We Tried 11 Apollo.io Alternatives & Competitors for Lead Generation

We used Apollo.io for outbound, and hit the same issues many others report.

🟡 Outdated or missing leads
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🟡 No built-in warmup
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🟡 Deliverability dropped as we scaled

So we tested 11 real Apollo.io alternatives, not demos, actual tools, to see which performs better for lead generation.

In this guide, you’ll find:
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✅ What each tool does better than Apollo
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✅ Pros, cons, and clear use-case picks

Let’s help you pick the right alternative without wasting weeks testing.

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Apollo.io vs. Top 11 Alternatives: Quick Comparison 

Why People Look for Apollo.io Alternatives

Apollo.io is a strong tool when you're just getting started.

It gives you contact data, email outreach, and automation in one place.

But once you scale, a few problems start to show up, and that’s when many people start looking for other options.

Here’s what we found (and what G2 reviews back up):

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1. The data isn’t always accurate

While Apollo.io is a powerful tool, one area that could use improvement is the accuracy of contact data.” — G2 user

You get a lot of leads, but many are old, missing job titles, or have invalid emails. This means you spend more time cleaning data than actually reaching out.

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2. Email delivery can be risky

“Sometimes emails bounce, or the person has already moved on from that company.” — G2 review

Apollo doesn’t include inbox warm-up, so your emails might land in spam if you're not using other tools to protect your domain.

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3. The platform feels bloated

“I find the tool too complex to understand for new users. It would take a good 10 - 15 to fully explore the tool” — G2 review

There are a lot of features, but that also makes it feel heavy. For small teams or solo users, it’s more than you need.

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4. No built-in AI SDR
Apollo gives you tools, but it doesn't do the work for you. You still have to manage targeting, writing, sending, and follow-ups manually.

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5. Support can be slow

“The support you get with Apollo is non-existent. The first red flag is that there is no option to call support.” — G2 review

If you're running live campaigns and something breaks, waiting days for help can cost you real opportunities.

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Bottom line?

If you're a founder, SDR, or consultant trying to move fast, Apollo can slow you down.

That’s why we went out, tested 11 Apollo.io alternatives, and found what works better in different situations.

Let’s dive into those.

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11 Best Apollo.io Alternatives for Lead Generation in 2025

1. Leadsforge – Best All-in-One for Enrichment + Outreach

Leadsforge helps you find leads and launch cold email campaigns without using five different tools.

In our comparison, most tools forced us to jump between scraping, verifying, warming, and sending. 

Leadsforge stood out because it handled all of that in one place, from targeting to sending, without needing plug-ins or integrations.

It’s designed for teams that want to move fast, with verified leads and outreach built into a single workflow.

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Apollo.io vs Leadsforge

Why It’s Better than Apollo

Apollo gives you access to a massive database, but it also gives you noisy data and leaves warmup and inbox setup to you.

Leadsforge gives you:

• Verified emails included, so you don’t need to clean lists
  
  
• Built-in warmup, reducing the risk of landing in spam
  
  
• Simple outreach workflow, no Chrome extensions or Zapier setups required
  

It’s ideal for people who value speed, accuracy, and email deliverability in one place.

 Leadsforge Pricing

• Monthly: $49/month – 2,000 export credits; unused credits roll over.
  
  
• Yearly: $588/year – 28,000 credits upfront.
  
  
• Optional: Add-on tiers up to 100,000 credits/month.
  
  
• Free Trial: 100 credits available

Pros & Cons of Leadsforge 

⭐ Our Verdict

If you're spending too much time managing tools, Leadsforge gives you one clean platform to find leads, verify them, and launch cold emails, no filters, warmup add-ons, or extra cleanup.

It’s a strong fit for:

• SDRs who want verified leads and solid sending in one place
  
  
• Founders are tired of juggling enrichment, warmup, and outreach tools
  
  
• Agencies that care more about inbox placement than integrations
  

Leadsforge isn’t bloated, it’s purpose-built for outbound teams who want results, not complexity.

Let’s move on to the next tool: Clay.

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2. Clay – Best for Data Workflows & Enrichment

Clay lets you create custom workflows to find and enrich leads from multiple sources, using a visual, no-code interface.

Apollo.io vs Clay

Why It’s Better than Apollo

Apollo gives you a list, but not flexibility.

In Clay, we could combine LinkedIn, Crunchbase, Clearbit, and more in one flow, enrich leads deeply, and filter by real buying signals like tech used or recent hiring.

For us, the biggest win was quality control. 

No guessing if the email was verified or if the company fit our ICP, we built the rules.

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Clay Pricing

• Free Plan: 100 credits/month.
  
  
• Starter: $149/month – 2,000 credits.
  
  
• Explorer: $349/month – 10,000 credits.
  
  
• Pro: $800/month – 50,000 credits.
  
  
• Enterprise: Custom pricing.
  

Pros & Cons of Clay

⭐ Our Verdict

Clay is perfect if you want to build lead lists your way, using live data, smart filters, and your own rules.

It’s a strong fit for:

• Growth teams doing ICP-based targeting
  
  
• Outbound ops leads who want more than static exports
  
  
• Agencies doing ABM, enrichment, or custom scoring
  

If you care about lead quality, control, and building smarter workflows, Clay beats Apollo by miles.

Next: Instantly, the go-to if your goal is deliverability and volume.

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3. Instantly – Best for Deliverability & Outreach Scale

Instantly helps you send more cold emails without hurting deliverability by rotating inboxes and warming them up automatically.

Apollo.io vs Instantly

Why It’s Better than Apollo

Apollo lets you send, but doesn’t help you land in the inbox.

Instantly fixes that:

• Warmup is fully automated, no external tools needed
  
  
• You can rotate across inboxes to send more safely
  
  
• One inbox to manage all replies, no more jumping between accounts
  

Its purpose-built for scale and deliverability, two areas where Apollo falls short.

Instantly Pricing

• Growth: $47/month
  
  
• Hypergrowth: $97/month
  
  
• Hyper Credits: $197/month

Pros & Cons of Instantly

⭐ Our Verdict

If your outreach is growing and Apollo’s deliverability can’t keep up, Instantly is the fix.

It’s made for:

• Cold email agencies managing volume + replies
  
  
• Startups with new domains that need inbox protection
  
  
• Outbound teams that care more about results than integrations
  

Now, let’s explore our next alternative, ZoomInfo, the heavyweight for verified B2B data.

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4. ZoomInfo – Best for Enterprise-Grade B2B Contact Data

ZoomInfo is a premium B2B contact database built for teams that need large-scale, accurate, and deeply enriched company and decision-maker data.

Apollo.io vs ZoomInfo

Why It’s Better than Apollo

Apollo has solid contact coverage, but ZoomInfo wins on depth, accuracy, and intent.

• You get real buying signals (intent data) to prioritize outreach
  
  
• Filters are more advanced, helpful for narrowing down exact ICPs
  
  
• It plugs directly into most CRMs, so syncing data is smooth
  
  
• And it includes direct dials and org charts that Apollo often lacks
  

If you’re doing high-stakes outbound at scale, ZoomInfo gives you better targeting, faster.

 ZoomInfo Pricing 

ZoomInfo pricing is not listed publicly; you need to submit your details to view plans: zoominfo.com/plans

• According to sources:
  
  
  • Professional: ~$14,995/year
    
    
  • Advanced: ~$24,995/year
    
    
  • Elite: ~$39,995/year
    
• Add-ons and extra users may increase costs significantly.

Pros & Cons of ZoomInfo

⭐ Our Verdict

ZoomInfo is built for scale. If you’re an outbound team selling to enterprise buyers and need accurate data, buying intent, and deep firmographics, this is the tool to bet on.

It’s not cheap. But for sales teams that rely on precision and speed, ZoomInfo delivers the quality that generic databases can’t match.

Next up is Dropcontact, the best fit if you’re focused on GDPR-compliant enrichment in the EU.

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5. Dropcontact – Best for GDPR-Compliant Lead Enrichment

Dropcontact helps you clean and enrich B2B contact data while staying 100% GDPR-compliant.

Apollo.io vs Dropcontact

Why It’s Better than Apollo

Apollo gives you a massive database, but it often includes outdated or incomplete contacts, especially for the EU.

Dropcontact does it differently:

• It doesn’t store contacts, it builds and verifies them in real-time
  
  
• All data is fully GDPR-compliant, with no personal storage
  
  
• It works well for teams in the EU or anyone needing safer enrichment
  
  
• It auto-detects and cleans duplicates, which Apollo misses
  

If you're running outbound in Europe or want cleaner data you can trust, Dropcontact is a better fit.

Dropcontact Pricing

• Monthly Plans: €29/month
  
  

Pros & Cons of Apollo

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⭐ Our Verdict

Dropcontact is ideal for teams that care more about clean, compliant data than big contact lists.

It’s especially useful for:

• Outbound teams targeting Europe
  
  
• Startups building their lead lists
  
  
• CRM users who want automated cleanup + enrichment
  

It’s not a database or outreach tool, but if you already have leads and want them cleaned, verified, and GDPR-safe, Dropcontact is a smart alternative to Apollo.

Let’s now look at Lusha, a faster, plug-and-play tool for instant contact lookups.

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6. Lusha – Best for Quick, Verified Contact Lookups

Lusha helps you find business emails and phone numbers directly from LinkedIn or company websites, fast and with high accuracy.

Apollo.io vs Lusha

Why It’s Better than Apollo

Apollo is powerful, but it’s built for end-to-end outbound. If all you need is fast, accurate contact info, Lusha is simpler and faster.

Here’s why:

• It works directly on LinkedIn, click, reveal, done
  
  
• Phone number accuracy is stronger (especially in the U.S.)
  
  
• You don’t need to run campaigns or manage lists to use it
  
  
• Fully GDPR-compliant with clear usage limits
  

If you're short on time and just want to build contact lists without setting up sequences, Lusha is a smoother experience.

Lusha Pricing

• Free Plan: 50 credits/month.
  
  
• Pro: $22.45/month.
  
  
• Premium: $51/month.

Pros & Cons of Lusha

⭐ Our Verdict

Lusha is best for sales reps and recruiters who want to find contacts quickly, without dealing with full campaign tools.

It’s especially useful for:

• People sourcing leads directly from LinkedIn
  
  
• Recruiters needing direct phone numbers
  
  
• Teams working in the U.S. or EMEA with privacy concerns
  

Next, let’s break down Snov.io, an Apollo-style tool with built-in email sending.

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7. Snov.io – Best for All-in-One Cold Outreach

Snov.io is a platform designed to help you find leads, verify emails, and send personalized email campaigns, all from one place.

Apollo.io vs Snov.io

Why It’s Better than Apollo

Apollo is powerful, but can feel overwhelming if you’re not using its full feature set.

Here’s why Snov.io worked better for us:

• It’s simpler to set up and launch a campaign
  
  
• Email verification is built-in and fast
  
  
• Their Chrome extension made lead capture easy from LinkedIn
  
  
• You don’t need to buy extra warm-up tools; they’re included
  

If you're doing solo outreach or managing small campaigns, Snov.io saves time and effort.

Snov.io Pricing

• Starter: $30/month – 1,000 credits.
  
  
• Pro Plans: $75/month – 5,000 credits.
  

Pros & Cons of Snov.io

⭐ Our Verdict

Snov.io is a great Apollo.io alternative for solo founders, consultants, and small sales teams who want to get started quickly.

Use it if:

• You want to run cold emails without extra tools
  
  
• You value simplicity over complexity
  
  
• You’re scraping leads from LinkedIn or small lists
  

Up next, let’s break down Smartlead, built for teams that need high-volume sending and inbox rotation.

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8. Smartlead – Best for High-Volume Cold Email Automation

Smartlead is a cold email platform designed for sending large volumes of emails while maintaining high deliverability. 

It’s built for teams that need to reach thousands of leads safely.

Apollo.io vs Smartlead

Why It’s Better than Apollo

Apollo is good for finding leads and doing outreach. But if you’re sending at scale, deliverability becomes a problem.

Here’s how Smartlead fixes that:

• Sends emails from multiple mailboxes so you don’t burn one domain
  
  
• Built-in warm-up so you don’t need tools like Warmup Inbox
  
  
• Replies from all mailboxes show in one place (unified inbox)
  
  
• You control the sending speed, delays, and inbox health
  

If you care more about deliverability and volume than having a built-in database, Smartlead is stronger than Apollo here.

Smartlead Pricing

• Basic: $39/month – 2,000 active leads, 6,000 emails/month.
  
  
• Pro: $94/month – 30,000 active leads, 150,000 emails/month.
  
  
• Custom: Starting at $174/month.
  
  
• Free Trial: Available.
  
  
• Source: Smartlead Pricing
  

Pros & Cons of Smartlead

⭐ Our Verdict

Smartlead is ideal for businesses that need to send large volumes of cold emails while ensuring high deliverability. 

Its features, like mailbox rotation, built-in warm-up, and a unified inbox make it a strong alternative to Apollo for high-volume outreach campaigns.

Next up, let's explore Saleshandy, a tool focused on personalized email outreach with detailed analytics.

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9. Cognism – Best for GDPR-Safe Leads in Europe

Cognism helps sales teams find accurate business contacts, especially in Europe.

It focuses on data privacy and provides verified phone numbers and emails.

Apollo.io vs Cognism

Why It’s Better than Apollo

Apollo has more features, but Cognism shines in 3 big ways:

• Phone numbers are verified by humans, not just scraped
  
  
• It’s fully GDPR-compliant, safe for outreach in Europe
  
  
• The data is more accurate and cleaner for the EMEA regions
  

If you're targeting EU leads or need mobile numbers that actually work, Cognism beats Apollo for quality and safety.

Cognism Pricing

Cognism offers Grow and Elevate plans. However, pricing is not publicly listed.

According to sources, plans start at $15,000/year plus $1,500 per user/year for the Platinum tier.

For exact pricing, you’ll need to contact their sales team.

Pros & Cons of Cognism

⭐ Our Verdict

Cognism is the better Apollo alternative if your team sells into the UK or Europe and needs verified data that follows privacy laws.

It’s especially good for:

• SDR teams focused on EMEA
  
  
• Agencies doing cold calling in Europe
  
  
• Anyone who wants mobile + email accuracy without legal risk
  

Next up, let’s look at Kaspr.

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10. Kaspr – Best for LinkedIn-Based Lead Capture + CRM Sync

Kaspr is a Chrome extension that helps you grab verified contact data directly from LinkedIn profiles and push it into your CRM.

Apollo.io vs Kaspr

Why It’s Better than Apollo

Apollo has a huge database, but it’s not built for LinkedIn-first workflows. Kaspr works better when:

• You’re doing targeted prospecting directly from LinkedIn
  
  
• You want to skip the database search and go profile-by-profile
  
  
• You need quick CRM-ready exports, without CSVs

It also shows where the contact info was sourced, which improves trust in the data.

Kaspr Pricing

• Free Plan – $0/month
  
  
• Starter Plan – $45/month (billed annually)
  
  
• Business Plan – $79/month (billed annually)
  
  
• Organization Plan – $99/month/user (min 5 users)
  

Pros & Cons of Kaspr

⭐ Our Verdict

Kaspr is great for SDRs, consultants, or founders who prospect on LinkedIn every day.

If you're tired of switching between tools, CSVs, and databases, and just want to click and collect from LinkedIn, it’s a solid Apollo alternative.

Use it when:

• You value precision over volume
  
  
• You want email + phone from real LinkedIn profiles
  
  
• You’re already working inside a CRM like HubSpot or Pipedrive

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11. Hunter.io – Best for Solo Users Who Need Quick Email Discovery

Hunter.io is a lightweight tool that helps you quickly find and verify professional email addresses.

Apollo.io vs Hunter.io

Why It’s Better than Apollo

Apollo has more features, but if you just want to find accurate emails fast, without paying for extras, Hunter is simpler and more focused.

Here’s what makes it different:

• Easier for new users, clean UI, no learning curve
  
  
• Pricing is fair and transparent (free plan available)
  
  
• You don’t need to learn sequences or CRM setups
  
  
• Chrome extension works great for manual research
  

If you’re a solo founder, consultant, or freelancer, Hunter saves time and doesn’t overwhelm you with features.

Hunter.io Pricing

• Free Plan: 25 searches/month.
  
  
• Starter: $49/month – 500 searches.
  
  
• Growth: $149/month – 5,000 searches.
  
  
• Pro: $199/month – 10,000 searches.
  
  
• Business: $299/month – 10,000 searches.

Pros & Cons of Hunter.io

⭐ Our Verdict

Hunter.io is a great Apollo alternative if you're just getting started and want something simple that works.

Go with it if:

• You only need emails, not full databases
  
  
• You want a free or low-cost tool
  
  
• You like doing manual lead research with fewer moving parts

How to Choose the Right Apollo.io Alternative

Not every Apollo.io alternative fits every team. It really depends on what part of your outbound process needs fixing.

Maybe you’re struggling with spam issues. Or maybe Apollo’s data feels outdated. Or you just want something simpler to use.

Here’s a quick table to help you match your use case with the best-fit tool:

🔍 Quick Comparison: Best Apollo.io Alternatives by Use Case

Final Verdict

Apollo.io works well if you want a tool that does many things in one place.

But if you care more about email delivery, lead quality, or sending at scale, it might slow you down.

Here’s a quick guide to the best Apollo alternative based on your goal:

Want fewer tools and better results?

Use Leadsforge to find leads, warm up inboxes, and send cold emails, all in one place.

Start free and get 100 verified leads today.