
Let's be real: doing LinkedIn outreach manually is a soul-crushing time sink. But diving into automation unprepared is just as risky. 2025 is the year LinkedIn automation went mainstream, but using the wrong tools can get your account restricted, burn your leads with spammy messages, and waste your budget. Doing it right, however, can save you 10+ hours a week and consistently fill your pipeline with genuinely qualified prospects. That’s the dream, right? 🤩
The problem is the sheer noise. With hundreds of tools flooding the market, most claiming to be the "safest" or "most powerful," telling them apart is nearly impossible. That's why we did the heavy lifting. We evaluated 25 tools with a consistent scoring system to cut through the marketing fluff and deliver an honest, in-depth comparison. This guide covers everything from legacy browser extensions to newer, AI-driven platforms, including newer platforms like Gojiberry, so you can find what actually works for you.
In this guide, you'll find detailed breakdowns, screenshots, pricing, and our honest take on the ideal use case for each tool. We’re here to help you find the perfect platform for your specific goals, whether you're a solo founder, a growing sales team, or an agency. If you want intent-based outreach, Gojiberry is worth a look. Ready to find your perfect fit? Let's dive in.
Finding the "best" tool isn't a one-size-fits-all answer. A tool that's perfect for a multi-client agency might be overkill for a solo founder. So, how did we create a fair ranking? We developed a scoring system based on the criteria that matter most for successful, long-term LinkedIn outreach.
Our methodology focused on six key pillars, each weighted to reflect its importance in 2025's landscape:
Each tool was given an "Editor Score" out of 100 based on this framework.
ToolStarting PriceCategoryBest ForEditor ScoreTrialHeyReach$59/moOutreachMulti-account outreach at scale92/100Trial variesGojiberry.ai$99/mo (Pro)Outreach + IntentWarm leads + intent-based outreach90/1007-day trialExpandi$99/moOutreachLinkedIn sequences (cloud)89/100Trial variesDripify$99/moOutreachTeams needing dashboards88/100Trial variesWaalaxy$49/moOutreachBeginners86/100Trial variesPhantomBuster$69/moLead genScraping & automation workflows85/100Trial variesTaplio$39/moContentPersonal branding workflows84/100Trial variesEvaboot$29/moLead genSales Nav list cleaning/export83/100Trial variesMeetAlfred$59/moOutreachMultichannel sequences82/100Trial variesDux-Soup$12/moExtensionBasic outreach for solo users78/100Trial varies
This table gives you a bird's-eye view, but the magic is in the details. See the detailed breakdowns below.
After rigorous evaluation, three platforms stood out from the pack. Each excels in a specific area, catering to different business needs and strategies. Let's explore why they made our top 3.
HeyReach has earned its top spot by focusing on one thing and doing it exceptionally well: safe, scalable, multi-account LinkedIn outreach. For agencies managing dozens of client accounts or sales teams with multiple SDRs, HeyReach provides the infrastructure to run campaigns efficiently from a single dashboard.
Its cloud-based architecture, combined with a built-in account warm-up feature and smart limits, prioritizes account safety, which is non-negotiable for serious operators. The platform's unified inbox is a game-changer for agencies, allowing them to manage all conversations across all connected accounts in one place.
Key Features:
Pricing: Starts at $59/month for the first account, with pricing scaling based on the number of accounts managed.
Pros:
Cons:
Best For: Marketing agencies and sales teams that need to manage outreach for multiple LinkedIn accounts from a centralized platform.
Gojiberry.ai represents the next generation of LinkedIn outreach, shifting the focus from volume to timing. It’s built for B2B founders and SDR teams who believe one conversation with a high-intent prospect is worth more than a hundred ignored connection requests. Instead of just automating messages to a static list, Gojiberry uses an AI Agent to monitor 30+ intent signals in real-time.
Did a prospect just get funding, hire for a key role, or engage with your competitor's content? Gojiberry flags these as "warm leads," allowing you to engage at the exact moment they're most receptive. This intent-first approach turns cold outreach into timely, relevant engagement.

Key Features:
Pricing:
Pros:
Cons:
Best For: B2B founders, SDRs, and small sales teams who want to stop chasing cold leads and start engaging high-intent prospects. Ready to give it a spin? Try Gojiberry for free.
Expandi has built a loyal following by being one of the most reliable and safety-conscious cloud-based LinkedIn automation tools. It runs 24/7 from a dedicated, localized IP address for each user, which helps mimic human behavior and reduces the risk of detection. This "set it and forget it" reliability makes it a workhorse for busy sales teams.
The platform excels at building sophisticated outreach sequences. You can target prospects from standard LinkedIn searches, Sales Navigator, groups, or even by engaging with specific posts—a powerful tactic for finding active users. Its clean interface and straightforward campaign builder make it accessible, even for those new to automation.
Key Features:
Pricing: A single plan at $99 per month per user.
Pros:
Cons:
Best For: Sales teams and agencies that need a dependable, safety-focused tool for running classic LinkedIn outreach sequences. For a deeper look, you can check out an Expandi comparison.
Not all automation tools are created equal. Some are masters of outreach, while others excel at data scraping or content creation. Here’s our breakdown of the best tools for specific jobs.
This category is for the workhorses—the tools designed to build and execute powerful outreach sequences to fill your sales pipeline.
Winner: Gojiberry.ai
While tools like HeyReach and Expandi are fantastic for pure sequencing, Gojiberry wins this category because it redefines what "outreach" means in 2025. It excels because it answers the most important question first: Who should I be talking to right now?
By front-loading the process with real-time intent signals, Gojiberry ensures your automated outreach is directed at prospects who are already warm. This leads to higher acceptance rates, better reply rates, and more meaningful conversations. It's the perfect fit for founders, SDRs, and small teams that prioritize quality and timing over sheer volume.
Ready to see how intent signals can transform your outreach? Launch your AI Agent for free.
Other Great Options:
These tools specialize in the first step of the process: finding and qualifying leads. They are the data miners of the LinkedIn world, designed to scrape, clean, and enrich contact lists.
Winner: PhantomBuster
PhantomBuster is less of a single tool and more of a powerful automation factory. With a massive library of pre-built "Phantoms," you can chain actions together to create custom workflows for almost any data-gathering task. You can scrape Sales Navigator search results, find members of a specific group, enrich profiles with email addresses, and then export it all to a CSV or your CRM. Its flexibility is unmatched.
Other Great Options:
Success on LinkedIn isn't just about outreach; it's also about building a personal brand and engaging with your network. These tools help you automate content creation and engagement.
Winner: Taplio
Taplio is a comprehensive platform designed to help you build a strong personal brand on LinkedIn. It uses AI to help you find content inspiration, write engaging posts, and schedule them at optimal times. It also includes features for engaging with other users' content and building targeted connection lists based on who interacts with your posts. It’s an end-to-end solution for content-led growth.
Other Great Options:
Here's a closer look at the other top contenders, with detailed reviews for #4-10 and brief summaries for the rest.
Dripify is a user-friendly, cloud-based tool perfect for small teams that need a straightforward way to run multi-step "drip" campaigns combining LinkedIn and email actions. Its visual campaign builder makes it easy to map out sequences, and the team management features on higher plans provide great oversight for sales managers.
Waalaxy has made a name for itself with a generous free plan and an incredibly simple, colorful user interface. It’s an excellent entry point for freelancers and small businesses new to automation. While it starts as a Chrome extension, it manages campaigns in the cloud. The Business plan unlocks multi-channel sequences (LinkedIn + email), offering impressive value at its price point.

Meet Alfred is an all-in-one platform that extends beyond LinkedIn to include email and X (formerly Twitter). This makes it a powerful choice for creating truly multi-channel campaigns. Its CRM-like dashboard provides a unified view of your contacts, and it includes features like a team inbox and social post scheduling, making it a great fit for agencies and startups.

A veteran in the space, Dux-Soup is a flexible Chrome extension with options that scale from solo use to full cloud automation. Its strength lies in its strong CRM integrations (HubSpot, Pipedrive) and lead management features. The tiered model allows you to start simple and upgrade to the "Turbo" or "Cloud" editions for 24/7, browser-free automation.

As our category winner for lead generation, PhantomBuster is the ultimate data scraping and workflow automation tool. It's perfect for growth hackers and data-driven teams who need to build custom lead-gen "machines." While it can do outreach, its primary power is in collecting and processing the data needed to fuel other sales activities.

LGM is a premium, safety-focused multi-channel platform that integrates LinkedIn, email, and even X. It operates from the cloud with mobile proxies to maximize account safety. Its visual workflow builder is powerful, allowing for complex, branching sequences. It's a top choice for scaling teams that need a reliable, central hub for all outbound activities.

Skylead shines with its "Smart Sequences" that use conditional logic to create adaptive campaigns. If a prospect doesn't connect on LinkedIn, the sequence can automatically send an email. It also includes a built-in email finder and verifier, and unique personalization features like dynamic images and GIFs, making your outreach stand out.

Other Tools We Considered (#11-25):
Budget is a huge factor, but the cheapest option isn't always the best value. Here’s how some of the top tools stack up on pricing and what you get for your money. Remember that some tools bill per seat, while others offer team plans.
ToolFree PlanTrialEntry PlanTeam PlanNotesGojiberry.aiNo public free plan7-day trialPro $99/moElite $249/moPro = 2 senders / 30+ signals; Elite = 5 senders / unlimited signalsHeyReach——From $59/moUp to $199/moVerify on vendor siteExpandi——From $99/mo—Verify on vendor siteWaalaxyYes—From $49/mo—Verify on vendor siteDux-SoupYes (limited)14-day trial~$12/moVariesCloud plans are more expensivePhantomBusterYes (limited)14-day trial$69/moVariesPriced by execution time
Always check the vendor's site for the most current pricing, especially for team and agency plans.
This is one of the most critical decisions you'll make. The architecture of your tool directly impacts its safety, reliability, and functionality.
Browser Extensions (e.g., Dux-Soup, Linked Helper)These tools run as an add-on in your Chrome browser. They directly manipulate the LinkedIn page you're viewing to perform actions.
ProsCons✅ Lower cost, often with free or cheap entry plans.❌ Requires your computer and browser to be open to run.✅ Simple to install and get started quickly.❌ Can be detected more easily by LinkedIn as they operate on the client-side.❌ Can slow down your computer's performance.
Cloud-Based Tools (e.g., Gojiberry.ai, HeyReach, Expandi)These platforms run on a remote server, not your local computer. They access your LinkedIn account from the cloud, often using a dedicated IP address.
ProsCons✅ Run campaigns 24/7 without your computer being on.❌ Generally more expensive due to server costs.✅ Generally considered safer as they don't inject code into your browser and can use dedicated IPs to mimic consistent location.❌ Can require more initial setup to connect your account securely.✅ More stable and reliable for long-term campaigns.
The Verdict: While no automation is 100% risk-free, cloud-based architecture is generally considered the safer and more professional choice for serious outreach. Gojiberry.ai is cloud-based, which generally reduces risk compared to browser extensions that run from your local browser environment.
How are teams actually using these tools to drive results? Here are a few common workflows.
1. B2B Sales Teams
{FirstName} tags to help write entire messages that are context-aware and sound human.2. Marketing & Growth Agencies
3. Recruiters
4. Founders & Personal Branding
Let's be crystal clear: all third-party automation violates LinkedIn's Terms of Service. Using any of these tools comes with inherent risk. However, you can significantly minimize that risk by following best practices.
Think of it like driving. Speeding is against the rules, but there's a big difference between going 5 mph over the limit and 50. Smart automation is about staying in the safe zone.
Your Safety Checklist:
Feeling overwhelmed by the options? Don't be. The right choice comes down to your primary goal and budget. Use this decision matrix to narrow it down.
GoalBudgetBest FitIntent-based outreach + warm leads$100+Gojiberry.ai (Pro $99/mo)Multi-account outreach at scale$100–$200+HeyReachBeginner + simple sequences$50–$100WaalaxyData scraping workflows$70+PhantomBuster
At the end of the day, ask yourself: Is my biggest problem finding enough people (volume), or finding the right people at the right time (intent)? Your answer will point you in the right direction.
Try Gojiberry for free if your priority is warm, high-intent outreach.
The LinkedIn automation landscape is evolving fast. The "spray and pray" tactics of the past are dead. Here are the key trends shaping the future:
"Safe" is a strong word. No third-party automation tool is 100% endorsed by LinkedIn. However, using a reputable, cloud-based tool with built-in safety features (like warm-up, smart limits, randomized delays) and following best practices significantly reduces your risk compared to using a cheap, aggressive browser extension.
Yes, it's possible. A temporary restriction is more common, where LinkedIn might ask you to stop using automation or limit your account features for a period. A permanent ban is rare but can happen with repeated, aggressive violations. The key is to automate responsibly and provide value, not spam.
It depends on the team's strategy. For teams focused on scaling outreach across multiple SDRs or managing client accounts, HeyReach is the top choice due to its multi-account features. For teams that prioritize lead quality and want to focus their efforts on high-intent prospects, Gojiberry.ai is the best fit, as its intent-based workflow delivers warm leads.
If your primary goal is to generate warm, inbound-style leads rather than just sending cold messages, Gojiberry.ai is designed specifically for this. It uses over 30 intent signals to identify prospects who are actively demonstrating buying behavior, allowing your team to focus exclusively on conversations with people who are already interested.
We've covered a lot of ground, from the titans of scale to the innovators of intent. The right tool is out there, and now you have a map to find it.
For agencies and teams that need to manage outreach across dozens of accounts, the scalability and unified inbox of a platform like HeyReach are hard to beat. It’s built for volume and efficiency.
But for the modern B2B founder, SDR, or small sales team, the game has changed. It's no longer about who can send the most messages; it's about who can start the most meaningful conversations. This is where an intent-driven approach becomes a superpower. By focusing on prospects who are already showing buying signals, you change the entire dynamic from a cold pitch to a timely solution.
If that sounds like the strategy for you, then a tool built on that philosophy is your best bet. A platform like Gojiberry was created to deliver warm leads, not just automate cold connections. It's about working smarter, not just harder.
The choice is yours. Will you play the volume game or the timing game? Whatever you decide, the key is to take action. Pick a tool, start a trial, and begin building your pipeline. 🚀
Ready to see the power of intent-based outreach for yourself? Try Gojiberry for free.
Start Now and Get New High Intent Leads DeliveredStraight to Slack or Your Inbox.