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Software · head to head

Apollo.io vs Hunter

Apollo.io logo

Apollo.io

Software

Revenue intelligence platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Hunter logo

Hunter

Software

Email finding, verification and cold outreach platform for B2B prospecting

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; Hunter free plan is limited to 50 credits per month and a single connected inbox, restricting real usage.
  • They diverge on capability: Apollo.io covers Contact database, Hunter covers Domain search.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Apollo.io and Hunter differ
AttributeApollo.ioHunter
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
PlatformsWebweb, api
Founded20202015

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
  • Salesforce
  • HubSpot

Only in Hunter

  • Domain search
  • Email verifier
  • Campaign sender
  • AI writing assistant
  • Browser extension
  • CRM integrations

What people use each for

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

Apollo.io

  • Lead generationnot Hunter
  • Prospect researchnot Hunter
  • Sales automationnot Hunter

Hunter

  • Finding verified email addresses for a target companynot Apollo.io
  • Verifying email lists before a campaignnot Apollo.io
  • Running cold outreach sequences from connected inboxesnot Apollo.io
  • Enriching CRM records with contact emailsnot 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

Hunter

  • Free plan is limited to 50 credits per month and a single connected inbox, restricting real usage.
  • Mobile phone or firmographic data is thinner than dedicated sales intelligence platforms.
  • Multichannel outreach (LinkedIn, calls, SMS) is not supported, unlike some competitors.
  • Higher-volume plans require annual billing to get the advertised discounted 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

Hunter

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 50 credits per month
    • 1 connected email account
    • Up to 500 recipients per sequence
  • Starter$34/month
    • 2,000 monthly credits (billed yearly)
    • 3 connected email accounts
    • Advanced filters
  • Growth$104/month
    • 10,000 monthly credits (billed yearly)
    • 10 connected email accounts
    • Priority support
  • Scale$209/month
    • 25,000 monthly credits (billed yearly)
    • 20 connected email accounts
    • Account manager included

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 Hunter if

  • You need domain search.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on web, api.
  • You also want email verifier.
Hunter review

Questions people ask

Is Apollo.io or Hunter better?
Neither clearly leads. Apollo.io starts at Free and Hunter at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apollo.io or Hunter?
Apollo.io starts at Free and Hunter at Free.
Does Apollo.io or Hunter run on more platforms?
Apollo.io runs on Web. Hunter 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 Hunter is typically brought in for.
What can Apollo.io do that Hunter cannot?
Apollo.io covers Contact database, Email finder, Lead search, Automation. Hunter covers Domain search, Email verifier, Campaign sender, AI writing assistant.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Hunter: What does Hunter cost?

Hunter's Free plan gives 50 credits/month. Paid plans (billed yearly) start at $34/month for Starter (2,000 credits), rising to $104/month for Growth and $209/month for Scale, with custom Enterprise pricing above that.

Source
Hunter: Is there a free plan, and what are its limits?

Yes, Hunter's Free plan includes 50 monthly credits, basic database filters, one connected email account, and sequences capped at 500 recipients.

Source
Hunter: How is usage metered?

Hunter meters usage in credits, consumed once per billing cycle for searches and verifications; credits reset monthly or accumulate annually depending on the billing plan.

Source
Hunter: What does Hunter integrate with?

Hunter offers a browser extension, a Google Sheets add-on, CRM connections, and an API, alongside MCP support for AI tool integrations.

Source
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Related pages

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