Cold Call or Cold Email: Which is Better in 2025?

Cold calling and cold emailing are two of the most common ways salespeople try to connect with potential customers. 

But which one actually works better? 

The truth is, each has its strengths, and the right choice often depends on your goals, audience, and timing. 

In this blog, I will break down the differences between cold calls and cold emails. And I will also help you figure out which approach might be the better fit for your sales strategy.

What Are Cold Calls & Cold Emails?

Cold Call is a sales technique where businesses call potential clients who don't know about your business.

Cold Email is a sales technique where businesses send emails to individuals or other businesses that have never inquired about them. It's commonly used for sales, networking, partnerships, or other business opportunities.

When Should You Cold Call

• You're selling something expensive or complicated
• You’re reaching senior decision-makers who don’t check their inbox
• You need quick responses or feedback
• You’re great at speaking, improvising, and handling curveballs

Pro Tip: Always call with a clear reason and value prop. “Just checking in” = click.

When Should You Send a Cold Email

• You’re doing mass outreach
• Your product doesn’t require a 30-minute explanation
• You want to test and optimize messaging
• You’re warming up leads for eventual calls

Pro Tip: Personalize the first sentence. Show you did your homework. People appreciate when they see businesses have done their research before reaching out.

Still trying to pick one? Don’t.

The top-performing sales reps use cold emails to warm up the prospect, and cold calls to seal the deal. More like a combo move.

Step-by-Step Sales Workflow

Now find out how you can utilize both cold calls and emails for the best business outcomes!

Send Cold Email First

Subject line: Short + intriguing

Body: Problem → Solution → CTA

Bonus points: Add a case study or stat

Wait 2–3 Days

If no response, follow up with a call: “Hey [Name], I sent you an email earlier this week—thought I’d follow up quickly over the phone.”

Leave a Voicemail if Needed

Keep it under 20 seconds. Mention the email again.

Second Email Follow-up

Add a new piece of value—maybe a relevant blog post or industry insight.

Move On or Nurture

Not ready? Add them to a newsletter list or drip campaign (with permission, obviously).

Cold Call or Cold Email: When to Use What?

Here is a detailed explanation that will help you when to use cold email and when to use cold calls.

Selling a $10K+ B2B SaaS Deal

Best Channel: Cold Calling

Why: High-ticket sales need human connection. Cold calls allow you to build trust, answer objections in real-time, and tailor your pitch on the fly.

Pitching Free Trials / Demos

Best Channel: Cold Emailing

Why: You can reach hundreds (even thousands) with minimal effort and cost. It’s perfect for top-of-funnel awareness without overwhelming your resources.

Need Instant Answers or Qualification

Best Channel: Cold Calling

Why: Nothing beats hearing a direct “yes” or “no” on the spot. You quickly identify hot leads and avoid wasting time chasing unqualified prospects.

Testing CTAs / Offers

Best Channel: Cold Emailing

Why: A/B testing is fast and easy. You can tweak subject lines, offers, and CTAs, and use analytics to see what’s actually working.

Limited Time / Solo Outreach

Best Channel: Cold Emailing

Why: When you're doing it all yourself, automation tools like Manyreach let you scale without burning out. Set it and let it run while you focus on closing.

Reason You Need Manyreach

Manyreach gives your cold emails the clarity and reach they deserve. Whether you're a founder or part of a sales team, it helps you send personalized emails at scale, without sounding like a robot.

With features like hyper-personalization, automated follow-ups, detailed analytics, and several other features, you're set up to focus on real conversations.

FAQs

Q1. What’s the average response rate for cold calls vs cold emails?

Cold calls can get a 1–3% success rate, while cold emails hover around 15–25% open rate and 1–5% reply rate. But a reply doesn’t mean a sale—don’t be fooled by vanity metrics.

Q2. Which one gets more meetings booked?

Cold calls edge out cold emails in meeting conversion, especially for enterprise sales. But a great cold email sequence can warm the lead enough to make that call way easier.

Q3. Is it legal to send cold emails or make unsolicited calls?

Yep—but tread carefully. For emails, follow GDPR, CAN-SPAM, or India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act (2023). For calls, don’t spam DND numbers and always offer opt-outs.

Q4. Which is easier for beginners?

Emails are easier to start with—less anxiety, more room for editing. Cold calling builds confidence and thick skin over time but has a steeper learning curve.

Q5. How many touchpoints should I plan?

Minimum 5–7. Don’t stop at one email and one call. People are busy. Consistency (not spammy persistence) pays off.

Conclusion

There’s no one-size-fits-all. The best salespeople don’t choose, they use both. Cold emails open the door, and cold calls walk you in. When done right, they’re not annoying, they’re a lifeline offering value, answers, and solutions.

So go ahead. Write that witty email. Make that confident call. Whether you whisper into inboxes or roar into phones, own your style, know your prospect, and always lead with value.