How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- Dialer philosophy splits three ways: parallel AI dialers (Orum, Nooks) for volume, power dialers (PhoneBurner, Close, JustCall) for quality, and cloud phone systems with dialing built in (CloudTalk, Aircall, Kixie, Dialpad).
- Most tools publish pricing: Close from $9/user/month, Aircall from $30, CloudTalk from €19, PhoneBurner from $149/month. Orum and Nooks are quote-only.
- Headline prices mislead: JustCall's dialer starts at Pro ($49), Close's power dialer at Growth ($99), Dialpad's at Advanced ($95). Price the tier you actually need.
- Connect rates now depend on number health: spam-flag monitoring (PhoneBurner ARMOR, Orum Hot Numbers, Kixie ConnectionBoost) is a buying criterion, not a bonus.
The best cold calling software
Nobody picks up an unknown number anymore. That is the starting fact of cold calling in 2026, and it shapes everything: the best calling tool is not just a dialer, it is number-health management, spam-flag monitoring, local presence and CRM logging wrapped around the call. The nine tools below cover every approach, from AI parallel dialers to a CRM with a dialer built in.
#1
CloudTalk
Best for: Remote SMB and growing B2B sales teams that call into multiple countries
Visit cloudtalk.io
Starting priceFrom €19/user/month (annual; Lite €19, Starter €25, Essential €29, Expert €49)
Free plan14-day trial, no card required
CloudTalk is the international pick. Local presence dialing across 160+ countries with automatic number rotation to avoid spam flags, plus live call monitoring and AI voice agents billed separately by the minute. Every plan includes a calling package, so domestic calls are not metered on top of the licence.
The honest catch is tiering: meaningful cold-calling features (parallel dialer, AI Conversation Intelligence) are Expert-tier or add-ons. Setup is low friction: same-day calling, number porting in as little as two weeks, month-to-month billing available. For teams dialing across borders, it is the most complete single stack.
What we like- Smart, power and parallel dialers plus AI voice agents in one workspace with local numbers in 160+ countries
- 100+ native integrations with two-way CRM sync
- No setup fees, onboarding on every plan, same-day go-live
Watch out for- Prices in EUR, so USD teams face currency swings
- Parallel dialing and higher AI features sit on the Expert tier (€49), so the real cold-calling cost is higher
#2
PhoneBurner
Best for: Solo SDRs and small North American outbound teams that prioritize connect quality over raw volume
Visit phoneburner.com
Starting priceFrom $149/month, no contracts or setup fees
Free planFree trial, no credit card
PhoneBurner is the quality-over-volume dialer. Its philosophy is deliberate: no predictive or parallel dialing, so every connection is clean with no dead air when a prospect answers. ARMOR keeps numbers clean and skips dead numbers, and one-click dispositions make reps fast (up to ~80 dials/hour).
The honest catch is throughput: high-volume SDR floors will find single-line dialing slow. Setup is minimal: import contacts and start dialing in minutes, with onboarding specialist help. Month-to-month, no contracts. For teams where connect rate and compliance matter more than dial volume, it leads.
What we like- True single-line power dialer with zero-delay connections, avoiding dropped-call compliance risk
- ARMOR answer-rate solution with Tier 1 carrier network, spam-flag monitoring and Connect Scores
- Workflow automation: disposition buttons that log calls, drop voicemails and send emails/SMS in one click
Watch out for- Single-line dialing by design, so it never matches parallel-dialer throughput
- Dedicated dialer rather than a full phone system, so teams still need separate inbound
#3
Kixie
Best for: US sales teams on HubSpot or Pipedrive that want a simple combined phone system and power dialer
Visit kixie.com
Starting priceSee website (three tiers; unlimited US/Canada minutes FAQ at $30/mo per user)
Free plan7-day free trial, no card required
Kixie is the simple combo pick. One-click CRM calling from a Chrome extension with automatic logging, multi-line PowerDialer for higher throughput, and local presence built in. The 2-minute signup and free porting make evaluation painless.
The honest catch is opacity: you cannot self-serve a full price from the pricing page, and international rates vary. For US teams on HubSpot or Pipedrive that want phone plus dialer without platform bloat, it is the easiest yes.
What we like- One platform combining business phone, CRM integration, SMS and multi-line power dialing (up to 4 lines) with unlimited US/Canada minutes
- Built-in local presence, voicemail drop, live call coaching and ConnectionBoost number-reputation add-on
- Setup in 2 minutes with free number porting
Watch out for- Plan pricing not displayed on the pricing page
- Focused on US/Canada calling, weaker proposition for teams dialing internationally
#4
JustCall
Best for: Growing teams that want a sales dialer with sequences, SMS/WhatsApp and AI coaching on one platform
Visit justcall.io
Starting priceTeam $29/user/month (annual, 2-user minimum); Pro $49; Pro Plus $89
Free plan14-day free trial, no card
JustCall is the all-channel dialer. One-click voicemail drops on every plan with automatic drops on higher tiers, each drop logging to the CRM and triggering follow-up texts. The dynamic 10-line dialer on Pro Plus competes with specialist parallel dialers, plus SMS and WhatsApp campaigns from the same workspace.
The honest catch is plan gating: price the real tier, not the headline. Predictive dialing needs Pro ($49), the dynamic 10-line dialer needs Pro Plus ($89). Setup takes minutes: import contacts, connect CRM, call the same day. For teams that want voice plus messaging in one platform, it is the most complete mid-market option.
What we like- 3-in-1 dialers (power, predictive, dynamic up to 10 lines) plus AI voice agents, transcription, AI call scoring and real-time coaching
- Multi-channel: voice, SMS, WhatsApp campaigns and email follow-ups from the same workspace
- Number health management (registration, CNAM, DNC scrubbing) and smart reattempt rules
Watch out for- The actual dialer starts on Pro ($49/user/month annual)
- The $29 Team plan lacks it
- Advanced AI features are 1.8x+ more expensive than the base plan
#5
Aircall
Best for: Mixed inbound/outbound sales teams that value integrations and reliability over specialist dialer depth
Visit aircall.io
Starting priceFrom $30/user/month (Essentials, annual billing); Professional $50
Free planTrial available
Aircall is the reliable generalist. CRM-first calling means calls, notes and recordings sync automatically, and setup takes minutes. The Power Dialer on the entry tier is enough for moderate outbound, and the integration catalog is the deepest in this list.
The honest catch is specialization: SDR floors needing parallel dialing will need a second tool. For mixed inbound/outbound teams where the phone system does everything, it is the safe, well-integrated choice.
What we like- 100+ integrations on all plans (200+ claimed in newer content) with deep HubSpot/Salesforce/Zendesk sync
- Power Dialer included from the entry Essential tier, with IVR, smart routing, call recording and analytics
- AI transcription, summaries, sentiment analysis and live coaching
Watch out for- Cold-calling dialer depth is lighter than specialist tools (no parallel/multi-line dialing)
- Advanced AI and sales engagement features require higher tiers
- Outbound SMS only in select countries
#6
Dialpad
Best for: Sales teams that want AI coaching and real-time call intelligence as the core workflow rather than raw dial throughput
Visit dialpad.com
Starting priceDialpad Sell Essentials $39/user/month (annual); Advanced $95; Premium $150
Free planFree trial available
Dialpad is the AI-coaching platform. Live transcription with coaching cards and playbooks during calls, Salesforce-embedded power dialing, and conversation intelligence that actually shapes rep behavior in the moment.
The honest catch is the price jump: the features that matter for cold calling require the Advanced tier at 2.4x the Essentials price. Pure throughput buyers should look at Orum or Nooks instead. For teams where call quality and coaching drive revenue, the AI depth is unmatched.
What we like- Best-in-class real-time AI: live transcription, AI coaching cards, playbooks and scorecards built in
- SFDC power dialer, local dial and voicemail drop from the Advanced tier
- Unified voice/video/messaging on one stack with dual-cloud infrastructure
Watch out for- The Salesforce power dialer and live-coach features start at $95/user/month, far above the $15-39 entry tiers
- No true parallel multi-line dialer mode
#7
Orum
Best for: High-volume SDR floors running parallel dialing at scale
Visit orum.com
Starting priceSee website (per-user, billed annually; quote-only)
Free planNo
Orum is the volume machine. AI live-answer detection at 0.5-0.7 second connect times means reps talk only to live humans while voicemail drops, screeners and dial trees are handled automatically. Hot Numbers intelligence keeps connect rates up.
The honest catch is cost structure: annual contracts, team-size minimums and premium per-user pricing make it an SDR-team tool, not a budget pick. Setup runs days with dedicated onboarding. For floors where dial volume is the KPI, nothing here dials harder.
What we like- AI parallel dialer (up to 10 lines) with sub-second connect time and 20+ language live-answer detection
- Hot Numbers connect-rate intelligence and grade-A numbers with daily spam monitoring
- Layers on top of existing CRM/SEP stack so calls and outcomes flow where the team already works
Watch out for- Quote-only annual contracts with minimums, aimed at teams not solo reps
- Purpose-built parallel dialing only, it complements but does not replace a full phone system
#8
Nooks
Best for: Outbound teams consolidating calling, sequencing, signals and coaching on one AI platform
Visit nooks.ai
Starting priceSee website (quote-only; seats plus usage-based AI action credits)
Free planNo
Nooks is the AI-native SDR platform. Parallel dialing with automated answer detection and phone-tree navigation, plus a virtual sales floor that keeps remote teams accountable and coached. Automation agents handle the prospecting research around the calls.
The honest catch is evaluation friction: quote-only pricing with usage-based credits makes budgeting hard for teams that need flat costs. Vendor-led onboarding runs days to weeks. For outbound teams going all-in on AI, it is the most complete execution layer.
What we like- AI-native parallel dialer unified with AI sequencing, signals and account research in one execution layer
- Virtual sales floor with real-time battlecards, live call coaching and AI scoring, strong for remote SDR teams
- Automation agents handle prospecting research, email drafting and follow-up alongside reps
Watch out for- No public pricing and no self-serve trial, so evaluation requires a sales process
- Built for scaled SDR teams
- Small teams find it overwhelming and overpriced
#9
Close
Best for: SMB outbound sales teams that want CRM, calling, email and SMS in one tool instead of a dialer bolted onto a CRM
Visit close.com
Starting priceSolo $9/user/month (annual); Essentials $35; Growth $99 (power dialer); Scale $139 (predictive dialer)
Free plan14-day free trial, no card; 30-day money-back guarantee
Close is the all-in-one for small teams. One-click calling and power dialing directly from lead lists, with calls, transcripts and AI summaries logged automatically to the contact. Chloe, the AI sales agent, calls new leads within minutes and books meetings.
The honest catch is pricing the dialer: Essentials ($35) has click-to-call only; true power dialing costs $99/user/month. Setup takes minutes to hours: import leads and start calling the same day. For SMB outbound teams that want one tool instead of a stack, it is the cleanest fit.
What we like- CRM with built-in power and predictive dialers: no third-party dialer integration needed
- Chloe AI sales agent calls leads within minutes, qualifies and books meetings automatically
- Transparent self-serve pricing and a real free trial
Watch out for- The power dialer only starts on Growth ($99/user/month), so effective dialer cost is the Growth price, not the $35 headline
- As a CRM, its phone system is basic compared to cloud-contact-center specialists
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
| CloudTalk | Remote SMB and growing B2B sales teams that call into multiple countries | From €19/user/month (annual; Lite €19, Starter €25, Essential €29, Expert €49) | 14-day trial, no card required |
| PhoneBurner | Solo SDRs and small North American outbound teams that prioritize connect quality over raw volume | From $149/month, no contracts or setup fees | Free trial, no credit card |
| Kixie | US sales teams on HubSpot or Pipedrive that want a simple combined phone system and power dialer | See website (three tiers; unlimited US/Canada minutes FAQ at $30/mo per user) | 7-day free trial, no card required |
| JustCall | Growing teams that want a sales dialer with sequences, SMS/WhatsApp and AI coaching on one platform | Team $29/user/month (annual, 2-user minimum); Pro $49; Pro Plus $89 | 14-day free trial, no card |
| Aircall | Mixed inbound/outbound sales teams that value integrations and reliability over specialist dialer depth | From $30/user/month (Essentials, annual billing); Professional $50 | Trial available |
| Dialpad | Sales teams that want AI coaching and real-time call intelligence as the core workflow rather than raw dial throughput | Dialpad Sell Essentials $39/user/month (annual); Advanced $95; Premium $150 | Free trial available |
| Orum | High-volume SDR floors running parallel dialing at scale | See website (per-user, billed annually; quote-only) | No |
| Nooks | Outbound teams consolidating calling, sequencing, signals and coaching on one AI platform | See website (quote-only; seats plus usage-based AI action credits) | No |
| Close | SMB outbound sales teams that want CRM, calling, email and SMS in one tool instead of a dialer bolted onto a CRM | Solo $9/user/month (annual); Essentials $35; Growth $99 (power dialer); Scale $139 (predictive dialer) | 14-day free trial, no card; 30-day money-back guarantee |
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
The connect-rate problem: why number health is now a buying criterion
A decade ago, dialer evaluations were about dials per hour. Now the bottleneck is pickup: spam-likely flags kill connect rates before a rep ever speaks. That is why nearly every vendor here sells number-health tooling: PhoneBurner's ARMOR with spam-flag monitoring and remediation, Orum's Hot Numbers with daily spam monitoring, Kixie's ConnectionBoost, JustCall's number registration and CNAM management, CloudTalk's automatic number rotation.
The buying question is who owns the problem. If the vendor monitors flags, remediates automatically and rotates numbers, your connect rate is their problem. If not, it is yours. Teams evaluating on price alone often discover that a cheap dialer with flagged numbers dials nothing but voicemail. Ask every vendor: what happens when our numbers get flagged, and how fast do you fix it.
Power vs. parallel: choosing your dialer philosophy
The nine tools split into three dialing philosophies. Parallel dialers (Orum up to 10 lines, Nooks, JustCall's dynamic 10-line dialer, CloudTalk's parallel mode) dial multiple numbers at once and connect the rep only when a human answers: maximum conversations per hour, some risk of the "dead air" delay. Power dialers (PhoneBurner single-line, Close, Kixie up to 4 lines, Dialpad) dial one number at a time with no pause: cleaner connections, lower throughput. Phone systems with dialing (Aircall, CloudTalk's core) suit teams where cold calling is one channel among several.
There is also a compliance dimension: predictive and parallel dialers face stricter telemarketing regulation than single-line power dialing, which is PhoneBurner's entire pitch. High-volume SDR floors accept the trade-off; regulated industries and quality-focused teams often do not. Match the philosophy to your volume target and your compliance posture, not just the feature list.
Frequently asked questions
What is cold calling software?
Cold calling software combines a cloud phone system with an outbound dialer: it dials prospect lists automatically (power, predictive or parallel modes), logs calls to the CRM, drops voicemails, manages local presence numbers and monitors spam flags. Modern tools add AI transcription, coaching and call scoring.
How much does cold calling software cost?
Entry prices range from $9/user/month (Close Solo) to $30 (Aircall), €19 (CloudTalk) and $39 (Dialpad Sell Essentials), up to PhoneBurner's $149/month flat. But headline prices mislead: JustCall's dialer starts at Pro ($49), Close's power dialer at Growth ($99), Dialpad's at Advanced ($95). Orum and Nooks are quote-only annual contracts.
What is the difference between a power dialer and a parallel dialer?
A power dialer dials one number at a time with no pause between calls (PhoneBurner, Close). A parallel dialer dials several lines at once and connects the rep only when a live person answers (Orum up to 10 lines, Nooks, JustCall's dynamic dialer). Parallel means more conversations per hour but risks dead-air delays and faces stricter telemarketing compliance.
Which cold calling software is best for small business?
Close (from $9/user/month, CRM plus dialer in one) is the cleanest SMB fit. CloudTalk (from €19) and Aircall (from $30) suit teams that also handle inbound. PhoneBurner ($149/month flat) fits solo SDRs who prioritize connect quality. All offer trials.
How do I avoid "spam likely" flags when cold calling?
Use local presence numbers, rotate numbers automatically, register numbers with carriers (STIR/SHAKEN), monitor flags and remediate fast. Tools with built-in protection: PhoneBurner ARMOR, Orum Hot Numbers, Kixie ConnectionBoost, JustCall's number health management and CloudTalk's automatic rotation. No tool makes flagging impossible; the question is how fast it recovers.
Is cold calling software legal?
Yes, with compliance obligations. In the US, the TCPA and state laws regulate autodialing, prerecorded messages and calling times; the DNC registry must be scrubbed. Single-line power dialers (PhoneBurner) face fewer autodialer restrictions than predictive/parallel dialers. This is general information, not legal advice; confirm requirements with counsel for your calling program.
Sources we checked (11)
- https://www.cloudtalk.io/
- https://www.phoneburner.com/
- https://kixie.com/
- https://justcall.io/
- https://aircall.io/
- https://www.dialpad.com/
- https://www.orum.com
- https://nooks.ai/
- https://close.com/
- https://www.g2.com/categories/dialer
- https://www.capterra.com/dialer-software/
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.