Updated January 2026
Best Apollo Alternatives
for B2B Lead Generation
Apollo.io is popular for a reason—but it's not the only option. We compared the top alternatives based on data quality, pricing, and whether they actually save you time.
Apollo alternatives are B2B sales tools that provide contact data, company information, and prospecting capabilities similar to Apollo.io. The best alternatives either offer larger databases (like ZoomInfo), lower prices (like Lusha), more customization (like Clay), or a completely different approach—like Prospeda's agentic BDRs that actively find leads instead of making you search for them.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Prospeda | Apollo | ZoomInfo | Clay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active lead hunting | ||||
| Human review | ||||
| Real-time signals | ||||
| Self-serve database | ||||
| Community signals (Reddit, HN) | ||||
| Done-for-you service | ||||
| Requires technical setup |
Detailed Reviews
1. Prospeda
Editor's PickAgentic BDRs + Human Review
From $2,500/mo
AI-powered lead generation that actively finds leads, not just stores them. Agentic BDRs scan 30+ sources 24/7, and human AEs review every lead.
Best for: Teams wanting done-for-you qualified leads
Pros
- Finds leads databases miss (Reddit, HN, Discord)
- Human AE reviews every lead
- Real-time signal monitoring
- Done-for-you research
Cons
- No self-serve database access
- Higher starting price
2. ZoomInfo
Enterprise B2B Database
From $15,000/year
The largest B2B contact database with 300M+ profiles. Best for enterprise teams needing massive scale.
Best for: Enterprise teams with dedicated ops
Pros
- Largest database
- Intent data add-on
- Enterprise integrations
Cons
- Expensive ($15K+ annually)
- Stale data common
- You still do the research
3. Lusha
Quick Contact Lookup
From $36/mo
Browser extension for quick contact lookups on LinkedIn. Lightweight and affordable.
Best for: Individual SDRs doing their own research
Pros
- Affordable
- Easy Chrome extension
- Good for LinkedIn prospecting
Cons
- Limited to contacts you find
- No signal monitoring
- No research automation
4. Clay
Data Enrichment Platform
From $149/mo
Powerful spreadsheet-like tool for building custom enrichment workflows. Requires technical setup.
Best for: RevOps teams building custom workflows
Pros
- Highly customizable
- Multiple data sources
- AI enrichment features
Cons
- Steep learning curve
- Requires technical ops
- You build everything yourself
5. Cognism
GDPR-Compliant Data
Custom pricing
European-focused B2B data provider with strong GDPR compliance.
Best for: Teams selling into EMEA
Pros
- GDPR compliant
- Good European data
- Phone-verified contacts
Cons
- Weaker US coverage
- Expensive
- Manual research still needed
Why Teams Switch from Apollo
Apollo is a solid tool, but teams often outgrow it for these reasons:
- Data staleness: Database entries can be months old
- Same leads as competitors: Everyone fishes from the same pond
- Manual research still required: You find the contact, but still need to research the company
- No real-time signals: You miss intent signals happening right now
- Time spent searching: Hours per week searching and filtering
The question isn't "which database is better"—it's "do I want to keep doing manual research, or have AI do it for me?"
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free Apollo alternative?
Lusha offers a limited free tier. Hunter.io provides free email lookups. However, free tools typically have significant limitations on volume and features.
Is ZoomInfo better than Apollo?
ZoomInfo has a larger database and more enterprise features, but costs significantly more ($15K+ annually). For most SMB teams, Apollo offers better value. For teams wanting AI-powered research, neither is ideal—consider Prospeda.
What is the cheapest Apollo alternative?
Lusha starts at $36/month for basic contact lookups. However, cheaper often means more manual work. Consider total cost including your team's time.
Can I get better data than Apollo?
Database quality is similar across major providers. The difference is how you find leads. Agentic BDRs like Prospeda find leads from signals—Reddit posts, GitHub activity, job listings—that no database captures.
Stop Searching. Start Closing.
Prospeda's agentic BDRs find and research leads 24/7. Human AEs review every one before delivery. You just close deals.