Discover folk - the CRM for people-powered businesses
AI lead generation speeds from discovery to conversation. Intent signals surface, contacts enrich, scoring updates, and first messages land in minutes—without juggling ten tabs.
Focus stays on what actually moves pipeline: fast capture from LinkedIn and websites, clean enrichment that reduces bounce, human-sounding AI copy, native CRM sync, and free tiers usable for a real test. The comparison starts with options that turn intent into qualified chats, not just longer lists!
10 Best Free AI Tools for Lead Generation Compared
1. folk CRM
Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐(G2)
Overview
folk CRM is an AI CRM for fast, multi-channel lead capture and follow-up. The folkX Chrome extension saves LinkedIn profiles in one click, enriches records, and fills pipelines with clean contacts. AI drafts icebreakers and follow-ups, summarizes calls, and suggests next steps. WhatsApp, Gmail, and LinkedIn actions stay tied to each contact timeline. Result: intent turns into qualified conversations without manual hops.
Pros
- One-click LinkedIn capture with automatic enrichment via folkX
- AI assistance across outreach and ops: icebreakers, follow-ups, transcript notes, next-best actions
- Native workflows for WhatsApp, Gmail, and LinkedIn inside the CRM
- Clean data: dedupe, structured fields, and pipeline hygiene
- Chrome extension + CRM in one stack (fewer tools to maintain)
Cons
- No permanent free plan (trial only)
Pricing
Starts at $20 per member/month (annual). 14-day free trial!
2. Snov.io
Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐(G2)
Overview
Snov.io finds and verifies B2B emails, writes first-touch copy with AI, and sends multistep campaigns from one place. The Chrome extension captures contacts from websites and LinkedIn, credits verify deliverability, and AI assists with subject lines and message drafts. Basic CRM and analytics keep replies and statuses organized.
Pros
- Email Finder + Verifier reduce bounce on first outreach
- AI email writer and templates speed cold starts
- Multichannel campaigns with A/B tests and simple CRM
- Free Chrome extension for on-page capture
- Renewing monthly credits on the free plan
Cons
- Free tier limits credits and recipients
- Phone numbers and deep firmographic data are limited
- Advanced deliverability tools require paid tiers
Pricing
Free plan with ~50 credits/month, ~100 recipients/month, and 1 warm-up slot.
Paid plans start near $34–$49/month with higher credits and recipients.
3. Hunter.io
Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐(G2)
Overview
Hunter.io finds and verifies B2B emails, then sends simple outbound campaigns. The Chrome extension surfaces contacts from company websites, credits verify deliverability, and light campaigns manage first-touch tests. The AI Writing Assistant speeds drafts on paid tiers.
Pros
- Accurate email discovery with verification status and confidence scores
- Chrome extension for one-click capture from domains
- Basic campaigns for sending and tracking small tests
Cons
- AI Writing Assistant not available on the free plan
- Extension focuses on websites, not LinkedIn profile pages
- Limited enrichment versus broader data platforms
Pricing
Free plan with 50 credits/month for search and verification; limited campaign sending.
Paid plans typically start around $34–$49/month (monthly vs annual).
4. Apollo.io
Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐(G2)
Overview
Apollo.io pairs a large B2B contact database with email finding, verification, AI email drafting, and outbound sequences. The Chrome extension captures prospects from LinkedIn and company sites, enrichment adds firmographics and technographics, and sequences keep outreach organized from first touch to reply.
Pros
- Broad database with email finder + verifier in one place
- AI writer for cold emails and openers
- Chrome extension works on LinkedIn and websites
- Sequences with A/B tests and basic routing
- Intent and tech filters for tighter targeting
Cons
- Free tier restricts credits and sequence volume
- Direct dials and advanced filters sit on paid plans
- Deliverability still needs proper domain setup (SPF/DKIM) and warm-up
Pricing
Free plan with limited monthly credits for search, verification, and sends.
Paid tiers start on an entry plan with higher limits and advanced data/features.
5. Bardeen
Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐(G2)
Overview
Bardeen automates lead capture and enrichment directly in the browser. Playbooks scrape contact data from websites and LinkedIn, clean it with AI, and push it to Sheets, Notion, Airtable, or a CRM. Triggers run on demand or on schedule to keep pipelines fresh without manual copy-paste.
Pros
- Ready-made playbooks for web-to-CRM and LinkedIn-to-Sheets
- AI actions rewrite snippets, extract fields, and standardize data
- Works with Google Sheets, Notion, Airtable, HubSpot, and more
- No-code builder speeds custom flows
Cons
- Chrome-centric; desktop usage required
- Selectors and anti-bot walls need care on some sites
- Heavy scraping can hit rate limits or captchas
Pricing
Free plan with limited automations and AI credits. Paid tiers add higher monthly runs, advanced actions, and team features.
6. Tomba
Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐(G2)
Overview
Tomba focuses on domain-level email discovery and verification. The Chrome extension captures contacts from company sites and LinkedIn company pages, verification reduces bounce, and enrichment returns role and pattern hints to help draft on-target first touches.
Pros
- Domain search + verification to lower bounce on cold outreach
- Chrome extension for quick on-page capture
- Simple enrichment (role, pattern) useful for first-touch personalization
- API and CSV support for bulk work
Cons
- Limited firmographics vs broader data platforms
- Free tier credits cap testing at small batches
- Direct dials not the focus
Pricing
Free plan with monthly credits for search and verification (sufficient for small tests).
Paid tiers add higher credit limits and team features, starting on an entry plan.
7. Phantombuster
Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐(G2)
Overview
Phantombuster automates lead capture from LinkedIn and the web, then routes cleaned data to Sheets or a CRM. Prebuilt “Phantoms” collect profiles, enrich contacts via connected finders, and trigger first-touch messages. AI steps help normalize fields and draft short openers.
Pros
- Ready-made LinkedIn/web scrapers for fast capture
- Chained flows: scrape → enrich → message → export
- Connectors and webhooks to push leads into CRMs/Sheets
- Headless runs reduce manual tab-hopping
Cons
- Rate limits and captchas demand conservative pacing
- LinkedIn automations require human-like settings to stay safe
- Best email discovery depends on external finders
Pricing
Free trial with limited daily runs/slots. Paid tiers add more automations, higher concurrency, and scheduling.
8. Writecream
Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐(G2)
Overview
Writecream generates personalized icebreakers and cold emails from LinkedIn profiles and company websites. The Chrome extension pulls context on-page, drafts first-touch copy, and outputs variants to test. Templates cover email, LinkedIn DMs, and follow-ups, with a simple editor for quick tweaks.
Pros
- Personalized icebreakers from a profile or URL
- Chrome extension for on-page drafting
- Multiple tone/length variants to A/B fast
- Works for email and LinkedIn without extra tools
Cons
- Quality depends on available profile/site data
- No native sending or sequencing (exports needed)
- Limited team/workflow features vs full CRMs
Pricing
Free-forever plan with monthly AI credits sufficient for basic testing; paid tiers add higher credits and advanced options.
9. LeadIQ
Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐(G2)
Overview
LeadIQ captures prospects from LinkedIn with a browser extension, enriches contacts, and drafts first-touch emails using Scribe AI. Captured records sync to CRMs to keep owners and stages aligned, so small teams can test targeting and copy on a true free tier.
Pros
- Fast LinkedIn capture with enrichment and de-duplication
- AI personalization for icebreakers and first emails
- Clean CRM sync and simple list building
- Useful for quick, small-batch experiments
Cons
- Free tier limits weekly capture and AI generations
- Direct dials and deeper enrichment sit on paid plans
- Deliverability still requires proper domain setup and warm-up
Pricing
Free plan available with limited verified contacts, mobile credits, and AI generations. Paid tiers add higher limits, direct dials, and advanced integrations.
10. HubSpot
Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐(G2)
Overview
HubSpot Free captures and routes inbound leads with forms, pop-ups, live chat, and meeting links. AI assistants help draft emails and short copy. Contact timelines, lists, and simple scoring keep follow-up clear. Gmail/Outlook sync and booking links reduce back-and-forth.
Pros
- Forms, chat, pop-ups, and meeting scheduler on the free tier
- AI assistants for fast email drafts and microcopy
- Contact timeline, lists, and basic scoring for prioritization
- Native email/calendar integrations for smooth handoff
- App marketplace to connect website and tools quickly
Cons
- Advanced automation and sequences sit on paid hubs
- Brand/custom form controls limited on Free
- Reporting depth and A/B testing require upgrades
Pricing
Free CRM with unlimited users and core capture tools.
Paid hubs add sequences, advanced automation, and deeper reporting.
10 Best Free AI Tools for Lead Generation: Final Recap
Conclusion
Free AI tools prove value fast: capture signals, enrich contacts, draft first touches, and validate targeting without spend. Limits appear at scale: fragmented data, manual hops, and weak CRM sync slow pipeline.
For end-to-end AI lead generation, folk CRM ranks first. One stack captures from LinkedIn, enriches cleanly, drafts icebreakers, and ties WhatsApp, email, and LinkedIn actions to the contact timeline. The 14-day free trial enables a full test; pair it with a free finder or writer if needed, then consolidate when sequences and volume grow.
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