Apollo vs. Cognism: Which Sales Intelligence Platform to Choose?

Apollo vs. Cognism: quick overview

Here’s what you need to know about each platform.

Apollo

Apollo is a sales intelligence and engagement platform with access to over 275 million contacts and 70 million companies. The platform combines prospecting, outreach automation, and analytics in one place, creating a comprehensive solution for sales teams of all sizes.

Apollo’s biggest draw is its breadth of features at an affordable price. You can search for leads using 65+ filters, run automated email sequences, track engagement, and manage your sales pipeline without switching between multiple tools. The platform includes a free plan so you can test the database before paying.

Starting price: $49/user/month (billed annually)

Cognism

Cognism is a B2B sales intelligence platform that prioritizes data accuracy and compliance. The platform provides access to business contact information, with a strong focus on phone-verified mobile numbers through their Diamond Data® offering.

Cognism’s commitment to GDPR and CCPA compliance, manual verification processes, and extensive European coverage distinguishes it from competitors. They offer intent data powered by Bombora and maintain strict data quality standards to help sales teams reach the right people without worrying about outdated or incorrect information.

Starting price: Platinum plan ranges from $1,500-$10,000/year plus a $15,000 access fee and $1,500/user/year

Apollo vs. Cognism: head-to-head comparison

Here’s how these platforms compare across the categories that matter most for sales teams.

Features & capabilities

Apollo:

Apollo offers an extensive feature set that covers the entire sales process:

• Database with 275 million+ contacts
• Advanced search filters (65+ options)
• Email sequences and automation
• AI-powered email writing
• Call recording and dialer functionality
• Intent data and buying signals
• CRM enrichment
• Detailed analytics and reporting

Apollo provides everything in one place. You can prospect, engage, and track without juggling multiple subscriptions. The AI features help personalize outreach at scale, and the automation saves time on repetitive tasks.

Cognism:

Cognism focuses on premium data quality and compliance:

• Phone-verified mobile numbers (Diamond Data®)
• GDPR and CCPA-compliant contact data
• Intent data powered by Bombora
• Sales trigger alerts (funding rounds, hiring sprees)
• Chrome extension for LinkedIn and web prospecting
• Global database with strong European coverage
• CRM and sales tool integrations

Cognism’s phone-verified numbers significantly improve connect rates, and their commitment to privacy regulations matters for teams operating in regulated industries or markets.

Winner: Tie. Apollo wins on breadth of features and all-in-one functionality. Cognism wins on data quality and compliance, particularly for teams targeting European markets or requiring verified mobile numbers.

Ease of use

Apollo:

Apollo has a user-friendly interface that most teams can navigate without extensive training. The platform’s layout is intuitive, and features are easy to find. However, with so many capabilities packed into one tool, there’s a learning curve when you first start. Some users report that the interface can feel cluttered, and finding specific settings takes time. The search functionality is powerful but requires understanding how to use filters effectively.

Cognism:

Cognism offers a clean, straightforward interface that users consistently praise. The Chrome extension makes prospecting on LinkedIn seamless, and the platform’s focus on fewer, better-executed features means less confusion. New users can typically start prospecting within minutes of onboarding. However, some users report that the Chrome extension can be unreliable, requiring frequent re-authentication.

Winner: Cognism. The platform’s simpler interface and focus make it easier for teams to adopt quickly, despite occasional extension issues.

Pricing & value

Apollo:

Apollo uses a tiered pricing model with four plans:

• Free: $0/month (1,200 credits/year, basic features)
• Basic: $49/user/month (30,000 credits/year, unlimited sequences)
• Professional: $79/user/month (48,000 credits/year, unlimited mailboxes)
• Organization: $119/user/month for 3+ users (72,000 credits/year, advanced features)

All prices are for annual billing. Monthly billing costs more ($59-$149/user/month).

Apollo’s credit system can be confusing. Accessing an email costs 1 credit, while accessing a phone number costs 8 credits. Teams that prospect heavily may find they burn through credits faster than expected, leading to additional costs. However, the free plan lets you test the platform risk-free, and the basic tier is accessible for small teams.

Cognism:

Cognism offers two main tiers with custom pricing:

• Platinum: $1,500-$10,000/year plus $15,000 access fee and $1,500/user/year
• Diamond: $25,000 access fee plus $2,500/user/year

Pricing isn’t transparent; you need to contact sales for a quote based on your specific needs. The high access fees make Cognism a significant investment, particularly for smaller teams. However, you get unlimited data access with no credit limits, which means predictable costs once you’re in.

Winner: Apollo. The transparent pricing and accessible entry point make Apollo better value for most teams, especially small to mid-sized organizations. Cognism’s premium data justifies the cost for enterprises needing compliance and verified contacts, but the high barrier to entry limits accessibility.

Integrations

Apollo:

Apollo integrates with major CRM platforms:

• Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive, Zoho, and Microsoft Dynamics
• Sales engagement tools like Outreach and SalesLoft
• Email providers (all major ones supported)
• Workflow automation through Zapier
• API access for custom integrations

The integrations work smoothly, and you can sync data bidirectionally to keep records updated across systems.

Cognism:

Cognism offers integrations with:

• Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive, Microsoft Dynamics, Bullhorn
• Outreach, SalesLoft
• Zapier

All integrations are included at no additional cost.

The integration quality is solid, and the Chrome extension adds another layer of convenience by pulling data directly from LinkedIn into your CRM.

Winner: Tie. Both platforms cover the essential CRM and sales tool integrations that most teams need. The integration quality is comparable.

Data quality & coverage

Apollo:

Apollo provides access to a massive database covering global markets, with particularly strong coverage in the United States. However, data accuracy is a frequent complaint in user reviews. Email bounce rates can be high, even with verified contacts, and phone numbers are often outdated or incorrect. The platform’s reliance on crowdsourced data (they collect information from users’ CRMs) creates inconsistent data quality.

Cognism:

Cognism prioritizes data accuracy through manual verification and phone-verified mobile numbers. European coverage is particularly strong, with 180% more UK contacts and 250%+ more contacts in France and Germany compared to competitors. The platform achieves higher connect rates thanks to verified phone numbers, and data is regularly refreshed to maintain accuracy. However, some users report gaps in coverage for niche industries and certain international markets, particularly Asia.

Winner: Cognism. The investment in verification processes and compliance results in superior data quality, especially for teams needing accurate mobile numbers.

Apollo vs. Cognism: pros and cons

Apollo strengths & weaknesses

Pros:

• Affordable pricing with a free plan available for testing
• Comprehensive all-in-one platform covering prospecting, outreach, and deal management
• Massive database with 275 million+ contacts and extensive search filters
• Strong automation features including sequences, AI writing, and workflows
• Good integration ecosystem with major CRMs and sales tools

Cons:

• Inconsistent data accuracy with frequent email bounces and incorrect phone numbers
• Credit system can be confusing and runs out faster than expected
• Customer support is often slow and unresponsive according to reviews
• Frequent technical issues and system downtime reported by users

User rating:

• G2: 4.8/5 (based on 9,000+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.6/5 (based on 1,000+ reviews)

Cognism strengths & weaknesses

Pros:

• High-quality, phone-verified mobile numbers that improve connect rates
• Strong GDPR and CCPA compliance, important for regulated industries
• Superior European data coverage compared to competitors
• Clean, intuitive interface that’s easy to learn
• Intent data powered by Bombora for identifying prospects actively researching solutions

Cons:

• High pricing with significant access fees creates barriers for smaller teams
• Pricing is not transparent, requires sales consultation
• Chrome extension reliability issues with frequent re-authentication needed
• Limited data coverage in some international markets and niche industries

User rating:

• G2: 4.5/5 (based on 1,200+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.6/5 (based on 300+ reviews)

Apollo vs. Cognism: side-by-side comparison table

Here’s a quick reference comparing the key differences:

Which should you choose?

Choosing between Apollo and Cognism depends on your specific needs, budget, and target market.

Consider Apollo if:

• You need an all-in-one platform that combines data, outreach, and deal management
• You’re working with a limited budget or want to test before committing with their free plan
• Your primary market is the United States
• You want extensive automation features including sequences, AI writing, and analytics
• You’re comfortable with data that may require some manual verification

Consider Cognism if:

• Data accuracy and compliance are top priorities for your organization
• You’re targeting European markets where Cognism’s investment in European data accuracy gives them a clear advantage in those markets, while Apollo provides broader global coverage with particular strength in North America.

Need something different? Check out La Growth Machine

Apollo and Cognism are solid choices for finding contact information and building prospect lists. Both platforms excel at giving you the data you need to reach decision-makers. However, having a database of contacts is only the first step. Getting those contacts to respond and book meetings is where most teams struggle.

La Growth Machine solves this differently.

What La Growth Machine does

La Growth Machine is a multichannel sales automation platform that focuses on engagement rather than just data. While Apollo and Cognism help you find who to contact, our platform handles how you reach them across multiple channels to maximize response rates.

Our platform automates outreach sequences across LinkedIn, email, calls, voice messages, and Twitter/X from a single workflow. Instead of choosing between email or LinkedIn, you reach prospects wherever they’re most active. This multichannel approach drives 3.5x more replies than email-only campaigns.

Key capabilities:

Multichannel sequences Combine LinkedIn connection requests, messages, voice notes, emails, and call reminders in automated campaigns. The platform handles timing and follow-ups automatically.

LinkedIn Voice Messages with AI Record your message once, then let AI clone your voice to personalize greetings for each prospect. This feature alone doubles response rates compared to text messages.

Lead Enrichment We automatically find missing contact information using multiple verification providers, so you always have accurate emails to reach prospects.

Unified Inbox All conversations from LinkedIn, email, and calls appear in one thread per lead, making it easy to manage responses without switching platforms.

Smart deliverability featuresEmail rotation, domain warming, spam testing, and out-of-office detection protect your sender reputation and improve inbox placement.

How it fits into your stack

If you’re comparing Apollo and Cognism, you’re focused on building quality prospect lists. That’s important, but it’s only half the equation. Once you have the data, you need to engage those prospects effectively.

You could use Apollo or Cognism to get contact information, then manually reach out via email or LinkedIn. But that’s time-consuming and limits you to single-channel outreach.

La Growth Machine works alongside your data provider. Import your prospect lists from Apollo, Cognism, or any other source, then automate personalized multichannel outreach. The combination of quality data and multichannel engagement significantly improves your chances of starting conversations.

Apollo and Cognism tell you who to contact. La Growth Machine handles the outreach to actually book meetings.

Pricing

La Growth Machine offers transparent pricing with three tiers:

• Basic: €50/month (250 leads enriched, multichannel campaigns)
• Pro: €100/month (400 leads enriched, advanced features)
• Ultimate: €150/month (1,000 leads enriched, CRM sync)

All plans include a 14-day free trial with no credit card required.

Consider La Growth Machine if:

• You need multichannel automation to increase response rates beyond single-channel email
• You want to combine LinkedIn, email, and other touchpoints in one sequence
• You need to scale personalized outreach without hiring more SDRs
• You’re looking for better engagement tools to complement your existing data source

Apollo vs. Cognism: FAQs

What’s the main difference between Apollo and Cognism?

Apollo is an all-in-one sales platform that combines contact data, outreach automation, and deal management in a single tool. Cognism focuses specifically on providing high-quality, compliant B2B contact data with phone-verified mobile numbers and strong European coverage. Apollo offers more features at a lower price point, while Cognism prioritizes data accuracy and compliance at a premium price.

Can I use both Apollo and Cognism together?

Yes, some teams use both platforms to maximize coverage. You might use Cognism for verified mobile numbers in European markets where they excel, and Apollo for broader prospecting and automation features. However, this approach requires managing two subscriptions and dealing with potential data overlap. Most teams choose one based on their primary needs and budget.

Do these platforms help with email deliverability?

Apollo includes deliverability features like email warmup and spam testing in their Professional and Organization plans. Cognism is primarily a data provider and doesn’t offer built-in email sending or deliverability tools. You would need to pair Cognism with an email outreach platform or sales engagement tool to handle sending and deliverability. If email deliverability is a priority, consider tools specifically designed for multichannel outreach.

Conclusion

Apollo and Cognism both solve the problem of finding accurate B2B contact information, but they take different paths to get there.

Apollo offers an affordable, feature-rich platform that combines data, automation, and deal management in one place. The trade-off is inconsistent data quality and occasional technical issues. Cognism delivers premium data quality with verified mobile numbers and compliance as top priorities, but you pay significantly more for that accuracy.

For most small to mid-sized teams, Apollo’s comprehensive feature set and accessible pricing make it the practical choice. For enterprises operating in European markets or regulated industries where compliance and data accuracy are critical, Cognism’s premium offering justifies the investment.

If you’re looking for something different, La Growth Machine focuses on what happens after you have the data. Our multichannel automation platform helps you turn contact lists into actual conversations and booked meetings across LinkedIn, email, and other channels. While Apollo and Cognism help you build the list, we help you work the list effectively.