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It's a split decision.
Choose Apollo if you need prospect data and outbound execution in one system: its homepage lists 240M+ contacts and 30M+ accounts, plus sequencing, dialing, enrichment and AI agents. Choose Crunchbase for private-company research, event predictions and live company signals. Both start at $49 on annual billing and offer a free plan, but Apollo’s Basic price is per seat, while Crunchbase Pro’s $49 monthly price applies for the first year when billed annually. They solve different jobs, not identical ones.
01Side by side
| Apollo | Crunchbase | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $49/seat/month, billed annually | $49/month, billed annually, first year |
| Free plan | Yes; 75 credits per seat monthly | Yes; limits not published here |
| Best for | Outbound prospecting and execution | Private-company research and predictions |
| Core strength | Contact data, sequencing, dialing and AI agents | Private-market signals and event predictions |
| Learning curve | Not published | Not published |
| Integrations/data | CRM, ChatGPT, Claude, Gmail and browser access | Salesforce, HubSpot, Zapier and Outreach on Business |
| Team/seat costs | Organization: 3-seat minimum; $119/seat monthly, annually | Business: 2+ seats; starts at $199/month annually |
| Support | Review support score: 5.5 | Review support score: 5 |
Apollo Choose Apollo if
- Choose Apollo if outbound prospecting and outreach belong in one workspace.
- Choose Apollo if you want contact data, dialing and AI agents together.
- Choose Apollo if browser, Gmail, CRM or AI-tool access matters.
Crunchbase Choose Crunchbase if
- Choose Crunchbase if private-company research is your main job.
- Choose Crunchbase if funding, growth, acquisition or IPO predictions matter.
- Choose Crunchbase if you need company signals and Business-plan integrations.
02Pricing compared
Both products list a free plan and start at $49 per month on annual billing, but the price units and terms differ. Apollo Basic is $49 per seat per month when billed annually, or $65 per seat monthly. It includes 2,500 credits per seat monthly on monthly billing, or 30,000 yearly credits on annual billing, plus unlimited sequences and a 1,000-record selection limit. Apollo Free includes 75 credits per seat monthly and a 25-record selection limit. Crunchbase Pro is $49 per month for the first year with annual billing, then its listed monthly price is $99; monthly billing is $99. Pro includes one seat, 2,000 export rows monthly, and up to 1,000 results per search. Crunchbase Business starts at $199 monthly on annual billing for two or more seats; monthly pricing is not published. Both offer trials: 14 days for Apollo and seven for Crunchbase.
03Features and depth
Apollo is built to move from finding prospects to contacting them. Its homepage lists 240M+ contacts and 30M+ accounts, alongside prospecting, outreach, dialing, waterfall enrichment, and buying signals such as intent, job changes, and website visits. Its AI agents can research accounts, build lists, write outreach, follow up, and book meetings. Apollo Anywhere extends access through CRM, ChatGPT, Claude, Gmail, and a browser. Check the credit and record-selection limits before treating those features as unlimited. Crunchbase is focused on private-company research and market signals. It offers company search, live updates on funding, hiring, and product launches, and predictions for funding, growth, acquisitions, and IPOs. Pro includes up to 100 lists and saved searches, 2,000 export rows monthly, and up to 1,000 results per search. Business adds integrations including Salesforce, HubSpot, Zapier, and Outreach. Choose Apollo for outbound execution; choose Crunchbase to assess companies and track potential market events.
04Ease of use and learning curve
The two products organize work around different jobs, so the easier choice depends on what your team needs to do. Apollo brings prospecting and outbound activity into one workspace, but its credits, seat-based pricing, selection caps, and plan-specific sending limits need attention. Crunchbase is more narrowly centered on company research, though its export caps, saved-search limits, and annual billing terms still matter. Our review scores rate Apollo’s ease of use at 7.4 and Crunchbase’s at 6. Those scores favor Apollo, but they do not tell us how either product will fit a particular workflow. If your team mainly researches private companies, Apollo’s broader outbound scope may be extra complexity; if it needs prospecting and outreach, Crunchbase does not replace that scope.
Questions people ask
Which is better for sales prospecting, Apollo or Crunchbase?
Apollo is the closer fit for prospecting and outbound execution: its listed features include contact data, sequences, dialing, enrichment, and AI agents. Crunchbase focuses on private-company research, predictions, and live company signals. Choose based on whether you need to contact prospects or investigate companies and market activity.
Is Apollo or Crunchbase cheaper?
Both list a $49 starting price with annual billing, but they are not directly comparable. Apollo Basic is $49 per seat per month on annual billing. Crunchbase Pro is $49 per month for the first year when billed annually, then its listed monthly price is $99. Crunchbase Business starts at $199 monthly on annual billing.
Do Apollo and Crunchbase have free plans or trials?
Both list a free plan. Apollo’s free plan includes 75 credits per seat monthly, two email sequences, and a 25-record selection limit. Crunchbase’s free-plan limits are not provided here. Apollo lists a 14-day trial; Crunchbase lists a seven-day trial.
Can Crunchbase replace Apollo for outbound sales?
Not based on the listed features. Crunchbase Business includes integrations such as Salesforce, HubSpot, Zapier, and Outreach, but Crunchbase is positioned around private-company data and signals. Apollo lists prospecting, sequences, dialing, and enrichment in its own workspace. A team needing those outbound tools should compare Apollo directly.