Apollo vs Lusha: Feature, Pricing & Use-Case Comparison

Apollo vs Lusha: Quick Comparison

Apollo wins on data volume, workflow features, and per-credit cost. Lusha wins on direct-dial accuracy for contacts sourced via LinkedIn. If you're running outbound sequences and need a database in one platform, Apollo's free tier gives you more than Lusha's paid entry plan out of the box.

Core Features and Coverage

Apollo covers 275M+ contacts and 73M+ companies with built-in sequences, a power dialer, and analytics. Lusha covers roughly 100M+ contacts but prioritizes mobile number accuracy over raw volume. For teams that need outreach and data in one place, Apollo replaces a sequencer entirely. Lusha doesn't replace anything on its own.

Apollo's sequence builder runs multichannel campaigns across email, phone, and LinkedIn tasks without a separate outreach tool. Teams using Lusha still pay for Outreach, Salesloft, or Smartlead on top, which wipes out any savings on the per-credit comparison. That's the real cost most buyers miss.

Apollo's mobile data has real gaps for EMEA contacts. Stale mobile numbers on mid-market European prospects appear consistently in G2 user reviews. Lusha's Chrome extension targets LinkedIn-sourced contacts and claims better direct-dial accuracy for North American and Western European buyers. For phone outreach in EMEA, Lusha has a measurable edge.

Pricing Breakdown

Apollo costs $49/month per user for 1,000 credits; Lusha's $39 Pro plan only delivers 480 credits per user, forcing high-volume teams to its $69 Premium tier for 960 credits. A team of three SDRs pays $147/month on Apollo versus $207/month on Lusha for comparable volume, per each platform's pricing page. That's a $720 annual gap, and Apollo includes sequences.

The real cost comparison goes beyond per-credit math. An in-house SDR costs $6,000 to $8,000 per month before tooling. A research-led outbound program typically runs $3,000 to $5,000 per month and covers the data, copy, and execution. If your team doesn't have a dedicated SDR, the tool comparison is the wrong question.

Data Quality and Deliverability

Apollo's email accuracy runs around 85 to 90% against major ESP bounce thresholds, per aggregate G2 data. Lusha claims 81%+ accuracy on mobile numbers globally, per Lusha's data page. For cold email, both platforms recommend running exports through a verification layer before sending, which means added cost either way.

Apollo's catch-all domain handling is more conservative than Lusha's. That's actually the better default for cold outbound. Sending to unverified catch-all addresses tanks sender reputation fast, and Apollo's default behavior flags these contacts before they hit your sequences. Lusha is less aggressive about it, per user reports on G2.

Neither tool offers real-time verification on export. If your ICP includes contacts at high-churn companies, stale data is a risk on both platforms. A separate verification step isn't optional if you're running cold email at volume.

Who Should Choose Apollo vs Lusha?

Apollo fits teams running high-volume cold email with at least two SDRs who currently pay for a separate sequencer. It replaces that sequencer, cuts per-credit costs, and scales past 1,000 contacts per month without adding tools. Lusha fits solo AEs or small teams doing LinkedIn-first phone outreach where direct-dial accuracy matters more than automation.

Choose Apollo if you're a 30-person SaaS company with a two-person SDR team prospecting 500 accounts per month. The $99/month Professional tier covers your volume and eliminates your Outreach or Smartlead subscription in one move.

Choose Lusha if you're an enterprise AE booking C-suite conversations. You're not running sequences. You need a direct number for a specific buyer you found on LinkedIn, and you'll pay a premium per credit for higher confidence on that number. That's a fair trade for the right use case.

Too Busy to Run Outbound Yourself?

Modern Inbound handles research, infrastructure, warm-up, account lists, copy tests, sending, replies, and routing. The system has booked 2,700+ B2B meetings and influenced $20M+ in pipeline.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Apollo better than Lusha for cold email?

Yes. Apollo includes built-in email sequences, a larger contact database, and lower per-credit costs. For teams running cold email at scale, Apollo's $49/month Basic plan outperforms Lusha's comparable tier on both volume and workflow coverage, per Apollo's pricing page.

Does Lusha have better phone number accuracy than Apollo?

For direct mobile numbers on LinkedIn contacts, yes. Lusha claims 81%+ mobile accuracy globally, with particularly strong coverage for North American contacts. Apollo's mobile data is broader but less accurate on direct dials, per G2 user reviews.

Can I use Apollo for free?

Yes. Apollo's free plan includes 10 export credits per month and unlimited email sequences. It's one of the few B2B data tools with a genuinely useful free tier, per Apollo's pricing page.

What's the main difference between Apollo and Lusha?

Apollo is a full outbound platform with sequences, a power dialer, and analytics built in. Lusha is a data enrichment tool with a Chrome extension. Apollo replaces multiple tools in your stack; Lusha complements your existing sequencer but doesn't run outreach on its own.

Should I use an outbound agency instead of Apollo or Lusha?

If your team doesn't have a dedicated SDR, an outbound agency often delivers faster results at a lower total cost than hiring and tooling an in-house rep. See Modern Inbound's research-led outbound services at moderninbound.com/services.