Real benchmarks from verified cold email agencies. All data is pulled directly from Instantly.ai API connections - no self-reported numbers.
9.5%
Across all verified agencies
10.2%
Middle value (50th percentile)
0.5%
Email open percentage
14.9%
Top performers
Based on data from 7 verified agencies, here's what you should know about reply rates:
< 9.5%
Below the industry average. Consider improving personalization, targeting, or messaging.
9.5% - 20%
At or above average. This is a solid performance that many agencies achieve.
> 20%
Top-tier performance. Only the best agencies consistently achieve 20%+ reply rates.
Opportunity rate measures the percentage of leads that convert to qualified opportunities. Based on 7 agencies reporting opportunity data:
Average opportunity rate
Some industries are more receptive to cold emails than others. Tech, SaaS, and professional services typically see higher reply rates.
C-level executives are harder to reach than managers. Job title, company size, and seniority all impact reply rates.
Highly personalized emails that reference specific pain points or company events perform significantly better than generic templates.
Higher volume campaigns often see lower reply rates due to less personalization. Quality over quantity matters.
Poor deliverability means emails never reach the inbox. Proper domain warmup and list hygiene are critical.
Sending at the right time and following up strategically can significantly improve reply rates. Most replies come after 2-3 touches.
These benchmarks are calculated from verified performance data from agencies using Instantly.ai. All metrics are:
See how top agencies achieve these benchmarks. Browse verified agencies and compare their performance metrics.
