Apollo.io vs Lemlist
Apollo.io and Lemlist are both popular choices in the cold email outreach tool space. Apollo.io is the more affordable option at $59/mo — that's $10 less per month than Lemlist's $69/mo entry point. Apollo.io offers a free plan (Unlimited email credits (fair use ~250/day), 5 mobile credits, 10 export credits/month), while Lemlist does not. Lemlist has the edge with landing pages, a drag-and-drop editor. Both tools work well for sales teams and sdrs.
Quick Verdict
Apollo.io wins on price, rating, integrations, free tier.
Best for most users: Apollo.io (sales teams).
Apollo.io
Sales intelligence platform with 210M+ contacts and built-in outreach
Apollo.io is the leading sales intelligence platform with a 210M+ contact database, built-in email sequences, dialer, and meeting scheduler. It earned #1 rankings across multiple G2 categories in Winter 2026, making it the most popular tool for B2B sales teams that need prospecting, outreach, and analytics in one platform. Free plan available with unlimited email credits.
Lemlist
Multichannel cold outreach with built-in email warmup and lead database
Lemlist is a multichannel cold outreach platform that combines email campaigns, LinkedIn automation, and cold calling with a built-in 450M+ lead database and email warmup tool (lemwarm). Its visual sequence builder and AI personalization make it a go-to choice for SDRs and sales teams running B2B outbound at scale, starting at $69/user/month.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Apollo.io | Lemlist |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.7/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Starting Price | $59/mo | $69/mo |
| Free Plan | Unlimited email credits (fair use ~250/day), 5 mobile credits, 10 export credits/month | No free plan |
| Founded | 2015 | 2018 |
| Email Templates | 50 | 100 |
| Integrations | 60 | 40 |
| Deliverability Rate | 95% | 95% |
| Marketing Automation | ✓ | ✓ |
| A/B Testing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Landing Pages | ✕ | ✓ |
| Segmentation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Drag & Drop Editor | ✕ | ✓ |
| SMS Marketing | ✕ | ✕ |
| Ecommerce Features | ✕ | ✕ |
| API Access | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-Language | ✕ | ✕ |
| Web Push Notifications | ✕ | ✕ |
| Live Chat | ✓ | ✓ |
| Advanced Analytics | ✓ | ✓ |
Apollo.io: Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Massive 210M+ contact database with powerful filtering including job title, company size, tech stack, and buying intent signals
- +Generous free plan with unlimited email credits makes it accessible for solo founders and early-stage startups
- +Earned #1 rankings and 624 badges in G2's Winter 2026 report across multiple sales intelligence categories
- +Built-in email sequences, dialer, and meeting scheduler eliminate need for separate outreach tools
- +LinkedIn Chrome extension provides instant access to contact data while browsing profiles
Cons
- −Data accuracy estimated at only 65% overall, with phone numbers often being generic corporate lines rather than direct dials
- −Email bounce rates of 15-25% reported by users, higher than dedicated email verification services
- −Credit system for phone numbers and exports adds significant hidden costs beyond the per-seat subscription price
- −Organization plan requires minimum 3 users at $149/each, making the top tier expensive for small teams
- −Customer support frequently criticized as slow and unresponsive, especially for non-enterprise accounts
Lemlist: Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Built-in email warmup (lemwarm) automatically improves deliverability before campaigns launch
- +Access to 450M+ contact database with enrichment credits eliminates need for separate lead sourcing tools
- +Multichannel sequences combining email, LinkedIn, and cold calling in one visual workflow builder
- +AI-powered personalization generates custom icebreakers and email copy at scale
- +14-day free trial with no credit card required lets teams fully test before committing
Cons
- −Expensive at $69-99/user/month, making it prohibitive for large sales teams on a budget
- −Credit-based system for enrichment and verification adds hidden costs beyond the subscription
- −LinkedIn automation requires a LinkedIn account and can risk account restrictions if overused
- −Reporting and analytics are basic compared to enterprise sales engagement platforms
- −Learning curve for setting up multichannel sequences with proper timing and triggers
The Verdict
Apollo.io edges ahead with a 4.7/5 rating compared to Lemlist's 4.5/5. The gap comes mainly from value for money (4.9 vs 4.3) and support (5 vs 4.8).
| Criterion | Weight | Apollo.io | Lemlist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $59/mo | $69/mo |
| Deliverability | 25% | 95% | 95% |
| Rating | 25% | 4.7/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Integrations | 10% | 60 | 40 |
| Free Tier | 10% | Yes | No |
Weights determine how much each criterion counts toward the final score. See full methodology
Choose Apollo.io if…
- + You want lower starting costs ($59/mo)
- + You need a free plan to get started
- + You're a b2b lead generation
- + You're a revenue operations
Choose Lemlist if…
- + You need built-in landing pages
- + You're a b2b outbound
- + You're a agencies