Best Cold Email Marketing Software

With so many tools claiming to be “the best”, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, isn’t it? Between flashy marketing promises and features that sound great but don’t always deliver, choosing the right cold email software can be tricky.

But don’t worry—we’ve done the heavy lifting for you. We’ve tested each tool in-depth, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses.

Stick with us as we break it all down together! 🚀

How to Choose Your Cold Email Marketing Software

Key Criteria

The perfect cold email software is the one that fits your needs, is reliable, and makes your life easier. To find the right match, evaluate each tool based on these four criteria:

• Ease of use

• Key features (email volume, personalization capabilities, automation, performance tracking tools…)

• Compatibility with your existing tools

• Pricing

Of course, this takes a considerable amount of time! That’s why we did it for you.

Our Methodology

We started with 20 of the most recommended cold email tools.

Out of those, only 7 made the cut. These are the ones we’re presenting to you today. Let’s be clear: all of these tools are solid performers. The real question is, which one is best for you?

We evaluated each tool based on 8 key factors:

1. Ease of use

2. Email volume

3. Automation capabilities

4. Ability to insert dynamic variables

5. Performance tracking

6. Customer support

7. Scalability

8. Cost

Here’s a snapshot of what we found: while each software has its strengths, our tests revealed some interesting trends.

Mail Merge for Gmail stood out for its exceptional ease of use. Its seamless integration with Gmail and Google Sheets makes it the ideal tool for users looking for a quick and efficient solution.

Lemlist wowed us with its advanced personalization capabilities and multichannel approach, but its pricing may be a hurdle for smaller teams. Hunter.io was unbeatable for email discovery and verification but fell short on sequence automation. Instantly.ai proved its power for large-scale campaigns, though its learning curve could deter beginners.

Snov.io shined with its versatility, offering a comprehensive solution for lead generation and emailing, though its advanced features require a paid plan. YAMM and Mailmeteor earned points for their seamless integration with Google Workspace, but their effectiveness is limited by Gmail’s sending quotas.

Now, let’s dive into our champion: Mail Merge for Gmail.

Mail Merge for Gmail 

⭐ Capterra Overall Rating: 4.8/5

✴️ Score in Our Test: 9/10

Mail Merge for Gmail is a powerful and intuitive solution that integrates seamlessly with Gmail and Google Sheets, making it easy to run personalized email campaigns.

You might wonder if our comparison is unbiased, given that we’re placing our own tool at the top. The answer is yes, it is unbiased. And here’s why: Mail Merge scored high across all our evaluation criteria.

It’s a simple yet efficient tool that doesn’t require any additional software to work properly—Gmail and Google Sheets are all you need. And don’t just take our word for it; our users on Capterra echo this sentiment :

"Use your gmail for bulk emailing

Overall: Overall Experience is very good So much to learn from this software and gives you to use your multiple gmail accounts

Pros: This helps you to use your gmail account. You don't need to purchase any other domain just simply add extension and use it for bulk emailing. You can use multiple accounts for this and you got 50 emails per day in free trail. It also show open rate / bounce rate.

Cons: Nothing as of now I am using this in full fledge but didn't see anything which I dislike."

Key Features of Mail Merge for Gmail

Let’s dive into the key features that make Mail Merge for Gmail stand out.

One of the biggest strengths of this tool is its integration with Gmail and Google Sheets as a simple extension, eliminating the need for third-party tools. No extra logins or steep learning curves—just straightforward functionality. Convenient, isn’t it?

You can create visually appealing emails by adding images, emojis, links, or even attachments, ensuring your messages catch the recipient’s eye right away.

Another standout feature is the personalization. With dynamic fields like recipient name or company, you can tailor each email. Plus, you have control over details like the sender’s name and reply-to address, making every email feel personal and professional.

Scheduling your campaigns is just as seamless. Pick the perfect time to send your messages and track their performance in real-time with clear reports on open and click-through rates.

Finally, Mail Merge includes thoughtful tools to optimize campaign management. Cancel an ongoing campaign if necessary, add an unsubscribe link for a better user experience, or send to multiple recipients in just a few clicks. It’s all about simplifying and amplifying your email marketing efforts.

Let’s analyze Mail Merge for Gmail based on the key factors from our comparative test :

• Ease of Use: Mail Merge’s native integration with Gmail and its simplicity make it incredibly user-friendly, even for beginners.

• Email Volume: The email sending limit depends on Gmail’s restrictions (typically 500 emails per day for standard accounts and up to 2,000 for Google Workspace).

• Automation: With scheduled follow-ups and response tracking, Mail Merge offers robust automation suitable for small to mid-sized campaigns.

• Dynamic Variables: Personalization is at the core of Mail Merge, allowing you to tailor emails to each recipient.

• Performance Tracking: Built-in reports provide clear insights into campaign impact.

• Customer Support: Our detailed documentation and responsive customer service consistently earn praise from users.

• Scalability: Ideal for small to medium-sized campaigns, though larger enterprises might find it limiting.

• Cost: Mail Merge offers affordable plans, with premium options delivering excellent value for regular users.

In summary, Mail Merge for Gmail is a reliable, accessible solution for small teams or individuals who need a simple yet effective tool.

Pros and Cons of Mail Merge for Gmail

✅ Pros

• Exceptional ease of use

• Affordable for small teams

• Flexible campaign management (cancellation, unsubscribe link)

• Data privacy: Mail Merge does not share your data with third parties.

• No access to your Gmail inbox or Google Sheets files.

• Certified CASA Tier 3 and ISO 27001.

❌ Cons

• Limited by Gmail’s sending quotas

• Basic reporting features

• Less suitable for large enterprises

Pricing of Mail Merge for Gmail

Mail Merge for Gmail offers several pricing plans:

Lemlist

⭐ Capterra Overall Rating: 4.6/5

✴️ Score in Our Test: 8/10

Lemlist is a cold emailing software that focuses on personalization and automation. It stands out with its advanced personalization features, multichannel automation, and robust tracking tools.

Key Features of Lemlist

Lemlist takes personalization to the next level by allowing you to embed the recipient’s name directly onto an image or video included in your emails. This unique approach, combined with dynamic CTA options tailored to each prospect, maximizes engagement.

On the automation side, Lemlist excels with a multichannel approach. You can orchestrate your campaigns across emails, LinkedIn messages, and phone calls. Need to automatically follow up with a prospect after they open an email or click a link? Lemlist has you covered.

Finally, you can access detailed insights into your open, click-through, and reply rates, while identifying your most promising prospects with its built-in scoring system.

Here’s our analysis of Lemlist based on the key factors from our comparative test:

1. Ease of Use: Some advanced features require a learning curve.

2. Email Volume: Scalable sending capacity.

3. Automation: Advanced multichannel sequence automation with conditional triggers based on prospect interactions.

4. Dynamic Variables: Yes, supports advanced personalization.

5. Performance Tracking: Detailed analytics with real-time reports on prospect interactions.

6. Customer Support: Responsive support team with an active user community.

7. Scalability: Suitable for growing businesses.

8. Cost: High, but offers a 14-day free trial.

Pros and Cons of Lemlist

✅ Pros

• Advanced personalization

• Multichannel automation

• Seamless CRM integrations

❌ Cons

• Steep learning curve

• Costly for small teams

• Email sending limits depend on the restrictions of the email service provider

Pricing of Lemlist

Lemlist offers several pricing plans:

Hunter.io

⭐ Capterra Overall Rating: 4.6/5

✴️ Score in Our Test: 7/10

Hunter.io simplifies the process of finding and verifying professional email addresses. It enables sales and marketing professionals to quickly access key prospect contact details and automate cold email campaigns.

Key Features of Hunter.io

Hunter.io is a versatile tool designed to help you find email addresses associated with specific domains and verify their validity to reduce bounce rates.

The platform includes a campaign feature that streamlines bulk email sending with automated follow-ups and tracking. Additionally, Hunter.io integrates seamlessly with various CRMs and marketing tools to enhance workflow efficiency.

Here’s our analysis of Hunter.io based on the key factors from our comparative test:

1. Ease of Use: The interface is intuitive and well-structured.

2. Email Volume: Flexible, depending on the plan selected.

3. Automation: Allows for the creation of automated email sequences with personalized follow-ups.

4. Dynamic Variables: Supports advanced email personalization.

5. Performance Tracking: Provides insights into open, click, and reply rates.

6. Customer Support: Responsive online support with detailed guides and tutorials.

7. Scalability: Suitable for growing teams.

8. Cost: Offers a range of pricing plans to fit different budgets.

Pros and Cons of Hunter.io

✅ Pros

• Efficient email search and verification.

• Simplified automation features.

• Affordable for small teams.

❌ Cons

• Limited reporting features.

• No multichannel management.

• Email volume is restricted in lower-tier plans.

Pricing of Hunter.io

Hunter.io offers several pricing plans tailored to different needs:

Instantly.ai

⭐ Capterra Overall Rating: not applicable

✴️ Score in Our Test: 6/10

Instantly.ai is a cold email automation platform designed to enhance the performance of large-scale campaigns.

Key Features of Instantly.ai

Instantly.ai stands out with its ability to manage multiple domains and mailboxes, allowing you to scale up email volumes while maintaining high deliverability rates. The tool distributes sends across various addresses to minimize the risk of being flagged or blocked.

On the automation side, Instantly.ai enables the creation of smart email sequences with personalized follow-ups based on prospect interactions. Its performance tracking feature provides detailed metrics on open, click-through, and response rates, helping users optimize their campaigns in real time.

Here’s our analysis of Instantly.ai based on the key factors from our comparative test:

1. Ease of Use: Clear and intuitive interface.

2. Email Volume: Built to handle large-scale campaigns.

3. Automation: Offers personalized sequences with automated follow-ups triggered by prospect actions.

4. Dynamic Variables: Yes, supports advanced personalization.

5. Performance Tracking: Provides detailed reports with real-time insights.

6. Customer Support: Support via chat and comprehensive documentation, though no phone support is available.

7. Scalability: Suitable for large-scale campaigns.

8. Cost: Offers flexible pricing plans.

Pros and Cons of Instantly.ai

✅ Pros

• Multi-domain management.

• Real-time tracking of campaign performance.

• Smart automation for personalized follow-ups.

❌ Cons

• Fewer integration options with CRMs compared to competitors.

• No phone support.

• Steep learning curve for beginners.

Pricing of Instantly.ai

Instantly.ai offers several pricing plans:

Snov.io

⭐ Capterra Overall Rating: 4.5/5

✴️ Score in Our Test: 7/10

Snov.io is an all-in-one platform designed to help businesses find, verify, and engage with prospects through automated email campaigns. It optimizes every step of the sales cycle, from lead generation to conversion.

Key Features of Snov.io

Snov.io excels in email generation and verification. Its Chrome extension allows users to easily collect professional email addresses from websites, social media platforms, and other online sources.

The tool also offers advanced email sequences with robust customization options. You can track prospect interactions with detailed reports on open rates, click-through rates, and replies, giving you the insights needed to refine your outreach.

Here’s our analysis of Snov.io based on the key factors from our comparative test:

1. Ease of Use: Requires a learning curve for new users.

2. Email Volume: Flexible plans to accommodate various needs.

3. Automation: Advanced automation with multi-step sequences and smart follow-ups.

4. Dynamic Variables: Supports dynamic personalization.

5. Performance Tracking: Provides detailed analytics on prospect interactions.

6. Customer Support: Offers support via chat and an extensive knowledge base.

7. Scalability: Scales well for growing businesses.

8. Cost: Includes a free plan to test essential features.

Pros and Cons of Snov.io

✅ Pros

• Effective lead generation.

• Advanced automation features.

• Detailed reporting.

• Integrates with popular CRMs.

❌ Cons

• Steep learning curve for beginners.

• Limitations on the free plan.

• No multichannel management, unlike some competitors.

Pricing of Snov.io

Yet Another Mail Merge (YAMM)

⭐ Capterra Overall Rating: 4.5/5

✴️ Score in Our Test: 7/10

Yet Another Mail Merge (YAMM) is a Google Workspace extension that simplifies the process of running personalized email campaigns directly through Gmail. This tool is particularly popular among small teams and freelancers who want to manage campaigns using a familiar interface.

Key Features of YAMM

YAMM integrates seamlessly with Google Sheets, allowing you to import your contact lists directly from a spreadsheet and send personalized emails with just a few clicks.

Once your emails are sent, you can view key metrics like open and click-through rates directly within the same Google Sheet, making it easy to monitor your campaign’s performance.

Here’s our analysis of YAMM based on the key factors from our comparative test:

1. Ease of Use: Easy to install and use as a Google Workspace extension.

2. Email Volume: Limited by Gmail’s sending quotas.

3. Automation: Lacks automated follow-ups, which require manual adjustments or complementary tools.

4. Dynamic Variables: Emails can be personalized using data from Google Sheets columns.

5. Performance Tracking: Integrated tracking for opens, clicks, and replies, displayed directly in your Google Sheet.

6. Customer Support: Offers detailed documentation and email support but lacks live chat or 24/7 assistance.

7. Scalability: Designed for small to medium-sized campaigns.

8. Cost: Affordable plans, including a free version for limited use.

Pros and Cons of YAMM

✅ Pros

• Native Google Sheets integration: Easy personalization using dynamic variables from spreadsheet columns, with stats displayed in the same sheet.

• Affordable: Budget-friendly plans suitable for small teams and freelancers.

• Ease of Use: Intuitive interface requiring no advanced technical skills.

❌ Cons

• Limited by Gmail quotas.

• No automated follow-ups: Manual adjustments or external tools required.

• Free plan limitations: Restrictive for larger campaigns.

• Multi-user pricing model: For 51 users, you must pay for 100, which may not suit team needs.

Pricing of YAMM

Mailmeteor

⭐ Capterra Overall Rating: 4.8/5

✴️ Score in Our Test: 8/10

Mailmeteor is a Gmail extension that simplifies the process of sending mass personalized emails. The tool places a strong emphasis on privacy and data security.

Key Features of Mailmeteor

Mailmeteor stands out for its seamless integration with Google Sheets and Gmail. You can import your contact lists directly from a Google Sheet, customize your emails using dynamic fields, and view campaign performance within the same spreadsheet.

Unlike many other tools, Mailmeteor does not access your emails or contact data, ensuring a more secure user experience. Additionally, it offers built-in tracking, allowing you to analyze open rates, click-throughs, and replies with ease.

Here’s an analysis of Mailmeteor based on the key factors from our comparative test:

1. Ease of Use: Quick setup through Google Workspace.

2. Email Volume: Limited by Gmail’s sending quotas.

3. Automation: Follow-ups require manual management.

4. Dynamic Variables: Supports advanced personalization.

5. Performance Tracking: Analyze opens, clicks, and replies directly in Google Sheets.

6. Customer Support: Email support and detailed documentation available.

7. Scalability: Designed for small to medium-sized campaigns.

8. Cost: Free plan available for limited needs.

Pros and Cons of Mailmeteor

✅ Pros

• Native integration with Google Sheets and Gmail.

• Strong focus on privacy and data security.

• Intuitive use of dynamic fields for personalization.

• Affordable pricing options.

❌ Cons

• Limited by Gmail sending quotas.

• No automatic follow-ups.

• Limited support options.

Pricing of Mailmeteor

Conclusion

Cold emailing remains an essential strategy for building connections, generating leads, and growing your business. With the tools we’ve explored, you now have everything you need to choose the one that best fits your needs.

However, the success of your campaigns doesn’t rely solely on selecting the right software—your email content plays a critical role. To take your skills even further, check out our guides on how to write an effective cold email and the best subject lines for your emails. These resources will help you refine your messages and boost your response rates.

It’s your turn! 🚀 Take the next step with our best cold email tools for Google Sheets.