LinkedIn automation tools like Closely and LinkedFusion simplify outreach and lead generation, saving time and improving efficiency. Both platforms offer cloud-based solutions for automating LinkedIn tasks, but they differ in features, pricing, and focus areas. Here’s the key takeaway:
- Closely: Offers advanced AI tools for personalized LinkedIn and email automation, CRM integrations, and multichannel campaigns. Pricing starts at $49/month, with plans for teams and agencies. Best for businesses needing a full-featured outreach solution.
- LinkedFusion: Focuses on LinkedIn-specific automation with team collaboration features. Pricing starts at $65.95/month but lacks detailed public information. Suitable for users prioritizing LinkedIn outreach.
Quick Comparison:
| Feature | Closely | LinkedFusion |
|---|---|---|
| AI Personalization | Yes | Limited |
| Multichannel Campaigns | LinkedIn + Email | LinkedIn + Email |
| CRM Integrations | Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive, etc. | HubSpot, Close CRM |
| Pricing (Starting) | $49/month | $65.95/month |
| Team Features | White-label, advanced collaboration | Shared blacklist, team templates |
Closely offers a broader range of features for businesses looking to scale outreach, while LinkedFusion is tailored for LinkedIn-specific workflows. Choose based on your business size, goals, and budget.
Closely vs Prosp: Comparing Best LinkedIn Outreach Automation Tools
Closely Overview
Closely is a cloud-based platform designed to automate LinkedIn and email outreach using AI technology.
By leveraging AI, Closely streamlines tasks like prospect research, lead qualification, and message personalization. This approach has been shown to increase response rates by 35% and generate 45% more pipeline opportunities [1].
The platform operates entirely in the cloud, eliminating the need for always-on PCs. It also employs dedicated proxies and smart usage limits to comply with LinkedIn’s restrictions [3].
Closely Features
Closely’s features revolve around AI-powered automation and data enhancement. Its AI agents gather insights on prospects, analyze web data, and craft personalized messages tailored to a lead’s role and company information. The multichannel campaign builder allows users to create sequences that combine LinkedIn actions – like profile visits, connection requests, and direct messages – with follow-up emails.
The platform’s data enrichment tools automatically enhance contact records by adding verified business emails and direct phone numbers. This feature works seamlessly when importing leads from LinkedIn Search, Sales Navigator, or CSV files. A unified inbox consolidates all LinkedIn and email replies, making it easier to manage outreach. Closely also integrates with popular CRMs like Salesforce, Pipedrive, HubSpot, and GoHighLevel, syncing leads, messages, replies, and connections directly into existing workflows. For agencies and large sales teams, custom branding options ensure consistent messaging and branding across outreach efforts.
Closely Pricing Plans
Closely offers tiered pricing to accommodate different team sizes and outreach needs. All prices are in US dollars and include both LinkedIn and email automation features.
- Starter Plan: $49 per month. Includes one LinkedIn account, unlimited email accounts, and 1,000 monthly credits. These credits can be used for 250 emails, 50 phone number lookups, or 500 AI personalizations.
- Growth Plan: $127 per month. Supports three LinkedIn accounts and provides 3,000 monthly credits. These credits cover 750 emails, 150 phone lookups, or 1,500 AI personalizations.
- Essential Plan: $205 per month. Offers five LinkedIn accounts and 5,000 monthly credits. Users can send 1,250 emails, perform 250 phone lookups, or complete 2,500 AI personalizations.
- Custom Plan: $350 per month. Includes 10 LinkedIn accounts and customizable credit allocations tailored to specific business needs. This plan also offers dedicated support and custom integrations.
All plans come with white-label options, allowing agencies to customize the platform with their own branding when working with clients.
When to Use Closely
Closely is ideal for businesses conducting high-volume, multichannel outreach campaigns. Sales teams using Closely save up to 10 hours per week per team member by automating personalized outreach tasks [1].
B2B companies with extended sales cycles benefit from Closely’s ability to nurture leads through a combination of LinkedIn engagement and email follow-ups. Agencies and consultants managing multiple client campaigns value the platform’s white-label capabilities and team management features, which help maintain brand consistency across campaigns.
For businesses already using CRMs like Salesforce or HubSpot, Closely’s integrations eliminate data silos and reduce manual data entry. Users have reported measurable improvements, including 52% higher engagement rates and three times more connections with qualified decision-makers, after implementing Closely’s automated sequences [3].
Next, we’ll compare Closely’s features and performance metrics with those of LinkedFusion.
LinkedFusion Overview
LinkedFusion, much like Closely, caters to sales and marketing professionals aiming to simplify LinkedIn automation. However, it brings its own set of distinct features to the table. This cloud-based tool is designed to streamline B2B lead generation efforts using LinkedIn, a platform where 50% of B2B buyers are active. With over 45,000 professionals worldwide relying on LinkedFusion, it tackles a common B2B hurdle: the fact that most C-suite executives tend to ignore cold calls and emails [5] [6]. By automating tasks like sending connection requests, direct messages, and follow-ups, it helps users focus on building meaningful relationships.
LinkedFusion Features
At its core, LinkedFusion focuses on automating LinkedIn outreach while preserving a personal touch. Users can craft outreach sequences that include personalized details – like name, company, or location – to ensure their messages feel genuine, even at scale [5]. Its Smart Inbox organizes all conversations in one place, complete with tagging, filters, and notifications to make follow-ups seamless [5] [6]. For teams, features like a shared blacklist prevent duplicate outreach, while shared messaging templates ensure consistent communication across team members [4] [5] [6]. Additionally, users can track performance with graphical analytics and monitor LinkedIn profile growth through SSI Score tracking [5] [6].
LinkedFusion also offers standout technical features. Each user gets a dedicated IP address for secure prospecting, and the platform supports unlimited concurrent sequences across multiple time zones [5] [6]. An AI-powered post scheduler and content generator help users maintain an active LinkedIn presence, while multi-channel capabilities allow email steps to be integrated into LinkedIn campaigns, creating more comprehensive outreach strategies [4] [6]. To save time on data entry – a task that 71% of sales reps find overly time-consuming – LinkedFusion integrates with popular CRMs like HubSpot, Pipedrive, and Salesforce, as well as Zapier [4] [5] [6]. Importantly, it works with all LinkedIn account types, including Basic LinkedIn [5].
LinkedFusion Pricing Plans
LinkedFusion offers three pricing tiers, with costs listed per user per month in US dollars:
| Plan | Monthly Price | Daily Invites | Daily Message Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional | $65.95 | Up to 40 | 120 |
| Grow | $95.95 | Up to 70 | 210 |
| Ultimate | $135.95 | Up to 120 | 360 |
New users can take advantage of a free trial to explore LinkedFusion’s features before subscribing [4]. All plans include team management tools and CRM integrations, with the primary differences being the daily limits for connection requests and messages.
When to Use LinkedFusion
LinkedFusion is particularly useful for B2B sales teams and marketing professionals looking to scale their LinkedIn outreach without sacrificing personalization. It’s especially helpful for teams managing a large number of prospects, thanks to its automation features and centralized inbox. Larger organizations benefit from the shared team blacklist, which avoids duplicate outreach efforts. Since it’s compatible with Basic LinkedIn accounts, it’s also accessible to smaller businesses and individual professionals.
Users have reported higher connection request approval rates, better engagement, and improved lead generation [4] [6]. One user shared:
"Linked Fusion is my go-to tool for streamlining LinkedIn outreach and connecting with the right professionals faster. It helps me automate key networking tasks while keeping things personal and in line with LinkedIn’s best practices, so I can focus on real conversations." – Platypus Reviews [4]
LinkedFusion boasts an average user rating of 5/5, with many praising its ease of use and responsive customer support [4]. However, some users have expressed interest in more advanced analytics and reporting features for deeper insights [4]. Its emphasis on team collaboration and compatibility with Basic LinkedIn accounts sets it apart from tools that require premium LinkedIn subscriptions.
Feature Comparison
This section focuses on the verified strengths that make LinkedIn automation tools effective. Closely shines with its advanced AI-driven personalization, while detailed, verified information about LinkedFusion remains scarce.
Side-by-Side Feature Table
| Feature Category | Closely | LinkedFusion |
|---|---|---|
| AI Personalization | Advanced AI leverages profile data to create personalized messages and conduct lead research [1] | – |
| Multichannel Campaigns | Combines LinkedIn and email outreach into a single workflow, all managed from one dashboard | – |
| Team Management | Includes robust team management features, such as white-label options for agencies | – |
| Analytics & Reporting | Offers in-depth analytics with lead scoring and performance tracking | – |
| Daily Limits | Uses a flexible credit-based system, adjusting monthly allocations based on your plan | – |
| Data Enrichment | Features built-in tools for finding verified emails and phone numbers | – |
Note: Verified details for LinkedFusion are limited and not independently confirmed from trusted sources.
The table highlights Closely’s extensive feature set while noting the lack of verified information for LinkedFusion.
Feature Analysis
Closely’s standout feature is its AI-powered personalization, which uses profile data to automate lead research and craft tailored messages. This ensures outreach efforts are both efficient and highly targeted [1]. The platform also integrates LinkedIn and email outreach into a single dashboard, simplifying the management of multichannel campaigns. For agencies, Closely provides advanced team management tools, including white-label options, making it an excellent choice for collaborative workflows. Additionally, its analytics capabilities deliver actionable insights, such as lead scoring and performance tracking, to optimize campaign outcomes.
With limited verified details available for LinkedFusion, Closely’s clearly documented features and capabilities take center stage. These strengths set the stage for further exploration into pricing, integrations, and multichannel campaign support.
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Pricing Comparison for US Businesses
When it comes to maximizing outreach ROI, understanding the cost structure of tools is key. Closely stands out with its clear and transparent pricing, offering potential annual savings. On the other hand, LinkedFusion’s pricing remains unverified, making direct comparisons challenging. Below is a detailed breakdown of Closely’s pricing plans tailored for US businesses.
Pricing Table
| Plan | Closely Monthly | Closely Annual | LinkedIn Accounts | Email Accounts | Bonus Credits/Month | Key Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $49 | $29 ($348/year) | 1 | Unlimited | – | Basic automation |
| Growth | $127 | $87 ($1,044/year) | 3 | Unlimited | 3,000 (750 emails, 150 phones, or 1,500 AI personalizations) | Team collaboration |
| Essential | $205 | $145 ($1,740/year) | 5 | Unlimited | 5,000 (1,250 emails, 250 phones, or 2,500 AI personalizations) | Advanced scaling |
| Custom | $350 | $206 ($2,472/year) | 10 | Unlimited | 0 | Enterprise features |
All plans include white-label features. LinkedFusion pricing could not be independently verified from trusted sources.
Which Platform Costs Less?
Closely’s annual plans offer savings of up to 40% compared to monthly billing, making them an appealing option for US businesses focused on long-term outreach strategies. For example, the Growth plan, priced at $87/month (annual), supports three LinkedIn accounts and includes generous bonus credits for AI personalization.
One of Closely’s standout features is its straightforward pricing model, which simplifies budgeting for businesses. The platform’s credit-based system offers flexibility, enabling users to allocate resources across email finding, phone number discovery, and AI personalizations depending on their specific needs.
Users have praised Closely for its effectiveness. Antonio D., a Digital Strategist & Coach, shared:
"Closely is a powerful tool for anyone looking to enhance their sales engagement. The platform is user-friendly and easy to navigate, making it accessible even for those who are not tech-savvy" [7][1].
Additionally, businesses have reported tangible results, including a 3x increase in connection requests and a 2x boost in lead generation [2].
For growing US businesses, the Essential plan at $145/month (annual) is particularly well-suited. It supports five LinkedIn accounts and offers 5,000 bonus credits, making it ideal for teams looking to scale their outreach efforts. Plus, with unlimited email accounts included in all plans, businesses can confidently expand their multichannel campaigns without worrying about email restrictions.
Given the lack of verified LinkedFusion pricing, Closely’s predictable cost structure becomes even more valuable, aligning seamlessly with standard budgeting practices for US businesses.
Integrations, Team Management, and Usability
When selecting a LinkedIn automation platform, its ability to integrate with your tools and fit seamlessly into your team’s workflow can significantly impact the success of your outreach efforts. While both platforms offer integration and team management features, their approaches differ. This section explores how each platform connects with existing tools and supports collaborative workflows, building on earlier comparisons of pricing and features.
Third-Party Integrations
Closely goes beyond basic data syncing by offering native CRM integrations with platforms like Salesforce, Pipedrive, HubSpot, and GoHighLevel. These connections ensure that every LinkedIn interaction – whether it’s a new lead, message, reply, or connection – is automatically synced, eliminating the need for manual updates [1][9].
"Our native integrations sync every lead, message, reply, and connection automatically. Out of the box. No manual exports. No lost leads."
- Closely [1]
For HubSpot users, Closely’s integration is particularly beneficial. It allows LinkedIn leads from searches and profiles to flow directly into HubSpot, where all activities are logged on the contact’s timeline. Users can even respond to LinkedIn messages directly within HubSpot, with the full message history intact. Additionally, new connections are synced in real-time, enriched with details like email addresses and job titles [9].
LinkedFusion also provides CRM integrations, including support for Close CRM. It automatically creates new contacts when LinkedIn invitations are accepted and syncs all conversations. Moreover, LinkedFusion can import custom target audiences using Google Sheets or CSV files, which extends its functionality beyond LinkedIn’s native search capabilities. This feature addresses a key challenge for sales teams, as 71% of sales reps report spending too much time on data entry [6][8].
Team and Agency Support
Both platforms cater to teams and agencies looking to scale their LinkedIn outreach. Closely offers white-label features and detailed performance tracking, making it an excellent choice for agencies managing multiple client campaigns [1].
Similarly, LinkedFusion includes an "Agency-mode" feature designed to support businesses aiming to expand their LinkedIn efforts [10]. For US-based companies, Closely’s combination of robust tracking and white-label options provides a strong framework for scaling outreach.
Setup and User Experience
After ensuring solid integrations and team support, ease of use becomes critical for effective campaign management. Closely is praised for its intuitive interface and user-friendly design. It provides 24-hour support through a live chat feature and assigns a dedicated customer success manager to address any issues promptly [1].
Closely’s unified dashboard simplifies campaign management by centralizing LinkedIn and email outreach. Teams can manage multiple LinkedIn accounts, monitor performance metrics, and respond to messages – all from one place. Advanced analytics offer actionable insights, helping teams refine their outreach strategies.
Additionally, Closely prioritizes a smooth onboarding process. Its credit-based system adds flexibility, enabling teams to allocate resources for tasks like email discovery, phone number lookup, and AI-driven personalization based on their specific needs.
AI-Powered Multichannel Campaign Support
Modern LinkedIn automation tools are taking outreach to the next level by combining LinkedIn activities with email marketing in AI-driven, multichannel campaigns. With businesses pushing for personalized outreach at scale, integrating these platforms seamlessly has become a game-changer.
Cross-Channel Campaign Management
Platforms like Closely offer a streamlined way to manage multichannel campaigns. From a single dashboard, users can create automated sequences that combine LinkedIn and email outreach. The platform’s behavioral triggers, such as reacting to profile views or post likes, allow campaigns to adjust dynamically in real time [1][11].
Similarly, LinkedFusion supports multichannel drip campaigns, blending LinkedIn and email marketing. Its smart triggers ensure automated outreach is both timely and relevant [6][12].
This unified approach not only simplifies campaign management but also sets the stage for more advanced personalization strategies.
AI Personalization Capabilities
When it comes to multichannel campaigns, personalization can make or break your results. Closely leverages AI to enhance personalization by conducting thorough lead research. Its "Sales AI Agents" can handle lead research, qualification, and message customization, allowing for personalized communication even in large-scale campaigns [1].
On the other hand, LinkedFusion uses AI to optimize lead generation and content creation. This ensures that outreach efforts are automated yet tailored [6][12].
Both platforms aim to strike the right balance between automation and authenticity. Closely focuses on deep prospect research and customized messaging, while LinkedFusion emphasizes efficient content creation and automation workflows. The key to effective AI-powered personalization lies in combining the efficiency of automation with communication that feels genuinely human.
Final Verdict
Pick the platform that aligns best with your business goals, budget, and growth strategy.
Main Differences
Closely offers a comprehensive sales automation suite that extends well beyond LinkedIn outreach. It includes a built-in B2B contacts database, full CRM functionality, advanced data enrichment tools, and AI-powered sales agents for lead research and qualification. This all-in-one solution combines LinkedIn automation with integrated email marketing, lead scoring, web research, and multichannel campaign management, making it a versatile choice for businesses looking to streamline their sales processes.
LinkedFusion, on the other hand, focuses specifically on LinkedIn outreach. It provides native CRM integration and email-finding capabilities but lacks the broader range of features that Closely offers. Its more focused toolset may appeal to users who need a simpler, targeted solution for LinkedIn campaigns.
When it comes to pricing, Closely is upfront about its costs, with plans starting at $49 per month for the Starter plan and scaling up to $350 per month for the Custom plan, which supports up to 10 LinkedIn accounts. User reviews often highlight Closely’s feature-rich integrations and its efficiency in lead research. In contrast, LinkedFusion has limited public reviews, making it harder to assess its performance and reliability.
These differences provide a clear framework for deciding which tool better suits your outreach needs.
Which Platform to Choose
To summarize:
- Choose Closely if you’re looking for an all-in-one solution that includes LinkedIn automation alongside CRM functionality, data enrichment, and AI-powered lead research. This platform is ideal for growing sales teams that want to consolidate multiple tools into a single system while leveraging detailed analytics and lead scoring.
- Choose LinkedFusion if you only need streamlined LinkedIn outreach and don’t require broader sales automation features. Its simplicity may appeal to users with focused needs, but due to the lack of public pricing and performance data, it’s wise to request detailed quotes before committing.
Make sure to evaluate the total cost of ownership. While Closely provides transparent pricing, consider potential additional expenses such as credit usage for data enrichment and AI personalization. For LinkedFusion, obtaining clear pricing information is crucial to avoid surprises and ensure it fits within your budget.
FAQs
How do Closely and LinkedFusion compare in terms of features and pricing?
Closely starts at $39 per month, offering AI-driven multichannel outreach, lead research, and data enrichment. It’s an affordable choice for professionals aiming to simplify their LinkedIn outreach while leveraging advanced tools.
In comparison, LinkedFusion is priced at $65.95 per user per month. It includes features like a daily limit of 40 connection requests, 120 message credits, and email API integration. While it provides a broader range of automation tools, it comes with a higher price tag.
For those prioritizing value and advanced AI tools, Closely emerges as a practical solution for sales and marketing professionals looking to enhance their LinkedIn lead generation efforts.
How does Closely use AI to improve LinkedIn and email outreach efforts?
Closely uses AI technology to transform LinkedIn and email outreach into a more streamlined and effective process. By automating tasks like lead research, qualification, and personalization, it ensures every message feels relevant and makes a stronger impact.
With AI-driven data enrichment, the platform provides accurate contact details, including verified emails and phone numbers. This means you can craft highly tailored messages that truly connect with your audience. Plus, Closely integrates AI into multichannel campaigns, making it easier to scale your outreach efforts without losing that personal, human-like touch – resulting in higher engagement and better response rates.
What should businesses consider when deciding between Closely and LinkedFusion for LinkedIn automation?
When weighing the choice between Closely and LinkedFusion, it’s essential to focus on factors like customization options, automation features, and overall user-friendliness. LinkedFusion tends to shine with its hands-on, tailored approach, while Closely stands out for its smooth automation and support for multichannel campaigns, making LinkedIn outreach more efficient.
It’s also important to think about how each platform handles scalability, their integration options, and their ability to drive effective lead generation. These aspects are key to ensuring your LinkedIn campaigns achieve strong results and deliver a solid return on investment (ROI).