AI BDR vs. SDR Agencies: 2025 Outsourcing Comparison
SDR agencies charge $5-15K/month with variable results. AI BDR delivers consistent performance at lower cost—and you own the system.
Cost Comparison at a Glance
Plus agencies often charge $2,000-5,000 setup fees and require 6-12 month contracts
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | StoryPros AI BDR | SDR Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | $3-5K✓ Better | $5-15K |
| Cost Per Meeting | $200-400✓ Better | $400-1,200 |
| Setup Fee | $0✓ Better | $2,000-5,000 |
| Long-Term Contract | Month-to-month✓ Better | 6-12 months |
| Transparency | Full access to all data✓ Better | Limited reporting |
| Ownership of System | You own it✓ Better | Agency owns it |
| Messaging Control | Full control✓ Better | Agency manages |
| Scalability | Instant✓ Better | Hire more reps |
| Consistency | AI-powered✓ Better | Varies by rep |
| Human Qualification | AI + human hybrid | Full human |
Common Agency Problems
SDR agencies can deliver results, but they come with trade-offs that many companies don't discover until they're locked in:
Hidden Costs
Many agencies charge extra for data, tools, or "premium" targeting. Your $5K/month quickly becomes $10K+.
Rep Turnover
Agencies have the same turnover problems as in-house teams. Your account gets passed to junior reps.
Lack of Transparency
Most agencies won't share their playbooks, sequences, or data. You're dependent on their black box.
Misaligned Incentives
Pay-per-meeting models incentivize quantity over quality. Agencies book meetings that don't convert.
Lock-In Contracts
6-12 month minimums are standard. If results are poor, you're stuck paying anyway.
Top SDR Agencies & Pricing
Here's what leading SDR agencies charge for their services (2025 pricing):
| Agency | Monthly Pricing | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Cience | $2,000-9,000/mo | Multichannel B2B |
| MemoryBlue | $3,500-11,000+/mo | Premium SDR services |
| Martal Group | $3,000+/mo | Managed outbound |
| SalesRoads | $10,000+/mo | US-based appointment setting |
| SalesBread | $3,000/mo + setup | LinkedIn + email |
| StoryPros AI BDR | $3,000-5,000/mo | Custom AI + full ownership |
Why AI BDR Beats Agencies
See every message, every metric. No black boxes.
Walk away anytime and keep your playbooks.
No upfront costs. Month-to-month flexibility.
Ready to own your outbound system?
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