We Tested 11 Best Cold Email Tools For 30 Days: Here's Our Findings

Sending cold emails sounds easy. But in reality, many end up in spam, feel too generic, or take hours to follow up on.

That’s why we evaluated 11 Cold Email Tools for 30 days, to find out which ones actually help you land in the inbox and get replies.

In this guide, you’ll see:

• The best Cold Email Tools in 2025
  
  
• Key features, pros, and cons
  
  
• A quick comparison to choose the right tool fast
  

By the end, you’ll know which tool can help you book more meetings and close more deals.

‍

TL;DR – Top 11 Cold Email Tools in 2025

1. Mailforge – Best cold email infrastructure tool for deliverability
   
   
2. Salesforge – Best for hyper personalized cold outreach
   
   
3. Saleshandy – Best for affordable email sequences & tracking
   
   
4. Instantly.ai – Best for unlimited cold email sending at scale
   
   
5. Smartlead.ai – Best for AI-driven automation & inbox rotation
   
   
6. Lemlist – Best for personalization with images, videos & LinkedIn
   
   
7. Woodpecker – Best for safe, compliant outreach for SMBs
   
   
8. Reply.io – Best for multi-channel sales engagement (email + LinkedIn + calls)
   
   
9. Snov.io – Best for prospecting & outreach in one tool
   
   
10. Apollo.io – Best all-in-one platform with leads + outreach
    
    
11. GMass – Best for simple Gmail-based cold emailing
    

How We Evaluated These Cold Email Tools

Cold emailing isn’t just about sending messages, it’s about making sure they reach the inbox, look personalized, and actually get replies. 

So when we tested these tools, we focused on the things that matter most for sales teams, founders, and agencies.

Here’s what we looked at:

• Do emails actually land in the inbox and avoid spam?
  
  
• How simple is it to connect domains, warm up inboxes, and start campaigns?
  
  
• Can the tool handle multi-step follow-ups and conditional triggers?
  
  
• Does it support merge tags, AI, or custom images/videos to make emails stand out?
  
  
• Does it clearly track opens, clicks, replies, and bounce rates?
  

By using the same checklist for all 11 tools, we could see which ones really deliver value and which fall short.

‍

Top 11 Cold Email Tools in 2025: Quick Feature Comparison

1. Mailforge – Best for Cold Email Infrastructure

Mailforge is a tool that gives you ready-to-use domains and mailboxes for cold email outreach. 

It takes care of all the setup, like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, so your emails land in the inbox instead of spam. 

Instead of spending hours setting up servers, you can launch hundreds of mailboxes in just a few minutes.

‍

Key Features of Mailforge:

• Mailforge automatically sets up SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and custom tracking for every domain you add.
  
  
• You can create and manage multiple mailboxes at once using mailbox slots.
  
  
• Bulk DNS updates and domain transferring are included, which saves time for large teams.
  
  
• SSL and domain masking protect your primary domain while keeping your links branded.
  
  
• The platform works with any sending software, so you can plug it into tools like Instantly, Smartlead, or Saleshandy.
  

Pros & Cons of Mailforge:

Mailforge Pricing:

• $2–$3 per mailbox per month (depending on billing plan)
  
  
• Domain cost: about $14/year per .com domain
  
  
• Add-ons: SSL & domain masking for $2–$6 per domain/month

Best For:

Agencies and startups that want fast, affordable, and reliable cold email infrastructure.

If you need infrastructure that is fully private and runs on dedicated IPs, the next tool, Infraforge, is a better choice.

‍

2. Salesforge – Best for Personalization and Deliverability

Salesforge is a cold email and outreach platform built for scale. Unlike most tools, it gives you unlimited mailboxes and unlimited LinkedIn senders at no extra cost. 

It also includes Warmforge, a free deliverability tool, so your emails land in the inbox instead of spam.

On top of that, Salesforge offers Primebox, a single inbox where you can manage all replies across domains. 

For teams that want reliable cold email at scale, Salesforge provides both the infrastructure and the outreach features in one place.

‍

Key Features of Salesforge:

• Salesforge lets you connect unlimited mailboxes and LinkedIn senders, so you can scale outreach without paying extra.
  
  
• It comes with Warmforge, which automatically warms up all your mailboxes to maintain high deliverability.
  
  
• You can run multi-language sequences to target prospects worldwide without hiring translators.
  
  
• It integrates with CRMs, lead generation tools, and the rest of the Forge Stack, making workflows seamless.
  

Pros & Cons of Salesforge:

Salesforge Pricing:

• Pro Plan: $48/month (1 user, 1,000 active contacts, 5,000 emails/month)
  
  
• Growth Plan: $96/month (unlimited users, 10,000 active contacts, 50,000 emails/month, unlimited LinkedIn senders, advanced features)
  
  
• Agent Frank (optional add-on): $499/month (AI SDR outreach, billed quarterly)
  

Best For:

Agencies and sales teams that need to scale cold outreach across multiple domains, mailboxes, and LinkedIn accounts without worrying about deliverability.

Salesforge is designed for teams that want to go beyond basic cold emailing and run multi-channel outreach at scale. 

If you’re looking for a tool that covers both infrastructure and outreach in one platform, Salesforge is a strong choice.

‍

3. Saleshandy – Best for Affordable Cold Email Automation 

Saleshandy is a cold email tool that helps you find leads, send sequences, and track replies in one place. 

You can add unlimited email accounts, set up automated follow-ups, and manage all conversations from a unified inbox. 

It also includes a lead finder, email verification, and a deliverability stack (warm-up, sender rotation, spam checks) so more emails reach the inbox.

‍

Key Features of Saleshandy:

• Saleshandy lets you create multi-step email sequences with automated follow-ups that stop when someone replies.
  
  
• It provides AI-assisted sequences and variants, so you can test copy and personalize at scale.
  
  
• You can connect unlimited email accounts and use sender rotation to spread sending across inboxes safely.
  
  
• The Unified Inbox shows all replies in one place, so you can qualify and book meetings faster.
  
  
• A 7-day free trial (no credit card) and SOC 2 compliance make testing easy and secure.
  

Pros & Cons of Saleshandy:

Saleshandy Pricing:

• Outreach Starter – $36/month
  
  
• Outreach Pro – $99/month
  
  
• Outreach Scale – $199/month
  
  
• Outreach Scale Plus – $299/month
  
  
• Add-on: Email verification $79 / 25,000 recipients.

Best For:

Teams that want all-in-one cold email outreach (sequences, deliverability, lead finder, and tracking) at a budget-friendly price.

Saleshandy is a good fit if you want one tool to find leads, send sequences, and track replies without high costs.

If you need even more scale or unlimited sending across many inboxes, the next tool, Instantly.ai, is worth a look.

‍

4. Instantly.ai – Best for Scaling Cold Email Outreach

Instantly.ai is built for teams that want to send cold emails at scale without worrying about limits. 

You can add unlimited inboxes, warm them up automatically, and run campaigns that reach the primary inbox. 

It also comes with AI features for personalization, lead finding, and campaign optimization, making it a strong option for agencies, freelancers, and sales teams.

Key Features of Instantly.ai

• Instantly.ai allows you to connect unlimited email accounts and send thousands of emails every day.
  
  
• It includes a built-in warm-up system that improves deliverability and keeps your emails out of spam.
  
  
• You get access to a large B2B lead database with over 450 million contacts and advanced filters to find the right prospects.
  
  
• Instantly.ai provides templates, SOPs, and access to a private community where you can learn from other users.
  
  

‍

Pros & Cons of Instantly.ai

Instantly.ai Pricing:

• Growth – $37/month
  
  
• Hypergrowth – $97/month
  
  
• Light Speed – $358/month

Best For:

Agencies, freelancers, and startups that need high-volume cold email outreach with unlimited inboxes.

Instantly.ai is one of the most flexible cold email tools for teams that send at scale. 

If you want to run multiple campaigns without limits and still keep good deliverability, this platform is a strong pick.

‍

5. Smartlead.ai – Best for Unlimited Mailboxes and Deliverability

Smartlead.ai is a tool for teams and agencies that need to send a lot of cold emails every day. 

It gives you unlimited mailboxes, built-in warmup, and one inbox to see all replies. 

The focus is on keeping your emails out of spam while helping you manage big campaigns easily.

‍

Key Features of Smartlead:

• Smartlead.ai gives you unlimited mailboxes with auto-rotation, so you can send campaigns without worrying about limits.
  
  
• The platform includes AI-powered warmups that mimic natural conversations to keep your emails out of spam.
  
  
• You can manage all replies from multiple accounts in a single unified inbox.
  
  
• The reporting dashboard tracks opens, clicks, replies, and lead intent with clear analytics.
  

Pros & Cons of Smartlead:

Smartlead Pricing:

• Basic – $39/mo: 2,000 leads, 6,000 emails/month, unlimited accounts and warmup.
  
  
• Pro – $94/mo: 30,000 leads, 150,000 emails/month, unlimited accounts, webhooks, integrations, and premium support.
  
  
• Custom – from $174/mo: Up to 12M leads, 60M emails/month, white-label, advanced features.
  

Best For:

Agencies and teams that need unlimited mailboxes, strong deliverability, and full white-labeling.

Smartlead.ai is a great choice if you want to run large cold email campaigns without worrying about limits or inbox rotation. 

‍

6. Lemlist – Best for Multichannel Cold Outreach (Email + LinkedIn)

Lemlist is a multichannel cold outreach tool. 

You can find leads from a built-in 450M+ database, pull verified emails/phones, and then contact them from one place, email, LinkedIn steps (visits, requests, messages), WhatsApp (add-on), and phone calls. 

If you want one tool to find, personalize, and contact prospects across channels, lemlist does it.

‍

Key Features of Lemlist:

• You can search a built-in 450M+ lead database and pull verified emails and phone numbers with waterfall enrichment.
  
  
• You can run multichannel sequences that include email steps, LinkedIn visits/requests/messages, WhatsApp nudges (add-on), and phone calls.
  
  
• You can personalize at scale using AI: auto icebreakers, custom variables, dynamic images, and personalized landing pages.
  
  
• You can use signals and intent targeting plus lead scoring to contact buyers when they are more likely to say yes.
  

Pros & Cons of Lemlist:

Lemlist Pricing: 

• Email Pro - $69/month
  
  
• Multichannel Expert - $99/month
  
  
• Enterprise - Custom

Best For:

Teams that want one tool to find leads and run personalized multichannel outreach (email + LinkedIn + calls) with built-in warm-up and CRM integrations.

If your plan is to move beyond email and add LinkedIn and calling,  Lemlist fits well. 

It keeps deliverability in check, personalizes at scale, and helps you book more meetings from one dashboard.

‍

7. Woodpecker – Best for Agencies and Sales Teams Who Need Reliable Cold Email

Woodpecker is a cold email and outreach tool. It helps you send cold emails, verify contacts, warm up inboxes, and add LinkedIn steps into your campaigns. 

You can even buy domains and emails already set up with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. For agencies, there’s a dedicated panel to manage multiple client accounts in one place.

‍

Key Features of Woodpecker:

• Woodpecker includes free real-time email verification so you don’t waste time sending to bad addresses.
  
  
• It has built-in warm-up to protect your sender reputation and keep emails out of spam.
  
  
• You can add LinkedIn profile visits, connection requests, and messages to your email sequences.
  
  
• The Deliverability Monitor checks your setup and warns you about issues before sending.
  
  
• The centralized inbox lets you manage replies from different campaigns in one place.
  

Pros & Cons of Woodpecker:

Woodpecker Pricing:

• Starter – $29/month → 500 prospects, 6,000 emails/month, 2 free warm-ups.
  
  
• Growth – $188/month → 10,000 prospects, 120,000 emails/month, 20 warm-ups.
  
  
• Scale – $1,354/month → 100,000 prospects, 1.2M emails/month, 135 warm-ups.
  
  
• Max – $9,999/month → Unlimited prospects, emails, and warm-ups, with dedicated support.
  

Best For:

Agencies and B2B sales teams that need cold email plus LinkedIn automation with strong deliverability.

Woodpecker is a solid pick if you want one platform that covers sending, verifying, warming up, and LinkedIn outreach. 

It’s especially handy for agencies that run campaigns for multiple clients.

‍

8. Reply.io – Best for AI-Powered Multichannel Outreach

Reply.io is a sales engagement platform that helps you run cold email, LinkedIn, SMS, and call campaigns all in one place. 

It also comes with an AI SDR assistant (“Jason”) that can generate sequences, personalize messages, and even reply to prospects for you. 

With its built-in deliverability suite, meeting scheduler, and lead database, Reply.io makes it easy to scale outreach without losing the personal touch.

Key Features of Reply.io:

• Reply.io lets you connect unlimited mailboxes and use free warm-up to keep emails out of spam.
  
  
• You can build multichannel sequences with email, LinkedIn steps, SMS, calls, and even WhatsApp.
  
  
• The AI SDR (“Jason”) can handle prospecting, write emails, and manage replies for you.
  
  
• The built-in scheduler allows prospects to book meetings directly from your outreach.
  

Pros & Cons of Reply.io:

Reply.io Pricing:

• Email Outreach – from $159/month.
  
  
• Multichannel Plan – from $99/user/month.
  
  
• AI SDR (“Jason”) – from $500/month.
  

Best For:

Sales teams and agencies that want to combine cold email with LinkedIn, calls, and AI-powered outreach.

Reply.io stands out if you want more than just cold email.

With AI handling tasks and multichannel flows built in, it helps you book meetings faster and scale without extra tools.

‍

9. Snov.io – Best for All-in-One Cold Outreach & CRM

Snov.io is an all-in-one sales automation tool that helps you find leads, verify emails, send cold campaigns, and even run LinkedIn outreach. 

It also comes with a built-in sales CRM so you can manage leads and deals in one place. 

With unlimited mailboxes, email warm-ups, and strong deliverability features, Snov.io is designed to make outreach faster, safer, and more effective.

Key Features of Snov.io:

• Snov.io helps you find and collect pre-verified leads from its large database or directly from LinkedIn.
  
  
• You can verify emails with 7-step checks to reduce bounces and keep your list clean.
  
  
• The platform allows you to send unlimited cold email campaigns with smart personalization and follow-ups.
  
  
• The built-in CRM syncs with Google Calendar, tracks deals, and analyzes lost opportunities.
  

Pros & Cons of Snov.io:

Snov.io Pricing:

• Starter – $39/month → 1,000 credits, 5,000 recipients, unlimited campaigns, 3 warm-ups.
  
  
• Pro – $99/month → 5,000 credits, 25,000 recipients, unlimited warm-ups, team features, advanced personalization.
  
  
• Custom Ultra – Contact Sales → from 200,000 credits, unlimited recipients, flat-rate pricing, bulk account management.
  

Best For:

Small to mid-sized businesses and agencies that want a single tool for lead generation, cold email, LinkedIn outreach, and sales CRM.

Snov.io is ideal if you want to stop juggling multiple tools.

From finding and verifying leads to running campaigns and tracking deals, it gives you everything in one simple platform.

‍

10. Apollo.io – Best for AI-Powered Sales Prospecting and Outreach

Apollo.io is an AI-driven sales platform that combines a large B2B database, outreach automation, and CRM-like features in one tool. 

With over 210M+ contacts and 35M+ companies, Apollo helps sales teams find leads, enrich data, run cold email campaigns, and manage deals. 

Key Features of Apollo.io:

• Apollo gives access to a huge B2B database with verified emails, phone numbers, and detailed company profiles.
  
  
• You can send cold email campaigns with advanced sequencing, multi-channel outreach, and automated follow-ups.
  
  
• The Chrome extension lets you capture verified contacts directly from LinkedIn and company websites.
  
  
• The platform integrates with major CRMs like Salesforce, HubSpot, and Pipedrive, plus tools like Zapier.
  

Pros & Cons of Apollo.io:

Apollo.io Pricing:

• Free Plan → 100 credits/month, 2 sequences, Gmail & Salesforce extension.
  
  
• Basic – $59/user/month → 2,500 credits, advanced filters, CRM integrations, meeting scheduler.
  
  
• Professional – $99/user/month → 4,000 credits, unlimited sequences, 5 mailboxes, AI insights, call recordings.
  
  
• Organization – $149/user/month (annual only, min 3 users) → 6,000 credits, 15 mailboxes, advanced reports, international dialer, SSO security.
  

Best For:

Sales teams that want a powerful mix of data, outreach automation, and AI-driven insights to run their entire outbound process from one platform.

Apollo.io is a strong choice if you want to replace multiple tools with a single AI-powered sales engine. 

‍

11. GMass – Best for Cold Emailing Directly in Gmail

GMass is a Chrome extension that turns Gmail into a cold email platform. 

Instead of learning new software, you can send mass personalized emails, track results, and set automated follow-ups, all from your Gmail account. 

It connects with Google Sheets for list management, making it easy to start campaigns without exporting or importing files.

Key Features of GMass:

• You can send personalized cold email campaigns directly inside Gmail without any extra tools.
  
  
• GMass integrates with Google Sheets so you can create, manage, and update your prospect lists easily.
  
  
• The tool includes automated follow-ups that keep sending until a recipient replies.
  

Pros & Cons of GMass:

GMass Pricing: 

• Standard – $18/month → Unlimited emails, campaigns, and personalization.
  
  
• Premium – $27/month → Adds A/B testing, sequences, and automated follow-ups.
  
  
• Professional – $43/month → Includes advanced features like API access, team collaboration, and priority support.
  

Best For:

Freelancers, small businesses, and startups that want a simple, affordable way to send cold emails directly from Gmail.

GMass is one of the easiest cold email tools to get started with. 

It’s a great choice if you want something fast, affordable, and effective without the learning curve of bigger platforms.

Which Cold Email Tool Should You Choose in 2025?

The “best” cold email tool really depends on your use case.

Some teams just need a quick way to send emails, while others need multichannel campaigns with LinkedIn, calls, or a built-in database. 

Here’s a quick way to decide:

• Solo founders / freelancers → Use GMass for fast Gmail-based campaigns.
  
  
• Agencies → Go with Woodpecker or Mailforge for reliable inboxes and bulk scaling.
  
  
• Sales teams → Try lemlist or Reply.io for multichannel workflows.
  
  
• Data-hungry teams → Pick Apollo.io or Snov.io for large lead databases.
  
  
• Deliverability-first users → Start with Mailforge or Infraforge to make sure your emails actually land in inboxes.
  

👉 If you’re serious about cold email deliverability and want the simplest setup, try Mailforge here.

It gives you domains, mailboxes, and inbox-ready infrastructure in minutes.

Sign up for Mailforge now and launch your first cold email inbox in minutes.