Chapter 1/10 • 15 min read

Getting Started

Set up your Lemlist account for success. Pricing, email connection, and warmup configuration.

⏱️ TL;DR: Choose the right plan, connect your email via OAuth, enable Lemwarm, and configure sending settings (50-100 emails/day, 60-180s delays).

What is Lemlist?

Lemlist is a cold email and sales engagement platform founded in Paris in 2018. It's known for pioneering personalized images in cold email and has evolved into a full multichannel outreach tool supporting email, LinkedIn, and calls. Over 37,000 companies use Lemlist for their outbound prospecting.

Lemlist stands out from competitors like Smartlead and Apollo with its built-in lead database (450M+ contacts), native LinkedIn automation, and Lemwarm email warmup included in most plans.

Choosing the Right Plan

Lemlist offers four pricing tiers in 2026. Choose based on your channel needs and team size:

  • Email Starter ($39/month): Email campaigns only. 1 sending email, basic personalization, no warmup. Good for testing Lemlist but limited for serious outbound.
  • Email Pro ($69/month): Includes Lemwarm, 3 sending emails, custom images, advanced personalization. The minimum viable plan for real cold email campaigns.
  • Multichannel Expert ($99/month): Adds LinkedIn automation (visits, invites, messages), 5 sending emails, A/B testing. Best value for multichannel outreach.
  • Outreach Scale ($159/month): 15 sending emails, priority support, advanced analytics. For agencies and high-volume teams.

💡 My Recommendation

Start with Email Pro ($69/month). You need Lemwarm for deliverability, and 3 sending emails lets you rotate domains properly. Upgrade to Multichannel Expert when ready for LinkedIn.

Connecting Your Email Account

Email connection is the foundation of your Lemlist setup. Follow these steps:

  1. Go to Settings → Email Accounts → Add Account
  2. Choose your provider (Gmail, Outlook, or SMTP)
  3. Use OAuth authentication when available (more reliable than SMTP)
  4. Verify the connection with a test email

For Gmail: OAuth is strongly recommended. It handles authentication automatically and reduces connection issues. You'll need to grant Lemlist access to send emails on your behalf.

For Outlook/Microsoft 365: OAuth works similarly. Make sure your admin has enabled third-party app access if you're on a corporate account.

For other providers: Use SMTP/IMAP credentials. You'll need server addresses, port numbers, and app passwords (not your regular password).

Setting Up Lemwarm

Lemwarm is Lemlist's email warmup tool. It automatically sends and receives emails between Lemlist users to build your sender reputation before campaigns.

Warmup schedule for new domains:

  • Week 1: 5-10 warmup emails/day
  • Week 2: 15-25 warmup emails/day
  • Week 3: 30-40 warmup emails/day
  • Week 4+: 40-50 warmup emails/day (maintenance)

Enable Lemwarm immediately when connecting a new email account. Keep it running even during active campaigns—it works in the background and improves long-term deliverability.

📊 Warmup Timeline

New domains need 2-3 weeks of warmup before sending campaigns. Aged domains (6+ months with activity) can start campaigns after 1 week of warmup.

Configuring Sending Settings

Proper sending limits protect your deliverability. Configure these settings before launching campaigns:

Daily sending limits:

  • New accounts (0-30 days): 30-50 emails/day maximum
  • Warmed accounts (30-60 days): 50-75 emails/day
  • Mature accounts (60+ days): 75-100 emails/day

Timing settings:

  • Delay between emails: 60-180 seconds (randomized)
  • Sending hours: 8AM-6PM recipient timezone
  • Best days: Tuesday through Thursday
  • Avoid: Weekends, Mondays, Friday afternoons

Initial Account Checklist

Before your first campaign, verify these items:

  • ✅ Email connected via OAuth
  • ✅ Lemwarm enabled and running
  • ✅ Daily limits configured (start conservative)
  • ✅ Sending schedule set to business hours
  • ✅ Signature configured with real contact info
  • ✅ Unsubscribe link enabled for compliance

Common Setup Mistakes

Sending too much too soon: The #1 mistake. New accounts that blast 100+ emails on day 1 often land in spam permanently. Start slow, ramp gradually.

Skipping warmup: Even aged domains benefit from warmup. The 2-3 week investment pays off with better deliverability throughout your campaigns.

Using personal email: Never use your main work email for cold outreach. Set up dedicated domains and email accounts to protect your primary communication.