Comparison 8 min readUpdated January 14, 2026

SAM vs Instantly: Cold Email Automation Comparison (2026)

TL;DR — Our Verdict

Choose SAM for AI-powered personalization and multi-channel outreach. Choose Instantly for high-volume cold email campaigns at lower cost.

SAM

Recommended

AI Sales Manager by InnovareAI

$199-$499/mo (unlimited users)

AI Sales Manager with 8 autonomous agents

View Pricing
VS

Instantly.ai

High-Volume Cold Email Platform

$37-$97/mo

Unlimited email accounts and deliverability

Feature Comparison

FeatureSAMInstantly.ai
Unlimited Email Accounts
Email Warm-up
AI Message WritingInstantly has basic AI
AI Lead Research
LinkedIn Outreach
Human-in-the-Loop Approval
Multi-Agent Architecture
Lead DatabaseInstantly: Lead Finder add-on
Deliverability Tools
CRM Integration
A/B Testing

Pros & Cons

SAM Pros

  • True AI personalization for each prospect
  • Multi-channel (email + LinkedIn)
  • Human approval before sending
  • 8 specialized AI agents

SAM Cons

  • Higher starting price
  • Focus on quality over raw volume

Instantly.ai Pros

  • Very affordable ($37-$97/mo)
  • Unlimited email sending accounts
  • Strong deliverability features
  • Built-in lead finder database
  • Easy to scale volume

Instantly.ai Cons

  • Email-only (no LinkedIn)
  • Basic AI personalization
  • No human-in-the-loop control
  • Add-ons increase cost quickly
  • Support concerns reported

Who Should Use Each Tool?

Choose SAM if:

Teams wanting AI to research prospects and write truly personalized multi-channel outreach.

Start Free Trial

Choose Instantly.ai if:

Teams focused on high-volume cold email who prioritize deliverability and affordability.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SAM or Instantly better for cold outreach?

Instantly excels at high-volume cold email with unlimited accounts and strong deliverability. SAM excels at AI-powered personalization and multi-channel outreach. Choose based on your strategy: volume (Instantly) vs. quality personalization (SAM).

Can SAM send as many emails as Instantly?

Instantly offers unlimited email accounts specifically for high-volume sending. SAM focuses on quality over quantity, using AI to write personalized messages that get higher reply rates with fewer sends.

Which is more affordable?

Instantly starts at $37/month but add-ons (lead finder, CRM, etc.) increase costs. SAM is $199-$499/month all-inclusive with unlimited users. Per-reply basis, SAM often delivers better ROI through higher response rates.

Ready to try SAM?

Start your free 14-day trial. No credit card required.

Start Free Trial