Mailforge Alternatives

Mailforge is a popular choice for a reason. Many users like how it quickly sets up cold email infrastructure. Its strength is simplifying the technical side of scaling outreach, letting you manage multiple domains and mailboxes without the usual headaches.

But like any tool, it has limits. Some users find it expensive or wish for features like advanced analytics. We've analyzed the top alternatives based on G2 reviews to help you find the right fit. Let's get started.

11x: Digital Workers For Sales Outreach

For teams exploring digital workers in their sales process, 11x offers a different approach. It provides specialized assistants to handle various outreach tasks. Consider this option if you want to automate more than just email campaigns and support your sales staff with dedicated digital help.

11x is a GTM platform that uses AI agents to manage the sales process. One agent, Alice, finds prospects, conducts outreach on email and LinkedIn, and keeps the CRM updated.

Another agent, Julian, qualifies inbound leads and schedules meetings. The platform combines data enrichment, outreach, and email warmup, removing the need for multiple separate tools.

Mailforge Alternatives

Here is a detailed breakdown of the top Mailforge alternatives. Each review covers pricing, core features, and the main pros and cons compared to Mailforge.

1) Lemlist

Lemlist is a sales engagement platform to find, enrich, and contact leads from one workspace. It offers a database with over 450 million contacts and automates outreach across email, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, and phone.

The platform uses AI for message personalization and includes the lemwarm tool to maintain high email deliverability. It automates outreach at scale with the goal to get more replies from prospects.

Lemlist's Main Features

• Accesses a 450 M+ B2B lead database and enriches contacts with verified emails and phone numbers.
• Automates multichannel sequences across email, LinkedIn actions, WhatsApp messages, and phone calls.
• Personalizes messages at scale by scraping social profiles and websites for fresh insights.
• Integrates natively with CRMs like HubSpot and Salesforce to run campaigns from a single workflow.

Lemlist vs. Mailforge: Key Differences

Average Review score: 4.4/5 stars based on 276 G2 reviews.

• Lemlist provides a built-in database of over 450 million B2B contacts, so users do not need a separate tool for lead sourcing.
• The platform supports multichannel outreach across email, LinkedIn, and phone calls. Mailforge, in comparison, concentrates on setting up email infrastructure.
• It allows for advanced message personalization with dynamic images and videos. This offers more creative options than standard text-based personalization.
• A native calling feature is included to contact prospects directly from the platform. This integrates voice communication into sequences, a feature not present in Mailforge.

Where Lemlist Falls Short Compared To Mailforge

• Lemlist does not focus on the technical setup of cold email infrastructure. Users who need to manage multiple domains and mailboxes may find Mailforge's specialized tools more direct for this purpose.
• Its all-in-one approach means it can be more complex for teams that only require email warmup and infrastructure management. Mailforge provides a more streamlined experience for these specific tasks.
• Some users report occasional technical issues with features like data enrichment. This might disrupt prospecting efforts, a concern that is less prominent with Mailforge's focused functionality.

Cost and Value Comparison

Lemlist's pricing is flexible, with a free plan and an Email Pro tier at $55 per year, making it accessible for starting out. Mailforge, on the other hand, requires a minimum purchase of 10 mailbox slots, a model better suited for larger teams planning to scale, despite a potentially higher initial investment.

2) Mailshake

Mailshake is a sales-engagement platform for multi-channel outreach. Teams can manage email, phone, and LinkedIn campaigns from one dashboard. The tool focuses on deliverability, automated follow-ups, and AI-assisted content creation.

It helps sales reps, agencies, and marketers connect with prospects to book meetings and generate revenue.

Mailshake's Main Features

• Auto-generates and spins copy, subject lines, and A/B test variants with generative AI.
• Searches and purchases verified prospect email addresses by role, location, or company using a built-in data finder.
• Automates LinkedIn connection requests, profile views, and messages for multi-channel sequences.
• Prioritizes highly engaged prospects in a dedicated queue for quick action with its Lead Catcher feature.

Mailshake vs. Mailforge: Key Differences

Average Review score: 4.7/5 stars based on 326 G2 reviews.

• Mailshake supports multi-channel outreach, which lets you contact prospects through phone and social media. This is different from Mailforge, which concentrates on email setup.
• The tool includes lead scoring and prioritization features. This helps sales teams focus on the most engaged prospects, an option not available in Mailforge.
• It uses AI to generate and test different email copy. This provides more content automation compared to Mailforge's infrastructure-focused toolset.
• A starter plan is available for a single user at $29 per month. This makes Mailshake more accessible for individuals compared to Mailforge's minimum purchase of 10 mailbox slots.

Where Mailshake Falls Short Compared To Mailforge

• Mailshake does not provide dedicated tools for the technical setup of cold email infrastructure. In contrast, Mailforge focuses on simplifying the management of multiple domains and mailboxes for scaled outreach.
• Its all-in-one approach can be complex for teams that only need email warmup and infrastructure management. Mailforge gives a more direct experience for these specific tasks.
• Some users report occasional integration issues with their tech stack. This might disrupt sales workflows, a concern less prominent with Mailforge's specialized function.

Cost and Value Comparison

Mailshake offers a flexible entry point at $29 per month for one user, while its 10-account plan costs $99 per month. This contrasts with Mailforge's model, which requires a minimum purchase of 10 mailbox slots, positioning it for teams planning to scale from the outset.

3) Reply.io

Reply.io is a sales engagement platform for B2B teams. It finds prospects and connects with them across email, LinkedIn, and phone. Users can run manual outreach or deploy an autonomous AI agent that handles the sales process from research to booking meetings.

The platform includes a deliverability suite and unlimited mailbox warm-up. These features support scaled outbound campaigns and help emails land in the primary inbox.

Reply.io's Main Features

• Deploys an autonomous AI agent, Jason AI, to handle prospecting, message generation, reply handling, and meeting booking.
• Combines email, LinkedIn steps, calls, SMS, and WhatsApp into multichannel conditional sequences.
• Uses AI Variables for paragraph-level personalization that rewrites every email uniquely at scale.
• Accesses over one billion contacts with intent signals through a real-time B2B data search feature.

How Reply.io Compares to Mailforge

Average Review score: 4.6/5 stars based on 1,458 G2 reviews.

• Reply.io offers an autonomous AI agent to manage the entire sales process, from prospecting to booking meetings. This provides end-to-end automation, while Mailforge focuses on the technical setup of email infrastructure.
• The platform supports outreach across multiple channels, including SMS, WhatsApp, and phone calls. This is a broader approach compared to Mailforge's concentration on email campaigns.
• It includes a real-time B2B data search feature with access to over one billion contacts. This removes the need for a separate lead sourcing tool, which is often used with Mailforge.
• This tool uses AI to rewrite entire paragraphs for personalization in every email. This offers a deeper level of unique content generation than the infrastructure management tools in Mailforge.

Where Reply.io Falls Short Compared To Mailforge

• Reply.io's focus is on sales engagement across many channels. This means it does not have the same deep tools for managing the technical setup of multiple email domains as Mailforge, which is built specifically for that task.
• The platform's wide range of features can introduce a learning curve for new users. Some teams might find Mailforge's simpler, infrastructure-focused interface quicker to adopt for their specific needs.
• While it offers a free plan, some users report that scaling a team on Reply.io can become expensive. Mailforge's pricing model, which starts with a block of mailboxes, can be more predictable for larger teams planning for growth.

Cost and Value Comparison

Reply.io offers a free plan and paid tiers starting at $49 per user per month, providing a flexible entry point for individuals. In contrast, Mailforge requires a minimum purchase of 10 mailbox slots, a model designed for teams that need to scale their email infrastructure from the beginning.

4) Woodpecker

Woodpecker is a cold email automation tool for B2B companies. Sales teams and agencies use it to run outreach campaigns with a focus on deliverability. The platform offers automated follow-ups and personalization features to help users connect with prospects and build relationships. It is designed for lead generation and recruitment outreach.

Woodpecker's Main Features

• Automates LinkedIn outreach by adding invites, messages, and profile visits to sequences.
• Offers an agency panel for managing multiple client campaigns from a single interface.
• Uses condition-based logic to create flexible paths within outreach campaigns.
• Includes inbox rotation to send from multiple accounts and adaptive sending to stay within provider limits.

How Woodpecker Compares To Mailforge

Average Review score: 4.5/5 stars based on 93 G2 reviews.

• Woodpecker automates LinkedIn outreach with invites and messages. This is different from Mailforge, which focuses only on email infrastructure.
• It uses condition-based logic for flexible campaign paths. This allows for more tailored follow-ups compared to the simpler campaign structures you might run with a Mailforge setup.
• The tool includes a dedicated panel for agencies to manage multiple client campaigns from one interface. Mailforge does not offer a specific feature set for agency management.
• This platform provides inbox rotation to distribute emails across multiple accounts in one campaign. This is a slight difference from Mailforge, which helps set up the mailboxes but does not manage the distribution for the campaign.

Where Woodpecker Falls Short Compared To Mailforge

• Woodpecker does not offer tools for the initial technical setup of new domains and mailboxes. Mailforge specializes in this area and simplifies tasks like DNS record configuration and the preparation of new accounts for outreach.
• The tool is designed around campaign execution rather than holistic infrastructure management. Teams that must monitor the health and deliverability of dozens of domains at once may find Mailforge provides a more centralized dashboard for that specific purpose.
• While it has an agency panel to manage client campaigns, it lacks the infrastructure-level tools to set up and manage separate client domains. Mailforge is built to handle the technical backend for multiple entities, a different need for some agencies.

Cost and Value Comparison

Woodpecker's pricing starts at $29 per month, offering an accessible entry point for individuals or small teams. In contrast, Mailforge requires a minimum purchase of 10 mailbox slots, a model better suited for teams planning to scale their email infrastructure from the start.

5) Smartlead

Smartlead is a cold email platform that helps scale outreach campaigns. It provides unlimited email account connections and a master inbox to manage all conversations in one place. The platform also has an email warm-up tool to protect sender reputation.

Sales teams and agencies use it for high-volume outreach and lead generation.

Smartlead's Main Features

• Connects an unlimited number of email accounts and auto-rotates them to send without daily limits.
• Manages all prospect replies in a unified master inbox that uses machine learning to categorize intent.
• Offers white-labeling to run the platform on a custom domain and brand the client portal.
• Includes a deliverability stack with two-click domain purchasing, inbox placement testing, and dedicated servers.

How Smartlead Compares To Mailforge

Average Review score: 4.6/5 stars based on 256 G2 reviews.

• Smartlead allows you to connect an unlimited number of email accounts. This is different from Mailforge, which structures its plans around specific blocks of mailboxes.
• It offers a master inbox to manage all replies in one place. This centralizes communication, while Mailforge requires a separate system to handle responses from various mailboxes.
• The platform provides a white-label option for agencies to brand the client portal. Mailforge does not offer this feature, as it focuses on backend infrastructure instead of client presentation.
• This tool includes a powerful API to automate the entire campaign workflow. This allows for deep integration and hands-off management, a different approach from Mailforge's focus on simplified manual setup.

Where Smartlead Falls Short Compared To Mailforge

• Smartlead does not offer dedicated tools for the initial technical setup of new domains. In contrast, Mailforge simplifies tasks like DNS record configuration, which can be a manual process for users of other platforms.
• The tool focuses more on campaign execution than on infrastructure management. Teams that need to monitor the health of many domains might find Mailforge's centralized dashboard more direct for that specific task.
• Some users report occasional slow loading when campaigns are very large. Mailforge's focus on a narrower set of infrastructure tasks may provide more consistent performance for those specific functions.

Cost and Value Comparison

Smartlead's pricing starts at $39 per month for its Basic Plan, offering an accessible entry point for individuals. Mailforge, in contrast, requires a minimum purchase of 10 mailbox slots, a model designed for teams that need to scale their email infrastructure from the start.

Try 11x for a Digital Sales Workforce

If you want to automate more than just email outreach, consider 11x. Its digital workers can find prospects, qualify leads, and update the CRM. This lets your sales team focus on tasks that require a human touch, like negotiations and client relationships.

With 11x, we use AI to manage the sales process. Our agent Alice finds accounts, enriches data, and handles outreach. Julian takes calls, qualifies leads, and books meetings. This combines data, outreach, and warmup into one platform, removing the need for separate tools.

Book a demo to see it in action.

6) Instantly.ai

Instantly.ai is a platform for cold outreach campaigns. It lets you connect unlimited email accounts and includes a warm-up tool to protect sender reputation. The system offers a campaign builder and a central inbox to manage all replies.

It serves businesses that need lead generation, agencies that handle client accounts, and teams that focus on recruitment. The platform helps scale outreach efforts through its infrastructure.

Instantly.ai's Main Features

• Connects unlimited email accounts and buys sending domains with pre-configured MX, SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records.
• Accesses a 250M+ B2B lead database with filters for technology, company size, revenue, and buying signals.
• Generates personalization variables, sequences, and follow-up logic using an AI copilot with automated A/Z testing.
• Manages conversations from all inboxes in a unified space where AI labels replies by intent, such as "Interested" or "Not Interested."

How Instantly.ai Compares To Mailforge

Average Review score: 4.8/5 stars based on 3,721 G2 reviews.

• Instantly.ai allows you to connect an unlimited number of email accounts. This is different from Mailforge, which structures its plans around specific blocks of mailboxes.
• It includes a B2B lead database with over 250 million contacts. This removes the need for a separate lead sourcing tool, which is often used with Mailforge.
• The platform lets you buy sending domains with pre-configured DNS records. This offers a more automated setup compared to Mailforge, where configuration is a simplified but separate step.
• This tool provides a central inbox to manage all replies, using AI to label conversations by intent. Mailforge focuses on infrastructure and does not include a unified system for managing responses.

Where Instantly.ai Falls Short Compared To Mailforge

• Instantly.ai does not offer the same dedicated tools for the initial technical setup of domains. Mailforge, in comparison, simplifies tasks like DNS record configuration, which can be a manual process on other platforms.
• Some users report that the platform's interface can lag when it handles very large campaigns. Mailforge's focus on a narrower set of infrastructure tasks may offer more consistent performance for its specific functions.
• Its reporting tools center on campaign performance metrics like open and reply rates. Mailforge, on the other hand, provides a dashboard specifically to monitor the technical health and deliverability status across multiple domains.

Cost and Value Comparison

Instantly.ai's pricing starts at $37 per month for its Growth plan, offering a flexible entry point for individuals. Mailforge, in contrast, requires a minimum purchase of 10 mailbox slots, a model designed for teams that need to scale their email infrastructure from the beginning.

7) Apollo.io

Apollo.io is a sales intelligence platform that helps teams find and engage with prospects. It combines a large B2B database with tools for outreach, analytics, and workflow automation. The platform is designed to cover the entire sales process, from prospect search to a closed deal.

Apollo.io's Main Features

• Access to a database of over 275 million contacts with advanced filters.
• Automation for email and LinkedIn outreach through multi-step sequences.
• A lead score feature based on engagement and demographic data to prioritize follow-ups.
• Analytics on campaign performance and team activity.

How Apollo.io Compares To Mailforge

Average Review score: 4.8/5 stars based on 8,791 G2 reviews.

• Apollo.io includes a large B2B contact database. This removes the need for a separate tool to source leads, which is often required with Mailforge.
• The platform is an all-in-one solution for prospect discovery and outreach. Mailforge, in contrast, specializes in the technical setup and management of email infrastructure.
• It offers a lead score to help sales teams prioritize prospects. This feature is not available in Mailforge, which focuses on domain health and deliverability metrics.
• Apollo.io supports LinkedIn automation within its outreach sequences. Mailforge's functionality is limited to email.

Where Apollo.io Falls Short Compared To Mailforge

• Apollo.io does not specialize in the initial technical setup of new domains. Mailforge offers dedicated tools that simplify DNS record configuration and other setup tasks.
• For teams that only need to manage email infrastructure, Apollo.io's broad feature set can be complex. Mailforge provides a more focused solution for this specific use case.
• Some users report that to maintain high email deliverability at scale can require careful management. Mailforge is built specifically to address and simplify deliverability challenges.

Cost and Value Comparison

Apollo.io offers a free plan with limited credits and paid plans that start at $49 per user per month. This provides an accessible entry point for individuals, while Mailforge's model, which requires a 10-mailbox minimum, is designed for teams that scale their infrastructure from the outset.

Apollo.io is a sales intelligence platform that gives teams tools to find and connect with prospects. It includes a B2B database, outreach functions, analytics, and workflow automation. The system covers the sales cycle from prospect discovery to a finished deal.

Apollo.io's Main Features

• Accesses a database of over 275 million contacts with advanced filters.
• Automates email and LinkedIn outreach through multi-step sequences.
• Scores leads based on engagement and demographic data to prioritize follow-ups.
• Provides analytics on campaign performance and team activity.

How Apollo.io Compares To Mailforge

Average Review score: 4.7/5 stars based on 8,904 G2 reviews.

• Apollo.io includes a large B2B contact database. Mailforge, in contrast, requires a separate tool to source leads.
• The platform is an all-in-one solution for prospect discovery and outreach, while Mailforge specializes in the technical setup of email infrastructure.
• It offers a lead scoring feature to help sales teams prioritize prospects. This function is not available in Mailforge, which focuses on domain health metrics.
• This tool supports LinkedIn automation within its outreach sequences. Mailforge's functionality, on the other hand, is limited to email.

Where Apollo.io Falls Short Compared To Mailforge

• Apollo.io does not specialize in the initial technical setup of new domains. In contrast, Mailforge offers tools that simplify DNS record configuration and other setup tasks.
• For teams that only need email infrastructure management, the platform's broad feature set can be complex. Mailforge provides a more focused solution for this specific need.
• Some users find that maintaining high email deliverability at scale requires careful management. Mailforge is built specifically to simplify deliverability challenges for large outreach campaigns.

Cost and Value Comparison

Apollo.io offers a free plan with limited credits and paid plans that start at $49 per user per month. This provides an accessible entry point for individuals, while Mailforge's model, which requires a 10-mailbox minimum, is designed for teams that scale their infrastructure from the outset.

8) Snov.io

Snov.io is a sales automation platform for outreach. It provides tools to find prospects, manage contacts, and send automated email sequences. The platform brings the cold outreach process for sales and marketing teams into one dashboard.

Snov.io's Main Features

• Manages contacts, accounts, opportunities, and sales pipelines.
• Automates lead management and marketing tasks for sales teams.
• Provides reporting and analytics through customizable dashboards.
• Offers access to contact, company, and industry research data.

How Snov.io Compares To Mailforge

Average Review score: 4.6/5 stars based on 450 G2 reviews.

• Snov.io includes a built-in CRM to manage contacts, accounts, and sales pipelines. This differs from Mailforge, which focuses only on the technical setup of email accounts and requires a separate CRM.
• It finds prospect contact and company information directly within the platform. This is a feature Mailforge does not have, as it requires a separate tool for lead sourcing.
• The tool supports LinkedIn engagement as part of its outreach sequences. Mailforge, in comparison, limits its functionality to email infrastructure and does not include social media outreach.
• This platform provides analytics dashboards for campaign performance. This offers different reporting from Mailforge, which concentrates on domain health and deliverability metrics.

Where Snov.io Falls Short Compared To Mailforge

• Snov.io does not offer dedicated tools for the initial technical setup of new domains. In contrast, Mailforge simplifies tasks like DNS record configuration, which can be a manual process on other platforms.
• The tool is designed around campaign execution rather than holistic infrastructure management. Teams that need to watch the health of many domains may find Mailforge provides a more centralized dashboard for that specific purpose.
• Its all-in-one approach can feel complex for teams that only need email infrastructure management. Mailforge provides a more focused solution for this specific use case, which some teams might prefer for its simplicity.

Cost and Value Comparison

Snov.io offers a free trial and paid plans starting at $39 per month, providing an accessible entry point for individuals. Mailforge, in contrast, requires a minimum purchase of 10 mailbox slots, a model designed for teams that need to scale their email infrastructure from the start.

9) Outreach

Outreach is a sales execution platform. It provides the infrastructure for revenue teams to automate and manage the sales process. The system offers a structured way to execute outreach sequences and analyze results. This helps teams standardize workflows and gives them clear pipeline visibility.

Outreach's Main Features

• Provides calling and click-to-call functions for direct communication with prospects.
• Records prospect data and allows for adding notes to contact profiles.
• Delivers analytics on campaign performance, including open rates and link activity.
• Offers insights and a daily summary to help track sales activities.

How Outreach Compares To Mailforge

Average Review score: 4.3/5 stars based on 3,479 G2 reviews.

• Outreach includes calling and click-to-call functions for direct prospect communication. This is a feature Mailforge does not offer, as it focuses on email infrastructure.
• The platform delivers analytics on campaign performance, such as open rates and link activity. This is different from Mailforge, which provides metrics on domain health and deliverability.
• It allows sales teams to record prospect data and add notes directly to contact profiles. Mailforge does not have this capability, as it is not a contact management system.
• This tool offers a daily summary to help track sales activities. This provides a different kind of overview compared to Mailforge's dashboard, which monitors technical infrastructure health.

Where Outreach Falls Short Compared To Mailforge

• Outreach does not have dedicated tools for the initial technical setup of new email domains. In contrast, Mailforge simplifies the configuration of DNS records, which can be a manual and complex task for users on other platforms.
• The tool's focus is on sales execution, so it does not provide a centralized dashboard to monitor the technical health of multiple domains. This is a core feature in Mailforge for managing deliverability at scale.
• Some teams may find the platform's wide range of features complex if they only need to manage email infrastructure. Mailforge offers a more focused solution for this specific task, which can be simpler to adopt.

Cost and Value Comparison

Outreach does not publicly list its pricing, which is often customized for enterprise teams. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, we recommend visiting Outreach's official website.

10) Salesloft

Salesloft is a sales engagement platform for revenue teams. It helps manage the full sales cycle, from initial contact to final deal. The system provides a framework for sales activities and combines email, calls, and social media into a single workflow to connect with buyers.

Salesloft's Main Features

• Provides calling capabilities, including click-to-call functionality and the option to record calls.
• Allows users to manage contacts and add notes directly to their profiles.
• Delivers analytics on campaign performance, tracking open rates, link activity, and attachment activity.
• Offers insights and features for sending personalized, automated emails.

How Salesloft Compares To Mailforge

Average Review score: 4.5/5 stars based on 4,145 G2 reviews.

• Salesloft provides calling capabilities, including a click-to-call function and call recording. Mailforge, in contrast, does not offer voice communication tools as it centers on email infrastructure.
• The platform delivers analytics on campaign performance, such as open rates and link activity. This is different from Mailforge, which provides metrics on domain health and deliverability.
• It allows sales teams to manage contacts and add notes directly within the system. Mailforge does not have this capability, as it is not a contact management tool.
• This tool offers insights into sales activities with features that track attachment activity. Mailforge's dashboard, on the other hand, monitors technical infrastructure health.

Where Salesloft Falls Short Compared To Mailforge

• Salesloft lacks tools for the initial technical setup of new domains. Mailforge, in comparison, simplifies DNS record configuration, a task that can be manual and complex on other platforms.
• The platform focuses on sales execution, so it does not offer a central dashboard to monitor the technical health of multiple domains. Mailforge provides this as a core feature to manage deliverability at scale.
• For teams that only need to manage email infrastructure, Salesloft's broad feature set can be complex. Mailforge provides a more focused solution for this specific use case, which some teams might find simpler to adopt.

Cost and Value Comparison

Salesloft does not publicly list its pricing, as it is typically customized for enterprise teams. This contrasts with Mailforge's model, which requires a minimum purchase of 10 mailbox slots. For accurate pricing details, we recommend visiting Salesloft's official website.

Which One Should You Go With?

The right Mailforge alternative depends on many variables, from team size to outreach strategy. This guide shared several options to help you make an informed decision.

For teams that want to automate more than email, 11x offers digital workers for prospecting, lead qualification, and CRM updates. This approach frees your sales team to focus on deal closure and client relationships.