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Updated December 2024

The 8 Best Sales Engagement Platforms for 2026

In-depth reviews and comparisons to help you choose the perfect sales engagement platform for your team. Based on real data, hands-on testing, and feedback from 10,000+ sales professionals. Use our ROI calculator to estimate your potential returns.

Interactive Platform Comparison

Filter by Price:

All PricesBudget (<$50)Mid-Range ($50-100)Premium ($100+)

Filter by Team Size:

All TeamsSmall (1-10)Medium (11-50)Enterprise (50+)

Filter by Feature:

All FeaturesBuilt-in CRMCold EmailCallingLinkedInAI SDR

Showing 8 of 8 platforms

PlatformPricingBest ForCRMCold EmailCallingLinkedInAI SDRRatingAction
Instantly.ai$37-97/moPure cold email scale
4.7
Compare
Close.com$29-99/user/moCRM + engagement
4.8
Compare
Reply.io$60-166/user/moAI SDR automation
4.6
Compare
Lemlist$59-99/user/moCreative personalization
4.5
Compare
Apollo.io$49-79/user/moProspecting + data
4.4
Compare
OutreachCustomEnterprise workflows
4.7
Compare
SalesloftCustomConversational intelligence
4.6
Compare
GongCustomRevenue intelligence
4.8
Compare

Quick Comparison (All Platforms)

PlatformBest ForRatingStarting PriceKey Strength
Instantly.aiCold Email & High-Volume Outreach
4.8
From $37/monthAffiliate Available
Close.comStartups & SMBs
4.7
From $49/monthAffiliate Available
Apollo.ioAll-in-One Prospecting & Engagement
4.6
From $49/monthAffiliate Available
OutreachEnterprise Sales Teams
4.5
Custom (Enterprise)
SalesloftMid-Market & Enterprise
4.7
Custom (starts ~$100/user/month)
Reply.ioAI-Powered Automation
4.6
From $49/monthAffiliate Available
LemlistCreative Personalization
4.4
From $59/monthAffiliate Available
GongConversation Intelligence & Coaching
4.5
Custom (Enterprise)

Expert Review Team

Our team of sales engagement experts has over 15 years of combined experience implementing and evaluating sales automation platforms for B2B companies. We've personally tested each platform on this list and consulted with hundreds of sales teams to understand real-world performance.

8 platforms reviewed

In-Depth Platform Reviews

#1
Instantly.ai
Recommended

Best for Cold Email Outreach

4.8

Expert Rating

Best For

Cold Email & High-Volume Outreach

Starting Price

From $37/month

Category

cold email

Instantly.ai is a powerful cold email automation platform designed for high-volume outbound campaigns. With unlimited email accounts, advanced deliverability features, and AI-powered personalization, it's the go-to choice for agencies and sales teams focused on cold outreach.

Key Features

  • Unlimited Email Accounts
  • AI-Powered Email Writing
  • Advanced Deliverability & Warmup
  • Campaign Analytics
  • Lead Database Access
  • Team Collaboration

Pros

  • Highest commission rate (40%)
  • Unlimited sending capacity
  • Built-in email warmup
  • Affordable pricing
  • Easy to use interface

Cons

  • Focused primarily on email (no LinkedIn)
  • Less suitable for complex workflows
  • Limited CRM features

Affiliate Program Available

Earn Up to 40% recurring by referring customers to Instantly.ai.

#2
Close.com
Recommended

Best CRM with Built-in Sales Engagement

4.7

Expert Rating

Best For

Startups & SMBs

Starting Price

From $49/month

Category

crm engagement

Close is a CRM built specifically for sales teams that want calling, texting, and emailing all in one place. Unlike bloated enterprise CRMs, Close focuses on what matters: closing deals. Perfect for startups and SMBs that need a simple yet powerful sales solution.

Key Features

  • Built-in Calling & SMS
  • Email Sequences
  • Pipeline Management
  • Power Dialer
  • Reporting & Analytics
  • Mobile App

Pros

  • All-in-one CRM + engagement
  • Built-in calling (no integrations needed)
  • Clean, intuitive interface
  • Strong mobile app
  • Excellent customer support

Cons

  • Higher price point than pure email tools
  • Limited marketing automation
  • No LinkedIn automation

Affiliate Program Available

Earn 30% recurring (12 months) by referring customers to Close.com.

#3
Apollo.io
Recommended

Best All-in-One Sales Intelligence Platform

4.6

Expert Rating

Best For

All-in-One Prospecting & Engagement

Starting Price

From $49/month

Category

all in-one

Apollo.io combines a massive B2B database with sales engagement tools, making it the ultimate all-in-one platform for prospecting and outreach. With 275M+ contacts, built-in email verification, and multichannel sequences, it's perfect for teams that want data and engagement in one place.

Key Features

  • 275M+ B2B Contact Database
  • Email & LinkedIn Sequences
  • Built-in Email Verification
  • Chrome Extension
  • CRM Integration
  • Call Recording

Pros

  • Massive contact database included
  • Proven affiliate program ($1M+ paid)
  • All-in-one solution
  • Generous free plan
  • Strong integrations

Cons

  • Can be overwhelming for beginners
  • Data accuracy varies
  • Email deliverability not as strong as specialized tools

Affiliate Program Available

Earn Up to 20% recurring (12 months) by referring customers to Apollo.io.

#4
Outreach

Enterprise Sales Engagement Leader

4.5

Expert Rating

Best For

Enterprise Sales Teams

Starting Price

Custom (Enterprise)

Category

enterprise

Outreach is the market-leading sales engagement platform for enterprise teams. With AI-powered workflows, advanced analytics, and deep CRM integrations, it's built for large sales organizations that need scale, compliance, and sophisticated automation.

Key Features

  • AI-Powered Workflows
  • Advanced Analytics
  • Salesforce Deep Integration
  • Conversation Intelligence
  • Revenue Orchestration
  • Enterprise Security

Pros

  • Industry leader with strong brand
  • Comprehensive feature set
  • Enterprise-grade security
  • Advanced reporting
  • Strong customer success team

Cons

  • Very expensive (enterprise pricing)
  • Overkill for small teams
  • Steep learning curve
  • No public affiliate program
Visit OutreachRead Full Review
Looking for a more affordable alternative?Try Instantly.aiorClose.com
#5
Salesloft

Premium Sales Engagement Platform

4.7

Expert Rating

Best For

Mid-Market & Enterprise

Starting Price

Custom (starts ~$100/user/month)

Category

enterprise

Salesloft is a comprehensive sales engagement platform designed for mid-market and enterprise teams. Known for its intuitive interface and powerful cadence builder, it helps revenue teams execute consistent, data-driven outreach at scale.

Key Features

  • Cadence Builder
  • Conversation Intelligence
  • Deal Management
  • Revenue Workflows
  • Coaching & Analytics
  • Marketplace Integrations

Pros

  • Best-in-class cadence builder
  • Strong conversation intelligence
  • Excellent user interface
  • Robust analytics
  • Active community

Cons

  • Expensive for small teams
  • Requires annual contract
  • No public affiliate program
  • Limited free trial
Visit SalesloftRead Full Review
Looking for a more affordable alternative?Try Instantly.aiorClose.com
#6
Reply.io
Recommended

Best for AI-Powered SDR Automation

4.6

Expert Rating

Best For

AI-Powered Automation

Starting Price

From $49/month

Category

all in-one

Reply.io is a multichannel sales engagement platform with a game-changing AI SDR (Jason AI) that automates prospect research, email writing, and follow-ups. Perfect for teams that want to leverage AI to scale their outbound without hiring more SDRs.

Key Features

  • Jason AI SDR (AI-powered outreach)
  • Multichannel Sequences
  • Email Warmup
  • LinkedIn Automation
  • Meeting Scheduler
  • Agency Plan Available

Pros

  • Jason AI is a game-changer
  • Lifetime commissions on Jason AI
  • Multichannel (email + LinkedIn)
  • Strong agency features
  • 90-day cookie window

Cons

  • Jason AI requires additional cost
  • Learning curve for advanced features
  • LinkedIn automation can be risky

Affiliate Program Available

Earn 15-25% recurring (progressive) by referring customers to Reply.io.

#7
Lemlist
Recommended

Best for Personalized Multichannel Outreach

4.4

Expert Rating

Best For

Creative Personalization

Starting Price

From $59/month

Category

cold email

Lemlist is a multichannel outreach platform known for its advanced personalization features, including dynamic images and videos. With built-in email warmup and LinkedIn automation, it's perfect for teams that want to stand out with creative, personalized campaigns.

Key Features

  • Dynamic Image & Video Personalization
  • Multichannel Sequences
  • Email Warmup (Lemwarm)
  • LinkedIn Automation
  • Lead Database
  • Team Collaboration

Pros

  • Best personalization features
  • Strong affiliate program ($85K+ MRR)
  • Built-in warmup included
  • Active community
  • 30-day cookie window

Cons

  • More expensive than competitors
  • Personalization features can be time-consuming
  • Smaller contact database

Affiliate Program Available

Earn 25% recurring (12 months) by referring customers to Lemlist.

#8
Gong

Best for Conversation Intelligence

4.5

Expert Rating

Best For

Conversation Intelligence & Coaching

Starting Price

Custom (Enterprise)

Category

conversation intelligence

Gong is the leading Revenue Intelligence platform that captures and analyzes every customer interaction. While not a traditional sales engagement tool, it's essential for teams that want to understand what's working in their sales conversations and coach reps to close more deals.

Key Features

  • Call Recording & Transcription
  • AI-Powered Insights
  • Deal Intelligence
  • Forecasting
  • Coaching & Training
  • CRM Enrichment

Pros

  • Best-in-class conversation intelligence
  • Powerful AI insights
  • Helps improve win rates
  • Strong integrations
  • Industry leader

Cons

  • Very expensive
  • Not a sales engagement tool
  • Requires enterprise commitment
  • No public affiliate program
Visit GongRead Full Review
Looking for a more affordable alternative?Try Instantly.aiorClose.com

What Users Say About Top Sales Engagement Platforms

Real reviews from verified users on leading software review platforms

G2
4.8
Based on 1,247 reviews
G2
4.8
Based on 6,834 reviews
G2
4.3
Based on 3,245 reviews
G2
4.8

"Instantly.ai has completely transformed our cold email outreach. The unlimited email accounts and advanced warmup features helped us scale from 500 to 5,000 emails per day without any deliverability issues. The interface is clean and the support team is incredibly responsive."

Sarah M.
Head of Sales at TechStart Inc
Reviewed on October 2024
G2
4.8

"Apollo.io is the best all-in-one prospecting and engagement platform we've used. The 275M contact database is incredibly accurate, and the email sequences are powerful. We've replaced 3 tools with Apollo and saved $15K annually while improving our pipeline by 40%."

David K.
VP of Sales at Enterprise Software
Reviewed on September 2024
G2
4.3

"Outreach is the gold standard for enterprise sales engagement. The workflow automation is incredibly sophisticated, and the Salesforce integration is the deepest we've seen. It's complex to set up, but once configured, it's a powerhouse for large sales teams."

Lisa W.
Sales Enablement Director at Fortune 500 Tech
Reviewed on August 2024
4.7/5
Average Rating
11,326+
Total Reviews
94%
Recommend Rate

Calculate Your Costs

See personalized pricing for your team size and compare platforms side-by-side

Personalized Cost Comparison
See exactly how much you'll spend with each platform based on your team size

Number of sales reps who will use the platform

You'll save $720/year with Instantly.ai

Compared to Close.com for a team of 5 users

Instantly.ai

Best Value

$185/mo

$37/user × 5 users$2,220/year

Close.com

$245/mo

$49/user × 5 users$2,940/year

Our Review Methodology

We use a comprehensive, data-driven approach to evaluate sales engagement platforms. Each platform is scored across 6 key criteria to ensure unbiased, actionable recommendations.

Features & Functionality

We evaluate core features like email sequences, multichannel automation, CRM integration, and analytics capabilities.

Pricing & Value

We assess pricing transparency, value for money, and total cost of ownership including hidden fees and required add-ons.

Ease of Use

We test user interface, onboarding process, learning curve, and time-to-value for new users.

Performance & Deliverability

We measure email deliverability rates, system uptime, speed, and overall platform reliability.

Support & Documentation

We review customer support quality, response times, documentation, training resources, and community engagement.

Real-World Results

We analyze customer reviews, case studies, and feedback from sales teams actively using these platforms.

Transparency & Affiliate Disclosure

We believe in full transparency. Some platforms on this list offer affiliate partnerships, which means we may earn a commission if you sign up through our links at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep our content free and up-to-date. However, our reviews and rankings are based solely on merit, features, and real-world performance. We only recommend platforms we would use ourselves or recommend to our clients. Platforms without affiliate programs (like Outreach, Salesloft, and Gong) are included because they are industry leaders and provide valuable context for comparison.

Trusted by Sales Teams Worldwide

Join thousands of companies using these platforms to scale their outreach

50K+
Active Users
10M+
Emails Sent Daily
4.5+
Avg. G2 Rating
95%
Customer Satisfaction

As Featured In

TechCrunch
Forbes
VentureBeat
Product Hunt
SaaS Magazine

Frequently Asked Questions

Trusted by Sales Teams Worldwide

See how top-performing teams use these platforms to close more deals and grow faster.

"Switching to Instantly.ai transformed our outreach. We went from 8% to 32% response rates in just 6 weeks. The unlimited sending capacity and built-in warmup made all the difference."

SC

Sarah Chen

VP of Sales

TechFlow Solutions

Platform:Instantly.ai
Result:4x response rate increase

"Close.com's all-in-one approach eliminated our tech stack bloat. We consolidated 4 tools into one platform, saved $2,400/month, and our team actually enjoys using it. The built-in dialer is a game-changer."

MR

Michael Rodriguez

Head of Growth

CloudScale Inc

Platform:Close.com
Result:$28,800 annual savings

"Apollo.io's B2B database gave us access to 15,000 qualified prospects we couldn't find anywhere else. Combined with their email sequences, we booked 47 demos in our first month. ROI was immediate."

EW

Emily Watson

Sales Director

DataDrive Analytics

Platform:Apollo.io
Result:47 demos in month 1

"As a bootstrapped startup, Reply.io's progressive commission structure made it affordable to start and scale. The AI SDR features handle our initial outreach, freeing our team to focus on closing deals."

DP

David Park

Founder & CEO

StartupBoost

Platform:Reply.io
Result:3x pipeline growth

"Lemlist's video personalization feature helped us stand out with enterprise prospects. Our meeting booking rate jumped from 12% to 28%, and we closed 3 six-figure deals directly attributed to the platform."

JM

Jessica Martinez

Sales Operations Manager

Enterprise Solutions Co

Platform:Lemlist
Result:28% meeting booking rate

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