Close vs Apollo.io: Which is better in 2026?
A side-by-side comparison of pricing, features, and use cases to help you decide between Close and Apollo.io.
Quick answer
Close and Apollo.io rate almost identically on G2 (4.7/5 vs 4.8/5), so the decision usually comes down to price and workflow fit. Both start at $49/mo.
CRM built for inside sales teams that call and email
Sales intelligence and engagement platform
Head-to-head comparison
| Feature | Close | Apollo.io |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $49/mo | $49/mo |
| Free plan | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Pricing model | paid | freemium |
| G2 rating | 4.7/5 | 4.8/5 ↑ |
| Capterra rating | 4.7/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Founded | 2013 | 2015 |
Close: pros & cons
- ✓Best built-in calling of any CRM
- ✓No integrations needed for outreach
- ✓Clean UI
- ✓Fast onboarding
- ✗Expensive per seat
- ✗No free plan
- ✗Less suited for non-sales-heavy teams
- ✗Limited marketing features
Apollo.io: pros & cons
- ✓Huge contact database
- ✓All-in-one prospecting + outreach
- ✓Generous free plan
- ✓Great value vs ZoomInfo
- ✗Data accuracy varies by region
- ✗Can hit email deliverability issues if overused
- ✗UI has many features to navigate
Choose Close if...
- →Your inside sales team makes high call volumes daily and needs a built-in dialler with call recordings — no Aircall integration required
- →You want email sequences, SMS, and VoIP calling managed from a single CRM without bolting tools together
- →Your reps use Smart Views to filter leads by last contacted date, deal stage, or custom criteria and need instant pipeline visibility
Choose Apollo.io if...
- →You need to prospect and run outbound email sequences from a single tool without stitching multiple products together
- →Your SDR team wants to find verified contacts by company size, industry, or job title from a 275M+ contact database
- →You're replacing ZoomInfo and want similar data quality at a fraction of the cost
Our verdict
Close and Apollo.io are closely matched on user ratings. Apollo.io offers a free plan — a lower-risk way to test before committing. The right pick depends on your team size and workflow.
Close vs Apollo.io: frequently asked questions
Is Close better than Apollo.io?
Apollo.io has a higher G2 score (4.8/5 vs 4.7/5). The best tool depends on your specific use case and budget.
Which is cheaper, Close or Apollo.io?
Both start at $49/mo.
What is the main difference between Close and Apollo.io?
Close focuses on built-in voip calling, power dialler, email sequences. Apollo.io focuses on contact database (275m+), email sequences, dialer. Both serve similar use cases but differ in approach and pricing model.
Can I migrate from Close to Apollo.io?
Most teams migrate between Close and Apollo.io within a day or two. Export your data from Close (typically as CSV or via API), then use Apollo.io's import wizard to bring it across. Check each tool's help centre for a step-by-step migration guide before switching.