Key takeaways
AiSDR starts at $900/month for 1,000 personalized written emails/texts (billed monthly or quarterly), while Artisan’s AI BDR (Ava) requires a 12-month annual contract estimated at $2,000 to $5,000+/month ($24,000 to $60,000/year).
Both AiSDR and Artisan Ava are written-only tools (cold email and LinkedIn messages), neither platform places autonomous AI phone calls when a prospect replies positively or fills out an inbound demo form.
In 2026, Google Workspace inbox placement fell from 89% to 74% (Validity), and replying to a positive email response with a passive Calendly link converts only 30% of leads, whereas calling them on the phone within 15 seconds converts 73%.
Outbound System starts at $1,499/month on strict month-to-month terms, combining 350+ private Microsoft Azure email inboxes, LinkedIn outreach, and 5,000 to 20,000 monthly AI voice calls that dial every lead and positive reply in 15 seconds.
Updated November 4, 2026. Pricing and feature details verified against aisdr.com/pricing, artisan.co, and 442,408 production calls + 52M+ emails at Outbound System.
How much do AiSDR and Artisan Ava cost in 2026?
As of November 2026:
AiSDR (
aisdr.com): Starts at $900 per month (Exploreplan) for 1,000 written emails/texts per month ($0.90 per message), scaling to $2,500+/month (Grow/ custom tiers) for higher message volumes. You must still bring and warm your own sending domains and mailboxes.Artisan (
Ava the AI BDR,artisan.co): Does not publish pricing on its website and requires a 12-month annual contract that starts around $2,000 to $5,000+ per month ($24,000 to $60,000/year) depending on lead credit volume, with zero autonomous voice calling.Outbound System (
outboundsystem.com): Starts at $1,499 per month (5,000 AI voice calls or 15,000 emails across 350+ dedicated Microsoft Azure inboxes), $2,499 per month, and $3,999 per month on strict month-to-month terms with $0 setup fee.
Who Should Pick AiSDR / Artisan vs. Who Should Pick Outbound System?
Buyer Profile | Pick AiSDR ( | Pick Artisan ( | Pick Outbound System If... |
|---|---|---|---|
What you want to buy | A self-serve AI email writer ($900/mo for 1,000 messages) where you manage your own mailboxes and prompts. | A VC-backed self-serve email/LinkedIn bot on a 12-month $24,000+/yr contract that your team supervises. | A 100% Done-For-You AI voice + multi-channel system that builds lists, runs 350+ Azure inboxes, and calls leads in 15 seconds. |
Phone calling | You do not want phone calls made to your leads. | You do not want phone calls made to your leads. | You want 5,000 to 20,000 AI voice calls/month dialing every form fill, positive email reply, and target prospect. |
Contract lock-in | Month-to-month or quarterly (software only). | 12-month annual lock-in required. | Strictly month-to-month ($0 setup fee, 10d notice). |
Email infrastructure | You buy, configure DNS, and warm your own domains. | Basic automated mailbox warmup you monitor. | 350+ private Microsoft Azure US-IP inboxes managed 100% for you (98%+ deliverability). |
2026 Comparison Table: AiSDR vs. Artisan Ava vs. 11x Alice/Julian vs. Outbound System
Capability / Pricing Metric | AiSDR ( | Artisan ( | 11x ( | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Published starting price | $900 / mo | Unlisted (~$2,000-$5,000/mo) | $3,750/mo Alice · $5,333/mo Julian | $1,499 / $2,499 / $3,999/mo |
Contract commitment | Monthly / Quarterly | 12-month annual contract | 12-month annual ($45k-$64k/yr) | Month-to-month ($0 setup) |
Monthly volume included | 1,000 written messages ($0.90/msg) | Custom prospect credits | 2,000 prospects or 2,000 calls | 5,000 to 20,000 AI calls or 15k-60k emails |
Autonomous AI phone calls | None (0 calls) | None (0 calls) | Julian only ($5,333/mo extra) | Included (5,000 to 20,000 calls/mo) |
15-second speed to lead | Written email/SMS reply | Written email reply | Julian webhook call | 15s phone call + 6-9 follow-up attempts |
Dedicated Azure inbox pool | Bring your own mailboxes | Bring/warm mailboxes | Up to 5 Gmail mailboxes | 350+ Microsoft Azure US-IP inboxes |
Who runs & optimizes it? | Self-serve (you prompt & manage) | Self-serve (you supervise Ava) | Self-serve playbooks | 100% Done-For-You strategist + GTM eng |
Why Written-Only AI SDRs Lose 70% of Interested Buyers in 2026
In 2025, Artisan’s CEO publicly acknowledged that first-generation AI SDR tools suffered from high customer churn once the novelty of automated emails wore off. Why? Because two structural shifts hit written outbound in 2026:
Inbox Placement Tightened: Validity’s 2026 benchmark found Google Workspace inbox placement fell from 89% to 74% for senders using shared or low-inbox setups. Paying $900/month on AiSDR for just 1,000 messages ($0.90 per email!) while bringing your own domains is upside-down unit economics compared to Outbound System’s 15,000 emails across 350+ private Microsoft Azure inboxes for $1,499/month ($0.10 per email, 100% managed).
Replying to a Positive Email With a Calendly Link Loses 70% of Meetings: Even when an email gets a positive reply (“Sure, send me some info”), replying with a passive calendar link only converts 30% to 33% of leads into booked appointments, and 40% to 50% no-show (see our 15-second speed-to-lead study).
When you pair outbound email and inbound forms with Outbound System’s AI voice agents:
The moment a prospect replies positively or submits a form, our phone-native AI voice agent (John or Eric) calls their cell phone within 15 seconds.
73% of reached leads book a meeting on the spot, and 75% to 90% show up because they confirmed the time verbally and heard their email address read back aloud.
See our dedicated head-to-head comparison at /comparison/artisan and our breakdown of 11x Julian & Alice pricing.
Frequently asked questions
Does Artisan Ava make AI phone calls?
No. Artisan’s Ava is a written outbound tool focused on email and LinkedIn sequences. If you want autonomous AI phone calls that dial leads in 15 seconds, handle Apple iOS 18 call screeners, and book meetings onto your calendar, use Outbound System.
Is AiSDR’s $900/month plan really cheaper than a managed agency?
At $900/month for 1,000 messages, AiSDR charges $0.90 per message, and you still have to buy and warm your own domains, pay for mailboxes, and manage the software yourself. Outbound System’s $1,499/month Starter plan includes 15,000 managed emails across 350+ Azure inboxes ($0.10/email) OR 5,000 AI voice calls ($0.30/call), 100% done for you on month-to-month terms. Test our live AI caller in 15 seconds or book a demo today.
Outbound System
Fixed monthly price, local numbers, and you approve every script. Hear real calls before you decide.
Matthew Johnson is the founder and CEO of Outbound System, which runs cold email, LinkedIn outreach and AI calling for 1,000+ active clients. He has personally sold over $12 million in outbound services, and his team has sent 52 million+ cold emails and helped clients close $26 million in revenue.
About Outbound System
Outbound System runs done-for-you cold email, LinkedIn outreach and AI calling for growing businesses. 1,000+ active clients and 10,400+ campaigns launched.
