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. 👇
| Tools | Best for | Key differentiator |
| Cognism | Teams needing verified, compliant contact data (esp. EMEA). | Diamond Data® phone-verified mobiles + governed AI; predictable, seat-based pricing. |
|
ZoomInfo |
Enterprises prioritising US coverage | Very large US dataset with advanced firmographics/intent. |
| Seamless.AI | Rapid list building from LinkedIn. | Fast Chrome extension; automation add-ons. |
| Breeze Intelligence (Clearbit) | Marketing enrichment & form fills. | Real-time form enrichment; marketer-first workflows. |
| RocketReach | Direct emails and dials for quick outreach. | Simple contact retrieval with org charts/trends. |
|
Sales Navigator |
Relationship-led prospecting on LinkedIn. | Powerful graph search + InMail for warm outreach. |
|
Hunter.io |
Email discovery and verification. | Domain search at scale with deliverability scoring. |
| LeadIQ | Capturing leads during active prospecting. | Live capture, trigger tracking, sequence sync. |
| Lusha | Budget-friendly, self-serve prospecting. | Easy setup and pricing; SMB-friendly. |
When I tested these Apollo.io alternatives, I focused on four main areas:
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. 👇
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.
*Subject to a generous fair usage policy.
For more information on Cognism packages, check out the pricing page or skip ahead and get a data sample tailored to your ICP. 👇
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.
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.
Available after a consultation.
Tiers for sales, marketing, and recruitment.
ZoomInfo pricing depends on the number of seats, credits, and add-ons.
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.
See how ZoomInfo compares to Cognism.Locked into a contract with ZoomInfo and need a way out? Cognism can help you make the switch.
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.
Seamless.AI pricing packages include Free, Pro, and Enterprise.
Based on credits and the required number of user seats.
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:
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.
Breeze Intelligence pricing is based on credit packs of 100, 1,000 and 10,000.
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.
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.
RocketReach pricing includes three packages:
Essentials (Only emails.)
Pro & Ultimate (Email and phone.)
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.
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.
Free trial available.
Custom enterprise pricing.
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 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.
Limited free plan.
Three paid subscriptions.
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.
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).
LeadIQ limited free version.
Two credit-based plans.
Custom enterprise offer.
LeadIQ emphasises quick data capture and enrichment. The Apollo sales tool provides a more integrated approach, combining data acquisition with sales engagement functionalities.
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.
Free trial with basic features.
Paid monthly plans with limited credits per user.
Custom Lusha plan available.
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:
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! 👇