While cold email tools increasingly offer all-in-one feature sets, there are still times when you might need to use more than one software tool to get the job done. You might need direct integrations with a CRM to manage incoming customers or you might want to automate some interplay with Zapier, depending on your requirements. However, most platforms make it much harder than it needs to be to get work done alongside other solutions.
This can be a major pain, but fortunately, there are a few solid cold email tools that play nice with your CRM and other platforms through Zapier. This article highlights five of them that make it easy to connect and work across different products.
1. Instantly
Instantly is the industry-standard cold email platform, offering all the best features for prospecting, email warming, outreach, inbox placement, and even a built-in CRM tool to turn unknown leads into repeat customers in one place.
Despite all this built-in value, Instantly also offers strong integration with many major CRMs and other platforms, including Clay, HubSpot, Pipedrive, Pabbly, and more. Thanks to webhooks and automation partners like Zapier and Make (formerly Integromat), even platforms that don’t have direct integration with Instantly can be seamlessly added to the workflow.
Feature highlights
- Deliverability network: Ensure every email sent counts with automated deliverability tools.
- Lead enrichment & personalization: Get extensive information on each lead to fuel accurate personalization of email copy.
- AI email writer: Use Instantly’s fine-tuned AI email writer model to craft perfect, effective email copy to hook leads.
- AI copilot & LLM integration: Use Instantly’s custom AI Copilot or connect your favorite LLM with built-in integrations.
- AI inbox manager: Manage all your emails, responses, and analytics in one place with AI-powered precision.
Pricing
- Free trial available
- Growth: $37/month
- Hypergrowth: $97/month
- Lightspeed: $358/month.
Pros
- Simple, easy-to-use user interface.
- Extensive automation features across all cold email campaign stages.
- Extensive documentation to help with integrations.
- Strong API for even more customizable integration.
Cons
- Instantly’s automation and one-click approach to launching parts of your campaign make external integrations less effective than using Instantly end-to-end.
2. ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign runs on Active Intelligence, a data-first approach that uses AI to deliver the best available data to your campaign, then automates the process with autonomous agents and comprehensive control features. It links to over 1000 other applications, including multiple CRM and Zapier for further automation.
Feature highlights
- Sales Routing: Automate the division of work in your CRM to give your team a streamlined workflow.
- AI Actions Library: Use preset automation actions from ActiveCampaign’s massive library to automate recurring tasks quickly.
- AI Translations: Go beyond borders with built-in translation features that let you reach out to leads outside the anglosphere.
Pricing
- Starter: $15/month
- Plus: $49/month
- Pro: $79/month
- Enterprise: $145/month
Pros
- Includes online training and support, which covers integrations as well.
- Offers email open tracking for outreach
Cons
- Doesn’t automatically extend limits when reaching capacity during a campaign.
- CRM features only work for SMBs.
3. Reply
Reply is an AI-focused platform that looks to automate as much of the cold email process as possible with AI-powered features, insights, and agents to take the work off your hands. It also supports broader inter-platform automation via Zapier, Smartreach, and Hitouch, as well as more than 15 of the most popular CRMs.
Feature highlights
- AI Variables: Add personalized details into your email copy templates before sending them out to prospects.
- Triggers: Set trigger conditions to automate a wide range of tasks and further automate email sequences.
- Task Flow: Create tasks from semi-automated sequence steps, as well as getting access to other automated organization and efficiency tools
Pricing
- Email Volume: Starts at $59/month.
- Multichannel: $99/month.
- Hire Jason AI SDR: Starts at $500/month for Jason AI SDR.
Pros
- Handles responses in both automated and augmented modes based on user preference.
- Offers white label services for professionals and businesses.
Cons
- Splits many of its features into add-ons.
- Some customization options take time to implement.
4. Snov
Snov’s focus is automating outreach across multiple channels, and it does this well. This cross-platform approach also extends to integrations, where the platform connects with more than 5,000 of the most popular software tools and applications. This includes native integration with eight leading sales and CRM tools, as well as broader support via a comprehensive Zapier integration.
Feature highlights
- Bulk domain search: Find all the emails associated with multiple domains with just one quick click.
- LinkedIn prospect finder: Prospect lead data from LinkedIn to fill your lists with active, available professionals.
- Chrome extension: Use Snov features right from the LinkedIn interface with a powerful extension.
Pricing
- Starter: $39/month
- Pro: Starting at $99/month
- Ultra: $738/month
Pros
- Comes with a sales-focused CRM tool for less intense management tasks.
- Strong REST API for even more integration.
Cons
- No built-in B2B database for quick-start prospecting.
- Snov’s features are all tied together in one package, making it less versatile for users who like to mix and match.
5. Hunter
Hunter is purpose-built for professionals looking to connect with other professionals without having to learn new marketing or communications skills. With a solid collection of essential features and a surprisingly deep repertoire of more advanced tools, Hunter is also solid on the integration front. It features direct integration with the six biggest CRM platforms, as well as automation via Zapier, Clay, and Make.
Feature highlights
- Templates: Start your email copy with tried-and-tested templates for all sorts of target audiences.
- AI writing assistant: Use AI to get even more effective, personalized email copy to really grab attention.
- Warm lead ID: Prioritize your most engaged leads with analytics that highlight interest and responsiveness.
Pricing
- Free plan available
- Starter: $49/month
- Growth: $149/month
- Scale: $299/month
Pros
- Offers a free plan for small-scale outreach.
- Gives users the option to get API-only access to Hunter data, removing the need for switching between your CRM and another interface entirely.
Cons
- Favors new users over more experienced ones who prefer greater customizability.
- Feature spread and pricing aren’t as well aligned as those of some competitors.
Final thoughts
Each of these platforms has its own strengths and approach to cold email outreach that shapes the sort of integrations that they facilitate.
- ActiveCampaign & Reply place a heavy focus on AI.
- Snov brings strong multichannel features to the table.
- Hunter gives newcomers to outreach a strong and forgiving start.
However, Instantly goes above and beyond these considerations, standing out as the complete package when it comes to cold outreach and effortless, comprehensive integrations. With its rich selection of features from prospecting to outreach and even inbox placement, Instantly ensures that your CRM will be filled to the brim with new, high-value leads 24/7.
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