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CRM · head to head

Apollo.io vs Pipedrive

Apollo.io logo

Apollo.io

CRM

Revenue intelligence platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Pipedrive logo

Pipedrive

CRM

The CRM that sales teams love to use

From
On request
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; Pipedrive email account connectivity restricted to maximum of five email accounts per user
  • They diverge on capability: Apollo.io covers Contact database, Pipedrive covers Visual pipeline.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Apollo.io and Pipedrive differ
AttributeApollo.ioPipedrive
Starting priceFreeOn request
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, iOS, Android
Founded20202010

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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
  • Salesforce
  • HubSpot
  • Outlook

Only in Pipedrive

  • Visual pipeline
  • Deal tracking
  • Activity reminders
  • Email integration
  • Mobile apps
  • Goal tracking
  • Lead management
  • Google Workspace

Both cover

  • Reporting
  • Slack
  • SOC2
  • GDPR

What people use each for

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

Apollo.io

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

Pipedrive

  • Sales pipeline management with kanban-style dashboardsnot Apollo.io
  • Multi-channel communication with email and calendar syncnot Apollo.io
  • Sales automation for small to mid-market teamsnot 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

Pipedrive

  • Email account connectivity restricted to maximum of five email accounts per user

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

Pipedrive

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Pipedrive 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 Pipedrive if

  • You need visual pipeline.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want deal tracking.
Pipedrive review

Questions people ask

Is Apollo.io or Pipedrive better?
Neither clearly leads. Apollo.io starts at Free and Pipedrive at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apollo.io or Pipedrive?
Apollo.io has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Apollo.io and On request for Pipedrive.
Does Apollo.io or Pipedrive run on more platforms?
Apollo.io runs on Web. Pipedrive runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Apollo.io for free?
Yes. Apollo.io has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Pipedrive starts at On request.
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 Pipedrive is typically brought in for.
What can Apollo.io do that Pipedrive cannot?
Apollo.io covers Contact database, Email finder, Lead search, Automation. Pipedrive covers Visual pipeline, Deal tracking, Activity reminders, Email integration. Both handle Reporting, Slack, SOC2, GDPR.

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
Pipedrive: How long is Pipedrive's free trial and what's required to start?

Pipedrive offers a 14-day free trial with full platform access. No credit card is required to begin the trial, making it accessible to businesses of any size.

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
Pipedrive: Are specific pricing tiers and costs detailed on the homepage?

The homepage does not list specific pricing amounts or tier names. Detailed subscription information and pricing costs are available on Pipedrive's dedicated pricing page.

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
Pipedrive: What core features does Pipedrive include?

Pipedrive includes pipeline management, automation, AI capabilities, email sync, and reporting features. Feature availability at different price levels is detailed on their pricing page.

Source
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