AI Outbound Team vs. Outbound Agencies: Which Should You Choose?
An outbound agency and an AI outbound team both take outbound off a buyer's plate, but they differ in how they're priced and how much of the work is visible. Agencies typically charge a fixed retainer regardless of results; an AI outbound team like Aphily charges per lead and per meeting produced.
How much does an outbound agency typically cost?
Outbound agencies commonly charge $200K+ a year in retainer fees, billed whether or not the campaign hits its targets that month. The buyer is paying for the agency's staff time, not directly for meetings booked, which means the cost is fixed even in months where results are weak.
How does Aphily's pricing differ?
Aphily charges $0.75 per new lead contacted and $0.20 per existing lead re-engaged on its Starter tier, with a $2,000/month minimum — roughly a tenth of a typical agency retainer, and priced on outcomes rather than staff hours.
Where do agencies still have an edge?
Agencies bring human judgment to messaging strategy, industry relationships, and edge cases that need negotiation or nuance an AI team isn't built for. For highly consultative, low-volume sales motions where every account needs bespoke handling, a human agency team may still be the better fit.
When does an AI outbound team make more sense?
For volume outbound — reaching hundreds or thousands of prospects a month with research-backed personalization — an AI outbound team covers the same research-to-send chain at a fraction of the cost, with reporting on every step (research, targeting, copy, send, deliverability) instead of a single monthly summary from an account manager.
Want to see what an AI outbound team looks like running your accounts?