Smartlead Adds Auto Dialing and Inbound Calling to SmartDialer

Smartlead has added two features to SmartDialer, its built-in power dialer: Auto Dialing, which starts the next call the moment the current one ends, and Inbound Calling, which forwards a lead's return call to a phone you choose. Smartlead announced both to its user base by email on October 16, 2026. SmartDialer itself launched in February 2026, and these two updates move it from a click-to-call add-on toward a real calling workflow inside the same platform that already runs your cold email.

What did Smartlead add to SmartDialer?

Two things. Auto Dialing is sequential dialing: you select a list of leads, hit Start Dialing, and SmartDialer places the next call automatically as each one ends, so reps stop clicking between calls. Inbound Calling lets you attach a forwarding number to each Dialer number in your account, so when a prospect calls you back, the call rings through to a phone someone actually answers instead of dying on an unmonitored outbound line.

Both features live inside Smartlead, so call activity sits next to the email history, warmup, and sequences you already run there.

How does Auto Dialing actually work?

Per Smartlead's help documentation (checked October 17): go to SmartDialer, open Call in Queue, select your leads with the checkboxes, then click Start Dialing. SmartDialer calls the first lead, and once that call ends and you log it, the next lead dials automatically until the queue is empty. A status bar at the bottom tracks the sequence: calls attempted, leads still queued, and which lead is dialing.

Three details worth knowing before you run your first session:

• Pause, don't stop. Pausing lets you resume the same list later. Stopping ends the sequence and clears the list, then shows a summary of how many leads were called and how many connected.
• Everything is logged. Every call lands in Call Logs and on the lead's own call history, and calls are recorded and transcribed with speaker labels by default.
• Leads without phone numbers are skipped automatically, so a mixed list won't jam the queue.

Why does inbound calling matter for outbound teams?

Because return calls are where outbound dialing quietly leaks meetings. A rep leaves a voicemail, the prospect calls back ninety minutes later, and the call hits a number nobody monitors. With forwarding set per Dialer number, that return call rings through to a real phone, and every inbound call is logged under Call Logs in its own Inbound Calls view. If you run many numbers, Smartlead added bulk add and bulk remove for forwarding settings.

What does SmartDialer cost?

Smartlead sells US numbers with local area codes starting at $1 per number per month, reps can hold more than one number, and recording plus transcription are included, per the SmartDialer page as of October 17. Smartlead is also running 50% off the first month on any plan for new accounts. Current terms are on our Smartlead listing.

Does this change the cold email stack math?

A little, yes. Until now, adding calls to a cold email motion usually meant paying for a separate dialer, and we have shown in what a cold email stack really costs how fast those line items pile up. A usable dialer with auto dialing inside Smartlead means email plus calls in one sequence without a second contract. If you are comparing platforms, Reply.io also bundles calling with its sequences, while Instantly stays email-first; our cold email software comparison covers the wider field. And if you are wiring calling into an AI-assisted prospecting motion, that is exactly what we build in the AI SDR prospecting engine.

Frequently asked questions

What is Auto Dialing in Smartlead's SmartDialer?

Auto Dialing is sequential dialing inside SmartDialer. You select leads under Call in Queue and click Start Dialing, and SmartDialer automatically places the next call as soon as the current one ends and is logged, until the list is empty.

How do I turn on inbound calling in SmartDialer?

Go to SmartDialer, then Settings, then Inbound Calls, and add a forwarding number to any Dialer number. Use Bulk Add to set forwarding on multiple numbers at once. Inbound calls are logged under Call Logs in the Inbound Calls view.

How much does SmartDialer cost?

US phone numbers with local area codes start at $1 per number per month, with call recording and transcription included. SmartDialer is part of Smartlead, which offers 50% off the first month on any plan for new accounts.

When did Smartlead launch SmartDialer?

Smartlead launched SmartDialer on February 24, 2026. Auto Dialing and Inbound Calling were announced to Smartlead users by email on October 16, 2026.