Quick Overview
- 1#1: Follow Up Boss - Real estate-focused CRM that automates intelligent follow-ups across calls, texts, emails, and tasks.
- 2#2: HubSpot CRM - Free all-in-one CRM with automated email sequences, task reminders, and pipeline management for sales follow-ups.
- 3#3: Pipedrive - Visual sales pipeline CRM designed for scheduling activities, deals, and automated follow-ups.
- 4#4: Close - Sales-first CRM with built-in calling, emailing, SMS, and AI-powered one-click follow-ups.
- 5#5: Outreach - Sales engagement platform for creating personalized multi-channel sequences and automating follow-ups.
- 6#6: Salesloft - Revenue orchestration tool that automates sales cadences, workflows, and intelligent follow-ups.
- 7#7: ActiveCampaign - Email marketing and CRM automation platform with advanced follow-up workflows and site tracking.
- 8#8: Apollo - AI-powered sales intelligence platform for prospecting, enrichment, and automated follow-up sequences.
- 9#9: Mixmax - Email productivity suite for Gmail/Outlook with sequences, reminders, and automated follow-ups.
- 10#10: Boomerang - Gmail and Outlook extension that schedules send-later emails and automatic follow-up reminders.
Ranked for robustness, ease of use, and value, these tools were carefully evaluated on features, reliability, and market impact to deliver a curated list of solutions that balance functionality and practicality.
Comparison Table
Follow-up software is essential for efficient lead management and workflow optimization. This comparison table evaluates key features, usability, and pricing across tools like Follow Up Boss, HubSpot CRM, Pipedrive, Close, Outreach, and more, guiding readers to find the right fit for their operations.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Follow Up Boss Real estate-focused CRM that automates intelligent follow-ups across calls, texts, emails, and tasks. | specialized | 9.7/10 | 9.8/10 | 9.5/10 | 9.2/10 |
| 2 | HubSpot CRM Free all-in-one CRM with automated email sequences, task reminders, and pipeline management for sales follow-ups. | enterprise | 9.2/10 | 9.5/10 | 8.7/10 | 9.8/10 |
| 3 | Pipedrive Visual sales pipeline CRM designed for scheduling activities, deals, and automated follow-ups. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 4 | Close Sales-first CRM with built-in calling, emailing, SMS, and AI-powered one-click follow-ups. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 5 | Outreach Sales engagement platform for creating personalized multi-channel sequences and automating follow-ups. | enterprise | 8.6/10 | 9.3/10 | 7.9/10 | 7.8/10 |
| 6 | Salesloft Revenue orchestration tool that automates sales cadences, workflows, and intelligent follow-ups. | enterprise | 8.5/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.8/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 7 | ActiveCampaign Email marketing and CRM automation platform with advanced follow-up workflows and site tracking. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 9.4/10 | 7.6/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 8 | Apollo AI-powered sales intelligence platform for prospecting, enrichment, and automated follow-up sequences. | general_ai | 8.2/10 | 9.1/10 | 7.4/10 | 7.9/10 |
| 9 | Mixmax Email productivity suite for Gmail/Outlook with sequences, reminders, and automated follow-ups. | other | 8.4/10 | 8.7/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 10 | Boomerang Gmail and Outlook extension that schedules send-later emails and automatic follow-up reminders. | other | 8.2/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.4/10 | 7.8/10 |
Real estate-focused CRM that automates intelligent follow-ups across calls, texts, emails, and tasks.
Free all-in-one CRM with automated email sequences, task reminders, and pipeline management for sales follow-ups.
Visual sales pipeline CRM designed for scheduling activities, deals, and automated follow-ups.
Sales-first CRM with built-in calling, emailing, SMS, and AI-powered one-click follow-ups.
Sales engagement platform for creating personalized multi-channel sequences and automating follow-ups.
Revenue orchestration tool that automates sales cadences, workflows, and intelligent follow-ups.
Email marketing and CRM automation platform with advanced follow-up workflows and site tracking.
AI-powered sales intelligence platform for prospecting, enrichment, and automated follow-up sequences.
Email productivity suite for Gmail/Outlook with sequences, reminders, and automated follow-ups.
Gmail and Outlook extension that schedules send-later emails and automatic follow-up reminders.
Follow Up Boss
specializedReal estate-focused CRM that automates intelligent follow-ups across calls, texts, emails, and tasks.
Smart Lists that automatically categorize leads by behavior, source, and engagement for hyper-targeted, hands-off follow-up automation
Follow Up Boss is a premier CRM platform tailored for real estate professionals, specializing in lead capture, nurturing, and rapid follow-up across phone, text, email, and video. It integrates seamlessly with over 250 lead sources like Zillow and Realtor.com, using smart lists and automated action plans to prioritize hot leads and prevent them from going cold. The tool's mobile-first design and team collaboration features make it ideal for agents on the go, significantly improving response times and conversion rates.
Pros
- Ultra-fast lead response with one-click texting, calling, and emailing
- Smart lists and drip campaigns that auto-segment and nurture leads
- Robust integrations with 250+ lead sources and tools like Google Workspace
Cons
- Premium pricing may be steep for solo agents
- Steep learning curve for advanced automation features
- Reporting capabilities lag behind full enterprise CRMs
Best For
Real estate teams and agents focused on high-volume lead management and rapid conversion through multi-channel follow-ups.
Pricing
Starts at $69/user/month (Quick Start), $99/user/month (Basic), $129/user/month (Pro), with custom enterprise pricing; annual discounts available.
HubSpot CRM
enterpriseFree all-in-one CRM with automated email sequences, task reminders, and pipeline management for sales follow-ups.
Email Sequences for automated, personalized multi-touch follow-up campaigns with open/click tracking
HubSpot CRM is a powerful, all-in-one customer relationship management platform designed to streamline sales processes, particularly follow-ups with leads and customers. It features automated email sequences, task reminders, deal pipelines, and email tracking to ensure timely and personalized outreach. The free core CRM provides essential follow-up tools, while integrated hubs for sales, marketing, and service enhance scalability for growing teams.
Pros
- Generous free tier with unlimited users and core follow-up tools like email tracking and tasks
- Automated sequences and workflows for multi-step follow-ups based on behaviors
- Seamless integrations with 1,000+ apps including Gmail, Outlook, and calendars
Cons
- Advanced automation and reporting locked behind paid tiers
- Steep learning curve for utilizing full ecosystem features
- Email send limits in free plan (2,000/month) may constrain high-volume users
Best For
Sales teams and small businesses seeking a scalable, no-cost entry point for automated lead nurturing and follow-up management.
Pricing
Free CRM forever; Sales Hub Starter at $20/user/month; Professional tiers from $90/month for 5 users (billed annually).
Pipedrive
specializedVisual sales pipeline CRM designed for scheduling activities, deals, and automated follow-ups.
Drag-and-drop sales pipeline with scheduled activities for effortless follow-up prioritization
Pipedrive is a visual CRM platform tailored for sales teams, emphasizing pipeline management with built-in tools for scheduling and tracking follow-ups like calls, emails, and tasks. It features activity reminders, email integration with open/click tracking, and workflow automations to trigger next steps automatically. This makes it effective for maintaining consistent lead nurturing without losing track of opportunities. While not a standalone follow-up tool, its CRM structure supports scalable follow-up processes seamlessly.
Pros
- Intuitive drag-and-drop pipeline for visual follow-up tracking
- Email syncing and tracking with automated reminders
- Customizable workflows to automate multi-step follow-ups
Cons
- Advanced automation requires higher-tier plans
- Pricing scales quickly for larger teams
- Limited native reporting depth for follow-up analytics
Best For
Sales teams in small to mid-sized businesses needing visual, CRM-integrated follow-up management.
Pricing
Starts at $14.90/user/month (Essential) up to $99/user/month (Enterprise), billed annually with a 14-day free trial.
Close
specializedSales-first CRM with built-in calling, emailing, SMS, and AI-powered one-click follow-ups.
Built-in predictive dialer and one-click multi-channel follow-ups without third-party apps
Close is a sales-first CRM platform optimized for high-velocity outbound sales, featuring built-in calling, SMS, email, and automation tools to streamline follow-ups. It automates sequences, sets smart reminders based on engagement, and provides one-click actions from contact records to ensure timely outreach. Ideal for teams managing pipelines, it offers real-time reporting and AI-driven insights to prioritize hot leads and boost close rates.
Pros
- Integrated phone, SMS, and email dialer for instant follow-ups
- Powerful workflow automation and smart reminders
- Real-time analytics and lead scoring for efficient prioritization
Cons
- Pricing can be steep for solo users or very small teams
- Less emphasis on inbound marketing compared to sales outreach
- Advanced customizations require some learning curve
Best For
Outbound sales teams handling high-volume leads who need seamless, all-in-one follow-up tools without external integrations.
Pricing
Starter at $59/user/month (billed annually), Professional $99/user/month, Business $139/user/month; 14-day free trial.
Outreach
enterpriseSales engagement platform for creating personalized multi-channel sequences and automating follow-ups.
AI-powered Kaia for real-time conversation intelligence and dynamic personalization at scale
Outreach is a comprehensive sales engagement platform that automates personalized outreach and follow-up sequences across email, phone, SMS, and LinkedIn. It helps sales teams scale high-volume prospecting with AI-powered personalization, A/B testing, and real-time performance analytics. The tool integrates deeply with CRMs like Salesforce to streamline workflows and provide actionable insights for improving pipeline velocity.
Pros
- Robust multi-channel follow-up automation with branching sequences
- Advanced AI personalization and A/B testing capabilities
- Deep analytics and CRM integrations for data-driven optimization
Cons
- High enterprise-level pricing not ideal for small teams
- Steep learning curve and complex initial setup
- Occasional performance issues with large-scale deployments
Best For
Mid-to-large enterprise sales teams requiring scalable, multichannel follow-up automation and analytics.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing, typically starting at $100/user/month (billed annually); requires demo and quote.
Salesloft
enterpriseRevenue orchestration tool that automates sales cadences, workflows, and intelligent follow-ups.
Cadence orchestration with AI-powered personalization and real-time engagement scoring
Salesloft is a comprehensive sales engagement platform designed to streamline outreach and follow-ups through automated cadences across email, calls, and LinkedIn. It enables sales teams to personalize sequences, track engagement metrics, and gain insights via AI-driven analytics to optimize conversion rates. The tool integrates deeply with CRMs like Salesforce, making it a powerhouse for managing multi-touch follow-up strategies at scale.
Pros
- Robust cadence automation for multi-channel follow-ups
- Advanced AI analytics and conversation intelligence
- Seamless CRM integrations for streamlined workflows
Cons
- Steep learning curve for new users
- High pricing limits accessibility for small teams
- Occasional performance issues with large-scale deployments
Best For
Mid-sized to enterprise sales teams seeking scalable, data-driven follow-up automation.
Pricing
Starts at around $125/user/month (billed annually) for Essential plan; Premium and Advanced tiers are custom-priced for enterprises.
ActiveCampaign
specializedEmail marketing and CRM automation platform with advanced follow-up workflows and site tracking.
Predictive sending and behavioral automation paths that optimize follow-up timing using machine learning
ActiveCampaign is a powerful marketing automation platform designed for creating sophisticated follow-up sequences across email, SMS, and other channels to nurture leads and customers. It features advanced automation workflows, behavioral tracking, and CRM integration to trigger personalized follow-ups based on user actions. Ideal for scaling follow-up strategies, it combines email marketing with sales automation for comprehensive customer engagement.
Pros
- Highly advanced automation with if/then branching for behavior-based follow-ups
- Multi-channel support including email, SMS, and site messaging
- Built-in CRM and detailed analytics for tracking follow-up performance
Cons
- Steep learning curve for beginners due to complex interface
- Pricing increases significantly with contact list growth
- Overkill for simple follow-up needs without full marketing stack
Best For
Mid-sized businesses and marketing teams requiring scalable, multi-channel follow-up automations integrated with CRM.
Pricing
Starts at $29/month (Lite, up to 500 contacts), Plus at $49, Professional at $149, Enterprise custom; billed annually.
Apollo
general_aiAI-powered sales intelligence platform for prospecting, enrichment, and automated follow-up sequences.
Integrated multi-channel sequences that combine email, LinkedIn tasks, and calls with AI personalization and real-time performance analytics
Apollo.io is an all-in-one sales intelligence platform that excels in prospecting, data enrichment, and automated outreach sequences, making it a robust tool for follow-up campaigns. It allows users to build multi-channel sequences across email, calls, and LinkedIn to nurture leads effectively. With advanced analytics and AI-driven personalization, it helps sales teams optimize engagement and conversion rates in outbound efforts.
Pros
- Massive B2B database with 270M+ contacts for easy prospecting and follow-ups
- Multi-channel automated sequences with A/B testing and personalization
- Strong analytics dashboard for tracking sequence performance and reply rates
Cons
- Steep learning curve due to feature-rich interface
- Higher pricing tiers required for advanced follow-up features like unlimited emails
- Occasional data inaccuracies or bounces in email outreach
Best For
Mid-sized sales teams focused on scaling outbound prospecting and automated multi-touch follow-ups.
Pricing
Free plan available; paid plans start at $49/user/month (Starter), $99 (Basic), $149 (Professional), billed annually with custom enterprise options.
Mixmax
otherEmail productivity suite for Gmail/Outlook with sequences, reminders, and automated follow-ups.
Smart follow-up sequences that automatically send contextual reminders based on recipient behavior like opens or clicks
Mixmax is a Gmail-focused email productivity platform that enhances outreach with features like tracking, templates, scheduling, and automated sequences. It specializes in follow-up automation, enabling users to create personalized email cadences that trigger based on opens, clicks, or lack of response. With analytics and personalization tools like dynamic images and videos, it helps sales and marketing teams improve reply rates and pipeline efficiency.
Pros
- Robust automated follow-up sequences with engagement triggers
- Real-time email tracking and detailed analytics
- Intuitive Gmail integration with reusable templates and personalization
Cons
- Limited native support for non-Gmail/Outlook users
- Pricing scales quickly for teams with advanced needs
- Some advanced automations require setup time
Best For
Sales development reps and outreach teams relying on Gmail for high-volume, personalized follow-ups.
Pricing
Starts at $29/user/month (Pro plan), $49/user/month (Business), with custom Enterprise pricing.
Boomerang
otherGmail and Outlook extension that schedules send-later emails and automatic follow-up reminders.
Boomerang Reminders, which automatically prompts you to follow up on emails with no reply after a set period.
Boomerang is a Gmail extension designed to enhance email productivity, particularly for follow-ups, by allowing users to schedule emails, set automatic reminders for unanswered messages, and track when emails are opened. It integrates directly into the Gmail interface, making it easy to automate responses and ensure timely follow-ups without leaving your inbox. While powerful for email-centric workflows, it lacks broader CRM integrations that some dedicated follow-up tools offer.
Pros
- Seamless integration with Gmail
- Effective automatic reminder system for unanswered emails
- Reliable email scheduling and open tracking
Cons
- Limited to Gmail users only
- Free plan has strict usage limits (10 emails/month)
- No native integrations with CRMs or other email providers
Best For
Gmail-heavy sales reps or customer support teams needing simple email follow-up automation.
Pricing
Free basic plan (limited to 10 emails/month); Pro at $4.99/user/month (billed annually); Premium at $14.99/user/month.
Conclusion
Evaluating the 10 follow-up tools highlights a range of solutions, each excelling at automating critical outreach. Leading the pack is Follow Up Boss, a real estate-focused CRM that streamlines follow-ups across calls, texts, emails, and tasks, making it a top pick for industry-specific needs. HubSpot CRM and Pipedrive follow as strong alternatives—HubSpot for its free, all-in-one CRM with email sequences and pipeline management, and Pipedrive for its visual pipeline design and activity scheduling. With these options, optimizing follow-up efficiency is accessible to nearly every professional.
Don’t wait—explore Follow Up Boss today to elevate your follow-up processes and drive meaningful engagement.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison