Best Sales Engagement Software in 2026: 12 tools compared
Picking the best sales engagement software depends on how your reps actually reach prospects: Gmail follow-ups, high-volume cold email, calls and LinkedIn touches, or a full enterprise cadence tied to a CRM. This page covers twelve platforms, from free-to-start options to quote-only enterprise suites, so a one-person outbound team and a RevOps group can each find a workable shortlist.
We compared each tool on sequence building, channel coverage, CRM sync, sending controls, reporting and how clearly it publishes what it sells. Every profile also shows the real cost of running it, including seat minimums, onboarding fees, usage credits and add-ons that rarely appear in the headline price.
Top picks at a glance
- Best free plan
Apollo.ioApollo.io has a $0 Free plan, and its $49 per user Basic tier adds unlimited sequences and CRM integrations alongside a B2B contact database.
Basic $49/user/month billed annually; Free plan available - Best for cold email agencies
InstantlyInstantly is built for agencies running many sending mailboxes, with warmup and plans sized by uploaded contacts and monthly emails starting at $47 a month.
$47/month (Growth Outreach, monthly billing) - Best for Gmail-based reps
MixmaxMixmax is centered on Gmail, adds scheduled follow-ups and Salesforce activity logging, and offers a free plan with 50 sequence recipients per month.
$29/user/month billed annually (100 recipients) - Best for SDR calling cadences
KlentyKlenty's Growth plan adds calling, social selling, SMS and bidirectional CRM mapping, with 200 minutes and 2,000 data credits listed in the package.
$50/month billed annually (Starter) - Best for HubSpot-based teams
HubSpot Sales HubSales Hub keeps sequences, meetings and deal reporting inside HubSpot's own CRM, so teams already on HubSpot avoid a separate sync to maintain.
$7/seat/month (Starter) - Best for enterprise revenue teams
OutreachOutreach combines multichannel sequences, a voice dialer, deal workflows and AI research agents in one package aimed at mid-market and enterprise RevOps groups.
Contact sales
What is sales engagement software?
Sales engagement software is the layer reps use to contact prospects in a planned, repeatable way. Instead of writing every email by hand, a rep enrolls a lead in a sequence of timed steps such as an email, a call task and a LinkedIn touch, and the system tracks replies, opens and opt-outs. Most products log each activity back to a CRM so managers can follow a conversation through to a booked meeting. SDRs, account executives, agencies and RevOps teams use it daily. The core capabilities are sequences and tasks, multichannel steps, CRM sync, sending controls and outcome reporting.
Sales Engagement Software compared
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan or trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best free plan. | Basic $49/user/month billed annually; Free plan available | Free plan | |
| Best for cold email agencies. | $47/month (Growth Outreach, monthly billing) | No | |
| Best for Gmail-based reps. | $29/user/month billed annually (100 recipients) | Free plan | |
| Best for SDR calling cadences. | $50/month billed annually (Starter) | No | |
| Best for HubSpot-based teams. | $7/seat/month (Starter) | No | |
| Best for enterprise revenue teams. | Contact sales | No | |
| Mid-size and large sales orgs that need deep customization, forecasting and a huge app ecosystem. | $25/user/month (Starter Suite) | Free trial | |
| Teams starting free with up to 2 users. | Free for up to 2 users; Sales Hub Starter from 7 USD per seat per month | Free plan | |
| Revenue teams that need structured cadences and AI-guided prioritization. | Contact sales | No | |
| Teams using email-first outbound with optional LinkedIn and calling. | $55/month billed annually (Email, 50,000 emails/month) | No | |
| SDR teams coordinating follow-ups across email and social touches. | $89/user/month billed annually (Multichannel) | No | |
| Small teams starting with one outbound operator. | $34/month billed annually (Starter) | No |
Prices as published by each vendor on October 24, 2026. "Contact sales" means the vendor publishes no price.
The 12 best sales engagement software in 2026
Best free plan
Apollo.io
B2B contact data, enrichment and sales sequences in one credit-metered prospecting workspace.
Apollo.io pairs a B2B contact database and credit-metered enrichment with email sequences, calling and tasks in one workspace. It stands out for a free plan and native CRM integrations from the $49 per user Basic tier.
- Best for
- Small and growing sales teams buying data and engagement together.
- Company size
- SMB to mid-market B2B revenue teams.
Key features
- Sequences and tasks
- Basic tier includes unlimited sequences.
- Channel coverage
- Email sequences, calling and tasks; dialer tier depends on plan.
- CRM synchronization
- Native CRM integrations included in Basic and higher tiers.
- Data and enrichment
- B2B database and credit-metered enrichment; usage ceilings depend on tier.
Pros
- G2 product reviews describe consolidated prospecting and outreach workflows.
Cons
- Buyers should test data coverage and credit consumption on their own ICP; results vary by segment.
Pricing: Basic $49/user/month billed annually; Free plan available · Free plan
Best for cold email agencies
Instantly
High-volume cold email campaigns with mailbox warmup and separate lead-data credits.
Instantly focuses on high-volume cold email with mailbox warmup and automated follow-ups. It stands out for advertising unlimited connected accounts on Outreach plans, with lead data sold separately as a credits subscription.
- Best for
- Agencies coordinating multiple sending mailboxes.
- Company size
- Agencies and email-first outbound teams.
Key features
- Sequences and tasks
- Cold email campaigns with automated follow-ups.
- Channel coverage
- Email-first; additional CRM and calling products priced separately.
- CRM synchronization
- Check plan and add-on requirements for CRM sync.
- Data and enrichment
- Instantly Credits is a separate subscription for SuperSearch and enrichment.
Pros
- G2 synthesis praises managing multiple campaigns and inboxes.
Cons
- G2 synthesis asks for deeper reporting and analytics.
Pricing: $47/month (Growth Outreach, monthly billing)
Best for Gmail-based reps
Mixmax
Gmail-centered email tracking, automated follow-ups and CRM logging with recipient-based plan limits.
Mixmax is a Gmail-centered tool for email tracking, scheduled follow-ups, meeting scheduling and CRM logging. It stands out for Salesforce activity and task sync and a single paid plan scaled by monthly sequence recipients.
- Best for
- Sales reps whose daily workflow lives in Gmail.
- Company size
- Individuals to revenue teams.
Key features
- Sequences and tasks
- Mixmax Pro has sequence recipients per member per month.
- Channel coverage
- Gmail-centered email, meeting scheduling and tasks; verify optional channels.
- CRM synchronization
- Salesforce integration on paid plans, with activity and task sync.
- Outcome reporting
- Sequence and engagement reporting; recipient activation limits matter.
Pros
- G2 synthesis highlights Gmail integration and email tracking.
Cons
- G2 synthesis notes limited customization for some workflows.
Pricing: $29/user/month billed annually (100 recipients) · Free plan
Best for SDR calling cadences
Klenty
Cadence outreach and AI-assisted calling with published Starter, Growth and Plus plans.
Klenty offers email cadences on Starter and adds calling, social selling, SMS and CRM integrations on Growth and Plus. It stands out for explicit calling-minute and data-credit allowances in each published plan.
- Best for
- SDR teams needing CRM-integrated calling and multichannel cadences.
- Company size
- Growing SDR teams.
Key features
- Sequences and tasks
- Email cadences with personalization and approvals.
- Channel coverage
- Growth adds calling, social selling and SMS automation.
- CRM synchronization
- Growth adds CRM integrations, bidirectional field mapping and CRM plugin.
- Data and enrichment
- Growth lists 2,000 phone/email data credits; Plus 4,000.
Pros
- G2 synthesis highlights outreach automation and responsive support.
Cons
- G2 synthesis notes reporting depth limitations.
Pricing: $50/month billed annually (Starter)
Best for HubSpot-based teams
HubSpot Sales Hub
CRM-native sales engagement, meetings and deal reporting with seat-type and edition gates.
Sales Hub is HubSpot's sales engagement layer on top of its CRM, covering email tracking, meetings, calls, tasks and deal reporting. It stands out for native deal context, with sequences reserved for the Professional and Enterprise editions.
- Best for
- Teams already running their CRM on HubSpot.
- Company size
- Growing HubSpot-centric sales teams.
Key features
- Sequences and tasks
- Sequences are an advanced Sales Hub capability; verify Professional/Enterprise entitlement.
- Channel coverage
- Email tracking, meetings, calls and CRM tasks by edition.
- CRM synchronization
- Native HubSpot CRM record and deal context.
- Outcome reporting
- Deal and activity reporting with edition-specific features.
Pros
- G2 synthesis highlights centralized contacts, deals and tasks.
Cons
- G2 synthesis flags cost and setup of advanced features.
Pricing: $7/seat/month (Starter)
Best for enterprise revenue teams
Outreach
Enterprise revenue execution platform combining multichannel sequences, deal management and AI-credit usage.
Outreach is an enterprise revenue execution platform that joins multichannel sequences, meeting scheduling, a voice dialer and deal management. It stands out for AI research and enrichment agents plus engagement and revenue attribution reports, sold on a custom quote.
- Best for
- Mid-market and enterprise revenue teams requiring sequences and pipeline workflows in one platform.
- Company size
- Mid-market to enterprise revenue teams.
Key features
- Sequences and tasks
- Multichannel engagement and sequences, meeting scheduling and tasks in Amplify Plus.
- Channel coverage
- Multichannel engagement; Outreach Voice dialer in listed package.
- CRM synchronization
- Salesforce integration supported; test mapping, managed package and recovery with your own org.
- Data and enrichment
- AI research and enrichment agents are packaged with credit-based usage.
Pros
- G2 review synthesis highlights consistent sequence execution and CRM integration.
Cons
- G2 review synthesis notes inconsistent AI insight accuracy and manual verification needs.
Pricing: Contact sales
Salesforce Sales Cloud
The market-leading enterprise CRM, sold in six per-user tiers from a $25 Starter Suite to a $550 Max edition.
Salesforce Sales Cloud is a large enterprise CRM sold in six per-user tiers, from Starter Suite to Max. It stands out for strong pipeline and opportunity management, deep customization and a wide app ecosystem.
- Best for
- Mid-size and large sales orgs that need deep customization, forecasting and a huge app ecosystem.
- Company size
- Small teams (Starter) through global enterprises.
Pros
- Very strong pipeline and opportunity management.
- Broad integration and customization options.
Cons
- Support and ease of use score lower than rivals on G2.
- Costs climb quickly once AI, API and support add-ons are included.
Pricing: $25/user/month (Starter Suite) · Free trial
Salesforce Sales Cloud pricing and review Salesforce Sales Cloud alternatives
HubSpot CRM
Free-to-start CRM that grows into paid Sales Hub tiers with per-seat prices and mandatory onboarding fees at the top.
HubSpot CRM is a free-to-start CRM for up to 2 users and 1,000 contacts that grows into paid Sales Hub tiers. It stands out for multichannel sequences in paid editions, deal pipelines and more than 2,000 marketplace integrations.
- Best for
- Teams starting free with up to 2 users.
- Company size
- SMB to enterprise.
Key features
- Outcome reporting
- Sales analytics and AI pipeline projections.
Cons
- Large price jump from Starter to Professional.
Pricing: Free for up to 2 users; Sales Hub Starter from 7 USD per seat per month · Free plan
Salesloft
Revenue orchestration with Cadence outreach, Rhythm prioritization and enterprise governance.
Salesloft is a revenue orchestration platform built around Cadence outreach and Rhythm prioritization. It stands out for configurable roles, governed Salesforce synchronization and segmented team analytics, aimed at mid-market and enterprise organizations.
- Best for
- Revenue teams that need structured cadences and AI-guided prioritization.
- Company size
- Mid-market and enterprise.
Key features
- Sequences and tasks
- Cadence coordinates structured follow-ups and prospect touchpoints.
- Channel coverage
- Cadence outreach, calls and conversation workflows; confirm edition.
- CRM synchronization
- Salesforce sync and integration controls documented in governance materials.
- Sending controls
- Cadence enrollment controls and deliverability checklist documented.
Pros
- G2 review synthesis highlights cadence consistency and guided prioritization.
Cons
- G2 review synthesis flags occasional AI recommendation gaps and call issues.
Pricing: Contact sales
lemlist
Volume-priced cold email plus per-user multichannel outreach, enrichment credits and enterprise SAML.
lemlist sells volume-based cold email with warm-up alongside a per-user Multichannel plan covering LinkedIn, calls and SMS. It stands out for branching sequences, transparent sender allowances and an enterprise tier with SAML SSO.
- Best for
- Teams using email-first outbound with optional LinkedIn and calling.
- Company size
- SMBs and outbound teams; enterprise custom tier.
Key features
- Sequences and tasks
- Email and multichannel sequences with branching.
- Channel coverage
- Email plan versus LinkedIn, SMS and calling on Multichannel.
- CRM synchronization
- CRM integrations and API listed on pricing page.
- Data and enrichment
- Lead database and enrichment; credits/add-ons may be billed separately.
Pros
- G2 synthesis highlights multichannel campaign building and personalization.
Cons
- G2 synthesis flags the price and enrichment-credit allowances.
Pricing: $55/month billed annually (Email, 50,000 emails/month)
Reply.io
Conditional multichannel sequences spanning email, LinkedIn, calls and SMS with separate channel entitlements.
Reply.io runs conditional sequences across email, LinkedIn, calls, SMS and WhatsApp, with centralized replies. It stands out for a deliverability suite and a choice between email volume tiers and a per-user Multichannel plan.
- Best for
- SDR teams coordinating follow-ups across email and social touches.
- Company size
- SMBs, agencies and outbound teams.
Key features
- Sequences and tasks
- Conditional multichannel sequences with automated follow-up.
- Channel coverage
- Email, LinkedIn, SMS, WhatsApp and calling, with plan and add-on restrictions.
- CRM synchronization
- CRM integrations advertised; verify Salesforce or HubSpot sync depth.
- Data and enrichment
- Vendor offers contact discovery and real-time data credits.
Pros
- G2 reviewers often praise automation and combined outreach channels.
Cons
- G2 synthesis notes a cluttered interface when building complex sequences.
Pricing: $89/user/month billed annually (Multichannel)
Saleshandy
Outbound prospect discovery, multichannel sequences and sending infrastructure with tiered limits.
Saleshandy combines prospect discovery, multichannel sequences and sending infrastructure in workspace tiers. It stands out for unlimited connected mailboxes with warm-up and Lead Finder credits, with CRM integrations arriving on Pro.
- Best for
- Small teams starting with one outbound operator.
- Company size
- Small outbound teams through agencies.
Key features
- Sequences and tasks
- Multichannel sequences with email, call, WhatsApp and tasks.
- Channel coverage
- Email, call, WhatsApp and tasks; verify channel availability.
- CRM synchronization
- CRM integrations with Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive and Zoho are Pro or Scale, not Starter.
- Data and enrichment
- Lead Finder credits and waterfall enrichment included by plan.
Pros
- G2 synthesis praises quick setup and automated follow-ups.
Cons
- G2 synthesis flags credit limits for add-on features.
Pricing: $34/month billed annually (Starter)
How to choose the best sales engagement software
Start with the way your team sells, then test each candidate against a real workflow rather than a feature list. A rep who lives in Gmail needs something different from an SDR pod making calls all day or an agency sending from many mailboxes. The eight criteria below follow a prospect from first touch to booked meeting. Run a short pilot with your own CRM, sending domains and rep seats, since sync quality and limits only show up under realistic use.
Sequences and tasks
Sequences define the order and timing of every touch. Strong tools support branches based on replies, reassignment when a rep leaves and automatic opt-out handling. Weak ones only schedule a fixed chain of emails. Build one real sequence during the trial and check what happens when a prospect replies halfway through.
Apollo.io: Basic tier includes unlimited sequences.
Instantly: Cold email campaigns with automated follow-ups.
Mixmax: Mixmax Pro has sequence recipients per member per month.
Klenty: Email cadences with personalization and approvals.
HubSpot Sales Hub: Sequences are an advanced Sales Hub capability; verify Professional/Enterprise entitlement.
Channel coverage
Channel coverage means which steps a plan can actually run: email, phone, SMS, WhatsApp and LinkedIn. Many vendors advertise all of them but reserve social or calling steps for higher tiers or add-ons. Match the channels your reps use today to the exact plan you would buy, because an email-only tier can look similar to a multichannel one on the pricing page.
Apollo.io: Email sequences, calling and tasks; dialer tier depends on plan.
Instantly: Email-first; additional CRM and calling products priced separately.
Mixmax: Gmail-centered email, meeting scheduling and tasks; verify optional channels.
Klenty: Growth adds calling, social selling and SMS automation.
HubSpot Sales Hub: Email tracking, meetings, calls and CRM tasks by edition.
CRM synchronization
CRM synchronization decides whether activity data stays trustworthy. Good sync maps fields in both directions, avoids logging the same email twice and recovers cleanly after a failed update. Test it against your own Salesforce or HubSpot org, and confirm which plan unlocks the integration, since some entry tiers leave it out.
Apollo.io: Native CRM integrations included in Basic and higher tiers.
Instantly: Check plan and add-on requirements for CRM sync.
Mixmax: Salesforce integration on paid plans, with activity and task sync.
Klenty: Growth adds CRM integrations, bidirectional field mapping and CRM plugin.
HubSpot Sales Hub: Native HubSpot CRM record and deal context.
Data and enrichment
Some platforms bundle a contact database and enrichment, while others only send messages and expect you to bring your own lists. Built-in data saves a tool in the stack but is usually metered by credits. Check how many credits each plan includes and how fast your team would use them on its actual target accounts.
Apollo.io: B2B database and credit-metered enrichment; usage ceilings depend on tier.
Instantly: Instantly Credits is a separate subscription for SuperSearch and enrichment.
Klenty: Growth lists 2,000 phone/email data credits; Plus 4,000.
Outreach: AI research and enrichment agents are packaged with credit-based usage.
lemlist: Lead database and enrichment; credits/add-ons may be billed separately.
Sending controls
Sending controls protect your domains and decide whether messages reach inboxes. Look for mailbox warm-up, throttling, suppression lists, bounce handling and clear sending caps. Connecting many mailboxes does not mean unlimited volume, as monthly email limits often apply per plan. Confirm both numbers before you plan a high-volume campaign.
Apollo.io: Sequence controls and throttling are part of platform workflows.
Instantly: Unlimited connected accounts and warmup advertised on Outreach plans.
Klenty: Starter includes custom domain tracking, random intervals and email volume control.
Salesloft: Cadence enrollment controls and deliverability checklist documented.
lemlist: Email warm-up and deliverability hub included in email plan.
Outcome reporting
Reporting should connect activity to outcomes: emails sent, replies, meetings booked and opportunities created in the CRM. Basic tools stop at open and click rates. Follow one prospect from first email to opportunity during your pilot, and check whether step-level data can be exported for your own analysis.
Apollo.io: Pipeline and activity reporting available; confirm exact plan entitlements.
Instantly: Campaign reporting; evaluate needed reply-to-opportunity attribution.
Mixmax: Sequence and engagement reporting; recipient activation limits matter.
Klenty: Email analytics on Starter; call coaching and account insights higher tiers.
HubSpot Sales Hub: Deal and activity reporting with edition-specific features.
Commercial model
Sales engagement tools charge by seat, by email or contact volume, by usage credits, or by a custom quote. Seat prices rarely tell the whole story once onboarding fees, data credits, AI usage and add-ons are included. Price one annual scenario for your actual headcount and volume, then compare vendors on that single total.
Apollo.io: Per user plus annual data credits; Organization has a 3-user minimum.
Instantly: Outreach plans by contact and email volume, plus separate credits.
Mixmax: Per-member monthly recipient activation bands.
Klenty: Annual or quarterly plans; different seat and volume rules.
HubSpot Sales Hub: Core Seats and Sales Seats have different prices.
Rollout scale
Rollout scale covers how well a tool fits your team size, admin needs and permission model. Lightweight tools suit one operator or a small team with a few seats. Larger organizations need roles, SSO, governance and a named rollout plan. Pilot with realistic admin roles and rep seats rather than a single test user.
Apollo.io: SMB to mid-market B2B revenue teams.
Instantly: Agencies and email-first outbound teams.
Mixmax: Individuals to revenue teams.
Klenty: Growing SDR teams.
HubSpot Sales Hub: Growing HubSpot-centric sales teams.
What sales engagement software really costs
Features decide the shortlist; the bill decides whether it stays affordable as the team grows. The numbers below come from each vendor's published plans: entry prices, how far plans climb, what single sign-on costs extra and which fees sit on top.
- Median entry price
- $49
- Publish their prices
- 10 of 12
- Free plans
- 3 of 12
- Biggest price climb
- 22x
per user per month, cheapest paid plan of each tool
2 quote on request
Apollo.io, Mixmax and HubSpot CRM
Salesforce Sales Cloud, $25 to $550
What sales engagement software costs per year for your size
For 20 users on the cheapest plan that fits, Instantly costs $564 a year and Reply.io $21,360. Pick your own size: the order changes because free plans end, plans have user caps and per-user prices multiply differently.
| # | Tool | Plan and price basis | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Growth Outreach$47 per month, flat | $564 | |
| 2 | Scale$149 per month, flat | $1,788 | |
| 3 | Starter$20 per user per month | $4,800 | |
| 4 | Starter Suite$25 per user per month | $6,000 | |
| 5 | Paid$29 per user per month | $6,960 | |
| 6 | Basic$49 per user per month | $11,760 | |
| 7 | Starter$50 per user per month | $12,000 | |
| 8 | Email 50k$55 per user per month | $13,200 | |
| 9 | Multichannel$89 per user per month | $21,360 |
List prices per month as published on October 24, 2026, billed annually where the vendor shows both, promotions excluded. Full feature plan adds one-time onboarding fees in year one. Not in the calculation: HubSpot Sales Hub, Outreach and Salesloft (quote only, another pricing unit or a plan that does not fit this size).
How far each price can climb
The entry price is rarely what you pay once the team needs more. Each line runs from a tool's cheapest paid plan to its most expensive published plan. Salesforce Sales Cloud grows 22x from $25 to $550, Instantly 7.6x, while Mixmax sells a single paid plan.
- Salesforce Sales CloudStarter Suite $25 to Max $550 per user per month22x
- InstantlyGrowth Outreach $47 to Light Speed $358 per month7.6x
- HubSpot CRMStarter $20 to Enterprise $150 per user per month7.5x
- SaleshandyStarter $34 to Scale $149 per month4.4x
- Apollo.ioBasic $49 to Organization $119 per user per month2.4x
- KlentyStarter $50 to Plus $99 per user per month2x
- Reply.ioMultichannel $89 to Email Volume $159 per user per month1.8x
- lemlistEmail 50k $55 to Multichannel $87 per user per month1.6x
Published plan prices only; quote-only plans are not on the scale. The scale is logarithmic so cheap and expensive tools fit on one line.
The price of single sign-on
If IT requires SAML single sign-on, the plan that includes it sets your real price, not the entry plan. 1 of the 3 tools that say where SSO sits charge more for it; 6 of 12 publish nothing about SSO, so ask before you budget.
Salesforce Sales Cloud+$0SAML SSO on every plan.
Saleshandy+$115per unit per month: SAML SSO needs Scale ($149) instead of Starter ($34).
lemlistAskSAML SSO sits on Enterprise, which is quote only.
How sales engagement software pricing works
Vendors in this category use several pricing models, and the model matters more than the headline number. Some charge per seat, some by email volume or active contacts, and some by the number of recipients a rep can enroll each month. Others add credits for data or AI on top. Knowing which unit your vendor counts is how you predict the second-year bill, and it is the quickest way to spot a plan that looks cheap but scales badly.
Per seat with onboarding fees
HubSpot Sales Hub lists Professional from $90 per seat per month with a required one-time onboarding fee of $1,500, and Enterprise from $150 with $3,500. For 20 seats on Professional, the annual cost is $21,600 plus the $1,500 fee. Salesforce Sales Cloud is similar: Pro Suite is $100 per user per month and annual only, so 20 users come to $24,000 a year.
Volume and contact tiers
Instantly, Saleshandy and Reply.io price some plans by contacts or email volume rather than by user. Instantly runs from $47 a month for 1,000 uploaded contacts and 5,000 emails to $358 for 100,000 contacts and 500,000 emails. Reply.io's email plan starts at $159 a month billed annually for 10,000 active contacts. Cost follows list size, so a growing database moves you up a tier.
Recipient bands per user
Mixmax prices one paid plan by how many sequence recipients each user can enroll per month, from $29 per user for 100 recipients to $89 for 1,500. The price per seat rises with activity, so a team that sends heavily can pay three times the entry rate. The free plan allows 50 recipients a month.
Credits and add-ons on top
Outreach is quote-only and adds AI credits to seat pricing, and the packages shown include 50,000 or 100,000 AI credits. Salesforce lists Agentforce for Sales from $125 per user per month, Revenue Intelligence from $220 and a Web Services API fee of $25. Each add-on is priced per user, so a base seat price can double quickly.
Quote-only and annual terms
Outreach and Salesloft publish no per-seat price, so budget cannot be set until a quote arrives. Annual billing also matters: lemlist shows $55 a month billed annually against $69 monthly for the same email plan, and Saleshandy Starter is $34 annual against $41 monthly. Ask for renewal terms in writing, because the published data lists none.
Costs that are easy to miss
Add-ons, usage fees and premium modules often decide the real bill. These are the paid extras the vendors list themselves.
InstantlyInstantly Credits
OutreachAI usage credits
Salesforce Sales CloudAgentforce for Sales from $125/user/month; Revenue Intelligence from $220/user/month; Sales Programs from $100/user/month
HubSpot CRMOnboarding $1,500 (Pro) or $3,500 (Enterprise); HubSpot Credits
SaleshandyEmail infrastructure
Our recommendation
Choose by workflow first: Gmail-based reps, cold email volume, calling cadences, HubSpot-native teams or enterprise governance each point to a different shortlist. Confirm that the channels and CRM sync you need are in the plan you would actually buy. To keep spending under control, price one annual scenario with seats, data credits, onboarding fees and add-ons included, and ask quote-only vendors for seat minimums and overage terms.
Sales Engagement Software: frequently asked questions
What is sales engagement software?
Sales engagement software coordinates prospect communication through outreach sequences, calls and tasks, and typically connects those activities to a CRM. Reps enroll leads in timed steps, and the system tracks replies and meetings so managers can see what works.
What is the difference between a CRM and sales engagement software?
A CRM stores contacts, deals and pipeline history. Sales engagement software runs the outreach itself, including sequences, call tasks and follow-ups, then logs results back to the CRM. Some products combine both, such as HubSpot Sales Hub, which runs on HubSpot's own CRM.
Which sales engagement tools have free plans?
Apollo.io has a $0 Free plan with limited credits and sequences, and Mixmax offers a free plan with 50 sequence recipients per month. HubSpot CRM is free for up to 2 users and 1,000 contacts, with sequences available in paid Sales Hub editions.
What features should sales engagement software have?
Look for sequences with branching, the channels your reps use, two-way CRM sync, sending controls such as warm-up and suppression, and reporting that reaches booked meetings. Data enrichment and AI features are useful extras, not requirements.
How much does sales engagement software cost?
Published entry prices run from $7 per seat per month for HubSpot Sales Hub Starter to $159 a month for Reply.io's Email Volume plan, while Outreach and Salesloft sell by quote only. For 20 users, Apollo.io Basic comes to $11,760 a year before data overages.
What do sales engagement software cost for a team of 20?
Calculated from published list prices: Apollo.io: 20 x $49 x 12 = $11,760/year on Basic, excluding data overages and add-ons; Salesforce Sales Cloud: Pro Suite: 20 x $100 x 12 = $24,000/year (Starter Suite: 20 x $25 x 12 = $6,000/year); HubSpot CRM: 20 x $90 x 12 = $21,600 per year plus $1,500 one-time onboarding. Tools that quote on request are not included.
Which sales engagement software have a free plan or free trial?
Apollo.io (free plan), Mixmax (free plan), Salesforce Sales Cloud (free trial) and HubSpot CRM (free plan), according to the vendors' sites on October 24, 2026.