LinkedIn automation has become essential for B2B sales and marketing teams. Octopus CRM has established itself as a reference with over 15,000 users, but it’s not the only solution on the market. Whether you’re looking for a more affordable alternative, a native Google Sheets solution, a multichannel platform, or advanced enrichment capabilities, there are tools adapted to your needs.
In this article, we compare 10 alternatives to Octopus CRM by analyzing their pricing, features, advantages, and limitations. You’ll discover varied solutions: from simple data enrichment to complete multichannel automation, including tools specialized in LinkedIn extraction or data enrichment.
Comparison Table of Octopus CRM Alternatives
| Tool | Entry Price | Type | Best For | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Derrick App | $0 (free) | Google Sheets Add-on | Enrichment + LinkedIn Scraping without automation | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| LaGrowthMachine | $86/month | Cloud multichannel platform | Automated LinkedIn + Email + Twitter prospecting | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Dux-Soup | $11.25/month | Chrome Extension | Simple and affordable LinkedIn automation | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Phantombuster | $59/month | Cloud automation | Multi-platform (LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Waalaxy | $21/month | Chrome Extension + Cloud | Combined LinkedIn + Email prospecting | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Linked Helper | $15/month | Desktop software | Full control and advanced features | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Expandi | $99/month | Cloud automation | Maximum security and smart sequences | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| We-Connect | $49/month | Cloud automation | Teams with multi-account management | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Lemlist | $59/month | Email + LinkedIn | Combined cold email + LinkedIn campaigns | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| LinkedFusion | $65.95/month | Cloud automation | Agencies and advanced users | ⭐⭐⭐ |
1. Derrick App – The Native Google Sheets Alternative
Overview
Derrick App stands out with its unique approach: a 100% native Google Sheets add-on that transforms your spreadsheets into a B2B enrichment center. Unlike Octopus CRM which focuses on LinkedIn automation, Derrick specializes in scraping and data enrichment with over 50 attributes per contact.
Key Features
- LinkedIn Profile Scraper: Enriches LinkedIn profiles with emails, phones, companies, and 50+ attributes
- Lead Email Finder: Professional email search with real-time validation
- Website Tech Lookup: Identifies technologies used on websites
- AI Enrichment: Automatic scoring with GPT-4 and Claude to qualify your leads
- Data Cleaning: Automatic data cleaning and normalization
- Sales Navigator Import: Import your Sales Navigator searches directly into Sheets
Pricing
- Free: 200 credits/month ($0)
- Small: 4,000 credits/month ($9)
- Medium: 10,000 credits/month ($20)
- Large: 25,000 credits/month ($47.50)
- XL: 100,000 credits/month ($175)
💡 Unused credits roll over to the next month, unlike many competitors.
Advantages vs Octopus CRM
- 3 to 10× cheaper: $9/month versus $9.99 for different but complementary features
- No Chrome extension: Everything works natively in Google Sheets
- Advanced enrichment: 50+ attributes per contact vs Octopus basic features
- Integrated AI: GPT-4 and Claude included from the $9 plan
- Unlimited credits rollover: Zero credit loss
- Generous free plan: 200 credits/month to really test
Limitations
- No outreach automation (automatic message sending)
- Focused on enrichment rather than engagement
- Requires Google Sheets (but 2 billion users)
Who Is It For?
Ideal for freelancers, consultants, SDRs, and sales teams who:
- Want to enrich their existing databases
- Already work in Google Sheets daily
- Need data enrichment more than automation
- Want to save $1,200/year by avoiding LinkedIn Sales Navigator
Try for free: Google Workspace Marketplace
2. LaGrowthMachine (LGM) – The Premium Multichannel Solution
Overview
LaGrowthMachine is a cloud-based multichannel automation platform that goes far beyond LinkedIn. With over 25,000 users, LGM combines LinkedIn, Email, and Twitter into unified sequences, all managed from a centralized inbox.
Key Features
- Multichannel automation: LinkedIn + Email + Twitter in a single sequence
- AI Voice Messages: Automatic voice messages that clone your voice (2× more responses)
- Waterfall Enrichment: Up to 60% email discovery rate
- Unified inbox: All your LinkedIn and Email conversations in one place
- Social Warming: Automatic likes and follows before first contact
- Intents & Triggers: Targeting based on buying signals
- CRM integrations: Native HubSpot and Pipedrive
Pricing
- Basic: $86/month per identity (3 simultaneous campaigns)
- Pro: $129/month per identity (6 campaigns, Zapier API)
- Ultimate: $237/month per identity (unlimited campaigns, custom sequences)
💡 14-day free trial without credit card.
Advantages vs Octopus CRM
- True multichannel approach: 3 channels (LinkedIn, Email, Twitter) vs LinkedIn only
- Cloud-based: No Chrome extension to maintain
- 5G Mobile Proxies: Each identity has its own mobile connection to maximize security
- AI Voice Messages: Unique feature on the market
- Integrated enrichment: Automatically finds your prospects’ emails
- Premium support: 2-hour response for Pro and Ultimate plans
Limitations
- High price: $86-237/month vs $9.99 for Octopus
- No automatic account rotation: One LinkedIn account per identity
- Learning curve: More complex for beginners
- Advanced features paywall: CRM integrations only on Ultimate
Who Is It For?
Perfect for:
- Sales and growth teams wanting to scale their outreach
- Users needing true multichannel sequences
- Companies ready to invest $86-237/month per sales rep
- Those seeking the best all-in-one alternative to Octopus
3. Dux-Soup – The Affordable and Reliable Alternative
Overview
Dux-Soup is one of the most popular Chrome extensions for LinkedIn automation, with an established reputation since 2015. The tool stands out for its simplicity and accessible pricing.
Key Features
- Automatic LinkedIn profile visits
- Personalized connection sending
- Automatic messages after acceptance
- Skills endorsement
- Data export to CSV
- Zapier integration
Pricing
- Starter: Free (limited)
- Pro Dux: $11.25/month
- Turbo Dux: $41.25/month
- Cloud Dux: $55/month (cloud-based)
Advantages
- Very competitive pricing
- Simple and intuitive interface
- Good documentation
- Compatible with free LinkedIn
Limitations
- Chrome extension (visible to LinkedIn)
- Basic features compared to LGM
- No email enrichment
Who Is It For?
Ideal for beginners in LinkedIn automation on a small budget.
4. Phantombuster – Multi-Platform Automation
Overview
Phantombuster is a cloud platform that automates over 100 actions on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and other social networks. It’s the most versatile tool on the market.
Key Features
- 100+ Phantoms: Pre-configured scripts for different platforms
- LinkedIn scraping (profiles, companies, posts)
- Instagram, Twitter, Facebook data extraction
- API for custom integrations
- Advanced scheduling
Pricing
- Starter: $59/month
- Pro: $139/month
- Team: $349/month
Advantages
- Multi-platform (not just LinkedIn)
- Cloud-based and secure
- Robust API for developers
- Large script library
Limitations
- Complex for beginners
- High price for LinkedIn-only use
- Requires technical configuration
Who Is It For?
Agencies and growth hackers automating multiple platforms.
5. Waalaxy – LinkedIn + Email in One Click
Overview
Waalaxy combines a Chrome extension and cloud platform to automate LinkedIn and Email simultaneously, with a user-friendly approach.
Key Features
- Combined LinkedIn + Email automation
- Automatic email search
- Simple multichannel sequences
- Integrated CRM
- Detailed analytics
Pricing
- Free: Free (limited)
- Pro: $21/month
- Advanced: $60/month
- Business: $80/month
Advantages
- Very intuitive interface
- Integrated email finder
- Affordable pricing
- French support
Limitations
- Fewer features than LGM
- Chrome extension (detection risk)
- No Twitter automation
Who Is It For?
French SMBs seeking simplicity and controlled pricing.
6. Linked Helper – The Complete Desktop Software
Overview
Linked Helper is desktop software (not an extension) offering full control over your LinkedIn campaigns with a true integrated CRM.
Key Features
- Desktop software (not an extension)
- Complete integrated CRM
- Webhooks and advanced automations
- Data import/export
- Complex workflows with conditions
Pricing
- Standard: $15/month
- Pro: $45/month
Advantages
- More secure desktop software
- True CRM features
- Very competitive pricing
- Full action control
Limitations
- Less modern interface
- Desktop installation required
- English-only support
Who Is It For?
Advanced users wanting control and integrated CRM.
7. Expandi – The Most Secure Cloud Solution
Overview
Expandi positions itself as the most secure LinkedIn automation tool on the market thanks to its cloud technology and smart sequences.
Key Features
- 100% cloud-based
- Smart sequences with conditions
- Webhooks and integrations
- Multi-account management
- Rotating proxies
Pricing
- Standard: $99/month
- Team: From $990/month (10 accounts)
Advantages
- Maximum security
- Very advanced sequences
- Premium support
- Robust cloud infrastructure
Limitations
- High price ($99/month)
- Less intuitive than Waalaxy
- No native email automation
Who Is It For?
Companies prioritizing security and advanced features.
8. We-Connect – The Team-Friendly Solution
Overview
We-Connect is designed for teams with simplified multi-account management and collaboration features.
Key Features
- Centralized multi-account management
- Team collaboration
- Shared campaigns
- Consolidated analytics
- Cloud-based
Pricing
- Starter: $49/month
- Professional: $79/month per account
- Agency: Custom pricing
Advantages
- Excellent for teams
- Collaborative interface
- Responsive support
- Structured onboarding
Limitations
- Price per account can accumulate
- Basic features compared to LGM
- No Twitter automation
Who Is It For?
Sales teams of 5-20 people.
9. Lemlist – Combined Cold Email + LinkedIn
Overview
Lemlist is primarily a cold email platform that added LinkedIn automation to create multichannel campaigns.
Key Features
- Advanced cold email (image/video personalization)
- Basic LinkedIn automation
- Integrated email warmup
- Inbox rotation
- A/B testing
Pricing
- Email Pro: $59/month
- Multichannel Expert: $99/month
- Outreach Scale: $159/month
Advantages
- Excellent for cold email
- Advanced personalization
- Email warmup included
- Good deliverability
Limitations
- Basic LinkedIn automation
- High price for LinkedIn features
- Unnecessary complexity if focusing on LinkedIn
Who Is It For?
Teams prioritizing cold email with LinkedIn touch.
10. LinkedFusion – For Power Users
Overview
LinkedFusion is a cloud platform for advanced users seeking enterprise-level features.
Key Features
- Smart inbox with qualification
- Advanced conditional sequences
- Multi-account management
- Webhooks and API
- In-depth analytics
Pricing
- Professional: $65.95/month
- Grow: $95.95/month
- Ultimate: Custom pricing
Advantages
- Enterprise features
- Advanced smart inbox
- Premium support
- Enhanced security
Limitations
- Complex interface
- High pricing
- Learning curve
Who Is It For?
Agencies and enterprise teams with advanced needs.
How to Choose Your Octopus CRM Alternative?
By Budget
Budget < $20/month:
- Derrick App ($0-9): If you want enrichment + scraping without automation
- Dux-Soup ($11.25): If you want basic LinkedIn automation
Budget $20-80/month:
- Waalaxy ($21): Best value for LinkedIn + Email
- Derrick Medium ($20): For medium-volume enrichment
- Linked Helper ($45): If you want true integrated CRM
Budget > $80/month:
- LaGrowthMachine ($86-237): Best-in-class for multichannel LinkedIn + Email + Twitter
- Expandi ($99): If maximum security is priority
- Lemlist ($99-159): If combined cold email + LinkedIn
By Use Case
Data enrichment without automation: → Derrick App is the obvious choice with 50+ attributes, integrated AI, and native Google Sheets
LinkedIn prospecting only: → Dux-Soup (simple) or Expandi (advanced)
Multichannel LinkedIn + Email prospecting: → LaGrowthMachine (premium) or Waalaxy (affordable)
Sales team management: → We-Connect or LaGrowthMachine Ultimate
Multi-client agency: → Phantombuster (multi-platform) or LinkedFusion (enterprise)
By Technical Level
Beginner:
- Derrick App (simplest)
- Waalaxy
- Dux-Soup
Intermediate:
- LaGrowthMachine
- We-Connect
- Lemlist
Advanced:
- Phantombuster
- Linked Helper
- LinkedFusion
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best free alternative to Octopus CRM?
Derrick App offers the most generous free plan with 200 credits/month, allowing you to enrich about 30 qualified leads. For pure automation, Dux-Soup offers a free Starter version but very limited.
Can I combine multiple tools?
Absolutely. A common strategy is to combine:
- Derrick App for enrichment and LinkedIn scraping
- LaGrowthMachine or Waalaxy for outreach automation
- Result: quality data + effective automation
Are these tools safe for my LinkedIn account?
Cloud-based tools (LaGrowthMachine, Expandi, We-Connect) are generally safer than Chrome extensions. Derrick App doesn’t send automatic messages, so virtually zero risk. Always respect LinkedIn limits (50-60 connections/day).
Do I need LinkedIn Sales Navigator?
- Derrick App: No for 70% of features (except Sales Navigator import)
- LaGrowthMachine: No, but recommended for advanced searches
- Octopus CRM: Not necessary but compatible
- Phantombuster: No for most Phantoms
Which tool saves the most time?
For enrichment: Derrick App (background processing, email notification) For outreach: LaGrowthMachine (most complete multichannel sequences) Best time/price ROI: Derrick App ($9 vs several hours of manual work saved)
Can I migrate from Octopus CRM to these alternatives?
Yes, all alternatives allow CSV import. Recommended workflow:
- Export your leads from Octopus CRM
- Import into Derrick App for complete enrichment
- Export to LaGrowthMachine or other automation tool if needed
Additional Resources
To Go Further with Derrick App
- Complete B2B Data Enrichment Guide
- Data Enrichment Glossary
- LinkedIn Profile Scraper – User Guide
- Email Finder – Find Professional Emails
LinkedIn Automation Guides
- Understanding LinkedIn action limits to avoid restrictions
- Best practices for B2B prospecting on LinkedIn
- How to enrich your prospect lists effectively
Integrations and Workflows
- Connect Derrick to Zapier for advanced automation
- Integrate with HubSpot for CRM sync
- Google Sheets Workflows for prospecting
Conclusion
Choosing your Octopus CRM alternative primarily depends on your main use case:
For data enrichment: Derrick App stands out with its native Google Sheets integration, 50+ enrichment attributes, integrated AI, and unbeatable pricing ($9/month). If you spend more time cleaning and enriching your data than sending messages, it’s your best choice.
For premium multichannel automation: LaGrowthMachine dominates with its LinkedIn + Email + Twitter sequences, AI voice messages, and secure cloud infrastructure. The price ($86-237/month) is justified by features you won’t find anywhere else.
For a tight budget: Dux-Soup ($11.25/month) or Waalaxy ($21/month) offer a good compromise between price and features for basic LinkedIn automation.
For teams and agencies: Phantombuster (multi-platform), LinkedFusion (enterprise), or We-Connect (team-friendly) depending on your required level of sophistication.
The market trend is toward solutions that combine multiple specialized tools rather than an all-in-one. For example, many users combine Derrick App (enrichment) + LaGrowthMachine (automation) to get the best of both worlds: quality data + effective outreach.
Final recommendation: Start with Derrick App’s free plan (200 credits/month) to test enrichment, then add LaGrowthMachine’s 14-day free trial for automation. This combination will give you a complete vision of what’s possible beyond Octopus CRM.
💡 Bonus tip: Derrick App + LaGrowthMachine together cost $95-246/month but replace 4-5 different tools (Sales Navigator, Apollo, Phantombuster, Hunter.io, Lemlist) that would cost $300-500/month separately. The ROI is immediate.
Ready to test?
- Install Derrick App for free ($0, 200 credits/month)
- Try LaGrowthMachine (14 days free)
- Explore Data Enrichment with Derrick
Jonathan Maurin
