I’ve tested 40+ LinkedIn automation tools over the last three years. Most of them promise smarter outreach and better replies, but in practice they just help you send the same templated messages a bit faster.
Two tools keep coming up in real conversations: Dripify and SBL.so. And the truth is, they’re not competitors in the way people think – they’re built for very different users with very different problems.
Here’s how they actually compare, based on running real campaigns with both.
The Core Difference You Need to Understand First
Here’s the thing most comparison articles won’t tell you…
Dripify is a solid LinkedIn automation tool. It sends connection requests, follows up, does the drip sequence thing. Works great. Safe. Easy to set up.
SBL.so is trying to be something different entirely. It’s not just automating the sending part. It’s automating the entire conversation. The replies. The objection handling. The actual booking of calls.
That’s a massive distinction. One tool stops when someone replies. The other one keeps going.
I’m not saying one is better than the other. It depends entirely on what problem you’re solving. Let me explain both.
Who Should Use Dripify in 2026?
Dripify works really well if you:
- Want a simple, plug-and-play LinkedIn drip system
- Have time (or team members) to handle replies manually
- Need something safe that won’t get your account restricted
- Are a solopreneur or small team just starting with LinkedIn automation
- Don’t want to spend weeks learning a complex platform
Dripify’s setup takes maybe 10-15 minutes. Seriously. You connect your account, build a sequence, upload your leads, and you’re done. Their cloud-based approach means you don’t need to keep your browser open. It just runs.
Their v4.2 update in December 2025 added some AI smart sequences that adapt based on replies. It’s not conversational AI, but it’s smarter than the old “if accepted, send message B” logic.
Pricing: $39 to $119 per month depending on features. Unlimited campaigns. Pretty straightforward.
Who Should Use SBL.so in 2026?
SBL.so makes more sense if you:
- Want to scale outreach without hiring SDRs
- Need actual conversations handled automatically
- Run an agency managing multiple client campaigns
- Want AI sales automation that goes beyond templates
- Need multi-channel capabilities (LinkedIn + WhatsApp)
The core idea behind SBL is different. You’re not just sending messages and hoping someone replies. The system actually chats with your prospects, handles their objections, qualifies them, and pushes toward booking a call.
Think about that for a second. Most LinkedIn automation tools require you to monitor your inbox constantly. Someone replies? You (or your SDR) needs to jump in. With SBL, the AI keeps the conversation going.
Their January 2026 v3.0 update added EU AI Act compliance and voice-note drips. You can literally clone your voice and send personalized audio messages at scale.
Pricing: Free to start, paid plans from $99/month per seat.
Feature Comparison Table: Dripify vs SBL.so
Alright, let’s get specific. Here’s everything side by side:
| Feature | Dripify | SBL.so |
|---|---|---|
| Setup Type | Cloud-based (no install) | Cloud-based |
| Auto Connection Requests | Yes | Yes |
| Auto Messaging | Yes (templates) | Yes (AI-personalized) |
| Smart Sequences | Yes (if-then logic) | Yes (AI adaptive) |
| Reply Handling | Manual only | AI handles conversations |
| Chat Automation | No | Yes (full conversation AI) |
| Voice Messages | No | Yes (voice cloning) |
| Image/PDF Sending | Limited | Yes (contextual) |
| Multi-Account Management | Team queues | Unlimited accounts, unified inbox |
| Sales Navigator Integration | Yes | Yes |
| Lead Generation | CSV import | Built-in Lead Agent |
| A/B Testing | Yes | Coming soon |
| Analytics | Basic (opens, replies) | Deep (sentiment, qualification, ROI) |
| CRM Integration | Zapier | Direct + Zapier |
| Multi-Channel | LinkedIn only | LinkedIn + WhatsApp |
| Daily Limits | Safe (LinkedIn compliant) | Up to 75 connections/day, 200 messages/day |
| Account Safety | 99.9% uptime, SSL proxies | Behavioral mimicry, account rotation |
| Pricing Start | $39/month | Free (paid from $99/month) |
| Best For | Solopreneurs, recruiters | Agencies, sales teams |
| G2 Score | 4.7/5 | 4.8/5 |
The Real Question: Do You Need Chat Automation or Just Outreach Automation?
This is where most people get confused when comparing these tools.
Outreach automation = sending connection requests, follow-up messages, profile visits. Both tools do this well.
Chat automation = handling the actual conversation when someone replies. This is where SBL.so pulls ahead.
Let me give you a real scenario…
You send 500 connection requests. Maybe 150 people accept. You message all 150. Maybe 40 reply. Now what?
With Dripify, you need someone to handle those 40 conversations. That’s either you (burning hours), or an SDR (burning money).
With SBL.so, the AI continues the conversation. It answers questions, handles objections like “not interested right now” or “what’s the pricing?”, and pushes toward booking a call. You only step in for complex situations or when the system flags “Human Intervention Required.”
That’s a fundamentally different approach to sales automation for small teams.
Can LinkedIn Automation Actually Scale to Email Level?
This is something founders ask me constantly. And honestly, until recently, the answer was no.
LinkedIn has brutal limits. Premium accounts get around 800 new connections per month. Non-premium has 400. And if you send too many too fast, and you’re restricted.
But here’s what’s changed in 2026.
Tools like SBL.so use account rotation. You connect multiple LinkedIn profiles to one workspace. When one profile hits the limit, the next one takes over. So if you connect 50 accounts, that’s potentially 40,000+ reach-outs per month.
That’s approaching email-level scalability on LinkedIn.
Dripify doesn’t really solve for this. It’s designed more for individual users or small teams running campaigns from a few accounts. Nothing wrong with that. Different use case.
What About Safety? Will These Tools Get Me Banned?
Look, LinkedIn got serious about automation in 2025-2026. Over 20 million accounts were restricted or banned in Q4 2025 alone. They’re using “behavioral fingerprinting” now. Analyzing mouse movements, typing patterns, session timing. Scary stuff.
Both Dripify and SBL.so have adapted.
Dripify’s approach: Cloud-based execution, SSL proxies, no browser extension needed. They claim 99.9% uptime and safety. Their smart limits keep you within LinkedIn’s thresholds.
SBL.so’s approach: Account rotation, behavioral mimicry, proper delays between actions. They also have an “SBL Fractional SDR Network” where you can use verified affiliates’ real profiles instead of risking your own.
Both tools are safer than the old browser extensions like LinkedHelper (which I’d avoid in 2026, tbh). But nothing is 100% safe. LinkedIn can change their detection at any time. Just keep that in mind.
How Does Dripify Compare to Other LinkedIn Automation Tools?
Fair question. Dripify isn’t the only game in town. Here’s how it stacks up against some alternatives:
Dripify vs Expandi: Both cloud-based, similar pricing ($99/mo for Expandi). Expandi has dedicated IPs per account which some people prefer. Dripify is easier to use. Pick based on complexity tolerance.
Dripify vs MeetAlfred: MeetAlfred does multi-channel (LinkedIn + email + Twitter). Dripify is LinkedIn-only. If you need omnichannel in one tool, MeetAlfred might be better.
Dripify vs Octopus CRM: Octopus is cheaper ($24.99/mo) but the UI feels dated. Dripify’s interface is cleaner. You get what you pay for.
For a deeper dive, check out the best LinkedIn automation tools for B2B sales breakdown.
How Does SBL.so Compare to Other AI SDR Tools?
Now this is where things get interesting. The “AI SDR” space exploded in 2025-2026. Everyone’s claiming AI. Most are lying.
SBL.so vs most “AI” tools: Most tools slap “AI” on their marketing but just use templates with variables. Maybe some GPT for message generation. But they don’t actually handle the conversation. SBL’s chat automation is genuinely different. It’s trained on persuasion psychology, objection handling, actual sales conversations.
The best AI SDR tools comparison goes deeper on this. But short version: if you want AI that just writes messages, there are cheaper options. If you want AI that actually sells, SBL is one of the few doing it for real.
There’s also the SBL.so vs HeyReach comparison if you’re evaluating those two specifically.
What Are the Actual Results People Get?
Alright, enough theory. What kind of numbers are we talking?
Dripify users typically report:
- 30-50% acceptance rates on connection requests
- 15-25% reply rates on follow-up sequences
- Campaign setup in under 15 minutes
- Safe operation within LinkedIn limits
SBL.so users typically report:
- Similar connection rates (depends on targeting, not the tool)
- Higher conversion to calls because of chat automation
- Less time spent in inbox (AI handles most replies)
- 40,000+ reach-outs monthly with account rotation
The real difference shows up after the reply. Dripify gets you replies. SBL turns those replies into meetings without you manually intervening.
What About Pricing for Agencies Managing Multiple Clients?
This matters a lot if you’re running an agency or managing LinkedIn automation for digital agencies.
Dripify: $39-119 per month. Unlimited campaigns, but you’re paying per account essentially. Team features exist but get pricey as you scale.
SBL.so: $99/month base. Unlimited workspaces. The unified inbox means all your client accounts appear in one dashboard. Way more scalable for agency operations.
If you’re managing 10+ accounts, SBL’s pricing structure actually works out better. Plus the Fractional SDR Network lets you add verified sender profiles without acquiring new LinkedIn accounts yourself.
Can I Send Images and Documents in LinkedIn Automation?
Great question. Most tools struggle with this.
Dripify: Limited support for rich media. Mostly text-based sequences.
SBL.so: Yes. You can send PDFs, docs, images, even voice messages. And here’s what’s cool. You don’t set up complicated if-then logic. You just tell the system something like “attach the pricing brochure when the prospect asks about pricing” and the AI figures out when that’s relevant.
For more on this, check out LinkedIn automation tools for sending images.
What About LinkedIn Comment to DM Automation?
You know those posts where someone says “Comment ‘guide’ and I’ll DM you the PDF”? Both tools handle this differently.
Dripify: Doesn’t really do this.
SBL.so: Has built-in comment to DM automation. Paste your post URL, set a trigger keyword, and it automatically filters comments, sends DMs, and adds responders to campaigns. You can even target competitors’ posts. (Don’t tell anyone I told you that.)
Integration with WhatsApp and Other Channels
LinkedIn-only automation is becoming outdated. The best sales teams are doing multi-platform social selling.
Dripify: LinkedIn only. You’d need separate tools for other channels and connect them via Zapier.
SBL.so: LinkedIn + WhatsApp native. Email coming soon. This means you can hit the same lead on LinkedIn, then WhatsApp, without losing context or tone. The system knows what happened in the LinkedIn conversation and continues appropriately on WhatsApp.
If WhatsApp is part of your stack, check out the best WhatsApp automation tools comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions: Dripify vs SBL.so
Is Dripify safe to use in 2026?
Yes, Dripify is one of the safer LinkedIn automation tools available. Their cloud-based approach and smart limits keep you within LinkedIn’s thresholds. Just don’t go crazy with daily volume. Stick under 100 actions per week to be safe.
Can SBL.so really handle conversations automatically?
Yes, that’s the core product. The AI is trained on sales psychology and objection handling. When someone replies, it continues the conversation, qualifies them, and pushes toward booking a call. You can monitor everything and jump in anytime, but you don’t have to.
Which tool is better for a solo founder?
Dripify is probably easier to start with. Simpler interface, faster setup, works well for low-volume personal outreach. SBL makes more sense when you’re ready to scale or don’t want to spend hours in your inbox.
Can I use both tools together?
Technically yes, via Zapier. Some people use Dripify for initial sequences and then move engaged leads to SBL for chat automation. Bit overkill for most situations though.
What’s the reply rate benchmark for LinkedIn automation in 2026?
20-35% with good personalization. AI-enhanced tools can push this to 45% in some cases. But remember, reply rate is vanity. Meetings booked is the metric that matters.
How do I avoid getting my LinkedIn account restricted?
Stay under 50-100 connection requests per week. Don’t send more than 25 messages per day to non-connections. Use cloud-based tools, not browser extensions. And for the love of everything, don’t use the same message template for everyone. LinkedIn’s AI detects that pattern instantly now.
Does Dripify work with LinkedIn Sales Navigator?
Yes. You can import filtered lead lists directly from Sales Navigator. Their December 2025 update added auto-enrichment from Sales Nav data too.
Does SBL.so require coding?
No. Despite having more advanced features, SBL is designed for non-technical users. You tell the AI what you want in plain language. No if-else logic, no coding, no complicated workflows.
Which tool has better analytics?
SBL.so, hands down. They track 20+ metrics including sentiment analysis, lead qualification scores, and ROI calculations. Dripify has basic open and reply tracking. Functional but not as deep.
Can I try both tools for free?
Dripify and SBL both has a 7-day free trial to get started. Test both with small campaigns before committing.
My Honest Recommendation
If you asked me to pick one, I’d ask you two questions:
Question 1: Do you have time (or team) to handle replies manually?
If yes, Dripify is great. Simple, safe, effective for getting conversations started. You handle the closing.
If no, SBL.so makes more sense. Let the AI handle the back-and-forth. Focus your time on actual calls with qualified leads.
Question 2: Are you trying to scale beyond a few hundred reach-outs monthly?
If no, Dripify’s pricing and simplicity wins.
If yes, SBL’s account rotation, unified inbox, and multi-channel approach is built for scale. 40,000+ reach-outs monthly isn’t marketing fluff. They’re actually doing it.
Look, both tools work. Neither is a scam. They’re just built for different stages and different problems. Don’t pick based on which one has better marketing. Pick based on what problem you’re actually trying to solve.
And whatever you choose, remember: the tool is maybe 20% of success. Your targeting, your messaging, your offer. That’s where the real work is. No tool fixes a bad product-market fit.
Now go test them both and stop reading comparison articles. Including this one.
