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.
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.