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Most buyers should pick Close.
Choose Apollo if your switch is about finding prospects and running outbound in one workspace: its homepage lists 240M+ contacts and 30M+ accounts, and annual Basic is $49 per seat monthly. Choose Close if you want a sales CRM centered on calling, email, SMS, pipeline, and workflows; annual pricing starts at $9 per user monthly, but Solo is limited to one user and workflows start on Growth. Apollo has a free plan; Close does not.
01Side by side
| Apollo | Close | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free; paid plans start at $49 per seat monthly, billed annually | $9 per user monthly, billed annually; $19 monthly |
| Free plan | Yes; 75 credits per seat monthly | No free plan |
| Best for | Prospecting, outbound, and contact data in one workspace | Sales teams centralizing CRM, calling, and email |
| Core strength | Prospecting, outreach, dialing, and AI agents | CRM with calling, email, SMS, and automation |
| Learning curve | Not published | Not published |
| Data and integrations | 240M+ contacts; Apollo Anywhere works across CRM, AI, and email | Built-in calling, email, and SMS; data volume not published |
| Team and seat costs | Organization requires three seats; billed per seat | Billed per user; Growth and Scale include a secondary organization |
| Support | Custom plan includes dedicated support | Support details not published |
Apollo Choose Apollo if
- Choose Apollo if prospecting data and outbound belong in one workspace.
- Choose Apollo if you want a free plan to start.
- Choose Apollo if its 240M+ contact database fits your data needs.
Close Choose Close if
- Choose Close if you want CRM, calling, email, and SMS together.
- Choose Close if a lower paid entry price matters.
- Choose Close if pipeline tools and built-in sales workflows are priorities.
02Pricing compared
Apollo has a free plan; Close does not. Apollo Basic costs $65 per seat/month when billed monthly or $49 per seat/month billed annually. It includes 2,500 monthly credits, unlimited sequences, and 250 daily email sends per user. The Free plan includes 75 credits per seat/month, two sequences, and a 25-record selection limit.
Close starts at $9 per user/month with annual billing ($19 monthly), but Solo is limited to one user and excludes workflows. Essentials is $35 annually or $49 monthly and also excludes workflows; they start on Growth, at $99 annually or $109 monthly. Close passes calling and SMS usage through at cost; most outbound calls are around $0.02 per minute, and phone lines start at $1/month. Apollo Organization is annual-only at $119 per seat/month, with a three-seat minimum.
03Features and depth
Apollo is the stronger fit when prospect discovery is part of the job. Its homepage lists 240M+ contacts and 30M+ accounts, while the platform combines prospecting, outreach, and dialing. It also offers waterfall enrichment, buying signals such as intent and job changes, and Apollo Anywhere for using the product from a CRM, ChatGPT, Claude, Gmail, or a browser. Apollo’s AI agents can research accounts, build lists, write outreach, follow up, and book meetings.
Close is built around running sales activity inside a CRM: calling, email, SMS, pipeline management, reporting, and automation. Its AI agent, Chloe, can call and qualify leads, book meetings, and update CRM records. Close also lists AI notes for calls and meetings and an assistant that can answer questions about pipeline, meetings, and calls, then draft follow-ups. In short, Apollo puts more emphasis on finding and contacting prospects; Close puts more emphasis on managing deals and sales conversations.
04Ease of use and learning curve
The simpler fit depends on where your sales work starts. Apollo brings data, prospecting, outreach, and dialing into one workspace, but its credit allowances and record-selection limits vary by plan. Teams should check those caps against their list-building habits before switching.
Close centers activity on its CRM, with calling, email, SMS, and pipeline management in the product. But the entry plans do not include workflows, so teams that need automated follow-ups have to budget for Growth or above. Close also adds usage charges for calling and SMS. Neither product’s pricing alone tells you how much setup your team will need; map your existing workflow and usage first.
Questions people ask
Which is cheaper, Apollo or Close?
Close has the lower advertised starting price: Solo is $9 per user/month with annual billing, but it is limited to one user and has no workflows. Apollo Basic is $49 per seat/month annually and includes 2,500 monthly credits. Compare the plan limits, not just the starting price.
Does Apollo or Close offer a free plan?
Apollo lists a free plan with 75 credits per seat/month, two email sequences, and a 25-record selection limit. Close does not list a free plan or free trial in the published pricing details. Close’s lowest listed plan is Solo, starting at $9 per user/month with annual billing.
Which is better for finding prospects?
Apollo is the more prospecting-focused option in this comparison. Its homepage lists 240M+ contacts and 30M+ accounts, and its features include buying signals, waterfall enrichment, and AI agents for researching accounts and building lists. Close’s feature set is centered on CRM activity and sales conversations.
Does Close include sales workflows on its cheapest plan?
No. Close’s Solo and Essentials plans do not include workflows, according to the pricing details. Workflows start on Growth, priced at $99 per user/month with annual billing or $109 monthly. Apollo Basic includes five automated workflows, but its plans have different credit and record-selection limits.