Appy Pie
AI Personalization For DMs, InMails, and emails in sales outreach App generation from natural language, content creation
AI Agents/Chatbots Sales AI Agents for lead research and qualification Appy Pie Agents for conversational AI assistants
Data Enrichment Verified emails/phones from LinkedIn data No lead enrichment features
AI Content Generation Limited to outreach personalization Appy Pie Copy for text, images, videos, music
AI Design Tools Not supported Pixazo for AI images, videos, animations

Integrations & CRM

Feature Closely Appy Pie
CRM Integrations Deep sync with HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive, GoHighLevel General app integrations via Automate, no CRM focus
Unified Inbox For LinkedIn DMs, InMails, and emails No inbox features
App Store Distribution Not applicable Support for Google Play and Apple App Store
Third-Party Automations Webhooks and CRM-specific Connects to 1000+ services via no-code
White-Label Options Custom domain, branding for agencies No white-label platform

Analytics & Reporting

Feature Closely Appy Pie
Outreach Analytics Campaign, sequence, and team performance tracking App analytics via Google Analytics integration
Lead Scoring/Qualification AI-based lead scoring Not supported
App Performance Analytics Not applicable Downloads, push notifications, user engagement
Advanced Reporting CRM attribution and team analytics Enterprise-grade with dedicated manager

Security & Compliance

Feature Closely Appy Pie
CRM Data Sync Security Secure integrations with major CRMs Broad compliance but not CRM-focused
SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA Standard security, no specified certifications SOC 2 Type II, GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA, ISO 27001
Unlimited Bandwidth/Hosting Not applicable Across all app builder plans
DDoS Protection Not specified Included for app hosting
Need a tool that focuses on fast content creation? PostFlow generates LinkedIn posts in under a minute. Try out now

Pricing Comparison

Closely starts at $29/month (annual) for LinkedIn/email automation, scaling to custom for agencies. Appy Pie begins at €14/app/month for basic app building, with enterprise custom pricing. Closely offers value for sales teams via CRM integrations, while Appy Pie provides scalable no-code tools but per-app pricing can add up.

Closely

Starter Annual

$29/month

Solo users starting outbound sales

  • 1 LinkedIn account
  • Unlimited email accounts
  • 1 sender (1 LinkedIn + 1 email)
  • White-label included
  • Outreach automation and multichannel campaigns

Growth Annual

$87/month

Small teams scaling outreach

  • 3 LinkedIn accounts
  • Unlimited email accounts
  • White-label included
  • Bonus 3,000 credits/month (emails, phones, AI personalizations)

Essential Annual

$145/month

Growing teams with more accounts

  • 5 LinkedIn accounts
  • Unlimited email accounts
  • White-label included
  • Bonus 5,000 credits/month

Custom

Custom

Large teams and enterprises

  • Custom LinkedIn accounts
  • Unlimited campaigns and emails
  • Conditional sequences, smart inbox
  • CRM integrations, webhooks

White-label Unlimited

$999/month

Agencies with multiple clients

  • Unlimited seats
  • Full customization (domain, branding)
  • Client portal, branded reporting
  • No usage caps

Appy Pie

Basic (Gold)

€14/app/month

Simple Android apps

  • Android support
  • Google Play distribution
  • Unlimited bandwidth/hosting
  • Up to 500 downloads/push notifications
  • Ad-free PWA/Android
  • Google Analytics

Gold (Best Value)

€36/app/month

Growing Android apps

  • Android support
  • Up to 1000 downloads/push notifications
  • Unlimited editing/bandwidth
  • Monetization via ads

Platinum (Most Popular)

€60/app/month

Cross-platform apps

  • Android and iOS
  • App Store distribution
  • Up to 2000 downloads/push notifications
  • Ad-free across platforms

Enterprise

Custom

Large-scale, compliant apps

  • All Platinum features
  • Enterprise security (SSO, PCI DSS)
  • Dedicated manager, unlimited apps
  • Regulatory compliance
Want simpler pricing? PostFlow offers straightforward plans focused on fast post creation. Try out now

Feature Deep Dive

Sales Outreach and Automation

Closely

Strengths
  • LinkedIn sequences with safe, human-like actions
  • Multichannel campaigns blending LinkedIn and email
  • AI personalization for messages and emails
  • Sales AI Agents for research, qualification, scoring
  • Data enrichment from LinkedIn/Sales Navigator
Workflow

Import leads → Build sequence → AI personalize → Launch multichannel → Track in unified inbox

Appy Pie

Strengths
  • No-code workflow automation via Appy Pie Automate
  • AI agents for conversational outreach
  • Integrations with email services for basic automations
Workflow

Describe workflow in natural language → AI builds automation → Connect apps → Test and deploy

Limitations
  • No LinkedIn-specific automation
  • Focus on general workflows, not sales outreach
  • Lacks lead enrichment or CRM depth

Closely dominates sales outreach with LinkedIn/email focus, AI personalization, and CRM sync, ideal for B2B prospecting. Appy Pie's automation is broader but less specialized for sales, better for general business workflows. Choose Closely for targeted outbound; Appy Pie for versatile no-code integrations.

Closely multichannel campaign builder

AI-Powered Tools

Closely

Strengths
  • AI for lead research, web scraping, personalization
  • Sales agents handling qualification and scoring
  • Integrated into outreach sequences
Limitations
  • AI limited to sales contexts, no general content/design
  • Credit-based usage in higher tiers

Appy Pie

Strengths
  • AI App/Website Generator from descriptions
  • Appy Pie Copy for content, images, videos
  • Agents for chatbots and voice assistants
  • Pixazo for design assets
Limitations
  • Less focus on sales AI
  • Overwhelming options for simple needs

Appy Pie offers a wider AI ecosystem for creation (apps, content, design), while Closely's AI is narrowly powerful for sales tasks like personalization and lead handling. Appy Pie wins for creative no-code; Closely for efficient sales AI.

Closely Sales AI Agents

Integrations and CRM Capabilities

Closely

Strengths
  • Deep bidirectional sync with HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive
  • Unified inbox for replies across channels
  • Webhooks for custom automations
  • Exports from LinkedIn to CRM
Workflow

Connect CRM → Run campaigns → Auto-sync leads/replies → Attribute to deals

Appy Pie

Strengths
  • No-code connections to 1000+ apps via Automate
  • Google Analytics for app insights
  • Enterprise SSO and compliance tools
Limitations
  • No deep CRM focus
  • Integrations more for workflows than sales data sync

Closely excels in sales-specific CRM integrations for seamless lead management. Appy Pie's integrations are versatile for no-code but lack sales depth. Closely is superior for sales teams; Appy Pie for general app ecosystems.

Closely CRM integrations

Analytics and Reporting

Closely

Strengths
  • Advanced outreach metrics: open rates, replies, conversions
  • Team and campaign analytics
  • CRM attribution for ROI tracking
  • Branded reporting in white-label
Limitations
  • Focused on sales metrics, no app/user analytics

Appy Pie

Strengths
  • App download, engagement, push notification analytics
  • Google Analytics integration
  • Enterprise custom reporting with manager support
Limitations
  • Less emphasis on sales/outreach metrics
  • Basic for non-enterprise

Closely provides detailed sales analytics with CRM ties, perfect for measuring outreach ROI. Appy Pie focuses on app performance metrics. Choose Closely for sales insights; Appy Pie for digital product tracking.

Closely outreach analytics
Prefer a streamlined tool? PostFlow focuses purely on creating great LinkedIn content quickly. Try out now

Use Case Comparison

Outbound Sales Team

Closely 🏆

Excellent

Multichannel LinkedIn/email automation, AI personalization, and CRM integrations streamline prospecting and lead qualification.

Best Plan: Growth Annual ($87/month)

Score: 10/10

Appy Pie

Poor

No sales outreach tools; general automation doesn't target LinkedIn or CRM sync.

Best Plan: Not suitable

Score: 2/10

Small Business Launching a Mobile App

Closely

Poor

No app building capabilities; focused solely on sales automation.

Best Plan: Not suitable

Score: 1/10

Appy Pie 🏆

Excellent

AI app generator and no-code builder enable quick Android/iOS launches with templates.

Best Plan: Platinum (€60/app/month)

Score: 9/10

Sales Agency Offering Lead Gen Services

Closely 🏆

Excellent

White-label platform, unlimited seats, and custom branding support client management.

Best Plan: White-label Unlimited ($999/month)

Score: 10/10

Appy Pie

Fair

Can build client apps but lacks agency-specific white-label or sales tools.

Best Plan: Enterprise (Custom)

Score: 5/10

Non-Technical Entrepreneur Building Digital Products

Closely

Fair

Useful for personal outreach but not for product development.

Best Plan: Starter Annual ($29/month)

Score: 4/10

Appy Pie 🏆

Excellent

No-code tools for apps, sites, chatbots allow rapid prototyping without developers.

Best Plan: Gold (€36/app/month)

Score: 10/10

B2B Marketer Running Multichannel Campaigns

Closely 🏆

Excellent

Combines LinkedIn, email, and CRM for full-funnel attribution.

Best Plan: Essential Annual ($145/month)

Score: 9/10

Appy Pie

Good

Workflow automation helps but lacks marketing-specific channels like LinkedIn.

Best Plan: Enterprise (Custom)

Score: 6/10

Startup Founder Scaling Sales Without SDR Team

Closely 🏆

Excellent

AI agents and automation replace manual prospecting, with easy CRM sync.

Best Plan: Growth Annual ($87/month)

Score: 9/10

Appy Pie

Fair

Can build sales apps but no direct outreach automation.

Best Plan: Platinum (€60/app/month)

Score: 5/10

Agency Building Apps/Websites for Clients

Closely

Poor

No development tools; sales focus only.

Best Plan: Not suitable

Score: 2/10

Appy Pie 🏆

Excellent

Templates and AI builders speed client projects; enterprise for multi-client.

Best Plan: Enterprise (Custom)

Score: 9/10

Organization in Regulated Industry (e.g., Healthcare)

Closely

Good

Secure CRM integrations but no HIPAA/GDPR specifics.

Best Plan: Custom

Score: 6/10

Appy Pie 🏆

Excellent

HIPAA, GDPR, SOC 2 compliance for apps in sensitive sectors.

Best Plan: Enterprise (Custom)

Score: 10/10

Solo User Prospecting Leads

Closely 🏆

Excellent

Affordable starter plan with unlimited emails and AI personalization.

Best Plan: Starter Annual ($29/month)

Score: 8/10

Appy Pie

Poor

Overkill for prospecting; no relevant features.

Best Plan: Not suitable

Score: 1/10

Content Creator Building a Companion App

Closely

Poor

No app tools; could use for promotion outreach.

Best Plan: Not suitable

Score: 3/10

Appy Pie 🏆

Excellent

AI content tools and app builder integrate seamlessly for creators.

Best Plan: Basic (€14/app/month)

Score: 9/10

Sales Team Needing Collaboration

Closely 🏆

Good

Team management and shared inbox, but limited seats in lower tiers.

Best Plan: Essential Annual ($145/month)

Score: 7/10

Appy Pie

Fair

Enterprise collaboration but not sales-oriented.

Best Plan: Enterprise (Custom)

Score: 4/10

Budget-Conscious Non-Technical Developer

Closely

Fair

Low starting price but irrelevant for development.

Best Plan: Starter Annual ($29/month)

Score: 4/10

Appy Pie 🏆

Excellent

Affordable per-app pricing with unlimited hosting.

Best Plan: Basic (€14/app/month)

Score: 8/10

Still deciding? PostFlow offers a simple, focused approach to LinkedIn content creation. Try out now

Pros and Cons

Closely

Pros

  • Comprehensive LinkedIn/email automation with safe limits
  • AI personalization and sales agents for efficient outreach
  • Deep CRM integrations ensure data sync and attribution
  • Unified inbox simplifies reply management
  • White-label options for agencies with custom branding
  • Flexible pricing with annual discounts and unlimited emails
  • Advanced analytics for campaign ROI

Cons

  • Interface complex for basic users
  • High pricing for solo or casual use
  • No content creation or social scheduling beyond outreach
  • Onboarding needed for advanced features
  • Limited to B2B sales focus, no app/website tools
  • Credit system for AI/enrichment may limit usage

Appy Pie

Pros

  • Broad no-code ecosystem for apps, sites, automations, AI content
  • AI generators speed up creation from descriptions
  • Strong security/compliance for regulated industries
  • Unlimited bandwidth/hosting across plans
  • Vertical templates reduce setup time
  • Scalable per-app pricing with enterprise support

Cons

  • Overwhelming breadth for focused needs
  • Per-app pricing increases costs for multiples
  • Download/push limits constrain growth on lower tiers
  • No sales outreach or CRM depth
  • Additional developer fees for app stores
  • Less specialized AI compared to sales tools
Want the best of both worlds? Try PostFlow for fast content creation without the complexity. Try out now

Final Verdict

Closely and Appy Pie target different domains: Closely is a specialized sales automation tool for LinkedIn/email prospecting with CRM depth, while Appy Pie is a versatile no-code platform for digital product creation and general automations. Closely suits outbound sales, Appy Pie empowers non-technical builders.

Select Closely for sales-focused automation and lead gen. Opt for Appy Pie for no-code development of apps, sites, and workflows. They complement in scenarios like building a sales app then automating outreach.

Overall Scores

Closely

4.5 / 5.0

Lead Generation: 10/10

Value: 7/10

Appy Pie

4.4 / 5.0

Lead Generation: 3/10

Value: 8/10

Ready to get started with PostFlow?

Try it out

No credit card required.

No signup required.