PhantomBuster Review: What We Found After Testing It

If you’re generating leads on LinkedIn, Instagram, or anywhere else, chances are you’ve heard of PhantomBuster. It’s a cloud-based tool that scrapes profiles, extracts contact info, and automates outreach across platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Reddit. PhantomBuster has gained traction in 2025 as a way to streamline lead generation, social monitoring, and contact enrichment.

Automation is no longer optional. It’s how teams scale. But does PhantomBuster actually deliver? Small and medium businesses need to consider the $69 monthly price tag that kicks in after the 14-day free trial. Users rate it 4.4 stars on G2, and 70% give it five stars, but the real question is whether it fits your specific needs.

This review will help you decide if PhantomBuster belongs in your marketing stack. We’ll dig into its features, pricing, strengths, and compare it to other tools that might work better. If you’re wondering whether PhantomBuster is easy to use, if its features are reliable, or if better alternatives exist for B2B automation, this article was made for you.

Quick Summary

PhantomBuster Overview

PhantomBuster is a cloud-based automation platform built to extract data and automate workflows across social platforms, such as LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit. Launched in 2016 in Paris, the tool is used by over 2.5 million users, who automate over 270,000 tasks on a daily basis.

The app works through two key components: "Phantoms" and "Workflows". Phantoms perform specific automation tasks, like extracting profile information. Workflows combine multiple Phantoms to create ready-made, multi-step automation sequences. So, users can either run simple one-off tasks, or build complex automation chains.

The most common use cases for PhantomBuster include:

• Lead extraction: Gathering targeted leads from social platforms.
• Automated outreach sequences: Creating personalized connection requests, and follow-up messages on LinkedIn.
• Social selling: Automated engagement in social platforms through likes and comments.

PhantomBuster Main Features

As mentioned previously, PhantomBuster uses a two-tier system of "Phantoms" and "Workflows". These two features make data extraction and social media automation possible without any coding knowledge.

Phantoms

Phantoms are standalone automated actions that complete specific tasks. Each Phantom does one job - it takes input data, processes it and gives you an output file with results. There are over 100 of them, including:

• LinkedIn Profile Scraper
• Twitter Follower Collector
• Instagram Hashtag Explorer
• Google Maps Data Extractor
• Facebook Group Participant Scraper

Workflows

Phantombuster's Workflows are automation sequences that combine multiple steps to reach bigger goals. Rather than doing just one task, Workflows connect several Phantoms to create a chain of automations. For example, a workflow might:

• Search LinkedIn for marketing leads
• Extract their contact details and job information
• Auto-send personalized connection requests
• Push data to your CRM for follow-up

PhantomBuster Integrations

PhantomBuster's integrations are meant to keep outreach workflows connected, but it’s still not as seamless as most CRM-centric platforms. Its integration options include both built-in connectors and third-party automation bridges:

Native Integrations

• CRM (HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive): PhantomBuster now offers native connectors for these CRMs, allowing you to push or sync lead data directly into your CRM (with field mapping and options to create or update records).
• Google Sheets: While not a live sync, you can supply a publicly shared Google Sheet URL as a Phantom input (for batch queries), and export results to Sheets via CSV downloads.
• Email Outreach (Lemlist): PhantomBuster provides direct integration with Lemlist, a cold email campaign tool. You can scrape leads and send them into your lemlist campaign via API key authentication.
• Data Enrichment (Snov.io, Hunter, Dropcontact): For finding emails and enriching contact data, PhantomBuster can plug into services like Snov.io, Hunter.io, and Dropcontact. You have to provide your API keys to call these services to add email addresses to your lead lists.
• APIs & Webhooks: Developers can integrate PhantomBuster with other tools using its REST API and webhook support. The platform allows exporting results via API or triggering Phantoms through webhooks. (PhantomBuster also has official integrations on Zapier and Make.com).

Limitations

• No Direct Email/Calendar Integrations: PhantomBuster still lacks native connections to email inboxes or calendar platforms. There is no direct Gmail or Outlook integration, and no built-in support for email marketing tools like Mailchimp. This means you can’t send one-to-one emails or launch newsletter campaigns from PhantomBuster without using an external tool. Any outreach outside of LinkedIn or lemlist will require exporting leads and using another service (or connecting via Zapier/Make).
• Third-Party or Manual Syncs for Other Tools: Outside the few native CRM integrations, you’ll likely rely on CSV exports or middleware to sync data. PhantomBuster provides no one-click connectors for many popular CRMs (e.g. HubSpot and Salesforce are covered, but others like Zoho or Dynamics are not) or for marketing/SaaS tools beyond those listed. Instead, users often turn to Zapier, Make, or the API to bridge PhantomBuster with other apps. This adds complexity.
• Automation via Scraping (Not Official APIs): PhantomBuster’s social media “Phantoms” for LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc. are not officially endorsed by those platforms. They work by simulating user actions in a browser (using your session cookies) rather than using approved APIs. In practice, this means the tool is essentially scraping data and automating clicks. Users must follow PhantomBuster’s safety guidelines (e.g. limiting LinkedIn profile visits or messages per day) to avoid triggering platform anti-bot defenses. The automations are powerful but carry some risk if overused.

PhantomBuster Customer Support

Customer service can be a deciding factor in outreach automation tools, especially if you're dealing with LinkedIn bans, failed workflows, or technical issues related to your Phantom automation setup.

Support Channels

Common User Feedback

• Wait times for email replies (24–72 hours) can impact workflow troubleshooting
• No live chat with a human rep for immediate assistance with complex automations
• Robotic or scripted responses that may not address specific issues
• Refund requests often denied for monthly plans, even when facing technical difficulties

Verified G2 Reviews About PhantomBuster's Customer Service

PhantomBuster Pricing: Is It Cost-Effective?

PhantomBuster operates on a subscription model with four plans — including a free trial. Pricing is based on usage hours, the number of Phantoms, and advanced features like flows or team management. This structure allows for scalability in lead generation and social selling efforts.

PhantomBuster Pricing Plans (2025):

Key Pricing Considerations

• Execution Hours: Every automation run consumes server time. Misconfigured or long-running Phantoms will eat up your quota fast, potentially limiting your lead generation capabilities.
• Credits vs. Time: Email discovery and AI features are tied to separate credit pools, making budget control tricky for comprehensive outreach campaigns.
• Refund Policy: No refunds for unused time on monthly plans, which can be frustrating if you encounter technical issues or platform changes.

Free trial limitations and what you get

PhantomBuster gives you a 14-day free trial without asking for your credit card. This lets you test what the platform can do before you buy. The trial includes:

• 2 hours of monthly execution time
• 5 phantom slots for your automation needs
• 50 bonus email discovery credits
• Access to all major phantoms and flows

The trial period gives you just enough resources to test small-scale automations. However, you can only export 10 results per phantom. It's fine for testing features but not enough to run full campaigns.

What Users Are Saying About PhantomBuster's Pricing

What Real Users Think About PhantomBuster

PhantomBuster has a strong user base across sales, recruiting, and growth marketing teams. But, feedback varies depending on how technical the user is and what platforms they automate on. Many users appreciate its capabilities for lead generation and social selling, while others struggle with its learning curve.

Overall User Impressions of PhantomBuster

What Users Like

• Cloud execution saves time: Users appreciate that tasks continue running even after logging out, allowing for continuous data extraction and outreach.
• Powerful for LinkedIn scraping: It's often used to extract profiles, enrich leads, and send personalized messages when paired with email finders, enhancing social selling efforts.
• Flexibility across platforms: One of the few tools that works on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, Instagram, and more for comprehensive social data gathering.

Where Users Struggle

• Setup complexity: Many users mention a steep learning curve for setting up Phantoms or understanding "Flow" logic, especially for complex lead generation workflows.
• Phantom limits and breakdowns: Some scripts (especially Instagram and LinkedIn automations) are prone to breaking when platforms change UI or introduce new throttling, affecting ongoing campaigns.
• Support response time: Multiple reviews mention limited help when errors or billing issues arise, impacting users' ability to maintain consistent outreach efforts.

PhantomBuster vs. Alternatives: Which One Is Better?

PhantomBuster is one of the most flexible social scraping tools available — but it's not alone. Competitors focus on safety, ease of use, or deeper integrations for specific lead generation and outreach needs.

Feature Comparison Table

Summary

• PhantomBuster vs TexAu: TexAu offers more workflow presets and a more modern UI, but PhantomBuster supports more platforms for diverse lead generation strategies.
• PhantomBuster vs Expandi: Expandi is safer and easier to use for LinkedIn-only campaigns, but lacks multichannel functionality for comprehensive social selling.
• PhantomBuster vs SalesRobot: SalesRobot is priced lower and prioritizes account safety, but it's limited in platform scope compared to PhantomBuster's wide-ranging capabilities.
• PhantomBuster vs Skrapp: Skrapp is a better choice if verified email data is your top priority. It skips scraping complexity and delivers enriched B2B contacts — no phantom stacking or flow building required.

Verdict: Is PhantomBuster Really Worth It?

PhantomBuster is a flexible tool that can handle social scraping, workflow automation, and contact enrichment across several platforms. Its strongest selling points are cloud automation, visual flow builders, and cross-platform reach for comprehensive lead generation and social selling strategies.

But it's not for everyone.

✅ PhantomBuster is a good fit if you:

• Want multichannel automation across LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, etc. for diverse lead generation
• Can handle some complexity and trial-and-error setup in your outreach automations
• Need workflows that run in the background on autopilot for continuous data extraction and engagement

❌ PhantomBuster might not be for you if you:

• Need deep CRM or email marketing integrations for seamless lead list management
• Prefer a simple, no-setup workflow for your social selling efforts
• Rely on real-time support or compliance guarantees for sensitive outreach campaigns

Here’s My Take

I spent real time testing PhantomBuster, and here’s the deal: it works well if you need to run outreach across multiple platforms and don’t mind doing some setup. The pre-made Workflows help, but you still have to understand how each “Phantom” fits into the puzzle.

Before jumping in, consider a few things. It’s not as plug-and-play as it looks. If something breaks—or doesn’t do what you expected—you’ll need to dig around, tweak settings, and test until it clicks. Not ideal if you’re short on time or just starting out.

Pricing is decent for large teams who’ll fully use it. But if you’re a solo operator or small team, the pay-per-use system and execution limits can get annoying fast.

When it comes to safety, PhantomBuster can keep your accounts from getting flagged, but only if you follow the rules. Stay under 20 LinkedIn connection requests per day, space out your actions, and avoid spammy behavior. Otherwise, you’re on your own.

The market’s also shifting. Expandi is cleaner for LinkedIn-only outreach. TexAu has a slicker interface for multichannel flows. And Skrapp keeps it simple: it gives you verified emails straight from LinkedIn, lets you build lead lists fast, and doesn’t make you babysit automations.

Use PhantomBuster if you like building systems. Use something else if you want results with fewer moving parts. All in all, remember your needs should drive your choice.

Looking for a PhantomBuster Alternative?

If you're looking for a smoother learning curve, stronger customer support, or better CRM sync — here are some alternatives to consider for your social selling and lead generation needs:

Best PhantomBuster Alternatives in 2025

If you're mostly using PhantomBuster to scrape LinkedIn and send emails, consider Skrapp.io — which offers:

• Verified B2B emails for more reliable outreach
• Bulk LinkedIn scraping for efficient lead list building
• CRM integrations (HubSpot, Salesforce, Outreach) for seamless workflow management
• Clear pricing and responsive support to optimize your lead generation efforts

FAQs: PhantomBuster