Best Apollo.io Alternatives in 2026
Apollo.io has become the default prospecting tool for growth-stage B2B companies. Its free tier, 275M+ contact database, and built-in email sequences make it hard to beat on value. But Apollo isn't perfect for every team. Data accuracy sits at 80-85%, phone numbers are inconsistent, and enterprise-level features are limited. Whether you need better data, different outreach capabilities, or a more specialized approach, here are the alternatives worth evaluating.
At a Glance
| Tool | Price | Best For | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZoomInfo | ~$15,000+/year | Enterprise teams that need the best US contact data accuracy | Higher data accuracy (85-90%), intent data, and deeper firmographic coverage |
| Clay | $149 – $800/mo | RevOps teams that want to waterfall across multiple data sources | Queries 75+ data providers instead of relying on a single database |
| LinkedIn Sales Navigator | $99 – $149/user/mo | B2B sales teams that prospect through LinkedIn | Most current professional data since members update their own profiles |
| Instantly | $37 – $97/mo | Teams doing high-volume cold email and deliverability optimization | Built-in email warmup, unlimited sending accounts, and inbox rotation |
| Cognism | Custom (~$15K-40K/year) | Teams targeting European markets with GDPR compliance needs | Stronger European data and phone-verified mobile numbers (Diamond Data) |
| Verum | From $500/project | Teams that need clean, enriched data without managing another software tool | Managed data service, not software. Send your list, get enriched data back. |
1. ZoomInfo
Coverage & Capabilities
100M+ contacts. Email accuracy: 85-90%. Direct dials: 70-80%. Strongest for US enterprise contacts. Intent data and technographic data included at higher tiers.
ZoomInfo is the upgrade from Apollo when data accuracy matters more than cost. You're paying 5-10x more, but the data quality on US enterprise contacts is noticeably better. If you're targeting mid-market or international markets, the premium may not be justified.
2. Clay
Coverage & Capabilities
Coverage depends on which providers you connect. Waterfalling across multiple sources typically improves coverage 20-40% over Apollo alone. Best for teams with niche ICPs or international targets.
Clay doesn't replace Apollo's outreach features, but it dramatically improves data coverage. Many teams use Clay for enrichment, then push contacts to Apollo or Instantly for sequences. The learning curve is steeper than Apollo.
3. LinkedIn Sales Navigator
Coverage & Capabilities
900M+ members. Job titles, companies, and career history are highly accurate. No direct email or phone export. Pair with a data provider for contact info.
Not a direct Apollo replacement since there's no email or phone data. But for prospecting and identifying the right people, LinkedIn data is more current than any third-party database. Many teams use Sales Nav + Apollo together.
4. Instantly
Coverage & Capabilities
Instantly's Lead Finder (separate add-on) has a growing contact database. The core product is an outreach platform, not a data provider. Best used with Apollo or Clay as the data source.
Instantly is the better outreach tool for pure cold email at scale. Apollo is the better all-in-one. Many teams use Apollo for data and Instantly for sending, getting the best of both.
5. Cognism
Coverage & Capabilities
400M+ profiles. Particularly strong in UK, DACH, and Nordic markets. Diamond Data provides phone-verified mobiles with 87%+ accuracy. US coverage is solid but not Apollo's strength either.
Cognism is the best Apollo alternative for European-focused teams. The GDPR compliance and phone-verified numbers are genuine differentiators. Pricing is enterprise-level though, so the free-tier advantage of Apollo disappears.
6. Verum
Coverage & Capabilities
Verum aggregates multiple data sources per project. Coverage depends on your target market. Human QA on every deliverable means higher accuracy on delivered records.
A different model from Apollo. Instead of managing software and credits, Verum handles enrichment as a service. Best for teams without dedicated data ops resources or for one-time data projects.
How We Chose These Alternatives
We evaluated these alternatives based on data accuracy, pricing, outreach capabilities, and job market demand from our database of 23,000+ job postings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Apollo.io free?
Apollo has a generous free tier: 250 emails/day, access to the contact database, and basic sequences. It's enough for individual SDRs to get started. Most teams outgrow it and move to Basic ($49/user/month) or Professional ($79/user/month) within a few months.
Which Apollo alternative has the best data accuracy?
ZoomInfo for US enterprise contacts (85-90% email accuracy). Cognism for European markets with phone-verified Diamond Data (87%+ mobile accuracy). Clay for maximizing coverage by waterfalling across 75+ providers.
Can I use Apollo with other tools?
Yes. Common stacks include Apollo + Clay (for better enrichment), Apollo + Instantly (for better email deliverability), and Apollo + LinkedIn Sales Navigator (for prospecting research). Apollo plays well with other tools via its API and native integrations.