Is Sales Navigator Worth It? An Honest Review [2024]

These days, sales teams need to work smarter, faster, and more strategically. Nobody wants to waste time chasing the wrong leads.

Luckily, tools like LinkedIn Sales Navigator make it easier to target the ideal prospects.

With advanced search filters, custom lists, and actionable insights, Sales Navigator helps connect you with the right people. Forrester research shows that users have seen a 10% revenue boost in just three years by relying on Sales Navigator alone.

But with a starting price of $79.99/month, does it justify the cost? And also, where do you get your contact data? 🤔

In this article, we’ll answer the age-old question: Is Sales Navigator worth it?

TLDR: Is Sales Navigator worth it?

Sales Navigator isn’t a one-size-fits-all tool. For some, it’s a game-changer, but for others, it may not be. A lot of it depends on a few things: team size, sales cycle, and target market.👇

When does it justify the price?

✅ ​​If LinkedIn is your main sales platform or you manage complex, multi-contact deals, Sales Navigator is a must-have.

Supposedly, your sales cycle involves multiple key decision-makers. This valuable tool will help you navigate the “buying circle” more effectively. You can track leads, monitor their seniority level, and build relationships over time.

If used correctly, LinkedIn Sales Navigator can save weeks—maybe even months—of manual prospecting and follow-up communication.

But remember that mastering such a powerful and valuable tool takes time. Good training can make all the difference in how well your team uses it.

When does it not?

❌ For small teams or businesses with shorter sales cycles, paying $79.99 per month can be hard to justify. The cost quickly adds up, especially if you’re not regularly using all its features.

For instance, a small B2B startup targeting small business owners would instead rely on more straightforward tools like Kaspr.👇

Kaspr’s Chrome Extension works seamlessly with any LinkedIn plan—Basic, LinkedIn Premium, or Sales Navigator. You can instantly pull verified emails and get phone numbers from more than 200+ million LinkedIn profiles.

Get started with Kaspr today; start selling right away. Sign up (no credit card is required). 👇

Kaspr gets the job done, even on LinkedIn’s free plan. It enriches your lead lists and makes the sales process easier for every role, whether sales rep or founder.

💡Are there any more Chrome Extensions for LinkedIn Sales Navigator? Find out in this post.

What is LinkedIn Sales Navigator?

LinkedIn Sales Navigator is a go-to tool for sales professionals, CEOs, founders, and business developers who want to connect with potential leads.

(Source: LinkedIn)

It makes your sales outreach easier. Unlike the basic LinkedIn search, the system has a stack of premium search filters. You can target exactly who you need—by job title, company size, industry, and more.

And here’s where it gets interesting.

Sales Navigator doesn’t just help you find leads. It delivers real-time updates on lead activity and sales triggers. Knowing about a job change or an industry shift can set you up for new sales opportunities.

Why does this matter? In sales, timing is everything. Sales Navigator is your shortcut to decision-makers who can push your deals forward. 🤝

It makes your lead generation more personalized and—most importantly—effective. With 69% of marketers choosing hyper-targeting over broad outreach, you can reach the right people at the right time.

Key features of Sales Navigator

Sales Navigator has a lot to offer, so let’s break down its main features:

✔️ Advanced search filters. Do you have specific search criteria in mind? With 50+ search filters, the system quickly finds leads by job title, company location, or even years in a current role.

✔️ Lead recommendations. Sales Navigator tracks your activity and suggests new leads based on your preferences. The more you search and interact—the more personalized results you get.

✔️ Real-time updates. Users receive immediate alerts about job changes, post interactions, and other vital updates.

✔️ Relationship explorer. Users can see connections to potential leads by second and third-degree connections.

✔️ TeamLink. Users can check if anyone on their team has mutual connections with any of the prospects. It helps to build the best route for personalized messages, like introductions or referrals.

✔️ CRM integration. Sales Navigator syncs with popular CRMs like Salesforce and HubSpot. Such integrations keep the outreach more organized and trackable.

✔️ Account IQ. Users can access data about company financials, executive details, and strategic goals—all in one place.

✔️ InMail messaging. Users have 50 InMail messages per month to contact potential leads outside their network. Otherwise, you must reach those leads via email or cold calling.

👉 Tools like Kaspr pull verified contact details from LinkedIn profiles, providing the info Sales Navigator can’t. 

Imagine you’ve found a perfect prospect on Sales Navigator—Kaspr can instantly pull verified email addresses and phone numbers straight from their LinkedIn profile. No need to wait for InMail responses or go hunting for contact info elsewhere.

Picture this. If you use Sales Navigator’s CRM integration with Salesforce or HubSpot. Kaspr complements your workflow by directly exporting those verified contact details into your CRM.

This ensures that every lead you’ve identified and researched in LinkedIn Sales Navigator is fully enriched with contact information and ready for your outreach efforts.

What’s new for Sales Navigator in 2024?

In the latest updates, the features of Sales Navigator focus on seamless data sync and a user-friendly experience. One standout feature is the AI-assisted 24/7 support. Now, you can get quick answers about LinkedIn products and, if needed, get linked to live agents.

Lead Insights were added directly to profile pages for users of all editions. This gives instant data on qualified leads and helps you prioritize who to reach out to faster.

These valuable insights give you a quick snapshot of info, such as whether a lead follows your company or has recently interacted with your content. 

Even better, they help you identify prospects that align with your ideal customer profile (ICP). By providing data on how closely a lead matches your ICP, Sales Navigator enables you to focus on the most qualified leads—those who fit your target criteria and show signs of engagement.

Account IQ and Relationship Maps are now integrated with HubSpot and Microsoft Dynamics 365 for CRM users. Now, you can view critical data on prospects without leaving your workflow. Account IQ provides detailed summaries about a company’s financials, strategic priorities, and competitors—critical information for building solid and data-driven sales strategies.

Finally, notifications. They are now more innovative and user-friendly. Each time there is a new update about your leads, such as job changes or company news, the system automatically shows you these insights in the LinkedIn Sales Navigator panel.

These notifications are designed to keep you informed without being overwhelmed with unnecessary details. As such, sales reps can prioritize the most critical updates and take action when needed.

(Source: LinkedIn)

Sales Navigator pricing

Sales Navigator has three pricing tiers tailored to different needs and team sizes. Both the Core and Advanced plans offer a one-month free trial.

1. Sales Navigator Core

At $79.99 per month (billed annually), this basic package is ideal for freelancers and small teams. It’s a solid option if you’re starting with lead generation and need advanced search features.

You’ll get:

• 50 LinkedIn InMails per month.
• Lead recommendations and advanced search filters.
• Unlimited browsing.
• Real-time notifications.
• Relationship Explorer and Hub.
• Account Hub.
• Ability to see who viewed your profile.
• Up to 10,000 saved leads monthly.

2. Sales Navigator Advanced

At $135 per month (billed annually), this plan has additional features allowing for better lead sharing and AI-generated account summaries. It’s designed for medium-sized sales teams that need premium insights.

You’ll get:

• All Core features.
• Dedicated LinkedIn account team.
• Usage Reporting (for viewing team’s activity).
• TeamLink.
• Smart Links.
• Buyer intent signals.
• Account IQ (AI-generated account summaries).

3. Sales Navigator Advanced Plus

This custom-priced plan is perfect for organizations that need highly tailored, scalable solutions.

You’ll get:

• All Core + Advanced features.
• CRM Embedded Profile.
• Custom ROI detailed report.
• Lead/Contact Creation.
• Data Validation.
• Advanced CRM integration.

Now, you may be asking: Is Sales Navigator worth the investment? With its rich features, the costs can feel bulky, especially for small teams or founders just starting out.

💡 The ultimate tech stack for startups; here’s what you need. 

The short answer is yes—it can, depending on your needs. We’ll break it down further in the next few sections.

But let’s be honest. It’s always nice to know other sales prospecting tools that fit your budget without sacrificing value. Find out if these Sales Navigator alternatives can be a better investment. Just focus on the features that matter most to your sales goals.

For example, a Starter Kaspr pricing plan gives you access to verified contact details like phone numbers and email addresses. Even small teams on a budget can use it to reach decision-makers faster.

Pros of using Sales Navigator

Before deciding, let’s break down why LinkedIn Sales Navigator remains a top choice for many teams. Here’s how its features impact your sales process:

It takes less time to find and engage with ideal prospects

Hunting for qualified leads manually is time-consuming and repetitive. All it does is waste time you could spend communicating with potential leads.

With LinkedIn Sales Navigator’s saved searches, that task is automated. You’ll get fresh, qualified leads delivered to your inbox on a schedule you set—daily, weekly, or monthly. It’s efficient, smart, and designed to keep your sales funnel full.

💡 See Morgan J Ingram’s top tips for Sales Navigator prospecting.

Add instant access to the Sales Navigator mobile app. It means you’ll have a chance to target potential leads and get valuable connections, no matter where you are. 

You get instant access to contacts and a narrowed search

LinkedIn Sales Navigator gives premium users access to up to 2,500 search results per query. That’s plenty of options to send connection requests and meet your sales goals.

You can quickly sift through LinkedIn’s massive network—with advanced search capabilities and no particular search limits. Do you have a specific job title or industry in mind? Just plug in the right filters. Sales Navigator will narrow your list down to exactly who you need.

With 40+ advanced filters for complex searches, you can quickly target users from your ideal customer profile. You can find them by job title, seniority level, or even company size.

You catch and engage with leads at the right time

Real-time updates and SmartLinks let you know when leads engage with your content, change jobs, or share something new.

💫 These key signals say, “Now’s the best time to send a message.”

With SmartLinks, you can even send presentations or PDFs and see how leads engage—who viewed it, for how long, and what actions they took. This way, you can prioritize follow-ups and focus on qualified leads with the most interest.

You get higher response rates

Boosting response and acceptance rates is all about who you can reach—and how you approach them.

When prospects trust the source, they’re far more likely to respond. As ThinkImpact states, referrals create 65% of new B2B business opportunities. Meanwhile, 78% of B2B referrals create viable customer leads for the business.

With Sales Navigator, you can see who is connected to potential customers. Linking to someone they know gives you a chance for a warm introduction.

Morgan J Ingram, Content Creator at Cognism, reacts in the video to an InMail to a mutual connection. 🎬

But if someone’s outside your network, don’t sweat it—use those 50 LinkedIn InMails to reach out to someone you need. Adapt your personalized message to their interests, and watch how easily it connects.

You can nurture leads smarter and easier

Efficient lead nurturing pays it off. According to Demand Gen, businesses that don’t nurture leads lose 20% of their sales opportunities.

With Sales Navigator’s CRM integration, you can save relevant leads and neatly organize them into custom lists. It keeps your conversations and engagement history in one place. Easy access to prospect data keeps you in line with all lead nurturing activities.

And don’t forget about automated follow-ups—they keep your pipeline moving without manual effort.

Cons and limitations of Sales Navigator

LinkedIn Sales Navigator comes with plenty of benefits. But likewise, we need to talk about its drawbacks.

💰First, it’s not a cheap solution.

At $79.99 to $135 a month, Sales Navigator will be a stretch for teams on a tight budget or freelancer salespeople. While the features are robust, you’ll need to weigh the price against your team’s usage.

📈Second, the learning curve might seem a bit steep.

All these advanced search capabilities and features can be overwhelming for new users. Learning how to navigate the platform and maximize its potential for sales goals takes time.

Teams without dedicated training or tech-savvy members may find themselves frustrated at first. 

📉Third, there’s the InMail limitation.

InMail allows you to message decision-makers outside your network, but it’s capped at 50 messages per month. This limit might be a bit drastic for higher-volume outreach campaigns. However, there should be an emphasis on quality outreach. Sales Navigator is not a spam cannon!

🧐 The data quality is not always perfect.

It turns out LinkedIn profiles aren’t always up-to-date. You might reach out to qualified leads with outdated job titles or inaccurate information. This can be frustrating and waste your time during outreach.

🐢 Finally, CSV export limitations can slow down your workflow.

Yes, Sales Navigator can integrate with CRMs. But it doesn’t allow you to export lead lists directly into CSV files. This limitation can be frustrating for users who prefer working with spreadsheets.

But tools like Kaspr can help with this, giving you the contact info you need and allowing export to a CSV or directly to your CRM through data enrichment features.

Sales Navigator vs. LinkedIn Premium: which one to choose?

If Sales Navigator’s drawbacks have you hesitating, don’t worry. You’ve got options like LinkedIn Premium. It can be a solid alternative to its pricier big brother. When comparing both tools, it all comes down to your goals. Are you focused on networking or finding leads?

LinkedIn Premium is ideal for professionals looking to network, grow their business, or find potential career opportunities. It offers advanced search filters, 15 InMail messages, and insights into profile views.

➡ It’s a solid and more affordable option for users focused on personal branding or career growth.

LinkedIn Sales Navigator offers more precise prospecting tools, lead recommendations, and CRM integration.

➡ It’s perfect for B2B Sales professionals and teams who need sales tools to find and track high-quality leads.

In this comparison table, let’s break down the key differences between both tools. 👇

Maximize ROI with Sales Navigator + Kaspr

Pairing Sales Nav with Kaspr is another option to boost your sales process. Kaspr fills in the gaps where Sales Navigator leaves off. Together, they form a reliable sales intelligence stack.

This is what Kaspr has to offer for your sales funnel:

• Unlimited B2B emails.
• 120M+ European contacts.
• LinkedIn Chrome Extension.
• GDPR & CCPA aligned data.
• Self-service setup.
• No credit card is needed to sign up.

How Kaspr enhances Sales Navigator

Picture this: you’ve found a perfect lead on LinkedIn Sales Navigator but hit your InMail limit. You can’t send a connection request with a direct outreach message.

What are your next steps?

With Kaspr, you can bypass these roadblocks. It gives you access to a verified email address or phone number straight from the LinkedIn profile. You can continue outreach by sending an email or making a call.

You can quickly build custom searches in Sales Navigator and enrich them with Kaspr’s contacts. This means shortened sales cycles and higher ROI. As one of our customers says:

Full Integration & automation

Automation is critical for both tools to fit seamlessly into your workflow:

• Sales Navigator syncs the lead data with CRMs like Salesforce and HubSpot.
• Kaspr integrates with the same CRMs and syncs contact data across your entire sales stack.
  
  

Automation eliminates manual data entry and reduces the risk of errors. It also means sales teams can focus on high-impact tasks, like nurturing relationships and closing deals.

Your go-to-market strategy with Sales Navigator + Kaspr

Kaspr 💖’s Sales Navigator.

Here are some ideas for how to use both tools together.

1. Use advanced search. Use LinkedIn Sales Navigator to identify your potential customers.
2. Leverage automation. Use Kaspr’s workflows to pull verified contact info automatically.
3. Use CRM data enrichment. Sync contacts with your CRM for seamless follow-up.
4. Plan your follow-ups. Use Kaspr’s real-time data and Sales Nav’s alerts to do follow-ups at the right time.

Sign up to Kaspr now to find contact data from your Sales Navigator searches. 👇

Wrapping it up on Sales Nav

The right tools for your sales strategy are always about closing leads—not chasing them.

LinkedIn Sales Navigator is packed with super useful and efficient features. It will help teams manage long-term deals and reach key decision-makers faster.

But if you’re working with a smaller budget or shorter sales cycles, Sales Nav might feel like overkill. In that case, you better think of alternatives like Kaspr. Its benefits fill in the gaps and work well with any LinkedIn plan. Here’s your link to sign up for Kaspr for free.

The bottom line:

💡 Go for tools that match your needs and your budget. Whether it’s Sales Nav, Kaspr, or both, the right approach will make all the difference.