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.
Close
CRM built for inside sales teams that call and email
From $49/mo
No free plan
Apollo.io
Sales intelligence and engagement platform
From $49/mo
Free plan available
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
Pros
- ✓Best built-in calling of any CRM
- ✓No integrations needed for outreach
- ✓Clean UI
- ✓Fast onboarding
Cons
- ✗Expensive per seat
- ✗No free plan
- ✗Less suited for non-sales-heavy teams
- ✗Limited marketing features
Apollo.io: pros & cons
Pros
- ✓Huge contact database
- ✓All-in-one prospecting + outreach
- ✓Generous free plan
- ✓Great value vs ZoomInfo
Cons
- ✗Data accuracy varies by region
- ✗Can hit email deliverability issues if overused
- ✗UI has many features to navigate