Apollo.io Review: Is it really the best all-in-one sales tool? (2023)

Are you struggling to find and engage with high-quality leads in today's competitive sales and marketing landscape?

As a sales or marketing professional, you understand the significance of data-driven strategies and reliable prospecting tools to fuel your pipeline and boost conversions.

However, identifying the right platform that combines lead generation, engagement, and analytics in one cohesive package can be daunting, particularly if you're not tech-savvy.

Enter Apollo.io – a powerful sales and marketing platform that aims to revolutionize your lead generation and outreach efforts without the complexity.

In this review, we'll thoroughly review Apollo.io's features, pricing, pros and cons, and compare it to other popular alternatives to help you determine if it's the ideal solution for your business.

So, buckle up and join us as we explore whether Apollo.io can elevate your sales and marketing game to new heights.

"Using Apollo.io has been a game-changer for MagicBrief. As the Founder, I've found it incredibly valuable in identifying and connecting with our target audience of heads of marketing. The platform's accuracy and ease of use have allowed us to streamline our outreach process and rapidly expand our client base. Apollo.io is undoubtedly an indispensable tool for any business looking to accelerate their growth." - George Howes, Founder of MagicBrief

What is Apollo.io?

Apollo.io is a powerful sales and marketing platform that revolutionizes lead generation, engagement, and analytics for businesses.

Founded in 2015 by Tim Zheng, Roy Chung, and Ray Li, Apollo.io quickly gained recognition for its comprehensive database and seamless integration of sales and marketing tools.

Catering to businesses, sales and marketing professionals, and entrepreneurs, Apollo.io's primary objective is to enhance data-driven outreach strategies and improve conversion rates.

Setting itself apart from competitors, Apollo.io's unique selling point is its all-in-one approach, combining an extensive database, personalized engagement features, and robust analytics to optimize sales and marketing efforts.

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Apollo.io Features

In this section, we'll delve into the various features that make Apollo.io stand out as a comprehensive sales and marketing platform.

These features are designed to help businesses effectively generate leads, engage with prospects, and streamline their sales process.

We've categorized the features under the main components of Apollo.io: B2B Database, Engagement Suite, and Workflow Engine.

B2B Database

Database

Apollo.io's B2B database is comprehensive with over 250 million contacts and 60 million companies. This extensive database allowed us to find verified emails and phone numbers, connecting with potential buyers globally.

Chrome Extension

Apollo.io's Chrome Extension proved to be efficient as it unlocks Apollo functionality in the tools we use every day such as LinkedIn and Gmail. For example, while browsing prospect profiles on LinkedIn, you can use the Chrome Extension to find contact details.

In-app Search Filters

Apollo.io's robust in-app search made finding prospects a breeze. We could effortlessly save lists, searches, and personas, and Apollo automatically surfaced relevant, high-value leads. With over 65 search filters, locating the right contacts and companies from their extensive database was quick and easy.

Job Change Alerts

We noticed that Apollo.io allowed us to track people who recently changed jobs or moved to different companies. This feature offered an opportunity to personalize our outreach and engage with these high-value leads.

Buying Intent Data

Apollo's buying intent data provided actionable insights on prospects actively seeking solutions like ours, enabling us to engage with them at the right moment.

Engagement Suite

Email Sequences

Apollo's Sequences streamlined our sales engagement workflow by automating customizable, multi-step touchpoints, including emails, phone calls, and LinkedIn messaging.

Click-to-Call Dialer

The click-to-call dialer made it easy for us to find and instantly call direct phone numbers. It offered a range of features, such as making and receiving local and international calls, call bridging, call recording, transcripts, joining active calls, and logging calls to our CRM.

Task Manager

Apollo.io's Task Manager simplified managing all of our engagement efforts. We could create tasks to get notified when to make calls, send emails, connect on LinkedIn, and complete other important action items.

Analytics

Apollo Analytics provided actionable data that helped us identify gaps, optimize strategy, and move every deal forward more intelligently.

Workflow Engine

Enrichment

Data enrichment in Apollo.io allowed us to leverage their database to ensure our contact and company data was correct and rich, improving our sales conversion rate.

Rule Engine

Apollo’s Rules Engine helped us automate prospecting and lead engagement efforts. We could create rules and automate steps like adding or removing contacts from sequences and lists or creating tasks for our reps.

Apollo API

The Apollo API enabled us to connect CRMs and other third-party software to the platform. We could programmatically search in their vast and accurate B2B database, update contacts or accounts in Apollo, or enrich data in any system.

Integrations

Apollo.io seamlessly integrated with major platforms to streamline our end-to-end sales workflow. We could connect to Salesforce, Hubspot, Gmail, Outreach, and other sales platforms to keep our data and activities in sync.

Data Security

We found that Apollo.io adheres to international security standards and processes to protect data. They are ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type 1 certified and GDPR compliant.

Apollo.io Pricing

Apollo.io offers a flexible pricing structure to accommodate businesses of different sizes and needs. The pricing plans available are:

Free Plan

Apollo.io provides a Free plan for those who want to test the platform's basic functionalities. This plan offers limited access to the B2B database and essential sales tools, allowing users to get a feel for the platform with 100 email credits per month before upgrading to a paid plan.

Basic Plan

The Basic plan costs $49 per month per user, or $39 per month per user if paid annually. It is designed for individuals or small teams who need access to Apollo.io's extensive B2B database and essential sales tools. This plan includes the ability to select up to 2,000 records and access to more advanced features like job alert changes and buying intent data.

Professional Plan

The Professional plan is priced at $99 per month per user, or $79 per month per user when paid annually. It caters to growing businesses and teams looking for more advanced sales engagement tools and analytics. This plan provides all the features included in the Basic plan, along with additional features like a limit of up to 10,000 records, click-to-call dialer, task manager and more.

Organization Plan

The Organization plan costs $79 per month per user and is available for annual billing only. It is tailored to larger organizations with specific requirements and high-volume needs. This plan includes all the features of the Professional plan, along with data enrichment, call transcripts and customizable reports. The Organization plan also offers a higher level of customization and scalability to accommodate the unique demands of large enterprises.

It's essential to consider your business size, needs, and growth potential when choosing the appropriate pricing plan. Apollo.io also offers a free trial, allowing users to test the platform and its features before committing to a paid plan. However, the trial may have some limitations on features and usage.

Apollo.io Alternatives

While Apollo.io offers a robust set of features, it's essential to consider other sales and marketing platforms to ensure you find the best fit for your needs. In this section, we will briefly overview some popular alternatives to Apollo.io:

ZoomInfo

ZoomInfo is a comprehensive B2B contact and company database with a focus on providing accurate and up-to-date information. Similar to Apollo.io, it offers lead generation and engagement tools, as well as integrations with popular CRMs. ZoomInfo's database is known for its high accuracy and extensive reach, making it a solid alternative for businesses prioritizing data quality.

LinkedIn Sales Navigator

LinkedIn Sales Navigator is a powerful prospecting and lead generation tool designed for sales professionals. It leverages the vast LinkedIn network to provide valuable insights and connections with potential customers. Although it lacks some of the automation and engagement features found in Apollo.io, Sales Navigator excels in leveraging professional networks and social selling techniques.

Outreach.io

Outreach.io is another sales engagement platform that emphasizes personalized communication and automation. Outreach.io doesn't provide a built-in B2B database but offers robust email campaign and automation tools. It integrates seamlessly with popular CRMs and is best suited for organizations looking to enhance their sales engagement and workflow.

When choosing an alternative, consider factors such as your business size, industry, budget, and specific sales and marketing requirements. Each platform has its unique strengths and weaknesses, and finding the right fit will ultimately depend on your organization's needs and priorities.

Apollo.io Pros and Cons

To provide a balanced assessment of Apollo.io, we've compiled a list of pros and cons that we observed during our review:

Pros

1. Extensive B2B Database: Apollo.io boasts a vast database of over 250 million contacts and 60 million companies, providing users with ample opportunities to find and connect with their target audience.
2. All-in-One Platform: Combining lead generation, engagement, and analytics, Apollo.io offers a comprehensive solution for sales and marketing professionals, reducing the need for multiple tools.
3. Intuitive Interface: Apollo.io's user-friendly interface and dashboard make it easy to navigate and utilize the platform's features, even for those with limited technical skills.
4. Powerful Integrations: Apollo.io seamlessly integrates with popular CRM and marketing tools such as Salesforce, Hubspot, and Gmail, streamlining the sales workflow and ensuring data consistency.
5. Customizable Sales Engagement: The platform allows users to create and automate personalized email campaigns, phone calls, and LinkedIn messaging to enhance engagement and drive conversions.

Cons

1. Learning Curve: Although Apollo.io has an intuitive interface, it may take some time for users to become familiar with all of its features and functions.
2. Data Accuracy: While Apollo.io boasts a comprehensive B2B database, there may be occasional inaccuracies or outdated information in their contact and company data.

Final Verdict

Overall, Apollo.io is a powerful and comprehensive sales and marketing platform that offers a wealth of features and functionality to help businesses drive leads and conversions. Its extensive B2B database, all-in-one platform, and user-friendly interface make it a valuable tool for sales and marketing professionals seeking to streamline their processes and enhance engagement with prospects.

While there are some drawbacks, such as the learning curve and occasional data inaccuracies, these are relatively minor compared to the platform's many benefits. Overall, we highly recommend Apollo.io for businesses of all sizes looking to improve their sales and marketing efforts.

If you're interested in exploring Apollo.io further, we highly recommend taking advantage of their free trial to experience the platform's capabilities firsthand. Give it a try and see for yourself how it can help you streamline your sales process and boost your conversion rates.