The right sales automation platform helps teams cut prospecting prep time and book more qualified meetings. When you automate list building, data enrichment, and follow-up scheduling, reps spend less time on repetitive tasks and more time closing deals.
But with so many tools flooding the market, choosing the wrong one can slow down your outbound rather than strengthen it.
We evaluated two of the most discussed platforms in 2025, PhantomBuster and Captain Data, against criteria sales teams ask us about most: LinkedIn automation depth, CRM sync, and day-to-day usability.
In this guide, we’ll break down their automation capabilities, integrations, and workflow fit to help you decide which one belongs in your sales stack.
PhantomBuster vs. Captain Data quick overview
| Aspect | PhantomBuster | Captain Data |
|---|---|---|
| Primary use case | LinkedIn-first sales prospecting automation platform built for outbound prospecting and social selling | Multi-platform data automation suite for large-scale data extraction |
| Target audience | Sales reps and SDRs who need to scale LinkedIn outreach, manage social selling sequences, and feed enriched contacts into CRMs | Marketing, RevOps, and growth teams that rely on broad web data extraction |
| Ease of use | Chrome extension makes single actions nearly effortless. Chaining multiple automations into workflows requires some setup knowledge | No-code interface makes building workflows approachable for most users |
| Key features | Strongest in LinkedIn automation, Sales Navigator data extraction, connection requests, and content engagement workflows. | Data extraction from 30+ sources, automated enrichment, and workflow orchestration |
| Pricing model | Shared workspace ($56–$352/month), 14-day free trial available (as of October 9, 2025) | Credit-based pricing ($999/month and up), 7-day free trial (as of October 9, 2025) |
| G2 rating | 4.4/5 (104 reviews) | 4.7/5 (61 reviews) |
| Capterra rating | 4.5/5 (63 reviews) | 5/5 (17 reviews) as of Oct 9, 2025 |
What is PhantomBuster?
PhantomBuster is a LinkedIn-first sales prospecting automation platform designed around the reality that most B2B sales reps find their best leads on LinkedIn.
It simplifies the heavy lifting for SDRs by extracting and enriching lead data, building personalized sales workflows, and automating connection requests, while helping you follow natural activity patterns.
That clarity of focus explains why PhantomBuster is trusted by thousands of users to automate the most time-consuming parts of outbound.
When campaigns need richer data, PhantomBuster connects LinkedIn workflows with Google Maps listings and Instagram profiles to serve as a central workspace for verified, enriched contact data.
Core features and capabilities
PhantomBuster’s toolset is built around a four-step prospecting workflow that takes you from finding leads to syncing them into your CRM:
- Find leads with LinkedIn Search Export: Use PhantomBuster’s LinkedIn Search Export automation to export decision-makers, company profiles, or event attendees from Sales Navigator results. The Chrome extension makes launching automations instant, no technical setup required.
- Enrich profiles with AI-powered data: Use PhantomBuster’s AI LinkedIn Profile Enricher to segment by title, location, industry, or recent activity before syncing to your CRM. This reduces list bloat and gives SDRs cleaner, high-intent leads to engage with.
- Personalize outreach with AI message generation: With AI-powered message personalization in PhantomBuster, reps send connection requests and follow-ups that reference verified company details and role. This moves outreach from generic templates to contextual conversations that increase acceptance rates.
- Sync to your CRM and sales tools: PhantomBuster integrates with 2,000+ apps via Zapier, plus native connectors for major CRMs. The breadth of integrations makes it simple to activate campaigns without heavy technical setup.
- Multi-channel enrichment with social signals: While LinkedIn remains the primary focus, PhantomBuster gathers publicly available signals from Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter) to understand a prospect’s broader digital footprint for segmentation and personalization. Use these signals to keep outreach relevant, never for unsolicited mass messaging.
These features together highlight why PhantomBuster stands out in the sales automation landscape. As Meg Cintorino, Head of Strategy and Delivery at Convair Marketing Group, recently shared, PhantomBuster delivers a “clean, easy UI” and ultimately serves as a “great bridge from engagement to human-qualified outreach.”
Safety and compliance features
PhantomBuster helps you automate LinkedIn activity responsibly with built-in protection measures:
- Granular activity controls: Set limits on actions such as profile visits, connection requests, or message sends per launch or per day, so activity stays within typical human-like patterns.
- Smart scheduling: Automatically space out tasks, introduce randomized delays, and rotate activity to avoid patterns that look automated.
- Privacy-first data handling: PhantomBuster works with publicly available data. Review and follow your legal obligations and LinkedIn’s terms.
- Workflow monitoring and safety checks: Built-in monitoring helps reduce the likelihood of account warnings by pacing activity and pausing workflows that exceed safe limits.
Who PhantomBuster is best for
PhantomBuster is best suited for frontline BDRs and SDRs who spend their day prospecting on LinkedIn and need to automate repetitive yet essential tasks like profile data extraction, connection requests, and follow-up sequences without sacrificing personalization.
It also works well for sales managers who need their teams to operate on clean, enriched data and run structured outreach sequences without risking account safety.
PhantomBuster prioritizes no-code simplicity for sales teams. If you prefer fully custom, code-heavy pipelines, a developer-centric tool may fit better.
Pricing summary
PhantomBuster offers a 14-day free trial (as of October 9, 2025). Features are available across plans; pricing scales by execution hours and automation slots:
| Plan | Pricing | Execution Time | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $56/month | 20h/month, 5 automation slots included | Solo reps or small teams testing LinkedIn automation, running light prospecting |
| Pro | $128/month | 80h/month, 15 automation slots included | Growing sales teams managing multiple campaigns simultaneously, with higher outreach volumes |
| Team | $352/month | 300h/month, 50 automation slots included | Larger sales orgs that need high-capacity automation across reps and campaigns, with data enrichment and CRM integrations at scale |
What is Captain Data?
Captain Data is a data automation and orchestration platform that combines LinkedIn with 30+ other social and business data sources. It allows teams to extract, enrich, and structure data through one unified API, making it easier to build automated workflows without technical expertise.
Its focus is on delivering verified, structured data batches that align with target ICPs, enriched with firmographics, connections, and engagement signals. This makes it useful for sales, RevOps, and marketing teams that need one reliable pipeline for both prospect discovery and enrichment.
Core features and capabilities
Captain Data delivers comprehensive data automation across multiple platforms:
- Multi-platform data extraction: Extract data from 30+ sources including LinkedIn, Google Maps, social media platforms, and business directories with templates that structure outputs for analysis.
Workflow orchestration with templates: Access a library of 400+ pre-built workflows that combine extraction, enrichment, and export into one pipeline. Common use cases include company-to-contacts workflows and automated CRM sync for ABM campaigns.Data enrichment and verification: Automatically enrich raw leads with firmographics, contact details, and behavioral insights. Built-in cleaning and standardization tools ensure phone numbers and job titles are usable right away, reducing the manual effort typically needed before outreach. Real-time processing helps keep data fresh and consistent.- API-first integrations: Captain Data emphasizes extensibility through its single API and native connectors for Salesforce, HubSpot, Google Sheets, and data warehouses. This keeps records de-duplicated and synced daily for teams that need continuous data flow.
- Team management and collaboration: Role-based permissions and workflow sharing make it easier for larger sales and RevOps teams to collaborate. Managers can oversee usage, allocate credits, and enforce safe practices across multiple users.
Advanced automation and scalability
Captain Data is built to handle large, parallel data workloads for complex operations:
- High-volume automation scenarios: Handle large-scale data extraction projects with pipelines that can process thousands of records simultaneously. Ideal for companies running ABM campaigns or multi-region data operations.
- Custom workflow development: Build sophisticated automation scenarios tailored to specific business requirements and data processing needs.
- Scalable infrastructure: Workflows can scale up with growing data demands without slowing down or breaking.
- Professional services: Dedicated customer support and consulting services help teams implement complex automation solutions effectively.
Who Captain Data is best for
Captain Data is best suited for RevOps, growth, and marketing teams that need to orchestrate data across multiple channels beyond LinkedIn. It’s a strong fit for organizations running ABM campaigns, large-scale enrichment, or competitive tracking, where accuracy, scalability, and CRM-ready outputs matter more than quick prospecting.
It may not be ideal for individual reps or small teams who only need lightweight LinkedIn automation, since its credit-based pricing is designed for high-volume use cases.
Pricing summary
Captain Data offers a 7-day free trial with 1,000 credits (as of October 9, 2025). Paid pricing includes:
| Plan | Pricing | Credits + Users Included | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scale | $999/month | 50,000 credits and up to 5 users | Growing teams that need consistent, high-volume data automation |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | 250,000 credits and 20+ users | Large organizations requiring scale and dedicated support |
Feature-by-feature analysis of PhantomBuster vs. Captain Data
Both PhantomBuster and Captain Data serve the same core purpose: helping revenue teams replace manual prospecting with automated data extraction and enrichment. But the way they approach automation is very different.
LinkedIn automation and Sales Navigator integration
LinkedIn remains crucial for B2B prospecting, making specialized automation capabilities essential for sales teams.
- PhantomBuster: LinkedIn is where PhantomBuster has built its reputation. It enables sales reps to run automated profile visits, connection requests, and messaging sequences while staying within natural usage patterns. Teams can scale LinkedIn Sales Navigator data extraction, event attendee exports, and company page prospecting with browser-based ease.
- Captain Data: LinkedIn included as part of 30+ sources, but treats it as one of many platforms, meaning it’s less fine-tuned for LinkedIn-specific scaling.
Winner: PhantomBuster for teams whose prospecting is primarily LinkedIn-based. You can export 1,000 Sales Navigator results, enrich key fields, and queue connection requests in under 30 minutes.
User feedback suggests PhantomBuster is easier to set up for LinkedIn-first prospecting, with better learning resources and more reliable LinkedIn automation.
Data extraction and multi-platform capabilities
Both platforms generate lead lists, but PhantomBuster prioritizes speed for SDRs, while Captain Data emphasizes structured, CRM-ready datasets.
- PhantomBuster: Excels in rapid LinkedIn prospecting, allowing SDRs to extract event attendees, company followers, and post engagers at speed. Lead filtering, deduplication, and enrichment ensure the final datasets are clean enough for immediate outreach.
- Captain Data: Extract data from 30+ sources (LinkedIn, Google Maps, major directories) with templates that structure outputs for analysis. Handles complex data extraction tasks across diverse platforms.
Winner: PhantomBuster because it delivers cleaner, faster, and more targeted LinkedIn prospecting lists. Its built-in filters and enrichment steps reduce noise, while Captain Data’s broader approach can dilute quality for reps focused on outbound LinkedIn campaigns.
Workflow automation and process management
Automation workflows determine how effectively platforms can handle data processing and enrichment tasks.
- PhantomBuster: 100+ pre-built workflows focused on LinkedIn and social media automation with custom sequence building capabilities. Automated lead generation and outreach processes with built-in safety mechanisms and account protection.
- Captain Data: 400+ pre-built templates and custom automation scenario development. Complex data processing pipelines enable sophisticated data enrichment and analysis workflows for large-scale operations.
Winner: PhantomBuster as it offers outbound reps the right level of enrichment directly tied to LinkedIn prospecting. Keeps enrichment lightweight, actionable, and focused on accelerating outreach.
Integration capabilities and data management
Integration options determine how effectively platforms connect with existing business systems and data workflows.
- PhantomBuster: Easy to deploy through its Chrome extension, allowing reps to launch automations instantly. Integrates with 2,000+ apps via Zapier, plus native connectors for major CRMs. The breadth of integrations makes it simple to activate campaigns without heavy technical setup.
- Captain Data: API access and native integrations with Salesforce, HubSpot, and data warehouses. Keeps records de-duplicated and synced daily for teams managing complex business system integration.
Winner: PhantomBuster since it balances ease of use with just enough integrations to fit into a sales stack. Captain Data is powerful for large RevOps setups but more complex for teams who simply want to accelerate outbound activation.
Pricing and value
Understanding pricing models helps determine which platform provides better value for different team sizes and automation requirements.
- PhantomBuster: Transparent, workspace-based pricing starting at $56/month and scaling up to $352/month. All plans include the same features, so teams only pay for execution hours and automation slots. A 14-day free trial (as of October 9, 2025) gives users time to test workflows.
- Captain Data: Credit-based pricing starts at $999/month (as of October 9, 2025). Credits are consumed per workflow step, which can make costs harder to predict for smaller teams.
Winner: PhantomBuster because it delivers far better value for money and is accessible to both startups and growing sales teams. Credit-based pricing tends to favor high-volume teams; smaller teams may find costs harder to predict.
Pros and cons of PhantomBuster vs. Captain Data
PhantomBuster
PhantomBuster helps SDRs export targeted LinkedIn lists, enrich key fields, and personalize outreach in one workflow, no code.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Specialized LinkedIn automation with deep Sales Navigator integration, ideal for SDRs and BDRs running outbound campaigns | Limited multi-site data extraction beyond social platforms |
| Chrome extension for instant access makes setup easy and usable even for non-technical reps | Steeper learning curve for advanced workflows, such as chaining automations or customizing multi-step campaigns |
| Built-in safety mechanisms (smart scheduling, daily limits, rotation) help reduce the likelihood of account warnings by pacing activity and varying actions | Execution hours capped by pricing tier, which can restrict very high-volume campaigns |
| Affordable shared workspace pricing scales well for small-to-mid teams, with transparent plans | |
| 14-day free trial available for testing automation capabilities | |
| Automated lead filtering and enrichment for LinkedIn prospecting |
Captain Data
Captain Data provides comprehensive data extraction and workflow automation with extensive platform support.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Comprehensive web data extraction with 30+ platform support for RevOps and marketing teams that rely on varied datasets | Higher pricing starts at $999/month, which places it out of reach for small teams or individual SDRs |
| 400+ pre-built templates enable sophisticated orchestration without coding, saving setup time for common use cases like enrichment or ABM campaigns | Limited LinkedIn automation compared to PhantomBuster |
| Real-time processing helps keep data fresh and consistent | Complex features require technical expertise for optimal use |
| API access and integration capabilities allow Captain Data to slot directly into enterprise stacks for continuous sync with Salesforce, HubSpot, or data warehouses | Credit-based pricing model can get expensive at high volume, since each workflow step consumes credits |
| Built to handle large-scale operations, including ABM and multi-region lead generation | Learning curve for advanced workflow development and customization |
| Customer support and professional services for complex implementations |
Use case scenarios for PhantomBuster vs. Captain Data
Scenario 1: LinkedIn prospecting and automated outreach campaigns
The challenge: Automate LinkedIn prospecting for 500+ prospects monthly while maintaining account safety and personalizing connection requests and follow-up messages.
PhantomBuster approach: Use PhantomBuster’s LinkedIn Search Export, AI LinkedIn Profile Enricher, and outreach automations to export profiles, enrich key fields, and queue personalized connection requests and follow-ups. Built-in safety mechanisms such as daily limits and smart scheduling help reduce the likelihood of account warnings. Data can then be synced into CRMs, enabling a continuous outbound workflow.
Captain Data approach: Captain Data focuses on multi-source data collection; teams typically pair it with separate tools for LinkedIn outreach. Focus on data extraction rather than comprehensive LinkedIn automation and relationship building.
Winner: PhantomBuster. Specialized LinkedIn automation capabilities and built-in safety features make it superior for comprehensive LinkedIn prospecting and outreach.
Scenario 2: Comprehensive market research across multiple platforms
The challenge: Extract data from 20+ websites and platforms for competitive analysis and market research, requiring fresh data and automated enrichment.
PhantomBuster approach: Extracts data from major social media platforms with basic automation workflows. Suitable for gathering social signals.
Captain Data approach: Leverages 30+ integrated platforms plus 400+ workflow templates to extract data from job boards, directories, and business databases. It automates cleaning, enrichment, and real-time updates, producing structured outputs ready for competitive tracking or market dashboards.
Winner: Captain Data. Comprehensive web extraction capabilities and advanced workflow automation provide superior functionality for multi-platform market research and competitive analysis.
Scenario 3: Automated lead generation with data enrichment
The challenge: Build comprehensive lead databases with enriched contact information from multiple sources while automating repetitive tasks and maintaining data quality.
PhantomBuster approach: Strong in LinkedIn-centric lead generation. Use PhantomBuster’s LinkedIn Search Export to extract leads from Sales Navigator, events, and posts, then enrich with publicly available company details and fields supported by your connected enrichment services.
Captain Data approach: Extract data from multiple platforms and enrich with comprehensive data sources through automated workflows. Build sophisticated data processing pipelines with real-time verification, cleaning, and standardization for immediate use in sales campaigns.
Winner: PhantomBuster. For sales teams focused on LinkedIn outreach, PhantomBuster is the more practical and accessible choice. Captain Data, while powerful for building large-scale lead databases, is more complex and less directly useful for day-to-day outbound prospecting.
Expert opinions and user reviews on PhantomBuster vs. Captain Data
PhantomBuster user feedback
Users highlight how intuitive and user-friendly PhantomBuster is, with clean UI/UX that’s easy to navigate even for first-time users. Setting up automations takes just a few clicks, and the platform guides you through the process. Teams primarily use it for LinkedIn outreach and data extraction, significantly reducing time spent on manual tasks.
Sales directors appreciate the pay-as-you-need-it subscription model and the value PhantomBuster provides for building your own contact lists rather than buying expensive, uncertain lists. Users also find value in social media data extraction and business directory lookups.
Captain Data user feedback
Users note Captain Data provides recent and accurate data with many possibilities to create different workflows and integrations. Customer support is always available for help. However, it’s costly compared to similar tools, and the UI is not very intuitive.
Growth managers praise the breadth of integrations and useful workflows, but note the interface could be clearer and the pricing is steep.
Sentiment summary: Users highlight quick setup via the Chrome extension and value-based pricing for small to mid teams when discussing PhantomBuster. Captain Data earns recognition for its breadth of integrations and accurate datasets, but even loyal users point out its steeper learning curve, less intuitive UI, and significantly higher pricing.
Final verdict on PhantomBuster vs. Captain Data
Both platforms serve different aspects of data extraction and automation. PhantomBuster shines as the specialized LinkedIn-first platform, built for SDRs and sales teams that want fast prospecting, responsible outreach, and affordable automation without a steep learning curve.
Captain Data positions itself as a high-volume orchestration platform, best suited for RevOps or growth teams managing multi-source data pipelines at scale.
Choose PhantomBuster if you:
- Rely heavily on LinkedIn for prospecting and outreach
- Need to pace actions with activity limits and randomized schedules to mimic typical usage
- Value affordability and scalability for small to mid-sized teams
Choose Captain Data if you:
- Run complex market research or ABM campaigns across 30+ platforms
- Need advanced workflow automation, API access, and CRM-ready outputs
- Have larger budgets and teams that can handle more complex implementation
Sales teams looking for immediate ROI from LinkedIn and social prospecting will find PhantomBuster the more practical and cost-effective choice.
Frequently asked questions about PhantomBuster vs. Captain Data
Which platform provides better LinkedIn automation and Sales Navigator integration?
PhantomBuster clearly leads here. It offers advanced LinkedIn automation for exporting profiles, running Sales Navigator searches, and automating connection requests with smart scheduling. Captain Data supports LinkedIn, but only as part of its wider toolkit, making it less effective for dedicated outbound campaigns.
Can I extract data from multiple platforms beyond LinkedIn with these tools?
Both platforms support multi-platform data extraction, but with different focus areas. PhantomBuster covers major social media platforms and business directories, while Captain Data provides comprehensive data extraction across 30+ platforms including websites, business directories, and professional networks.
Which tool offers better workflow automation and data processing capabilities?
Captain Data provides superior workflow automation with 400+ pre-built templates and advanced automation scenarios for complex data processing. PhantomBuster offers automation workflows focused specifically on LinkedIn and social media automation with built-in safety mechanisms for account protection.
How do the pricing models compare for growing sales and marketing teams?
PhantomBuster is far more affordable, starting at $56/month with transparent, capacity-based pricing and a 14-day free trial (as of October 9, 2025). Captain Data starts at $999/month with credit-based billing, making it better suited for larger budgets but harder to justify for smaller teams.
Which platform provides better integration capabilities with existing business systems?
Captain Data is stronger on deep integrations with APIs, Salesforce, HubSpot, and data warehouses. PhantomBuster integrates with 2,000+ apps via Zapier plus native CRM connectors, keeping it lightweight and easy to activate for lead management.
Do these platforms comply with data privacy regulations and platform terms?
Both tools are designed to work with publicly available data. You’re responsible for complying with data privacy laws and each platform’s terms. Review your legal obligations before automating.
