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CRM · head to head

Apollo.io vs Capsule CRM

Apollo.io logo

Apollo.io

CRM

Revenue intelligence platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Capsule CRM logo

Capsule CRM

CRM

The customer relationship management CRM

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • 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; Capsule CRM free plan caps at 250 contacts and a maximum of 2 users, with only 1 sales pipeline
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Apollo.io and Capsule CRM actually diverge.

Attributes where Apollo.io and Capsule CRM differ
AttributeApollo.ioCapsule CRM
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Founded2020Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (CRM).

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
  • Salesforce
  • HubSpot

Only in Capsule CRM

Nothing recorded that Apollo.io does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Apollo.io

  • Sales prospecting and lead generationnot Capsule CRM
  • Contact database management for sales teamsnot Capsule CRM
  • Email outreach and workflow automationnot Capsule CRM

Capsule CRM

  • Centralizing customer data for salesnot Apollo.io
  • Tracking sales pipeline and conversionnot Apollo.io
  • Managing project delivery with kanban boardsnot Apollo.io
  • Automating task workflows for teamsnot 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

Capsule CRM

  • Free plan caps at 250 contacts and a maximum of 2 users, with only 1 sales pipeline
  • Starter plan, the cheapest paid tier, still caps at 30,000 contacts before requiring an upgrade to Growth (60,000) or Advanced (120,000)
  • Ultimate tier, aimed at teams of 5 or more users, has no published price and requires contacting sales
  • Marketing features are not included in any core plan; the Transpond marketing add-on costs an additional $11/month minimum on top of the CRM price

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

Capsule CRM

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Capsule CRM 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 Capsule CRM if

  • You want to start without paying.

Questions people ask

Is Apollo.io or Capsule CRM better?
Neither clearly leads. Apollo.io starts at Free and Capsule CRM at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apollo.io or Capsule CRM?
Apollo.io starts at Free and Capsule CRM at Free.
Does Apollo.io or Capsule CRM run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Apollo.io for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Apollo.io best used for?
Apollo.io is most often used for sales prospecting and lead generation, contact database management for sales teams, email outreach and workflow automation. Of those, sales prospecting and lead generation and contact database management for sales teams are not what Capsule CRM is typically brought in for.
What can Apollo.io do that Capsule CRM cannot?
Apollo.io covers Contact database, Email finder, Lead search, Automation.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Apollo.io: Does Apollo offer a free plan?

Yes, Apollo offers a Starter plan that is free forever and includes unlimited email addresses for contacts. Gmail and Microsoft email account linking are available on the free plan with limited third-party email account linking.

Source
Capsule CRM: How much does Capsule CRM cost?

Capsule CRM pricing is per-user, per-month with annual billing discounts up to 15%. Specific dollar amounts are not published on the pricing page; contact sales for exact pricing for Starter, Growth, and Advanced plans.

Source
Apollo.io: How does Apollo's credit system work?

Apollo uses a credit-based system for exporting contact data outside the platform. Free and non-paying accounts have a monthly credit limit of 10,000 credits. Paid accounts receive limits based on their plan pricing, calculated as the lesser of annual commit divided by $0.025 or 1 million credits annually.

Source
Capsule CRM: Does Capsule CRM offer a free tier?

Yes, Capsule CRM offers a free plan for up to 2 users with 250 contacts, 5 custom fields, 1 sales pipeline, and basic features. A 14-day free trial with no card required is also available for paid plans.

Source
Apollo.io: How much do trial plans cost on Apollo?

Apollo trial plans include 50 credits and 5 mobile credits to test paid features at no charge. Trial versions do not support non-Gmail/Microsoft email account linking. Upgrades take effect immediately while downgrades take effect at the end of the billing cycle.

Source
Capsule CRM: What contact limit does each paid plan include?

Starter plan includes 30,000 contacts, Growth plan includes 60,000 contacts, Advanced plan includes 120,000 contacts, and Ultimate includes custom limits.

Source
Capsule CRM: Are there add-on costs beyond the base plan?

Yes, Capsule CRM offers a Marketing Add-on starting at $11/month that includes email campaigns, social posting, and lead capture forms.

Source
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