Compare/Head to head

Apollo vs Cognism

Same facts, side by side: starting price, free tier, MCP, API and what each one is actually built for.

Starting price

Apollo

$49/user/mo Free tier Free trial

All-in-one B2B database plus sequencer, with a free plan and paid plans from $49 per seat a month billed annually.

Where Apollo fits

  • Outbound recruiting and sales on one database
  • Teams that want free-tier access to start
  • Desks that need sequences next to the data
  • Consumers of the Apollo graph via MCP or API

Cognism

Sales-quoted

B2B contact and company data with phone-verified mobiles and strong EMEA coverage. Quote-based; Standard and Pro packages include 5 seats.

Where Cognism fits

  • EMEA sales teams that need mobiles
  • Enterprises replacing a ZoomInfo-class contract
  • Teams that want intent data with contacts
  • Buyers who care about GDPR positioning

At a glance

DetailApolloCognism
Starting price$49/user/moSales-quoted
Free tier✓Yes–No
Free trialYesNot on record
MCP server✓Yes–No
Public API✓Yes✓Yes
Listed underEmail finders, Lead generation, OutreachEmail finders, Lead generation
Capterra4.5 from 398 reviewsNot enough reviews

Where they pull apart

Apollo

Stands out: A large people database plus email sequences in one login, with MCP and a Chrome extension.

Watch out: Data quality varies by segment, and it does not match enterprise tools for intent data and org charts.

Not the right fit for

  • Buyers who need enterprise-class intent and org charts
  • Teams that want an ATS

Cognism

Stands out: Phone-verified mobile numbers, on-demand verification and Bombora intent data on the Pro package.

Watch out: No published price. CRM enrichment and API or bulk delivery are separate add-ons, and API access needs a prospecting seat.

Not the right fit for

  • Solo SDRs who need a cheap self-serve database
  • Teams that only want a US email finder

Pros and cons

Apollo

  • Free plan, then Basic at $49 per seat a month billed annually
  • Database plus sequences in one login
  • MCP and Chrome extension
  • Data quality varies by segment
  • Less depth on intent than enterprise vendors
  • Credit model needs watching

Cognism

  • Phone-verified mobile numbers
  • Intent data on the Pro package
  • Revealed contacts reusable for the contract
  • No public self-serve price
  • CRM enrichment is a paid add-on
  • API delivery costs extra

What each one costs

Apollo

$49/user/mo

Apollo has a free plan with 900 credits per seat a year, granted monthly. Basic is $49 per seat a month billed annually, with 30,000 credits per seat a year granted upfront and a 14-day trial; annual billing saves 24% against monthly. Higher plans are listed on the same page. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Cognism

Sales-quoted

Sales-quoted. No public rate card on the vendor site. Standard and Pro prospecting packages each include 5 seats; CRM enrichment and API or bulk data delivery are priced separately by volume. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Common questions

Can you try Apollo or Cognism for free?
Apollo carries a free tier on our listing. Apollo offers a free trial.
Does Apollo or Cognism have an MCP server?
Apollo ships a first party MCP server, so an AI assistant can work the product directly.

Not the pair you wanted?

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Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 4 Nov 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?