This guide introduces PhantomBuster’s core capabilities and explains how to automate lead generation, enrichment, and outreach using Phantoms and Workflows.
What PhantomBuster is
PhantomBuster helps you find and connect with qualified leads faster, automating the busywork behind lead generation.
Use it to automate repetitive tasks like collecting LinkedIn profiles, enriching leads with emails and job info, or sending personalized messages at scale.
With PhantomBuster, you can:
- Collect leads from public sources.
- Add verified emails and company/job info.
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Send personalized messages to your leads.
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Sync lead data to your CRM.
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Use AI to generate and tailor content at scale.
What a typical automation journey looks like
Whether you’re building outbound lists from scratch or engaging with warm leads, PhantomBuster helps you move faster through every step of the outreach process.
Here’s what a typical automation journey might look like:
1. Find the right people
Start by extracting profiles from sources like:
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LinkedIn search results
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Event attendee lists
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People commenting on your competitor’s posts
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Members of relevant groups
2. Add missing context
Once you’ve found potential leads, enrich them with:
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Verified professional emails
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Job titles, companies, and locations
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AI-generated insights or custom lead tags
3. Send personalized outreach
Reach out at scale using:
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LinkedIn connection requests with tailored messages
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Follow-ups triggered a few days after connecting
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Comments on posts your leads have interacted with
You can run each step with individual Phantoms, or combine them into one smooth process. For faster setup, try one of our Workflows built specifically for LinkedIn prospecting.
Types of automation: Phantoms and Workflows
PhantomBuster offers two types of automations: Phantoms and Workflows. Both help you automate tasks either as standalone actions or full multi-step sequences.
Phantoms
A Phantom automates one specific task, like extracting leads from LinkedIn, enriching profiles with job and company data, or sending personalized connection requests.
You can run Phantoms individually or chain them together manually to build a custom sequence. Some Phantoms also combine multiple steps in one, such as extract → enrich → message, to save you setup time.
Use the Solutions tab to explore all available Phantoms by platform or strategy.
Workflows
Workflows are guided automations made up of multiple Phantoms, already connected in the right order.
They’re designed to help you launch full LinkedIn prospecting journeys more quickly: from targeting warm leads (like post engagers or group members) to sending personalized messages. You still configure each step, but the structure is already in place.
Great for automating LinkedIn prospecting, especially with warm leads like post commenters or group joiners.
→ Learn more in the Help Center guide: Automate LinkedIn Prospecting with Workflows.
Who can use PhantomBuster
PhantomBuster is available worldwide for anyone who wants to scale their lead generation, get instant access to more prospects and data, and save time in the process.
Devices and browsers you need to use PhantomBuster
PhantomBuster is designed for desktop use. While you can access the platform on a mobile browser, you won’t be able to retrieve session cookies or connect accounts (LinkedIn and/or Social medias) from a phone or tablet/Ipad.
To run automations successfully:
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Use a computer with Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.
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Make sure your browser is up to date.
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Install the PhantomBuster browser extension to connect your accounts easily.
Where PhantomBuster runs automations
You can run automations across major lead generation platforms, including:
- LinkedIn and LinkedIn Sales Navigator
- Google Maps
- Instagram, Twitter/X, Facebook
- Slack, YouTube, GitHub, Reddit
- Yellow Pages
Not all platforms support every type of automation. Use the Solutions tab to browse by platform and goal, and explore our most popular use cases.
How to connect your tools
PhantomBuster integrates with popular CRMs to keep your lead data updated automatically.
Built-in integrations:
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HubSpot
Sync contact and company data between PhantomBuster and HubSpot to keep records accurate and automatically updated. Use automations to continuously refresh your lead lists. -
Salesforce
Automatically enrich and update contact and company fields in Salesforce, helping you streamline lead management and keep your pipeline clean. -
Pipedrive
Push enriched lead data, including contact info, firmographics, and intent signals, into Pipedrive to maintain actionable insights across larger datasets.
You can also connect PhantomBuster to nearly any CRM using Make or Zapier to push enriched lead data where your team needs it.
How to enhance automations with AI
Some Phantoms include built-in AI functionality, helping you:
- Summarize and enrich leads using GPT.
- Generate personalized LinkedIn messages.
- Create outreach content based on lead intent.
- Process large datasets with AI-powered prompts.
AI features are included in your Free trial and available on all paid plans with credit-based usage.
→ Explore how to get better results with AI Phantoms in the Help Center section: Use AI to Personalize and Scale your Automations.