Expanding a B2B software or SaaS company globally is exciting—but it also means reaching decision-makers in unfamiliar markets, often from scratch. Whether you’re targeting IT leaders in the UK, HR tech buyers in the Nordics, or marketing teams in the US, cold outreach—via email and LinkedIn—remains a core tactic to generate leads.
(Watch here our webinar recording Breaking Through the Noise: Mastering Cold Outreach for Global Growth ).
But which tool should you use?
In this guide, we compare five leading outbound tools popular among B2B SaaS and software vendors: HubSpot Sequences, Apollo, Reply.io, Expandi and LinkedFusion. We’ll look at them through the lens of a company like yours: expanding internationally, selling B2B, and needing a reliable outbound engine that works at scale.
🔍 Overview of the Tools
| Tool | Channels Supported | CRM Integration | Prospecting Data | Best For |
| HubSpot Sequences | Email + manual LinkedIn steps | ✅ Native to HubSpot | ❌ None | Warm lead follow-ups |
| Apollo | Email + LinkedIn tasks | ✅ Strong 2-way sync | ✅ Built-in DB | Full outbound: data + sequences + CRM |
| Reply.io | Email + LinkedIn + Calls | ✅ Strong 2-way sync | ✅ Optional DB | Multi-touch outbound at scale |
| Expandi | Automated LinkedIn only | ❌ Zapier/API only | ❌ No DB | LinkedIn-first, automated campaigns |
| LinkedFusion | Automated LinkedIn + Email (via webhook/Zapier) | ✅ Native with many CRMs | ❌ No DB | Affordable, LinkedIn-based personalization |
✅ 1. HubSpot (Sequences)
Best for: Warm leads, follow-ups, and sales nurturing inside the HubSpot CRM
Advantages:
- Native to the HubSpot Sales Hub, no syncing issues.
- Pulls contact data from CRM for personalized emails.
- Easy to assign follow-up tasks (e.g. “Connect on LinkedIn”) to sales reps.
- Clear analytics, reporting, and lifecycle management.
Drawbacks:
- No LinkedIn automation – only task reminders.
- Not ideal for cold prospecting at scale.- requires daily manual launches.
- Requires Sales Hub Professional (US$100/mo/seat).
- No native data enrichment or scraping capabilities.
Verdict for global SaaS:
Ideal for companies that already have a database of hot leads or that generate leads via inbound. Less suited for first-touch outbound in new markets.
✅ 2. Apollo.io
Best for: All-in-one outbound—prospecting (including email and phone fetching) , enrichment, emailing, and CRM sync.
Advantages:
- Huge built-in database (~275M contacts) with B2B filters and technographics.
- Sequences support email + LinkedIn task steps.
- Excellent HubSpot CRM integration (bidirectional sync, deal updates).
- Email deliverability support with warm-up tools and custom tracking domains.
- Great for AI enrichment for further segmentation or personalization.
- Competitive pricing (~$49–99/user/month) including a good free plan.
Drawbacks:
- LinkedIn tasks are semi-manual (no automatic DMs).
- May require additional inbox/domain warm-up for max deliverability.
- Contact data for non-US/EU markets may require validation.
Verdict for global SaaS:
Best value-for-money platform for B2B software teams starting to build their ICP database and outbound motion or extending it. Combines data, automation, and CRM sync in one place.
✅ 3. Reply.io
Best for: Structured outbound teams running multichannel, high-volume campaigns
Advantages:
- Supports email, LinkedIn, and calls in unified sequences.
- Advanced deliverability management: inbox rotation, AI warm-up, A/B testing.
- Rich analytics and task management for SDRs.
- Strong HubSpot integration (with customizable sync).
- User friendly
Drawbacks:
- Steeper learning curve than Apollo or HubSpot.
- Slightly more expensive (~$60–90/user/month).
- Less suited for teams looking for a plug-and-play solution.
Verdict for global SaaS:
Ideal for more mature sales teams that want multichannel cadences. Offers great control but requires setup and training.
✅ 4. Expandi
Best for: LinkedIn-first outreach with automated actions and personalization
Advantages:
- Automates connection requests, follow-ups, profile views, and DMs.
- Works with LinkedIn Sales Navigator.
- Smart targeting: supports CSV uploads and dynamic personalization.
- Dedicated IPs and LinkedIn warm-up ensure safety.
Drawbacks:
- Email features are very limited.
- No native CRM or contact database—requires pairing with another tool (e.g., Apollo).
- HubSpot integration via Zapier or API only.
Verdict for global SaaS:
Perfect for starting conversations on LinkedIn—especially when targeting regions where email has low response rates (e.g. DACH, Nordics). Best used in combination with another platform like Apollo.
✅ 5. LinkedFusion
Best for: Affordable LinkedIn outreach with CRM sync options. Automates prospecting and follow-ups, helping drive scalable sales growth.
Advantages:
- Automates LinkedIn outreach (connection requests, messages, profile views).
- Supports dedicated IPs for safety and geo-rotation to simulate human behavior.
- Safety‑first automation – Designed to mimic human behavior to reduce account restrictions or bans.
- Native integration with multiple CRMs like HubSpot / Pipedrive / Close / Insightly/ Zoho / GHL / Salesforce.
- Multipurpose engagement – Supports not just connecting, but also commenting and ongoing messaging to deepen relationships.
Drawbacks
- No built-in email automation – user must pair with email sending tools
- Compliance limitations – Despite safety features, LinkedIn policies may limit mass automated activity, potentially triggering restrictions.
- Learning curve – Requires thoughtful setup (targeting, messaging, cadence), which may be challenging for new users or small teams
Verdict for global SaaS:
Perfect for starting conversations on LinkedIn—especially when targeting regions where email has low response rates (e.g. DACH, Nordics). Best used in combination with another platform like Apollo. It equips global SaaS businesses to execute multi-regional LinkedIn campaigns with centralized automation.
🎯 Which Tool Should You Choose?
It depends on your strategy and market maturity:
| Your Scenario | Recommended Tool |
| Already using HubSpot and nurturing MQLs | HubSpot Sequences |
| Launching outbound in new markets from scratch | Apollo |
| Wanting full multichannel outreach (email + LinkedIn + calls) | Reply.io |
| Focusing on LinkedIn-first prospecting | LinkedFusion or Expandi |
💡 Real Use Case: What a Global Campaign Could Look Like
For a company which offers SaaS solutions a cold outreach campa could look like this:
- Use Apollo to find contacts within your ICP
- Further segment based on other parameters or AI enrichment
- Run a 6-step email sequence, with task reminders to connect on LinkedIn.
- Sync with HubSpot CRM to track replies and update deals.
- For Tier 1 accounts or LinkedIn-first prospecting, add LinkedFusion or Expandi campaigns with LinkedIn message automation.
This approach combines scale with personalization—while keeping everything tracked in your CRM.
🚀 Final Thoughts
There’s no one-size-fits-all tool. The right cold outreach platform depends on:
- Your existing tech stack
- Whether you’re targeting inbound leads or doing pure outbound
- Your team’s maturity
- Your target territories and buyer personas
At Beam Global, we help B2B SaaS companies choose and implement the right tools with AI powered segmentation—and connect them with global buyers and channel partners.
