Softwr

Software · head to head

Apollo.io vs Brainshark

Apollo.io logo

Apollo.io

Software

Revenue intelligence platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Brainshark logo

Brainshark

Software

Sales Readiness Platform

From
On request
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Apollo.io has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Apollo.io everything is metered in credits, and the free Starter plan runs on them too, so prospecting volume is capped rather than the feature set; Brainshark user interface feels outdated with limited formatting customization options
  • They diverge on capability: Apollo.io covers Contact database, Brainshark covers Content authoring.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Apollo.io and Brainshark actually diverge.

Attributes where Apollo.io and Brainshark differ
AttributeApollo.ioBrainshark
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20201999

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Apollo.io

  • Contact database
  • Email finder
  • Lead search
  • Automation
  • Engagement tracking
  • Reporting
  • HubSpot
  • Outlook

Only in Brainshark

  • Content authoring
  • Video coaching
  • Training
  • Assessments
  • Analytics
  • Microsoft Dynamics
  • Highspot
  • Ios support

Both cover

  • Salesforce
  • Slack
  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Apollo.io

  • Lead generationnot Brainshark
  • Prospect researchnot Brainshark
  • Sales automationnot Brainshark

Brainshark

  • Customer Successnot Apollo.io
  • Sales Readinessnot Apollo.io
  • Content Authoringnot Apollo.io

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Apollo.io

  • Everything is metered in credits, and the free Starter plan runs on them too, so prospecting volume is capped rather than the feature set
  • Plans described as unlimited are capped in the fair use policy at 10,000 credits a month for non-paying accounts
  • Connecting a mailbox that is not Gmail or Microsoft requires a paid plan
  • How many records can be selected at once varies by tier
  • Running out of credits means buying more rather than waiting for a reset

Brainshark

  • User interface feels outdated with limited formatting customization options
  • Branching feature is very limited compared to competitors
  • Course catalog and transcript management in Salesforce are clunky and unintuitive
  • Administrative controls are complex and adjusting settings takes longer than expected

Pricing, plan by plan

Apollo.io

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Basic contact search
    • Limited searches
  • Starter$49/month
    • Everything in Free
    • Advanced search
    • Email finder
  • Professional$149/month
    • Everything in Starter
    • Automation
    • Advanced analytics

Brainshark

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Brainshark review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Apollo.io if

  • You need contact database.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want email finder.

Choose Brainshark if

  • You need content authoring.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want video coaching.

Questions people ask

Is Apollo.io or Brainshark better?
Neither clearly leads. Apollo.io starts at Free and Brainshark at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apollo.io or Brainshark?
Apollo.io has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Apollo.io and On request for Brainshark.
Does Apollo.io or Brainshark run on more platforms?
Apollo.io runs on Web. Brainshark runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Apollo.io for free?
Yes. Apollo.io has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Brainshark starts at On request.
What is Apollo.io best used for?
Apollo.io is most often used for lead generation, prospect research, sales automation. Of those, lead generation and prospect research are not what Brainshark is typically brought in for.
What can Apollo.io do that Brainshark cannot?
Apollo.io covers Contact database, Email finder, Lead search, Automation. Brainshark covers Content authoring, Video coaching, Training, Assessments. Both handle Salesforce, Slack, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Brainshark: What is Brainshark primarily used for?

Brainshark is used for sales enablement, onboarding, and continuous training to prepare customer-facing teams with content, coaching, and certifications for buyer interactions.

Source
Brainshark: Does Brainshark integrate with PowerPoint?

Yes, Brainshark offers PowerPoint integrations along with a mobile app for on-demand training access and content authoring capabilities.

Source
Brainshark: Can Brainshark track employee training completion?

Yes, Brainshark provides training tracking, analytics, and scorecards for monitoring completion and engagement across your sales team.

Source

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