The 7 best Octopus CRM alternatives in 2026, ranked
ZenMode is an Octopus CRM alternative for people who have outgrown a Chrome extension: a Mac and Windows app that finds the people, writes the messages, runs scheduled follow-up sequences and keeps every reply in one inbox.
By Jonathan Lis, Founder, ZenMode Ltd · Updated September 2026 (facts checked 8 September 2026)
TL;DR
ZenMode is the best Octopus CRM alternative for anyone who has outgrown extension-based automation. Octopus CRM is a Chrome extension that works inside the LinkedIn pages you have open, so campaigns only run while your browser sits open on LinkedIn, and its steps are a linear visit, endorse, connect and message funnel. ZenMode is a desktop app that runs scheduled campaigns with multi-step follow-ups that stop when someone replies, finds prospects from a LinkedIn or Sales Navigator search, keeps every reply in one inbox, and adds AI message writing and voice notes from $49 (Practitioner), on plans from $15/month. Stay with Octopus CRM if rock-bottom pricing and a simple connect-and-endorse workflow are genuinely all you need.
The verdict
Octopus CRM deserves credit for what it is: one of the cheapest LinkedIn automation tools around, and simple to start. But its design is also its ceiling: it works inside the LinkedIn pages open in your Chrome tab, it only runs while that browser stays open, and its sequencing stops at linear connect-message-endorse steps with no AI message writing or voice notes at any tier. ZenMode is the step up: a desktop app that runs scheduled campaigns a few minutes apart within enforced daily limits, with multi-step follow-ups, AI message writing and voice notes starting at Practitioner ($49), every reply in one inbox, and flat multi-account pricing from $15/mo (no-AI Novice, 1 account). Stay with Octopus CRM if the $9.99 entry price outweighs everything else for you.
How we compared these tools
We compare on what you can check yourself: where a tool runs, what it costs, what it does and does not do, and what its users say in public. Prices and plan names come from each vendor's own pricing page, read most recently on 16 September 2026. Two needed care. Meet Alfred's returned HTTP 403 on every attempt in our 8 September sweep and opened normally on the later date, so its prices are from that later reading. PhantomBuster's renders euro prices to a UK reader with no currency switch, so we quote PhantomBuster in euros, as shown. Several review sites, G2 among them, refused automated access in that sweep, so the complaints quoted here come from pages that did open, and any review score carried over from an earlier check is older than the prices. We did not run these tools side by side in a lab and we publish no head-to-head acceptance or reply rates, because those depend on your list, your copy and your account rather than on the software. ZenMode is our own product, so treat this as our case for it and check the vendor links yourself.
The 7 best Octopus CRM alternatives in 2026, ranked
We make ZenMode, one of the tools ranked here. Ranked on 8 September 2026 by how each tool runs, the entry price on the vendor's own pricing page that day, and how much sequencing that price buys. Prices are quoted as displayed; the order is our judgement.
ZenMode
- Price
- from $15/mo (Novice, no AI) or $49/mo (Practitioner, AI and voice)Checked on zen-mode.io/pricing
- Runs
- Desktop app
Best overall for anyone who has outgrown a Chrome extension: a Mac and Windows app that finds prospects from a LinkedIn or Sales Navigator search and runs scheduled, paced campaigns, with multi-step follow-ups, reply detection and one inbox on every plan. Novice is $15 without AI; Practitioner ($49) adds AI message writing and voice notes. 14-day trial.
Pros
- Finds prospects from a LinkedIn or Sales Navigator search, and every reply lands in one inbox
- Flat plans that cover several accounts: 3 on Master ($99), 5 on Dojo ($149)
- AI message writing and voice notes (with your own ElevenLabs key) from Practitioner, $49
Cons
- Campaigns only run while your computer is on and connected to the internet
- Needs the desktop app, which is macOS and Windows only
- LinkedIn only: no email steps and no built-in lead database
- The $15 Novice plan has no AI and a limit of 3 campaigns
Who it's not for: Anyone who needs outreach to keep running with their computer off, or wants email and LinkedIn in one sequence.
Verified
Linked Helper
- Price
- $15/mo (Standard) or $8.25/mo on a 12-month termChecked on linkedhelper.com/pricing
- Runs
- Desktop app
Best like-for-like price with a desktop footprint. Its pricing page says it "runs as desktop software, not as a browser extension", so nothing is injected into your LinkedIn tab. Standard is $15 a month, or $8.25 on a 12-month term, with a 14-day trial. It only sends while the computer is on.
Pros
- Desktop app for Windows, macOS or Ubuntu
- One licence per LinkedIn account from $15 a month, or $8.25 a month on a 12-month term
- Covers InMail, events, groups, post engagers and a built-in CRM
Cons
- Nothing runs while the computer is off or asleep, even on the cloud-storage version
- Each extra LinkedIn account needs its own licence and about 2GB more free RAM
- No voice notes among its listed features
Who it's not for: Anyone who wants campaigns to keep going with the laptop shut, or who runs many accounts on a small machine.
Verified
Dux-Soup
- Price
- $14.99/mo (Pro Dux) or $11.25/mo billed annuallyChecked on dux-soup.com/pricing
- Runs
- Chrome extension (Cloud Dux runs on the vendor's servers)
The nearest direct swap: Pro and Turbo Dux are also Chrome extensions. Pro Dux is $14.99 a month ($11.25 billed annually) with a 14-day no-card trial; unlimited drip campaigns and CRM integrations start at Turbo ($55). Cloud Dux ($99) moves sending onto Dux-Soup's servers so it runs with the browser closed.
Pros
- Pro and Turbo run inside your Chrome browser
- A free Starter Edition remains after the 14-day trial, for manual tagging and profile views
- Cloud Dux keeps campaigns running with the computer switched off
Cons
- Drip campaigns and the central inbox need Turbo, the middle plan, not Pro Dux
- Pro and Turbo stop when the computer is off or asleep
- No email step in its drip campaigns
Who it's not for: Anyone who wants automated sequences on the entry plan, or email and LinkedIn in one campaign.
Verified
Waalaxy
- Price
- from EUR 19/user/mo billed yearly (Pro, 300 invites a month)Checked on waalaxy.com/pricing
- Runs
- Cloud
Cheapest cloud route with a proper trial. Waalaxy removed its Chrome extension in July 2026 and now runs at app.waalaxy.com, campaigns running regardless of your browser. On yearly billing Pro is EUR 19 per user per month with a 14-day trial but caps you at 300 invitations a month, and Advanced (EUR 49) allows 800; on monthly billing a UK visitor was shown GBP 34 and 69 (checked 17 September 2026).
Pros
- Fully cloud-based since July 2026, so campaigns run with your browser closed
- Business plan puts LinkedIn and cold email in one campaign
- 14-day free trial on every plan
Cons
- The Pro plan allows 300 invitations a month
- Cold email sequences need Business, EUR 69 per user a month billed yearly
- The LinkedIn Inbox is a paid add-on, EUR 20 a month on monthly billing, excluding tax
Who it's not for: Anyone who needs more than 300 invitations a month on the entry plan.
Verified
Dripify
- Price
- from $39/user/mo (annual) or $59/user/mo (Basic)Checked on dripify.com/pricing
- Runs
- Cloud
Best cloud option for LinkedIn and email in one sequence. Dripify's help centre calls it "a web application that operates in the cloud" with nothing to install. Priced per user: Basic $59 a month or $39 billed annually, Pro $79 or $59, with a 7-day no-card trial. Your session runs from Dripify's servers, not your IP.
Pros
- LinkedIn and email steps in one sequence on every plan
- Cloud app, so campaigns keep running with the browser closed and the PC off
- 7-day trial of the Advanced plan with no card
Cons
- Basic allows one drip campaign; the inbox, CSV export and HubSpot need Pro at $79
- Monthly purchases are non-refundable under its terms
Who it's not for: Anyone who needs more than one campaign on the entry plan.
Verified
Expandi
- Price
- $99/mo per account, or $79/mo billed annuallyChecked on expandi.io/pricing
- Runs
- Cloud
The single-plan cloud choice: one Business plan at $99 a month per account, or $79 billed annually, every feature on, with a 7-day trial; the pricing page lists "Cloud-based software" as a feature. At ten times Octopus CRM's entry price it only makes sense if you need unattended running and the full campaign builder now.
Pros
- One plan with every feature included, so there is no tier ladder
- Runs in the cloud with the computer off, from a dedicated country-based IP
- Email steps, InMail, event invites and group campaigns
Cons
- Its only plan is $99 per LinkedIn account a month, or $79 billed annually
- Subscription fees are non-refundable under its terms, and the trial is 7 days
Who it's not for: Anyone who wants an entry plan under $99 a month.
Verified
HeyReach
- Price
- $79/mo per sender (Growth)Checked on heyreach.io/pricing
- Runs
- Cloud
Best for teams running many sender accounts. Growth is $79 a month per connected LinkedIn account, and the vendor says each sender gets a dedicated residential proxy, so it runs from HeyReach's infrastructure rather than yours. A 14-day trial covers three accounts. Overkill for a solo user leaving a $9.99 extension.
Pros
- Priced per LinkedIn sender, with teammates, clients and assistants added free
- Sender rotation and one inbox across many LinkedIn accounts
- 14-day trial for up to 3 accounts with no card
Cons
- Agency and Unlimited plans require you to bring your own proxies
- Fees are non-refundable under its terms, and email runs through partner tools
Who it's not for: A single seller with one LinkedIn account, who would pay for agency tooling they will not use.
Verified
Octopus CRM vs ZenMode: Feature Comparison
| Octopus CRM | ZenMode | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Chrome extension inside your LinkedIn tab | Standalone desktop app (Mac & Windows) |
| How it acts on LinkedIn | Works inside the LinkedIn pages open in your browser | In its own app window, with actions a few minutes apart |
| Runs when | Only while your browser is open on LinkedIn | On your schedule — campaigns run during business hours |
| Sequencing | Linear steps: visit, endorse, connect, message | Multi-step follow-up sequences with reply detection |
| AI message writing | No — templates and variables | AI drafts your messages, or writes each prospect's (Practitioner $49+) |
| Voice notes | No | Yes (BYOK ElevenLabs, Practitioner $49+) |
| Pricing | $9.99–$39.99 a month on monthly billing, or $6.99–$24.99 a month billed annually, per LinkedIn account (checked 17 September 2026) | Flat monthly: $15 (no AI) / $49 / $99 / $149 / $299 (1/1/3/5/10+ accounts) |
| Multi-account | One subscription per LinkedIn account | Multiple accounts on one plan, by tier |
| Free trial | Yes | 14-day trial |
Why switch to ZenMode
An extension inside the page vs a dedicated desktop app
Octopus CRM works inside the LinkedIn pages you have open in Chrome, which makes it quick to start. ZenMode is a separate desktop app with its own window, so your campaigns do not share the tab you browse in, and it spaces actions a few minutes apart within enforced daily limits.
Your campaigns shouldn't depend on a Chrome tab
Because Octopus CRM lives in your browser, it only works while that browser is open — close the laptop lid or quit Chrome and your campaign stops where it stood. ZenMode runs as its own app: you set business-hours schedules and daily limits, and it works through your campaign, a few minutes apart, whenever the machine is on, no tab-babysitting required.
Sequencing depth beyond connect-and-endorse
Octopus CRM's funnel is intentionally simple: visit profiles, endorse skills, send connection requests, message connections — in a straight line. There's no AI message writing, no voice, and follow-up logic is thin. ZenMode is built around multi-step campaigns: connection request, then timed follow-ups that stop automatically when a prospect replies, with AI that can write each prospect's messages (Practitioner $49+).
Voice notes nobody else in this price class sends
ZenMode sends AI-generated LinkedIn voice notes through your own ElevenLabs key (BYOK). Almost no outbound uses voice, which is exactly why it stands out — and Octopus CRM has no equivalent at any tier.
For the trade-offs between cloud and desktop LinkedIn tools, see cloud vs desktop LinkedIn automation.
What Octopus CRM does well
One of the cheapest tools in the category
Octopus CRM's Starter plan is $9.99 a month on monthly billing, or $6.99 billed annually, so it undercuts nearly everyone, including ZenMode's $15-a-month Novice entry. Its top Unlimited plan is $39.99 monthly or $24.99 billed annually. If budget is the only axis that matters, Octopus wins it.
Quick to start inside Chrome
As a browser extension, Octopus CRM works in the LinkedIn tab you are already signed into, so there is nothing separate to install or set up.
Simple, established, and actively maintained
Octopus CRM installs in minutes, the linear funnel is easy to understand, and the product is still actively developed — it's not abandonware, and for basic connect-and-message volume it does what it says.
Why people leave Octopus CRM
Octopus CRM averages 4.6 from 274 Capterra reviews and 4.3 from 156 Chrome Web Store ratings (read on 8 September 2026), against 3.5 / 5 from 203 reviews (Trustpilot, as of 24 September 2026). The low-star minority repeats four themes; these are opinions, not verified defects.
Support that does not answer fast enough
The newest one-star Trustpilot reviews concern support speed rather than the software, and G2 reviewers list customer service among their dislikes.
“Not happy with the service, support is not responsive enough for a CRM service too.”
Source: Trustpilot, seen
Billing, trials and refunds
Reviewers describe trial-to-paid confusion and unexpected renewals; a May 2025 Capterra review says a cancelled subscription was billed again; monthly purchases are non-refundable under the terms.
“The plans/pricing was confusing/deceptive so I had to upgrade within the first day.”
Source: Trustpilot, seen
Every step is launched by hand
Each action is loaded and launched manually; Capterra and G2 reviewers describe returning several times a day to keep a campaign moving.
“That you need to start every action manually. It would be amazing to have some automation here, that will automatically start every day.”
Source: Capterra, seen
Thin sequences and weak export
Requests for four or five message steps go back to 2020, and export, an Advanced-plan feature, draws complaints about the CSV and its reporting.
“their automation component for sequences is far behind other tools.”
Source: Trustpilot, seen
Cheaper than Octopus CRM: what $15 a month buys elsewhere
Octopus CRM is cheap at the door, but campaigns, funnels and CSV export only arrive on Advanced at $21.99 a month ($14.99 billed annually), and Zapier or HubSpot integration on Unlimited at $39.99 ($24.99 annually). ZenMode Novice is $15 a month for one account with multi-step follow-ups, scheduling and daily limits; AI and voice notes start at Practitioner ($49). Linked Helper Standard is $15 a month, or $10 on a 12-month term, also desktop software. Dux-Soup Pro is $14.99 ($11.25 billed annually) on an extension, though drip campaigns need Turbo ($55). If $9.99 for connect-and-endorse is all you need, Octopus CRM Starter stays cheapest.
Switch to ZenMode if…
- You're tired of keeping a Chrome tab open for campaigns to run
- You want multi-step follow-up sequences instead of a linear connect-and-endorse funnel
- You want AI message writing and voice notes as you scale (Practitioner $49+)
- You want AI to write your LinkedIn messages and every reply to land in one inbox
- You manage multiple LinkedIn accounts and want one flat plan instead of a subscription each
Stay with Octopus CRM if…
- The $9.99 entry price is the deciding factor and you only need basic volume
- Your workflow really is a simple visit-endorse-connect-message funnel
- You're comfortable keeping a browser open during outreach hours
- You don't need AI message writing, voice notes, or deeper sequencing
Is Octopus CRM safe for your LinkedIn account?
Octopus CRM runs as a Chrome extension inside your browser, and the vendor says it never asks for your LinkedIn credentials. The trade-off: an extension works inside the LinkedIn pages you have open and, as the vendor puts it, "automation stops the moment you close your browser". Its FAQ says it adds random delays after each action yet warns that excessive activity "can trigger the LinkedIn's monitoring system and flag your account", and the homepage advertises invitations beyond LinkedIn's weekly allowance via email addresses, so volume decisions stay with you. ZenMode is a separate desktop app with its own window, with randomised delays a few minutes apart and daily limits enforced by default. Neither can promise an account is never reviewed; the difference is how much pacing is built in.
What LinkedIn's rules say
Before you pick a tool, know the rule it works under. Every tool ranked on this page automates activity on LinkedIn, ZenMode included, and LinkedIn's own pages say this about that.
LinkedIn Help: Prohibited software and extensions
“we don't permit the use of any third party software, including "crawlers", bots, browser plug-ins, or browser extensions that scrape, modify the appearance of, or automate activity on LinkedIn's website.”
LinkedIn User Agreement: Section 8.2, Don’ts (members agree they will not)
“Use bots or other unauthorized automated methods to access the Services, add or download contacts, send or redirect messages, create, comment on, like, share, or re-share posts, or otherwise drive inauthentic engagement;”
LinkedIn Help: Account restrictions
“Automated inauthentic activity violates the LinkedIn User Agreement and can result in temporary or permanent restriction of your account.”
LinkedIn Help: Automated activity on LinkedIn
“If your account is restricted for automated activity, we ask that you take the following actions: Review and disable the software or extension that automates activities.”
Where a tool runs changes what LinkedIn sees. It does not change these rules, and no tool on this list, ZenMode included, can promise that an account will not be restricted.
Quoted from LinkedIn's pages as they read on .
How to switch from Octopus CRM to ZenMode
- 1Export before downgrading, since export needs Advanced or Unlimited: open the extension, open the campaign or contacts view and click Export to CSV (name, email, website, LinkedIn URL, company and position, per the vendor's guide), and note who was already contacted.
- 2Cancel in the control panel (Billing, then Cancel Subscription); it ends at the close of the paid term and monthly payments are non-refundable. Never run two tools on one LinkedIn account.
- 3Install ZenMode on Mac or Windows, start the 14-day trial and connect your LinkedIn account: Novice ($15) for sequences, Practitioner ($49) for AI message writing and voice notes.
- 4Import the CSV by LinkedIn URL, exclude already-contacted rows, rebuild the funnel as a multi-step sequence with follow-ups that stop on reply, and start below your old volume for the first week.
Already using Octopus CRM? Bring your contacts over in minutes.
Export your Octopus CRM leads and import them straight into ZenMode, campaign history and notes included, no data left behind.
ZenMode pricing
One flat monthly subscription that covers multiple LinkedIn accounts, from $15/mo (no-AI Novice) up, with a 14-day trial on every plan and about 17% off on annual billing. Octopus CRM runs $9.99–$39.99 a month on monthly billing, or $6.99–$24.99 a month billed annually (octopuscrm.io pricing, checked 17 September 2026) — genuinely cheap, but priced per LinkedIn account, with no AI message writing or voice notes at any tier.
Novice
$15
/mo · 1 account · core
Practitioner
$49
/mo · 1 account · +AI & voice
Master
$99
/mo · 3 accounts
Dojo
$149
/mo · 5 accounts
Sensei
$299
/mo · 10+ accounts
Octopus CRM pricing vs ZenMode pricing
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $9.99/mo, or $6.99/mo billed annually | Personal CRM with stats, personalised auto invite, connect with Premium users only |
| Pro | $14.99/mo, or $9.99/mo billed annually | Adds bulk messages, auto view, auto endorse |
| Advanced | $21.99/mo, or $14.99/mo billed annually | Adds campaigns, export and import, funnels |
| Unlimited | $39.99/mo, or $24.99/mo billed annually | Adds Zapier and HubSpot integration, activity-control alerts, Recruiter compatibility |
| Agency | Contact sales | Agencies managing 20 or more accounts |
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Novice | $15/mo | 1 account, multi-step sequences, scheduling and daily limits; no AI or voice |
| Practitioner | $49/mo | 1 account plus AI message writing and voice notes |
| Master | $99/mo | 3 accounts |
| Dojo | $149/mo | 5 accounts |
| Sensei | $299/mo | 10 or more accounts; 14-day trial on every plan |
Prices from the pricing section of Octopus CRM's homepage, verified 2026-09-08, monthly then the annual rate labelled -35%; 7-day trial, no card.
FAQ
Is ZenMode a safer Octopus CRM alternative?
No tool can promise that, ZenMode included: LinkedIn can restrict any account that automates. What ZenMode does is pace the work, with randomized delays a few minutes apart, daily limits set from the account's LinkedIn tier and age, and business-hours scheduling, and on every campaign you choose whether AI-written messages wait for your review or Autopilot sends them. With Octopus CRM, pacing is largely up to you.
What does Octopus CRM cost, and how does ZenMode's pricing compare?
Octopus CRM runs from $9.99 to $39.99 a month on monthly billing, or $6.99 to $24.99 a month billed annually, priced per LinkedIn account (checked 17 September 2026) — one of the cheapest tools in the category. ZenMode starts at $15/month for the no-AI Novice tier (1 account), then $49 Practitioner adds AI message writing and voice notes, $99 covers three accounts and $149 covers five on one flat plan. If price is your only criterion, Octopus is cheaper at entry; if you need depth or multiple accounts, ZenMode's flat tiers pull ahead. Every ZenMode plan includes a 14-day trial.
Does ZenMode need Chrome open like Octopus CRM does?
No. Octopus CRM is a Chrome extension, so campaigns only run while your browser is open on LinkedIn. ZenMode is a standalone desktop app that runs its own session — the machine needs to be on during your outreach windows, but you don't have to keep a browser tab open or avoid touching it while campaigns run.
Can I move my Octopus CRM leads into ZenMode?
Yes. Export your contacts from Octopus CRM's dashboard as CSV and import them into ZenMode. ZenMode doesn't bundle a lead database — you bring your own lists or import a Sales Navigator search — so you're never locked into one tool's data layer.
What does ZenMode have that Octopus CRM doesn't?
Multi-step follow-up sequences with reply detection, AI message writing, AI voice notes via your own ElevenLabs key, business-hours scheduling without a browser open, a built-in CRM with HubSpot, Salesforce and Monday.com sync, and flat multi-account pricing. Octopus CRM's advantages are its lower entry price and its simplicity.
How much does ZenMode cost and is there a trial?
ZenMode starts at $15/month for the no-AI Novice tier (1 LinkedIn account). With AI message writing and voice notes it's $49 for one account (Practitioner), $99 for three, $149 for five, and $299 for ten or more. Every plan includes a 14-day trial, and annual billing saves about 17%.
What is Octopus CRM?
Octopus CRM is a LinkedIn automation Chrome extension. It sends personalised connection requests, bulk messages, profile visits and skill endorsements; higher plans add campaigns, funnels, CSV export and Zapier or HubSpot integration. Plans run $9.99 to $39.99 a month, or $6.99 to $24.99 billed annually, with a 7-day trial. The Chrome Web Store listing showed 70,000 users and a 4.3 rating from 156 ratings on 8 September 2026. Despite the name it is a LinkedIn contact manager, not a general-purpose CRM.
What is the #1 CRM in the world?
By revenue, Salesforce. IDC's Worldwide Semiannual Software Tracker (April 2026) puts Salesforce first among CRM vendors with a 20.0% share of the 2025 market, its thirteenth consecutive year at the top, per Salesforce's June 2026 announcement. That ranking covers enterprise suites for sales, service and marketing. LinkedIn outreach tools such as Octopus CRM and ZenMode are a different category: they manage LinkedIn conversations and, in ZenMode's case, sync contacts into HubSpot, Salesforce or Monday.com.
What are the top 5 CRM tools?
By IDC's 2024 revenue share, as reported by Technology Checker in July 2026: Salesforce (20.7%), Microsoft (about 5.2%), Oracle (about 4.4%), SAP (about 3.5%) and Adobe (about 3.4%). Gartner's 2026 Magic Quadrant for CRM Sales Platforms names Salesforce and Microsoft as Leaders and Oracle, Zoho, HubSpot and Pega as Challengers (CX Today, August 2026). For a solo LinkedIn seller those are more system than you need; ZenMode's built-in pipeline, synced to HubSpot or Salesforce later, usually covers it.
Is AI going to replace CRM?
Not the record-keeping part, on current evidence. Gartner predicts that by 2028 AI agents will outnumber human sellers ten to one, yet fewer than 40% of sellers will report that agents improved their productivity; its analyst warns of a "value ceiling" beyond which more AI does not mean more output (Gartner, November 2025). AI is being layered onto CRMs to draft, summarise and prioritise while the CRM stays the system of record. ZenMode works the same way: Practitioner ($49) drafts per-prospect messages, but every reply still lands in a contact record you own.
Compare ZenMode to other tools
Try the desktop-app Octopus CRM alternative
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