Closely vs PhantomBuster
Closely
- Platform: LinkedIn and Email
- Best For: Outbound sales and multichannel campaigns
- Strength: AI personalization and CRM integrations
- Users: Not specified
Starting at $29/month
PhantomBuster
- Platform: LinkedIn, Sales Navigator, and more
- Best For: Data extraction and workflow automation
- Strength: Prebuilt Phantoms and chaining capabilities
- Users: Not specified
Starting at $59/month
Table of Contents
At a Glance
Platform Support
| Feature | Closely | PhantomBuster |
|---|---|---|
| LinkedIn Automation | ✓ Safe sequences with human-like behavior and limits | ✓ Prebuilt Phantoms for LinkedIn and Sales Navigator |
| Email Outreach | ✓ Multichannel campaigns combining LinkedIn and email | ✗ Limited; focuses on data extraction rather than sending |
| Sales Navigator Exports | ✓ Direct exports with data enrichment | ✓ Dedicated Phantoms for extracting leads from Navigator |
| Other Platforms (Twitter, Facebook) | ✗ LinkedIn and email only | ✓ Phantoms for multiple platforms including Twitter and Facebook |
Automation & Sequences
| Feature | Closely | PhantomBuster |
|---|---|---|
| Multichannel Campaigns | ✓ Combines LinkedIn steps and email steps in sequences | ✗ Workflow builder chains Phantoms but not multichannel outreach |
| AI Personalization | ✓ AI for DMs, InMails, and emails | ✗ No native AI personalization |
| Workflow Chaining | ✓ Conditional sequence builder in Custom tier | ✓ Powerful builder to chain multiple Phantoms |
| Safe Limits & Human-like Behavior | ✓ Built-in safe limits for LinkedIn | ✗ Requires user configuration to avoid violations |
| Scheduling & Triggers | ✓ Campaign scheduling | ✓ Recurring automations with triggers |
Data Enrichment & Research
| Feature | Closely | PhantomBuster |
|---|---|---|
| Lead Data Enrichment | ✓ Verified emails and phones from LinkedIn | ✓ Data extraction and enrichment for contacts |
| AI Sales Agents | ✓ For lead research, qualification, scoring, and web research | ✗ No AI agents; relies on Phantoms |
| Exports from Events/Posts | ✓ LinkedIn posts and events | ✓ Phantoms for extracting from various sources |
| API Access | ✓ In Custom tier with webhooks | ✓ Full API for custom use cases |
Integrations & CRM
| Feature | Closely | PhantomBuster |
|---|---|---|
| CRM Integrations | ✓ Deep integrations with HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive, GoHighLevel | ✓ Integrations with CRMs via Zapier or direct |
| Zapier Support | ✗ Direct CRM focus, no Zapier mentioned | ✓ Strong Zapier integration |
| Unified Inbox | ✓ For LinkedIn DMs, InMails, and emails | ✗ No unified inbox; focuses on automation |
| White-label for Agencies | ✓ Custom domain and branding | ✗ No white-label features |
Analytics & Management
| Feature | Closely | PhantomBuster |
|---|---|---|
| Outreach Analytics | ✓ Advanced analytics across campaigns, sequences, teams | ✓ Execution logs and error reporting |
| Team Management | ✓ In Custom and White-label tiers | ✓ Shared workspaces in Team tier |
| Learning Curve | ✗ Feature-rich but intuitive for sales teams | ✗ Steep for non-technical users |
Pricing Comparison
Closely starts at $29/month (annual) with a focus on multichannel outreach and CRM sync, offering better value for sales teams. PhantomBuster starts at $59/month with a free tier, but costs rise with usage and concurrency, suiting technical users scaling automations.
Closely
Starter Annual
$29/month
Solo users or small teams starting with LinkedIn and email
- 1 LinkedIn account
- Unlimited email accounts
- White-label included
- Access to outreach automation and multichannel campaigns
Growth Annual
$87/month
Growing teams needing more accounts and credits
- 3 LinkedIn accounts
- Unlimited email accounts
- Bonus 3,000 credits per month
- White-label included
Essential Annual
$145/month
Larger teams with higher volume
- 5 LinkedIn accounts
- Unlimited email accounts
- Bonus 5,000 credits per month
- White-label included
Custom
Custom
Advanced users needing tailored features
- Custom LinkedIn accounts
- Unlimited campaigns
- Conditional builder, CRM integrations, webhooks
- Advanced analytics
White-label Unlimited
$999/month
Agencies with multiple clients
- Unlimited seats
- Full customization and branding
- Client portal and branded reporting
PhantomBuster
Free
Free
Testing basic automations
- Limited Phantoms
- Restricted daily execution time
- Basic support
Starter
$59/month
Individuals starting with lead gen
- Increased execution time
- Core Phantom library
- Basic workflows
Pro
$139/month
Power users needing more speed
- Higher limits and priority execution
- Expanded workflows and integrations
Team
$399/month
Collaborative teams
- High usage limits
- Team collaboration
- Enhanced support
Enterprise
Custom
Large-scale operations
- Custom limits and SLAs
- Dedicated support
- Security features
Feature Deep Dive
Outreach Automation Capabilities
Closely
Strengths
- Safe LinkedIn sequences with human-like behavior
- Multichannel campaigns blending LinkedIn and email
- AI personalization for messages and emails
- Unified inbox for managing replies
- Conditional sequences in Custom tier
Workflow
Build sequence → Add AI personalization → Schedule multichannel → Monitor unified inbox → Analyze responses
PhantomBuster
Strengths
- Prebuilt Phantoms for LinkedIn actions like connections and messages
- Workflow builder to chain automations
- Scheduling for recurring runs
- Execution logs for monitoring
- Flexible for custom scripts
Workflow
Select Phantoms → Chain in workflow → Set triggers/schedules → Run and debug via logs → Extract data
Closely is superior for safe, multichannel outreach with AI and inbox management, ideal for sales teams. PhantomBuster offers more flexible chaining for technical users but lacks email integration and safety features, making it better for data-driven automations.
Data Enrichment & Lead Research
Closely
Strengths
- Verified emails and phones from LinkedIn profiles
- Exports from Sales Navigator, posts, events
- AI Sales Agents for research, qualification, scoring
- Credit-based enrichment (e.g., 750 emails/150 phones in Growth)
Workflow
Import leads → Enrich with AI/web research → Score and qualify → Export to CRM
PhantomBuster
Strengths
- Phantoms for extracting leads from LinkedIn and other sources
- Data enrichment via chained workflows
- Integrations with spreadsheets for bulk processing
- API for advanced extraction
Limitations
- No built-in AI for qualification or scoring
- Requires manual configuration for enrichment
Closely provides more automated, AI-driven enrichment and qualification, streamlining sales pipelines. PhantomBuster excels at raw data extraction at scale but requires more setup for enrichment, suiting growth hackers over sales pros.
Integrations & CRM Sync
Closely
Strengths
- Deep native integrations with HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive, GoHighLevel
- Automatic CRM attribution for outreach
- Webhooks in Custom tier
- Seamless data sync from campaigns
Limitations
- Focused on major CRMs; no broad Zapier
PhantomBuster
Strengths
- Integrations with CRMs, spreadsheets, and Zapier
- API access for custom integrations
- Chaining Phantoms to push data to tools
Limitations
- Less 'deep' CRM sync; more export-oriented
Closely wins for sales teams needing tight CRM integrations and attribution. PhantomBuster is better for flexible, tool-agnostic integrations via Zapier and API, appealing to technical setups.
Analytics & Team Management
Closely
Strengths
- Advanced analytics for campaigns, sequences, teams
- CRM-attributed metrics
- Team management in higher tiers
- White-label reporting for agencies
PhantomBuster
Strengths
- Execution logs and error reporting
- Usage analytics for Phantoms
- Shared workspaces in Team tier
- Priority support in higher plans
Limitations
- Less outreach-specific analytics
- No white-label options
Closely offers richer, sales-focused analytics and agency tools. PhantomBuster provides solid debugging but lacks depth in campaign insights, better for monitoring automations than ROI tracking.
Use Case Comparison
Outbound Sales Team Running LinkedIn Campaigns
Closely 🏆
Excellent
Multichannel sequences, AI personalization, and CRM sync perfect for structured outbound.
Best Plan: Growth Annual ($87/month)
Score: 10/10
PhantomBuster
Good
Strong for LinkedIn extraction but lacks email and safe messaging.
Best Plan: Pro ($139/month)
Score: 7/10
Agency Offering LinkedIn Lead Generation Services
Closely 🏆
Excellent
White-label platform, unlimited seats, and custom branding for client management.
Best Plan: White-label Unlimited ($999/month)
Score: 9/10
PhantomBuster
Fair
Team workspaces but no white-label; steep curve for client scaling.
Best Plan: Team ($399/month)
Score: 6/10
Solo Founder Scaling Prospecting
Closely 🏆
Excellent
Affordable starter plan with full features for LinkedIn/email without SDR team.
Best Plan: Starter Annual ($29/month)
Score: 9/10
PhantomBuster
Good
Free tier to start, but learning curve may slow solo use.
Best Plan: Starter ($59/month)
Score: 7/10
Growth Hacker Running Experiments at Scale
Closely
Good
Analytics and AI help, but less flexible for custom experiments.
Best Plan: Essential Annual ($145/month)
Score: 6/10
PhantomBuster 🏆
Excellent
Phantoms and chaining ideal for testing multi-step lead gen workflows.
Best Plan: Pro ($139/month)
Score: 10/10
B2B Marketer Running Multichannel Campaigns
Closely 🏆
Excellent
Native LinkedIn + email with unified inbox and analytics.
Best Plan: Growth Annual ($87/month)
Score: 10/10
PhantomBuster
Fair
Good for data but no email outreach integration.
Best Plan: Team ($399/month)
Score: 5/10
Technical Marketer Building Custom Automations
Closely
Fair
Conditional builder in Custom, but less flexible than scripts.
Best Plan: Custom
Score: 5/10
PhantomBuster 🏆
Excellent
API, Phantoms, and chaining for advanced custom workflows.
Best Plan: Pro ($139/month)
Score: 9/10
Startup Scaling Prospecting Before Hiring
Closely 🏆
Excellent
AI agents and enrichment reduce manual work for founders.
Best Plan: Starter Annual ($29/month)
Score: 9/10
PhantomBuster
Good
Scalable extraction but requires tech savvy.
Best Plan: Starter ($59/month)
Score: 7/10
Enterprise Sales Operations Team
Closely
Good
Deep CRM integrations, but may need Custom for scale.
Best Plan: Custom
Score: 7/10
PhantomBuster 🏆
Excellent
Enterprise tier with SLAs and high limits for large ops.
Best Plan: Enterprise (Custom)
Score: 9/10
Non-Technical Sales User
Closely 🏆
Excellent
Intuitive interface for sales without coding.
Best Plan: Growth Annual ($87/month)
Score: 9/10
PhantomBuster
Poor
Steep learning curve and technical setup.
Best Plan: Not ideal
Score: 3/10
Team Focused on Lead Data Extraction
Closely
Good
Enrichment included, but not core strength.
Best Plan: Essential Annual ($145/month)
Score: 6/10
PhantomBuster 🏆
Excellent
Extensive Phantoms for extraction from multiple sources.
Best Plan: Pro ($139/month)
Score: 10/10
CRM-Heavy Sales Team
Closely 🏆
Excellent
Deep integrations ensure seamless attribution.
Best Plan: Custom
Score: 10/10
PhantomBuster
Good
Integrations via Zapier, but less direct sync.
Best Plan: Team ($399/month)
Score: 6/10
Budget-Conscious Starter Team
Closely 🏆
Excellent
Low annual entry with full features.
Best Plan: Starter Annual ($29/month)
Score: 9/10
PhantomBuster
Fair
Free tier limited; paid starts higher.
Best Plan: Free or Starter ($59/month)
Score: 5/10
Pros and Cons
Closely
Pros
- Comprehensive multichannel LinkedIn and email automation
- Strong AI for personalization and lead qualification
- Deep CRM integrations for seamless sales attribution
- Unified inbox simplifies reply management
- Safe LinkedIn practices with built-in limits
- White-label for agencies at all tiers
- Flexible annual pricing with discounts
Cons
- Interface complex for basic needs
- High pricing for solo or casual users
- Onboarding time for advanced features
- No native content creation or post scheduling
- Limited to LinkedIn and email platforms
- Credit system for enrichment adds management
PhantomBuster
Pros
- Extensive library of prebuilt Phantoms for lead gen
- Powerful workflow chaining for complex automations
- Strong data extraction from LinkedIn and beyond
- Free tier for testing and low-barrier entry
- API and Zapier for broad integrations
- Execution logs aid debugging and scaling
- Suitable for multi-platform prospecting
Cons
- Steep learning curve for non-technical users
- Risk of platform violations without careful setup
- No native email outreach or multichannel campaigns
- Pricing escalates with usage and team size
- Lacks AI personalization and unified inbox
- Interface and terminology complex for beginners
Final Verdict
Closely and PhantomBuster both aid lead generation but differ in approach: Closely is a polished, sales-oriented platform for safe multichannel outreach with AI and CRM depth, while PhantomBuster is a flexible automation toolkit for data extraction and custom workflows, better for technical users.
Choose Closely for structured sales outreach with AI and CRM focus. Opt for PhantomBuster if data extraction and custom automations are core. Use both for extraction (PhantomBuster) feeding into campaigns (Closely).
Overall Scores
Closely
Value: 8/10
PhantomBuster
Value: 7/10
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