Dux-Soup Overview
Dux-Soup is one of the oldest LinkedIn automation tools, launched in 2016. It's a Chrome extension that sits inside your browser and automates profile visits, connection requests, and follow-up messages.
Plans start at $11/month (Starter) and go up to $55/month (Turbo). It's the cheapest entry point into LinkedIn automation.
The Chrome Extension Problem
Chrome extensions are the weakest approach to LinkedIn automation. Here's why:
- Detectable by LinkedIn. Extensions modify the browser's DOM and inject JavaScript. LinkedIn's anti-automation systems fingerprint your browser environment and can detect these modifications.
- You must keep Chrome open. Dux-Soup only works while your browser is open and the extension is active. Close your laptop, lose your automation.
- Extension conflicts. Other extensions, browser updates, or LinkedIn UI changes can break Dux-Soup without warning.
- No background processing. Dux-Soup can't score leads, analyze profiles, or do anything intelligent in the background. It's just clicking buttons in your browser.
LeadPilot connects to Chrome via CDP (Chrome DevTools Protocol) — the same protocol Chrome's own DevTools uses. There's no extension to detect. To LinkedIn, it looks like a regular browser being operated by a human.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | LeadPilot | Dux-Soup |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | One-time purchase | $11–55/month |
| AI Lead Scoring | ✓ Claude AI (0–100) | ✗ |
| AI Messages | ✓ Unique per person | ✗ Templates |
| Approach | Self-hosted CLI + CDP | Chrome extension |
| Detectability | ✓ Low (no extension) | ✗ High (DOM injection) |
| Must Keep Browser Open | ✗ Runs independently | ✓ Required |
| Scriptable / Cron | ✓ | ✗ |
| Human-like Behavior | ✓ Organic patterns | ~ Basic delays |
| CSV Export | ✓ | ✓ |
Smart Targeting vs Spray-and-Pray
Dux-Soup's approach: visit profiles, send connection requests with templates, hope for the best. There's no intelligence in choosing who to target. You're spraying the same message to everyone who matches your search.
LeadPilot's approach: scrape profiles, score each one with Claude AI against your ICP, only connect with qualified leads, and write a unique message for each one.
The difference in acceptance rates is stark. Template messages get 15-25% acceptance. Genuinely personalized messages get 40-60%.
The Pricing Trap
Dux-Soup seems cheap at $11/month. But:
- The $11 Starter plan only does profile visits — no connection requests
- You need the $36/month Pro plan for connection automation
- The $55/month Turbo plan adds campaign sequences
- Over 2 years: $864 (Pro) to $1,320 (Turbo)
LeadPilot: one-time purchase, all features included, $0/month forever.
When Dux-Soup Is Better
- You want the absolute cheapest way to start (just profile visits at $11/mo)
- You're not technical and need a point-and-click tool
- You just need basic automation without AI scoring
- You want a visual drip campaign builder
When LeadPilot Wins
- You want AI that scores and qualifies leads before you connect
- You want unique, personalized messages instead of templates
- You care about account safety (no detectable extension)
- You want to script and automate your outreach pipeline
- You never want to pay monthly again
Related
FAQ
Can LinkedIn detect Dux-Soup?
Yes. Chrome extensions modify the browser DOM and inject JavaScript that LinkedIn can detect through browser fingerprinting. LinkedIn has been increasingly sophisticated at identifying extension-based automation since 2024.
Is Dux-Soup safe to use?
Dux-Soup uses conservative rate limits which helps, but the fundamental issue is that Chrome extensions are detectable. A self-hosted tool like LeadPilot that controls a real Chrome browser via CDP is harder to distinguish from normal browsing.
What is a good Dux-Soup alternative?
LeadPilot is a strong alternative for technical users. It offers AI lead scoring (which Dux-Soup lacks), personalized messages (not templates), self-hosted operation, and a one-time purchase model. The trade-off is that it requires terminal comfort.