In this article, We help you understand the key differences between LinkedIn automation Chrome extensions and its cloud-based alternatives, we’ll compare two in several categories that are important.
When you want untapped access to LinkedIn’s prospect pool, one of the logical steps is at least partial automation of your LinkedIn outreach.
As the number of LinkedIn users is constantly on the rise - in fact, there are more than 830 million users worldwide - it would be somewhat naive to expect you could find and reach all the potential prospects manually and without any shortcuts, so to say. 😏
Not to mention the dreaded LinkedIn weekly limit that has significantly curbed your outreach possibilities by restricting the number of connection requests you can send to a mere 100 per week.
Your search for the right kind of automation tool is precisely what got you here, as by now, you surely know that there are two main types of LinkedIn automation tools:
And that leaves you wondering which type to go for, as both have pros and cons worth considering.
Luckily for you, we’re about to break them down one by one so that by the end of this article, you’ll be fully aware of all the benefits - and risks - that come with the use of certain LinkedIn growth hacking tools.
To help you better understand the key differences between LinkedIn automation Chrome extensions and their cloud-based alternatives, we’ll compare the two in several categories that are of utmost importance for any prospective LinkedIn automation user.
These include:
Let’s start by explaining the core difference between LinkedIn automation Chrome extensions and cloud-based tools.
When it comes to LinkedIn automation Chrome extensions, this type of automation tools was the first to appear on the market.
These extensions work the same as any other browser extension.
That means that they have to be downloaded from the Chrome web store and installed on your device.
Afterwards, you can find them in the upper right corner of your browser window.
From there, you can manage them further, enabling, disabling them, granting or restricting permissions, and so on.
Keep in mind, though, that most of these extensions are compatible with Chrome alone, meaning you’ll have to switch to Chrome if you’re using a different browser.
Cloud-based tools, on the other hand, as a newer generation of software, do not require downloads or installation, as they work completely independently from your device.
What makes cloud-based software different from any other type of software is that it’s available remotely, as it’s hosted on the vendor's server and made available to customers over the Internet.
Simply put, that means that cloud-based apps leave no trace on your device, as they are not installed on it.
Basically, all you need to do to use these tools is to pay a monthly or annual subscription, and you’ll be granted access to them and all of the functionalities that come with your subscription package.
So, you require no more than a functioning device and Internet connection to use cloud-based apps.
Cloud-based tools are often more convenient to use, as there are no technical requirements from your side for them to work.
All you need is an Internet connection and a functional device, and you’re all set to go.
Chrome extensions require downloading and installing, meaning they will take up some of your memory storage - although not a significant part, to be honest.
Moreover, you’ll have to opt for Chrome as your go-to browser since most of these tools are devised for Chrome alone.
Safety is one of the primary concerns of any prospective LinkedIn automation tool user, and the reason is simple.
Automation is not exactly in line with LinkedIn’s policies, as some of the automation tools are considered to pose a threat to other users’ safety and privacy.
So, when you decide to use an automation tool, you willingly play with fire there.
However, it’s worth keeping in mind that:
Being careful with your LinkedIn outreach in general, in addition to being respectful to fellow LinkedIn users, is sure to keep you safe & sound, no matter whether you do outreach manually or have some help on the side.
The biggest problem with LinkedIn automation Chrome extensions is precisely the safety.
Simply put, these tools are not safe in the least.
The fact that they have to be installed on your device is what makes it all that easier for LinkedIn to detect their use.
Namely, LinkedIn bots have become quite adept at discovering the trace in code extension-based tools leave behind.
So, before you know it, you’ll find yourself with a temporary - or even a permanent - ban from LinkedIn.
Cloud-based tools tell an altogether different story.
Since they do not require any installation, they leave no trace on your device, making it infinitely more difficult for LinkedIn to detect their use.
Moreover, some of these tools, such as Sales Robot, go the extra mile to ensure your safety by:
That means that by using this kind of tools, you’ll both supercharge your LinkedIn outreach and stay safe.
You can give it a go right now.
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It’s a clean win for cloud-based tools as they outride Chrome extension tools by far in this category.
Chrome extensions are nowhere near as safe as cloud-based tools since LinkedIn algorithms have perfected detecting their code traces and patterns.
If you’d like the best of both worlds - that is, to both automate LinkedIn for more leads & sales and stay safe while doing it - you’ll want to get yourself a cloud-based tool that ticks both of these boxes.
LinkedIn Chrome extensions simply won’t do you any good in this aspect.
When it comes to the overall user experience, we’ve considered:
Frictionless working is definitely not one of Chrome extension tools’ strong points.
Since you have to install them on your browser, they are prone to slowing your device down.
Therefore, lags and frozen screens are to be expected with Chrome extensions. This is especially so if you try to do something else on your device while the extension is working.
Moreover, for browser extensions to function properly, you’ll have to keep your device running all the time.
The moment you turn your device off, all your campaigns and other automated activity will instantly stop and won’t restart until you’ve turned your device back on.
Cloud-based tools have absolutely no special requirements for proper functioning.
They won’t cause any lagging or slow down LinkedIn or your device since there is no software installed on your device.
If your Internet connection is good, these tools will work smoothly in the background, allowing you to do whatever else you want while they’re running, as they won’t interfere with your other activity.
Furthermore, since they’re hosted on a server independent of your device, these tools keep working even when your device is turned off.
All you need to do is set up your campaigns, sit back and let the tool do the rest.
Cloud-based tools have a stark edge over LinkedIn automation Chrome extensions in this category as well, since:
The price tag is a factor that often significantly affects your decision regarding LinkedIn automation tools, so we’ll review standard pricing policies for Chrome extensions and cloud-based tools, respectively.
Let’s start by stating the obvious: LinkedIn automation Chrome extensions are the cheaper of the two.
Once you compare the pricing plans of some popular Chrome extension tools to their cloud-based counterparts, it’s clear that there’s quite a difference in favor of the extensions.
In the image above, you can see the pricing plans for one of the more popular Chrome extensions - Octopus CRM.
On the other hand, here’s the pricing plan for one of the cloud-based tools - Sales Robot.
Although there’s a stark contrast between the two, which could tempt you to opt for a Chrome extension, you should keep in mind one simple fact.
Chrome extensions may be cheaper, but they do come with a price of their own.
As we’ve explained before, these tools are anything but safe, so their use more often than not results in restrictions from LinkedIn, which you’d want to avoid at all costs.
Moreover, they are prone to lagging, glitching and slowing your device down, in addition to requiring it to run all the time for the tools to function properly, as we’ve described in the previous section.
So you’ll pay less in the beginning, but the costs you may face in the future might prove to be way higher than you’ve expected.
Cloud-based tools are more expensive than Chrome extensions, and there’s no use denying it.
However, there’s an excellent reason for that.
Cloud-based tools are, simply put, more advanced than Chrome extensions.
They offer many more features and functionalities, and, last but not least, they are infinitely safer than the extensions.
So, even though you’ll have to invest some more money in the beginning, these expenses will most definitely pay big time, as you’ll:
Reaching a final verdict in this category is not an easy task.
Namely, the Chrome extensions are significantly cheaper of the two, but:
On the other hand, if you decide to pay more for a cloud-based tool, you’ll get a lot more value for your money.
So, the decision here is entirely up to you. That is, it will depend on:
So, when weighing on what type of tool to use for LinkedIn automation, there are a few focal points to keep on the top of your mind:
And there you have it, all you need to know about LinkedIn automation Chrome extensions and their cloud-based alternatives.
As most of these tools come with a free trial period, it would be best to give them a try and see for yourself which one does the trick for you.
If you’re looking for a tool that can hyper-personalize your outreach and keep you safe at all times, you could give Sales Robot a go.Sign up for a 14-day free trial and take Sales Robot for a test drive. And there are no strings attached - no CC info needed. 😎
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