Apollo.io vs Cognism
Which sales engagement tool is right for you? Compare features, pricing, and user reviews to make the best choice.
Apollo.io
Small and mid-size sales teams that want contact data and email sequencing in one affordable tool.
Cognism
Teams selling into Europe that rely on phone outreach and need GDPR and DNC-screened data.
Side by side
| Apollo.io | Cognism | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $49/seat/month billed annually ($65 month to month); free plan with 75 credits a month | Custom quote only (Standard and Pro packages, 5 seats included) |
| G2 Rating | Not yet verified | Not yet verified |
| Best For | Small and mid-size sales teams that want contact data and email sequencing in one affordable tool. | Teams selling into Europe that rely on phone outreach and need GDPR and DNC-screened data. |
Pros and cons
Apollo.io
Pros
- Real free plan with credits, sequences and the Chrome extension
- Public per-seat pricing with monthly and annual options
- Data, sequencing, dialer and deliverability tools in one platform
- Large credit allowances on paid plans (2,500 a month on Basic monthly)
Cons
- Phone numbers cost 8 credits each
- Credits never roll over
- Basic plan limited to 1 mailbox per user and 250 emails a day
- No mixing of plan levels across one team
Cognism
Pros
- Phone-verified mobile numbers for cold calling
- Strong European coverage and DNC/TPS screening
- Credits are not spent again on contacts you already revealed
- Broad security certifications (ISO 27001, ISO 27701, SOC 2 Type II)
Cons
- No public pricing
- No free plan or self-serve trial
- 5-seat packages are too big for solo users
- Intent data only on Pro
Related comparisons
Apollo.io alternatives
Lusha is the easiest self-serve swap for small teams: a free plan, public prices and phone numbers at 5 credits instead of Apollo's 8. Pick Cognism for European calling, Hunter if you only need emails, Clay for custom enrichment, or lemlist if you mainly want better sequences. Larger teams that need more data and intent should look at ZoomInfo.
Marcus WilliamsUpdated October 2026Best Sales Prospecting Tools
Apollo.io is the best sales prospecting tool for most teams: a real free plan, public pricing from $49/seat/month billed annually, and contact data, sequences and a dialer in one tool. Pick ZoomInfo for enterprise data and intent, Cognism for Europe and verified mobiles, Lusha for a quick self-serve extension, or Clay for custom enrichment workflows.
Marcus WilliamsUpdated October 2026ZoomInfo alternatives
Apollo.io is the best ZoomInfo alternative for most teams: public prices from $49 per seat per month billed annually, a free plan, and data plus outreach in one tool. Pick Cognism for Europe and cold calling, Lusha or RocketReach for cheap self-serve lookups, or Clay for custom enrichment.
Marcus WilliamsUpdated October 2026