As a salesperson, finding new leads and prospects is one of my biggest challenges. The good news is we now have an incredible array of tools and technologies to help with sales prospecting. The bad news is there are over 100 options to choose from, and who has time to test them all?
I certainly don’t.
That’s why I’ve put together this comprehensive review of the best sales prospecting tools and software on the market today. I’ve used many of these tools myself, and for the others, I’ve analyzed reviews and ratings from experts and actual users.
My goal is to save you time by highlighting the key features, benefits, and pricing for each solution so you can quickly find the options most likely to help you crush your sales targets. Ready to boost your lead generation and prospecting results?
Let’s dive in!
15 best free sales prospecting tools and software
| No. | Name | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HubSpot Sales | Email tracking, meeting scheduling, live chat | Free, premium versions available |
| 2 | LinkedIn Sales Navigator Lite | LinkedIn integration, lead recommendations, real-time insights | Free, premium versions available |
| 3 | Zoho CRM | Sales force automation, marketing automation, customer support | Free for up to 3 users, premium versions available |
| 4 | MailChimp | Email marketing, landing pages, CRM | Free, premium versions available |
| 5 | Slack | Instant messaging, file sharing, voice/video calls | Free, premium versions available |
| 6 | Trello | Task management, project planning, team collaboration | Free, premium versions available |
| 7 | Zoom | Video conferencing, screen sharing, meeting recording | Free, premium versions available |
| 8 | Canva | Graphic design, templates, branding | Free, premium versions available |
| 9 | Google Analytics | Traffic analysis, conversion tracking, audience insights | Free |
| 10 | Mailtrack | Email tracking, real-time notifications, data insights | Free, premium versions available |
| 11 | Grammarly | Spelling and grammar checks, clarity improvements, tone detection | Free, premium versions available |
| 12 | SurveyMonkey | Custom surveys, data analysis, audience targeting | Free, premium versions available |
| 13 | Calendly | Meeting scheduling, calendar integration, time zone detection | Free, premium versions available |
| 14 | Google Docs | Document creation and editing, collaboration, cloud storage | Free |
| 15 | Asana | Task management, project planning, team collaboration | Free, premium versions available |
15 best paid sales prospecting tools and software
| No. | Name | Features | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salesforce | Contact management, opportunity management, lead management | $25/user/month |
| 2 | HubSpot Sales Hub | Email sequences, automated workflows, deal pipeline | $50/month |
| 3 | Pipedrive | Visual sales pipelines, email tracking, customizable fields | $12.50/user/month |
| 4 | Outreach | Sales engagement, sequence optimization, analytics & reporting | Custom quote |
| 5 | Yesware | Email tracking, presentation tracking, engagement reporting | $12/user/month |
| 6 | InsideView | Data intelligence, sales triggers, people insights | Custom quote |
| 7 | Prospect.io | Email finder, email verification, drip campaigns | $89/month |
| 8 | Zoho CRM Plus | Omnichannel customer engagement, AI assistance, analytics & custom dashboards | $50/user/month |
| 9 | Freshsales | AI-based lead scoring, phone & email, deal management | $15/user/month |
| 10 | Nimble | Contact management, social insights, task management | $19/user/month |
| 11 | Groove | Salesforce integration, dialer, multi-channel campaigns | $50/user/month |
| 12 | Datanyze | Tech tracking, predictive modeling, alerts | Custom quote |
| 13 | Zoominfo | Sales intelligence, intent signals, lead enrichment | Custom quote |
| 14 | Leadfeeder | Website visitor tracking, lead scoring, CRM integration | $79/month |
| 15 | Clari | Revenue operations platform, forecasting, deal inspection | Custom quote |
| No. | Name | Features | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Close | CRM, email sequences, predictive dialing | $29/user/month |
| 17 | Salesloft | Sales engagement, cadence builder, analytics | Custom quote |
| 18 | DiscoverOrg | B2B intelligence, org charts, verified direct dials | Custom quote |
| 19 | AeroLeads | Lead generation, email verification, data export | $49/month |
| 20 | UpLead | B2B database, real-time email verification, CRM integration | $99/month |
| 21 | Mixmax | Email tracking, automation, calendar integration | $9/user/month |
| 22 | Reply.io | Sales automation, multichannel sequences, task management | $55/user/month |
| 23 | LinkedIn Sales Navigator | Lead recommendations, real-time insights, InMail messages | $64.99/month |
| 24 | Clearbit | Real-time intelligence, risk mitigation, sales acceleration | Custom quote |
| 25 | Apollo.io | Prospecting, engagement, CRM | $49/user/month |
| 26 | PersistIQ | Outbound sales, personalization, analytics | $50/user/month |
| 27 | Cognism | B2B lead generation, CRM cleanse, revenue AI | Custom quote |
| 28 | RingLead | Lead capture, data quality, routing | Custom quote |
| 29 | Hunter | Domain search, email verification, email finder | $49/month |
| 30 | Copper | CRM for G Suite, task automation, sales analytics | $25/user/month |
The Best Tools for Identifying New Sales Prospects
Finding new prospects is one of the most important parts of the job. I rely on several tools to identify potential new customers.
First, I use LinkedIn Sales Navigator. This tool lets me filter through LinkedIn profiles to find leads that match my ideal customer profile. I can search by company, title, location, and more. It’s a great way to find professionals in my target market.
Next, I turn to ZoomInfo. This database contains over 200 million business contacts and profiles. I can search by company name, job title, industry, location, and other filters to build targeted prospect lists. ZoomInfo provides direct phone numbers, emails, and other contact information to help me connect with the right people.
For staying on top of new businesses in my area, I use services like Buzzfile and Data Axle. They track new company formations as well as mergers and acquisitions. As soon as a company in my target market opens their doors or expands into new locations, I know about it.
Finally, I use tools like DiscoverOrg, KickFire, and Seamless.ai to enrich the data I have. By inputting a list of prospects, these tools can find missing phone numbers, email addresses, and other details to complete my records.
With the wealth of sales intelligence and prospecting tools available today, I have no excuse for not having a robust pipeline of new opportunities. The key is finding the best solutions with my sales process and goals. With consistent use of even a few of these tools, you’ll gain new prospects and customers quickly.
Top Lead Generation Software for Finding High-Quality Leads
As a salesperson, finding high-quality leads is one of the most important parts of your job. When I started, I tried using generic lead generation tools but quickly realized I needed something more tailored to sales. Here are a few of my favorite tools specifically built for prospecting and lead gen:
CRM and marketing automation platforms like Salesforce and HubSpot are powerful for managing your contacts and running targeted email campaigns. Their built-in lead scoring and grading helps me identify promising new prospects.
Social media tools such as LinkedIn Sales Navigator and Twitter Lead Gen Cards make it easy to find and connect with prospects on the major social networks. I use them to build relationships, join industry discussions, and source new leads.
Data enrichment services like Clearbit and ZoomInfo access millions of business contacts and help flesh out sparse profiles with missing details like email addresses, job titles, and company information. This has been invaluable for improving my prospecting efficiency and response rates.
Lead generation services such as Upcity and Leadfeeder drive high-quality leads through content syndication, co-registration, and retargeting campaigns. They do the heavy lifting to get prospects interested in your solution so you can focus on closing the deal.
The right tools can make a world of difference in your prospecting efforts. With so many options available, research to find what works for your unique needs and sales process. The time invested will pay off through higher lead volume, improved lead quality, and boosted sales productivity.
Powerful CRM Systems for Managing Your Sales Pipeline
When I started in sales, I didn’t have a robust CRM (customer relationship management) system to keep track of prospects and manage my pipeline. I relied on spreadsheets and notes—it was chaotic. Once I implemented a CRM, my productivity and organization skyrocketed.
Powerful Solutions
Some of the top CRM systems for sales teams include:
- Salesforce: The industry leader, with powerful customization and automation features. It does have a learning curve, so the setup requires time and patience.
- HubSpot: An all-in-one solution for marketing, sales and customer service. The CRM is easy to use and integrates with many tools. Plans are affordable but may lack some advanced features.
- Pipedrive: A simple yet effective CRM for small sales teams. It focuses on ease of use, with an intuitive interface and useful features like deal forecasting and mail merge. Integrations are more limited.
- Zoho CRM: A full-featured, cost-effective CRM with strong reporting and customization options. It may have a steeper learning curve for some. Integrates with Zoho’s other products.
Must-Have Features
For me, the top features in a sales CRM include:
- Contact management: Track prospects, accounts and key details in one place.
- Pipeline management: Move deals through customizable stages, and forecast when they may close.
- Task management: Create and assign follow-up tasks so no lead slips through the cracks.
- Reporting and dashboards: Gain insight into key metrics and KPIs to optimize your sales process.
- Email integration: Send emails without leaving the CRM and log all communications with contacts.
- Customization: Adapt the CRM to your unique sales workflow and processes. Add custom fields, stages, etc.
A good CRM, whether you choose Salesforce, Pipedrive or another option, will transform how you manage relationships and close deals. The time you invest in setup and learning will pay off through increased productivity, visibility and ultimately, revenue.
Must-Have Tools for Automating Your Prospecting Outreach
When I started prospecting, I wasted hours manually searching sites like LinkedIn for leads and sending generic connection requests. I quickly realized that to scale my outreach, automation was key. Here are a few tools that have been absolute game-changers for streamlining my prospecting process:
LinkedIn Sales Navigator
LinkedIn Sales Navigator allows you to create customized lead lists based on industry, job title, location, and more. You can then send personalized connection requests and InMails at scale. The tool also provides lead recommendations and updates you when your prospects change jobs or get promoted so you can stay on top of your outreach.
Outreach.io
This tool is a must-have for automating your email outreach campaigns. You can create email templates, schedule and send bulk emails, and track open and reply rates to optimize your messaging. Outreach.io also has a large library of pre-written email templates you can choose from to get started. The tool seamlessly integrates with your CRM so you have a complete view of your prospect interactions in one place.
Clearbit Connect
Clearbit Connect finds direct contact information like email addresses for your target accounts by scouring public data sources on the web. All you need to provide is the domain or company name, and Clearbit will return verified email addresses for multiple employees at that organization. This allows you to conduct highly targeted account-based outreach at scale. Clearbit also provides company insights to help you personalize your messaging for each prospect.
Leveraging tools to automate research, outreach, and follow-up has made my prospecting much more efficient and effective. I spend less time on manual tasks and more time engaging with high-quality leads. If you’re not already using automation in your sales process, I highly recommend trying some of these tools. Your prospecting efforts and sales pipeline will thank you!
Essential Analytics and Reporting Solutions for Optimizing Your Prospecting
When optimizing your sales prospecting, analytics and reporting are essential. As a salesperson, I need to know what’s working and what isn’t to improve my effectiveness. Here are a few solutions I rely on:
CRM Reporting
My CRM system, like Salesforce or HubSpot, tracks key metrics like how many calls I make each day, how many emails I send, and how many meetings I book. By checking weekly reports, I can see if I’m meeting my goals and make adjustments. If my call volume is down, I know I need to spend more time prospecting.
Email Analytics
Tools like Yesware and Outreach track how many of my emails are opened and clicked. This helps me determine which emails resonate best with prospects. If a template has a low open rate, I’ll try revising the subject line or content. I can also see who’s engaging with my emails so I know who to prioritize for follow up.
Call Recording and Analysis
Some phone systems allow call recording and provide transcripts and analytics. By reviewing recordings of my calls with prospects, I can analyze what’s working and not working. I may find I need to improve how I explain a product benefit or ask more questions to better understand a prospect’s needs. Call analysis has been hugely valuable for helping me strengthen my pitch and handle objections.
Win/Loss Analysis
For larger deals, conducting a win/loss analysis by talking to prospects who chose to buy from us or go with a competitor is very insightful. I can gain honest feedback on why they made their choice and use that information to win the next deal.
Using a combination of these analytics and reporting tools has made me a much more effective salesperson. I have data and insights to help me continually improve my prospecting and increase my win rates. By monitoring the metrics that matter, I can optimize my time and efforts to focus on the activities that will drive the best results.
Why Do You Need Tools for B2B Sales Prospecting
As a B2B salesperson, prospecting for new clients and leads is one of your most important tasks. Doing it manually is time-consuming and often frustrating. That’s why leveraging dedicated tools and software can make a huge difference.
Save Time
Prospecting tools help automate many of the repetitive, manual parts of the process like searching for contact info, sending intro emails and following up. This frees you up to focus on the high-value activities that really drive sales like building rapport, identifying needs and crafting solutions. Using tools, I’ve cut the time I spend on prospecting in half.
Expand Your Reach
With tools like LinkedIn Sales Navigator or ZoomInfo, I have access to a vastly bigger pool of prospects than I could ever find on my own. These platforms provide detailed profiles, contact information and insights to help me identify and connect with ideal targets. They even suggest leads similar to my best customers so I can scale my outreach.
Get Noticed
When reaching out to prospects, it’s critical to capture their attention quickly. Prospecting tools allow me to personalize emails, use dynamic fields to include personal details, and A/B test different subject lines and content to see what resonates most. This helps ensure my messages get opened and actually get a response.
The bottom line is that prospecting tools provide leverage and efficiency. They empower me to make the most of my time, expand my pipeline, get in front of the right buyers, and ultimately close more deals. For any B2B salesperson, these tools are essential. Your time is valuable, so invest in technology that accelerates your productivity and success.
Conclusion
And there you have it, my thoroughly researched list of the top 100 sales prospecting tools currently available. I hope you found a few new options to explore. As technology continues to progress, prospecting software will only become more sophisticated and AI-driven, allowing salespeople to work smarter and close more deals. But at the end of the day, no software can replace the human touch in sales. A friendly smile, a thoughtful personal note, and a genuine desire to solve problems will never go out of style. For now, take advantage of the resources available to you, continue learning and improving your craft, and go crush your next quarter! The future of sales is bright.