Apollo.io vs Hunter.io
Apollo and Hunter both sell contact data, but they are priced on opposite models and that inverts the cost comparison depending on team size. Apollo charges per user and bundles sequencing and a dialer alongside its database. Hunter charges for a shared credit pool and includes unlimited team members, so a five-person team pays the same as a one-person team. Below the surface they are solving different amounts of the problem.
Apollo.io
All-in-one sales intelligence database with built-in sequencing.
Hunter.io
Email finding and verification with a genuinely usable free tier.
| Feature | Apollo.io | Hunter.io |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.3 | 4.4 |
| Starting price | $49/moper user, billed annually | $49/momonthly billing; $34/mo billed yearly |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Contact database | 275M+ contacts | — |
| Email sequencing | Yes | — |
| Free tier | Yes | 50 credits/month |
| Dialer | Yes | — |
| Credits | — | 2,000 (Starter) → 25,000 (Scale) |
| Team members | — | Unlimited, all plans |
| Email verification | — | Included |
| Email accounts | — | 1 connected (free tier) |
Hands-on field test
In progressWe plan to run the same 200-contact list through both, in a defined segment we will name, and measure match rate and verified-email accuracy by sending to the results and recording hard bounces. Sample size, segment and date will be published with the numbers. We do not quote either vendor's self-reported accuracy figures, because those are measured on undisclosed samples and are not independently auditable.
The verdict
Hunter is the better buy for teams that only need data and verification, and the gap widens with headcount — unlimited seats on a shared credit pool against Apollo's per-user pricing means a small team can pay several times less for the same job. Apollo is the better buy if you actually want the sequencing and dialer, because buying those separately costs more than the difference. The mistake is paying Apollo's per-seat price and then never using the sending features, which is common.
Choose Apollo.io if you want contact data, sequencing and calling in one tool and will genuinely use all three, or you want the most generous free tier to test with. Choose Hunter.io if you only need finding and verification, or you have several people who need access — unlimited team members on one credit pool changes the maths sharply.
Apollo.io vs Hunter.io: FAQs
- Which is cheaper, Apollo or Hunter?
- It depends on team size, which is the whole point. Apollo starts at $49 per user billed annually; Hunter's Starter is $49/mo on monthly billing ($34 billed yearly) with unlimited team members sharing one credit pool. For one person they are close; for a team of four, Hunter is dramatically cheaper.
- Does Hunter send email like Apollo?
- Only minimally. Hunter can connect an email account and run basic sequences, but it is a data tool first. Apollo has proper sequencing and a dialer built in. For cold email at volume, neither is the right sender — pair either with a dedicated platform.
- Which has the better free tier?
- Apollo's is more generous overall. Hunter's free tier gives 50 credits a month with no time limit, which is enough to test data quality but not to work from.
- Is verification included in both?
- Yes, but note that in both cases verification consumes credits from the same pool as finding. Your effective contact volume is meaningfully lower than the headline credit number suggests.