Head-to-head
CallRail vs CallTrackingMetrics (CTM): which one in 2026?
CallRail and CTM (CallTrackingMetrics) are call tracking platforms that tie phone calls, texts and forms back to the marketing source that produced them. CallRail starts at a lower monthly fee with a ladder of tracking and conversion tiers, while CTM spreads features across four tiers up to a sales-dialer plan.
Verdict
CallRail is the stronger default for a marketer who mainly wants attributed inbound calls, with a $50 start and AI layers added by tier. CTM suits agencies and sales teams, because sub-accounts, a softphone and skill routing arrive in one platform, at a higher monthly floor. Neither vendor stated where recordings are stored or whether call data trains models, so ask both before signing.
CallRail and CallTrackingMetrics (CTM) side by side
| CallRail | CallTrackingMetrics (CTM) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price entry | $50 per month plus usage for Lead Tracking | $79 per month for Marketing Lite |
| Lowest monthly fee | Lead Tracking at $50 per month plus usage, with 5 numbers and 250 minutes included. | Marketing Lite at $79 monthly, or $65 with annual prepay and $60 with two-year prepay. |
| Trial or promotion | Offers a free trial before billing starts, and the 25 monthly texts become available once the trial ends. | No free plan; the pricing page promotes $0 in plan fees for the first month. |
| How tiers are split | Four tiers pair tracking or conversion analysis with or without form tracking, from $50 to $195. | Lite, Pro and Sales Engage at $79, $179 and $329 monthly, with each tier adding integrations, then a quote-only Enterprise tier. |
| AI call analysis | Summaries, sentiment and keyword analysis sit on the Lead Conversion tiers; Voice Assist answers calls for an add-on. | AskAI custom analysis starts on Pro; transcription on Lite is billed at $0.02 per minute. |
| Usage you pay for | Extra local numbers cost $3 each, toll-free $5, and texts beyond 25 cost $0.03 each. | Packs of 25 extra sub-accounts cost $50 per month, and Pro caps transcription at 3,000 minutes per sub-account. |
| Sales calling tools | Focused on inbound tracking and conversion; no dialer or softphone appears on the pricing page. | Sales Engage adds a customizable softphone, smart dialer, skill-based routing and real-time dashboards for sales teams. |
| API access | Free up to 1,500 calls per month, then $80 or $200 monthly for higher call bands. | Open API access begins on Marketing Pro, with lambda functions and API office hours named. |
| Compliance statements | Security page claims ISO 42001 and lists SOC 2 Type II and a HIPAA solution; the privacy policy did not load. | Security page states a completed SOC 2 Type 2 audit, HIPAA with BAAs and GDPR settings, hosted on AWS. |
Where each one wins
CallRail wins on
- Cheaper entry at $50 per month, with a trial before any commitment
- Voice Assist add-on answers and qualifies calls around the clock
- Published API tiers start free, which suits a small reporting integration
CallTrackingMetrics (CTM) wins on
- Sales Engage covers outbound work with a softphone, dialer and skill routing
- Annual and two-year prepay discounts bring the entry fee down to $60
- SOC 2 Type 2 completion and BAA availability are stated plainly on its security page
Which to pick
Pick CallRail if
You run inbound lead generation for one business or a few clients, want a low entry price, and plan to test with a trial first.
Pick CallTrackingMetrics (CTM) if
You manage many client accounts or run outbound sales, and need sub-accounts, a dialer and skill-based routing in the same platform.
Each tool in context: CallRail profile, CallTrackingMetrics (CTM) profile, and the full Best AI Call Tracking Software in 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is CallRail cheaper than CTM?
At the entry tier, yes. As of November 2026, CallRail Lead Tracking is $50 per month plus usage, while CTM Marketing Lite is $79 monthly, falling to $60 on a two-year prepay. Usage changes the picture, since CallRail charges for extra numbers and texts and CTM charges for transcription and sub-account packs.
Does CTM have a free plan or trial like CallRail?
CTM lists no free plan. Its pricing page promotes $0 in plan fees for the first month, which is a promotion rather than a free tier. CallRail offers a trial, and its 25 monthly texts become available after that trial period.
Which one handles agency work with many client accounts better?
CTM is built more openly for it. Marketing Lite includes 25 sub-accounts, extra packs of 25 cost $50 per month, and Sales Engage has unlimited sub-accounts. CallRail's pricing page, as checked, did not describe a sub-account allowance, so ask its sales team how client accounts are structured.
Do CallRail and CTM use my call recordings to train AI models?
Neither vendor's checked pages stated it. CallRail links a Responsible AI page that was not opened, and CTM's security page is silent on training. CTM's privacy policy URL returned an error and CallRail's returned no readable text, so request written terms before sending sensitive calls.