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Software · head to head

Apollo.io vs Drift

Apollo.io logo

Apollo.io

Software

Revenue intelligence platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Drift logo

Drift

Software

The Conversation Cloud

From
$2500/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; Drift product is being sunset by Salesloft with successor service (1mind) recommended
  • They diverge on capability: Apollo.io covers Contact database, Drift covers Live chat.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Apollo.io and Drift differ
AttributeApollo.ioDrift
Starting priceFree$2500/month
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierYesNo
Founded20202015

Identical on both: platforms (Web), 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 Drift

  • Live chat
  • AI chatbots
  • Meeting scheduling
  • Email sequences
  • Visitor intelligence
  • Conversation routing
  • Mobile app
  • Analytics dashboard

Both cover

  • Salesforce
  • HubSpot
  • Slack
  • SOC2
  • GDPR

What people use each for

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

Apollo.io

  • Lead generationnot Drift
  • Prospect researchnot Drift
  • Sales automationnot Drift

Drift

  • Lead qualificationnot Apollo.io
  • Meeting bookingnot Apollo.io
  • Customer supportnot Apollo.io
  • Account-based marketingnot Apollo.io
  • Sales accelerationnot 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

Drift

  • Product is being sunset by Salesloft with successor service (1mind) recommended
  • Mandatory bundling within Salesloft increases cost
  • No free tier available
  • Customer support and knowledge base have been deprioritized
  • Limited to enterprise B2B pipeline generation focus

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

Drift

$2500/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Drift 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 Drift if

  • You need live chat.
  • You also want ai chatbots.
Drift review

Questions people ask

Is Apollo.io or Drift better?
Neither clearly leads. Apollo.io starts at Free and Drift at $2500/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apollo.io or Drift?
Apollo.io has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Apollo.io and $2500/month for Drift.
Does Apollo.io or Drift 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?
Yes. Apollo.io has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Drift starts at $2500/month.
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 Drift is typically brought in for.
What can Apollo.io do that Drift cannot?
Apollo.io covers Contact database, Email finder, Lead search, Automation. Drift covers Live chat, AI chatbots, Meeting scheduling, Email sequences. Both handle Salesforce, HubSpot, Slack, SOC2.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Drift: What is the current status of Drift in 2026?

On March 6, 2026, Clari and Salesloft announced the gradual sunset of Drift's conversational marketing solution, with 1mind named as its exclusive AI successor. Drift remains available but its future is limited.

Source
Drift: How much does Drift cost?

Drift pricing starts around $2,500/month ($30,000/year) for Premium chat-only capabilities, with Enterprise plans exceeding $80,000/year. Drift is bundled within Salesloft and billed annually only.

Source
Drift: What features come with Drift Premium?

Premium plans include live chat widget, custom chatbot flows, meeting scheduling with calendar integration, basic playbooks, email sequences, and standard integrations.

Source
Drift: Does Drift offer a free plan?

No, Drift no longer publicly advertises a free plan as of 2026. All plans require annual billing through Salesloft.

Source
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Related pages

More on Apollo.io

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