It helps sales teams find leads and run multichannel outreach across email, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, and calls from one place.
But Lemlist is mainly built for prospecting and outreach automation.
So when teams start scaling cold email, some limitations can show up, especially around having deeper control over deliverability and the infrastructure behind sending.
Things like managing domains, setting up multiple mailboxes, or building sending infrastructure often require more specialized tools.
Because of this, I tested five Lemlist alternatives that focus more on cold email infrastructure and deliverability.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through those tools and how they compare with Lemlist in terms of infrastructure and inbox placement.
Table of contents
Comparison of Lemlist Alternatives for Deliverability & Cold Email Infrastructure
Tool
IP Type
Infrastructure Isolation
Sending Safety Mechanisms
Monitoring & Deliverability Support
Scaling Inboxes
Starting Pricing
Mailforge
Shared IP
Optimized for cold email
Distributed infrastructure built for cold outreach
Domain masking, SSL, distributed sending setup
Inbox placement testing, DNS health checks, deliverability metrics tracking
Unlimited domains & mailboxes
$3/mailbox/month
Infraforge
Dedicated IP
Private infrastructure with dedicated servers
Sender rotation and smart sending limits
Real-time deliverability monitoring and alerts
Unlimited domains & mailboxes
$4/mailbox/month
Mailreef
Dedicated IP & server
Fully dedicated mail server environment
Server-level reputation isolation
Server and mailbox monitoring with live deliverability support
150+ mailboxes per server
$240/month + $0.001/email
Inframail
Dedicated hosting (Microsoft cloud)
Dedicated hosting infrastructure
Recommended sending limits per inbox
Real-time IP and domain health monitoring
Unlimited inboxes
$129/month
Mailscale
Private infrastructure
Self-hosted email infrastructure
Reputation monitoring and blacklist detection
Automated monitoring for reputation, bounces, and spam issues
Dozens to hundreds of inboxes
$79/month
1. Mailforge
Mailforge is a distributed cold email infrastructure that gets your domains and mailboxes ready for outreach in just a few minutes.
It lets you create hundreds of domains and mailboxes quickly, with automated DNS setup included by default.
When you add a domain, Mailforge automatically sets up SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and custom domain tracking, so you don’t need to deal with the technical configuration yourself.
The platform runs on a shared IP infrastructure, where mailboxes are distributed across many businesses, similar to how platforms like Gmail or Outlook work.
Mailforge also includes features like bulk DNS updates, domain transferring, and multiple workspaces, which make it easier to manage your domains.
It also provides SSL and domain masking to help secure your domains and keep your primary domain hidden.
Once your infrastructure is ready, you can connect Mailforge with Salesforge or any other sending software and start running your cold email campaigns.
Key Features
Uses a shared IP infrastructure designed for cold outreach.
Automates DNS setup including SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and custom domain tracking.
Supports bulk DNS updates so you can update multiple domains at once.
Allows domain transferring so you can move and manage domains inside Mailforge.
Includes SSL and domain masking to secure your domains and hide your main domain.
Provides multiple workspaces to organize different setups or projects.
Works with Salesforge and any other sending software.
Pricing
Mailforge pricing mainly depends on how many domains and mailbox slots you need for your outreach setup.
This image shows the Mailforge pricing
Mailbox Slots
Mailforge starts at about $3 per mailbox per month. You need to purchase at least 10 mailbox slots to start.
This usually comes to around $25 per month when billed yearly or about $30 per month when billed monthly.
Domains
Domains are purchased separately. For example, a .com domain typically costs around $14 per year.
What’s Included
Your subscription includes automated DNS setup, inbox hosting, and ongoing mailbox maintenance.
Add-ons
SSL and domain masking can be added for extra security.
This costs about $2 per domain per month or $6 per domain per year when billed annually.
Pros
You can set up hundreds of domains and mailboxes quickly, making it easier to prepare infrastructure for large cold email campaigns.
This image shows the Mailforge user talking about how they like easy and bulk setup
You are not tied to Google Workspace or Microsoft, so inbox creation stays flexible.
Domains and mailboxes stay portable, so if you change outreach tools later you can keep using the same setup instead of rebuilding everything.
“Setting up new domains and mailboxes is quick, and they stay portable - if we ever change tools, we can take everything with us without drama.” - Colin Graham, Trustpilot
If a domain or mailbox gets burned or needs replacing, you can swap it out without rebuilding your whole infrastructure.
Cons
You still need another tool to create sequences and run outreach campaigns.
Because it uses shared IP infrastructure, you don’t have full control over sender reputation like with dedicated IPs.
You need to purchase at least 10 mailbox slots to get started.
2. Infraforge
Infraforge is a private cold email infrastructure designed to give you dedicated IPs and more control over deliverability.
This image shows the Infraforge – Private cold email infrastructure with dedicated IPs
It lets you create thousands of domains and mailboxes while running them on dedicated IP addresses instead of shared infrastructure.
Setup is simple. When you add a domain, Infraforge automatically configures SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, so you don’t have to handle the technical setup yourself.
Offers multiple workspaces to organize different setups or client projects.
Includes SSL and domain masking to secure and protect your domains.
Works with Salesforge and any other sending software.
Pricing
Infraforge pricing mainly depends on domains and mailbox slots you need for your outreach setup.
This image shows the Infraforge pricing
Mailbox Slots
Infraforge starts at about $4 per mailbox per month when billed yearly, which is around $33 per month for the minimum setup.
If billed quarterly, mailbox pricing comes to about $40 per month.
Domains
Domains are purchased separately. For example, .com domains typically cost about $14 per year.
What’s Included
The subscription includes automated DNS setup, inbox hosting, maintenance, and access to the Infraforge API.
Add-ons
SSL and domain masking
$2 per domain per month (billed quarterly)
$6 per domain per year (billed annually)
Dedicated IP addresses
$99 per IP per month (billed quarterly)
Masterbox (central inbox overview)
$7 per workspace per month when billed annually
$9 per workspace per month when billed quarterly
Pros
You get more control over sender reputation because each mailbox runs on a dedicated IP instead of shared infrastructure.
It’s easier to scale large outreach setups since you can create thousands of domains and mailboxes.
You can catch deliverability issues early and fix them before they impact your campaigns.
“Their monitoring and alerting tools are straightforward yet powerful, which gives me peace of mind that I’ll know if something goes wrong before it becomes a real issue.”- Infraforge user, Trustpilot
You can start sending right away after setup, without waiting for warmup with pre-warmed domains.
Sending can be spread across domains, mailboxes, and IPs, which helps reduce the chances of spam issues while scaling.
Cons
Some advanced features, like SSL and domain masking, are paid add-ons, which can increase the overall cost.
You need to purchase at least 10 mailbox slots to get started.
3. Mailreef
Mailreef is a dedicated cold email server environment where you control the full email delivery setup.
This image shows the Mailreef – Dedicated mail server infrastructure for cold email
Instead of shared infrastructure, Mailreef runs your outreach on a fully dedicated mail server with a dedicated IP address.
This means your email reputation and deliverability are not affected by other senders.
The platform is built specifically for cold email campaigns that send high volumes, especially for teams sending 20,000+ emails per month.
Mailreef lets you create domains and mailboxes in one click, while automatically setting up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC authentication records.
You can also bring your own domains, create unlimited inboxes, and manage everything from your own dedicated server environment.
Mailreef also provides server and mailbox monitoring, along with access to live deliverability experts.
It can help diagnose delivery issues and optimize campaigns in real time.
Once your infrastructure is ready, Mailreef can integrate with outreach tools like Smartlead and Instantly to run your campaigns.
Key Features
Runs on a dedicated mail server and dedicated IP, giving full control over your sending reputation.
Allows unlimited inboxes and lets you bring your own domains.
One-click domain purchase and mailbox creation to speed up setup.
Automatically configures SPF, DKIM, and DMARC authentication.
Provides server and mailbox monitoring to track deliverability.
Includes live technical support and deliverability consulting.
Integrates with Smartlead and Instantly for sending campaigns.
Pricing
Mailreef pricing depends on the type of plan and sending volume.
This image shows the Mailreef pricing
Agency Plan - $240/month + $0.001 per email sent
Requires a 12-month commitment.
Includes dedicated mail server, dedicated IP, and 150+ mailboxes per server.
Agency Flex Plan - $249/month + $0.001 per email sent
Month-to-month plan with the same infrastructure features.
Enterprise Plan - Custom pricing
Designed for larger teams needing custom infrastructure setups.
You also get one-click domain and mailbox creation, automatic SPF, DKIM, and DMARC setup, plus server monitoring, API access, and live technical support.
Pros
You get full control over sender reputation because your emails run on a dedicated mail server and IP, not shared infrastructure.
Mailboxes are less likely to get blocked or disconnected, since you are not sharing servers with other senders.
It lets you create many inboxes on the same server, which makes scaling high-volume cold email campaigns easier.
You control the entire email delivery setup, from the server to the mailboxes, which helps manage deliverability more directly.
Cons
You still need another tool to create sequences and run outreach campaigns.
Pricing includes a per-email sending fee, so costs increase as your sending volume grows.
4. Inframail
Inframail is a cold email infrastructure platform that lets you create and manage large numbers of email inboxes quickly.
This image shows the Inframail – Cold email infrastructure for creating inboxes at scale
The platform focuses on making inbox setup simple.
Instead of manually configuring domains and email records, you can create inboxes and configure infrastructure in just a few clicks.
Inframail runs on Microsoft cloud infrastructure with dedicated hosting, which means each user operates in their own environment rather than sharing servers with other senders.
You can create unlimited inboxes, bring your own domains, and set up infrastructure in a few minutes.
Once your inboxes are ready, you can connect them to sending tools like Instantly, Smartlead, or ReachInbox to run outreach campaigns.
Key Features
Allows unlimited email inbox creation on the platform.
Runs on Microsoft cloud infrastructure with dedicated hosting.
Automates SPF, DKIM, and DMARC setup for domains.
Supports quick domain purchase and 3-click mailbox creation.
Includes real-time deliverability monitoring for IPs and domains.
Provides custom tracking domains for outreach campaigns.
Works with sending tools like Instantly, Smartlead, and ReachInbox.
Pricing
Inframail pricing depends on the plan and sending capacity you need.
This image shows the Inframail pricing
Unlimited Plan - $129/month
Send up to 80,000 cold emails per month.
Includes 1 dedicated IP, unlimited inboxes, and automation setup.
Agency Pack - $327/month
Send up to 300,000 emails per month.
Includes 3 dedicated IPs, unlimited inboxes, and API access.
DFY Campaign Setup - $3,497 one-time + $499/month
Includes done-for-you infrastructure setup, warm-up, and campaign support.
Pros
You can create unlimited inboxes without paying per inbox, which helps reduce infrastructure costs.
This image shows the Inframail user talking about its flat pricing
Inbox setup is very fast, allowing domains and mailboxes to be created in minutes.
Infrastructure runs on Microsoft cloud with dedicated hosting, so users are not affected by shared accounts.
Built-in monitoring for IP and domain health helps track deliverability issues.
Cons
Domains are not included, so you need to purchase them separately.
Proper warm-up is required before sending, which can take a couple of weeks.
5. Mailscale
Mailscale is a cold email inbox provider that automatically generates email accounts for outreach.
This image shows the Mailscale – Cold email inbox provider for scaling outreach
Instead of manually creating domains, mailboxes, and authentication records, Mailscale lets you generate dozens or even hundreds of email inboxes in seconds.
You simply add or buy domains inside the platform, create your desired email usernames, and export the inbox credentials to your sending tool.
The platform automatically handles technical setup like DKIM, DMARC, and SPF, which normally takes hours when setting up inboxes manually.
Once the inboxes are created, they can be connected to any cold email sending tool such as Instantly, Smartlead, Lemlist, Reply, or Mailshake.
Key Features
Automatically creates email inboxes for cold outreach.
Allows you to generate dozens or hundreds of inboxes in seconds.
Automatically configures SPF, DKIM, and DMARC authentication.
Lets you buy or add domains directly inside the platform.
Provides CSV export of email credentials to connect with sending tools.
Works with any cold email sending software that supports SMTP/IMAP.
Pricing
Mailscale pricing depends on the number of inboxes you create.
This image shows the Mailscale pricing
Solopreneur Plan - $79/month
Generate up to 15 email inboxes for cold outreach.
Includes automated inbox creation and domain setup inside the platform.
Business / Agency Plan - $119/month
Generate up to 50 email inboxes.
Includes domain management and quick inbox generation for outreach tools.
Enterprise Plan - $249/month
Generate up to 200 email inboxes for larger outreach setups.
Supports scaling campaigns with hundreds of email accounts.
Other costs
Additional inboxes can cost around $1 per inbox per month depending on the plan.
If you already own domains, you can bring them into Mailscale for about $2 per domain.
Pros
You can create dozens or hundreds of email inboxes in seconds, which removes the manual setup work.
Inboxes can be much cheaper than traditional providers, helping reduce cold email infrastructure costs.
The platform automatically handles DNS setup and configuration, saving hours of technical setup.
The generated inboxes can be connected to almost any cold email sending tool.
Cons
You need to purchase domains in order to create multiple email accounts.
Like most inbox providers, email warm-up is required before sending campaigns.
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Conclusion
Lemlist is a strong platform for multichannel outreach and personalization.
If your goal is better cold email infrastructure and stronger deliverability, choosing the right setup for domains, mailboxes, and sending safety becomes important.
Each of the tools in this list approaches infrastructure differently:
Mailforge helps you set up domains and mailboxes quickly and scale outreach without complex technical work.
Infraforge is suited for teams that want dedicated IP infrastructure and more control over sender reputation.
Mailreef focuses on dedicated server environments for large sending operations.
Inframail provides unlimited inbox hosting with dedicated infrastructure.
Mailscale focuses on quick inbox generation to scale campaigns faster.
If you want simple setup, scalable infrastructure, and affordable mailbox creation, Mailforge is often the most practical starting point.
It removes much of the manual work involved in setting up domains, mailboxes, and DNS records, so you can focus more on running campaigns and generating replies.