We tried 4 best Expandi alternatives. Here’s our feedback

Expandi is an automation platform that combines LinkedIn and cold email outreach. In this article, we briefly review Expandi, its features, pricing, and alternatives.

You want to automate LinkedIn outreach, but Expandi doesn't cut it for you??

In that case, you’ve come to the right place since we’ve:

• Tested both Expandi and several Expandi alternatives to see how they compare in terms of all the must-have LinkedIn automation features;
• Interviewed past and current Expandi users and Expandi alternatives;
• Checked out the customer reviews and ratings on all the relevant sites, such as G2, Capterra, etc.
• Made a list of the 4 best Expandi alternatives based on the results of our research.

The factors we’ve considered when rating these platforms include the following:

• Safety;
• Options for safely bypassing LinkedIn limits;
• Personalization features;
• Smart sequence and campaign automation;
• Pricing;
• Most common issues reported by users;
• Primary use case.

Let’s briefly review Expandi and its features first to see what Expandi’s competitors are actually up against.

• Even though it’s cloud-based and has some great features, such as combining LinkedIn and cold email outreach, the Expandi is very complicated to use and the pricing plan is inflexible.  
• Sales Robot is the best Expandi alternative for teams and agencies - although individual users will find it a great value for money as well - since it offers advanced hyper-personalization options and as many as three different ways of safely bypassing LinkedIn restrictions.
• Linked Helper is the best Expandi alternative if you’re on a budget, but it is far from being the safest option and can be quite complicated to use;
• Meet Alfred is the best Expandi alternative for managing multi-channel campaigns simultaneously, but it is a little glitchy and doesn’t have as many sophisticated functionalities when it comes to automating LinkedIn in particular;
• Octopus is the best Expandi alternative for beginners who are just starting to wrap their head around LinkedIn automation and don’t need as many advanced features.

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So, what is Expandi?

Expandi is a LinkedIn automation platform that combines LinkedIn and cold email outreach.

It has some pretty nifty features up its sleeve, but it also comes with some serious shortcomings that are worth mentioning.

What features does Expandi offer?

• Safety - It is a cloud-based platform, making it difficult for LinkedIn to detect its use. In addition, it has a wide range of options for randomizing and making breaks between activities, and it also provides each user with a dedicated IP and an account warm-up mode;
• LinkedIn & email outreach combined for optimal lead generation results – It can connect to any email provider and integrate LinkedIn and email outreach. There are options for creating email drip campaigns as well as a smart inbox that makes the process a whole lot easier for the user. It can also generate smart sequences, allowing you to automate entire campaigns;

• Personalized messages with the possibility of customizable GIFs and images through integration with Hyperise.

Expandi - Shortcomings

• The expandi pricing plan is a single-tier pricing plan with a mere 7-day free trial which is hardly enough time for the user to evaluate its benefits and potential for ROI;
• Customer support that leaves much to be desired - it takes notoriously long to answer questions and complaints;
• Its interface is not exactly user-friendly - it’s pretty cluttered and difficult to make heads or tails of;
• LinkedIn message limitation - although it has a feature that enables overcoming LinkedIn limitations, it cannot send more than 100 messages/invite requests per day.

Expandi pricing. How much does it cost?

The Expandi pricing plan is a single-tier pricing plan which is at $99 per month per seat, which is quite steep for larger teams and agencies in particular.

That’s why it offers custom-tailored plans for larger numbers of users, but Expandi pricing policy remains undisclosed on-site.

Furthermore, the 7-day free trial is far too short for discerning Expandi’s actual capacity for achieving your desired goals.

Expandi - Conclusion

Regarding it’s strengths, safety is something Expandi’s users can count on, as the platform is cloud-based.

GIF and image customization is also something that it is great at, as it offers plenty of easy options for creating personalized messages using exciting and original visuals.

Lastly, the solution it has for cold email outreach and the possibility of combining it with LinkedIn outreach is an excellent feature if your business greatly relies on cold email prospecting.

On the other hand, the 7-day trial is much too short, as 7 days are definitely not enough to try out the platform - so you’ll need to subscribe for at least a month to test the product thoroughly.

Finally, although Expandi has a feature that enables users to work around the LinkedIn limits, you can still send no more than 100 messages or requests per day.

So to cap it all – if you want to steer clear of bans and integrate your LinkedIn outreach with email campaigns, it could do the trick for you just fine.

However, if you’re an agency or a bigger in-house team, make sure you’re ok with spending quite a lot of money on a tool that can’t really bypass LinkedIn’s limits that efficiently.

Expandi competitor #1: Salesrobot - The best option for teams + provides you with overall better value for money

A short disclaimer before diving in – although it is our tool, we were as unbiased and honest in rating it as we were with all the other software on our list. Our goal is to help you find the right tool for you, even when it’s not us.

Salesrobot is a cloud-based platform designed explicitly for automating LinkedIn, as it enables users to easily create elaborate campaigns that run on total autopilot.

Since it has plenty of options for automating various activities, it’s a perfect tool to automate for a wide range of users, from lead generation agencies to start-ups, sales teams, recruitment agencies, and individual small business owners.

Let's look at its features, pros, and cons, and decide if it is the right expandi alternative for you.

What features does Salesrobot Offer?

• It has several foolproof methods of safely bypassing limits on LinkedIn- it allows you to send over 200 messages and connection requests daily. In addition to using email and InMail, it can also send bulk messages to group members.

By doing that, it enables you to work around the LinkedIn 100 weekly limit in a way that’s both effective and completely safe, given that they’re not against LinkedIn policies;

Get more sales on LinkedIn. Start a free 14-day trial today.

• Safety first - It takes personal care of its users’ safety, as it mimics human activity almost to perfection. It achieves this by randomizing activity, skipping holidays and weekends, making delays between actions, and minding LinkedIn limits. You can even schedule and gradually increase your activity to avoid raising LinkedIn algorithm flags and set up daily limits for various activities.

In addition, Sales Robot’s cloud-based, which makes it practically undetectable by LinkedIn.

There’s also a Safe mode that’s available no matter what pricing plan you opt for;

• First-rate personalization options - with this software, you can effortlessly draft and send highly-personalized messages and connection requests in just a few clicks. It’s latest generation AI can automatically find the things that stand out from a particular profile, such as experience with volunteering or top certifications, among others.

The tool uses that data for drafting a message so human-like that your leads will feel like they’re talking to an actual person rather than a tool.

As a result, people will be much more open to accepting your connection requests and answering your messages.

And if you decide to write your messages, rather than use the pre-made fully customizable templates, it will calculate the probable response rate of those messages.

• Creating smart campaign and message sequences – you can make them from scratch or use one of the ready-made templates that are fully customizable to fit every goal and purpose. The sequences are based on your lead’s behavior, so there’s no chance for embarrassing missteps, such as sending a follow-up even when the lead’s already answered your first message.

You can also set up triggers, delete pending invites, blacklist individuals and companies, skip duplicates, etc.

As the interface is very intuitive, you will have no problem creating your own campaigns in no time. And as an added help, there are ready-made campaign templates to help you start and learn the ropes on the go;

• Email enrichment option - the tool will find and verify your prospects’ business email addresses effortlessly. Since it has integrated data from a verified email address provided, the chances for a mismatch or difficulties in verification are reduced to a minimum.

That makes it much easier for you to connect with potential prospects via email, as it will provide you with all the data you need.

Salesrobot - Shortcomings

While Salesrobot is an incredible Expandi alternative, I want to highlight where we may fall short compared to Expandi.

One thing to note is that Expandi has gained more recognition in the market. 

So, in terms of reputation and familiarity, they do have an edge. 

However, I want to assure you that Salesrobot is on the rise. 

We may be the underdog, but we're growing steadily and putting our utmost attention on our customers' needs, which is something Expandi doesn't always prioritize.

We understand that reliability is crucial, and while Expandi has a solid track record in this regard, Salesrobot is committed to continuously improving and building trust with our users. 

We value your experience and are dedicated to providing top-notch customer service to ensure you have a smooth and reliable journey with our tool.

So, while Expandi may have a higher level of recognition, Salesrobot is determined to carve out its own space in the market. 

We may not have the same level of reliability just yet, but we're working hard to close that gap and provide an exceptional experience for our customers.

How much does Salesrobot cost?

Let's talk about Salesrobot's pricing plans.

In contrast to Expandi pricing plans, Salesrobot offers a three-tier pricing plan which is at $99 per month, $ 397 per month and $497 per month. But if you go for an annual subscription, you get an additional 50% discount automatically applied.

Sadly, there is no currently available free plan; however, you may test out the tool risk-free for 14 days with any of the paid options above.

Sign up for a free 14-day trial and start growing your LinkedIn network. No CC info is needed.

Expandi Vs. Salesrobot: Is Salesrobot the right Expandi alternative for you?

Things are pretty straightforward - if you’re looking for an automation tool that’s 100% fine-tuned for LinkedIn sales and outreach, the choice will naturally be Sales Robot.

It can bypass LinkedIn limits in as many as three different ways, allowing you to send more than 200 messages and requests per day, and making sure you stay safe at all times while doing it.

In addition, it can automate smart sequences, create elaborate outreach campaigns, and personalize your messages to the highest possible extent.

By doing that, it makes sure that your LinkedIn outreach strategy results in a steady stream of qualified leads and higher conversion rates.

It is also a great option for teams of all sizes as it enables frictionless team cooperation and allows inviting an unlimited number of team members in a single account.

So, if you’re keen on getting a solution for achieving hyper-personalized LinkedIn outreach that can safely bypass LinkedIn’s limits and enable seamless team collaboration & management, then Sales Robot is the best Expandi alternative for you.

Expandi competitor #2: Linked Helper - The best option when you’re on a budget

Linked Helper is one of the LinkedIn automation tools that’s been around for quite some time. In fact, it has only recently been updated as Linked Helper 2.

Whereas it was a Chrome extension, Linked Helper 2 is an app you have to download and install on your device.

Let's look at its features, pros, and cons, and decide if it is the right expandi alternative for you.

What features does this tool offer?

• Pricing – as it’s very affordable, especially when it comes to the standard plan. It also has a 14-day free trial, which is another plus;
• Plenty of automation options – ranging from scraping profiles and going over LinkedIn weekly invitations limit to building smart message sequences, warming up leads, and withdrawing pending requests;

• It works with all LinkedIn platforms, including not only Sales Navigator and Recruiter but also basic LinkedIn profiles.

Linked Helper - Shortcomings

• Safety – unlike Expandi and Sales Robot, Linked Helper is not cloud-based, which amounts to a much higher risk of being detected and getting your account permanently banned by LinkedIn.
  
  

However, there’s another huge red flag concerning the message limit.

Namely, one of the ways it surpasses the limits is using an “undocumented LinkedIn feature.” That feature comes with a disclaimer in one of the User manual articles that warn the user that opting for this method could get them banned in a blink of an eye. So much for taking care of their users’ safety.

• It’s an app you have to download and install on your device – consequently, it is prone to slowing your computer down more often than not. In addition, your device has got to be turned on at all times for it to run properly;
• Poor UX/UI – as it has a very unintuitive interface, a pretty steep learning curve, and it looks a bit dated;
• There is no hyper-personalization of messages possible in-app – to personalize messages, you have to integrate with Uclic. That means that you have to pay extra to use this software. And not only that, the integration with Uclic is anything but seamless, as it requires the use of HTML or CSS.

How much does Linked Helper cost?

In contrast to the Expandi pricing plan, It offers two pricing plans:

• Standard at $15 per month;
• Pro at $45 per month.
  

If you pay for 3, 6, or 12 months in advance, there are additional discounts.

Helper also offers a 14-day free trial, so prospective users can take it for a test drive before deciding to buy.

Although the Standard plan is quite a steal if you want the whole deal – that is, all of its features – it would be wiser to go for Pro.

This plan provides users with many more options, especially when it comes to data export, CRM integration, lead generation, and bulk engagement.

In comparison with Expandi pricing, it offers a great deal.

Expandi Vs. Linked Helper. Is it the right Expandi alternative for you?

Helper definitely has some pros, as it offers almost all the automation options an average LinkedIn user might need.

However, it’s Helper’s cost that makes it stand out. This tool is one of the cheapest on the market, but that comes with a price of its own.

Namely, safety is the one area where it is significantly lacking compared to Expandi, Salesrobot, and other tools on our list, as it is an app you have to download and install on your device.

That makes it all the more likely for LinkedIn to detect the use of automation, and it also requires your device to stay on all the time if you want your campaigns to keep running.

Not to mention the “undocumented LinkedIn feature” for bypassing LinkedIn limits, which sounds particularly dubious.

When compared as an Expandi alternative, one thing is obvious – you’ll save a lot of money if you decide for Helper, but you’ll risk being banned by LinkedIn and having to struggle with an app that can be glitchy and slow down your device.

So, if you want a tool that offers all the basic automation functionalities at a bargain price - and are comfortable with not being as safe as you would be by opting for a cloud-based tool - then Helper is the suitable Expandi competitor for you.

Expandi competitor #3: Meet Alfred - The best option for managing multi-channel campaigns

Alfred is a platform that’s designed for tackling several social media at once, so it’s a great option for multi-channel campaigns.

Let’s move on to it’s features, pros and cons and see if it is the right Expandi alternative

What features does this tool offer? 

• Excellent management of multi-channel campaigns, mainly if you aim to target several social media at once – it saves you valuable time it would take you to create each post manually. This way, you use one concept for everything from LinkedIn to Facebook, Instagram, and even Twitter;
• Optimizing posts for different social media – Alfred takes notice of the needs and prerequisites of each of these media when creating a post and makes sure to show you a preview before posting it;

• Warm-up feature for both LinkedIn and email;
• Safety – it’s cloud-based and has options for setting limits and mimicking human activity.

Meet Alfred - Shortcomings

• Unsatisfactory user experience, as the interface is far too complex – moreover, there’s been a report of false reviews on certain platforms, which raises additional flags when it comes to UX and UI;

Alfred trustpilot reviews

• It’s prone to crashing mid-task;
• It has multiple bugs with campaigns that render many of its neat features practically useless.

How much does Alfred cost?

Unlike the Expandi pricing plan, it comes with three different pricing plans:

• Personal at $49 per month;
• Business at $89 per month;
• Enterprise at $499 per month.

When billed annually, you get a discount.

There’s also a free 14-day trial – no credit card info required.

Expandi vs. Meet Alfred. Is it the right Expandi competitor for you?

Alfred is a fantastic tool when you need a multi-channel campaign with the main focus on social media such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, in addition to LinkedIn. Creating versatile posts for every media is easy-peasy with but a few clicks, which saves you a lot of time, and that’s a feature Expandi doesn’t offer.

In addition, Alfred is more affordable than Expandi, offering several pricing plans and additional discounts when billed annually.

However, customer support seems to be a nightmare at Alfred, which is no small matter.

Furthermore, it has quite a few bugs with its UI, while Expandi has a more robust flow when put into action.

So, if your primary goal is creating a presence in multiple social media at once and managing multi-channel campaigns with as little time and effort invested, then it is the best Expandi competitor for you.

Expandi competitor #4: Octopus CRM - The best option for budget-conscious beginners

Octopus is a LinkedIn automation software that can be used for very elementary LinkedIn automation.

It is compatible with Basic, Premium, Sales Navigator, and Recruiter LinkedIn plans.

Let's look at its features, pros, and cons, and decide if it is the right expandi alternative for you.

What features does this tool offer? 

• Ease of use - this tool isn’t too challenging to use, as it doesn’t have too many automation options, which makes it beginner-friendly. There are only 4 activities you can automate with Octopus;

If you’re a more advanced user, it will leave you with much to be desired, precisely due to its lack of more intricate features.

• It’s pretty cheap compared to most other tools - the price probably stands out the most when it comes to Octopus since it is one of the most inexpensive tools in the market.

It comes with as many as four pricing plans, including an option for creating a custom plan for agencies.

Octopus CRM - Shortcomings

• Safety - since it’s a Chrome extension, it is clear that Octopus is nowhere near as safe as Salesrobot and Expandi.

Moreover, since it’s connected to your browser, your device will have to stay on the entire time your campaigns are running.

Besides that, it offers some automatic safety limits and warnings only if you subscribe to the Unlimited plan. If you go for one of the cheaper plans, you’re pretty much on your own – it will take no liability for your being banned by LinkedIn for using it.

• No advanced automation options - there are no options for creating smart sequences whatsoever, which means you have to create an entirely new campaign for each step you want to take.

You also have to manually extract all the symbols and emojis from your prospects’ names. Should you overlook this, the tool will send out connection request messages that include all the titles, symbols, and emoticons, making it evident that they’ve been sent by a machine and not a reasonable human being.

• There are no options for scheduling activities or setting up automatic limits - once again, you have to do everything by hand, which makes us wonder whether you can call Octopus a real automation tool.
• Limited options for bypassing LinkedIn limits - it has just one option for working around the restrictions: the invite by email.

However, there’s a catch to this as well. You get this feature only if you go for the most expensive plan, and even then, you get only 500 email finder credits.

How much does Octopus cost?

Unlike Expandi pricing, It has four pricing plans and an option for creating custom plans for agencies that want to automate several LinkedIn profiles with the software.

The plans are as follows:

• Starter at $9.99 per month;
• Pro at $14.99 per month;
• Advanced at $21.99 per month;
• Unlimited at $39.99 per month.

If you opt for annual billing, you’ll get a 35% discount on these prices.

Even though the plans are cheap, they come with a catch. If you want all the vital options for LinkedIn outreach automation, you will have to choose the Unlimited plan.

The most expensive plan is the only one that includes the feature of inviting prospects by email and the options for integration with other apps, and some safety limits.

The cheapest, Starter plan, really leaves you with next to nothing, as you’ll only get the option for auto invite and a stats dashboard.

However, even if you do opt for a pricier plan, it will still be significantly cheaper than Expandi either way.

There’s a free 7-day trial no matter what plan you choose, which isn’t that much time to see whether the tool is a fit for you.

Is Octopus CRM the right Expandi competitor for you?

There isn’t that much to say if you have high standards and expectations of your automation tool regarding Octopus.

On the other hand, provided that you have relatively modest needs for LinkedIn outreach, the fact that Octopus has a minimal number of features could be an advantage, as you won’t need too much time to wrap your head around it.

So, if you can do with a tool that offers only the basics of LinkedIn automation, and you’re okay with not being as safe as you could be, then it could be the right Expandi alternative for you, especially if you consider that it is one of the cheapest tools on the market.

Don’t expect to get an in-app CRM system, though, as that’s something it does not deliver to its users.

So, how to choose the best Expandi competitor for your use case?

When deciding on which of the 4 best Expandi alternatives is the optimal choice for you, keep in mind the following:

• When you’re on the lookout for an Expandi alternative that’s very affordable and has lots of automation options, and you’re okay with compromising your safety, then it is the tool for you;
• If you’re a beginner who needs no more than just a few essential automation options and is intent on finding an Expandi competitor that’s super easy to use, then Octopus CRM will be a match;
• If you’re intent on having multi-channel campaigns and tackling several social media at the same time as effortlessly as possible, then you should consider Meet Alfred as the best Expandi competitor to go with;

And finally,

• If you want an Expandi competitor that is just as safe, can hyper-personalize your LinkedIn outreach, easily bypass LinkedIn’s limits, and is a team-friendly option, then Salesrobot is your go-to tool. And why take just our word for it? Start your free trial right now and see what Salesrobot has to offer first-hand. No CC info is required – you just buckle up and enjoy the ride.