Reply.io vs Cust (formerly AskToSell)

Reply.io lets sales teams build multichannel outbound from one workspace: prospect from a B2B database of 1+ billion contacts, run conditional email and LinkedIn steps, and manage replies from a unified inbox. The product also sells mailboxes with built-in warmup so you can buy domains, connect inboxes, and start sending without juggling separate deliverability tools.

Where many sequencers stop at email templates, Reply.io layers an optional Jason AI SDR agent that researches prospects, writes personalized copy, handles replies, and books meetings on autopilot or in approval mode. Reply.io also exposes an API and MCP integration so you can launch outbound from Claude, Cursor, or Codex without opening the dashboard. That terminal-first angle is unusual for a category dominated by browser-only campaign builders.

Reply.io fits outbound sales reps, SDR teams, and agencies running cold email at volume. Common workflows include list building from intent signals, multichannel nurture sequences, and agency client workspaces with role-based access. The Agency Core plan at $210 per month supports multiple client workspaces under one agency account.

Cust deploys AI Retention Agents that monitor your entire customer portfolio for churn risks and expansion signals. Each agent connects to your CRM, email, calendar, and data sources to deep-research accounts continuously. It drafts retention actions you can review and run in one click, from QBR briefs to renewal proposals. The product evolved from AskToSell, which originally focused on autonomous small-deal sales automation.

Where platforms like Gainsight and ChurnZero expect months of implementation and rigid if/else automation rules, Cust positions itself around adaptive, goal-based retention agents steered with plain language. The homepage contrasts legacy customer success platforms that need consultants and certification courses with one-click actions that go live the same day. You connect data and get a prioritized portfolio newsfeed rather than another dashboard with surface-level health scores.

Customer success managers and retention engineers who manage hundreds of accounts but can only give real attention to their top tier are the core audience. Cust targets teams trying to increase net revenue retention without hiring more CSMs per account. Plans scale from 100 protected customers on Foundation to 500 on Growth, with unlimited seats on every tier.