Software · head to head
Apollo.io vs Clearbit
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; Clearbit pricing can be expensive at scale with usage-based model
- They diverge on capability: Apollo.io covers Contact database, Clearbit covers Company enrichment.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Apollo.io and Clearbit actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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
- Outlook
- Gmail
Only in Clearbit
- Company enrichment
- Contact enrichment
- Lead scoring
- Reveal (website visitors)
- Forms shortening
- Marketo
- Segment
- Zapier
Both cover
- Salesforce
- HubSpot
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Apollo.io
- Lead generationnot Clearbit
- Prospect researchnot Clearbit
- Sales automationnot Clearbit
Clearbit
- Lead enrichmentnot Apollo.io
- Account targetingnot Apollo.io
- Personalizationnot Apollo.io
- Lead scoringnot 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
Clearbit
- Pricing can be expensive at scale with usage-based model
- Batch enrichment has per-row cost that adds up quickly for large datasets
- Limited data for smaller or private companies
- Now integrated into HubSpot as Breeze Intelligence, may affect standalone availability
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
Clearbit
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Clearbit 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 Clearbit if
- You need company enrichment.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, API.
- You also want contact enrichment.
Questions people ask
- Is Apollo.io or Clearbit better?
- Neither clearly leads. Apollo.io starts at Free and Clearbit at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Apollo.io or Clearbit?
- Apollo.io starts at Free and Clearbit at Free.
- Does Apollo.io or Clearbit run on more platforms?
- Apollo.io runs on Web. Clearbit runs on Web, API.
- 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 Clearbit is typically brought in for.
- What can Apollo.io do that Clearbit cannot?
- Apollo.io covers Contact database, Email finder, Lead search, Automation. Clearbit covers Company enrichment, Contact enrichment, Lead scoring, Reveal (website visitors). Both handle Salesforce, HubSpot, Web support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Clearbit: Does Clearbit offer a free tier?
Yes. The first 50 real-time lookups are free. After that, usage-based pricing applies with 500 free credits included in subscription plans.
SourceClearbit: How does Clearbit batch enrichment pricing work?
Batch enrichment costs $0.30 USD per row, with totals rounded to $5 increments. Bulk batch discounts are not available, but large volumes can negotiate lower rates through monthly/annual subscription to the Enrichment API.
SourceClearbit: What data does Clearbit provide?
Clearbit maintains information on over 20 million companies with over 100 rich attributes including demographic and technographic data, industry classification, and company size information.
SourceClearbit: Is there an API available?
Yes. Clearbit offers REST APIs for real-time enrichment and bulk batch processing, allowing direct integration into applications and workflows.
SourceRelated pages
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