Apollo vs. Lusha in 2026: Which B2B Data Provider Is Right for You?

Apollo vs. Lusha: quick overview

Apollo

Apollo.io is an all-in-one sales intelligence and engagement platform that combines a massive B2B database with multichannel outreach capabilities. It offers access to over 275 million contacts and 65 million companies, along with email sequencing, calling features, and deal management tools. Apollo positions itself as a complete sales tech stack replacement, letting teams prospect, engage, and close deals all within one platform. Starting at $49/month per user.

Lusha

Lusha is a B2B contact database focused on data accuracy and direct phone numbers. With 280+ million verified business profiles, Lusha specializes in providing high-quality contact information, particularly direct dial numbers that actually connect. The platform offers lead enrichment, buyer intent data, and automated prospecting features. Lusha operates on a credit-based system where users pay for the data they actually use. Free plan available with 70 credits/month.

Apollo vs. Lusha: head-to-head comparison

Let’s dive into the details and see how these two platforms stack up across the metrics that actually matter for your prospecting success.

Features & capabilities

Apollo

Apollo provides a comprehensive sales platform that goes beyond just contact data. The database includes 275+ million contacts with verified emails and phone numbers. What sets Apollo apart is its built-in engagement tools: unlimited email sequences, A/Z testing for optimization, multichannel campaigns combining email and LinkedIn, and an integrated dialer for outbound calling. Apollo also offers AI-powered features like AI Research to identify prospect pain points, AI Lead Scoring to prioritize outreach, and an AI Assistant to streamline workflows. The platform includes deal management, conversation intelligence with call recording, and automated workflows to connect different parts of your sales process.

Lusha

Lusha focuses on delivering high-quality contact data rather than being a full engagement platform. Its core strength is data accuracy, particularly for direct phone numbers and verified emails. Lusha offers Contact & Company Search to build targeted prospect lists, a Chrome Extension for capturing leads directly from LinkedIn, Buyer Intent data to identify companies actively searching for solutions, AI Recommendations that deliver daily matched leads, and Automated Prospecting to build and enrich lists. The platform emphasizes waterfall enrichment to maximize data coverage by pulling from multiple sources, and its credit system ensures you only pay for data you actually receive.

Winner: Apollo

Apollo takes this round because it’s a complete sales platform, not just a data provider. If you need one tool that handles prospecting, outreach, and deal management, Apollo’s feature set is significantly broader. However, if your sole focus is obtaining the highest quality contact data to use in other tools, Lusha’s specialized approach may actually serve you better.

Ease of use

Apollo

Apollo has a modern, intuitive interface that most users can navigate within minutes. The platform’s search filters are powerful but well-organized, making it easy to build targeted prospect lists. Creating email sequences is straightforward with drag-and-drop functionality. However, because Apollo does so much, there’s a learning curve to master all its features. New users sometimes feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of options. The Chrome extension works smoothly for LinkedIn prospecting. Some users report occasional slowdowns during peak usage times, and the platform’s complexity means your team will need some ramp-up time to use it effectively.

Lusha

Lusha wins high marks for simplicity. The interface is clean and focused, making it incredibly easy to find and export contact information. The Chrome extension is arguably the best in the industry, seamlessly overlaying contact details directly on LinkedIn profiles. You can reveal emails and phone numbers with a single click, and the process of enriching lists is straightforward. Because Lusha does fewer things, there’s virtually no learning curve. Most users are productive within their first session. The credit system is transparent, showing exactly what each action will cost before you commit.

Winner: Lusha

Lusha edges ahead here for pure ease of use. It does one thing exceptionally well and makes that process frictionless. Apollo is reasonably user-friendly given its scope, but Lusha’s focused simplicity means faster onboarding and less training required for your team.

Pricing & value

Apollo

Apollo operates on a per-user subscription model with credit-based data access:

• Free Plan: $0 with 1,200 credits per year (granted monthly), 2 sequences, basic features
• Basic Plan: $49/user/month (annual billing) with 30,000 credits per year, unlimited sequences, advanced filters, CRM integrations
• Professional Plan: $79/user/month (annual billing) with 48,000 credits per year, A/Z testing, unlimited meeting events, call recordings (4,000 mins), analytics
• Organization Plan: $119/user/month (annual billing, minimum 3 users) with 72,000 credits per year, advanced security, custom reports, international dialer, call recordings (8,000 mins)

Apollo uses credits for data access: 1 credit for an email, 8 credits for a phone number, up to 9 credits for data enrichment. The value proposition is strong if you use the engagement features. You’re getting a database plus the tools to actually use that data. However, costs can add up quickly if you need multiple seats.

Lusha

Lusha operates on a credit-based system with different pricing tiers:

• Free Plan: $0 with 70 credits per month (1 credit per email, 10 credits per phone number)
• Paid Plans: Not publicly disclosed, contact sales for pricing

Lusha’s credit model means you only pay for the data you successfully retrieve. Email addresses cost 1 credit, phone numbers cost 10 credits. This can be more cost-effective if you’re selective about which contacts you export. However, if you need high volumes of data, the credit costs can exceed Apollo’s subscription model. Monthly plans allow unused credits to roll over up to 2x your plan limit, while annual plans provide all credits upfront.

Winner: Tie

This one depends entirely on your use case. Apollo offers better value if you want an all-in-one platform and will use the engagement features. You get data plus the tools to act on it. Lusha may be more cost-effective if you only need occasional data enrichment and already have outreach tools in place. The credit model gives you flexibility, but heavy users might find Apollo’s flat pricing more predictable.

Integrations

Apollo

Apollo integrates with over 100 platforms including all major CRMs (Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive), sales engagement platforms (Outreach, SalesLoft), marketing automation tools (Marketo), workflow automation (Zapier), and email providers (Gmail, Outlook, SMTP). Apollo also offers API access for custom integrations and supports data enrichment tools like Clay. The integrations are bidirectional, allowing data to flow seamlessly between Apollo and your other tools. This makes Apollo easy to fit into existing tech stacks.

Lusha

Lusha offers one-click integrations with major CRMs (Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive, Microsoft Dynamics, Zoho, Bullhorn), sales engagement platforms (Outreach, Salesloft), email services (Gmail, Outlook), and Zapier for custom workflows. The integrations are designed to enrich your existing database rather than replace it. You can bulk save contacts directly to your CRM with all fields properly mapped. Lusha also provides API access for developers who want to build custom integrations.

Winner: Apollo

Apollo has a slightly broader integration ecosystem and offers more depth in how data syncs across platforms. However, Lusha covers all the essential integrations that most teams need. For practical purposes, both platforms integrate well with the tools you’re likely already using.

Data quality & accuracy

Apollo

Apollo’s database contains 275+ million contacts and 65+ million companies with global coverage. Data accuracy is generally good but can be inconsistent, particularly for niche industries or international contacts. Email deliverability rates typically range from 85-92%, which is solid but not exceptional. Phone numbers are available but direct dial quality varies. Apollo refreshes data regularly and uses waterfall enrichment to pull from multiple sources. Users report that larger companies and US-based contacts tend to have better data quality than smaller businesses or international prospects. The mobile data coverage is expanding but still developing.

Lusha

Lusha’s claim to fame is data accuracy, particularly for direct phone numbers. The platform achieves 95%+ deliverability rates according to customer testimonials, with a focus on providing mobile numbers that actually connect. Email accuracy is strong, with Lusha emphasizing verified data over database size. The platform excels in US and European markets but coverage is thinner in other regions. Lusha’s Chrome extension provides real-time data rather than relying solely on a static database, which helps maintain accuracy. Users consistently praise Lusha’s direct dial quality as superior to competitors.

Winner: Lusha

If data accuracy is your top priority, Lusha wins. The platform delivers higher quality contact information, especially phone numbers. Apollo’s database is larger and more comprehensive, but Lusha’s focus on verification over volume means fewer bounced emails and more successful cold calls.

Apollo vs. Lusha: pros and cons

Apollo strengths & weaknesses

Pros 👍

• All-in-one platform combining database, outreach, and deal management
• Massive database with 275+ million contacts provides extensive coverage
• Built-in email sequencing and multichannel campaigns eliminate need for separate tools
• AI-powered features for research, lead scoring, and automation
• Strong CRM integrations with bidirectional data sync
• Included dialer and call recording for phone-based prospecting
• Comprehensive free plan allows you to test the platform extensively

Cons 👎

• Data accuracy can be inconsistent, especially for niche markets and international contacts
• Platform complexity creates a learning curve for new users
• Pricing can get expensive quickly for larger teams needing multiple seats
• Some users report occasional performance slowdowns during high-traffic periods
• Phone number quality is hit-or-miss compared to specialized providers

User Rating:

• G2: 4.7/5 (based on 9,015+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.5/5 (based on 380+ reviews)

Lusha strengths & weaknesses

Pros 👍

• Superior data accuracy, particularly for direct phone numbers and mobile numbers
• Simple, intuitive interface with minimal learning curve
• Excellent Chrome extension for seamless LinkedIn prospecting
• Credit-based pricing means you only pay for data you successfully receive
• Strong verification processes result in fewer bounced emails
• Real-time data retrieval rather than relying solely on static database
• Free plan provides 70 credits monthly to test the platform

Cons 👎

• Limited to data enrichment, no built-in outreach or engagement features
• Smaller database compared to Apollo means less coverage for niche industries
• Credit costs can add up quickly for high-volume prospecting
• Better suited for US and European markets, thinner coverage elsewhere
• Requires separate tools for email sequences and campaign management

User Rating:

• G2: 4.3/5 (based on 1,572 reviews)
• Capterra: 4.2/5 (based on reviews)

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

Here’s a quick reference to help you compare the two platforms at a glance:

Which should you choose?

Here are the decision criteria to help you determine which platform fits your needs:

Choose Apollo if:

• You want an all-in-one platform that handles prospecting, outreach, and deal management in one place
• Your team needs email sequencing, dialer functionality, and multichannel campaigns built in
• You’re looking to consolidate your sales tech stack and reduce tool sprawl
• Database size and broad coverage matter more than perfect accuracy for every contact
• You prefer predictable per-seat pricing over usage-based credits
• Your team has the bandwidth to learn a more complex platform with extensive features

Choose Lusha if:

• Data accuracy, especially for phone numbers, is your absolute top priority
• You already have outreach tools (like Outreach, SalesLoft, or similar) and just need quality data
• You primarily prospect in the US and European markets where Lusha’s coverage excels
• Your team values simplicity and wants a tool with zero learning curve
• You prefer to pay only for the data you successfully retrieve rather than flat subscriptions
• Direct dial mobile numbers are critical to your cold calling strategy

Consider both if:

• Your team size is large enough that different members have different needs
• You want to use Apollo for sequences and outreach while enriching with Lusha’s superior phone data
• Budget allows for complementary tools that each excel in their specialty

Look elsewhere if:

• You need robust multichannel prospecting across LinkedIn, email, and other channels with advanced automation
• Your prospecting strategy requires sophisticated conditional branching and personalization at scale
• You want AI-powered features like voice message automation or social warming
• You need a platform that focuses on conversation quality over database size

Need something different? Check out La Growth Machine

Apollo and Lusha are both solid choices for their specific use cases: Apollo for an all-in-one sales platform, Lusha for high-quality contact data. But if you’re looking for a different type of solution altogether, La Growth Machine takes a fundamentally different approach to B2B prospecting.

While Apollo and Lusha focus primarily on providing contact data and (in Apollo’s case) email outreach, our platform specializes in multichannel sales automation. We help you reach prospects where they’re most active through coordinated campaigns across LinkedIn, Email, Twitter, and even voice messages, all in one unified sequence.

What our platform does:

La Growth Machine is built for teams who understand that modern B2B prospecting requires more than just email blasts or database access. We automate the entire prospecting workflow:

• Import and enrich leads from LinkedIn, Sales Navigator, or CSV files with waterfall email enrichment using 9 providers
• Create multichannel sequences that intelligently switch between LinkedIn (messages, connection requests, voice notes), Email, and Twitter based on prospect actions
• Stand out with LinkedIn Voice Messages, a feature that can double reply rates by adding a human touch at scale
• Warm up prospects with Social Warming to automatically like posts and follow leads before reaching out
• Manage conversations in a unified multichannel inbox where all LinkedIn and email replies appear in one thread
• Sync with your CRM through native integrations with HubSpot, Pipedrive, and Breakcold

How it fits into your stack:

If you’re using Apollo or Lusha primarily for their contact databases, you could continue leveraging them for data while using our platform for the actual outreach. Our Lead Enrichment feature finds missing emails and phone numbers, but our real strength is orchestrating sophisticated multichannel campaigns that feel personalized even when automated.

Think of it this way: Apollo and Lusha help you find who to contact. La Growth Machine helps you actually start conversations that convert. The platforms serve different primary functions, which means they can complement each other, or you can use our enrichment features and ditch the separate database tool entirely.

Pricing:

• Basic Plan: €60/month per identity (includes multichannel outreach, enrichment, sequences, analytics)
• Pro Plan: €120/month (adds LinkedIn Intent Data, Lookalike Search, Social Warming, Inbox Rotation)
• Free trial: 14 days, no credit card required

Worth considering if:

• You’re frustrated with low email response rates and want to add LinkedIn and other channels to your outreach
• You need advanced sequence logic with conditional branching based on prospect actions
• Your team wants to automate social engagement (liking posts, following prospects) before reaching out
• You’re looking for features that differentiate your outreach, like AI-powered LinkedIn voice messages
• You want a platform focused on starting conversations, not just collecting contact information

La Growth Machine isn’t trying to replace Apollo’s massive database or Lusha’s data accuracy. We’re solving a different problem: helping you turn cold prospects into warm conversations through intelligent multichannel automation. If that’s what your team needs, we’d love to show you how it works.

Apollo vs. Lusha: FAQs

Can I use Apollo and Lusha together?

Yes, many teams use both platforms in complementary ways. A common setup is using Apollo for its email sequencing and outreach capabilities while enriching specific high-value contacts with Lusha’s superior phone data. You could also use Lusha’s Chrome extension while browsing LinkedIn to grab direct dial numbers, then import those contacts into Apollo for your email campaigns. Just be mindful of costs since you’d be paying for two subscriptions.

Which platform has better international coverage?

Apollo has broader global coverage with 275+ million contacts worldwide, making it better for prospecting in emerging markets or less common geographies. Lusha excels in the US and European markets where its data accuracy is exceptional, but coverage gets thinner in Asia, Latin America, and Africa. If your target market is primarily North America or Europe, Lusha’s superior data quality may outweigh Apollo’s broader but less accurate international coverage.

Do either platforms integrate with LinkedIn Sales Navigator?

Both platforms offer Chrome extensions that work with LinkedIn Sales Navigator. Apollo’s extension allows you to add prospects directly to sequences and reveal contact information while browsing. Lusha’s extension overlays contact details (emails and phone numbers) directly on LinkedIn profiles. Both integrate smoothly with Sales Navigator searches, but neither offers a direct API integration with Sales Navigator itself since that’s not provided by LinkedIn.

Conclusion

Apollo and Lusha both solve the B2B prospecting data challenge, but they take distinctly different approaches. Apollo gives you a comprehensive sales platform that combines a massive database with outreach tools, making it ideal if you want to consolidate your tech stack. Lusha delivers superior data accuracy with a focus on quality over quantity, perfect for teams who need reliable direct dial numbers and already have their outreach tools in place.

The right choice depends on whether you value breadth or depth. Apollo’s all-in-one approach works brilliantly for teams building their sales tech stack from scratch. Lusha’s specialized focus on data quality serves teams who refuse to waste time on bounced emails and disconnected numbers.

And if what you’re really after is a different kind of solution altogether, one that focuses on multichannel prospecting automation rather than just database access, that’s where platforms like ours come into play. Modern B2B sales isn’t just about finding contact information anymore. It’s about orchestrating personalized conversations across multiple channels to actually generate replies and book meetings.

Whatever direction you choose, the key is understanding what your team needs most: comprehensive features, data accuracy, or conversation-starting automation. Start with a clear priority, test the options, and pick the tool that moves you closest to your revenue goals.