Finding the perfect cold email tool in a sea of options can be tough. But we’re here to help you out in this process.
Today we are looking at Smartlead. Check out its key features, why you might search for alternatives, and introduce three competitors.
Whether you’re still on the fence about Smartlead or seeking more reliable options, this article helps you navigate the choices to find the best fit for your email marketing needs.
Smartlead at a glance
Smartlead’s cold email outreach software is said to help businesses scale their outreach efforts.
The tool focuses on cold emailing, but if you opt for multi-channel infrastructure, you can do it with Smartlead as well.
Key features and benefits of Smartlead
Get the overview of what Smartlead may provide you with:
Deliverability capabilities
SmartLead’s technology is supposed to boost how well emails reach customers. It makes sure messages get to the people they’re meant for. Businesses can reach out to clients.
Good deliverability ➡️ more people see the emails ➡️ great direct email campaigns.
Unlimited email warmups
The feature gets email accounts ready so they can send lots of emails without problems.
It’s like a practice run for your team’s email to make sure messages don’t get marked as spam.
Marketers may find email warmups helpful for lead generation because they ensure that potential qualified leads see your emails.
Email follow-up automation
Smartlead takes care of sending follow-up emails automatically. You may save the team some time because they don’t have to send each follow-up by hand.
You’ll keep in touch with potential clients and help keep the conversation going, which can lead to more sales.
Unified inbox
This lets the team see and manage all their emails in one place. You can address customer questions and responses faster.
Real-time access is important for managing direct mail campaigns and talking to clients effectively.
API
Smartlead’s API lets businesses connect their email marketing tools directly to Smartlead’s services.
The team can use Smartlead’s features without leaving their system. However, it’s available only in the highest plan.
⭐ The Smartlead team is also praised in the reviews.
Why should you look for Smartlead alternatives?
As good as it sounds, there are a few challenges that you need to be aware of.
Upgrading options are not the greatest
There’s only one add-on but available only for the highest plan subscribers. And limited upgrading options mean you hit a ceiling fast. You’re stuck unless you’re on the priciest plan, squeezing flexibility.
Users report the tool is not the most reliable
Reliability issues can leave you in the lurch. Nothing sours trust like unpredictability in tool performance.
UI could be better
A clunky user interface slows you down. Time spent navigating a complex UI is time not spent on your goals.
Pricing
You can choose between three plans:
- Basic Plan – the entry-level solution suitable for individual marketers or small scale-up businesses. It offers a limited number of active leads and emails per month, alongside features like unlimited email warmup and email accounts, centralized master inbox, and general support.
Priced at $39 per month.
- Popular Plan – targeted at more established marketers or businesses looking to scale, this plan increases the limits on active leads and emails. It adds a custom CRM, email guide assistance, and a global block list to its features.
Priced at $79 per month.
- Pro Plan – designed for large businesses or agencies with high demands. There are the highest limits on leads and emails, along with advanced features like webhooks & integrations, and API access.
Priced at $94 per month.
You can also go for a custom plan.
Users’ opinions on Smartlead
- “The tool is maybe a bit too ‘raw’ in terms of design.” Source: G2
- “It is slightly complex, and often my MX inbox gets disconnected with confusing instructions on processing to the next steps.” Source: G2
- “While Smartlead offers many beneficial features, it occasionally lags, which can be a hindrance in time-sensitive scenarios.” Source: G2
- “Loading sometimes takes toooo long, need to refresh the inboxes manually as they didn’t fetch new email in real-time.” Source: G2
Best alternatives to Smartlead
Check out how Smartlead presents itself compared to its competitors. Maybe there’s a better fit out there.
#1 Woodpecker
Woodpecker is an option worth considering if you’re looking for a cold email tool to engage your audience.
It’s a platform for agencies, teams, businesses, and individuals, no matter what industry they are in. The tool comes with strong cold outreach capabilities and fair pricing. See how you can benefit from Woodpecker ⬇️
Key features and benefits of Woodpecker
🟢 Natural and protected sending – this feature safeguards your accounts from spam filters, mimicking human-like sending patterns.
🟢 All clients in one panel – manage all client accounts conveniently from a single dashboard – a handy feature for most users.
🟢 Warm-up & recovery – helps maintain your email deliverability high.
🟢 24/7 deliverability monitoring – keeps tabs on your email performance, and helps prevent issues before they arise.
🟢 White label client reporting application – offers real-time reporting to your clients under your brand.
🟢 Smooth integration with your toolkit – ensures compatibility with your existing software and email providers for a seamless workflow.
🟢 Email list verification – reduces the chance of sending emails to invalid addresses, improves deliverability, and protects sender reputation.
🟢 A/B testing – helps determine the most effective email elements to use, resulting in a more successful campaign.
📚 Learn more about Woodpecker’s integrations.
Pricing
Woodpecker offers email plans starting at $29 per month for contacting up to 500 people. It’s designed for businesses of all sizes as the price depends on how many contacts you have.
Unlike competitors, you can add more team members without extra cost, and there are tools for organizing email campaigns more efficiently.
You can try it out with a 7-day free trial.
Considerations
- API access is charged extra
Users’ opinions on Woodpecker
- “We switched from Yesware to Woodpecker, and it’s the best business decision we’ve made all year.” Source: G2.
- “I like that you can do the A/B testing with this tool. Also, the dashboard is very intuitive, and easy to use.” Source: G2.
- “It’s intuitive, easy to use, has a great support team, organizes very interesting webinars… and, simple – works perfectly!” Source: G2.
- “Easy to use and understand software with great deliverability results.” Source: G2.
- “Out of the three platforms I’ve tried for cold emailing, Woodpecker has the most intuitive user interface and easiest-to-understand pricing.” Source: G2.
#2 Quickmail
Quickmail is a cold email outreach tool that simplifies outbound communication for sales teams and agencies.
You can automate your drip campaigns and follow-ups for better deliverability and conversions.
Key features and benefits of Quickmail
- Email inbox warmup
- Multiple inboxes for mailing out, with inbox rotation
- Split testing
- Detailed email reports
Considerations
- Complex UI – getting started with the tool may take some time. A steep learning curve makes Quickmail daunting for new users.
- Users report that the email warmup is slow – patience becomes a prerequisite, not a choice.
- Customer support is not the greatest – lackluster customer support can leave you stranded.
Pricing
Starts at $49 per month for 30,000 emails, and a free trial is available for 14 days.
Users’ opinions on Quickmail
- “It is a little overpriced, I must say.” Source: G2.
- “Analytics, one of the crucial aspects seems to be not the best in the tool.”
“The UI could be a little more polished.” Source: G2. - “Some export capabilities could be improved, API to access / export data is not available yet.” Source: G2.
#3 Saleshandy
Saleshandy is a cold email tool that is supposed to scale outbound campaigns. It provides users with many solutions for outbound sales, recruitment, and account management services.
Key features and benefits of Saleshandy
- Unified inbox
- Sender rotation
- Automatic email warmup, AB testing (multivariant)
- Email verification (but extra charged)
Considerations
- Limited integrations in lower plans (you can’t integrate with Hubspot, Pipedrive, or Zoho)
- The follow-up feature is not included in the cold emailing plans – to get it, you need to pay for another package or go for a tailored plan
- There are many plans to choose from, and it’s packed with capabilities so the tool might be overwhelming at first.
Pricing
Paid packages for cold emailing start at $36/month.
There are many plans to choose from – packages are bundled, depending on what you do: cold emailing, B2B lead finder, agency account management services.
There isn’t a free plan, but you can try it out for 7 days for free.
Users’ opinions on Saleshandy
- “The restriction on adding prospects feels somewhat limiting.” Source: G2.
- “UI and contact management are a bit tricky.” Source: G2.
- “Partial Integration with Zoho and more HTML sample templates could be added.” Source: G2.
- “It will be better when users can connect to Gmail, Zoho, and regular accounts.” Source: G2.
Conclusion
Smartlead is a decent tool with many useful features. However, users reporting it as unreliable are worrying. Who wants to commit financially to a platform considered untrustworthy and pricier?
Woodpecker is a tool praised for its functionality and a helpful support team is an asset as well. It’s ideal for agencies and teams, and you’re charged only for the number of contacts you already have.
Sign up for Woodpecker and grab your free trial today.