Best Lemlist Alternatives: Honest Comparison for Cold Email Outreach

Lemlist is a solid cold email tool with strong personalization features and multichannel capabilities. But at $69/month per user just for email (and $99/month for multichannel), it's not cheap. And once you factor in the per-seat pricing model and credit add-ons, costs can spiral quickly for growing teams.

If you're looking for alternatives-whether because of price, features, or scalability-here's a no-BS breakdown of the best options.

Why People Switch From Lemlist

Before we dive in, let's be clear about what makes people look elsewhere:

• Per-user pricing: Lemlist charges per seat, which gets expensive fast if you have a team
• Limited sending addresses: You get 3 email addresses on Email Pro, 5 on Multichannel Expert
• Credit consumption: Lead finder credits run out quickly-additional credits cost $0.01 each and don't roll over to the next month
• No A/B testing on lower plans: You can't A/B test copies on the Email Pro plan
• Scaling costs: For agencies managing multiple clients, you need separate workspaces at $55+ per client per month

That said, Lemlist does excel at visual personalization with custom images and videos, and the multichannel features (LinkedIn, calls, WhatsApp) are genuinely useful if you'll use them. The question is: do you need all that, or would a more focused tool serve you better at a lower cost?

1. Instantly.ai - Best for High-Volume Email at Scale

If you're sending serious volume and want to avoid per-seat pricing, Instantly is the go-to choice. It's built specifically for cold email at scale.

Pricing

• Growth: $37/month (or $30/month billed annually) - 1,000 contacts, 5,000 emails/month
• Hypergrowth: $97/month ($77.60/month annual) - 25,000 contacts, 125,000 emails/month
• Light Speed: $358/month - Enterprise features with SISR and private IP pools

The Lead Database is separate: Growth Leads starts at $47/month for 1,000 verified leads monthly, Supersonic Leads at $97/month for 5,000 leads, and Hyperleads at $197/month for 10,000 leads.

What's Good

• Unlimited email accounts and warmup included on every plan
• Flat-fee pricing-no per-seat costs as you add inboxes
• 450M+ lead database available (separate pricing)
• Native A/B testing, AI personalization, and spintax
• Unified inbox (Unibox) for managing replies
• SISR (Sender & IP Sharding and Rotation) on Light Speed plan for maximum deliverability
• Inbox placement testing to check if emails land in spam
• API and webhook integrations for custom workflows

What's Not

• No LinkedIn or calling features-email only
• Lead database is a separate product (starts around $47/month)
• Full reply functionality requires Hypergrowth plan or higher
• UI feels basic compared to Lemlist
• Warmup alone doesn't protect against all deliverability issues
• No inbox placement testing on lower-tier plans

Best For

Agencies and teams sending thousands of emails daily who need deliverability at scale without paying per seat. If you're email-first and don't need LinkedIn automation, Instantly offers better value than Lemlist for high-volume outreach.

Try Instantly →

2. Smartlead - Best Budget Option for Cold Email

Smartlead has become the darling of cold email agencies because of its aggressive pricing and unlimited mailboxes. It's laser-focused on email deliverability.

Pricing

• Basic: $39/month ($32.50/month annually) - 2,000 active leads, 6,000 emails/month
• Pro: $94/month ($78.30/month annually) - 30,000 active leads, 150,000 emails/month
• Custom: Starting at $174/month - Up to 12M leads and 60M emails

Add-ons: LinkedIn automation is $59/month per account. Client accounts for agencies are $29/month each (Pro plan includes one free client).

What's Good

• Unlimited email accounts and warmup on all plans
• Dynamic IP addresses and mailbox rotation
• Centralized master inbox for all conversations
• Whitelabeling for agencies (Pro plan includes one free client)
• More affordable than Lemlist for similar email features
• Advanced deliverability features: SmartServers, SmartSenders, and SmartDelivery
• Strong API and webhook capabilities for automation
• Custom CRM included on Pro plan

What's Not

• Lead limits are hard caps-you need to delete leads to add new ones
• No built-in spam checker before sending
• LinkedIn is a paid add-on, not native
• UI feels dated compared to competitors
• Some users report bugs and cache issues
• Limited personalization features compared to Lemlist
• No A/B testing of email copy variants

Best For

Solopreneurs and small agencies who want maximum email volume at minimum cost. If you're running cold email campaigns and don't need a massive lead database or CRM built in, Smartlead delivers solid value.

Try Smartlead →

3. Reply.io - Best for True Multichannel Sales

Reply.io is closer to a full sales engagement platform than just a cold email tool. It includes email, LinkedIn, calls, SMS, and WhatsApp in one system.

Pricing

• Email Volume: Starting at $59/month - 1,000 active contacts, unlimited mailboxes and warmup
• Multichannel: $89/user/month (annual) or $99/month (monthly) - Email, LinkedIn, calls, SMS automation
• Agency: $166/month - Unlimited users and clients
• AI SDR: Starting at $800/month - AI-powered autonomous outreach

The Starter plan at $49/user/month includes 1 mailbox and 5,000 data credits, but it's quite limited for serious outreach.

What's Good

• True multichannel-email, LinkedIn, calls, SMS, WhatsApp
• 1 billion+ B2B contacts database
• Jason AI handles automated responses and meeting booking
• Unlimited email warmup included
• Strong CRM integrations (Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive)
• Cloud calling with VoIP directly from browser
• Video personalization via Vidyard GoVideo integration
• Advanced reporting and channel efficiency dashboards

What's Not

• Per-user pricing on most plans adds up quickly
• Steep learning curve-lots of features can overwhelm beginners
• Email verification is a paid extra ($5 for 1,000 emails)
• Advanced deliverability features only on expensive plans
• LinkedIn and calls cost extra on lower tiers ($69/account for LinkedIn, $29/account for SMS)
• Complex tagging and label system can confuse new users

Best For

Sales teams already running multichannel outreach who want everything in one platform. If you're actively using LinkedIn messages, calls, and SMS alongside email, Reply.io consolidates it all. But if you're email-only, it's overkill.

Try Reply.io →

4. Apollo.io - Best for Prospecting + Outreach Combined

Apollo.io is more of a sales intelligence platform with outreach built in. If you need prospecting data and email sequences in one place, it's worth considering.

Pricing

• Free: 100 credits/month, basic features
• Basic: $49/user/month ($59 monthly) - 5,000 credits/month, unlimited sequences
• Professional: $79/user/month ($99 monthly) - 10,000 credits/month, A/B testing, calling
• Organization: $119/user/month ($149 monthly, min 3 users) - 15,000 credits/month, advanced security

Note: Additional credits cost $0.20 each. Minimum purchase is 250 credits ($50) for monthly plans or 2,500 credits ($500) for annual plans.

What's Good

• Massive B2B database with contact and company data
• Prospecting and outreach in one tool
• Built-in dialer and call recording
• Intent data and technographic filters
• Free plan is actually usable for testing
• Revenue and funding data for targeting high-value accounts
• Job posting alerts to catch companies that are hiring

What's Not

• Credit system is confusing and credits run out fast
• No unified inbox-managing conversations is clunky
• Per-user pricing + credit costs = unpredictable bills
• Email deliverability isn't as strong as dedicated cold email tools
• Credits expire at the end of each billing cycle (no rollover)
• Fair usage policy caps free accounts at 10,000 email credits per month

Best For

SDRs and small teams who need a combined prospecting and outreach tool. Apollo shines at finding contacts-the email sequencing is functional but not best-in-class. Pair it with a dedicated cold email tool if you're doing serious volume.

5. Saleshandy - Best Value for Unlimited Sending

Saleshandy is an underrated alternative that offers impressive features at a fraction of Lemlist's cost. It focuses on cold email automation with strong deliverability tools.

Pricing

• Outreach Starter: $25/month (annual) - Unlimited email accounts, unlimited sending
• Outreach Pro: $74/month (annual) - Advanced features, priority support
• Outreach Scale: $149/month (annual) - White-label, agency features

What's Good

• Unlimited email accounts on all plans
• Unlimited email warm-up included
• 26 A/B testing variants (more than most competitors)
• Inbox placement testing to verify deliverability
• Real-time email verification (A-grade addresses only)
• AI-powered email sequences
• Native lead finder with verified contacts
• WhatsApp and LinkedIn task creation

What's Not

• Less brand recognition than established players
• LinkedIn and WhatsApp are task-based, not fully automated
• Smaller B2B database compared to Apollo or Reply
• Fewer integrations than enterprise platforms

Best For

Budget-conscious teams who want unlimited sending without compromising on deliverability features. At $25/month, it's hard to beat for core cold email functionality.

6. Woodpecker - Best for Simplicity

Woodpecker takes a no-frills approach to cold email. If you want something straightforward that just works, this is it.

Pricing

• Cold Email: $29/month - 500 prospects, unlimited email accounts
• Agency: $49/month - 1,000 prospects, client management

Usage-based pricing means you pay for active prospects, not users or seats.

What's Good

• Simple, clean interface
• Unlimited email accounts and team members
• Built-in email verification
• Bounce shield and inbox rotation
• Condition-based follow-ups
• Free warmup included
• Transparent, predictable pricing

What's Not

• No LinkedIn automation
• No calling features
• Limited advanced personalization
• Smaller feature set compared to all-in-one platforms

Best For

Teams who want email-only outreach without complexity. If you don't need multichannel or advanced AI, Woodpecker delivers solid results at a fair price.

7. GMass - Best for Gmail Users

GMass works directly inside Gmail, making it the most native-feeling email tool for Google Workspace users.

Pricing

• Individual: $25/month - 50 emails/day
• Premium: $45/month - 400 emails/day
• Team: Starting at $125/month for 5 users

What's Good

• Works directly in Gmail-no separate platform
• Mail merge with personalization
• Automated follow-ups
• Campaign reporting inside Gmail
• Easy to learn (if you know Gmail, you know GMass)
• Breaks Gmail's sending limits safely

What's Not

• Gmail-only (no Microsoft or SMTP support)
• Limited team collaboration features
• No LinkedIn or multichannel
• Basic warmup compared to dedicated tools
• Sending limits still apply (even if higher)

Best For

Solo users and small teams deeply embedded in the Google ecosystem who want cold email without leaving Gmail.

8. Snov.io - Best for Email Verification

Snov.io started as an email finder and verification tool, then added outreach capabilities. The verification accuracy is its standout feature.

Pricing

• Starter: $39/month - 1,000 credits, basic features
• Pro: $99/month - 5,000 credits, advanced automation
• Managed Service: $2,999/month - Full-service lead generation

What's Good

• Industry-leading email verification (catch-all detection)
• Email finder with 220M+ database
• Drip campaigns with personalization
• LinkedIn automation via Chrome extension
• Technology checker to find companies using specific tools

What's Not

• Credit-based system can get expensive
• Limited email sending volume
• Interface feels cluttered
• Warmup not as robust as dedicated platforms

Best For

Teams who prioritize data quality and verification over high-volume sending. Great if you're building lists from scratch and need accurate emails.

Detailed Feature Comparison Table

Pricing Comparison: Real-World Scenarios

Let's look at what these tools actually cost in three common scenarios.

Scenario 1: Solo Entrepreneur (1 User, 10K Emails/Month)

• Lemlist: $69/month (Email Pro)
• Instantly: $30/month (Growth annual)
• Smartlead: $32.50/month (Basic annual)
• Reply.io: $59/month (Email Volume)
• Apollo.io: $49/month + credits as needed
• Saleshandy: $25/month

Winner: Saleshandy at $25/month offers the best value with unlimited sending and advanced features.

Scenario 2: Small Agency (3 Team Members, 50K Emails/Month, 5 Clients)

• Lemlist: $69 × 3 users = $207/month, plus $69 × 5 clients = $345/month. Total: $552/month
• Instantly: $77.60/month (Hypergrowth covers volume). Total: $77.60/month
• Smartlead: $78.30/month (Pro) + $29 × 4 clients (1 free) = $194.30/month. Total: $194.30/month
• Reply.io: $166/month (Agency plan). Total: $166/month
• Saleshandy: $149/month (Scale with white-label). Total: $149/month

Winner: Instantly at $77.60/month destroys the competition for agency pricing.

Scenario 3: Growing Sales Team (10 Users, 100K+ Emails/Month)

• Lemlist: $69 × 10 = $690/month. Total: $690/month
• Instantly: $77.60/month (Hypergrowth handles volume). Total: $77.60/month
• Smartlead: $78.30/month (Pro covers 150K emails). Total: $78.30/month
• Reply.io: $89 × 10 = $890/month. Total: $890/month
• Apollo.io: $79 × 10 = $790/month + credits. Total: $1,000+/month
• Saleshandy: $149/month (flat rate). Total: $149/month

Winner: Instantly or Smartlead at under $80/month for the entire team vs. $690-$1,000+ for per-seat tools.

Deep Dive: Deliverability Comparison

Deliverability is the make-or-break factor for cold email. Here's how these tools stack up.

Email Warmup

• Lemlist: Lemwarm is included free with every seat. It gradually builds sender reputation through automated interactions with other Lemlist users.
• Instantly: Unlimited warmup on all plans. Warmup happens across multiple inboxes simultaneously.
• Smartlead: Unlimited AI warmup with smart sending logic and dynamic IP rotation.
• Reply.io: Warmup included with each connected mailbox.
• Saleshandy: Unlimited warmup with real-time health monitoring.

Verdict: All include warmup, but Smartlead's dynamic IP addresses and Saleshandy's inbox placement testing give them an edge.

Domain Health Monitoring

Only a few tools actively monitor your domain reputation:

• Instantly: Blacklist monitoring and bounce detection on all plans
• Smartlead: Real-time deliverability tracking and sender reputation scores
• Saleshandy: Spam score checker and inbox placement tests
• Lemlist: Health score in Lemwarm dashboard

Inbox Rotation

Spreading sends across multiple inboxes is critical for high volume:

• Instantly: Automatic inbox rotation included
• Smartlead: Mailbox rotation with dynamic IP addresses
• Saleshandy: Automatic rotation across unlimited accounts
• Woodpecker: Bounce shield with inbox rotation

When to Choose Each Tool

Choose Lemlist If:

• Visual personalization (custom images/videos) is critical to your strategy
• You need native multichannel (email, LinkedIn, calls, WhatsApp)
• You're willing to pay premium pricing for an all-in-one solution
• Your team is small (1-3 people) so per-seat costs are manageable
• You value modern UI/UX over cost

Choose Instantly If:

• You're sending high volume (50K+ emails/month)
• You need unlimited email accounts without per-seat fees
• You're running an agency and managing multiple clients
• Email is your primary channel (no need for LinkedIn/calls)
• Deliverability at scale is your top priority

Choose Smartlead If:

• Budget is your primary concern
• You need unlimited mailboxes and warmup
• You're comfortable with a more technical interface
• Email-only outreach meets your needs
• You want agency white-labeling at an affordable price

Choose Reply.io If:

• You're running true multichannel campaigns (email + LinkedIn + calls + SMS)
• You need an AI assistant (Jason) for automated responses
• Integration with existing CRM is critical
• You want everything in one platform regardless of cost
• Your team is experienced with sales engagement platforms

Choose Apollo.io If:

• Prospecting data is more important than outreach volume
• You need technographic and intent data for targeting
• You want prospecting and outreach in one tool
• You can manage a credit-based system
• Your primary need is finding contacts, not sending thousands of emails

Choose Saleshandy If:

• You want maximum features at minimum cost
• Inbox placement testing is important to you
• You need 26 A/B testing variants
• You want unlimited sending without complexity
• You're comparing feature-to-price ratio

Common Mistakes When Switching from Lemlist

1. Not Factoring in Hidden Costs

Many tools look cheap until you add:

• LinkedIn automation add-ons ($59-$69/month)
• Additional data credits
• Client management fees
• Phone/SMS features

Always calculate total cost including add-ons you'll actually use.

2. Ignoring Migration Effort

Switching tools means:

• Exporting contact lists
• Rebuilding email sequences
• Reconnecting email accounts
• Re-warming domains
• Training team on new interface

Budget at least 2-4 weeks for a smooth transition.

3. Choosing Based on Price Alone

The cheapest tool isn't always the best value. Consider:

• Deliverability rates (cheap tools with bad deliverability waste money)
• Time saved on setup and management
• Features you'll actually use vs. features you're paying for

4. Overlooking Support Quality

When deliverability issues hit (and they will), you need responsive support. Check:

• G2/Capterra reviews about support quality
• Response time guarantees
• Availability of live chat vs. email-only
• Dedicated account managers on higher plans

Migration Checklist: Moving Away from Lemlist

Before You Cancel

• ☐ Export all contact lists (CSV format)
• ☐ Document your best-performing email sequences
• ☐ Save email templates and personalization tokens
• ☐ Export campaign analytics and results
• ☐ Screenshot your Lemwarm deliverability scores
• ☐ Note which email accounts have best sender reputation

Choosing Your New Tool

• ☐ Test 2-3 alternatives with free trials
• ☐ Run small test campaigns (500-1,000 emails each)
• ☐ Compare deliverability results
• ☐ Calculate true monthly cost including add-ons
• ☐ Verify CRM integrations work as needed
• ☐ Check if team can learn new interface quickly

Setting Up Your New Platform

• ☐ Connect email accounts (start with 1-2 to test)
• ☐ Begin warmup process (allow 2-3 weeks minimum)
• ☐ Import contact lists in small batches
• ☐ Rebuild top-performing sequences first
• ☐ Set up domain authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC)
• ☐ Configure bounce handling and unsubscribe links
• ☐ Test sequences with internal emails first

Going Live

• ☐ Start with 10-20% of normal sending volume
• ☐ Monitor deliverability closely for first week
• ☐ Gradually increase volume over 2-3 weeks
• ☐ Compare results to Lemlist benchmarks
• ☐ Train team on new features and workflows
• ☐ Cancel Lemlist subscription (note: do this last!)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Instantly better than Lemlist?

Instantly is better for high-volume email at scale because of unlimited mailboxes and flat-rate pricing. Lemlist is better if you need visual personalization (custom images/videos) and native multichannel features. For agencies sending 50K+ emails/month, Instantly typically costs 70-80% less.

Which Lemlist alternative has the best deliverability?

Smartlead and Saleshandy lead on deliverability features. Smartlead offers dynamic IP addresses, mailbox rotation, and advanced delivery infrastructure. Saleshandy includes inbox placement testing so you can verify emails reach the primary inbox. Both include unlimited warmup and real-time health monitoring.

Can I use multiple tools together?

Yes. Common combinations:

• Apollo + Instantly: Use Apollo for prospecting, export to Instantly for high-volume email
• Snov.io + Smartlead: Verify emails with Snov.io's catch-all detection, send via Smartlead
• Clay + Instantly: Enrich data in Clay, automate outreach with Instantly

How long does it take to warm up a new domain?

Minimum 2-3 weeks for basic warmup. For best results:

• Week 1: Send 10-20 emails/day
• Week 2: Send 30-50 emails/day
• Week 3: Send 75-100 emails/day
• Week 4+: Gradually increase to target volume

Never jump straight to high volume on a new domain-it triggers spam filters immediately.

Do I need a separate domain for cold email?

Yes, absolutely. Never send cold email from your primary business domain. Buy similar domains for cold outreach:

• If your main domain is company.com
• Use trycompany.com, getcompany.com, or companymail.com for cold email
• This protects your main domain's reputation

What's a good open rate for cold email?

Benchmarks vary by industry, but generally:

• 30-40% open rate: Excellent
• 20-30% open rate: Good
• 10-20% open rate: Average
• Below 10%: Deliverability issues

Reply rates matter more than opens. Aim for 3-8% reply rate on cold campaigns.

Should agencies use per-seat or flat-rate pricing?

Flat-rate pricing (Instantly, Smartlead, Saleshandy) almost always wins for agencies because:

• You're managing multiple clients without separate costs per client
• You need many email accounts for proper rotation
• Volume scales without cost increases
• More predictable budgeting

Per-seat pricing (Lemlist, Reply.io) works if you have a small team and value specific features unique to those platforms.

Can I import my Lemlist sequences to another tool?

Sort of. You'll need to:

• Export contacts as CSV
• Manually copy email text from each step
• Rebuild the sequence logic in new tool
• Recreate personalization tokens (syntax differs by tool)

There's no one-click migration. Budget several hours to rebuild your sequences properly.

Expert Recommendations by Use Case

For B2B SaaS Companies

Best choice: Instantly + Apollo

Use Apollo to find and qualify leads based on company size, tech stack, and funding. Export verified contacts to Instantly for high-volume email sequences. This combination gives you data quality plus deliverability at scale.

For Lead Generation Agencies

Best choice: Instantly or Smartlead

Both offer unlimited mailboxes and flat-rate pricing. Instantly has better UI and slightly better features. Smartlead is $5-10/month cheaper. Either will save you $500-1000/month vs. Lemlist once you're managing 5+ clients.

For Recruiters

Best choice: Reply.io or Lemlist

Recruiting requires multichannel persistence-email, LinkedIn, calls. Reply.io offers true multichannel for less than Lemlist. Both include LinkedIn automation, but Reply's Jason AI can handle initial screening conversations.

For E-commerce Brands (B2B Wholesale)

Best choice: Saleshandy or GMass

E-commerce outreach typically involves moderate volume with high personalization. Saleshandy's 26 A/B testing variants help optimize messaging. GMass works if you're Gmail-based and want simplicity.

For Consultants and Freelancers

Best choice: Saleshandy or Woodpecker

You need results without complexity. Saleshandy at $25/month offers unlimited sending with strong deliverability. Woodpecker is even simpler at $29/month but slightly less feature-rich.

For Enterprise Sales Teams

Best choice: Reply.io or Apollo.io

Enterprises need CRM integration, team collaboration, and compliance features. Reply.io offers multichannel at scale. Apollo.io provides intent data and technographics for account-based selling.

The Bottom Line: My Recommendations

For high-volume cold email agencies: Go with Instantly or Smartlead. Both offer unlimited mailboxes and flat-rate pricing that won't blow up your budget as you scale. Instantly has better UI and features; Smartlead is slightly cheaper.

For sales teams needing multichannel: Reply.io is the most complete solution if you're actively using LinkedIn, calls, and SMS. Yes, it's per-user pricing, but you get everything in one platform. The Agency plan offers unlimited users for $166/month-far cheaper than Lemlist for teams.

For solopreneurs on a budget: Saleshandy's plan at $25/month gives you unlimited mailboxes, unlimited sending, 26 A/B testing variants, and inbox placement testing-hard to beat for the price. Smartlead's Basic plan at $32.50/month is also solid.

For teams who need prospecting + outreach: Apollo.io makes sense if you're currently paying separately for a data provider and an outreach tool. Just watch those credit costs-they add up fast. Consider pairing Apollo for data with Instantly for sending.

For maximum deliverability: Saleshandy with inbox placement testing or Smartlead with dynamic IPs. Both include the features that actually matter for landing in the primary inbox.

Staying with Lemlist? If you value the visual personalization features (custom images, landing pages) and are actively using multichannel outreach, Lemlist is still a solid choice. The 14-day free trial lets you test everything before committing. Just be realistic about total costs once you factor in per-seat pricing for your full team.

Next Steps: How to Choose Your Lemlist Alternative

Here's your action plan:

1. Define your primary use case: Email-only or multichannel? High volume or targeted outreach?
2. Calculate your true needs: How many emails/month? How many team members? How many clients?
3. Test top 2-3 options: Most offer 14-day free trials. Run parallel tests with real campaigns.
4. Measure what matters: Compare open rates, reply rates, and inbox placement-not just features.
5. Factor in onboarding time: Will your team actually learn the new tool, or will complexity kill adoption?

The "best" tool isn't the same for everyone. A solo consultant has different needs than a 50-person agency. Start with your use case, test with real campaigns, and choose based on results-not features lists.

Tools That Complement Your Cold Email Stack

Beyond the email tool itself, consider these additions:

Data Enrichment

• Clay: Waterfall enrichment across 50+ data providers
• Findymail: Email finding and verification with catch-all detection
• RocketReach: Email and phone number database

CRM Integration

• Close CRM: Built specifically for sales teams with native calling
• HubSpot: Free CRM with robust features and integrations
• Pipedrive: Visual pipeline management and automation

LinkedIn Automation

• Expandi: Safe LinkedIn automation with cloud-based solution
• Drippi: AI-powered LinkedIn DM automation

Email Verification

• Bouncer: Bulk email verification
• ZeroBounce: Email validation with spam trap detection
• NeverBounce: Real-time email verification API

Related Comparisons

Looking for more options? Check out our guides on best CRM software to pair with your outreach stack, or our Close CRM review if you need a CRM built specifically for sales teams.

You might also want to read our guides on Clay for data enrichment and how to combine multiple tools for a complete cold email stack.