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
- Belkins suits teams that want omnichannel appointment setting at scale, with packages built around booked meetings.
- CIENCE suits data-heavy outbound, with a proprietary data platform plus managed SDR teams.
- Martal Group suits tech and SaaS companies that want fractional sales teams focused on qualified meetings.
- Callbox suits global multichannel campaigns and account-based programs with long sales cycles.
- LeadGeneration.com suits buyers who want exclusive leads with replacements for bad data.
- Cleverly suits small businesses that want done-for-you LinkedIn outreach at a low entry price.
- SalesRoads suits US phone-first appointment setting with US-based SDRs.
- Smith.ai suits inbound qualification, with answered calls and chats that capture leads you already generate.
- Services-you-hire framing: no agency can guarantee lead volume or revenue. Agree the definition of a qualified lead in writing before the first invoice, since the gap between marketing-qualified and sales-accepted leads is where most agency relationships break down.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Belkins | Omnichannel appointment setting | See website | No |
 CIENCE | Data-heavy outbound plus SDRs | See website | No |
 Martal Group | Tech and SaaS sales outsourcing | See website | No |
 Callbox | Global multichannel campaigns | See website | No |
 LeadGeneration.com | Exclusive leads with replacements | See website | No |
 Cleverly | Done-for-you LinkedIn outreach | See website | No |
 SalesRoads | US phone-first appointment setting | See website | No |
 Smith.ai | Inbound call and chat qualification | See website | No |
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We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
The best lead generation companies
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Belkins is the best-known omnichannel appointment-setting agency, with packages built around outcomes. The Growth package targets 100 or more yearly appointments, Growth Plus pushes to 200 or more, and a small-business package delivers 30 or more through partner agencies. Every package includes a sales audit, market calculation, manual lead research, copywriting, appointment scheduling, and no-show recovery.
The limits are price and transparency. Entry pricing runs around $5,000 per month, dollar pricing is not published on the site, and smaller teams needing fewer than 30 meetings a year will overpay for capacity they do not use. For mid-market teams that need meetings without building an SDR function from scratch, Belkins is the best pick.
What we like- Packages built around booked appointments
- Email, LinkedIn, and calling
- Bundled tools save clients money
Watch out for- Entry price around $5,000 per month
- No published dollar pricing
- Overkill for fewer than 30 meetings a year
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
CIENCE suits data-heavy outbound, pairing a proprietary data platform with managed SDR teams. Its GO Data platform holds over 140 million contacts, and its graph8 AI platform supports targeting and messaging. Modular plans let buyers add SDR pods, data, and execution separately rather than buying one fixed package.
The trade off is cost structure. Setup runs around $5,000, monthly execution starts near $2,000, and per-meeting fees apply on some plans, which pushes all-in monthly cost toward $5,000 to $9,000. For teams that want data plus managed SDRs, CIENCE is the best hybrid choice.
What we like- Proprietary data platform with 140M+ contacts
- Modular SDR pods
- AI platform included
Watch out for- Setup around $5,000 plus monthly fees
- Per-meeting fees on some plans
- G2 score lower than rivals
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Martal Group suits tech and SaaS companies expanding into North America, with onshore senior SDRs, coverage across 50 or more industries, and an AI SDR platform. Pilot engagements run 3 to 4 months, which lets buyers test fit before a longer commitment. The focus is qualified meetings rather than raw lead counts.
The limits are price and transparency. Monthly cost runs around $4,100 to $10,500 depending on tier, and pricing is custom. For SaaS companies that want fractional sales teams that close rather than just book, Martal Group is the best choice.
What we like- Onshore senior SDRs
- 50+ industries covered
- Pilot engagements of 3 to 4 months
Watch out for- Monthly cost around $4,100 to $10,500
- Custom pricing
- Not the cheapest for simple outbound
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Callbox suits global multichannel campaigns and account-based programs with long sales cycles. Its regional pod model staffs campaigns by market, and multi-touch sequences across email, phone, and social keep prospects engaged over months. Retargeting is included in many programs.
The trade off is cost. Enterprise programs run from about $15,000 per quarter to $40,000 per quarter, with quarterly to annual commitments. For enterprise teams running multi-region programs, Callbox is the best fit.
What we like- Multi-touch campaigns across email, phone, and social
- Regional pod model
- Retargeting included
Watch out for- Enterprise pricing from about $15,000 per quarter
- Long minimum commitments
- Overkill for small teams
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
LeadGeneration.com suits buyers who want exclusive leads with replacements for bad data. Leads are sold only to you, not shared with competitors, and bad leads are replaced under the service terms. Review scores are strong, at 4.8 on G2 and 5 on Capterra.
The limits are pricing transparency and model. Pricing is quote-only on a retainer model, and the service suits lead supply more than pure appointment setting. For buyers who want exclusive leads they work themselves, LeadGeneration.com is the best choice.
What we like- Exclusive leads, not shared with rivals
- Replacements for bad leads
- Strong review scores
Watch out for- Quote-only pricing
- Retainer model
- Less suited to pure appointment setting
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Cleverly suits small businesses that want done-for-you LinkedIn outreach at a low entry price. Plans start near $297 per month, with a 3-month minimum, and cover LinkedIn conversations that turn connections into meetings. For SMBs testing outsourced outbound without committing $5,000 or more per month, Cleverly is the most accessible entry point.
The trade off is channel breadth. Cleverly covers LinkedIn only, results depend heavily on profile quality, and it is limited for complex enterprise sales. For budget LinkedIn lead generation, Cleverly is the best pick.
What we like- Low entry price from about $297 per month
- Done-for-you LinkedIn conversations
- 3-month minimum
Watch out for- LinkedIn-only channel
- Results depend on profile quality
- Limited for complex enterprise sales
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
SalesRoads suits US phone-first appointment setting with US-based SDRs. The phone-first approach works well for industries where decision makers answer calls, and some plans offer month-to-month flexibility rather than long contracts. Clutch scores are strong at 4.9.
The limits are price and channel. Monthly cost runs around $5,000 to $10,000, and the phone-heavy model suits fewer industries than omnichannel agencies. For US phone-first outreach, SalesRoads is the best choice.
What we like- US-based SDRs
- Phone-first approach
- Month-to-month flexibility on some plans
Watch out for- Monthly cost around $5,000 to $10,000
- Phone-heavy model suits fewer industries
- Limited reviews
#8
Smith.ai
Best for: Inbound call and chat qualification
Visit smith.ai
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Smith.ai suits inbound qualification, answering calls and chats that capture leads you already generate. Rather than prospecting new contacts, Smith.ai receptionists qualify inbound callers, book appointments, and follow up, so no lead slips through after hours. Entry pricing runs around $600 per month, with per-call or per-chat billing.
The trade off is scope. Smith.ai covers inbound only, not outbound prospecting, and per-call billing adds up at volume. It is not a full SDR replacement. For teams that generate inbound interest but miss calls, Smith.ai is the best pick.
What we like- Answered calls and chats
- Lead qualification and follow-up
- Entry price around $600 per month
Watch out for- Inbound only, not outbound prospecting
- Per-call or per-chat billing adds up
- Not a full SDR replacement
How we chose
We compared channel breadth, pricing transparency, minimum commitment, review scores, lead exclusivity, and replacement policies. Agencies that publish pricing or clear package outcomes scored higher than quote-only vendors, though enterprise agencies rarely publish rates. We favored agencies with strong Clutch and G2 scores and noted where pricing is approximate. We did not test any agency hands-on, and prices here reflect published and third-party figures that vendors change often.
Buying guide: what to check before you pay
Start by defining a qualified lead in writing before the first invoice. Agree on job titles, company size, budget signals, and what counts as a held meeting versus a booked meeting, since the gap between marketing-qualified and sales-accepted leads is where most agency relationships break down. Next, check the billing model. Retainers run $3,750 to $12,500 per month with 3 to 6 month minimums, pay-per-lead runs $60 to $625 per lead, and pay-per-meeting runs $250 to $875 per meeting, so the model matters as much as the vendor. Ask about data ownership too, since some agencies keep the contact lists they build for you. Check deliverability and compliance as well, since cold email and calling carry spam and telemarketing rules that vary by market. Finally, run a pilot. A 3-month pilot with clear meeting and pipeline targets reveals fit faster than any sales call, and month-to-month options such as Cleverly or SalesRoads lower the risk of testing.
Frequently asked questions
How much do lead generation companies cost?
Retainers typically run $3,750 to $12,500 per month with 3 to 6 month minimums. Pay-per-lead runs $60 to $625 per lead, and pay-per-meeting runs $250 to $875 per meeting. Entry-level LinkedIn services start near $297 per month, while enterprise programs can exceed $15,000 per quarter.
What is the difference between a lead and a meeting?
A lead is a contact who fits your target profile and showed interest. A meeting is a scheduled conversation with that contact. Agencies that sell leads leave qualification and booking to you, while appointment-setting agencies book the meeting itself. Agree the definition in writing before you sign.
Can a lead generation company guarantee results?
No reputable agency guarantees closed deals or revenue. Some guarantee a number of meetings or leads, but results depend on your offer, market, and sales follow-up. Treat any vendor promising guaranteed revenue with caution.
Should I outsource lead generation or build an in-house SDR team?
Outsourcing suits teams that need meetings fast without hiring, training, and managing SDRs. In-house teams suit companies with a proven playbook, high volume, and long-term outbound plans. A pilot with an agency can validate the playbook before you hire.
Do lead generation agencies own the data they build?
It depends on the contract. Some agencies keep the contact lists they build, while others hand them over. Ask about data ownership in writing before you sign, since losing your prospect list at contract end is a costly surprise.
Sources we checked (0)
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.