CRM & Sales · head to head
Apollo.io vs Capsule CRM
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
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Apollo.io and Capsule CRM actually diverge.
| Attribute | Apollo.io | Capsule CRM |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | subscription | freemium |
| Founded | 2020 | Unknown |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (CRM & Sales).
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
- Lead generationnot Capsule CRM
- Prospect researchnot Capsule CRM
- Sales automationnot Capsule CRM
Capsule CRM
No use cases recorded yet. See the Capsule CRM review.
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
FreeNo 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.
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 lead generation, prospect research, sales automation. Of those, lead generation and prospect research 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.