There are a lot of Apollo.io competitors out there, and honestly, all it does is create decision fatigue. I’ve already got enough going on trying to hit quota.

I needed a tool that makes my life easier and doesn’t add to my admin. Something that fits into my current workflows, scales with my team, and provides B2B data I can actually trust.

For me, that means a provider that’s compliant, has strong verification features, and doesn’t slow me down with credit ceilings or hidden costs.

Finding a platform that ticks all those boxes isn’t easy, so I tested them for you. 

Here’s what I learnt. 👇

TL;DR

When I tested these Apollo.io alternatives, I focused on four main areas:

• GDPR and CCPA compliance.
• Data accuracy.
• Integration with tools like Salesforce and Outreach.
• Transparent pricing.

For me, these factors are essential for any team expanding into new markets or scaling fast.

Let’s take a closer look at what I discovered. 👇

1. Cognism

Cognism is an excellent Apollo alternative if you’re looking for more mobile numbers that have been extensively DNC screened. 

It offers a high-quality European contact database with phone-verified mobile numbers, B2B emails, and direct dials in the EMEA, NAM, and APAC markets. This makes Cognism a great option for US-headquartered companies with EMEA locations!

I was especially impressed by Cognism’s AI. Sales Companion adapts to every seller’s needs, displaying leads and insights tailored to your role or territory. Using it, I could prioritise my time by engaging the right leads exactly when it counted the most.

And it’s not just that. The Research feature was fantastic, too. It pulls together insights from multiple verified sources, giving you a quick overview of a company’s business model, strategy, competitors, and even conversation starters — all without leaving the platform.

It saves a huge amount of time compared to jumping between tabs or trying to prompt ChatGPT for the same answers. Everything is already built in and grounded in verified data, so I can go into calls confident I’m armed with context that actually matters.

Best features:

• Sales Companion for personalised access to in-depth account data to ensure fresh and fast outreach.
• Phone-verified cell phone numbers to help you connect with 87% of your list.
• Exclusive on-demand verified cell phone and email data set Diamond Data®.
• Unrestricted access to person and company-level data*.
• API Enrichment and on-demand CSV enrichment.
• Intent data by Bombora.
• International coverage: EMEA, NAM, APAC.
• Easy platform setup.
• Integrations with CRMs and sales engagement tools.
• Focus on quality GDPR and CCPA-compliant data.
• Database checked and cleaned against global DNC lists.
• Find prospects using ChatGPT-style textual or voice prompts with Cognism AI Search.
• Fast and friendly support team.

*Subject to a generous fair usage policy.

Pricing:

• Two packages to choose from: Grow and Elevate (Includes Signals).
• All packages include contact and company data, including our phone-verified Diamond Data® contacts, target market analytics and integrations to leading CRM and engagement tools.
• No extra charge for access to global and regional data — NAM, EMEA, and APAC are included in all packages.
• Diamonds on Demand and intent data powered by Bombora as add-ons.

For more information on Cognism packages, check out the pricing page or skip ahead and get a data sample tailored to your ICP. 👇

Cognism vs Apollo.io: Who is better?

The above table summarises the key differentiators between Cognism and Apollo. 

Cognism employs a rigorous 16-step email verification process compared to Apollo.io’s 7-step process. Apollo’s verifications use third-party vendors like ZeroBounce via waterfall enrichment. Cognism also offers an on-demand verification service for users to request mobile number verification. 

Additionally, Cognism’s email database is notified and only includes B2B emails. The focus is on valuable company data rather than bulk info from free public registries. Cognism is GDPR and CCPA-compliant, so teams can prospect with confidence, no matter the region.  

Furthermore, Cognism does not collect user data to enrich its database like Apollo.io. 

⚠️Click for a deeper look at Cognism vs Apollo.

What customers say: 

“We trialled Apollo, which didn’t produce adequate results. We evaluated ZoomInfo but found the data to be too US-centric, which is why we went with Cognism”

Read the full case study

Marc Parsons
SDR Manager @OneUp Sales

60%

closed deals with Cognism’s mobile numbers

2. ZoomInfo

ZoomInfo is similar to Apollo.io in that it pursues an AI-driven all-in-one platform with a company profile database and contact data.

However, ZoomInfo segments its database for specific functions and is said to charge differently for data in different regions. One user commented that paying for the different regions was hard to justify for an international company.

Best features:

• Web form optimisation.
• Website visitor tracking.
• Digital advertising.
• Buyer intent.

Pricing:

• Available after a consultation.

• Tiers for sales, marketing, and recruitment.

• ZoomInfo pricing depends on the number of seats, credits, and add-ons.

Apollo vs ZoomInfo: Who is better?

ZoomInfo offers a more comprehensive database with advanced features, but it's more expensive. Apollo.io provides a budget-friendly solution with essential features, making it suitable for smaller businesses.

See how ZoomInfo compares to Apollo.io.

However, if you’re interested in global data, then choose Cognism. It provides global coverage with a strong emphasis on data accuracy and compliance, particularly in Europe. This makes it a cost-effective alternative for businesses seeking reliable data without the higher costs associated with ZoomInfo.

Locked into a contract with ZoomInfo and need a way out? Cognism can help you make the switch.

3. Seamless.AI

Check out Seamless.AI if you’re looking for Apollo.io competitors that use AI to identify and qualify leads in real-time. Credits restrict access to contact data, but you can get free credits to test the platform before committing.

An independent comparison of Apollo.io competitors revealed that Seamless has a high bounce rate even on data marked as high confidence and missing company data.

Best features:

• Pitch intelligence.
• Sales script writer add-on.
• Data enrichment add-on.
• Buyer intent data add-on.

Pricing:

• Seamless.AI pricing packages include Free, Pro, and Enterprise. 

• Based on credits and the required number of user seats.

Seamless.AI vs Apollo.io: Who is better?

Seamless.AI focuses on real-time data extraction, which can be beneficial for up-to-date information. Apollo offers a more integrated platform with additional features like sales engagement tools.

If data accuracy without credit limitations is important to you, Cognism is the better option. 

Here’s a detailed comparison of Seamless.AI vs Cognism. 

Cognism’s data is phone-verified, fresh, and accurate, so you can spend more time talking to real people. Mobiles and direct dials are of the highest quality; Cognism emails follow a 16-step verification process, significantly lowering bounce rates. 

Here’s what one user had to say:

“We reviewed Cognism and tools like Lusha, Seamless.AI and ZoomInfo.” “I think from the outside, these tools look very advanced and fancy. They claim to be a 5-in-1 solution, or they can do anything we want to do.” “But we had a trial for one and discovered that the database was not very up to date. Compared to Cognism, it’s very old. The European database is not as strong as Cognism.” “In terms of pricing, they were very expensive, and everything is an ‘add-on’, so the packages alone are very limited. For example, you’d have to spend double the amount to get something as simple as a new filter.”

Read the full case study

Michael Wong
Head of Marketing @Plandek

85%

improvement in data quality and enrichment

4. Breeze Intelligence (Clearbit)

Formerly Clearbit, Breeze Intelligence is a lead enrichment tool for marketing and operations teams that want to enhance existing data and automate workflows. 

The tool created by HubSpot leverages AI along with your CRM data to conduct company research, prepare for sales calls, develop your pipeline, and summarise CRM records, all aimed at enhancing marketing and sales processes.

However, users often mention its outdated data, which may be because Clearbit doesn’t offer phone verification/research or an on-demand service. 

Best features:

• Form shortening
• Buying intent signals.
• Lead scoring.
• Tailored outreach.

Pricing:

• Breeze Intelligence pricing is based on credit packs of 100, 1,000 and 10,000.

Clearbit vs Apollo.io: Who is better?

Breeze Intelligence excels in data enrichment, providing detailed insights into existing leads.

I found Apollo.io offers a broader range of features, including lead generation and sales engagement. I also wrote about Apollo data enrichment if you want to read more on the topic.

5. RocketReach

RocketReach is a sales intelligence tool that provides salespeople with access to personal and professional emails, phone numbers, and social media profiles.

Integrations and the type of data you get are based on the package you choose, and the tool does not offer a phone verification service.

Best features:

• Foundry intent data.
• Org charts and company trends.
• CRM Enrich.

Pricing:

RocketReach pricing includes three packages:

• Essentials (Only emails.)

• Pro & Ultimate (Email and phone.)

RocketReach vs Apollo.io: Who is better?

As an Apollo.io competitor, RocketReach provides accurate contact details but lacks the comprehensive sales engagement features that Apollo.io offers.

Apollo.io’s integrated platform may provide more value for sales teams seeking a holistic solution.

6. LinkedIn Sales Navigator

Sales Nav is sometimes considered an Apollo competitor because it allows you to find prospects and companies that match your ideal customer profile.

You can use the InMail feature to contact them, but it’s best to enrich Sales Nav lists with actionable contact data like emails or cell phone numbers.

Best features:

• Advanced lead search.
• InMail messaging.
• Real-time sales updates.
• Notes and tags synced with CRM.

Pricing:

• Free trial available.

• Custom enterprise pricing.

Sales Navigator vs Apollo.io: Who is better?

While Sales Navigator offers advanced search capabilities within LinkedIn, it doesn’t provide the extensive contact information and sales engagement tools that Apollo.io does.

I know many sales teams that use Cognism and LinkedIn Sales Nav in tandem. Sales Companion works across LinkedIn, so you can reach decision-makers with reliable, consistently refreshed contact data. I’m a big fan of the tailored targeting for ideal accounts and customers.​

Learn more about Cognism vs LinkedIn Sales Nav. 

Here’s how Allego uses Cognism with LinkedIn:

“The SDRs and AEs spend the majority of their time using Cognism for day-to-day prospecting. They will find the contacts in LinkedIn Sales Navigator, generate the contact details in Cognism and sync these into Outreach sequences - the data is routed to Salesforce via the integration.”

Read the full case study

Richard Smith
VP of Sales EMEA @Allego

7. Hunter.io

The next Apollo.io competitor is Hunter.io. It’s a good option if you’re mainly outreaching via email. 

This email finder tool helps you discover email addresses using a company name or domain. It indexes emails disclosed in public sources by crawling the web. However, this means Hunter collects personal data as well, which requires a different level of consent for compliance.

Best features:

• Email searches and verifications.
• Domain search.
• CSV exports.
• Cold email scheduling and tracking.

Pricing:

• Limited free plan.

• Three paid subscriptions.

Hunter.io vs Apollo.io: Who is better?

Hunter.io specialises in email discovery and verification. The Apollo email finder is available alongside a suite of sales engagement tools, making it a more comprehensive solution.

You might want to consider Cognism instead.

Why?

Cognism not only verifies email addresses through a 16-step process but also provides additional contact information and compliance assurance, offering a more rounded solution.

8. LeadIQ

LeadIQ is another Apollo alternative that gets information from public and private sources such as social media platforms and job boards. It verifies emails in real time but has a limited offer on mobile numbers (max. 120 on enterprise plan). 

Best features:

• Sales trigger tracking.
• AI writer tool.
• Outreach sequence sync.
• CRM enrichment.

Pricing: 

• LeadIQ limited free version.

• Two credit-based plans.

• Custom enterprise offer.

Apollo vs LeadIQ: Who is better?

LeadIQ emphasises quick data capture and enrichment. The Apollo sales tool provides a more integrated approach, combining data acquisition with sales engagement functionalities.

9. Lusha

Lusha is one of Apollo.io’s alternatives with monthly subscription plans. It’s affordable and has a self-service set-up until you want to negotiate an enterprise package.

Its advanced features are available on a custom plan, and users say its integrations could be improved.

Best features:

• Allows prospecting with basic data types and filters.
• Email sequence automation.
• Intent signals for enterprise clients.
• CSV enrichment.

Pricing:

• Free trial with basic features.

• Paid monthly plans with limited credits per user.

• Custom Lusha plan available.

Lusha vs Apollo: Who is better?

Both platforms offer similar functionalities, and user reviews are mixed. Some users have said that Lusha needs to improve the data it has. While some Apollo.io users find the platform hard to use. 

That said, you should rather consider a platform like Cognism or Kaspr. Both tools are easy to use with no learning curve, and the data accuracy is top-notch. 

Learn more about Cognism vs Lusha or Kaspr vs Lusha.

Here’s what Lockton found when they switched from Lusha to Cognism: 

“Results have roughly doubled. I’ve gone from booking one to two meetings per week since we switched from Lusha to Cognism.”

Read the full case study

Jack Hooper
Sales Development @Lockton

30 mins

of time saved a day

Why did I choose Cognism as the best Apollo.io competitor? 

Across all the Apollo.io alternatives I tested, Cognism was the only one that ticked every box. I loved how clean the platform looked and how effortless it was to use.

The AI was a genuine bonus; it cut my pre-call research down to minutes. I found myself speaking to more relevant decision-makers, none of whom were on DNC lists, and not once did someone ask where I’d got their data. That alone was a relief.

Cognism is the best alternative to Apollo.io. Enter your details to get your data sample! 👇 

Apollo alternatives FAQs