Apollo.io vs Lusha
Both are B2B contact databases with genuine free tiers, both sit at a similar price point, and both are commonly the first data tool a small sales team buys. The differences are in how seats and credits are counted, and in how much else comes bundled.
Apollo.io
All-in-one sales intelligence database with built-in sequencing.
Lusha
B2B contact data with a real free tier, priced per credit rather than per lookup.
| Feature | Apollo.io | Lusha |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.3 | 4.2 |
| Starting price | $65/moper user, monthly billing; $49/user billed annually | $49.9/momonthly billing; same $49.90 list rate billed yearly, cut to $37.45 by a Summer Sale promotion still running 2026-08-25 |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Contact database | 275M+ contacts | — |
| Email sequencing | Yes | — |
| Free tier | Yes | 40 credits/month, no card |
| Dialer | Yes | — |
| Credits | — | 4,800/yr (Starter) → 40,800/yr (Premium) |
| Seats included | — | 1 (Starter) → 5 (Premium) |
| Credit delivery | — | Granted upfront |
Hands-on field test
In progressFor lead-data tools we plan to run a fixed list of 200 known-good contacts through each product and measure match rate, bounce rate on verified addresses, and cost per valid contact. Until measured, we publish no accuracy figures.
The verdict
Apollo is the broader product — a large contact database with sequencing and a dialer built in, so it can replace a sending tool as well as a data tool. Lusha is narrower and does data only, but its free tier (40 credits a month, no card) and upfront credit grants make it easy to evaluate. If you already have a sending platform, Lusha is the cleaner purchase; if you want one subscription covering data and outreach, Apollo is.
Choose Apollo.io if you want contact data, sequencing and a dialer on one subscription rather than two. Choose Lusha if you already have a sending platform and want a focused data tool you can test free first.
Apollo.io vs Lusha: FAQs
- Which has the better free tier?
- Both are usable. Apollo's is generous and includes sequencing; Lusha's gives 40 credits a month with no credit card. Use both on your own target list — coverage varies enormously by region and industry, and that is the only test that matters.
- How does pricing compare?
- Apollo's Basic is $65 per seat paid monthly, or $49 billed annually. Lusha's Starter is $49.90/mo billed annually with one seat, rising to 5 seats on Premium. On annual terms they are close, but Apollo charges per seat where Lusha bundles seats into tiers — which decides it for any team above one person.
- Does either send email?
- Apollo does — sequencing and a dialer are built in, though deliverability is not its core strength. Lusha is data only and expects you to have a sending platform.
- Which has better data accuracy?
- We have not run our own match-rate test, so we publish no figure for either. Apollo's accuracy is known to vary by region; Lusha makes its own claims. Test both on your actual market via the free tiers rather than trusting any published number.
Comparing more than two?
Put Apollo.io, Lusha and up to two others side by side on price, mailboxes, warmup and trials.
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