Compare/Head to head

LinkMCP vs PhantomBuster

Same facts, side by side: starting price, free tier, MCP, API and what each one is actually built for.

Starting price

LinkMCP

$19/mo 7 day free trial

Hosted LinkedIn MCP server that lets Claude, ChatGPT or n8n research, search and message on LinkedIn through your own account. From $19/mo with a 7 day free trial and no card. Best for recruiters who already work in an AI assistant and want LinkedIn research and outreach inside the same chat.

Where LinkMCP fits

  • Recruiters who source and message candidates from Claude or ChatGPT
  • Agency recruiters researching hiring managers before outreach
  • Teams that want LinkedIn steps inside n8n workflows

PhantomBuster

$69/mo Free tier 14 day free trial

Cloud automations for LinkedIn and the public web, with MCP on every plan. Start is $69/mo, or $56/mo billed annually.

Where PhantomBuster fits

  • Growth teams automating LinkedIn and Sales Nav lists
  • Agencies running several Phantoms in parallel
  • Builders wiring HubSpot, n8n, Zapier, Make, or MCP
  • Users who want cloud runs instead of a desktop scraper

At a glance

DetailLinkMCPPhantomBuster
Starting price$19/mo$69/mo
Free tier–No✓Yes
Free trial7 day free trial14 day free trial
MCP server✓Yes✓Yes
Public API–No✓Yes
Listed underLinkedIn, Email finders, SourcingLead generation, LinkedIn, Outreach
CapterraNot enough reviews4.5 from 64 reviews

Where they pull apart

LinkMCP

Stands out: It turns LinkedIn into 35 tools an assistant can chain, so one prompt can find candidates, read their recent posts and draft a personal connection note, with no browser extension and nothing running on your computer.

Watch out: It works through your signed in LinkedIn session, not an official LinkedIn API, so an account restriction cannot be ruled out even with its daily limits. Connecting your own account needs a paid plan; the trial only covers lookups and enrichment.

Not the right fit for

  • Bulk LinkedIn campaigns to thousands of people
  • Teams that need a tool built on LinkedIn's official API
  • Recruiters who do not use an AI assistant

PhantomBuster

Stands out: Hosted MCP at mcp.phantombuster.com plus 100+ Phantoms that run without your browser open.

Watch out: You act through your own social accounts, so limits and bans are on you. Execution hours, slots, and email credits all cap out. Exports on the trial are 10 rows.

Not the right fit for

  • Buyers who want a pre-built B2B database
  • Teams unwilling to connect their own LinkedIn accounts

Pros and cons

LinkMCP

  • 7 day trial, no card
  • 35 LinkedIn tools in any MCP client
  • Daily limits and pacing built in
  • Not an official LinkedIn API
  • Own account needs a paid plan
  • Not built for bulk campaigns

PhantomBuster

  • 14-day trial, then a limited free plan
  • MCP, API, and HubSpot / n8n / Zapier / Make
  • Unlimited users sharing one workspace meter
  • LinkedIn risk sits on the connected account
  • Hours, slots, and email credits all cap out
  • Trial exports stop at 10 rows

What each one costs

LinkMCP

$19/mo

LinkMCP has three paid plans: Starter at $19/mo, Pro at $49/mo with five times the usage and higher LinkedIn daily limits, and Max at $199/mo with fifty times the usage. Every plan includes every tool, and top up packs cost $10. The 7 day free trial needs no card and covers profile and company lookups, post data and email and phone finding; connecting your own LinkedIn account for search, messages and posting needs a paid plan. New trials get their first month of Starter for $9.50. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 21 Oct 2026

PhantomBuster

$69/mo

Start is $69/mo billed monthly or $56/mo billed annually ($672/year). Grow is $159/mo ($128 annual) and Scale $439/mo ($352 annual). A 14-day trial is followed by a limited free plan. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 18 Sep 2026

Common questions

Is LinkMCP cheaper than PhantomBuster?
LinkMCP starts lower, at $19/mo against $69/mo for PhantomBuster. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.
Can you try LinkMCP or PhantomBuster for free?
PhantomBuster carries a free tier on our listing. LinkMCP offers a 7 day free trial. PhantomBuster offers a 14 day free trial.
Does LinkMCP or PhantomBuster have an MCP server?
LinkMCP and PhantomBuster ship a first party MCP server, so an AI assistant can work the product directly.

Not the pair you wanted?

All LinkMCP alternatives All PhantomBuster alternatives Every LinkedIn tool

Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 21 Oct 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?