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Best Free Sidekick Alternatives — 12 Tools Compared in 2026

Explore 12 alternatives to Sidekick — vetted by our editors with real user reviews, pricing, and feature comparisons.

12 free Sidekick alternatives worth comparing

Quick answer

Among free sales engagement software alternatives to Sidekick, the leaders are HelpHero, Experience Layer and AroundDeal. HelpHero ranks number one with a SpotScore of -1 and 4.9★ from real users. All 12 are compared on score, rating, and price below.

There's no single best tool for everyone, so if Sidekick falls short on cost, features, or ease of use, look here. These 12 sales engagement software free alternatives lead the field, ranked by SpotScore (a blend of real-user satisfaction and market presence), ratings, and pricing. Compare them quickly in the table, then read each profile.

ProductSpotScoreRatingPricingBest for
HelpHeroEmpowering seamless learning for modern workplaces.★★★★★ 4.9(18)Freefrom $45.83/moteams of all sizes
Experience LayerStreamline onboarding with guided tours and feature prompts.Not yet ratedFreeFree Trial · Subscriptionmid-size & enterprise teams
AroundDealUnlock high-quality leads for faster deal closure.★★★★ 3.5(154)FreeFreemiumteams of all sizes
CrankWheelBoost sales with instant screen-sharing.★★★★★ 5(30)FreeFreemium · Subscription · Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
SalesHandyTake your email marketing to new heights.9.6★★★★★ 4.65(570)FreeFree Trial · Subscription · Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
Apollo.ioEmpower your sales team to exceed goals.9.6★★★☆☆ 2.8(2210)FreeFree Trial · Freemium · Subscription · Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
Cirrus InsightEmpower your sales team with game-changing insights.9.5★★★★ 4(315)FreeFree Trial · Subscriptionteams of all sizes
ClayGTM enrichment platform combining 100+ data providers with AI automation9.4★★★★★ 4.7FreeSubscription · Usage-Based · Free Trial · Freemiumteams of all sizes
YeswareStreamline your sales process and close deals faster.9.4★★★★ 4.4(341)FreeFree Trial · Subscriptionteams of all sizes
AutokloseAccelerate your sales with AI technology.9.3★★★★★ 4.6(350)FreeFree Trial · Subscription · Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
VanillaSoftBoost sales, collaborate, and grow.9.3★★★★ 4.4(551)FreeFree Trial · Subscriptionteams of all sizes
OutplayLevel up your sales game with Outplay.9.2★★★★★ 4.8(192)FreeFree Trial · Freemium · Subscription · Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
HelpHero - Digital Adoption Platform Software

HelpHero

Empowering seamless learning for modern workplaces.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

Add to compare

What is HelpHero?

HelpHero software is a digital adoption platform that enables training providers to create, send, track and deliver customised digital learning programs in an easy and interactive way. Built on the Salesforce App Cloud - a powerful SaaS Platform, HelpHero's digital software means employees can ...

Read more about HelpHero
Free TrialTry Free →·

HelpHero offers custom pricing plan

Experience Layer - Digital Adoption Platform Software

Experience Layer

Streamline onboarding with guided tours and feature prompts.

Best for: Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

Add to compare

What is Experience Layer?

Experience Layer is an intuitive user onboarding app that simplifies the process for businesses of all sizes. It ensures your users get acquainted with the features and functionalities of a product quickly and easily. You can use this app for guided product tour, help requests, feature ...

Read more about Experience Layer
Free TrialTry Free →
AroundDeal - New SaaS Software

AroundDeal

RECOMMENDED

Unlock high-quality leads for faster deal closure.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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What is AroundDeal?

AroundDeal is the ultimate tool for B2B marketing initiatives. Our extension helps you quickly and accurately identify leads necessary to close deals faster. We provide you with a list of high-quality, high-value prospects and their email addresses, as well as contact information to help you ...

Read more about AroundDeal
CrankWheel - New SaaS Software

CrankWheel

RECOMMENDED

Boost sales with instant screen-sharing.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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What is CrankWheel?

CrankWheel provides instant screen-sharing and helps you to quickly reduce your sales cycle by half. It can broadcast your visual presentation from your phone in just 10 seconds, simplifying the process of responding to customer issues and challenges on the spot. Easily invite customers to ...

Read more about CrankWheel

Starts from $89/Month, also offers free forever plan

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Reach in-market buyersRank above rivals2M+ buyers a year

9.6

SpotScore

SalesHandy - Sales Engagement Software

SalesHandy

Take your email marketing to new heights.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

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What is SalesHandy?

SalesHandy is the perfect tool to help you take your email marketing strategies to the next level. It easily enables sales teams to rapidly deploy email campaigns in a matter of seconds. With intelligent features like real-time notifications on opens and clicks, customizable tracking links and ...

Read more about SalesHandy
Free TrialTry Free →·

Starts from $27/User/Month when Billed Yearly

9.6

SpotScore

Apollo.io - Sales Engagement Software

Apollo.io

Empower your sales team to exceed goals.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

Add to compare

watch-demo

Watch Demo

What is Apollo.io?

Apollo is sales engagement software designed for the sales team. When managers view their team through the lens of goal setting and progress tracking, motivation increases across the board. Apollo helps make targets easier to set and hit with the right dashboards that provide relevant ...

Read more about Apollo.io
Free TrialTry Free →·

Starts from $0/user/month when monthly, also offers free forever plan

9.5

SpotScore

Cirrus Insight - Sales Engagement Software

Cirrus Insight

Empower your sales team with game-changing insights.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

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What is Cirrus Insight?

Cirrus Insight is the leading sales engagement software. With Cirrus Insight, sales teams get unlimited visibility into all of their buyer activity in one place. The Cirrus Insight platform helps sales teams be more productive by curating and organizing data into a single source of truth. ...

Read more about Cirrus Insight
Free TrialTry Free →·

Starts from $7/Month

9.4

SpotScore

Clay logo

Clay

GTM enrichment platform combining 100+ data providers with AI automation

Best for: SMB teams

Start Free Trial

4.7

Add to compare

watch-demo

Watch Demo

What is Clay?

Clay is a GTM data enrichment and automation platform that combines 100+ data providers into a single spreadsheet-like interface. Teams use Clay to build highly targeted prospect lists, enrich CRM records with real-time signals, and automate personalized outreach at scale. Its AI agent ...

Read more about Clay
Free TrialTry Free →·

Starts from Freefree, also offers free forever plan

9.4

SpotScore

Yesware - Sales Engagement Software

Yesware

Streamline your sales process and close deals faster.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

Add to compare

What is Yesware?

Yesware is a sales engagement platform that runs inside Gmail, giving sales reps tools for lead capture, email tracking, meeting scheduling, and activity logging in one place. It reduces time spent switching between tools by centralizing outreach data, email history, and follow-up plans in a ...

Read more about Yesware
Free TrialTry Free →·

Starts from $15/User/Month when Billed Yearly

9.3

SpotScore

Autoklose - Sales Engagement Software

Autoklose

Accelerate your sales with AI technology.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

Add to compare

What is Autoklose?

Autoklose is a powerful artificial intelligence-driven sales platform, providing an abundance of B2B leads for specialized demographics. With Autoklose, you'll be able to close deals faster than ever before. Simply pick a niche, generate your target list, switch to autopilot mode, and you're ...

Read more about Autoklose
Free TrialTry Free →·

Starts from $49.99/User/Month when Billed Yearly

9.3

SpotScore

VanillaSoft - Sales Engagement Software

VanillaSoft

Boost sales, collaborate, and grow.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

Add to compare

What is VanillaSoft?

VanillaSoft is the Sales Engagement Platform for global sales organizations. Essential functions like Account, Product and Contact management are realigned with how salespeople engage with their customers and collaborate with their team. The result is better selling, more collaborating and a ...

Read more about VanillaSoft
Free TrialTry Free →·

Starts from $80/User/Month

9.2

SpotScore

Outplay - Sales Engagement Software

Outplay

Level up your sales game with Outplay.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

Add to compare

What is Outplay?

Outplay is a sales engagement platform for SDR teams and account executives who want to run multi-channel outreach sequences across email, phone, LinkedIn, and chat from a single workspace. It includes sequencing, automation, a built-in dialer, and CRM sync, and is positioned as a ...

Read more about Outplay
Free TrialTry Free →·

Starts from $79/User/Month when Billed Yearly, also offers free forever plan

Why each made our Sidekick alternatives list

HelpHeroBest for teams of all sizes

Easy to implement onboarding tutorials with minimal technical skills required.

Watch for: Increase in fees over time.

Experience LayerBest for mid-size & enterprise teams

Intuitive onboarding

Watch for: Limited advanced analytics

AroundDealBest for teams of all sizes

Identifies high-quality leads

Watch for: Limited to B2B

CrankWheelBest for teams of all sizes

Instant screen-sharing

Watch for: Limited to screen-sharing

SalesHandy9.6Best for teams of all sizes

Automates cold email follow-ups, reducing manual outreach workload and improving response rates.

Watch for: Users report receiving ongoing notifications even after acknowledging them, which becomes disruptive over time.

Apollo.io9.6Best for teams of all sizes

Easy to use and user-friendly interface for locating contacts and companies, with convenient filters for narrowing down searches.

Watch for: Potential complexity for newcomers due to the richness of features without proper support.

Cirrus Insight9.5Best for teams of all sizes

Automated tools streamline processes and save time by tracking and managing emails and contacts without manual effort.

Watch for: Users may face challenges with feature clarity, complexity, and limitations like accessing functionalities and understanding available tools.

Clay9.4Best for teams of all sizes

Waterfall enrichment across 100+ providers means the best available data — email, phone, firmographics — without manually juggling multiple vendor subscriptions.

Watch for: Credit-based pricing can become expensive quickly at volume — users report costs escalating unexpectedly as teams scale their enrichment workflows.

Yesware9.4Best for teams of all sizes

Integration with Gmail for email tracking and virus scanning.

Watch for: Complexity in features and customizations may be overwhelming for new users without adequate support.

Autoklose9.3Best for teams of all sizes

Easy to use, effective for cold email campaigns, and helps in prospecting and engaging potential customers.

Watch for: Limited integrations in the Marketplace may impact advanced functionalities.

VanillaSoft9.3Best for teams of all sizes

Designed for volume calls, making it efficient for outbound calling needs.

Watch for: Limited customization options and features may be overwhelming for new users without sufficient support.

Outplay9.2Best for teams of all sizes

Excellent customer service with quick and helpful responses, contributing to a positive user experience.

Watch for: The initial setup and configuration might be slightly challenging for new users, requiring some learning curve, especially for complex features.

Why teams look for a Sidekick alternative

A handful of pain points come up again and again when teams consider replacing Sidekick:

  • Limited to user experience enhancement
  • Requires integration
  • Not a full support solution

How to compare Sidekick alternatives

A factual rundown of the 12 free alternatives: 12 offer a free tier; paid plans run $45.83, with HelpHero the cheapest entry point; and CrankWheel is the highest rated at 5 across 30 reviews.

How we decide the order.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Stuck on something? We're here to help with all the questions and answers in one place.

The top-rated alternatives to Sidekick are CrankWheel (5.0★), HelpHero (4.9★), Outplay (4.8★). Compare all 12 alternatives side-by-side above.

When evaluating alternatives to Sidekick, prioritize: CRM Integration, Sales Activity Automation, Team Management, Content Management, Inbox Integration, transparent pricing, free trial availability, and integrations with your existing tools. Use the filters above to compare by feature, budget, and team size.

Migration difficulty depends on how deeply Sidekick is integrated into your workflows. Most alternatives offer data export/import tools and dedicated onboarding support. We recommend shortlisting 2–3 options, running a free trial, and checking each vendor's migration guides before committing.

How to choose a Sidekick alternative with confidence

  • On a budget / just exploring: start with a free tier — HelpHero, Experience Layer and AroundDeal let you evaluate without paying upfront.
  • If real-user ratings matter most: CrankWheel has the strongest star rating (5★) among the options with verified reviews.
  • Want the safest pick: HelpHero has the highest Spotsaas Score (-1) in this list — a strong default if you're unsure.

Getting off Sidekick without the headaches

Before you commit to leaving Sidekick, validate the fit. Export your data, check the import works, and confirm your essential features carry over. Pilot the switch with a free trial, then go all in, keeping Sidekick open as a safety net until you're settled.

Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].