What is Apollo.io?
Apollo.io is a sales and go-to-market platform that pairs a large B2B contact database with tools to find, contact and follow up with prospects. The database covers more than 240 million contacts and 30 million companies. Apollo was founded in 2015 by Tim Zheng and Ray Li. It is widely used for lead generation and cold email because data and outreach live in the same place.
Beyond search, Apollo adds email sequences with deliverability features like domain warming and inbox rotation, a parallel dialer, a meeting scheduler and deal tracking. AI agents can research accounts, build lists, draft outreach and prioritize leads based on your ideal customer profile. A Chrome extension surfaces emails and phone numbers while you browse, and an MCP server connects Apollo to AI assistants.
Apollo.io at a glance
How does Apollo.io work?
- Define your target
Filter the database by title, industry, company size, location and buying signals such as job changes or intent.
- Build and enrich lists
Save leads, then use waterfall enrichment to fill in verified emails and phone numbers.
- Launch sequences
Create multi-step sequences with emails, calls and tasks, and connect your mailbox to send.
- Engage and book meetings
Call from the dialer, share a scheduling link and let AI agents handle follow-ups.
- Sync and track
Push activity and deals to your CRM and review results in Apollo's reports.
Apollo.io key features
B2B database
Search more than 240 million contacts and 30 million companies with detailed filters.
Waterfall enrichment
Fill in and refresh contact data, including emails and phone numbers.
Sequences
Automated multi-step outreach with domain warming and inbox rotation to protect deliverability.
Parallel dialer
Call several prospects in a row from inside the platform, with call recording on higher plans.
AI agents
Agents that research accounts, build lists, write emails and prioritize leads.
Buying signals
Track intent, job changes and website visits to time outreach.
Chrome extension
Find verified emails and phone numbers and start outreach from other web tools while you browse.
Why use Apollo.io?
- Data and outreach sit in one tool, which cuts the need for a separate lead database.
- A free plan lets founders and small teams test prospecting before paying.
- Buying signals help reps contact accounts at the right moment.
- AI agents reduce manual research and list building.
- Native CRM integrations with Salesforce and HubSpot keep records in sync.
Who is Apollo.io best for?
A good fit for
- B2B startups doing their own outbound sales
- Sales development reps and account executives
- Lead generation agencies
- Founders who want a low-cost way to start cold outreach
Less suited to
- B2C businesses selling to consumers
- Teams that need guaranteed data accuracy in niche regions
- Buyers who want simple pricing, since credits and limits vary by plan
Apollo.io pricing
| Pricing model | Freemium |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes |
| Free trial | Free trial of paid plans (length not stated) |
| Starting price | See the official pricing page |
Plans run Free, Basic, Professional and Custom, with higher tiers adding more credits, AI features, call recording and advanced CRM links. Credits are pooled per team and reset each cycle, and annual billing is discounted. Exact prices were not shown on the pricing page when checked.
Prices checked October 2026. Vendors change plans often, so confirm on the official Apollo.io pricing page before you buy.
Apollo.io pros and cons
Pros
- Large contact database plus outreach in one tool
- Free plan with no time limit
- Useful buying signals and AI agents
- Chrome extension speeds up prospecting
Cons
- Credit system can be confusing and credits do not roll over
- Free plan only connects Gmail accounts
- Data quality can vary by region and industry
Apollo.io integrations and platforms
Works with
Available on
Apollo.io alternatives
See the full shortlist in Best Cold Email Software.
Apollo.io FAQ
Is Apollo.io free?
Yes. Apollo.io has a free plan with no time limit, aimed at founders and light users. It includes access to the database and email campaigns through connected Gmail accounts, with lower credit and record limits. Paid plans add more credits, AI features, call recording and support for other email providers.
What is Apollo.io used for?
Apollo.io is used to find B2B prospects and contact them. Sales teams search its database for people who match their ideal customer, enrich records with emails and phone numbers, then run email and call sequences. Many teams also use Apollo to track buying signals and book meetings.
Is Apollo.io good for beginners?
Apollo.io is usable for beginners, especially founders running their first outbound campaigns. The free plan, filters and templates make it easy to start. The large number of features and the credit system take some time to learn, so new users should start with one simple sequence.
Apollo.io vs ZoomInfo: what's the difference?
Both provide B2B contact and company data. Apollo.io combines that data with built-in sequences, a dialer and AI agents and offers a free plan, which suits startups and smaller teams. ZoomInfo is an enterprise data platform that is usually sold through annual contracts with sales-led pricing. ZoomInfo is often chosen by larger companies with dedicated sales operations teams.
Does Apollo.io integrate with HubSpot?
Yes. Apollo.io lists HubSpot and Salesforce among its CRM integrations, so you can sync contacts, accounts and activity between the two systems. Advanced CRM integrations are part of the Professional plan. Apollo also connects with Slack, Google Sheets, Clay and many other tools. The Chrome extension also works alongside your CRM while you browse.
Sources
This overview is based on Apollo.io's official website and documentation, checked October 2026.