Apollo Vs. ZoomInfo: Which One Actually Delivers?

If you’re comparing Apollo.io and ZoomInfo, you’re not just looking for features.

You’re looking for RESULTS:

• In-depth company data.
• Accurate information on decision-makers.
• Real-time insights to drive sales strategies.
• Seamless integrations with your existing tech stack.

While Apollo’s affordability can be tempting, it lacks the depth of data and advanced insights that ZoomInfo provides.

To find the “One” that fits your needs, I have compared both platforms based on features, pricing, and use cases.

By the end of this blog, you’ll be able to choose the platform that fits your sales goals, team size, and outreach strategy.

So keep reading!

P.S. I’ve also included another tool called Saleshandy. Based on your goals and use case, it could actually be a much better fit than Apollo or ZoomInfo.

TLDR: Apollo Vs. ZoomInfo: Which is Better?

Here’s the gist of the entire Apollo vs. ZoomInfo comparison in under 30 seconds!

• Consider Apollo.io if you’re looking for an affordable platform for prospecting and multichannel outreach.
• On the other hand, if your primary focus is getting detailed information on your target accounts and decision-makers, ZoomInfo is the ideal choice. You can also use it to reach out to your prospects using tailored cold emails and calls.

That said, both tools have major drawbacks:

• Apollo and ZoomInfo are expensive, with ZoomInfo costing anywhere from $8K to $35K per year, per user, for the basic plan.
• Both tools charge based on the number of users, so scalability comes at an increasing cost.
• Moreover, Apollo offers limited deliverability features, while ZoomInfo offers none.

This is where Saleshandy comes in; it offers:

• A much bigger B2B database
• Advanced cold email outreach
• Unlimited scalability
• Advanced deliverability features

The table below shows a comparison of Apollo, ZoomInfo, and Saleshandy across key features:

Apollo Vs. ZoomInfo Feature Comparison

To help you get a better idea of which platform suits your needs, I have compared both Apollo and ZoomInfo across key features:

1. B2B Database
2. Outreach Sequence Automation
3. Personalization Features
4. Deliverability And Scalability
5. Support For Agencies
6. Integration
7. Customer Support

This breakdown will help you understand the tools better, so read them one by one.

Apollo vs ZoomInfo: Which One Has the Better B2B Database?

Both Apollo.io and ZoomInfo have solid databases.

They have advanced filters to help narrow down and find your ideal prospects.

Additionally, you get valuable company and contact information that you can use to personalize and tailor your outreach.

Here’s a table based on my research and testing:

Apollo’s B2B Database

I tried and tested Apollo for a while, and during that time, I found its B2B database to be solid but with some limitations.

It has a decent-sized database with 210 million total global contacts, of which 146 million are international contacts outside the US.

This makes it an ideal option for those who primarily want to focus on international markets. 

“Apollo.io is an outstanding platform for commercial prospecting and lead generation. It gives you access to detailed information on millions of companies and professionals worldwide. Whether you’re searching for new prospects or looking for the contact details of someone specific, Apollo delivers…”

Read the complete review on G2

You also get over 60 advanced filters that help you fine-tune your search and find your ideal prospects more efficiently.

The UI/UX can be intimidating to beginners, and users have mentioned that the learning curve is steeper than expected because of the various options available.

If you’re looking for a more user-friendly option that your team can quickly adapt to, I suggest checking out my list of Apollo.io alternatives.

ZoomInfo’s B2B Database

ZoomInfo has a larger database than Apollo.io, offering more extensive data and targeting features.

What makes ZoomInfo stand out is its detailed information on company and decision-maker profiles.

You get access to:

• Organizational charts
• Funding data
• Real-time buying and hiring signals
• Job change alerts and more

All this will help you tailor your messages and reach out to your prospects at the right moment.

“ZoomInfo has become a daily essential for our sales and marketing teams. Its ease of use stands out—intuitive navigation and smart filters make prospecting fast and efficient. We use it frequently, and it consistently delivers high-quality, actionable data…”

Read the complete review on G2

The downside of ZoomInfo? Cost. But more on that in the comparison section ahead.

The Winner:

The winner of the debate on which database is better depends on your use case:

(Unfortunately, there can’t be one winner.)

If you’re looking for a cost-effective solution with a solid international database, Apollo is a solid option.

ZoomInfo, on the other hand, is ideal if you need a more extensive and enriched database with detailed insights into company structures and decision-makers.

A more cost-effective solution would be Saleshandy – $24/month (annual billing)

It also has a much larger database than Apollo and ZoomInfo combined (700M+ B2B contacts from 60M+ companies). It’s ideal if you’re looking for quick bulk prospecting.

Apollo vs ZoomInfo: Who Wins at Outreach Automation?

Apollo and ZoomInfo both offer built-in multichannel capabilities to help you reach your prospects.

But which is the right one for you?

Let’s find out.

Apollo’s Outreach Automation

Apollo.io has a really robust multichannel outreach solution.

You get emails, calls, and LinkedIn outreach, which provides a lot of flexibility in how you connect with your prospects.

This allows you to choose the best channel based on your prospect’s preferences, and it also helps your messages gain more visibility.

What I truly liked about Apollo is its AI Sequence Builder.

It can help generate entire sequences (multichannel or email only) based on your inputs.

ZoomInfo’s Outreach Automation

ZoomInfo also has its own outreach solution called Engage, which comes as an add-on to its SalesOS platform. (more cost!)

With Engage, you can create simple automation sequences that include emails and calls.

ZoomInfo also has AI capabilities like Apollo, but its AI Copilot feature is an add-on, which means it comes at an additional cost.

The Winner:

As you can clearly see, with ZoomInfo, every part of the outreach solution comes as an add-on, which increases the overall cost.

In contrast, Apollo.io provides a robust multichannel outreach solution bundled together at a more competitive price point.

So the clear winner is Apollo.io.

That said, it is well known that Apollo is not built for outreach, especially if you’re into cold emailing.

Why? Because it has deliverability and scalability issues. More on that in the upcoming sections, so keep reading.

A more well-known and proven platform for cold emailing is Saleshandy.

At just $25/month, you get AI sequence generation, AI custom variant, triggered follow-ups, and more. You also get high deliverability and scalability, but more on that later.

Apollo vs ZoomInfo: Which Tool Excels at Personalization?

Personalization features have become increasingly important in outreach and sales efforts.

In this sub-section, I’ll compare how Apollo and ZoomInfo handle personalization.

Apollo’s Personalization Features

Apollo.io, by far, has the most advanced personalization features.

You can use its AI agent to generate complete email copies based on your prospect’s information and company details.

If you prefer more control, you can also customize subject lines, openers, and closers individually.

ZoomInfo’s Personalization Features

ZoomInfo offers the basic merge tag option for personalization, allowing you to insert dynamic fields like names or companies.

That said, its AI-driven personalization rivals that of Apollo’s.

As ZoomInfo has more detailed insights, your messages will feel more relevant and timely to your prospects.

The Winner:

When it comes to personalization, the result is a tie.

Yes, Apollo.io offers video personalization, but the impact of video in real-world use cases isn’t as significant as it might seem.

That said, some platforms offer much more robust personalization.

In fact, I have compared Apollo with one such platform. Read more in my Lemlist vs. Apollo blog.

Apollo vs ZoomInfo: Who Offers Better Deliverability and Sending Limits/Scalability?

Deliverability and Scalability.

These two factors are crucial when it comes to outreach, especially COLD EMAILS.

One deals with where your email lands (inbox, spam, or promotions), while the other determines how much and how quickly you can scale your email campaigns.

Deliverability and Scalability In Apollo

First, looking at scalability.

Apollo restricts the number of email accounts you can connect based on the number of users in your plan.

For example, in the basic plan, you can connect only 1 email account per user. In the Professional plan, you can connect 5 mailboxes per user.

It might not seem limiting at first, but when you compare it to other platforms, like Instantly, the difference becomes evident.

In fact, I have compared Apollo with Instantly in a detailed blog.

You can read more about it in my Apollo vs Instantly: Which is the Best Cold Email Software? Post.

Talking about Deliverability. You do get some features, such as email ramp-up, daily sending limits, and sender rotation.

However, these are basic features compared to more advanced solutions, such as Saleshandy, currently available on the market.

Most of the time, users get Apollo for prospecting and then export the list to a dedicated outreach tool, such as Saleshandy, for increased scalability and higher deliverability.

Deliverability and Scalability In ZoomInfo

ZoomInfo’s scalability is also somewhat restricted by the number of users and pricing tiers, similar to Apollo.

And as for deliverability, it doesn’t offer much apart from email verification for list hygiene.

If you want more scalability and deliverability, you can use ZoomInfo’s API and integrations to connect directly with outreach and sales engagement platforms.

The Winner:

Scalability-wise, both tools charge you based on the number of users, so the cost increases as you scale.

Deliverability-wise, both Apollo and ZoomInfo offer basic features, but they fall short in providing advanced deliverability tools that are essential for large-scale outreach.

This is where an alternative platform like Saleshandy can help you. With Saleshandy, you can:

• Connect unlimited email accounts to scale your cold email outreach safely.
• Run unlimited email warm-ups and use other advanced deliverability features to protect and maintain your sender reputation.

Apollo vs ZoomInfo: Which Tool is More Agency-Friendly?

This section is specifically for lead generation agencies managing client accounts.

Let’s check how these platforms compare when it comes to managing multiple clients and scaling outreach.

The Winner:

Neither Apollo nor ZoomInfo allows you to manage clients directly.

But many lead generation agencies do use Apollo and ZoomInfo for their prospecting and data enrichment needs.

For outreach, they rely on dedicated cold email software to manage clients more effectively.

That said, if you want a single platform for prospecting and managing cold email campaigns for your clients, Saleshandy is a solid option.

You can add and manage unlimited clients at no extra cost. In addition to that, you can also onboard your team members to collaborate seamlessly on campaigns.

Apollo vs ZoomInfo: Which Has Better Integrations?

Both Apollo and ZoomInfo are not standalone tools; they need to integrate with your existing tech stack to be most effective.

So, let’s check out the integration options available in both of these platforms:

The Winner:

Apollo and ZoomInfo integrate with multiple other platforms, ranging from CRMs to Sales and Marketing Automation software.

Both platforms also provide API and webhooks, making it easy to connect with your existing tools.

The winner depends on what your tech stack looks like.

Apollo vs ZoomInfo: Who Provides Better Customer Support?

Customer support plays a major role when you’re dealing with complex tools and need assistance with troubleshooting, onboarding, or customizations.

Let’s see how Apollo and ZoomInfo stack up in terms of customer support.

The Winner:

Apollo and ZoomInfo are top-notch when it comes to customer support. That’s what the users themselves have to say.

“One of the standout features is its customer support. Every time I’ve needed assistance, the support team has been quick to respond and extremely helpful, ensuring I get the most out of the platform…”

Read more such reviews about Apollo.io  on G2

“The platform integrated seamlessly with our CRM, allowing us to hit the ground running.

Features like intent data, Scoops, and real-time alerts help us engage prospects at the right moment. And whenever we’ve needed help, customer support has been responsive, knowledgeable, and proactive….”

Read more such reviews about ZoomInfo on G2

Apollo Vs. ZoomInfo Pricing Comparison

Cost – The final factor that plays a crucial role in choosing the right platform is pricing.

There is not much info on ZoomInfo’s pricing, as it is not transparent and also varies based on your requirements.

But one thing is for sure: ZoomInfo is expensive!

Here’s what I found:

They say retail pricing for SalesOS Advanced+ is $25k/year for 3 users. Our current TCV with zoominfo is $18k/year for 3 users (single year contract).

Our contract includes SalesOS Advanced+ ($15k), Chorus ($1.5k), and Engage ($1.5k). We will be dropping Chorus and Engage, and then adding Copilot. Our new TCV will be $16,500.

Read more on Reddit

Apollo, on the other hand, has transparent pricing plans with what you get under each tier.

It offers a forever-free plan and 3 paid plans:

1. Basic – $49/month/user
2. Professional – $79/month/user
3. Organization – $119/month/user (minimum 3 users)

Apollo Vs. ZoomInfo: The Final Verdict!

I’ve covered all the key features, pricing, and other key aspects of Apollo and ZoomInfo, so now it’s time to make a decision based on your specific needs.

The best platform depends on your use case!

Both serve different use cases:

• Apollo is great for prospecting and multichannel outreach, especially for international markets.
• Whereas ZoomInfo provides detailed data and real-time insights on your target accounts and decision-makers. This makes it ideal for enterprise sales and account-based marketing.

Meanwhile, if you’re looking for a cost-effective, scalable, cold email-only solution, then Saleshandy is a much better option.

It offers advanced deliverability features, unlimited scalability, and a more affordable pricing model.

The right platform and the winner depend solely on your team and business needs.

FAQs

1. Why Are Users Switching from Apollo?

The major reason why users are switching from Apollo is that it doesn’t fit their use case. This is especially true for users who primarily want advanced cold email outreach.

2. What Are Some Common User Complaints About ZoomInfo? 

The most common complaint is the lack of transparency in pricing. Additionally, ZoomInfo also pushes aggressive annual contract renewals and sketchy terms and conditions. 

3. Are There Tools Better Than Apollo or ZoomInfo?

There are many tools that are better than Apollo and ZoomInfo, depending on what exactly you’re looking for.

If your use case matches Apollo, then I suggest you take a look at my list of Apollo alternatives. Similarly, if ZoomInfo fits your needs, I recommend you go through the list of ZoomInfo alternatives I have curated before making a decision.

4. Which platform offers more reliable contact enrichment: Apollo or ZoomInfo?

ZoomInfo offers more reliable and detailed contact enrichment. It provides rich company insights, real-time buying signals, and better segmentation compared to Apollo’s data. It’s more comprehensive for users who need in-depth contact and company profiles.