If you’re deciding between Closely and MeetAlfred for LinkedIn automation, here’s the quick takeaway: Closely is best for those focusing on LinkedIn and email outreach with advanced AI personalization, while MeetAlfred is ideal for teams needing multichannel campaigns across LinkedIn, email, and X (formerly Twitter).
Key Highlights:
- Closely: Specializes in LinkedIn/email automation with AI-driven personalization and data enrichment. Great for smaller teams or individual sellers. Pricing starts at $49/month.
- MeetAlfred: Offers multichannel outreach (LinkedIn, email, X) and campaign management. Tailored for larger teams managing complex workflows. Pricing details vary.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Closely | MeetAlfred |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | LinkedIn & email automation | Multichannel campaign management |
| Channels | LinkedIn, Email | LinkedIn, Email, X |
| User Base | Small teams, agencies | 150,000+ users globally |
| Key Strength | AI personalization, data tools | Multichannel capabilities |
| Integrations | Salesforce, HubSpot, others | Zapier, Webhooks |
| Pricing (Starting) | $49/month | Varies |
Closely is simpler and focuses on LinkedIn/email outreach, while MeetAlfred offers broader multichannel options. Choose based on your outreach goals and team size.
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Platform Overview: Closely and MeetAlfred
Both Closely and MeetAlfred offer LinkedIn automation tools designed to streamline outreach while maintaining a personal touch. However, each caters to different needs and business scenarios, making it essential to understand their strengths before deciding which fits your goals, team size, and growth plans.
Closely: AI-Powered LinkedIn Outreach
Closely stands out as an AI-driven platform focused on simplifying LinkedIn and email outreach through smart personalization. By automating lead research and qualification, it enables users to send messages that feel more natural and human.
This platform is especially well-suited for individual sellers, sales leaders, and agencies. Founders use Closely to scale their businesses, while agencies rely on it to generate high-quality leads for their clients at scale [1].
One of Closely’s key advantages is its emphasis on data-enriched automation. It can extract leads from LinkedIn Search, Sales Navigator, Recruiter, posts, groups, and even CSV files, automatically enriching the data for better targeting [3]. The result? Users spend less time researching and more time engaging in meaningful conversations.
Closely boasts impressive stats from its users: a 35% boost in response rates, saving 10 hours per team member weekly on manual prospecting, and 45% more opportunities in the sales pipeline [1]. Additionally, users report 52% higher LinkedIn engagement and three times more connections with qualified decision-makers [3].
The platform operates entirely in the cloud, enabling campaigns to run around the clock without requiring users to keep their computers on. With built-in CRM integrations for Salesforce, Pipedrive, HubSpot, and GoHighLevel, all leads, messages, replies, and connections are automatically synced across systems [1][3].
MeetAlfred: Multichannel Campaign Management
MeetAlfred, on the other hand, takes a broader approach by offering multichannel outreach capabilities. This platform positions itself as an AI Personal Assistant, turning LinkedIn profiles into full-fledged lead generation engines. Since its launch in 2016, MeetAlfred has been a pioneer in multichannel outreach, spanning LinkedIn, email, and X (formerly Twitter) [2].
The platform’s strength lies in its ability to manage campaigns across multiple channels, which can significantly improve reply rates – potentially increasing them by up to 10x, according to their data [2].
With over 150,000 users in 92 countries, MeetAlfred is one of the more established players in the automation space [2]. It caters to creators, teams, and agencies aiming to automate and scale their lead generation while saving time and boosting conversions.
MeetAlfred’s Lead Finder uses a proprietary AI search engine to locate leads online, which is further enhanced by data enrichment tools for building highly targeted prospect lists [2]. A unified inbox allows users to manage thousands of leads and replies efficiently, with features to sort, archive, and add notes to conversations.
The platform also includes safety measures to mimic human behavior and avoid LinkedIn restrictions. These features include dedicated proxies, smart safety limits, and warm-up modes to ensure compliance and maintain account safety [2][4].
| Feature | Closely | MeetAlfred |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | AI-powered LinkedIn & email automation | Multichannel campaign management |
| Channels Supported | LinkedIn, Email | LinkedIn, Email, X (Twitter) |
| User Base | Individual sellers, sales teams, agencies | 150,000+ users across 92 countries |
| Key Strength | Data enrichment & AI personalization | Multichannel outreach capabilities |
| Operating Since | Not specified | 2016 |
| Cloud-Based | Yes, 24/7 operation | Yes, 24/7 operation |
| CRM Integrations | Salesforce, Pipedrive, HubSpot, GoHighLevel | HubSpot, Salesforce, Zapier |
Ultimately, the choice between these platforms depends on your priorities. If you need advanced LinkedIn automation with powerful data enrichment, Closely might be the better fit. But if you value multichannel outreach and a platform with a strong, established presence, MeetAlfred could be the way to go.
Features and Functions
Closely simplifies LinkedIn and email outreach by combining AI-driven personalization, data enrichment, and streamlined campaign management. Here’s a closer look at how these features enhance your outreach efforts.
AI-Powered Personalization
Personalization is key to creating outreach that connects. Closely uses advanced AI to go far beyond basic merge tags. By analyzing detailed prospect profiles and contextual information, it crafts messages that genuinely resonate – no generic templates required.
As Closely puts it:
"Skip the manual work and send messages that feel 1-on-1. Closely’s AI personalizes your LinkedIn and email outreach using data from profiles and context – so every message feels tailored, even in bulk" [1].
Its Sales AI Agents handle lead research, qualification, and personalization, using rich profile data to create messages that feel custom-made.
LinkedIn and Email Automation
Closely takes the hassle out of prospecting by automating lead extraction and finding verified email addresses. With a unified inbox, you can manage replies from both LinkedIn and email in one convenient dashboard, making campaign management smoother and more efficient.
Data Enrichment and Lead Scoring
Closely enhances your outreach by verifying contact details like emails and phone numbers to ensure high-quality leads. This enriched data feeds into a lead scoring system that flags top prospects based on profile quality and engagement potential. By zeroing in on these high-value leads, you can focus your efforts where they’re most likely to pay off.
User Experience and Setup
When it comes to campaign performance, how you start and the support you receive can make all the difference. A smooth onboarding process and dependable assistance ensure your campaigns run efficiently and deliver results.
Getting Started and Setup
Closely offers a straightforward, user-friendly interface with personalized, expert-led onboarding sessions. These 1:1 sessions are tailored to align with your growth objectives, helping you hit the ground running with minimal hassle[3][5].
"Closely is a powerful tool for anyone looking to enhance their sales engagement. Accessible even for non-tech-savvy users." – Antonio D., Digital Strategist & Coach[1][3]
MeetAlfred, on the other hand, provides a functional interface that works with different LinkedIn account types. However, some users have experienced occasional technical hiccups, which can disrupt the setup process[4].
Once your campaigns are live, having reliable support becomes critical to staying on track and addressing any challenges.
Support and Help Options
A smooth setup is only part of the equation – ongoing support is just as important. Closely stands out by offering 24-hour chat support and assigning a dedicated customer success manager. This ensures U.S.-based users receive timely guidance, whether it’s for refining strategies or troubleshooting technical issues.
MeetAlfred has earned a 4.5-star rating on TrustPilot[6], which reflects positive user experiences to some extent. However, the limited number of reviews and reports of technical glitches highlight the need for consistent and responsive support. Automation tools can occasionally encounter bugs or access issues, so having a reliable customer service team is crucial to keeping your outreach efforts on track.
For U.S. users, support that aligns with local business practices and time zones can make a big difference. Quick resolutions to technical problems ensure your LinkedIn automation continues to deliver results without unnecessary downtime.
Pricing and Plans
Closely combines powerful automation and personalization tools with flexible pricing options to suit a variety of business needs. Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur or part of a large organization, there’s a plan designed to align with your goals and budget.
Plan Options and Features
Closely offers four pricing tiers, each tailored to different levels of business activity:
- Starter Plan: Priced at $49/month, this plan includes 1 LinkedIn account, unlimited email accounts, and 1,000 monthly credits. These credits can be used for 250 emails, 50 phone lookups, or 500 AI personalizations.
- Growth Plan: At $127/month, this option supports 3 LinkedIn accounts and comes with 3,000 credits. This covers up to 750 emails, 150 phone lookups, or 1,500 AI personalizations.
- Essential Plan: For $205/month, you get 5 LinkedIn accounts and 5,000 credits, which can be allocated to 1,250 emails, 250 phone lookups, or 2,500 AI personalizations.
- Custom Plan: Designed for larger teams, this plan costs $350/month and includes 10 LinkedIn accounts. Credit allocation is flexible, allowing businesses to customize usage based on their specific needs.
| Plan | Monthly Price | LinkedIn Accounts | Credits | Email/Phone/AI Usage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $49 | 1 | 1,000 | 250 emails / 50 phones / 500 AI personalizations |
| Growth | $127 | 3 | 3,000 | 750 emails / 150 phones / 1,500 AI personalizations |
| Essential | $205 | 5 | 5,000 | 1,250 emails / 250 phones / 2,500 AI personalizations |
| Custom | $350 | 10 | Custom | Custom based on credits |
Each plan includes unlimited email accounts, white-label capabilities, and access to Closely’s AI-powered personalization tools. These features ensure businesses of all sizes have the tools they need to scale their outreach efforts effectively.
Cost vs. Benefits
When evaluating Closely’s pricing, it’s clear that the plans are designed to deliver value for businesses focused on multichannel outreach. The inclusion of unlimited email accounts means you can scale campaigns without worrying about additional fees. Plus, the credit-based system gives you the flexibility to allocate resources across email verification, phone lookups, and AI personalization, depending on your campaign’s specific requirements.
For smaller businesses or solo operators, the Starter Plan at $49/month offers a strong mix of LinkedIn automation, email outreach, and AI personalization. The white-label feature, even at this entry-level tier, is especially useful for agencies aiming to provide branded solutions for their clients.
Teams experiencing growth will find the Growth and Essential Plans well-suited to their needs. With support for multiple LinkedIn accounts, these tiers simplify management, enhance efficiency, and reduce administrative burdens.
The Custom Plan at $350/month is ideal for larger organizations or agencies running high-volume outreach campaigns. With support for 10 LinkedIn accounts and flexible credit allocation, this plan ensures businesses can maintain the level of personalization needed to achieve meaningful results.
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Integrations and Team Growth
Connecting with existing business tools and scaling operations effectively is crucial for a successful LinkedIn automation strategy. Both platforms take unique approaches to integrations and team management, offering distinct benefits for organizations looking to grow.
CRM and Tool Connections
Closely offers native integrations with major CRMs like Salesforce, HubSpot, and Zoho CRM. This simplifies setup and reduces potential connection issues, making it a reliable choice for businesses prioritizing direct and secure data exchanges.
MeetAlfred, on the other hand, connects indirectly to CRMs using Zapier and Webhooks. With pre-built Zapier templates, users can automate tasks like adding new LinkedIn connections as HubSpot contacts. Additionally, its webhook system provides real-time triggers for key events such as "New Lead Found", "New Connection Found", and "New Reply Detected." These triggers ensure CRM records are updated instantly, keeping sales teams informed with the latest data.
For companies already using Zapier, MeetAlfred’s method unlocks a wide range of connectivity options. However, businesses handling sensitive data or high-volume operations may prefer Closely’s direct integrations for their simplicity and reliability.
Both platforms go beyond basic integrations by providing team management tools that support operational scaling.
Growing Teams and Agencies
Once integrations are in place, both platforms cater to the needs of growing teams and agencies with features designed to streamline workflows.
Closely supports scaling from 1 to 10 LinkedIn accounts, making it ideal for agencies and sales teams. Its white-label feature allows agencies to rebrand the platform, creating a seamless experience for their clients.
MeetAlfred takes a multichannel approach, enabling teams to coordinate campaigns across LinkedIn, email, and other channels. This capability is particularly valuable for larger teams running complex, multi-touchpoint campaigns. The Zapier integration further enhances flexibility, allowing teams to create custom workflows that evolve alongside their business processes.
For agencies, Closely’s combination of white-labeling, direct CRM integrations, and flexible credit allocation provides a ready-to-use solution. On the other hand, MeetAlfred’s multichannel capabilities and extensive integration options make it a better fit for teams managing intricate workflows across multiple platforms.
Ultimately, Closely excels in straightforward scaling and direct connections, while MeetAlfred shines in managing complex, multichannel operations.
Which Platform to Choose
If you’re part of an agency or sales team that values straightforward tools and hands-on control, Closely might be your go-to option. Its transparent pricing and built-in features cater to businesses of various sizes, while its seamless CRM integration helps keep everything organized. Closely is all about making things simple and manageable, which can be a huge plus for teams focused on efficiency.
On the other hand, MeetAlfred could be a better fit for organizations managing more intricate, multichannel campaigns that demand advanced customization. But for most professionals in the U.S. who need effective LinkedIn automation without the hassle of overly complex tools, Closely offers a solution that’s both reliable and easy to use.
The best choice comes down to your campaign goals and technical expertise. Assess these factors carefully to pick the platform that aligns with your needs.
Final Thoughts
Closely combines ease of use, practical features, and an affordable pricing structure to offer a solid LinkedIn automation solution. With built-in data enrichment tools and a straightforward approach to outreach, it simplifies prospecting for sales teams and agencies. The AI-powered personalization and unified dashboard make managing campaigns both efficient and effective.
Designed with simplicity in mind, Closely is particularly well-suited for U.S. businesses that are either new to LinkedIn automation or operate with smaller teams. The entry-level plan provides the key tools needed to get started, while also offering room for growth. Plus, with 24-hour support chat and a dedicated customer success manager, users can count on reliable assistance whenever they need it.
Ultimately, choosing the right tool depends on your workflow and growth objectives. For teams aiming to streamline their LinkedIn outreach without breaking the bank, Closely offers a smart, practical solution.
FAQs
What are the main advantages of using AI-powered personalization in LinkedIn automation with Closely?
AI-Powered Personalization in LinkedIn Automation
Closely takes LinkedIn outreach to the next level by using AI to create messages that feel personal and relevant. This approach helps you connect with prospects in a way that feels genuine, which can lead to higher response rates.
By automating tasks like research and message drafting, Closely not only saves you time but also makes it easier to scale your campaigns without losing the personal touch. The outcome? More efficient prospecting, better engagement, and stronger results from your LinkedIn outreach.
What pricing options does Closely offer to suit different business sizes and outreach needs?
Closely offers pricing plans tailored to fit businesses of all sizes and their outreach objectives. The plans include:
- Personal: $70/month
- Growth: $150/month
- Starter: $189/month
- Growth (higher-tier): $389/month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
These plans are designed to accommodate individual users, small teams, and larger sales departments. They scale based on the number of accounts, credits, and outreach capacity your business needs.
What integrations does Closely offer to improve LinkedIn automation?
Seamless Integration with LinkedIn Tools
This tool works hand-in-hand with LinkedIn Search, Sales Navigator, Recruiter, posts, groups, and even CSV files. These connections let you pull in targeted leads, automate tasks like profile visits, sending connection requests, follow-ups, and personalized messaging. Plus, it enhances your leads with real-time data and AI-generated messages tailored to each contact.
By simplifying lead generation and expanding your outreach, these features save you time, increase engagement, and make your LinkedIn automation efforts far more impactful.