hunter-io vs dofollow
Hunter.io vs Dofollow — features, pricing, and which to choose for your SEO workflow in 2026.
Quick Verdict
Hunter.io and Dofollow approach link building from different angles. Hunter.io focuses purely on email finding and verification — you bring the prospects, and it finds accurate contact information. Dofollow positions itself as an all-in-one link prospecting tool that finds high-authority sites AND their contact details in one workflow.
The core difference comes down to scope: Hunter.io excels at the email research part of outreach but requires you to handle prospect discovery elsewhere. Dofollow attempts to streamline the entire front-end of link building by combining prospect research with contact finding, though it's newer and less proven at scale.
Feature Comparison
Hunter.io's strength lies in its email verification accuracy and bulk processing capabilities. Its domain search can find multiple email addresses from any website, while the bulk domain search processes hundreds of domains simultaneously. The email verification feature maintains high deliverability rates, and the API integration allows seamless workflow automation. Hunter.io also provides email campaign tracking and response management. Dofollow's main differentiator is its DR-filtered prospecting engine that identifies link opportunities based on domain authority metrics. It includes built-in outreach templates and attempts to find contact information for discovered prospects in one step. However, being founded in 2022, it lacks Hunter.io's extensive database and verification accuracy that comes from processing millions of emails since 2015.
Pricing Comparison
Both tools start at $49/month, but Hunter.io offers a free tier with 25 monthly searches while Dofollow requires paid access from day one. Hunter.io's pricing scales based on email searches and verifications, making it cost-effective for agencies processing high volumes. The platform's established infrastructure provides better value per search compared to newer tools. Dofollow's pricing includes both prospecting and email finding, which could represent good value if you need both functions. However, without a free tier to test the service, you're committing to a tool with limited track record compared to Hunter.io's proven reliability.
Best For
Hunter.io works best for established link builders and agencies who already have prospect research workflows and need reliable email finding at scale. If you're using tools like Ahrefs for prospect discovery and need accurate contact information with high deliverability rates, Hunter.io integrates smoothly into existing processes. Its API and bulk features make it ideal for agencies managing multiple client campaigns. Dofollow suits beginners or small teams who want prospect research and email finding in one tool. If you don't have existing prospecting workflows and prefer a more guided approach to link building, Dofollow's integrated approach could simplify your process, despite being less battle-tested.
The Verdict
Hunter.io wins for most serious link builders. Its superior email verification accuracy, extensive database, and proven track record at scale make it the safer choice. The free tier lets you test before committing, and its API enables advanced automation. Choose Dofollow only if you're new to link building and want integrated prospecting, but expect to eventually graduate to more specialized tools as your needs grow.