Sopro has become one of the most recognised names in UK B2B lead generation. They've built a solid business around email prospecting, and for a lot of companies, their service does what it says on the tin. But Sopro isn't right for everyone, and if you're reading this, you've probably already figured that out.
Maybe you've tried Sopro and the results were mixed. Maybe their email only approach isn't enough for your market. Maybe you need more than lead generation, you need help with brand, creative, or demand gen too. Whatever brought you here, this guide will help you find the right alternative.
I'm Gareth Sandler, founder of ORRJO. We've booked over 10,000 B2B meetings and generated more than £250M in pipeline for companies including Microsoft, BP, Salesforce, Oracle, and Stripe. I know this market because we compete in it every day. So this is an honest comparison: what each agency does well, where they fall short, and who they're best suited for.
A Quick Overview of Sopro
Sopro (short for Social Prospecting) is a Brighton based B2B prospecting company founded in 2015. Their core offering is email based outreach: they build target lists, write email sequences, manage sending infrastructure, and deliver interested prospects to your inbox. They've grown rapidly by offering a relatively standardised, technology driven service at scale.
Where Sopro works well:
- Companies that want a simple, email focused prospecting service
- UK based campaigns targeting mid market companies
- Businesses that already have a strong brand and just need top of funnel email volume
- Companies that want a self serve platform with clear reporting
Common reasons companies look for alternatives:
- Email only approach. No phone outreach, which limits effectiveness for enterprise and complex sales
- No creative, brand, or demand generation services. If your brand needs work, Sopro won't help with that
- Standardised approach can feel templated. Some clients report that personalisation is limited
- Primarily UK focused. International campaigns can be hit or miss
- Some reviews mention that prospect quality varies, with leads that are "interested" but not necessarily qualified
If any of that resonates, read on. Here are seven agencies worth considering.
1. ORRJO (Full Funnel B2B Growth Agency)
I'll start with ORRJO because I think the difference in approach is significant enough to matter.
Where Sopro focuses exclusively on email prospecting, ORRJO is a full funnel B2B growth agency. We combine creative and branding, demand generation, and lead generation into one integrated service. That means we can build your brand, create the content that drives awareness, and then run multi channel outbound (email, phone, LinkedIn, direct mail) to book qualified meetings.
What ORRJO does:
- Multi channel outbound: email, phone, LinkedIn, and direct mail
- Brand strategy, visual identity, and creative production
- Content marketing and demand generation campaigns
- Dedicated SDR teams with full CRM reporting
- Meeting confirmation and pipeline tracking
Best for: B2B companies that need more than email prospecting. Companies that want one partner to handle brand, demand, and lead gen together. Especially strong for tech, SaaS, professional services, and enterprise sales.
Channels: Email, phone, LinkedIn, direct mail.
Pricing: Monthly retainer, tailored to scope. Transparent pricing, no hidden data costs.
Global reach: UK, Europe, US, Canada, Middle East. Local market knowledge in each region.
Track record: 10,000+ meetings booked. £250M+ pipeline generated. Clients include Microsoft, BP, Salesforce, Oracle, and Stripe.
Limitations: Not the cheapest option. If you just want a basic email blasting service at minimum cost, we're probably not for you. We build growth engines, which means the investment reflects the scope.
Want to see the difference a full funnel approach makes? Check out our case studies or book a call with our team.
2. Operatix
Operatix is a well established UK based SDR outsourcing company that specialises in the B2B technology sector. They've been around for over a decade and have built a strong reputation in the SaaS and tech space specifically.
What they do: Outsourced SDR services, pipeline generation, channel partner recruitment, market entry programmes.
Channels: Email, phone, LinkedIn.
Best for: B2B SaaS and technology companies that want experienced SDRs who understand the tech buying cycle. Particularly strong for companies entering the European market.
Pricing: Monthly retainer. Sits at the higher end of the market due to their specialisation and experience.
Limitations: Tech sector only, which rules them out for professional services, manufacturing, or other verticals. No creative, brand, or content services. More expensive than generalist providers. Limited reach outside Europe and the US.
3. The Lead Generation Company
The Lead Generation Company (TLGC) is a UK based agency headquartered in Manchester. They offer telemarketing, appointment setting, and lead generation services. They've been in the market for over 20 years, which gives them one of the longer track records in the UK lead gen space.
What they do: Telemarketing, appointment setting, data building, lead nurturing, event support.
Channels: Primarily phone, with email support.
Best for: UK based companies that want phone led outreach. Good for businesses targeting C suite and senior decision makers where a phone conversation is more effective than email.
Pricing: Monthly retainer or project based. Mid range pricing for the UK market.
Limitations: Phone led approach may not suit all markets or buyer personas, particularly younger or digital first audiences. Limited international reach. No creative, brand, or demand gen services. Their approach can feel traditional compared to more modern multi channel agencies.
4. Pearl Lemon Leads
Pearl Lemon Leads is the lead generation arm of Pearl Lemon, a London based digital marketing agency. They offer B2B lead generation alongside SEO, PPC, and content services through the parent company. This makes them a reasonable option if you want to consolidate multiple marketing services under one provider.
What they do: Cold email, LinkedIn outreach, cold calling, appointment setting, lead list building.
Channels: Email, phone, LinkedIn.
Best for: UK based SMBs and startups that want affordable lead gen with the option to add SEO or digital marketing through the same provider.
Pricing: Flexible retainer or project based. Generally more affordable than enterprise focused agencies.
Limitations: Generalist approach means they may lack depth in specific industries. Less suited to enterprise deals or complex sales cycles. Lead quality can vary. Not ideal for companies targeting North American or international markets at scale.
5. Air Marketing
Air Marketing is a UK based outbound marketing agency that offers a combination of telemarketing, email marketing, and appointment setting. They've positioned themselves as a full service outbound partner for UK businesses, with a team based in the West Midlands.
What they do: Telemarketing, email outreach, appointment setting, data cleansing, event telemarketing.
Channels: Phone, email.
Best for: UK based SMBs and mid market companies that want a blended phone and email approach. Good for companies in professional services, IT, and manufacturing.
Pricing: Monthly retainer. Competitive pricing for the UK market.
Limitations: Primarily UK focused with limited international capability. No creative, brand, or demand gen services. Their tech stack and reporting may not be as sophisticated as larger competitors. LinkedIn outreach isn't a core offering.
6. Paragon Marketing
Paragon Marketing is a UK based B2B lead generation agency that focuses on telemarketing and appointment setting. They have a strong track record in the technology, IT services, and managed services sectors.
What they do: Telemarketing, appointment setting, lead qualification, database building, market research.
Channels: Primarily phone, with email follow up.
Best for: IT and technology companies in the UK that want a phone first approach to generating qualified meetings. Good for companies selling managed services, cybersecurity, or IT infrastructure.
Pricing: Monthly retainer or project based. Mid range pricing.
Limitations: Narrow sector focus (primarily IT and tech). Limited international reach. Phone first approach may not resonate with all buyer personas. No creative, brand, or content marketing support. Email capabilities are secondary to phone.
7. EngageTech
EngageTech (formerly Techmarketview) is a UK based agency that combines intent data with outbound prospecting. Their model uses buyer intent signals to identify companies that are actively researching solutions in your category, then targets those companies with outbound outreach.
What they do: Intent data driven prospecting, appointment setting, lead qualification, pipeline analytics.
Channels: Phone, email (driven by intent data).
Best for: B2B technology companies that want data driven prospecting. Their intent based model is appealing if you sell in competitive markets where timing matters. Good for SaaS, cloud, and IT companies.
Pricing: Monthly retainer, often with performance elements tied to meeting quality.
Limitations: Intent data doesn't cover all industries equally (strongest in tech and IT). The approach assumes your buyers are actively researching, which may not apply in every market. No creative, brand, or demand gen services. The intent data model can sometimes result in over targeting accounts that are researching but not ready to buy.
Sopro Alternatives: Comparison Table
Here's how each agency compares on the factors that actually influence your results.
| Agency | Channels | Creative/Brand | Global Reach | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ORRJO | Email, Phone, LinkedIn, Direct Mail | Yes (full service) | UK, Europe, US, Canada, Middle East | Full funnel B2B growth |
| Operatix | Email, Phone, LinkedIn | No | UK, Europe, US | B2B SaaS market entry |
| The Lead Generation Co. | Phone, Email | No | UK | Phone led UK campaigns |
| Pearl Lemon Leads | Email, Phone, LinkedIn | No (SEO/PPC available) | UK | UK SMBs and startups |
| Air Marketing | Phone, Email | No | UK | UK mid market outbound |
| Paragon Marketing | Phone, Email | No | UK | IT and managed services |
| EngageTech | Phone, Email (intent driven) | No | UK, Europe | Intent data B2B tech |
How to Evaluate a Sopro Alternative
Choosing the right lead gen agency is one of the most impactful decisions you'll make for your revenue engine. Here's how to think about it.
1. Do you need more than email?
This is the single biggest question. Sopro's core model is email prospecting. If that's all you need, then a like for like alternative (email focused, platform driven) might work. But if your buyers respond better to phone calls, or if you're selling into enterprise accounts where multi touch sequences across email, phone, and LinkedIn perform significantly better, you need a multi channel partner.
Our data at ORRJO consistently shows that campaigns combining phone, email, and LinkedIn generate 40 to 60% more meetings than email alone. That's not a small difference.
2. Is your brand ready for outbound?
This is the question almost nobody asks when they're shopping for a lead gen agency, but it might be the most important one. When a prospect receives your cold email, the first thing they do is Google your company. If your website looks outdated, your LinkedIn page is dead, and your brand doesn't inspire confidence, they won't reply. No matter how good the email is.
If your brand needs work, choose an agency that can fix it. Most lead gen agencies (including Sopro and most of the alternatives above) can't. ORRJO can, through our creative studio.
3. Where are your buyers?
Geography matters. If you're selling into the UK only, most of the agencies on this list can serve you well. But if you need campaigns across Europe, the US, Canada, or the Middle East, your options narrow significantly. Make sure your chosen partner has genuine local market knowledge, not just an international email sending capability.
4. How do they define a "lead"?
This is where many agency relationships go wrong. Some agencies define a lead as "anyone who replied positively." Others define it as "a qualified meeting with a decision maker at a target account." The gap between these two definitions is enormous, and it directly affects your sales team's time and your pipeline quality.
Ask every agency you're evaluating: what exactly constitutes a lead? What qualification criteria do they use? How do they ensure meeting quality, not just volume?
5. What's the contract structure?
Some agencies lock you into 12 month contracts. Others offer month to month. Some include data costs in their pricing. Others charge separately. Make sure you understand the full cost and commitment before signing anything. And always ask what happens if results aren't meeting expectations within the first 90 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sopro any good?
Sopro is a legitimate, well run company with a proven email prospecting model. They work well for UK based companies that want a straightforward email led prospecting service. Where they're less effective is for companies that need multi channel outreach, international campaigns, or help with brand and demand generation alongside lead gen.
How much does Sopro cost?
Sopro's pricing typically starts around £3,000 to £5,000 per month depending on campaign volume and targeting. This is competitive for an email focused prospecting service, though costs can increase with larger campaign scopes or additional markets.
What's the best UK alternative to Sopro?
It depends on what you need. For a full funnel approach with creative, demand gen, and multi channel lead gen, ORRJO is the strongest option. For SaaS specific SDR outsourcing, Operatix is solid. For phone led campaigns, The Lead Generation Company has a long track record. For budget conscious startups, Pearl Lemon Leads offers flexibility.
Can I use Sopro and another agency together?
You can, but be careful about overlap. If Sopro is handling email and another agency is handling phone, you need to coordinate targeting lists to avoid prospects receiving conflicting messages. In most cases, it's more effective (and cost efficient) to use one agency that handles all channels under a coordinated strategy.
How long does it take to see results from a lead gen agency?
Most agencies need 4 to 8 weeks to ramp up: building target lists, writing messaging, warming email domains, and testing approaches. You should expect to see meaningful meeting flow from week 6 onwards. If an agency promises immediate results from day one, be cautious. Good outbound takes time to optimise.
The Bottom Line
Sopro built a strong business on email prospecting, and for straightforward, UK focused email campaigns, they're a reasonable choice. But the B2B buying process in 2026 requires more than email alone. Buyers expect to be reached through the channels they use. They check your brand before they reply. They need multiple touchpoints before they commit to a meeting.
If you want an agency that can handle all of that, one partner for brand, demand, and lead generation across every channel your buyers use, that's exactly what we built ORRJO to do. We've done it for some of the biggest companies in the world. We can do it for you.
Book a call with our team and let's talk about what your pipeline could look like with the right partner behind it.
