Aleksi
November 29, 2023
Sales engagement platforms can make or break your business. While platforms like these have made life easier for sales professionals, choosing the wrong platform for the wrong purpose can hamper sales performance.
This is why we have come up with the ultimate sales engagement platform list so that you can choose the best platform for your specific needs. Moreover, in the 2022 State of Sales Report, 35 percent of sellers use some form of sales engagement tool.
For each one, we have gone through their core features, pros and cons, and what customers are saying about them. But first, let’s dive into what should be considered when choosing a sales engagement tool.
What to Consider When Choosing a Sales Engagement Tool
There are multiple factors to consider, but there are 6 main components to consider:
Size of your sales team
Size of the target market
Complexity and customizability of the tool
Your budget and pricing of different tools
CRM solution you currently use
Feature set
The different factors also relate to each other and lead to different choices in certain key features by companies developing sales engagement platforms, depending on the focus of the given sales engagement platform.
Different access rights bring a lot of value for big sales teams but are not useful for solo founders or small agencies.
If your outreach workflow is mostly manual work with automated follow-ups, a tool that focuses completely on automation might not be the right fit for you. In such a case, you need a tool that combines manual work with automation.
Integrations to CRM systems can be a key feature for you to choose from, especially if you have a bigger sales team. Usually for early-stage companies or small sales teams, this is not the most important thing.
Different pricing systems are best for different companies.
For companies that do have a huge market audience but don’t have any sales resources yet, it might be best to consider a tool whose pricing scales based on the number of contacts added to a system like Instantly and focuses exclusively on automating cold emails.
But for a company that has a more limited target audience size and thus needs to do a lot more manual work, it might be better to go with software that helps combine automation and efficient manual work like Clevenio.
Best Sales Engagement Tools for Different Situations
Based on the factors listed earlier we have chosen the top 3 tools for 4 different situations:
For solo startup founders
For small sales teams
For enterprise sales teams
For cold email agencies
In each section, we have explained our criteria for the selection and the upside and downside of each option. Let’s get into it.
3 Best Sales Engagement Tools for Solo Startup Founders
For solo startup founders, we have 3 different solutions, which can’t be compared to each other head-to-head, since they work best in different situations.
Instantly
G2 Rating: 4.9
Instantly is probably the most cost-efficient solution for cold emailing at scale as a solo founder. Its feature set is ideal for cold email agencies, but it also works great for solo founders whose target audience is huge.
Instantly’s main selling point is the fact that you can use an unlimited amount of mailboxes for a fixed price and you are only limited by the amount of active leads and emails sent. This makes the solution a lot cheaper than alternatives if you just wish to send tons of emails.
In contrast, the limiting factor comes down to a lack of multichannel sales cadences and access rights limitations. Cold email can work great if you have a great offer and you can run it to a huge audience, but you will get better hit rates with more manual work and thus if your target audience isn’t huge, Instantly probably shouldn’t be the number 1 option for you.
Key Features
Tracking Leads
Tracking Lead Technology
Lead Database Creation
Lead Capture
Prompt Reports
Scoring Leads
Email Scraper
Pros
Great Customer Service
Great Speed
User-friendly Interface
High Open Rates
Affordable
Cons
Some Users Reported Integration Issues
Expandi
G2 Rating: 4.1
Expandi is a sales engagement platform that was originally known for its LinkedIn automation features, but it nowadays also offers cold email automation.
Its upside is effectiveness for audiences that can be found on Linkedin, but that is still relatively big so manual work isn’t the most effective option.
On the other hand, if your target audience cannot be found on LinkedIn or it is very specific in Linkedin, Expandi isn’t really an ideal solution for you. There are also some risks related to using LinkedIn automation since it is against LinkedIn’s terms of use and might get you banned.
Key Features
Dedicated Country-based IP
Smart Scraping from LinkedIn
Advanced Filtering
11+ Outreach Campaign Types for LinkedIn
LinkedIn & Email Synergy
Smart Follow-up
Sent Email Tracking
Duplication Prevention
Image and GIF personalization
Pros
User-friendly Interface
Lots of Customization Options
Advanced Analytics Dashboard
Third-party Integration
Competitor Monitoring Features
Cons
No Calendar
No Internal Messaging System
Clevenio
Clevenio is a sales engagement platform that is built for combining automation and manual work in B2B sales. You can run fully automated email campaigns in Clevenio, but if your target audience is huge it probably gets a bit pricier than Instantly for example.
But where Clevenio really works great is in cases where your target audience is relatively small, and it is necessary to do extensive personalization in the outreach via multiple channels.
So if you really know your ICP and are ready to make the effort to really go after your ICP Clevenio is probably the right choice for you.
3 Best Sales Engagement Tools for Small Sales Teams (1-20 People)
Small teams need a bit more advanced tools than solo-entrepreneurs. That’s why their preferred tools need to include significantly more features than the previous category. Here are our picks.
Klenty
G2 Rating: 4.5
Klenty, a powerful sales engagement platform, streamlines email outreach and lead management with a range of features. It’s an ideal choice for sales teams seeking improved outreach strategies.
Klenty offers cost-effective solutions, even though it has some limitations compared to competitors. Its focus on customer service and user-friendliness makes it a popular choice for many users.
Key Features
Email Insights
Customizations
Workflow Integration
Performance Tracking
AI Automation
Responsive Support
Pros
User-friendly
Detailed Email Tracking and Automation
CRM Integration for Data Organization
Productivity-boosting Automation
Campaign Refinement Through Analytics
Cons
No LinkedIn Automation
Missing AI-driven Reply Suggestions
Limited Lead Search Functionality
Outplay
G2 Rating: 4.5
Outplay is your trusted sales engagement partner, crafted to make the sales outreach process more user-friendly and effective. It offers a rich array of tools that empower small sales teams to refine their prospecting and connect with customers.
Outplay simplifies the management of multi-channel outreach, automates sales workflows, and offers valuable insights into your sales performance, helping you achieve your professional goals with ease.
Key Features
Multi-Channel Sequencing with Scheduling and Notifications
Integrated Workflows for CRM and Contact Management
Task Handling, Email Tracking/Automation, and Calls
CRM Integration
Calendar Sync
Content Management
AI-Driven Prioritization
Pros
Improved Prospecting and Engagement
Diversified Outreach (email, calls, texts)
Streamlined Lead and Customer Data Management
Personalized Templates and Sequences
Timely updates for informed follow-ups.
Cons
Speed and Responsiveness Issues
Reporting and Analytics Need Improvement
Integration Challenges with Tools like Sales Navigator
Saleshandy
G2 Rating: 4.6
Saleshandy is a powerful cold email tool designed to optimize your outbound marketing campaigns. Due to its great pricing, small teams can greatly benefit from this tool.
With its impressive features, such as unlimited sending email accounts and advanced email warm-up, Saleshandy is your partner in achieving maximum email deliverability, enhancing domain reputation, increasing reply rates, and generating a high return on investment (ROI).
Key Features
Email Marketing
Email Tracking
Automated Follow-ups
Reporting & Analytics
Integrated Workflows
Collateral Management
Pros
Personalized Campaigns
Affordable Pricing
User-Friendly
Trigger-based Follow-ups
Single-click Template Use
Cons
Integration Challenges
Occasional Slowness
Automation Feedback
3 Best Sales Engagement Platforms for Enterprise Sales Teams
Now it’s time to discuss the big guns. Enterprise sales teams require heavy tools that are able to take care of mass campaigns on multiple platforms. The following tools are our recommendations for enterprises.
SalesLoft
G2 Rating: 4.5
SalesLoft is the one-stop platform for sellers to ace digital sales tasks, engage buyers, and access coaching and insights for winning. SalesLoft is the go-to choice for enterprise sales teams like IBM, Shopify, Stripe, and Seismic.
It stands out with its unique combination of Sales Execution, Conversation Intelligence, and Opportunity Management, making it an all-in-one solution for success in sales.
Key Features
Personalized Sales Cadences
Efficient Workflow Management
Integrated Outlook
Scheduled Email
In-Depth Analytics
Pros
Efficiency & Integration
Personalization & Task Management
Insights & Coaching
Cons
Limited Customization
Dialer & Browser Extension Challenges
Outreach.io
G2 Rating: 4.5
Outreach boosts sales team efficiency and effectiveness with its dynamic engagement platform. It automates and optimizes prospecting, deal management, and forecasting for revenue growth.
Over 5,500 companies, including enterprises like Zoom, Siemens, Okta, DocuSign, and McKesson, trust Outreach for their sales needs. Based in Seattle, this private company offers a complete solution for sales, revenue intelligence, and operations.
Key Features
Automate Tailored Outreach
Effortlessly Sync with CRM Systems
Custom Templates
Analytics
Call Feature
Automated Email Delivery
Reporting
Pros
Sales Automation and CRM Integration
Customizable Templates and Sequences
Detailed Analytics for Optimization
Local Presence Calling for Improved Connections
Cons
Complex Initial Setup
Time-intensive Customization
Gong Engage
G2 Rating: 4.7
Gong is a technology platform employing AI and ML models to systematically track, record, and analyze customer interactions within business-to-business (B2B) organizations.
This advanced solution enables B2B enterprises to refine their customer profiles, devise strategic sales approaches, enhance the skills of their sales teams, and diligently monitor the performance of key team members.
Key Features
Sales Onboarding
Identifying Conversion Barriers
Enhance Demo Presentations and Knowledge alignment
Presentation Consistency
Identifying Reps Needing Updated Training
Pros
Accurate Transcriptions
Seamless Integration with Video Conferencing
Efficient Keyword Search
Cons
Limited Sentiment Analysis in Analytics
3 Best Sales Engagement Platforms for Cold Email Agencies
You may find it hard to believe, but even in 2024 agencies exist that solely depend on cold outreach, or dedicatedly provide this service to their clients. Here are some of the best tools for cold email agencies.
SmartLead
G2 Rating: 4.8
SmartLead is a powerful tool designed for scaling cold email outreach with the aim of ensuring your emails consistently land in the inboxes of your leads.
It offers a comprehensive suite of features, including unlimited rotating email accounts, AI-optimized sending, and a unified inbox for efficient conversation management.
Key Features
Unlimited Rotating Emails
Dynamic IP Addresses for Each Campaign
Spintax for Email Personalization
Centralized Master Inbox
Email Warmup for Better Deliverability
Custom CRM for Lead Management
Email Validation for Accuracy
Pros
User-friendly
Feature-rich
Responsive Customer Support
High Deliverability
Efficient Conversation Management
Innovative Email Warmup
Scalable for Individuals and Agencies
Cons
Minor UI issues
Needs More Integrations
Mailshake
G2 Rating: 4.5
Mailshake is a versatile sales engagement platform tailored for modern sales teams. It facilitates sending personalized cold emails at scale and managing prospect engagement across phone and social media, all from a unified dashboard.
With native integrations for popular CRMs like Salesforce, Pipedrive, and HubSpot, as well as support for thousands of third-party apps, Mailshake becomes a valuable addition to your sales tech toolkit.
In essence, Mailshake simplifies and enhances email outreach and prospect engagement efforts with its user-friendly interface, CRM integrations, and email tracking features.
Key Features
Task Reminders
Email Optimization
Multi-Channel Outreach
CRM Integration
Calendar Scheduling
Collaborative Records
Repeatable Reporting
Content Management
AI-enhanced Strategy
Pros
User-Friendly Interface
CRM Integration for Lead Management
Email Tracking & Automation
Multi-Channel Outreach Support
Detailed Analytics & AI Prioritization
Cons
Basic Customization
Setup and Data Quality Concerns
Vocus.io
G2 Rating: 4.3
Probably this is the most lightweight tool on this list. Vocus.io is a Chrome extension designed to streamline Gmail outreach by offering a comprehensive set of features.
It enhances email communication and productivity, providing users with valuable tools for improved tracking, automation, and customization.
Key Features
Detailed Email Open Rate Tracking
Monitoring Link Activity within Emails
Email Scheduling for Optimal Timing
Personalized Email Outreach
Pros
Easy Setup and Intuitive Design
Lightweight with Useful Features
Streamlines Email Pitches with Personalization
Excellent for Tracking and Scheduling
Cost-effective and Fast
Seamless Gmail Integration
Outstanding Customer Support
Custom PDF Attachments
Cons:
Limited Integrations
Attachment Tracking Needs Improvement
Occasional Bugs and Performance Issues
Limited Contact/lead Capabilities
22 More Sales Engagement Tools
We also have 22 more sales engagement tools that can be used by sales teams of various sizes. Even though the previous 12 were our top picks for four of the categories, these 22 are great alternatives and are definitely worth having a look at!
HubSpot Sales Hub
G2 Rating: 4.4
HubSpot Sales Hub is a robust and versatile sales and CRM (Customer Relationship Management) platform, thoughtfully crafted to cater to businesses of all sizes. This multifaceted tool not only simplifies intricate sales processes but also serves as a catalyst for enhancing productivity and cultivating enduring customer relationships.
Boasting an intuitive and user-friendly interface, coupled with a diverse set of powerful tools, Sales Hub has effortlessly carved its niche as the go-to solution for sales professionals and teams on the quest to elevate their sales strategies and forge lasting connections with their clients.
Key Features
Contact Management
Email Tracking and Automation
Sales Analytics
Sales Automation
Integration with Other HubSpot Tools
Pros
User-Friendly Interface
All-in-One Solution
Email Tracking and Automation
Powerful Analytics
Scalability
Cons
Pricey
Learning Curve
Integration Dependencies
Reply
G2 Rating: 4.6
Reply, recognized as a prominent player in the realm of sales engagement tools, is meticulously engineered to be the driving force behind sales teams’ quest to forge connections with leads and prospects that are both highly effective and supremely efficient.
Reply boasts an extensive repertoire of features, meticulously tailored to facilitate the streamlining of outreach campaigns, the granular tracking of engagement metrics, and, most notably, the substantial improvement in the quality of communication between businesses and their potential clientele.
Key Features
Email Sequences
Email Tracking and Reporting
CRM Integration
Multichannel Outreach
AI-Powered Personalization
Pros
Efficient Outreach
Data-Driven Insights
Decent Integration Support
Good Customer Service
Lots of Customizations
Cons
Learning Curve
Limited Phone Features
AI Limitations
Autoklose
G2 Rating: 4.6
Autoklose is a powerful and versatile sales engagement platform meticulously designed to empower sales professionals and teams to streamline and optimize their sales processes. This comprehensive solution is specifically crafted to cater to the ever-evolving needs of today’s sales landscape.
By prioritizing email automation, campaign management, and data-driven insights, Autoklose has solidified its position as an indispensable tool for those striving to elevate their sales outreach strategies.
Key Features
Email Campaigns
Lead Database
Email Verification
Analytics and Reporting
CRM Integration
Pros
Easy-to-Use Scheduling
Templates with High Conversion Rates
Great Spam Filters
KPI Based Reporting
Cons
Limited Multichannel Support
Overreliance on Email
Yesware
G2 Rating: 4.4
Yesware is a versatile sales engagement platform that arms sales professionals with a suite of essential tools for effective email outreach. It excels in real-time email tracking, allowing users to monitor recipient interactions, while campaign management streamlines the process of creating and managing email campaigns. The seamless CRM integration ensures that data remains consistent across the board.
Furthermore, its detailed analytics provide users with valuable insights into email engagement, allowing for informed, data-driven decisions. Yesware also simplifies outreach with customizable templates, ensuring that every message is personalized for maximum impact.
With its user-centric approach and the ability to optimize email campaigns, Yesware is a crucial tool for sales teams aiming to boost their email-based sales efforts.
Key Features
Email Tracking
Campaign Management
CRM Integration
Detailed Analytics
Personalized Templates
Pros
Automated Email Sync
Great Email Templates
Great Customer Support
Easy Campaign Management
Cons
Restricted Template Layouts
Groove
G2 Rating: 4.6
Groove is a comprehensive and highly adaptable sales engagement platform that caters to the diverse needs of sales teams. It boasts multichannel outreach capabilities, spanning email, calls, and social touchpoints. Its unique strength lies in its ability to streamline CRM integration, ensuring that lead management remains consistent and efficient.
The platform provides detailed analytics and reporting, allowing sales professionals to monitor and evaluate campaign performance thoroughly. What sets Groove apart is its workflow automation, which simplifies task management and ensures a smooth sales process.
Groove is a user-centric solution that empowers sales teams to engage effectively across various channels, making it a top choice for sales professionals seeking to optimize their sales engagement strategies.
Key Features
Sales Engagement
Multichannel Outreach
CRM Integration
Analytics and Reporting
Workflow Automation
Pros
Loaded With Outreach Features
Visual Analytics Dashboard
Effective Social Media Outreach
Detailed Analytics and Reporting
Cons
Pricing
Learning Curve
InsideSales Playbooks
G2 Rating: 4.5
InsideSales Playbooks stands out as an innovative and data-driven sales engagement tool. Its AI-powered playbooks offer invaluable sales guidance, while predictive analytics help users identify high-value prospects, streamlining lead prioritization. Sales cadences automate multi-touch outreach, saving valuable time and resources.
Integration with popular CRMs and sales tools ensures seamless data synchronization. Additionally, detailed analytics provide insights for continuous sales strategy improvement. InsideSales Playbooks places users at the center of their sales strategies by offering AI-driven insights, making it an indispensable tool for sales teams aiming to enhance their effectiveness.
Key Features
AI-Powered Playbooks
Predictive Analytics
Sales Cadences
Analytics
Integration with popular CRMs and sales tools
Pros
AI-Powered Playbooks
Predictive Analytics
Sales Cadences
Analytics
Integration with popular CRMs and sales tools
Cons
Complexity due to advanced AI features
Zoho SalesIQ
G2 Rating: 4.4
Zoho SalesIQ is a versatile and user-centric sales engagement tool, with a focus on real-time engagement with website visitors through live chat. Its visitor tracking capabilities provide deep insights into visitor behavior and preferences, allowing for personalized interactions. Lead scoring helps sales teams identify and prioritize leads more effectively, and seamless CRM integration ensures that data flows seamlessly.
Analytics provide users with valuable insights into website visitor interactions, further enriching the sales process. Sales professionals looking for an effective tool to engage website visitors and convert them into leads will find Zoho SalesIQ to be a valuable asset.
Key Features
Live Chat
Visitor Tracking
Lead Scoring Tools
CRM Integration
Advanced Analytics
Pros
Real Time Performance Data
Great for Small Businesses
Seamless Social Media Integration
24/7 Efficient Support
Easy Analytics Dashboard
Cons
Pricing
Quickmail
G2 Rating: 4.6
Quickmail is a streamlined sales engagement tool focused on enhancing email outreach. The platform offers automated email sequences for efficient communication and follow-up management. In-depth analytics provide users with insights into email campaign performance, allowing for data-driven decisions.
CRM integration ensures that lead and contact management remains seamless. Open and click tracking features enable users to monitor recipient interactions, further optimizing outreach. Quickmail is tailored to the user’s email engagement needs, allowing sales professionals to streamline their campaigns and enhance their impact.
Key Features
Email Sequences
Follow-Up Automation
Analytics
CRM Integration
Open and Click Tracking
Pros
Great Help and Support
Effective for Cold Outreach
Bulk Client Communication
User-friendly Dashboard
Cons
Limited Multichannel Support
Overloop
G2 Rating: 4.3
Overloop is a sales engagement solution designed for efficient automation of sales processes. It offers personalized email sequences for targeted outreach. Detailed analytics offer valuable insights into sales performance, guiding data-driven decision-making.
The seamless CRM integration simplifies data and lead management. Pre-designed email templates streamline outreach, allowing users to focus on the quality of communication. With a user-centric approach, Overloop is ideal for sales professionals seeking to optimize their sales strategies through automation and data-driven insights.
Key Features
Sales Automation
Email Sequences
Analytics
CRM Integration
Templates
Pros
Comprehensive Sales Support
User Friendly Interface
Responsive Customer Support
Great for Data-drive Outreach
Cons
Pricing
Learning Curve
Growbots
G2 Rating: 4.5
Growbots excels in lead generation and email campaign automation. Its primary strength lies in its detailed analytics and reporting, allowing users to track the effectiveness of their campaigns and make informed adjustments. The seamless CRM integration ensures that leads and contacts are always in sync.
Personalization features enable users to craft tailored messages for higher response rates. Growbots is a user-centric solution that empowers sales teams to identify and target potential leads effectively, streamlining outreach efforts and increasing their chances of success.
Key Features
Lead Generation
Email Campaigns
Analytics and Reporting
CRM Integration
Personalization
Lead Database
Pros
Easy to Score Leads from the Database
Impressive Customer Support
Continued System Education
Easy to Setup
Cons
Spam Filters Are Not Great
Gmass
G2 Rating: 4.8
Gmass is a highly efficient and user-centric sales engagement tool that simplifies email campaigns. It allows users to send mass email campaigns directly from Gmail, a convenience that many users value. Automated follow-up campaigns save time and increase the chances of engagement. Open and click tracking features monitor email engagement, providing insights for campaign improvement.
Personalization options allow for customized content, and scheduling ensures that campaigns are sent at optimal times. Gmass is a valuable tool for sales professionals who prefer Gmail and seek to streamline their email outreach effectively.
Key Features
Email Campaigns from Gmail
Follow-Up Campaigns
Open and Click Tracking
Personalization
Scheduling
Pros
Great for Gmail Users
Light and Minimalistic
Great Customer Support
Very Affordable
Cons
No Multichannel Support
Limited Analytics
Woodpecker
Woodpecker stands out as a comprehensive email automation tool designed to elevate email outreach. It offers advanced personalization features that allow for highly customized email content, ensuring that messages resonate with recipients. Follow-up reminders enable users to schedule and manage follow-ups efficiently.
A/B testing helps optimize email subject lines and content for maximum impact. Detailed analytics provide users with valuable insights into campaign performance and engagement, enabling data-driven improvements. Woodpecker is a user-centric solution that empowers sales teams to create highly personalized and effective email outreach campaigns, resulting in higher response rates.
Key Features
Email Automation
Personalization
Follow-Up Reminders
A/B Testing
Analytics
Pros
User-Friendly Interface
Prompt and Helpful Support
API Integrations
Great for Small Businesses
Cons
Confusing Template Management
VanillaSoft
G2 Rating: 4.6
VanillaSoft, a market-leading sales engagement platform, empowers sales development teams to engage with over 15,000,000 contacts every month.
Whether used as a standalone solution or integrated with existing CRM systems, VanillaSoft offers the tools and features necessary for sales reps to respond quickly to new leads, maintain consistent interactions across multiple channels, and generate a higher number of qualified sales opportunities.
Thousands of users around the world rely on VanillaSoft’s queue-based sales engine and intellective routing for sales cadence automation, leading to significant improvements in speed-to-lead, persistency, productivity, and revenue-per-rep.
Key Features
Calling
Efficient contact management
Insights
Task and call management
Efficient tasks, detailed reporting
Content Management
Communication templates
Pros
Easy-to-use interface
Customizable templates
Excellent lead management
Seamless integration
Cons
Notes formatting feedback
Limited text messaging credits
Zoominfo
G2 Rating: 4.4
ZoomInfo is an all-encompassing business intelligence platform designed to optimize Go-To-Market (GTM) strategies. By delivering real-time insights and data, it empowers businesses to identify, connect with, and engage their ideal customers across multiple channels.
ZoomInfo’s data-driven approach streamlines operations enhances win rates, reduces marketing expenditures, and boosts overall productivity for over 35,000 businesses, making it an invaluable resource for achieving a competitive advantage in the market.
Features
Automated Outreach
Unified Platform
Targeted Prospect Identification
Data-Driven Engagements
Pros
Email open and link click tracking
Auto-voicemail after calls
Customizable templates with easy integration into Salesforce
Inclusion of attachments (PDFs, Word Docs, URLs) in templates
Relevant merge fields
Outlook compatibility (when using Tellwise Outlook plug-in)
Excel sheet links in templates
Cons
Excessive notifications due to recipient activity
Mixmax
G2 Rating: 4.6
Mixmax is a versatile sales engagement platform that turbocharges team interactions with customers through Gmail. It automates tasks, boosts productivity, and accelerates revenue growth.
Suitable for all customer-facing roles, Mixmax transforms Gmail into a “workflow control center,” enhancing deal success, customer engagement, and recruitment processes. It offers seamless Gmail integration and customizable rules for sales and customer success workflows.
You can organize tasks and enhance prospecting and closing efforts from your Gmail inbox, web app, or Salesforce. Account Executives receive real-time alerts and direct Salesforce updates.
Key Features
Communication efficiency through templates and sequences
Email tracking for performance measurement
CRM integration for lead and customer management
Automation for productivity improvement
Scheduling for client coordination
Collaboration tools for team communication
Real-time notifications for quick responses
Personalization for effective outreach
Calendar integration for meeting scheduling
Pros
Efficient automation and email management.
Valuable email analytics
Streamlined CRM integration
Improved team collaboration
Effective personalization
Cons
Potential cost increase with more users
Occasional feature issues
Time-consuming management of complex email sequences
Apollo.io
G2 Rating: 4.8
Apollo.io is an all-in-one partner for boosting sales intelligence. Whether you’re in the business of prospecting, engaging leads, or increasing your revenue, Apollo.io has got you covered.
Trusted by more than 10,000 customers, it offers a wide range of tools and capabilities to supercharge your go-to-market strategies. What sets Apollo.io apart is its wealth of data resources, commitment to accuracy, and top-notch lead generation tools, all of which are designed to empower sales and marketing professionals.
Key Features
Vast contact and company data access
Lead and business search filters
Validation, enrichment, and quality analysis
Integrated task management, email tracking, automation, and CRM
Lead prioritization and AI-driven generation
Pros
Extensive lead database
Reliable outreach information
Simplified targeting
Enhanced communication with email tracking and automation
Streamlined lead management
Cons
Complex pricing structure
Limited LinkedIn integration, potentially requiring manual steps
PersistIQ
G2 Rating: 4.6
PersistIQ is a top-notch sales engagement platform. It offers multi-channel outreach, email prospecting, a call dialer, automation triggers, Gmail integration, analytics, and team collaboration. It’s your ally for boosting outbound sales, automating follow-ups with inbound leads, and simplifying recruiting efforts.
Key Features
Multi-Channel Outreach
Prospecting
Call Dialer
Automation Triggers
Gmail Extension
Analytics
Team Collaboration
Integrations
Pros
Easy Outreach Settings
Email Verification
Multi-channel Automation
Integration Support
Good Customer Support
Cons
Time Commitment
Copywriting Challenges
Mixed Results
SmartReach
G2 Rating: 4.8
SmartReach.io is a powerful email outreach tool designed for professionals looking to optimize their email campaigns. With a focus on user-friendliness and automation, it simplifies the process of scheduling and sending personalized emails and follow-ups.
Notably, it seamlessly integrates CRM data into campaigns and offers the ProspectDaddy extension for LinkedIn prospect additions. What sets it apart is its automation of prospect email activity syncing with CRMs, reducing manual effort and boosting sales team efficiency.
Key Features
Shared Team Inbox
Multichannel Outreach
LinkedIn Integration
CRM Integrations
Automated Follow-Ups
Email Deliverability Optimization
Hyper-Personalization
Advanced Team Collaboration
Agency Features
Email Activity Tracking
CRM Synchronization
Pros
User-Friendly
Automated Follow-Ups
Impressive Deliverability
Quick Support
Unified Interface
Cons
GUI for Mobile
Data Upload Challenges
Bounce Rate Sensitivity
Snov.io
G2 Rating: 4.5
Snovio is a comprehensive business solution designed to enhance your sales and marketing efforts. With an array of award-winning tools, Snovio facilitates lead generation, email verification, automated email outreach, email warm-up, and efficient customer management.
This platform enables businesses to streamline and expedite their sales processes, making it easier to connect with potential clients. Snovio’s capabilities extend to uncovering email addresses, as well as details like a person’s company, job position, and role within the organization, making it an invaluable asset for those seeking to expand their client base and optimize their email communication strategies.
Key Features
User Management
Data Integration
Reporting & Analytics
A/B Testing
Email Marketing
Email Deliverability
Automated Responses
Collaboration
Surveys
LinkedIn Integration
Domain Search
Email Tracking
Free CRM
Pros
User-Friendly Interface
Responsive Customer Support
Comprehensive Features
Efficient Lead Generation
Streamlined Email Campaigns
Cons
Chrome Extension Confusion
Cirrus Insight
G2 Rating: 4.2
Cirrus Insight, founded in 2011, is a robust plugin for Gmail and Outlook tailored for sales professionals. It seamlessly integrates with Salesforce, offering a comprehensive sales productivity platform.
This tool streamlines sales tasks within your email client, including lead engagement, meeting scheduling, and attachment tracking. With its Salesforce integration, it eliminates the need to switch between your inbox and Salesforce to log information, allowing automatic email and appointment syncing, email open tracking, and convenient Salesforce record management.
Cirrus Insight stands out for its exceptional calendar and appointment scheduling capabilities, making it effortless to coordinate meetings.
Features
Gmail and Outlook Integration
Salesforce Integration
Real-time Email Tracking
Streamlined Email Communication
Scheduling
Personalized Outreach Campaigns
Tailored configurations
Pros
Automated Data Entry
Real-time Follow-ups
Improved Task Management
Streamlined Meeting Coordination
Personalized Campaigns
Cons
Complex Privacy Settings
Geared Towards Gmail and Outlook
A Bit Expensive
Close
G2 Rating: 4.7
Close is a sales CRM designed for SMBs, offering multi channel features that allow users to email, call, and text leads directly from their desktop without additional add-ons. It automatically tracks all lead interactions in a visual timeline, reducing CRM administrative tasks and enabling teams to focus on closing deals.
The platform also provides productivity tools like task reminders and the Power Dialer to help users reach more leads, maintain follow-ups, and improve deal-closing efficiency. In terms of categories, Close falls into Sales Acceleration, Sales Email Tracking, Sales Engagement, and Customer Relationship Management (CRM).
Key Features
SalesForce Automation
Customer Service & Support
Marketing Automation: Lead management, email marketing.
CRM Project Management
Forecasting, customizable reports
Marketing automation
Pros
Efficient Power Dialer
Effective SMS Integrations
Valuable Video Reports
Fields, objects, API integration
Role-based permissions
Cons
Limited Third-Party Integrations
Outdated Interface Design
Clodura
G2 Rating: 4.6
Clodura.AI is an AI-driven lead generation platform that provides access to a vast B2B prospect database, with features such as Org Chart for targeting decision-makers. It streamlines outreach efforts with accurate contact information, automation, and actionable insights, helping sales teams secure more qualified meetings and revenue growth.
Key Features
Contact, Company, Industry Research
Data Accuracy
Lead Builder, Data Segmentation/Filtering, Search
User, Role, and Access Management, Performance and Reliability, Reporting/Dashboards
Lead Validation, Lead Quality, Lead Analysis
Browser Extension
Pros
Offers real-time analytics
Accurate contact information
Fast support
Enhances lead generation productivity
Cons
Complex interface
Email signature limits
Benefits of Using a Good Sales Engagement Tool
Using a proper sales engagement tool comes with a plethora of benefits. A sales engagement tool that meets your team’s needs can double, in fact, triple their productivity in some cases. Here are the major benefits you’ll enjoy from a great sales engagement tool:
Resource Optimization
Sales engagement tools, by and large, will improve the productivity of your sales teams. As your individual sales reps will be able to do more work with the help of sales engagement tools, you won’t have to hire more and more people to keep scaling your business.
Centralized Data Management
Most sales engagement tools come with analytics and data management features. If you primarily use a sales engagement tool to score leads, you will be able to analyze past data to make your future campaigns more effective. Sales engagement tools can be your go-to option to track and analyze your campaign data.
Source of Leads
Some really good sales engagement platforms have their own lead database. This will allow you to get into the outreach phase right away, without having to go through a tedious process of lead sourcing and qualifying. However, you should be sure of the quality of leads that are available in your sales engagement tool’s database before you start taking advantage of it.
Lots of Options
Many sales engagement platforms provide you with a lot of outreach options in one place. If you can do outreach campaigns through email, social media, text messages, and phone calls using one single platform, it will make your sales team more efficient for sure. Your sales representatives won’t have to switch between mediums to contact different leads.
Conclusion
Among the 34 tools we suggested in this article, the top 3 options for each category are the ones we highly recommend. However, we believe you will not be disappointed should you choose a different option from our list. Just make sure that you are picking a platform that has the features that your team needs.
On the flipside, there’s no need to choose a tool with many add-ons and features that you rarely use. They do come with a cost. Best of luck with your sales campaigns!
Frequently Asked Questions
Who uses sales engagement software?
Sales engagement software is mostly used by sales representatives. However, depending on the size of the business, sales managers, and even agency owners, use sales engagement software as well. In short, anyone involved in the sales development process should be able to use at least one sales engagement software.
What is the difference between sales engagement and CRM?
In short, a CRM is mainly designed to serve the existing customers of a business. It creates customer profiles for ongoing clients and stores their data. Sales engagement platforms are primarily used to acquire new customers. There are tools that provide both the services at the same time.
