TL;DR

• Gong remains a powerful conversation intelligence platform, but has notable pricing and complexity limitations.
• Chorus.ai and Salesloft offer strong AI-powered alternatives with different feature focuses.
• Outreach.io and Revenue.io provide comprehensive sales engagement beyond just call analysis.
• SalesRobot rounds out the alternatives with automation-focused conversation intelligence capabilities.

Picture this: you're three months into your Gong subscription, and you're still spending more time trying to figure out the platform than actually analyzing your sales calls.

If that sounds familiar, you're not alone.

While Gong has dominated the conversation intelligence space, plenty of sales teams are discovering it might not be the perfect fit everyone claims it is.

Maybe the pricing is making your CFO wince (and possibly lose sleep 😅).

Perhaps the interface feels like it was designed by engineers for engineers.

Or you're just curious if there's something better out there that actually makes your job easier instead of adding another layer of complexity.

This article takes an honest look at what Gong really delivers in 2026, then dives deep into five solid alternatives: Chorus.ai, Salesloft, Outreach.io, Revenue.io, and SalesRobot.

We'll cover pricing, features, and most importantly, which teams each tool actually works best for.

Gong: What You Need to Know

Gong is a revenue intelligence platform that records and analyzes sales calls, meetings, and customer interactions using AI to provide insights on deal health, rep performance, and winning behaviors.

✅ Conversation intelligence that actually delivers insights: Gong automatically records, transcribes, and analyzes your sales calls to reveal exactly why deals are won or lost. You'll get specific data on talk time ratios, keyword mentions, and competitor discussions that can transform how your team sells.

⚠️ The price tag hits hard: Gong is expensive, especially for smaller teams or startups watching every dollar. Many users report sticker shock when they see the full pricing, and it's often one of the pricier tools in the sales stack.

✅ Revenue forecasting gets way more accurate: Instead of relying on gut feelings, Gong analyzes deal momentum and conversation patterns to predict which opportunities will actually close. Sales managers finally get reliable data to base their forecasts on rather than hoping reps are being honest.

✅ New hire onboarding becomes systematic: You can identify exactly what your top performers say and do differently, then use those recordings to train new salespeople. It cuts ramp time significantly because rookies can listen to real winning calls instead of generic role-playing.

⚠️ Getting your team to adopt it can be a battle: Some reps resist having their calls recorded and analyzed, viewing it as micromanagement or "Big Brother" surveillance. You'll need strong change management to get everyone on board with the transparency.

✅ Competitive intelligence happens automatically: Gong flags every mention of competitors during customer conversations, giving you real-time insights into what prospects are considering and how to position against rivals. This beats guessing what your competition is up to in the market.

⚠️ Setup and configuration takes serious time: Getting Gong properly integrated with your CRM and customized for your specific sales process isn't a quick weekend project. Expect weeks or months of fine-tuning to get the most valuable insights flowing.

Gong's Key Features, Broken Down

Conversation Intelligence & Analysis

Gong automatically records, transcribes, and analyzes all your sales calls, meetings, and emails using advanced AI. The platform identifies key moments like:

• When competitors are mentioned
• When customers express pain points
• Pricing objections
• Next step commitments

Example: If a prospect mentions budget concerns three times during a call, Gong flags this pattern and suggests how to address pricing objections in future conversations.

Deal Forecasting & Pipeline Analytics

The platform tracks deal momentum by analyzing:

• Conversation patterns
• Meeting frequency
• Engagement levels across your pipeline
• Buyer sentiment changes

It can predict which deals are likely to close and which ones need immediate attention. When a typically engaged prospect suddenly becomes quiet or starts asking fewer questions, Gong alerts your team that the deal might be at risk.

Sales Coaching & Performance Insights

Gong identifies top performer behaviors and creates coaching opportunities by analyzing:

• Talk time ratios
• Question patterns
• Successful conversation flows
• Winning vs. losing behaviors

Example: The system might reveal that your best closers ask 40% more questions during demos, giving you a concrete coaching point for struggling team members.

Competitive Intelligence Tracking

Every time competitors are mentioned in customer conversations, Gong captures and categorizes these references automatically. You'll see:

• Which competitors come up most often
• What customers are saying about them
• Common competitive objections

Example: If prospects consistently mention that "Competitor X is cheaper but harder to use," you can train your team to emphasize your platform's ease of implementation.

Revenue Operations & CRM Enhancement

Gong automatically syncs conversation data back to your CRM, filling in gaps that reps typically miss:

• Updated contact information
• Logged meeting outcomes
• Tracked communication history
• Deal stage progression

Instead of relying on reps to manually update Salesforce after every call, Gong ensures your pipeline data stays current and accurate without extra administrative work.

Custom Alerts & Workflow Automation

Set up intelligent alerts for:

• Specific keywords or phrases
• Conversation patterns
• Deal stage changes
• Customer sentiment shifts

Example: If a customer mentions "budget approval" during a call, Gong can automatically alert the account manager to send pricing proposals within 24 hours.

Gong Pricing: How Much Will It Cost?

🔒 Important Note: Gong doesn't publish transparent pricing on their website, requiring prospects to contact sales for custom quotes. Based on extensive industry reports and user feedback from 2026, here's what you can expect to pay.

Connect: $720/user/year

• Call recording and transcription
• Basic conversation analytics
• CRM integration
• Deal insights and pipeline visibility
• Email and calendar sync

This entry-level plan works best for small sales teams just starting with conversation intelligence. It covers the basics without advanced AI features.

Inspect: $1,200/user/year

• Everything in Connect
• Advanced conversation analytics
• Competitor mentions tracking
• Deal risk alerts
• Custom talk tracks and scorecards
• Team performance dashboards

Mid-market teams benefit most from this tier's coaching features and deeper analytics. It's ideal for managers who need visibility into team performance.

Forecast: $1,800/user/year

• Everything in Inspect
• AI-powered revenue forecasting
• Advanced pipeline analytics
• Custom reporting and dashboards
• Workflow automation
• Advanced integrations

Enterprise sales organizations get the most value here. The forecasting capabilities help revenue leaders make data-driven predictions.

Enterprise: Custom pricing

• Everything in Forecast
• Dedicated customer success manager
• Advanced security and compliance
• Custom integrations and APIs
• Priority support
• Advanced user management

Large enterprises with complex requirements need this level of customization and support. Pricing typically starts around $2,400/user/year.

Gong offers a free trial, but you'll need to speak with their sales team to access it. Most users find the platform expensive, but acknowledge its advanced AI capabilities justify the cost for serious revenue teams.

Keep in mind these prices are estimates based on user reports. Actual pricing depends on team size, contract length, and specific feature requirements.

5 Alternatives to Gong: Which One Actually Fits?

Now that you've seen what Gong brings to the table, let's look at five other platforms that might be a better match for your team. Each one has its own strengths, pricing structure, and ideal use case.

Chorus.ai (Now known as Zoominfo)

What it does: ZoomInfo is a conversation intelligence platform that captures and analyzes customer calls, meetings, and emails. It's built for performance-driven sales teams who want deep insights into why deals win or lose.

Stands Out For

14 Technology Patents in Machine Learning

• Proprietary AI-driven transcription and analytics
• Consistently ranked #1 in Conversation Intelligence by TrustRadius
• One of the fastest-growing CI products on the market

Tight ZoomInfo Integration

• Native access to ZoomInfo's massive B2B database
• Enriched contact and company data during calls
• Build targeted audiences based on conversation metadata (sentiment, keywords, competitor mentions)
• Filter prospects by engagement type, time range, and conversation outcomes

Comprehensive Conversation Analytics

• Reliable transcription with solid Indian dialect support
• Faster analysis turnaround than many competitors
• Automatic tracking of competitor mentions, pricing discussions, objections, next steps
• AI-based trackers surface key topics without manual tagging

Sales Coaching That Actually Works

• Identify winning behaviors from top performers
• Use real recordings for systematic onboarding
• Automated coaching opportunities delivered to the inbox
• Over 20 out-of-the-box performance reports
• Custom talk tracks and scorecards

Unlimited Storage

• No limits on recordings (unlike some competitors)
• Keep historical data as long as needed
• All privacy and compliance standards followed

Pricing

Like Gong, Zoominfo doesn’t have it’s pricing listed on the website either. But here’s a general overview from what we’ve researched:

Base Platform Fee: ~$8,000/year

• Includes 3 user seats
• No separate onboarding fees
• No platform fee charges (unlike Gong)

Additional Users: ~$1,200/user/year ($100/month)

• Volume discounts for larger teams
• Decreasing cost per user as team grows

Example Costs:

• 10-person team: ~$16,400/year total ($8K base + 7 additional seats @ $1,200 each)
• 75-person team: $94,400/year total ($1,259/user/year average)

Contract Terms:

• Typically annual (some 2-year deals available)
• Sales-assisted free trial available (duration varies by deal size)
• Support and integrations included in subscription

Best If You:

✅ Already use ZoomInfo and want seamless data flow
✅ Need solid conversation intelligence at a lower price than Gong
✅ Want unlimited storage for recordings
✅ Prefer included support without separate fees

Watch Out For:

⚠️ Works best (often requires) a ZoomInfo subscription
⚠️ Opaque/negotiated pricing without public rate sheet
⚠️ Steeper learning curve - requires time investment in training
⚠️ Minimum viable for teams of 10+ users due to base fee structure

Salesloft

Stands Out For

Revenue Orchestration Platform

• Unifies once-disconnected point solutions into one platform
• First AI-powered durable revenue engagement model
• Conductor AI: Patent-pending AI engine that prioritizes all buyer signals
• Rhythm workflow: Automatically surfaces what matters most based on urgency and impact

All-In-One Approach

• Sales engagement + conversation intelligence + deal management + forecasting
• No need for a separate CI tool - it's built in
• Reduce tool sprawl across your stack
• Single platform for the entire buyer lifecycle

Complete Sales Engagement

• Cadence automation for calls, emails, and meetings
• Multi-channel sequences (email, phone, LinkedIn, SMS)
• AI-powered personalization and timing optimization
• Auto-pause sequences based on buyer behavior
• Task automation and intelligent prioritization

Built-In Conversation Intelligence

• Call recording, transcription, and analysis included
• AI-driven coaching opportunities and feedback
• Performance analytics tied to revenue outcomes
• Real-time conversation insights during calls

Deal Management & Forecasting

• Unified view of all deals and pipeline
• AI-driven sales forecasting (available in Premier tier)
• Identify risks and prioritize actions
• Built-in scenario modeling
• Track deal momentum and engagement

Drift AI Chat Agents (integrated)

• Engage website visitors in real-time
• Personalized conversations that drive the pipeline
• Qualify leads automatically before sales touch them

Pricing

Salesloft offers two main tiers (exact pricing not published - contact sales):

Advanced Plan

• Sales engagement with automation
• Deal tracking and pipeline visibility
• AI insights and recommendations
• Conversation intelligence included
• Seller coaching capabilities
• Full customer lifecycle workflows
• CRM integrations (Salesforce, HubSpot, etc.)

Premier Plan (formerly Elite)

• Everything in Advanced
• AI-driven revenue forecasting
• Advanced pipeline analytics
• Custom reporting and dashboards
• Workflow automation
• Priority support
• Deeper analytics across the buyer lifecycle

Important Notes:

• Dialer functionality is NOT included by default - separate add-on purchase
• Per-user pricing model with no platform fees (unlike Gong)
• Annual contracts typical
• Implementation support packages available
• Starting estimates range widely based on team size and features

User Feedback on Cost:

• More affordable than Outreach for similar features
• Easier to adopt than Outreach's advanced interface
• Better value proposition for mid-market teams

Best If You:

✅ Want one platform for the entire revenue process (prospecting to close)
✅ Need sales engagement + conversation intelligence in one tool
✅ Want to reduce tool sprawl across your sales stack
✅ Value ease of use and faster team adoption
✅ Seeking strong automation to boost productivity

Watch Out For:

⚠️ Can be buggy - users report occasional workflow disruptions
⚠️ Dialer is a separate purchase (not included in base plans)
⚠️ Focus on new feature releases sometimes impact stability
⚠️ Custom pricing requires sales conversations
⚠️ Email deliverability challenges with heavily automated sequences

Outreach.io

What it does: Outreach.io AI-powered sales workflow platform focused on helping teams prospect, engage, forecast, and close deals faster. They emphasize workflow automation and rep productivity, with AI agents that handle the repetitive stuff so your reps can focus on actual selling.

Stands Out For

60% Increase in Seller Productivity (user-reported)

• Automates repetitive tasks so reps focus on high-value activities
• Surfaces best-fit prospects automatically
• Recommends next best actions based on buyer behavior
• Reduces prep time and admin work significantly

AI Revenue Workflow Platform

• Workflow-first approach to sales execution
• AI Agents (Amplify) power 100s of revenue use cases
• Orchestrates every stage of the sales process
• Credit-based consumption model for AI actions

Strongest Deal Inspection Features

• Unified view of all deals in pipeline with risk scoring
• AI deal health scores based on engagement patterns
• Identify at-risk opportunities before they die
• Mutual action plans shared with buyers
• Account and relationship mapping
• Proactive risk alerts and recommended actions

Sales Engagement & Execution

• Multi-channel sequences (email, calls, SMS, social)
• Smart Email Assist with AI-powered personalization
• AI-driven sentiment analysis on email replies
• Automatic follow-ups and out-of-office detection
• Bi-directional CRM sync (Salesforce, HubSpot)
• Automated calendar scheduling

Conversation Intelligence (Meet/Kaia)

• Real-time call transcription and recording
• AI-powered meeting insights and summaries
• Spot coaching opportunities in real-time
• Voice analytics and buyer sentiment tracking
• Post-meeting action items auto-generated

Forecasting & Analytics

• AI-driven predictive forecasting
• Scenario modeling for revenue planning
• Deal velocity tracking by stage
• Comprehensive analytics dashboards
• Revenue trend analysis

Pricing:

Check their site for current pricing tiers.

Best If You:

✅ Priority is automating repetitive tasks for rep productivity
✅ Need strong multi-channel sequences and workflows
✅ Want AI agents to handle research and prospecting
✅ Already using Salesforce or HubSpot heavily
✅ Mid-market to enterprise with structured sales process

Watch Out For:

⚠️ Steep learning curve for new users
⚠️ Frequent bugs and glitches reported by users
⚠️ Slow customer support response times
⚠️ Expensive implementation for complex setups
⚠️ Cadences stop after conversations - requires manual next step creation
⚠️ No built-in prospect finder (need separate data tools like ZoomInfo)
⚠️ Mail merge only supports CSV, not Google Sheets

Revenue.io

What it does: Revenue.io Salesforce-native revenue platform combining dialing, conversation intelligence, deal execution, and sales engagement. Built specifically for teams that live in Salesforce and want everything to sync automatically without creating a "shadow CRM."

Stands Out For

100% Salesforce-Native Architecture

• All data lives directly in Salesforce (no separate workspace)
• No sync delays or parallel systems
• Real-time data accuracy
• Leverages Salesforce triggers, reports, and custom fields
• 15+ Salesforce certifications on the team
• Treats Salesforce as a single source of truth

Real-Time Call Coaching (Moments™)

• Live in-call guidance during conversations (not after)
• Instant prompts for handling objections
• Competitive talk tracks appear on-screen when mentioned
• Compliance alerts (TCPA, HIPAA, etc.) mid-call
• Behavioral coaching tied to the deal stage and field values
• Next-step recommendations during calls, not hours later

Deep Salesforce Integration Benefits

• Activity captured to correct Salesforce objects automatically
• Calls, emails, texts, and meetings logged without manual work
• Multi-channel cadences run directly in SFDC
• Prospects auto-enter/exit sequences based on Salesforce fields
• 100+ prebuilt dashboards using Salesforce data
• Custom integrations leverage Salesforce APIs

RingDNA Salesforce Dialer (#1 Rated)

• Local presence calling
• Click-to-dial from any Salesforce object
• Voicemail drop automation
• Power dialer and preview dialer modes
• Call recording and tracking natively

Guided Selling & Cadences

• Multi-channel sequences (calls, emails, SMS, tasks)
• Dynamic prioritization based on buyer signals
• Auto-workflow triggers from Salesforce field changes
• Methodology coaching is embedded in every step
• Best practice enforcement across the team

Revenue Intelligence & Forecasting

• Deal health and risk scoring in Salesforce
• Pipeline analytics and visibility
• Forecast analyzer
• Activity capture and auto-logging
• Ask Revenue™: Natural language queries on any call, deal, or account

Pricing‍

Revenue.io uses quote-based, per-user pricing with three main packages:

ACTIVATE

• RingDNA Salesforce dialer
• Core AI guidance (Moments™)
• Call recording and transcription
• Speed-to-lead routing (Hot Leads)
• Real-time coaching
• Best for: Inbound response, call performance, rep productivity

ENGAGE

• Everything in ACTIVATE
• Guided cadences and sequences
• Multi-channel engagement
• AI-prioritized follow-ups
• Workflow automation
• Best for: Structured cadences, pipeline acceleration

ORCHESTRATE

• Everything in ENGAGE
• Full conversation AI and analytics
• Revenue intelligence dashboards (100+ reports)
• Advanced forecasting
• Deal risk alerts
• AI-driven orchestration
• Best for: Win rate improvement, forecast accuracy, full AI automation

Best If You:

✅ Committed to Salesforce as your single source of truth
✅ Want everything to happen inside Salesforce (no separate tools)
✅ Need real-time guidance during live calls
✅ Phone- and meeting-driven sales motion
✅ Mid-market to enterprise with 15+ sales reps
✅ Want to eliminate "shadow CRM" and tool sprawl

Watch Out For:

⚠️ Only works with Salesforce (not for other CRMs like HubSpot)
⚠️ Pricing not transparent - requires sales conversation
⚠️ Best suited for mid-market+ (smaller teams may find alternatives better)
⚠️ Requires enough call volume to justify investment

SalesRobot

What it does: SalesRobot is a LinkedIn-focused outreach platform that automates personalized messaging, connection requests, and lead generation directly on LinkedIn and email. Unlike the conversation intelligence tools above, SalesRobot is built for the prospecting stage, where most B2B conversations actually start today.

Stands Out For

Native LinkedIn Automation with Safety Features

• Automated connection requests with personalized notes
• Direct message sequences that feel human
• Profile visits and engagement tracking
• InMail campaign support
• Built-in safety features to avoid LinkedIn platform flags
• Smart sending limits and randomization

Email Integration for Multi-Channel Sequences

• LinkedIn + Email integrated campaigns
• Coordinate timing across channels intelligently
• Smart follow-up logic based on engagement
• A/B testing for messages
• Deliverability monitoring

Campaign Templates for Different Industries

• Pre-built templates for various use cases
• Message personalization tokens
• Industry-specific approaches (SaaS, consulting, agencies, etc.)
• Quick-start campaigns to begin prospecting immediately

Now, if you’re too lazy to research your prospect and draft a whole message for them, our AI Variables Feature has got you covered! All you have to do is pick a pre-made message template, and the AI’s gonna do the rest!

If they reply, our AI Appointment Setter is gonna step in and pull the conversation along until it actually books a meeting for you.

If you really wanna lock that deal in, a voice or video message is really gonna raise your chances. SalesRobot’s got you covered with that too!

Our AI voice clone feature can replicate your voice and have messages sent to all your prospects en masse.

Real Prospect Data Syncing to Your CRM

• Activity logging
• Lead status updates
• Export contacts and conversations
• Works with major CRMs
• Track ROI and attribution

Unlimited Campaigns on All Plans

• No artificial limits on the number of campaigns
• Run multiple sequences simultaneously
• Pause/resume campaigns easily
• Scheduling and timing controls

Pricing

Starter Plan: $39/month

• 1 LinkedIn account
• Unlimited campaigns
• Basic email integration
• Campaign templates
• Email support
• 14-day free trial

Pro Plan: $59/month ⭐ Most Popular

• 1 LinkedIn account
• Everything in Starter
• Advanced sequences
• Priority support
• Enhanced analytics
• 14-day free trial

Premium Plan: $99/month

• 1 LinkedIn account
• Everything in Pro
• White-label options
• Dedicated support
• Advanced features
• 14-day free trial

Key Advantages:

• No setup fees or hidden costs
• No platform fees (unlike Gong's $5K-$50K annual fee)
• 14-day free trial available on all plans
• Month-to-month billing (no annual lock-in)
• Immediate activation - start prospecting today

Best If You:

✅ Main challenge is filling the top of the funnel with qualified prospects
✅ Target B2B decision-makers active on LinkedIn
✅ Want to automate prospecting without enterprise complexity
✅ Testing conversation intelligence before big investment
✅ Need quick wins and fast time-to-value
✅ Small to mid-sized team with tight budget

Watch Out For:

⚠️ Focused on prospecting only (not full sales cycle like Gong/Outreach)
⚠️ No conversation intelligence or call analysis
⚠️ LinkedIn automation carries platform risk (though built-in safeguards help)
⚠️ Not a replacement for full sales engagement platforms
⚠️ Limited to LinkedIn + email (no phone/SMS capabilities)

The Verdict

Here's the reality: most teams don't need Gong's enterprise-level firepower. If you're a 50+ person sales org with complex deals and serious budget, Gong delivers unmatched AI insights that justify the premium price.

But if you're a growing team that just wants to book more meetings and close more deals without breaking the bank, the alternatives we covered offer better value. You don't need a Ferrari when a reliable sports car gets you there faster.

The sweet spot? Start simple, then upgrade as you scale. Most teams waste months evaluating features they'll never use instead of just getting started.

Bottom Line

Choose Gong if:

• You're enterprise-level (50+ reps)
• Handle complex B2B sales cycles
• Need advanced conversation analytics across the entire org
• Budget isn't your primary concern
• Ready to invest 2-3 months in implementation

Choose Chorus.ai if:

• Want Gong-like features at a lower price point
• Already use ZoomInfo heavily
• Need tight integration with your prospecting data
• Team size is 10+ users

Choose Salesloft if:

• Need complete sales engagement + conversation intelligence
• Want to consolidate multiple tools into one platform
• Revenue orchestration across the full buyer lifecycle
• Prefer easier adoption over advanced complexity

Choose Outreach.io if:

• Workflow automation is your top priority
• Need AI agents to reduce manual work
• Strong multi-channel sequencing is critical
• Mid-market to enterprise with structured processes

Choose Revenue.io if:

• Committed to Salesforce as a single source of truth
• Want everything to happen inside your CRM
• Need real-time coaching during live calls
• Phone-heavy sales motion

Choose SalesRobot if:

• Want to start automating outreach immediately
• Main focus is LinkedIn prospecting and lead generation
• Need fast time-to-value without a learning curve
• Small team or tight budget
• Test the waters before a bigger investment

Ready to test the waters? SalesRobot's free trial lets you start generating leads this week, not next quarter. Sometimes the best tool is simply the one you'll actually use. 🚀