Apollo.io vs Salesloft (2026)
A head-to-head on price, free access, and staying power. Both live and price-verified as of Jul 21, 2026.
The verdict, first
Apollo.io
- if you want a permanent free tier, not just a trial.
- if you lean toward the more recent build, from 2015.
Salesloft
- if a longer track record matters to you; it has run since 2011.
- if it is built for SMB & enterprise teams.
What each one is
Apollo.io
What sets it apart Combines a native B2B contact database with built-in outreach sequences, a dialer, and CRM enrichment in a single workspace, rather than only supplying data or only automating sends.
The platform pairs a B2B contact database (Apollo cites 230M+ contacts and 30M+ companies) with the outreach tooling to act on it: prospecting filters, multi-step email and call sequences, a built-in dialer, and enrichment that syncs to Salesforce and HubSpot. What sets it apart from standalone data vendors or standalone sequencers is that both sit in one workspace, letting a rep move from finding a contact to messaging them without exporting elsewhere. Access to that data is metered by credits (email, mobile, export, and data pools) that reset each billing cycle, so export volume tends to drive cost more than seat count. It fits SDRs, account executives, and revenue teams from individual users to larger organizations, with a free plan and paid tiers starting at $49 per user per month billed annually.
Sources Apollo.io homepage · Apollo.io pricing page · Salesmotion - Apollo.io Pricing Breakdown 2026
Salesloft
What sets it apart Goes beyond a cold-outreach sequencer by combining multi-channel cadences with conversation intelligence, deal management, and forecasting in a single platform, anchored by bidirectional Salesforce sync and 180+ integrations.
Built around multi-step "cadences," Salesloft sequences prospect touchpoints across email, phone, and social from one workspace, then adds conversation intelligence, deal management, and forecasting so a full revenue team can work from a single system rather than a standalone outreach tool. It syncs bidirectionally with Salesforce and lists more than 180 integrations. Pricing is quote-based through the sales team, packaged into Advanced and Premier plans with no free tier, which orients it toward established SMB-to-enterprise sales organizations rather than solo prospectors. The company completed a merger with Clari on December 3, 2025, combining its engagement stack with Clari's revenue forecasting under new CEO Steve Cox.
Sources Salesloft Platform Overview (vendor) · Salesloft Pricing page (vendor) · CloudTalk - Salesloft Plans & Pricing guide · Yahoo Finance / Salesloft newsroom - Clari & Salesloft complete merger
Side by side
| Metric | Apollo.io | Salesloft |
|---|---|---|
| From $/mo | $49 | Custom |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Founded | 2015 | 2011 |
| Best for | solo & SMB & enterprise | SMB & enterprise |
| Status | Live | Live |
ALL FIGURES = LOWEST PAID MONTHLY PLAN · STATUS & PRICE VERIFIED JUL 21, 2026
Where they differ
Price
At least one of these is quote-based rather than a public monthly price - check current plans via the links. Verified Jul 21, 2026.
Free access
Apollo.io offers a permanent free tier; Salesloft is trial-only. A permanent free tier lowers the risk of committing before you have validated the fit.
Track record
Salesloft has been operating since 2011; Apollo.io since 2015. For a tool you build a business process on, a longer survival record matters.
Questions of record
Apollo.io or Salesloft - which is better in 2026?
Is Apollo.io cheaper than Salesloft?
Does Apollo.io or Salesloft have a free tier?
Are Apollo.io and Salesloft still maintained?
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