Battle Card

Apollo vs Lusha 2026: Prospecting Tools

Ivo8 min read

Apollo is the better choice for sales teams that want prospecting data, email sequences, a dialer, and CRM functionality in one platform. Lusha is the better choice for teams that just need quick, accurate contact lookups with a Chrome extension and nothing else. Apollo starts free (100 credits/month). Lusha starts free (70 credits/month). Here is the full breakdown.

Key Takeaways

  • Apollo: all-in-one (data + sequences + dialer + CRM) from $49/user/mo
  • Lusha: simple contact data lookups from $22/user/mo, no outreach features
  • Apollo saves $6,000+/year vs Lusha + separate outreach + CRM tools
  • Lusha wins on North American mobile phone accuracy for cold calling

Quick Verdict

FeatureApolloLusha
Best forAll-in-one prospecting + outreachQuick contact data lookups
PricingFree (100 credits/mo). Basic $49/user/moFree (70 credits/mo). Pro $22/user/mo
Key strengthData + sequences + dialer in one toolSimplicity, fast Chrome extension
Key weaknessCan feel complexContact data only, no outreach
Database size275M+ contacts100M+ business profiles
Email sequences
Dialer
CRMYes (built-in lightweight)

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What Is Apollo?

Apollo.io is an all-in-one sales intelligence and engagement platform. It combines a B2B contact database (275M+ contacts), email sequence automation, a built-in dialer, task management, and a lightweight CRM. Apollo is designed for teams that want to find prospects and reach them from one platform rather than stitching together multiple tools.

**Pricing:** Free (100 credits/month). Basic $49/user/month. Professional $79/user/month. Organization $119/user/month. All plans include email sequences and the dialer. For a comparison with ZoomInfo, see our Apollo vs ZoomInfo guide at /blog/apollo-vs-zoominfo-2026.

What Is Lusha?

Lusha is a B2B contact data tool focused on revealing emails and phone numbers. The Chrome extension works on LinkedIn and company websites. The prospecting platform offers search and filtering. Lusha does one thing and does it simply: give you contact data.

**Pricing:** Free (70 credits/month). Pro $22.45/user/month (annual). Premium $52.45/user/month (annual). Scale custom pricing.

Head-to-Head

Feature Scope

Apollo wins. Contact data, email sequences, dialer, task management, CRM, analytics, and LinkedIn integration in one platform. Lusha provides contact data only. If you use Lusha, you need a separate tool for email outreach (Outreach, Salesloft, Mailchimp) and a separate CRM (Salesforce, HubSpot).

Simplicity

Lusha wins. Install, click, get contacts. No learning curve. Apollo has more features, which means more setup, more onboarding, and more configuration. For a rep who just needs to pull 20 emails from LinkedIn, Lusha is faster.

Database Size and Quality

Apollo wins on volume (275M+ vs 100M+ contacts). Lusha is frequently cited for better mobile phone accuracy in North America specifically. Both have accuracy gaps depending on market and industry. Apollo's data is sufficient for most outbound workflows.

Email Outreach

Apollo wins (Lusha has no outreach features). Apollo's built-in sequences let you create multi-step email campaigns with A/B testing, personalization, and automated follow-ups. This eliminates the need for a separate email outreach tool.

Pricing for Teams

FeatureApolloLushaAnnual Savings
1 user, data onlyFree ($0)Free ($0)$0
5 users, data + outreach$245/mo (Basic)$262/mo + outreach ($500+/mo)~$6,200/yr
10 users, full stack$490/mo (Basic)$525/mo + outreach + CRM~$15,000+/yr

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Apollo's all-in-one pricing eliminates the need for separate outreach and CRM tools, which can save thousands per year for growing teams.

Phone Number Access

Lusha wins for North American direct dials specifically. Multiple sources cite Lusha's mobile data as more accurate in the US and Canada. Apollo has phone numbers but accuracy varies. For cold calling-heavy teams targeting North America, Lusha's data advantage on phone numbers is real.

Who Should Choose Apollo?

  • You want data + outreach + dialer in one platform
  • Budget is a factor (one tool vs three)
  • Email sequences and automated follow-ups are important
  • You need a built-in CRM or lightweight deal tracking
  • Your team prospects via email more than cold calling

Who Should Choose Lusha?

  • You only need contact data (already have outreach + CRM tools)
  • North American mobile phone accuracy is critical for cold calling
  • Simplicity is the top priority
  • You want the fastest possible Chrome extension experience on LinkedIn

The Bottom Line

Apollo for teams that want one platform. Lusha for teams that just need contact data. If you already have Outreach/Salesloft for sequences and Salesforce/HubSpot for CRM, Lusha fills the data gap cheaply. If you are building your sales stack from scratch, Apollo is the most cost-effective foundation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Apollo better than Lusha?

For all-in-one prospecting (data + outreach + dialer), yes. Lusha is better if you only need contact data with a simple Chrome extension. Apollo is a platform. Lusha is a lookup tool.

How much does Apollo cost vs Lusha?

Apollo: Free (100 credits/mo), Basic $49/user/mo. Lusha: Free (70 credits/mo), Pro $22/user/mo. But Apollo includes email sequences and a dialer that Lusha does not, saving $500+/month on separate tools.

Can Lusha replace Apollo?

For contact data, yes. For email sequences, dialer, task management, and CRM, no. Lusha is a data tool. Apollo is a full prospecting platform.

Which has better data?

Apollo has a larger database (275M+ vs 100M+). Lusha has better mobile phone accuracy in North America. Both have gaps depending on market. For more data tool comparisons, see our Best Competitive Intelligence Tools 2026 at /blog/best-competitive-intelligence-tools-2026.

Does Apollo have a free plan?

Yes. 100 credits per month with email sequences and the basic dialer included. More generous than Lusha's free plan (70 credits) and includes outreach features Lusha doesn't offer at any tier.

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