7 Instantly Alternatives for Outbound Sales Teams in 2025

Introduction

Outbound sales teams in 2025 face higher stakes and smarter buyers than ever. Many are rethinking their toolkits, moving away from one-dimensional outreach toward integrated, data-driven strategies that build trust and deliver value early in the buyer’s journey.

Today’s data-driven sales environment rewards persistence and personalization. Multi-touch, omnichannel outreach yields 22% higher response rates than email alone (6). And 81% of sales teams now use AI (7), cutting cost-per-lead by up to 65% through smarter targeting (8). These trends explain why many organizations are seeking Instantly alternatives – tools that go beyond basic cold emails. 

Relying solely on cold email isn’t enough. High-growth sales teams are adopting omnichannel cadences – mixing email, LinkedIn, calls, and more – which deliver significantly better engagement than single-channel outreach strategies (9). Platforms like Martal enable these integrated sequences, helping you reach prospects where they are most responsive. 

Why are sales teams switching away from Instantly.ai?

Teams began moving away from Instantly.ai due to a combination of feature limitations, hidden costs, and performance issues. Instantly’s low-priced plan looks attractive until users realize it lacks crucial capabilities like reply management and A/B testing (which are locked behind the higher-cost plan) (1). Many felt “nickel-and-dimed” by having to upgrade or buy add-ons for basics (2). 

Additionally, Instantly’s shared sending infrastructure raised email deliverability concerns – if other users sent spam, it could affect your campaigns since you don’t have a dedicated IP or full control (2). Users reported instances of accounts getting disconnected or emails suddenly underperforming, which hurt trust (11). The support experience with Instantly also left some frustrated (slow or rote responses like “clear cache” instead of real solutions) (11). 

In 2025, outbound sales is too important to settle for a tool that “worked okay, until it didn’t.” Teams are switching to alternatives that offer more predictable results – stronger inbox placement, multi-channel reach, and better analytics – even if it means investing a bit more. The consensus is that modern sales engagement platforms simply outclass Instantly in both features and reliability, prompting the exodus.

Below we highlight seven top alternatives. Each offers a unique approach to outbound sales, from AI-driven sales agents to high-volume email automation. We’ll also compare their features and answer common questions.

Let’s dive into the platforms that can power up your outbound strategy in 2025.

Top 7 Instantly Alternatives

The following table compares leading Instantly alternatives, highlighting each platform’s key capabilities, automation features, and ideal use cases to help you choose the best fit for your outbound sales needs.

1. Martal AI SDR Platform – AI-Powered Omnichannel Outreach

Martal Group’s AI SDR platform is an all-in-one outbound solution built from 15+ years of B2B sales expertise. At Martal, we’ve integrated human experience with artificial intelligence to create an SDR platform that automates 80% of the busy work and engages prospects across email, LinkedIn, and phone (10). The platform (trained on billions of data points and real sales conversations) acts as your virtual sales assistant, finding sales -ready leads, personalizing outreach, and even handling replies and meeting booking.

Key Features:

• Omnichannel Sequences: Launch integrated outbound campaigns via cold email, LinkedIn messages, and even cold calls in one tool. Martal’s AI agents adapt to each channel and persona, delivering hyper-personalized touches across multiple platforms (10). This mirrors the way top SDR teams mix outreach methods, yielding higher response rates.
  
• AI-Driven Outreach: The platform’s proprietary Agentic AI doesn’t just write emails – it conducts two-way conversations. It can carry on email threads or LinkedIn chats with prospects, qualify their interest, and only hand over to your human reps once a lead is warm (10). Essentially, you get an AI SDR that schedules meetings for you while your team focuses on closing sales deals. Martal’s clients see 4–7× more responses and qualified meetings versus traditional outreach (10), thanks to this always-learning AI assistant.
  
• Built-In Lead Generation: No need for external lead lists – Martal provides access to a 220+ million B2B contact database enriched with 10M+ intent signals (10). The AI continuously scans for companies showing buying intent in your niche (e.g. recent funding, tech stack changes) and adds the right sales leads to your campaigns automatically (10). This data-driven targeting means you’re reaching out to prospects when they’re most likely to convert.
  
• Deliverability & Domain Management: Martal’s Ops center handles the technical heavy lifting behind the scenes. It automates domain setup, email authentication, inbox warm-up, and rotates sending across multiple addresses to protect your sender reputation (10). You get enterprise-grade deliverability (avoiding spam folders) without needing to be a technical expert.
  
• Analytics & Optimization: A robust analytics dashboard provides real-time insight into every campaign. Track open/reply rates, conversions, and even AI-driven recommendations as the system learns. Martal’s AI continuously adjusts send times and messaging based on what’s working (a form of self-optimizing outreach) (10). Your team also gets weekly strategy calls with a dedicated account manager (on higher plans) to refine approach – blending AI with human oversight.
  

Ideal Use Cases: Martal’s platform is best suited for B2B teams and executives who want outsourced SDR results with in-house control. If you’re aiming to scale your sales pipeline fast or augment a small sales team, Martal delivers a ready-made “sales team in a box” – complete with data, tools, and proven playbooks. Our clients include tech startups needing quick market traction, mid-size firms looking to expand into new verticals, and even large enterprises augmenting their internal teams. The platform’s omnichannel marketing approach shines when targeting senior decision-makers who may ignore cold emails but respond on LinkedIn or phone.

For sales leaders seeking a strategic sales partner to fill their pipeline (not just software), Martal’s AI SDR platform provides outsized value. In short, we pair you with both cutting-edge software and an experienced team to execute winning outbound lead generation campaigns. 

2. SmartLead – High-Volume Email Automation & Deliverability

Overview:
SmartLead.ai is a cold email platform that focuses on automation. It connects unlimited inboxes to distribute sending volume efficiently, appealing to users managing thousands of daily sends. While effective for bulk outreach, it remains email-only and requires technical setup for full use.

Key Features:

• Unlimited email accounts with automatic inbox rotation and warm-up
  
• Intelligent sending patterns to maintain inbox placement
  
• API and webhook integrations for custom workflows
  
• AI personalization via third-party connections (requires manual setup)
  

Ideal For:
Agencies and technical outbound teams sending high volumes of cold emails daily who prioritize deliverability and control over simplicity or multichannel outreach.

3. Lemlist – Personalized Multichannel Campaigns

Overview:
Lemlist emphasizes personalization across email, LinkedIn, and calls. It allows human-like outreach through customized visuals and AI-generated openers. While strong for engagement, setup can be time-intensive, and cost per user is higher.

Key Features:

• Dynamic personalization with custom images and videos
  
• Multichannel sequences including LinkedIn and call tasks
  
• Built-in warm-up and 450M+ contact database
  
• AI-generated “icebreakers” for scalable personalization
  

Ideal For:
Teams that value personalized, creative outreach over raw volume—particularly in SaaS or agencies targeting prospects on LinkedIn as well as email.

4. Reply.io – Multichannel Sales Engagement with AI

Overview:
Reply.io is a sales engagement platform covering email, calls, SMS, WhatsApp, and LinkedIn. It includes AI features that draft and respond to emails automatically. Its broad feature set is extensive but can feel complex for smaller teams focused solely on outbound.

Key Features:

• Multichannel sequencing (email, calls, social, SMS)
  
• Built-in 100M+ lead database
  
• AI-generated content and AI SDR for auto-replies
  
• CRM integrations and analytics dashboards
  

Ideal For:
Mid-sized sales teams seeking an all-in-one engagement suite with AI and data capabilities, and who can manage the platform’s learning curve.

5. Woodpecker – Reliable Cold Email Automation for Teams

Overview:
Woodpecker specializes in email outreach with a focus on deliverability. It’s straightforward and dependable but narrower in scope, lacking built-in AI and fully automated multichannel execution.

Key Features:

• Automated warm-up, inbox rotation, and deliverability monitoring
  
• A/B testing and unified reply inbox
  
• CRM and API integrations (some features are add-ons)
  
• Optional agency dashboard for managing multiple clients
  

Ideal For:
Small to mid-sized teams or agencies seeking a simple, deliverability-first email tool without needing advanced AI or multichannel features.

6. QuickMail – Scalable Cold Email for Agencies

Overview:
QuickMail offers email automation built for agencies and teams managing multiple inboxes or clients. It supports large sending volumes and strong deliverability controls but remains focused on email rather than multichannel workflows.

Key Features:

• Multiple inbox management via Gmail API for safe sending
  
• Unlimited team members per account
  
• Automated reply handling and sentiment tagging
  
• Centralized “Opportunity” tracking for lead replies
  

Ideal For:
Agencies or outreach teams managing multiple campaigns who want to scale responsibly and prioritize deliverability and collaboration.

7. Snov.io – Integrated Lead Finder & Outreach Tool

Overview:
Snov.io combines lead generation, verification, and email automation in one platform. It’s convenient for smaller teams starting outbound from scratch, though its deliverability and AI tools are less advanced than specialized solutions.

Key Features:

• Built-in lead database and Chrome extension for prospecting
  
• Email verification and drip campaigns
  
• Basic LinkedIn task integration
  
• GDPR-compliant and globally localized sending options
  

Ideal For:
Startups and small teams seeking an all-in-one prospecting and outreach tool that balances cost-effectiveness with simplicity, rather than advanced automation depth.

As shown, each alternative has its own strengths. The best Instantly replacement for your team will depend on your priorities – be it lowering your bounce rates, expanding beyond email, leveraging AI, or simply getting more bang for your buck without hidden costs.

Choosing the Right Instantly Alternative 

Selecting the right outreach platform goes beyond features—it’s about finding the right balance between deliverability, automation, scalability, and cost-efficiency. Below are four key factors that define how today’s leading Instantly alternatives measure up and what to consider before making the switch.

• Deliverability Can Make or Break Outreach: Even the best email copy won’t work if it lands in spam. Tools such as SmartLead, Woodpecker, and QuickMail invest heavily in deliverability features – from automated warm-ups and inbox rotation to sending via approved APIs – to ensure your emails actually reach inboxes (4) (5). Many teams experience a jump in open rates after switching from Instantly to a platform with more robust deliverability control. It’s vital to choose an alternative that keeps your sender reputation safe as you scale.
  
• AI is a Game-Changer (When Used Right): With 81% of sales teams now using some form of AI (7), ignoring AI means falling behind. Several Instantly alternatives offer AI-driven capabilities – from Reply’s auto-booking email assistants to Martal’s virtual AI sales agents – that can boost productivity and personalize outreach at scale (10). The key insight: AI won’t replace your salespeople, but it will free them from repetitive tasks (like writing routine emails or sifting through responses) so they can focus on high-value interactions.
  
• Cost vs. Value: Instantly’s appeal was its low entry price, but hidden costs for essential features eroded its value (1) (2). When evaluating alternatives, look beyond headline price – consider what you get. Some tools might be pricier per month, but include unlimited users or built-in leads, replacing the need for additional software. For example, Reply or Snov could consolidate your tech stack (data + outreach), and Martal’s platform, while a premium service, can save the cost of hiring extra SDRs. Strategic ROI matters more than subscription cost.
  
• Scalability & Support: Lastly, pick a solution that aligns with your growth plans and support needs. If you manage multiple campaigns or clients, favor tools with multi-account management or agency modes. If you expect to grow your team, ensure the pricing model won’t punish you for adding users (Martal’s platform and QuickMail offer scalable user terms, whereas others charge per seat). And consider support – some providers (often the newer AI-centric ones) have more hands-on support and onboarding resources, which can accelerate your success.
  

Ultimately, the best Instantly alternative depends on your goals. If you want a low-cost, single-channel sender, several options fit the bill. But if your objective is to build a predictable, scalable, and insight-driven outbound engine, then investing in a comprehensive partner like Martal will pay dividends in both revenue and pipeline quality.

Ready to see how AI-driven outreach can transform your outbound results?
Book a free consultation with Martal Group to explore how our omnichannel, AI-powered SDR platform can help you generate qualified meetings, expand your market reach, and shorten your sales cycle.

References

1. Eesel AI
2. Salesforge
3. Reply.io
4. QuickMail
5. Woodpecker
6. Uplead
7. Salesforce
8. Martal Group – Sales Analysis
9. Martal Group – Outbound Sales
10. Martal AI SDR Platform
11. Reddit