Salesloft vs Outreach (2026) Compared
These two platforms are so similar that the decision often comes down to UX preference and existing integrations.
The Short Version
Salesloft and Outreach are functionally equivalent for most use cases. Salesloft is praised for better UX and customer support. Outreach has slightly more advanced analytics and workflow automation. Both target enterprise sales teams with $75-165/user/mo pricing. Pick based on which demo feels better and which integrates more tightly with your existing stack.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Salesloft | Outreach |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | ~$75/user/mo | ~$100/user/mo |
| Contract | Annual | Annual |
| Multi-channel | Email, phone, social, chat | Email, phone, social, chat |
| Conversation Intelligence | Built-in (Advanced+) | Built-in (all tiers) |
| AI Features | Rhythm AI (activity prioritization) | Kaia AI (real-time coaching) |
| CRM Sync | Salesforce, HubSpot, Dynamics | Salesforce, HubSpot, Dynamics |
| UX | Cleaner, praised by reps | More complex, more powerful |
| Job Demand | 43 postings | 7 postings |
| Best For | Teams prioritizing rep adoption | Teams wanting advanced analytics |
| The Big Risk | Less advanced analytics | Steeper learning curve |
Deep Dive: Salesloft
What They're Selling
Salesloft focuses on being the sales engagement platform that reps actually want to use. Since being acquired by Vista Equity Partners for $2.3B, they've doubled down on UX and their Rhythm AI feature that prioritizes rep activities based on buyer engagement signals.
What It Actually Costs
Pricing isn't public. Estimates: Essentials ~$75/user/mo, Advanced ~$125/user/mo, Premier ~$165/user/mo. A 20-rep team: $18K-40K/year. Annual contracts standard. Implementation is relatively straightforward — most teams are live within 2-4 weeks.
What Users Say
Reps consistently praise the clean UI and intuitive cadence builder. Sales leaders appreciate the analytics on sequence and rep performance. Main complaints: pricing transparency and occasional sync issues with CRM.
Pros
- Cleaner UX — higher rep adoption rates
- Strong cadence builder with good templates
- Rhythm AI helps reps prioritize activities
- Better customer support reputation
Cons
- Analytics not as deep as Outreach
- Fewer advanced automation options
- Pricing isn't transparent
- Limited built-in data
Deep Dive: Outreach
What They're Selling
Outreach positions itself as the enterprise revenue execution platform. Their focus is on the full revenue lifecycle — prospecting, deal management, and forecasting. The Kaia AI provides real-time coaching during calls and meetings.
What It Actually Costs
Pricing also not public. Estimates: Standard ~$100/user/mo, Professional ~$130/user/mo, Enterprise custom. A 20-rep team: $24K-31K/year. Annual contracts with implementation timelines similar to Salesloft (2-4 weeks).
What Users Say
Power users love the advanced workflows and analytics depth. Sales ops teams appreciate the granular reporting. Complaints: UI can feel overwhelming, and the learning curve is steeper than Salesloft.
Pros
- More advanced analytics and reporting
- Kaia AI provides real-time call coaching
- Stronger workflow automation
- Better deal management features
Cons
- Steeper learning curve
- UI can feel overwhelming for new reps
- Higher starting price point
- Customer support gets mixed reviews
Which Should You Pick?
The Honest Take
Here's the truth: Salesloft and Outreach are converging. Every feature one launches, the other copies within 6 months. The functional differences are marginal. The real decision factors are: (1) Which UX do your reps prefer? Run a pilot with both. (2) Which integrates better with your specific tech stack? (3) Which rep's contract terms are better? Don't overthink this — both are good platforms. And if you're a growth-stage team under 20 reps, you probably don't need either. Apollo ($49-79/user/mo) or Instantly ($37/mo) will handle your outbound at a fraction of the cost.
Questions to Ask Before Buying
- Can you run a 2-week pilot with both platforms using a subset of reps?
- What CRM are you using, and how deep does the integration need to go?
- How important is rep adoption vs advanced analytics?
- What's your per-seat budget for sales engagement?
- Do you need conversation intelligence built in, or do you already have Gong/Chorus?
- How many reps will use the platform? (Enterprise pricing gets better at volume)
- Are you currently using another SEP, and what are the switching costs?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Salesloft or Outreach better?
They're functionally very similar. Salesloft wins on UX and customer support; Outreach wins on analytics depth and workflow automation. Most teams should run a 2-week pilot with both and let their reps decide. The platform that gets used consistently is the one that works best.
How much do Salesloft and Outreach cost?
Neither publishes pricing. Based on user reports: Salesloft starts ~$75/user/mo, Outreach ~$100/user/mo. Both require annual contracts. Enterprise volume discounts are available. Expect a 20-rep team to cost $18K-40K/year.
Which has more job demand?
Salesloft has significantly more job demand in our data: 43 postings vs 7 for Outreach. This likely reflects Salesloft's stronger presence in the mid-market segment where more hiring happens.