PhantomBuster vs AuthoredUp
PhantomBuster
- Platform: LinkedIn, Sales Navigator, multi-channel prospecting
- Best For: Outbound sales and lead generation at scale
- Strength: Automation scripts and data enrichment
- Users: Not specified
Starting at $59/month
AuthoredUp
- Platform: LinkedIn only
- Best For: Content creation and personal branding
- Strength: Rich editor and deep analytics
- Users: 2,011+ professionals
Starting at $12.46/month
Table of Contents
At a Glance
Platform Support
| Feature | PhantomBuster | AuthoredUp |
|---|---|---|
| ✓ Deep integration for automation and extraction | ✓ Exclusive focus with native editor and analytics | |
| Sales Navigator | ✓ Specialized Phantoms for prospecting | ✗ Not supported |
| Multi-Platform (Twitter, Facebook, etc.) | ✓ Supports additional channels like email and Google | ✗ LinkedIn-only |
| Chrome Extension | ✗ Web-based with API access | ✓ Integrated extension for in-platform editing |
Lead Generation & Automation
| Feature | PhantomBuster | AuthoredUp |
|---|---|---|
| Prebuilt Automation Scripts | ✓ Extensive Phantoms library for LinkedIn tasks | ✗ No automation for outreach |
| Data Extraction & Enrichment | ✓ Extracts and enriches leads from profiles | ✗ No data extraction |
| Workflow Builder for Multi-Step Sequences | ✓ Chain Phantoms for complex automations | ✗ Basic scheduling only |
| CRM Integrations | ✓ Integrates with CRMs, Zapier, spreadsheets | ✗ Limited integrations |
| Scheduling & Triggers | ✓ Recurring automations and triggers | ✓ Content calendar for posts |
Content Creation
| Feature | PhantomBuster | AuthoredUp |
|---|---|---|
| Rich Post Editor | ✗ Not focused on content creation | ✓ Formatting, emojis, live preview, unlimited drafts |
| Templates & Snippets | ✗ No content templates | ✓ 300+ hooks, endings, CTAs; reusable snippets |
| Content Calendar | ✗ No calendar for publishing | ✓ Centralized calendar for scheduled posts |
| Historical Post Reuse | ✗ Data-focused, not content reuse | ✓ 1-click reuse from top performers |
| AI Post Generation | ✗ No AI for content | ✗ No native AI, relies on templates |
Analytics & Reporting
| Feature | PhantomBuster | AuthoredUp |
|---|---|---|
| Engagement Analytics | ✗ Execution logs for automations, not content | ✓ Impressions, engagement, growth timelines |
| Follower Growth Tracking | ✗ Lead tracking, not follower metrics | ✓ Best times to post recommendations |
| Posts Table & Filters | ✗ No post analytics | ✓ Filters by type, tags; CSV export |
| Saved-Post Analysis | ✗ No social analytics | ✓ Keyword/author filters for inspiration |
| Execution Logs & Error Reporting | ✓ For debugging automations | ✗ No automation logs |
Collaboration & Integrations
| Feature | PhantomBuster | AuthoredUp |
|---|---|---|
| Team Collaboration | ✓ Shared workspaces in Team plan | ✓ Sub-accounts, draft collaboration in Business |
| Multiple Profiles/Pages | ✓ Team access to automations | ✓ Supports multiple company pages |
| API Access | ✓ For custom integrations | ✗ No API mentioned |
| Zapier Integration | ✓ Full Zapier support | ✗ Limited to LinkedIn ecosystem |
Pricing Comparison
PhantomBuster starts at $59/month with a focus on automation limits, scaling to $399/month for teams. AuthoredUp offers better entry value at $12.46/month (yearly) for content tools, with per-profile pricing for businesses. PhantomBuster suits high-volume automation needs, while AuthoredUp provides affordable LinkedIn-specific features.
PhantomBuster
Free
Free
Testing basic automations
- Limited number of Phantoms
- Restricted daily execution time
- Basic support and documentation access
Starter
$59/month
Individual lead generators
- Increased daily execution time
- Access to core Phantom library
- Basic workflow automation capabilities
Pro
$139/month
Scaling prospecting efforts
- More concurrent Phantoms and higher limits
- Priority execution and faster runs
- Expanded workflow and integration options
Team
$399/month
Collaborative sales teams
- Higher usage limits and concurrent automations
- Team collaboration features and shared workspaces
- Enhanced support response times
Enterprise
Custom
Large organizations
- Custom usage limits and SLAs
- Security reviews and procurement support
- Dedicated onboarding and account management
AuthoredUp
Individual (Yearly)
$16.63/month
Solo creators
- 1 LinkedIn profile
- Full editor, unlimited drafts, snippets
- 300+ templates, content analytics
- Billed at $199.50 per year
Business (Yearly)
$12.46/month per profile
Teams and agencies
- Minimum 3 profiles
- Multi-profile management, sub-accounts
- Team analytics, draft collaboration
- Billed at $149.50 per profile per year
Individual (Monthly)
$19.95/month
Monthly flexibility for individuals
- 1 profile, full editor and analytics
- Unlimited drafts and templates
Business (Monthly)
$14.95/month per profile
Monthly business use
- Minimum 3 profiles, team features
- Organization management
Custom Growth Plan
Custom
Scaling agencies
- Personalized onboarding, training
- Flexible invoicing
Feature Deep Dive
Lead Generation & Automation
PhantomBuster
Strengths
- Prebuilt Phantoms for LinkedIn scraping and outreach
- Workflow builder chains extractions with enrichments
- Scheduling for recurring prospecting without manual effort
- Integrations push leads to CRMs like HubSpot
- Error logs ensure reliable runs
Workflow
Select Phantom → Configure targets → Chain to enrichment → Schedule → Export to CRM
AuthoredUp
Strengths
- Indirect lead gen via content engagement analytics
- Track follower growth from posts
- No direct automation or extraction
Workflow
Create post → Schedule → Analyze engagement → Manually follow up on insights
PhantomBuster dominates lead generation with direct automation and data extraction, ideal for sales pipelines. AuthoredUp supports content-driven leads but lacks automation tools. Choose PhantomBuster for outbound prospecting; AuthoredUp for inbound via branding.
Content Creation Capabilities
PhantomBuster
Strengths
- Not a focus; basic data for personalized outreach
- API for custom content scripts if needed
Workflow
Extract data → Use in outreach templates → Automate sending
Limitations
- No editor, templates, or publishing tools
- Automation-centric, not creative
AuthoredUp
Strengths
- Advanced editor with formatting, previews, unlimited drafts
- 300+ templates for hooks/CTAs, snippet library
- Historical post collection for reuse suggestions
- Multi-page support for company content
Workflow
Save idea as draft → Use template/snippet → Preview → Schedule to calendar
AuthoredUp is purpose-built for high-quality LinkedIn content, with tools for ideation and reuse. PhantomBuster offers no content features, focusing instead on data for outreach. AuthoredUp wins for creators; PhantomBuster for data-driven messaging.
Analytics & Reporting
PhantomBuster
Strengths
- Execution logs and error reporting for automation performance
- API for custom reporting on leads extracted
- Integration with analytics tools via Zapier
Limitations
- No social engagement or content metrics
- Focused on operational debugging
AuthoredUp
Strengths
- In-depth post analytics: impressions, engagement, timelines
- Follower growth and best-post-time recommendations
- Posts table with filters, saved-post analysis, CSV export
- Team analytics across profiles
Limitations
- LinkedIn-only, no multi-channel insights
AuthoredUp provides comprehensive LinkedIn content analytics for optimizing posts and growth. PhantomBuster's analytics are limited to automation reliability. For content performance, AuthoredUp excels; for lead process monitoring, PhantomBuster suffices.
Use Case Comparison
Outbound Sales Team
PhantomBuster 🏆
Excellent
Phantoms automate LinkedIn prospecting, extraction, and enrichment at scale, integrating with CRMs for pipeline building.
Best Plan: Pro ($139/month)
Score: 10/10
AuthoredUp
Poor
Lacks automation or extraction; content tools don't support outbound workflows.
Best Plan: Not suitable
Score: 2/10
Solo LinkedIn Creator
PhantomBuster
Fair
Useful for occasional lead gen but steep curve and no content tools limit daily use.
Best Plan: Starter ($59/month)
Score: 5/10
AuthoredUp 🏆
Excellent
Unlimited drafts, templates, and analytics streamline consistent posting for personal branding.
Best Plan: Individual Yearly ($16.63/month)
Score: 10/10
B2B Marketer Building Personal Brand
PhantomBuster
Poor
Automation-focused; no support for content ideation or analytics needed for branding.
Best Plan: Not suitable
Score: 3/10
AuthoredUp 🏆
Excellent
Tailored for LinkedIn with editor, reuse features, and growth tracking to amplify brand.
Best Plan: Individual ($19.95/month)
Score: 9/10
Growth Hacker Running Experiments
PhantomBuster 🏆
Excellent
Workflows chain experiments in prospecting, with logs for iteration on automation success.
Best Plan: Pro ($139/month)
Score: 9/10
AuthoredUp
Good
Analytics help test content variations, but no automation for scaling experiments.
Best Plan: Individual Yearly ($16.63/month)
Score: 6/10
Agency Managing Lead Gen for Clients
PhantomBuster 🏆
Good
Team plan enables shared automations, but per-client setup can be complex.
Best Plan: Team ($399/month)
Score: 7/10
AuthoredUp
Fair
Business plan for multi-profiles, but no lead gen tools for client services.
Best Plan: Business Yearly ($12.46/month per profile)
Score: 5/10
In-House Evangelist or SME
PhantomBuster
Fair
Can extract leads from networks, but not for content-driven evangelism.
Best Plan: Starter ($59/month)
Score: 4/10
AuthoredUp 🏆
Excellent
Editor and analytics optimize thought leadership posts for engagement.
Best Plan: Individual ($19.95/month)
Score: 10/10
Startup Scaling Prospecting Before Hiring
PhantomBuster 🏆
Excellent
Affordable automation replaces manual outreach, with workflows for quick scaling.
Best Plan: Starter ($59/month)
Score: 9/10
AuthoredUp
Poor
Content tools help visibility but no direct prospecting automation.
Best Plan: Not suitable
Score: 3/10
Sales Team for Social Selling
PhantomBuster 🏆
Excellent
Automates connections and data for personalized selling on LinkedIn.
Best Plan: Pro ($139/month)
Score: 10/10
AuthoredUp
Good
Content builds pipeline indirectly via engagement, with analytics to refine.
Best Plan: Business ($14.95/month per profile)
Score: 7/10
Consultant Developing Content Strategy
PhantomBuster
Poor
No content or analytics features for strategy building.
Best Plan: Not suitable
Score: 2/10
AuthoredUp 🏆
Excellent
Templates, historical analysis, and calendars aid strategy formulation and execution.
Best Plan: Individual Yearly ($16.63/month)
Score: 9/10
Technical Marketer Comfortable with Automation
PhantomBuster 🏆
Excellent
API and workflows suit technical users for custom lead gen setups.
Best Plan: Pro ($139/month)
Score: 10/10
AuthoredUp
Fair
User-friendly but lacks depth for technical automation needs.
Best Plan: Business ($14.95/month per profile)
Score: 5/10
Agency Managing LinkedIn Content for Clients
PhantomBuster
Poor
No content tools; automation not suited for client publishing.
Best Plan: Not suitable
Score: 2/10
AuthoredUp 🏆
Excellent
Multi-profile support, sub-accounts, and collaboration for client workflows.
Best Plan: Business Yearly ($12.46/month per profile)
Score: 10/10
Budget-Conscious Solopreneur
PhantomBuster
Fair
$59 entry is high for light use; free tier limited.
Best Plan: Free or Starter ($59/month)
Score: 5/10
AuthoredUp 🏆
Excellent
Low starting price with unlimited core features for solo use.
Best Plan: Individual Yearly ($16.63/month)
Score: 9/10
Pros and Cons
PhantomBuster
Pros
- Extensive library of prebuilt Phantoms for common lead tasks
- Powerful workflow automation for multi-step sequences
- Strong for LinkedIn and Sales Navigator prospecting at scale
- Data enrichment and CRM integrations streamline pipelines
- Execution logs and scheduling offer visibility and control
- API access enables custom advanced use cases
- Free tier for initial testing
Cons
- Steep learning curve for non-technical users
- Requires careful setup to avoid platform terms violations
- Complex interface and terminology for beginners
- Pricing escalates with usage and team size
- Not suited for content creation or publishing
- Limited user base transparency and no trial specified
- Focus on extraction risks account restrictions
AuthoredUp
Pros
- Purpose-built for LinkedIn with nuanced platform features
- Powerful editor for formatting and live previews
- Unlimited drafts, snippets, and 300+ templates for efficiency
- Deep analytics with CSV export and best-time recommendations
- Saved-post analysis aids in repurposing winners
- Supports multiple company pages and team collaboration
- Affordable pricing with yearly discounts
- Chrome extension integrates seamlessly into LinkedIn
Cons
- Interface can overwhelm users needing only basic posting
- No native AI for post generation, relies on manual input
- Chrome-centric, limiting for non-extension users
- Per-profile pricing adds up for large teams
- LinkedIn-only, no multi-platform support
- No free trial or money-back guarantee specified
- Less emphasis on automation beyond scheduling
Final Verdict
PhantomBuster and AuthoredUp target different LinkedIn workflows: PhantomBuster automates sales and lead gen for outbound teams, while AuthoredUp is a content studio for creators and brands. PhantomBuster shines in data extraction and scaling prospecting, but requires technical savvy. AuthoredUp offers intuitive tools for posting and insights, with better affordability for individuals.
Opt for PhantomBuster if automation and leads drive your strategy. Choose AuthoredUp for content excellence and analytics. For hybrid needs, combine them: use AuthoredUp for engaging posts and PhantomBuster to extract leads from interactions.
Overall Scores
PhantomBuster
Lead Generation: 10/10
Content Creation: 1/10
Value: 6/10
AuthoredUp
Lead Generation: 5/10
Content Creation: 10/10
Value: 9/10
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