{
 "publisher": "Honest Intros",
 "url": "https://honestintros.com/compare",
 "method": "https://honestintros.com/compare#how",
 "disclosure": "Published by the maker of Honest Intros, one of the products listed.",
 "products": [
  {
   "slug": "honest-intros",
   "name": "Honest Intros",
   "website": "https://honestintros.com",
   "category": "Approval-first cold email",
   "price_model": "free to start; emails written from scratch by AI use your own OpenAI key; no paid plans yet",
   "entry_price": "$0",
   "free_option": "free, no card; private pilot by invitation",
   "sender": "your own Gmail mailbox, connected with Google sign-in",
   "approval": "required for every email; nothing is sent without it and there is no timer",
   "leads": "websites you paste or upload as CSV; search by country is being switched on; no contact database",
   "personalisation": "every first email quotes the prospect's own website word for word, and a check refuses any draft whose quote is not on the page",
   "replies": "replies, bounces, out-of-office and opt-outs recognised in several languages; the sequence stops by itself; you answer from a suggested starter",
   "best_for": "People who want to read every email before it goes and send it from their own Gmail, at a human pace",
   "sources": [
    "https://honestintros.com/",
    "https://honestintros.com/privacy"
   ],
   "checked": "2026-10-01",
   "weaker": [
    "no built-in contact database",
    "at most 50 emails a day per mailbox, 20 for personal Gmail",
    "no AI agent that answers replies or books meetings",
    "Gmail only for now",
    "private pilot, by invitation"
   ]
  },
  {
   "slug": "explee",
   "name": "Explee",
   "website": "https://explee.com",
   "category": "AI SDR agent",
   "price_model": "per email sent, pay as you go, no subscription; database priced separately",
   "entry_price": "about $0.04 per email sent ($30 of credits covers 750 emails)",
   "free_option": "$30 of free credits for the first 750 emails",
   "sender": "Explee's own pool of pre-warmed inboxes, never your own mailbox or domain",
   "approval": "not stated per email; you see the lead list and can preview the template against real leads before launch",
   "leads": "its own database: 105M companies and 536M decision makers",
   "personalisation": "the agent researches prospects and writes personalised emails; checking claims against sources not stated",
   "replies": "replies go to the Explee inbox, where the agent answers and moves interested prospects toward a call",
   "best_for": "Small teams trying AI outbound cheaply, pay per email, without putting their own domain at risk",
   "sources": [
    "https://explee.com/",
    "https://explee.com/pricing"
   ],
   "checked": "2026-10-01",
   "weaker": []
  },
  {
   "slug": "artisan",
   "name": "Artisan",
   "website": "https://www.artisan.co",
   "category": "AI SDR agent",
   "price_model": "plan sized to lead volume, mailboxes and dialer seats; talk to sales",
   "entry_price": "not public",
   "free_option": "none stated",
   "sender": "your reps' names on your own sending domains, with sending infrastructure included",
   "approval": "optional: approve before sending is available; autonomous by default",
   "leads": "its own database of 250M+ verified B2B contacts, intent signals, CRM sync",
   "personalisation": "the agent (Ava) enriches leads and writes personalised outreach; checking claims against sources not stated",
   "replies": "autonomous replies and meeting booking",
   "best_for": "Mid-size and enterprise sales teams that want a managed AI SDR sending as their reps",
   "sources": [
    "https://www.artisan.co/pricing",
    "https://www.artisan.co/"
   ],
   "checked": "2026-10-01",
   "weaker": []
  },
  {
   "slug": "11x",
   "name": "11x",
   "website": "https://www.11x.ai",
   "category": "AI SDR agent",
   "price_model": "annual contract priced per lead; demo first",
   "entry_price": "Growth plan $3,750 a month billed annually, 2,000 new prospects a month",
   "free_option": "no self-serve trial; demo first",
   "sender": "11x-managed Gmail mailboxes on your authenticated sending domain",
   "approval": "no approval mode documented; the setup guide advises reading a sample of drafts and verifying researched claims before launch",
   "leads": "real-time company and lead database with live web search, CRM sync",
   "personalisation": "deep research per prospect plus your knowledge base; the docs ask you to verify researched claims",
   "replies": "handles replies and books meetings; email, phone, LinkedIn, SMS and WhatsApp",
   "best_for": "Larger revenue teams on annual budgets that want a fully managed multichannel AI SDR",
   "sources": [
    "https://www.11x.ai/products/alice/pricing",
    "https://docs.11x.ai/help-center/overview/11x-pricing-overview",
    "https://docs.11x.ai/alice/setup"
   ],
   "checked": "2026-10-01",
   "weaker": []
  },
  {
   "slug": "aisdr",
   "name": "AiSDR",
   "website": "https://aisdr.com",
   "category": "AI SDR agent",
   "price_model": "monthly subscription by contact volume; larger plans on quarterly contracts",
   "entry_price": "Solo plan $250 a month for 200 researched contacts",
   "free_option": "build without a card; pay when you launch",
   "sender": "domains and mailboxes they buy and set up for you, sending through Gmail or Outlook",
   "approval": "not stated for first emails; a co-pilot mode is described for replies",
   "leads": "native database of 300M+ leads, intent signals, enrichment of your lists, CRM sync",
   "personalisation": "research of the most relevant data points per lead from the web, LinkedIn and CRM; checking claims against sources not stated",
   "replies": "AI replies within minutes or co-pilot mode; books meetings through Calendly or HubSpot",
   "best_for": "Founders and small teams that want a self-serve AI SDR on email and LinkedIn with published prices",
   "sources": [
    "https://aisdr.com/pricing/",
    "https://aisdr.com/features/"
   ],
   "checked": "2026-10-01",
   "weaker": []
  },
  {
   "slug": "reply-io",
   "name": "Reply.io",
   "website": "https://reply.io",
   "category": "AI SDR agent",
   "price_model": "per user a month by active contacts; Jason AI SDR priced separately",
   "entry_price": "Email Volume $49 per user a month billed annually ($59 monthly); Jason AI SDR from $500 a month billed annually",
   "free_option": "14-day free trial",
   "sender": "your own connected mailboxes, or domains and mailboxes bought through Reply",
   "approval": "optional: Jason AI has an approval mode to approve each message before it goes out",
   "leads": "built-in data of 1B+ B2B contacts, AI web search, intent signals, CRM integrations",
   "personalisation": "AI variables and icebreakers; Jason researches LinkedIn and company websites and links the sources it used so you can verify them",
   "replies": "unified inbox, AI reply categories, AI replies in automatic or approval mode, meeting booking",
   "best_for": "Teams that want multichannel sequences with an optional AI SDR and an approval mode",
   "sources": [
    "https://reply.io/pricing/",
    "https://reply.io/jason-ai/"
   ],
   "checked": "2026-10-01",
   "weaker": []
  },
  {
   "slug": "instantly",
   "name": "Instantly",
   "website": "https://instantly.ai",
   "category": "Sending platform",
   "price_model": "monthly subscription tiered by emails and contacts; credits for data; add-ons for inboxes and domains",
   "entry_price": "Growth plan $47 a month billed monthly, or $37.60 a month billed annually",
   "free_option": "14-day free trial, no card (2 accounts, 250 leads, 1,000 emails)",
   "sender": "your own connected mailboxes, or pre-warmed and done-for-you inboxes and domains bought through Instantly",
   "approval": "optional for AI replies (human-in-the-loop or autopilot); no approval step stated for first emails",
   "leads": "SuperSearch database of 450M+ B2B contacts, uploads, website visitor identification",
   "personalisation": "AI Copilot writes copy and campaigns; checking claims against sources not stated",
   "replies": "Unibox unified inbox; AI Reply Agent can answer and book meetings through Calendly",
   "best_for": "High-volume sending from many inboxes with warm-up, optional AI replies and a lead database",
   "sources": [
    "https://instantly.ai/pricing",
    "https://help.instantly.ai/en/articles/13941298-instantly-free-trial",
    "https://help.instantly.ai/en/articles/11774076-ai-reply-agent"
   ],
   "checked": "2026-10-01",
   "weaker": []
  },
  {
   "slug": "smartlead",
   "name": "Smartlead",
   "website": "https://www.smartlead.ai",
   "category": "Sending platform",
   "price_model": "monthly subscription tiered by contacts and sends; unlimited mailboxes",
   "entry_price": "Base plan $39 a month billed monthly, or $32.50 a month billed annually",
   "free_option": "free trial, no card (length not stated)",
   "sender": "your own connected mailboxes, or done-for-you mailboxes bought through Smartlead",
   "approval": "AI reply drafts need manual review; no approval step stated for first emails",
   "leads": "your uploaded contacts; database size not stated",
   "personalisation": "variables, spintax and an AI copy writer; checking claims against sources not stated",
   "replies": "Master Inbox across campaigns and clients; Reply Agent drafts replies for you to send",
   "best_for": "Agencies and teams sending at volume across many mailboxes or clients with flat pricing",
   "sources": [
    "https://www.smartlead.ai/pricing",
    "https://helpcenter.smartlead.ai/en/articles/431-reply-agent-overview-and-setup-guide"
   ],
   "checked": "2026-10-01",
   "weaker": []
  },
  {
   "slug": "woodpecker",
   "name": "Woodpecker",
   "website": "https://woodpecker.co",
   "category": "Sending platform",
   "price_model": "per 100 contacted prospects, monthly or annual; unlimited email accounts and team members",
   "entry_price": "€7 per 100 contacted prospects billed monthly; smallest tier 500 prospects for €35 a month",
   "free_option": "14-day free trial or 100 cold emails, no card",
   "sender": "your own connected mailboxes, or mailboxes bought through Woodpecker",
   "approval": "not stated; preview and test an email before sending",
   "leads": "Lead Finder database of 1B+ contacts, uploads, integrations",
   "personalisation": "snippets, conditions, spintax and an AI email writer; checking claims against sources not stated",
   "replies": "centralised inbox; replies sorted by interest; a reply stops the sequence; Calendly integration",
   "best_for": "Teams and agencies that put deliverability first and want to pay per contacted prospect",
   "sources": [
    "https://woodpecker.co/pricing/",
    "https://woodpecker.co/help-center/en/articles/5241983-how-to-use-interest-level"
   ],
   "checked": "2026-10-01",
   "weaker": []
  },
  {
   "slug": "lemlist",
   "name": "lemlist",
   "website": "https://www.lemlist.com",
   "category": "Data and sequences",
   "price_model": "monthly subscription; Email plan flat with unlimited users, Multichannel plan per user; data credits extra",
   "entry_price": "Email plan $69 a month billed monthly, or $55 a month billed annually",
   "free_option": "14-day free trial, no card",
   "sender": "your own connected mailboxes and domains; in-app domain purchase",
   "approval": "required for lemAgent campaigns: nothing launches without your approval",
   "leads": "650M+ lead database (credits), enrichment from LinkedIn, websites and CRM",
   "personalisation": "variables plus AI agents that write from LinkedIn, website and CRM data; checking claims against sources not stated",
   "replies": "unified inbox across email, LinkedIn, calls, WhatsApp and SMS on higher plans",
   "best_for": "Personalised multichannel outreach with a lead database and an AI campaign builder",
   "sources": [
    "https://www.lemlist.com/pricing",
    "https://www.lemlist.com/product/lemagent"
   ],
   "checked": "2026-10-01",
   "weaker": []
  },
  {
   "slug": "apollo",
   "name": "Apollo",
   "website": "https://www.apollo.io",
   "category": "Data and sequences",
   "price_model": "per seat a month with credits",
   "entry_price": "Basic $49 per seat a month billed annually",
   "free_option": "free plan with 900 credits a year and 2 sequences; 14-day trial of paid plans",
   "sender": "your own connected mailboxes; domain and mailbox purchase on paid plans",
   "approval": "optional: any sequence step can be a manual email you review instead of automatic",
   "leads": "its own database of 240M contacts and 30M companies, enrichment, CRM",
   "personalisation": "AI-generated sequences and AI research; checking claims against sources not stated",
   "replies": "meeting scheduling and pre-meeting insights; AI replies not stated",
   "best_for": "Sales teams that want a large contact database, enrichment and sequences in one per-seat tool",
   "sources": [
    "https://www.apollo.io/pricing",
    "https://knowledge.apollo.io/hc/en-us/articles/4409231193101-Create-a-Sequence"
   ],
   "checked": "2026-10-01",
   "weaker": []
  },
  {
   "slug": "hunter",
   "name": "Hunter",
   "website": "https://hunter.io",
   "category": "Data and sequences",
   "price_model": "monthly or annual plan with credits and connected mailboxes",
   "entry_price": "Starter €49 a month billed monthly, or €34 a month billed annually",
   "free_option": "free plan: 50 credits a month, 1 mailbox, 500 recipients per sequence",
   "sender": "your own connected Gmail, Outlook or SMTP mailboxes; domains and accounts can be bought in Hunter",
   "approval": "optional: review each email before sending and edit it",
   "leads": "Hunter's own email data (finder, verifier, discover); size not stated",
   "personalisation": "custom attributes and an AI writing assistant; checking claims against sources not stated",
   "replies": "unified inbox and warm lead identification; AI replies and meeting booking not stated",
   "best_for": "Founders and small teams wanting simple sequences from their own inbox plus email finding and verification",
   "sources": [
    "https://hunter.io/pricing",
    "https://hunter.io/cold-email-software"
   ],
   "checked": "2026-10-01",
   "weaker": []
  },
  {
   "slug": "saleshandy",
   "name": "Saleshandy",
   "website": "https://www.saleshandy.com",
   "category": "Data and sequences",
   "price_model": "monthly subscription tiered by prospects, emails and lead credits; unlimited email accounts",
   "entry_price": "Starter $34 a month billed annually ($41 billed monthly)",
   "free_option": "7-day free trial, no card",
   "sender": "your own connected mailboxes, or domains and inboxes bought through Saleshandy",
   "approval": "not stated on official pages",
   "leads": "Lead Finder with 852M+ contacts and 42M+ company profiles, uploads",
   "personalisation": "merge variables plus AI Sequence Copilot; checking claims against sources not stated",
   "replies": "unified inbox with AI tagging of replies; outbound CRM pipeline",
   "best_for": "Budget-conscious small teams wanting data, sequences and unlimited sending accounts in one tool",
   "sources": [
    "https://www.saleshandy.com/pricing/",
    "https://www.saleshandy.com/"
   ],
   "checked": "2026-10-01",
   "weaker": []
  }
 ]
}