If you’re using Outreach.io and wondering, “Why does it feel like I need a PhD to send a cold email?”, you’re not alone.
Outreach is poIrful. No question.
But it was built for enterprises with time, budget, and a team of admins to manage it.
Not for lean, fast-moving sales teams that actually need to hit the pipeline this month.
Here’s what most people don’t tell you:
The average team pays way too much for Outreach. Spends Ieks onboarding. And still ends up duct-taping it to other tools.
That’s why more sales teams are switching, because they want speed, simplicity, and something that just works out of the box.
In this article, I’ll break down the 5 best Outreach.io alternatives, including the one I personally built to fix these exact problems.
If you’re looking for a cheaper, simpler, and smarter way to do outbound in 2025, keep reading.
If you don’t want to read the whole thing, here’s the short version:
1. Salesforge
My pick (and the platform I built).
One tool to handle AI SDRs, email warm-up, deliverability, prospecting, and sequencing.
Built for speed. Runs on logic. Scales without breaking.
2. Instantly.ai
Fast, affordable, and solid for email-only outbound. Great for lean teams just starting out.
Not ideal if you want multi-channel or complex workflows.
3. Lemlist
If you want to get fancy with personalized images, videos, and creative emails, this one wins.
But it’s still email-only, and not built for big volume.
4. Reply.io
Solid multi-channel platform with email, calls, and social touches.
Perfect for mid-size teams.
Some performance hiccups here and there.
5. Apollo.io
Comes with a massive B2B database, plus outreach.
Good if you want everything under one roof, but expect to pay more as you scale.
Now that you know which tools are leading the charge in the outreach space, let’s take a deeper look at what Outreach.io is all about and why people are jumping ship.
Outreach.io is a sales platform that promises big things.
It’s supposed to help you scale, close more deals, and automate your outreach. But here’s the catch:
It’s made for big teams with big budgets.
It’s expensive, complicated, and overkill for most of us.
Outreach.io doesn’t even list its pricing.
You’ve got to contact their sales team for a quote, but users report that it starts at $20,000 per year.
Yeah, that’s right - $20,000 to get access to a tool that may not even be the right fit for your team.
So why are so many people switching to something else? Let’s break it down.
Outreach.io is a sales execution platform that packs a punch with automation, multi-channel outreach, and data-driven insights.
Here’s what it’s supposed to do:
Seems like a dream for enterprise sales teams.
But if you’re a startup or small business, this is where it falls apart.
Let’s not beat around the bush. Outreach.io isn’t cutting it for a lot of sales teams.
Sure, it’s a poor platform, but it comes with some serious pain points that leave teams scrambling for alternatives.
Here’s why you might be looking to move on:
If you’re relying on Outreach.io to send timely emails, you’re probably pulling your hair out.
Users report frequent failures in email delivery, scheduled emails just don’t show up on time, or at all.
And in sales, timing is everything.
If your emails aren’t getting to your prospects, your outreach is as good as dead.
Here’s another reason teams are switching: integration nightmares.
Whether it’s syncing with Salesforce or another CRM, Outreach.io’s integrations often fail, causing disruption in workflows.
The result? Teams are left with mismatched data and manual workarounds, killing their productivity.
Outreach.io hides its pricing behind a wall. No clear numbers. $20,000 per year is what some users have reported, but you won’t know until you’ve had a conversation.
On top of that, locked-in contracts and hidden clauses make it feel like you’re stuck once you sign.
Users have had trouble canceling and have been overcharged, making the whole process feel like a money grab.
Look what Carter has to say in his Outreach review:
This one is a dealbreaker for many. Outreach.io’s customer support is practically non-existent.
Slow responses, unhelpful answers, and indifference when you need help fast. When your outreach is at risk, you need support that has your back.
Alt-text: Outreach-review-about-customer-support
Instead, with Outreach, it often feels like you’re left hanging.
Here’s the last pain point: sequence management.
Outreach.io’s system for managing campaigns is overly complex and time-consuming.
Customizing your email sequences should be simple, but it takes too many steps, leading to frustration and lost time.
I know that Outreach.io isn’t the right fit for everyone, which is why I evaluated the top alternatives based on real-world needs and key factors that matter most to sales teams.
A top priority for any sales tool is email deliverability.
I evaluated how each alternative keeps your emails out of spam and into your prospect’s inbox.
Some tools use advanced techniques to optimize deliverability, meaning your emails get read, and you get more replies.
The ONLY Email Deliverability Checklist You'll EVER Need for Success
You need to personalize your outreach. Simple as that. I looked at how customizable each alternative is.
The best alternatives allow you to tailor emails, sequences, and workflows to your needs.
More flexibility means better personalization and stronger connections with your prospects.
Outreach.io’s pricing is high, and it’s not the best fit for smaller teams or businesses looking to maximize their budget.
I dug into the pricing of each alternative and found tools that offer more for less.
Some of these alternatives provide better value while still offering advanced features for sales teams.
Sales teams don’t have time to waste learning complicated tools.
I tested how easy each platform was to use, especially for those new to sales automation.
Some alternatives are far more user-friendly with clear instructions, allowing you to quickly set up and start running effective campaigns.
Must read: SORBs Blacklist: How to Remove in 5 Steps + 5 Tips To Avoid
Let’s face it, you need reliable support.
The best alternatives to Outreach.io offer fast, effective customer service, so you’re not left hanging when you run into problems.
Good support keeps your outreach running smoothly, making it easier to solve issues quickly and keep things moving.
By focusing on deliverability, personalization, pricing, ease of use, and support, I found a handful of alternatives that are better suited to the needs of small to mid-sized sales teams, and ultimately, the ones that could replace Outreach.io without the headache.
Now that you know the major pain points with Outreach.io, let’s dive into the 5 best alternatives that actually deliver on their promises, without the price tag and complexity.
If you're a sales rep or a B2B founder considering Outreach for your cold email outreach, it’s important to take a closer look before committing.
Here’s how Outreach stacks up based on five critical factors that are essential for evaluating a cold email outreach tool.
Factor
Rating
Explanation
Email Deliverability
⭐☆☆☆☆
Outreach struggles with email deliverability, with many users reporting that their emails often end up in spam folders, affecting engagement with prospects.
Ease of Use
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Outreach provides a decent user experience with a range of features, though the interface can be a bit clunky at times. Once familiar with the platform, most users find it manageable and functional.
Pricing and Value
⭐⭐☆☆☆
Outreach is expensive, with hidden fees like mandatory annual contracts and high implementation costs, leading many to feel they’re not getting good value.
Personalization Options
⭐⭐☆☆☆
The platform's personalization features are limited and not as user-friendly, making it hard to deliver highly personalized content to prospects.
Customer Support
⭐☆☆☆☆
Outreach’s customer support is a major pain point, with slow response times and unhelpful staff, leaving users to deal with issues largely on their own.
While Outreach offers some useful features, its drawbacks in email deliverability, customer support, and pricing make it a challenging choice for many users.
For those considering Outreach, it's important to weigh these factors and explore alternatives that might better meet your needs.
Alt-text: Salesforge - Best-Outreach-Alternative
If you're tired of manual cold emailing and looking for a more efficient solution, Salesforge.ai might be just what you need. It’s designed to enhance your email outreach and automation, making it easier to connect with potential customers and improve your sales pipeline.
Salesforge.ai is crafted to elevate your cold email outreach with advanced AI-driven features. It simplifies the process of reaching out to potential leads, ensuring your emails reach the inbox and avoid the spam folder.
Salesforge.ai is packed with features designed to enhance your cold emailing efforts:
Look what Roman H. has to say in his review:
Alt-text: Salesforge.ai review on G2
Here’s how you can create unique emails from any mailbox. Join the 15-minute email masterclass now! 🔥
Alt-text: Salesforge.ai review on G2
