Summary: Lead generation tools are important for business in generating leads and closing a sale. However, with plethora of lead generation tools out there, it can be difficult for SMBs to find the best option for their needs. So, let’s look at the list of free lead generation tools & software.
The approach to generating leads for business has changed drastically. Previously, the majority of leads used to come through outbound channels such as TV and print advertisements. But today, most businesses prefer inbound marketing like social media, video ads, SEO, and content marketing to generate quality leads. And why not? Inbound marketing produces 54% more leads than traditional outbound practices.
Nowadays digital marketing serves as an important aspect for SMBs in generating high-quality leads. However, with the ever-changing landscape of technology and consumer behavior, finding the right tools and software for lead generation can be overwhelming for small businesses. Thankfully, there are a plethora of free lead generation tools and software options available in the market.
In this blog, I will be talking about the best free lead generation tools and software that can attract, nurture, and convert them into potential customers. These tools will undoubtedly elevate your lead generation game without breaking the bank.
Table of Contents
What is Lead Generation?
Lead generation meaning: Lead generation refers to the marketing process that helps businesses identify and attract potential customers for a service or a product.
The main purpose of lead generation is to guide the prospective customers (leads) through the sales pipeline until they are ready to make a purchase.
What is a Lead Generation Tool?
As the name suggests, Lead generation software is a tool or collection of tools that helps businesses generate and manage leads. These tools can generate leads through various mediums like ads, websites, chatbots, landing pages, and more. There are multiple tools out there like HubSpot and Mailchimp that offer a handful of features to simplify your lead generation process- from generating leads to closing a sale. To help you find the best free lead generation tool, we have compiled an exhaustive list.
7 Best Free Lead Generation Tools and Software for SMBs in 2024
I have thoroughly researched hundreds of the best free lead generation tools and software and compiled the best options for you. Explore the best tools below:
| Tools | Best for | Rating | Free Option | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HubSpot | Inbound marketing and sales | 4.4/5 | Yes | $20/month |
| Aeroleads | Email finding and lookup | 4/5 | Yes | $19/month |
| Mailchimp | Email marketing | 4.4/5 | Yes | $4/month |
| LeadFuze | Contact finding | 4.6/5 | Yes | $147/month |
| Optinmonster | Lead generation for eCommerce | 4.6/5 | No | $9/month |
| Leadpages | Landing page building | 4.3/5 | Yes | $49/month |
| Sumo | Building mail lists on your website | 4.1/5 | Yes | $49/month |
1. HubSpot
HubSpot’s inbound sales and marketing software helps businesses attract visitors, convert leads, and close customers. This free lead generation tool is a CRM platform that includes marketing, sales, customer service, operations, and content management features.
Features of HubSpot:
- Lead tracking features
- Reporting dashboards
- Automated lead assignments and follow-ups
- Sales pipeline management
- Sales tracking
- Task management
HubSpot Pros and Cons
- Tutorials on nearly every marketing subjects
- Very easy to use platform
- All-in-one marketing platform
- Can be expensive for individual users
- Lacks A/B testing tools in basic package
Pricing: HubSpot offers a free plan for individuals that comes with foundational tools to get you started. It offers 3 paid plans with a 7-day free trial:
Starter: Stars at $20/month
Professional: Starts at $899/month
Enterprise: Starts at $3600/month
2. Aeroleads
Aeroleads is a free email finder and lookup tool that helps users to find both business and personal contact information. They have a huge database of over 500 million business emails, 120 million personal emails and over 20 million phone numbers. They also have a Chrome extension which you can download and search for emails on platforms like LinkedIn, Xing, Angelists, Crunchbase, etc.
Features of Aeroleads
- LinkedIn lead generation
- Use filters like Company, Department, Education, etc. to find leads
- Fully automated features
- CRM integration
- Email verifier and finder
Aeroleads Pros and Cons
- Provides a dedicated account manager with every plan
- Unlimited user access
- Email verification
- Chat and call support is only available with Cruise and Enterprise plan
Pricing: Aeroleads offers a free plan and four paid plans. These are:
Take off: Starts at $19/month
Climb: Starts at $59/month
Cruise: Starts at $99/month
Enterprise: Starts at $249/month
3. Mailchimp
Mailchimp is one of the most popular free lead generation websites in the market. This email marketing and automation software helps businesses connect with leads and grow by sending newsletters and automated emails. It also offers a drag and drop email builder with generative AI features, which can help you build compelling emails for your customers.
Features of Mailchimp
- Marketing automation and over 300 app integration
- Audience segmentation with the help of AI
- Reporting and analytics
- Content creation
- Tracks customer journey
- A/B testing and landing page builder
Mailchimp Pros and Cons
- Multivariate A/B testing
- Inbuilt AI conversational tools
- Very beginner friendly platform
- Limited templates with free plan
- Mailchimp watermark in free plan
Pricing: Mailchimp offers four paid plans, and these are:
Free: Free to use platform
Essentials: Starts at $4/month and billed annually
Standard: Starts at $6/month and billed annually
Premium: Starts at $137/month and billed annually
4. LeadFuze
Similar to Aeroleads, LeadFuze is also a free lead generation tool and a contact finder for recruiters, marketers and salespeople. Users can filter their search and find specific and targeted leads based on multiple factors like industry, number of employees, services etc. Moreover, you can build lists of leads and automatically sync leads to CRM’s and outreach tools.
Features of LeadFuze
- Email verification for 0% bounce rates
- Get personal and company emails and other information
- Integrate with over 1000 tools
- AI assistant named FuzeBot for link building
- De duplication and ignoring invalid lists
- LinkedIn URL lookups
LeadFuze Pros and Cons
- Build contact lists automatically
- Over 500 million prospects’ data
- Get full details of your leads like work history, college education, skills and more.
- The lead credit-based pricing looks a bit costly
- Most of the data is from the US
Pricing: LeadFuze offers three types of plans with free trial.
Scaling: Starts at $147/month with 500 lead credits
Unlimited: Starts at $397/month with unlimited credits
Custom: Available on request
5. Optinmonster
Optinmoster is a marketing lead generation tool for SMBs, ecommerce companies, bloggers and marketing agencies. This tool offers multiple features like advanced traffic redirection, page level targeting, A/B testing and more to turn visitors into potential buyers. The platform includes everything- from landing page creation and message customization to campaign analytics and reporting, all under one roof.
Features of Optinmoster
- Built-in lead capture forms
- Drag and drop campaign builder
- Exit intent finder
- Launch targeted campaigns
- Real-time behavior automation
Optinmoster Pros and Cons
- Customization options are notable
- Various templates available
- Seamless integration with other business solutions
- Many features like A/B testing and retargeting are available on higher plans only
- Customer support is a bit slow and can get better
Pricing: Optinmoster offers four types of paid plans. These are:
Basic: Starts at $9/month
Plus: Starts at $19/month
Pro: Starts at $29/month
Growth: Starts at $49/month
6. LeadPages
Leadpages is a user-friendly landing page builder that is designed for small businesses. It helps businesses in enhancing conversion rates through pre-designed landing page templates and an AI engine for sales copy. With this free lead generation tool, users can easily create attractive landing pages, monitor essential metrics, and hassle-free payment collections. Additionally, the platform offers real time support through live chat, tutorials, and guides.
Features of LeadPages:
- Landing page builder
- 200+ conversion optimized templates
- AI writing assistants and image generation
- Seamless integration with over 90 apps
- Instant notifications
- A/B testing
LeadPages Pros and Cons
- Various customizable templates in different industries
- Its landing page editor is very easy to use
- Split testing and analytics features
- Doesn’t offer any free custom domain
Pricing: Leadpages offers three paid plans along with a 14-day free trial.
Standard: Starts at $49/month
Pro: Starts at $99/month
Advanced: Available on request
7. Sumo
Sumo is a tool for listing, building, and capturing emails on your site. It helps you make lists, create popups, and capture emails easily. Sumo also has a floating social share bar and heat maps to see where visitors click on your site. It’s great for online stores and works well with Mailchimp, Shopify, and Campaign Monitor. It also offers a free tool for capturing emails, which is perfect for budget conscious people and SMBs.
Features of Sumo (Free Lead Generation Tool)
- Mail opt-in forms
- Visitor targeting
- A/B testing
- Email integrations
- E-commerce templates
- Advanced analytics
Sumo Pros and Cons
- Campaign management
- Conversion tracking
- Multiple templates
- Limitation on sending mails up to 1000 mail a month with Free plan and 50000 main a month with the Pro plan
Pricing: Sumo offers a free and a paid plan with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Free: Free to use
Pro: Starts at $49/month
Benefits of Lead Generation Tools
Lead generation tools can help you with better audience targeting, increased conversion rates, cost saving and more. Let’s discuss the benefits of lead generations tools in detail below:
Increased Efficiency
These tools can make your lead generation process smoother and easier. Most tools nowadays come with features to automate repetitive tasks such as lead extraction, messaging clients, and follow-ups.
Better Target Audience
Knowing your target audience can make a significant difference and lead generation tools can help you with that. They use advanced mechanisms like audience segmentation to better identify and engage with your ideal customers. You can tailor your marketing efforts to specific demographics, behaviors, and interests. This will ensure that your message reaches those who are most likely to convert into sales.
Cost Savings
By automating repetitive tasks and targeting the right audience, lead generation tools can ensure significant cost savings. They can minimize manual efforts in the lead generation process and allow your team to allocate resources more effectively.
Better Reporting and Analytics
Lead generation tools often provide comprehensive insights and analytics into your marketing efforts. This data-driven information allows you to measure the performance of your campaigns, understand customer behavior, and identify areas for improvement. With real-time reporting, you can make informed decisions, and tailor your strategies accordingly.
Multi-Channel Engagement
Lead generation companies allow you to engage with potential customers across various channels, such as social media, email, and content. This multi-channel approach helps businesses to reach a more diverse audience, increasing the chances of capturing leads through different touchpoints.
Conclusion
A lead generation tool can help you in reaching out to potential leads and converting them into potential customers. The software names we have mentioned in this article offer a range of features and benefits that cater to the specific needs of small businesses. Based on the feature and pricing comparison, HubSpot, Aeroleads, and Mailchimp are the top lead generation software. Take the time to evaluate each option carefully and consider factors such as cost, compatibility with existing systems, and customer support before making your final decision.
FAQs
Which tool is used for lead generation?
Tools like HubSpot, Mailchimp, and Aeroleads are commonly used for lead generation.
What is lead generation in CRM?
Lead generation in CRM is the process of identifying potential customers for your business or service and guiding them through your sales pipeline.
Which are the 4 steps of the lead generation process?
The four steps of lead generation are identifying target markets, building attractive offers, generating leads, and then nurturing those leads for a sale.
Which is the best free lead generation tool?
HubSpot, Mialchimp and Sumo are some of the best free tools for lead generation. This platform offers multiple features that can help you from generating leads to closing a sale.
Which lead generation tool is best for e-commerce?
Optinmonster, Sumo and Leadpages are some of the top lead generation tools for e-commerce. These solutions offer multiple features that can help online stores to generate leads and ultimately close a sale.
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