Apollo.io vs Bigin by Zoho CRM: Sales Engagement Platform vs CRM Platform Comparison
Compare Apollo.io (sales engagement platform) and Bigin by Zoho CRM (CRM platform) side by side. See pricing, features, and integrations to decide which one, or both, your stack needs.
Compare Apollo.io (sales engagement platform) and Bigin by Zoho CRM (CRM platform) side by side. See pricing, features, and integrations to decide which one, or both, your stack needs.
Reviewed and updated September 4, 2026
Apollo.io vs Bigin by Zoho CRM: Sales Engagement Platform vs CRM Platform Comparison
Apollo.io is a sales engagement platform; Bigin by Zoho CRM is a CRM platform. Whether you need one, the other, or both depends on which part of the workflow you are buying for: multi-channel sales outreach and engagement tracking on one side, customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking on the other. This guide lays out what each vendor publishes.
The Quick Answer
Apollo.io is a sales engagement platform for multi-channel sales outreach and engagement tracking; Bigin by Zoho CRM is a CRM platform for customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking. By each vendor's own wording, Apollo.io lists b2b contact and company database (275m+ contacts) and multi-channel sequences (email, phone, linkedin), and Bigin by Zoho CRM lists team pipelines and contact management.
Both start at the same price point ($0/mo), so the decision comes down to features and workflow fit.
If your priority is coordinating outreach across email, phone, and social channels, Apollo.io is the one built for it; for organizing contacts, tracking deals, and forecasting revenue, that is Bigin by Zoho CRM. Many teams run one of each.
Understanding the Core Difference
Apollo.io is All-in-one sales intelligence and engagement platform combining a 275M+ contact database with automated sequences, email outreach, dialer, and AI-powered workflows for prospecting at scale.
Bigin by Zoho CRM is Bigin is Zoho's simple, AI-powered CRM for small businesses with team pipelines, contact management, email and WhatsApp communication, and AI credits on the higher editions. Priced per user per month with a free single-user edition.
The two platforms take different approaches to solving the same core challenge.
Pricing Comparison
Apollo.io Pricing (as of September 2026)
| Plan | Price | Contacts |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | 900 credits per seat per year, granted monthly |
| Basic | $49/mo | 30,000 credits per seat per year, granted upfront |
| Professional | $79/mo | 48,000 credits per seat per year, granted upfront |
| Organization | $119/mo | 72,000 credits per seat per year, granted upfront |
Source: Apollo.io Pricing
Bigin by Zoho CRM Pricing (as of September 2026)
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Free | Free |
| Express | $9/mo |
| Premier | $15/mo |
| Bigin 360 | $21/mo |
Source: Bigin by Zoho CRM Pricing
Pricing Analysis
Both platforms start at the same $0/mo price point. The decision comes down to which feature set and tier structure works better for your expected usage.
Both platforms offer free tiers, so you can test each one before spending anything.
Features Breakdown
- B2B contact and company database (275M+ contacts)
- Multi-channel sequences (email, phone, LinkedIn)
- AI-powered email writing and optimization
- Built-in dialer with call recording
- Automated workflows and engagement rules
- A/B testing for email sequences
- and 4 more listed below
- Team pipelines
- Contact management
- AI credits for AI features
- Online booking page for meetings
- Churn risk signals
- Payments collection
- and 2 more listed below
Apollo.io Key Features
- B2B contact and company database (275M+ contacts)
- Multi-channel sequences (email, phone, LinkedIn)
- AI-powered email writing and optimization
- Built-in dialer with call recording
- Automated workflows and engagement rules
- A/B testing for email sequences
- Buying intent signals and job change alerts
- Advanced lead scoring and filtering
- Email deliverability tools and mailbox rotation
- Conversation intelligence (Professional+)
Bigin by Zoho CRM Key Features
- Team pipelines
- Contact management
- AI credits for AI features
- Online booking page for meetings
- Churn risk signals
- Payments collection
- MCP support
- Free onboarding session
The two lists below are a diff of each vendor's own feature list by exact wording, so a capability both tools offer can appear on either side under a different name.
Listed only by Apollo.io
- B2B contact and company database (275M+ contacts)
- Multi-channel sequences (email, phone, LinkedIn)
- AI-powered email writing and optimization
- Built-in dialer with call recording
- Automated workflows and engagement rules
- A/B testing for email sequences
- Buying intent signals and job change alerts
- Advanced lead scoring and filtering
- Email deliverability tools and mailbox rotation
- Conversation intelligence (Professional+)
Listed only by Bigin by Zoho CRM
- Team pipelines
- Contact management
- AI credits for AI features
- Online booking page for meetings
- Churn risk signals
- Payments collection
- MCP support
- Free onboarding session
Integration Ecosystem
Apollo.io Integrations
Apollo.io connects with: Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive, Gmail, Microsoft Outlook, LinkedIn, Zapier, Slack, Sendgrid, Outreach, Salesloft, Webhooks API.
Bigin by Zoho CRM Integrations
Bigin by Zoho CRM connects with: WhatsApp, Mailchimp, QuickBooks, Zoho Books, Outlook, Gmail, Zoho Desk, Zoho Campaigns, Zapier, Zoho Forms, Google Workspace, Zoom.
Shared Integrations
Both tools integrate with: Gmail, Zapier.
Integrations listed only by Apollo.io: Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive, Microsoft Outlook, LinkedIn, Slack, Sendgrid, Outreach, Salesloft, Webhooks API.
Integrations listed only by Bigin by Zoho CRM: WhatsApp, Mailchimp, QuickBooks, Zoho Books, Outlook, Zoho Desk, Zoho Campaigns, Zoho Forms, Google Workspace, Zoom.
Use Case Recommendations
Best Fit for Apollo.io
- Budget-conscious teams looking for an affordable sales engagement platform
- Teams that need a wide feature set (10 capabilities listed)
- Teams that want to start free and scale up as needs grow
Best Fit for Bigin by Zoho CRM
- Budget-conscious teams looking for an affordable CRM platform
- Teams that want to start free and scale up as needs grow
- Sales teams tracking deals from first touch to close
- Managers who need pipeline visibility and forecasting
Feature Comparison Summary
| Feature | Apollo.io | Bigin by Zoho CRM |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| Top Tier Price | $119/mo | $21/mo |
| Total Features Listed | 10 | 8 |
| Integrations | 12 | 12 |
| Founded | 2015 | N/A |
Getting Started Checklist
- Define your multi-channel sales outreach and engagement tracking and customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking requirements and monthly budget
- Estimate your expected sequences and engagement actions and contacts and deals to find the right tier
- List the integrations your team currently relies on
- Sign up for free trials or demos of both platforms
- Run a small test with each tool before making a commitment
- Evaluate the onboarding experience and support quality
Final Thoughts
Apollo.io serves the multi-channel sales outreach and engagement tracking side of an outbound stack and Bigin by Zoho CRM the customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking side. Apollo.io offers a more accessible entry point, while Bigin by Zoho CRM starts at $0/mo. Your decision should weigh pricing against the specific features that matter most for your workflow.
Start with a trial of each to see which platform fits your team's daily process. The best tool is the one your team actually uses consistently.
Pricing and features verified as of September 2026. Visit Apollo.io and Bigin by Zoho CRM for current information.
About the author.
Tim Carden is CMO / CTO at RevenueFlow, which builds and operates outbound revenue engines for B2B companies. Studied at McGill University.
Tim Carden · CMO / CTO
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