When searching for the right platform to support your outbound sales, Apollo.io is likely one of the first tools you’ll hear about. But once you’re past the marketing pitch, a simple question comes up: how does Apollo pricing actually work?
Apollo.io uses a hybrid billing model. You pay a flat monthly fee per seat, plus credits for usage-based actions like unlocking contact info or exporting data.
It sounds straightforward. But once your team starts working at scale, the real cost can look very different from what you expected.
This breakdown will help you understand what’s included, what’s not, and whether Apollo is worth the investment for your team.
What is Apollo and What Does It Offer?
Apollo.io is a sales intelligence and engagement platform that helps B2B teams discover leads, engage them across channels, and automate outreach. It combines contact data, outreach tools (like email and LinkedIn automation), and analytics into one system.
Its value lies in giving reps access to millions of contacts, sequencing workflows, and performance metrics. However, many of the platform’s features are tied to how many credits you use, and that can significantly impact your monthly bill.
How Apollo.io Pricing Works
Apollo’s pricing combines monthly per-user fees with usage-based credits. Each plan includes a quota for email sends, phone reveals, and data exports. Go beyond that, and you’ll need to purchase more credits.
1. Apollo’s Plans at a Glance
- Free: 50 AI credits, limited contact access, 2 sequences
- Basic (from $49/user/month): 1,000 email credits, 75 mobile credits, CRM integration
- Professional (from $79): Higher caps + A/B testing, automation, power dialer
- Organization (from $119, min. 3 seats): Adds API, SSO, reporting, maximum limits
All plans include email and LinkedIn outreach, but usage caps vary significantly by tier.
2. Feature Gaps in Lower Tiers
Entry-level plans appear affordable, but they’re restrictive.
You’ll quickly hit limits on phone reveals or outreach sequences.
Core features like A/B testing or advanced reporting are only available on higher tiers, forcing many teams to upgrade or buy credits just to keep up.
3. Is There a Free Option?
Yes, Apollo has a free-forever plan, ideal for testing the UI, but it lacks mobile data, sequence volume, and integrations.
There’s no free trial for paid tiers, so upgrading requires an upfront commitment.
4. When the Real Cost Adds Up
Costs surge when you’re running Apollo at scale.
Credits don’t roll over, so you either use them or lose them. And for teams doing heavy prospecting, hitting those limits can be frequent and costly.
Why Sales Teams Look Beyond Apollo
While Apollo is a great starting point, it doesn’t always scale with growing teams. As outbound becomes more multichannel and CRM-driven, Apollo’s limitations become harder to overlook.
Fragmented Multichannel
Apollo supports email, basic LinkedIn, and phone, but not as a seamless experience
Multichannel engagement often requires jumping between tools, disrupting workflow and lowering rep efficiency.
Shallow CRM Integration
Apollo’s CRM sync is limited. Real-time updates, bidirectional contact sync, and detailed activity logs are lacking, leading to redundant tasks and data silos.
Credit Fatigue
Managing credits for every export or reveal gets tiring. Scaling teams often find themselves capped at the worst moments, when momentum is high and campaigns are running.
Better ROI From New Tools
Modern sales platforms now offer:
- Unified multichannel flows
- Native CRM integrations
- Smart automation with AI
- Transparent pricing
That’s why many teams are switching, to work smarter, not harder.
What Makes a Great Apollo Alternative?
If you’re ready to move beyond Apollo, focus on platforms that improve both rep productivity and cross-channel coordination.
Unified Multichannel Campaigns
Look for tools where reps can message via email, LinkedIn, phone, and even chat from one place. The smoother the workflow, the better the conversion rate.
AI-Powered Outreach
Platforms with AI can qualify leads, personalize messages, and automate replies, freeing up reps to close deals instead of managing inboxes.
Native CRM Integration
Sales platforms should plug into your CRM directly. That means real-time updates, zero manual syncing, and no data duplication.
Fair, Predictable Pricing
Avoid credit models. Choose tools with transparent pricing that scales with your usage and doesn’t penalize you for growing your pipeline.
Why Genesy is a Leading Apollo.io Alternative
Genesy offers everything Apollo doesn’t, and more.
Multichannel in One Flow
Email, LinkedIn, calls, and chatbot messaging in a single workspace.
Real-Time Data from 30+ Sources
Your contact info is always up to date, no guessing, no delays.
Smart Automation at Scale
Custom sequences, smart replies, and automated meeting booking, all built in.
Simple, Scalable, and Fast
From day one, Genesy fits into your workflow and grows with your team. No clunky setup or expensive tiers.
If you’re done juggling credits and siloed tools, Genesy is the way forward.
Apollo vs. Modern Sales Engagement Tools
Modern tools like Genesy are built for speed, automation, and user control. Here’s how they stack up against Apollo.
Feature Comparison
Apollo has solid data access and outreach tools, but lacks unified multichannel flows and native AI.
Newer platforms offer:
- Real-time lead scoring
- AI messaging
- Dynamic reporting
- Chatbots and meeting automation
Pricing Transparency
Apollo’s credits model creates cost surprises.
Modern platforms favor simple, inclusive pricing, great for long-term planning and scaling teams.
Support and Onboarding
Apollo has limited onboarding support.
Next-gen tools often include guided setup, training, and ongoing support, reducing friction when switching tools.
Choosing the Right Apollo Alternative
Here’s how to match the right platform to your team:
By Team Size
- Small/startups: Mailshake, Mixmax – simple and quick to launch
- Mid-size teams: Salesloft, Reply.io – advanced automation and multichannel workflows
- Enterprise: Groove, HubSpot Sales Hub – secure, scalable, and data-rich
By Tech Stack
- Salesforce teams: Groove is deeply integrated
- Google Workspace: Mixmax works natively
- CRM flexibility: Salesloft, Reply.io, Outreach support wide integrations
By Use Case
- SDR/Outbound: Close, Outreach – scale outreach with automation
- ABM teams: Lemlist – creative templates and personalized touch
- Full-funnel: Salesloft, HubSpot – from prospecting to pipeline tracking
Key Hurdles When Switching from Apollo
1. Data Migration
You’ll need to move contact data, sequences, and reports. Double-check for lost data during export/import.
2. Team Training
Reps may need time to adapt. Make sure onboarding includes hands-on training and clear documentation.
3. Workflow Setup
CRM and tool integrations may require IT support. Test everything, especially campaign automations, before going live.
3 Trends Shaping Sales Tech in 2025
1. Rise of AI Sales Agents
AI is now handling lead scoring, follow-ups, and even meeting booking.
Reps can focus on deals, not admin work.
2. Platform Consolidation
The future is fewer tools, more capabilities. Sales teams want everything, email, LinkedIn, calls, in one interface.
3. Real-Time Data Enrichment
Instant access to fresh emails, phone numbers, and job updates means more timely, effective outreach.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which platforms beat Apollo for multichannel outreach?
Top alternatives include Genesy, Outreach, Salesloft, and Reply.io.
Is there a cheaper Apollo alternative?
Yes, Mixmax, Lemlist, and Mailshake are more affordable with simpler pricing.
Do Apollo competitors integrate with CRMs and LinkedIn?
Most modern tools offer deep CRM sync and LinkedIn automation features.
Is switching from Apollo complicated?
Not with the right support. Many tools offer migration help, training, and CRM setup to ease the transition.
What’s the best scalable alternative for B2B?
Genesy is built for B2B teams needing speed, automation, and full channel control.
