Updated February 2026 · User acquisition / Cold outreach
Thinking about switching from Linked Helper? You're not alone. We compared 12 user acquisition tools head-to-head — real pricing, real features, no affiliate BS. Whether you want something cheaper, more powerful, or just different, we've got you covered.
| Tool | Starting Price | Free Tier | Best For | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Linked Helper(original) | $15/month | Startups | Best-value | View | |
| $49/month |
| Startups |
| Best-value |
| $134/month | Startups | Best-value |
| $59/month | Startups | Niche |
| $49/month | Startups | Best-value |
| $39/month | Startups | Best-value |
| $15/month | Startups | Best-value |
| $29/month | SMBs | Essential |
| Free | Enterprise | Best-value |
| $49/month | Startups | Best-value |
| Free | Startups | Niche |
| $35/month | Startups | Best-value |
| $15/month | Startups | Best-value |
Apollo.io streamlines sales processes with AI-powered tools for lead generation, data enrichment, and automated outreach.
Clay empowers GTM teams with AI-driven insights and automated workflows for seamless market engagement.
Extruct AI provides AI-driven company intelligence, enabling users to build niche lead lists and enhance CRM data with ease.
Hunter is a powerful tool designed to locate email addresses and facilitate cold email outreach to potential leads.
Snov.io simplifies sales outreach with tools for cold emailing, LinkedIn automation, and email discovery.

AI-powered Upwork proposal sender for freelancers. Or you can use U Never Sleep this way: you turn Upwork into a predictable inbound-ish channel: it finds relevant jobs, qualifies fit, writes tailored proposals, and submits fast—so you’re first in the inbox with a message that actually sells.
Ahrefs is a comprehensive AI-powered marketing platform for optimizing search visibility and content performance.
AirOps enhances content strategy, creation, and performance for brands.
Beehiiv is a powerful newsletter platform that enables creators and businesses to effectively grow their audience through targeted email marketing and community engagement.
BetaList is a platform that showcases upcoming internet startups, giving users the opportunity to discover and gain early access to innovative new products.
Extrovert helps you efficiently engage with prospects and customers on LinkedIn by suggesting tailored comments and direct messages based on your established strategies.
Ghost is a powerful publishing platform that seamlessly integrates email newsletters and paid subscription features for creators and businesses.
Best for, key strength, setup effort, and ideal customer profile — for every Linked Helper alternative we tested.
| Tool | Best for | Strength | Setup effort | Ideal ICP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early-stage startups | Strong features at a fraction of enterprise pricing | Low | Bootstrapped founders + indie hackers | |
| Workflow automation | Strong features at a fraction of enterprise pricing | Low | Bootstrapped founders + indie hackers | |
| Customer relationships + sales | Specialized tool that does one thing exceptionally well | Low | Solo founders, SMBs, and early teams | |
| Early-stage startups | Strong features at a fraction of enterprise pricing | Low | Bootstrapped founders + indie hackers | |
| Workflow automation | Strong features at a fraction of enterprise pricing | Low | Bootstrapped founders + indie hackers | |
![]() | Early-stage startups | AI-powered Upwork proposal sender for freelancers | Low | Bootstrapped founders + indie hackers |
| AI-powered content creation | Industry standard with the widest ecosystem | Low | SMBs and growing startups | |
| AI-powered content creation | AirOps enhances content strategy, creation, and performance for brands | Low | Enterprise teams needing compliance + support |
Real screenshots — no stock photos, no marketing fluff. Here's what you're actually signing up for.
Linked Helper is a best-value user acquisition tool built for startups, starting at $15/month. Linked Helper automates LinkedIn outreach and lead generation with advanced features and security, ideal for professionals seeking efficient networking.
Whether Linked Helper is too expensive, too limited, or just not the right fit — there are 12 solid alternatives worth considering. We tested each one and compared them on the metrics that actually matter for growing teams.
Not all user acquisition tools are created equal. Before switching from Linked Helper, here's what to evaluate:
Based on our testing, here are the standout alternatives to Linked Helper in 2026:
Apollo.io ($49/month, free tier available) — Strong features at a fraction of enterprise pricing. Our best-value pick — strong feature set at a price that won't kill your runway. Best for early-stage startups. See Linked Helper vs Apollo.io →
Clay ($134/month, free tier available) — Strong features at a fraction of enterprise pricing. Our best-value pick — strong feature set at a price that won't kill your runway. Best for workflow automation. See Linked Helper vs Clay →
Extruct AI ($59/month) — Specialized tool that does one thing exceptionally well. Specialized approach that's worth it if it fits your use case. Best for customer relationships + sales. See Linked Helper vs Extruct AI →
Hunter ($49/month, free tier available) — Strong features at a fraction of enterprise pricing. Our best-value pick — strong feature set at a price that won't kill your runway. Best for early-stage startups. See Linked Helper vs Hunter →
Snov.io ($39/month) — Strong features at a fraction of enterprise pricing. Our best-value pick — strong feature set at a price that won't kill your runway. Best for workflow automation. See Linked Helper vs Snov.io →
8 of the 12 alternatives to Linked Helper offer free tiers that are genuinely usable — not 14-day trials dressed up as "free plans." Here's who stands out:
Apollo.io — free tier with paid plans from $49/month. Strong features at a fraction of enterprise pricing.
Clay — free tier with paid plans from $134/month. Strong features at a fraction of enterprise pricing.
Hunter — free tier with paid plans from $49/month. Strong features at a fraction of enterprise pricing.
For pre-revenue startups and solo founders, these free alternatives let you build a working user acquisition setup without spending a cent. Upgrade when revenue justifies the cost — not before.
Switching user acquisition tools isn't free — there's migration time, learning curves, and potential data loss. Here's when a switch makes sense:
If you do switch, most user acquisition tools offer export features. Plan for 1-2 weeks of migration and a parallel run period where you use both tools simultaneously.
The user acquisition tool market in 2026 is competitive enough that no single tool has a monopoly on value. Linked Helper is a best-value option for startups, but the 12 alternatives on this page prove there are strong options at every price point and for every use case.
If budget matters, Apollo.io and Clay deliver excellent value. If you're not ready to pay, Apollo.io and Clay offer genuinely usable free tiers. Check the comparison table above, test 2-3 tools, and pick the one that fits your workflow — not the one with the best marketing page.
The best free alternatives to Linked Helper include Apollo.io, Clay, Hunter. These aren't limited trials — they offer genuinely usable free tiers that startups and small teams can run on long-term. Check the comparison table above for specific free tier limits.
AirOps starts at Free, making it one of the most affordable user acquisition tools available. For comparison, Linked Helper starts at $15/month. Both prices are based on monthly billing — we always check the real monthly price, not the discounted annual number.
Linked Helper is a best-value tool in the user acquisition space, best suited for startups. It has a free tier, so you can try it without risk. Whether you should stick with it or switch depends on your specific needs and budget.
Most user acquisition tools offer import features or migration guides. Start by exporting your data from Linked Helper, then check your chosen alternative's documentation for import instructions. Many tools on this list also offer free onboarding support to help you switch.
We track 12 vetted alternatives to Linked Helper in the user acquisition category. This isn't an exhaustive list of every tool that exists — we only include tools we've actually reviewed with verified pricing. We add new tools regularly as we discover and test them.
Still not sure? Explore more user acquisition tools or compare them head-to-head.