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CRM · head to head

Apollo.io vs Clearbit

Apollo.io logo

Apollo.io

CRM

Revenue intelligence platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Clearbit logo

Clearbit

CRM

B2B data enrichment and intelligence

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Apollo.io and Clearbit differ
AttributeApollo.ioClearbit
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
PlatformsWebWeb, API
Founded20202015

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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
  • 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

  • Sales prospecting and lead generationnot Clearbit
  • Contact database management for sales teamsnot Clearbit
  • Email outreach and workflow 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

Free

No 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.
Apollo.io review

Choose Clearbit if

  • You need company enrichment.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, API.
  • You also want contact enrichment.
Clearbit review

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 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 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

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
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.

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
Clearbit: 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.

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
Clearbit: 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.

Source
Clearbit: 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.

Source
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