Two user acquisition tools, one budget. We compared Hunter and U Never Sleep head-to-head — real pricing, real features, honest verdict. No affiliate games.
Updated February 2026 · Cold outreach
| Feature | ![]() | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $49/month | $15/month |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Paid |
| Free Tier | ||
| Free Trial | 7 days | |
| Best For | Startups | Startups |
| Tool Type | Best-value |
Who each tool is built for, what it does best, and how much effort it takes to get started.
| Tool | Best for | Strength | Setup effort | Ideal ICP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early-stage startups | 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 |



Hunter helps you find and verify email addresses. It's a tool for reaching out to the right people.

U Never Sleep automates sending proposals on Upwork using AI, helping freelancers respond quickly to job postings.
Solid choice for sales and marketing pros who need reliable email finding and verification. Pricing isn't public but expect it to be enterprise-level given the target market. Hunter's strength lies in its seamless email verification and domain search features, making it a go-to for teams looking to streamline outreach.
Ideal for established businesses and funded startups focused on scaling lead generation, but if you're just starting out and need more budget-friendly options, consider looking elsewhere.

Hidden gem for those who loathe wasting time on proposals. Startup-friendly pricing.
It’s like Snov.io but without the unnecessary bells and whistles for Upwork-focused folks.
Choose Hunter if you want maximum value for your money — does 80% of what the big names do at a fraction of the cost. Starts at $49/month. Free tier available — no credit card needed.
Choose U Never Sleep if you want maximum value for your money — does 80% of what the big names do at a fraction of the cost. Starts at $15/month. Free tier available — no credit card needed.
On price alone, U Never Sleep wins at $15/month. But cheaper isn't always better — check the feature breakdown above.
Hunter is a best-value user acquisition tool built for startups, starting at $49/month. Hunter is a powerful tool designed to locate email addresses and facilitate cold email outreach to potential leads.
Choose Hunter if:
See all U Never Sleep alternatives or browse the User acquisition directory.
U Never Sleep is a best-value user acquisition tool built for startups, starting at $15/month. 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.
Choose U Never Sleep if:
See all Hunter alternatives or browse the User acquisition directory.
It depends on your team size, budget, and priorities. Hunter is a best-value user acquisition tool built for startups, starting at $49/month. U Never Sleep is a best-value option aimed at startups, starting at $15/month. See the feature comparison above for a detailed side-by-side.
Hunter starts at $49/month, while U Never Sleep starts at $15/month. U Never Sleep is more affordable on paper. Keep in mind: the cheapest plan isn't always the best deal. Compare what you get at each tier, not just the starting price. We always list monthly billing rates, not discounted annual prices.
Both are cold outreach tools, so most teams pick one to avoid redundancy and extra costs. That said, some teams use both for different segments or use cases — just make sure the overlap doesn't waste your budget.
Both Hunter and U Never Sleep offer free tiers. You can try each without a credit card and see which fits your workflow before spending anything.
Most user acquisition tools support data export. Start by exporting your data from your current tool, then check the new tool's import documentation. Many offer migration assistance or onboarding calls to help with the switch.
| Best-value |
| Category | User acquisition | User acquisition |
| Subcategory | Cold outreach | Cold outreach |
| Plans | Free: $0 Starter: $49/month Growth: $149/month Scale: $299/month Enterprise: Custom | Manual jobs responding: $15/month Auto-responder: from $0.5/response |
| Description | Hunter is a powerful tool designed to locate email addresses and facilitate cold email outreach to potential leads. | 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. |
| Actions |
Let's talk money — because that's usually what drives the decision for startups and growth teams.
Hunter starts at $49/month with 5 pricing tiers. Free tier included. Priced for startups — won't wreck your runway.
U Never Sleep starts at $15/month with 2 pricing tiers. Free tier included. Startup-friendly pricing.
Our take: U Never Sleep is the more affordable option at $15/month vs $49/month. Check the feature comparison above to see if the savings come with trade-offs. We always list monthly billing rates — not the discounted annual price that makes everything look cheaper.
Switching user acquisition tools doesn't have to be painful. Here's a practical migration checklist:
Since at least one of these tools offers a free tier, you can run the parallel test without doubling your costs.
Both Hunter and U Never Sleep are legitimate user acquisition tools with real users and proven track records. The "best" choice depends entirely on your team, your budget, and your priorities.
If value is your top priority, Hunter delivers strong features without the premium price tag.
Don't overthink it. Pick the tool that solves your biggest current pain point, test it for a week, and commit. The worst decision is no decision — spending months comparing tools while your user acquisition workflow sits broken.
Explore Hunter alternatives · U Never Sleep alternatives · Full directory