If you’re in B2B sales or marketing and sick of generic cold emails, you’ve probably heard of Lemlist. Maybe you’re wondering if it’s worth the money, if the features actually help, or if it’s just another overhyped SaaS tool. This is for teams who want to scale outreach without turning into robots—or burning cash on stuff they don’t need.
This guide breaks down what Lemlist really does, what stands out, where it falls short, and what you’re actually paying for. No fluff, no jargon, no pressure.
What Is Lemlist, Really?
Lemlist is a SaaS platform designed to help you send cold emails that (supposedly) get more replies. It’s popular with sales teams, agencies, and anyone doing outbound prospecting. The pitch: automate your outreach, personalize at scale, and track results in one place.
But does it deliver? Sometimes, yes. Sometimes, not so much.
Key Features: What Matters (and What Doesn’t)
Let’s break down the core features. I’ll flag what’s genuinely useful, what feels like window dressing, and what you can safely ignore unless you’re deep into advanced sales ops.
1. Email Automation & Sequencing
What it does:
You can set up multi-step email sequences (think: initial email, follow-ups, break-up emails) that go out automatically based on recipient behavior (opens, clicks, replies).
Why it matters:
This is the bread and butter. If you’re still manually following up, you’re wasting time. Lemlist’s UI for sequencing is decent—intuitive enough for most people to get up to speed fast.
What works:
- Simple drag-and-drop sequence builder.
- Conditional logic (send X if replied, Y if ignored, etc.).
- Time zone scheduling to avoid sending at 2AM.
What’s not so great:
- The interface can get clunky with lots of steps.
- Some advanced trigger options are missing compared to pricier tools.
Pro tip:
Start simple. You probably don’t need a 7-step sequence. Two or three well-timed, personalized emails are usually enough.
2. Personalization Features
What it does:
You can personalize emails with merge tags ({{FirstName}}, etc.), but Lemlist goes further with dynamic images and even custom landing pages.
Why it matters:
Personalization is what separates spam from something worth reading. Lemlist’s dynamic image feature—adding someone’s name or company logo to an image—sounds gimmicky, but it actually gets attention, at least for now.
What works:
- Dynamic images increase reply rates (for now).
- Personalized landing pages can help if you’re selling something complicated or high-ticket.
What’s not so great:
- Dynamic images are getting more common, so the “wow” factor is fading.
- If everyone in your industry is using Lemlist, prospects will notice the patterns.
Ignore this unless:
You’re sending hundreds of emails a week and need every edge you can get.
3. Deliverability Tools
What it does:
Lemlist offers tools to warm up your email address (so you avoid spam folders) and monitor deliverability.
Why it matters:
If your emails aren’t getting delivered, nothing else matters. Deliverability is a pain, and Lemlist’s built-in warm-up tool used to be a real differentiator.
What works:
- Easy to start warming up new domains.
- Daily deliverability reports.
What’s not so great:
- Lemwarm, the warm-up tool, is now a paid add-on. Used to be free.
- Warm-up networks (including Lemlist’s) have become less effective as mailbox providers catch on.
Pro tip:
Don’t rely solely on automation. Keep your sending volumes reasonable, and rotate domains if you’re doing serious outreach.
4. Multichannel Outreach
What it does:
You can add LinkedIn steps and manual tasks to your sequences (e.g., “Connect on LinkedIn, then send this email”).
Why it matters:
Sales is rarely just email. Combining channels increases your chances.
What works:
- Basic LinkedIn integration.
- Reminders for manual steps (e.g., phone call, social touch).
What’s not so great:
- LinkedIn integration is still mostly manual—you’re not automating DMs.
- Can feel bolted-on compared to true all-in-one platforms.
Ignore this unless:
You have a workflow that requires you to track every touchpoint. Otherwise, you can do this with a simple spreadsheet.
5. Reporting & Team Collaboration
What it does:
You get dashboards showing open rates, reply rates, bounces, etc. Team features let you see who’s doing what.
Why it matters:
Tracking outcomes is non-negotiable if you’re scaling outreach or managing a team.
What works:
- Clean, simple dashboards.
- Roles and permissions for teams.
What’s not so great:
- Reporting is pretty basic—don’t expect deep analytics.
- No built-in A/B testing of entire sequences (only subject lines and content).
Lemlist Pricing: Plain English Breakdown
Lemlist’s pricing isn’t the cheapest, but it’s not eye-watering compared to some sales tools. The “right” plan depends on how many people are sending emails and whether you need the more advanced features.
As of June 2024, here’s what you’re looking at:
| Plan | Price (per user/month) | Who It’s For | Core Features | |-------------|------------------------|-------------------------------------|----------------------------------------| | Email Starter | $39 | Solo users, small teams | Email sequences, basic tracking | | Email Pro | $59 | Growing teams, agencies | Everything in Starter + advanced personalization, integrations, API access | | Multichannel | $99 | Teams needing LinkedIn + calls | Everything in Pro + multichannel steps, more integrations |
A few things they don’t shout about: - Minimum seats: On some plans, you need at least 2 users. - Lemwarm (email warm-up): No longer included free. Costs $29/user/month extra. - Annual discounts: Paying yearly saves ~20%, but you’re locked in. - No refunds: Once you pay, that’s it. Test-drive with a monthly plan if you’re unsure.
Is it worth it?
If you’re a solo founder or just experimenting, $39/month is more than tools like Mailshake or Woodpecker. But if you’re running a team and need multichannel, Lemlist is priced about where it should be—just watch the add-ons.
Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Use Lemlist?
Lemlist is a good fit if: - You have at least one person dedicated to outbound every day. - Personalization matters in your industry, and you have the data to use it. - You want to automate follow-ups without turning into a spammer.
You might want to look elsewhere if: - You’re a solo founder just testing outbound—there are cheaper tools. - You need deep CRM integration or want to automate everything across multiple channels. - Your team is already paying for an all-in-one sales engagement platform.
What’s overrated:
- The “viral” personalization features. They help, but they’re not magic.
- Deliverability tools—helpful, but not a silver bullet.
What’s underrated:
- The simplicity and focus. Lemlist doesn’t try to do everything, which is good.
- The onboarding and support. Not perfect, but better than average for this price.
Realistic Tips for Getting the Most Out of Lemlist
-
Keep your sequences short and human.
The best outreach feels personal, not automated. -
Don’t buy add-ons you won’t use.
Lemwarm is handy, but not essential for everyone. -
Integrate with your CRM (if you have one).
Lemlist plays nicely with HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive, and Zapier. -
Monitor results, but don’t obsess.
Open rates are nice, but replies (and booked meetings) are what matter. -
Iterate.
Try new copy every month, prune dead sequences, and keep an eye on what actually gets replies.
Bottom Line
Lemlist is a solid choice for B2B teams who want to take outreach seriously—but don’t want to spend all day learning a new tool. The features that matter work well, and the pricing is fair if you’re scaling up. Don’t get distracted by every shiny add-on. Start simple, get your first replies, and build from there.