Apollo.io vs ZoomInfo

Apollo.io is a sales intelligence and engagement platform from San Francisco that combines a B2B database of more than 270 million contacts and tens of millions of companies with the tools to reach them. Many startups use it as their prospecting data source, outbound tool and, at first, a lightweight CRM, all in one subscription.

Prospecting starts with filters for title, seniority, industry, headcount, technologies, funding and buying intent, and a Chrome extension surfaces emails and phone numbers on LinkedIn and company websites. Contacts flow into sequences that mix automated emails, call tasks and LinkedIn steps, with a built-in dialer, call recording, meeting scheduler, enrichment of existing CRM records and AI that researches accounts and drafts personalized messages. Usage runs on credits for emails, mobile numbers and exports. The free plan is unusually generous for a data vendor, and paid plans are priced per user per month, rising through Basic and Professional tiers to a Custom plan for larger teams.

Apollo fits startups, SMB sales teams and founders doing outbound who need data and sequencing at a fraction of ZoomInfo's price. Email accuracy is generally good, mobile numbers are weaker, and teams must manage sending limits and domain health to protect deliverability. ZoomInfo offers deeper enterprise data, Clay is better for multi-source enrichment and research workflows, and Instantly or lemlist focus on outreach volume and personalization. Coverage of Turkish companies exists but is thinner than for the US and Western Europe.

ZoomInfo is one of the largest B2B contact and company data platforms, used by sales, marketing and recruiting teams to find and reach buyers. The business started in 2007 as DiscoverOrg, founded by Henry Schuck and Kirk Brown, which bought ZoomInfo in 2019 and took its name before listing on Nasdaq in 2020. The core job is to give reps accurate direct dials, emails, org charts, firmographics, technographics and buying-intent signals.

On top of the database sit search and list building, intent data, website visitor identification, CRM enrichment, the Copilot AI assistant, Engage for sequences and Chorus for conversation intelligence. Marketing plans add ABM audiences and advertising. Packaging is split into Sales plans (Professional, Copilot Advanced, Copilot Enterprise), Marketing plans and Talent, and price depends on seats, features and data credits. No prices are published; contracts are typically annual.

ZoomInfo fits mid-market and enterprise revenue teams, especially those selling into North America, where its coverage is strongest. It is expensive, credit limits need watching, and data outside the US can be thinner. Apollo offers a cheaper self-serve database with built-in sequencing, Lusha is simpler for small teams that mainly need phone numbers, and Clay lets you combine many data providers in enrichment waterfalls.

In May 2025 ZoomInfo changed its Nasdaq ticker from ZI to GTM and launched GTM Studio for building plays on its own and customer data. Buying tip: negotiate credit volumes and note the renewal notice period, since contracts usually auto-renew.