Apollo.io vs Closely: Sales Engagement Platform Comparison
Compare Apollo.io and Closely side by side. See pricing, features, and integrations to choose the right sales engagement platform for your needs.
Apollo.io and Closely both support multi-channel sales outreach, but they differ in focus and price. Apollo.io is an all-in-one sales intelligence platform with a 275M+ contact database and a free entry tier, while Closely centers on LinkedIn and email campaigns starting at $49/mo. The better fit depends on budget, team size, and which channels matter most.
Key takeaways
- Apollo.io offers a free entry plan while Closely's entry plan, Starter, costs $49/mo.
- Apollo.io lists a B2B contact and company database of 275M+ contacts, a feature Closely does not list.
- Closely's Starter plan includes 1 LinkedIn account and unlimited email accounts, while Growth at $127/mo includes 3 LinkedIn accounts and 3,000 bonus credits per month.
- Apollo.io's Organization plan costs $119/mo and includes 72,000 credits per seat per year granted upfront.
- Closely lists a conditional sequence builder and dedicated residential IP for each LinkedIn account, features not listed by Apollo.io.
Reviewed and updated September 4, 2026
Apollo.io vs Closely: Sales Engagement Platform Comparison
If you are comparing multi-channel sales outreach and engagement tracking tools, Apollo.io and Closely will likely both appear on your radar. They share some surface-level similarities, but the details reveal important differences in pricing, capability, and target audience.
The Quick Answer
By each vendor's own wording, Apollo.io lists b2b contact and company database (275m+ contacts) and multi-channel sequences (email, phone, linkedin), while Closely lists multichannel campaigns across linkedin and email and conditional sequence builder. A capability both offer can appear under different names, so read both feature lists below.
Apollo.io offers a lower entry point at $0/mo compared to Closely at $49/mo.
If your priority is coordinating outreach across email, phone, and social channels, both tools target it. The right choice depends on your budget, team size, and the specific capabilities you need most.
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.
Closely is Outbound platform that runs automated campaigns across LinkedIn and email from a shared sender, with a conditional sequence builder, unified inbox, contact enrichment and AI personalization agents.
The two platforms take different approaches to solving the same core challenge.
Pricing Comparison
Free
Starter
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
Closely Pricing (as of September 2026)
| Plan | Price | Contacts |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $49/mo | 1 LinkedIn account, unlimited email accounts |
| Growth | $127/mo | 3 LinkedIn accounts, unlimited email accounts, 3,000 bonus credits/mo |
| Essential | $205/mo | 5 LinkedIn accounts, unlimited email accounts, 5,000 bonus credits/mo |
| Custom | Contact Sales | Unlimited seats, custom LinkedIn accounts and credits |
Source: Closely Pricing
Pricing Analysis
Apollo.io is more affordable at the entry level ($0/mo vs $49/mo). For teams with tight budgets or those just getting started with multi-channel sales outreach and engagement tracking, this price difference matters.
Apollo.io includes a free tier, letting you test the platform before committing financially.
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
- Multichannel campaigns across LinkedIn and email
- Conditional sequence builder
- Smart Inbox unifying LinkedIn and email replies
- LinkedIn account warmup
- Dedicated residential IP for each LinkedIn account
- OAuth Gmail and Outlook connection plus custom SMTP
- and 4 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+)
Closely Key Features
- Multichannel campaigns across LinkedIn and email
- Conditional sequence builder
- Smart Inbox unifying LinkedIn and email replies
- LinkedIn account warmup
- Dedicated residential IP for each LinkedIn account
- OAuth Gmail and Outlook connection plus custom SMTP
- Email finder with a multi-step fallback process
- Phone number finder
- AI lead scoring and personalization agents
- Export from Sales Navigator, LinkedIn posts and events
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 Closely
- Multichannel campaigns across LinkedIn and email
- Conditional sequence builder
- Smart Inbox unifying LinkedIn and email replies
- LinkedIn account warmup
- Dedicated residential IP for each LinkedIn account
- OAuth Gmail and Outlook connection plus custom SMTP
- Email finder with a multi-step fallback process
- Phone number finder
- AI lead scoring and personalization agents
- Export from Sales Navigator, LinkedIn posts and events
Integration Ecosystem
Apollo.io Integrations
Apollo.io connects with: Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive, Gmail, Microsoft Outlook, LinkedIn, Zapier, Slack, Sendgrid, Outreach, Salesloft, Webhooks API.
Closely Integrations
Closely connects with: Salesforce, Pipedrive, HubSpot, GoHighLevel, Gmail, Microsoft Outlook, SMTP, Webhooks.
Shared Integrations
Both tools integrate with: Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive, Gmail, Microsoft Outlook.
Integrations listed only by Apollo.io: LinkedIn, Zapier, Slack, Sendgrid, Outreach, Salesloft, Webhooks API.
Integrations listed only by Closely: GoHighLevel, SMTP, Webhooks.
Use Case Recommendations
Best Fit for Apollo.io
- Budget-conscious teams looking for an affordable sales engagement platform
- Organizations with complex tech stacks needing broad integration support (12 integrations)
- Teams that want to start free and scale up as needs grow
Best Fit for Closely
- Budget-conscious teams looking for an affordable sales engagement platform
- Enterprise buyers who prefer custom pricing and dedicated support
- SDR teams running multi-channel outreach sequences
- Sales managers tracking team engagement metrics
Feature Comparison Summary
| Feature | Apollo.io | Closely |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | Free | $49/mo |
| Top Tier Price | $119/mo | Contact Sales |
| Total Features Listed | 10 | 10 |
| Integrations | 12 | 8 |
| Founded | 2015 | N/A |
Getting Started Checklist
- Define your multi-channel sales outreach and engagement tracking requirements and monthly budget
- Estimate your expected sequences and engagement actions 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 and Closely both serve the multi-channel sales outreach and engagement tracking market. Apollo.io offers a more accessible entry point, while Closely starts at $49/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 Closely for current information.
Frequently asked questions.
Frequently asked questions- What is the main difference between Apollo.io and Closely?
- Apollo.io is an all-in-one sales intelligence and engagement platform combining a 275M+ contact database with sequences, dialer, and AI workflows. Closely is an outbound platform focused on automated LinkedIn and email campaigns with a conditional sequence builder, unified inbox, and AI personalization agents. Both target multi-channel outreach but take different approaches.
- Which platform is cheaper, Apollo.io or Closely?
- Apollo.io has a lower entry point at $0/mo with a free plan, while Closely's entry plan, Starter, costs $49/mo. For teams with tight budgets or those just starting with multi-channel outreach, this price difference matters, and Apollo.io's free tier lets you test the platform before paying.
- Does Apollo.io include a phone dialer?
- Yes, Apollo.io lists a built-in dialer with call recording as one of its key features. This is part of its multi-channel sequence capability that spans email, phone, and LinkedIn, which is not listed among Closely's own feature set.
- How many LinkedIn accounts can you connect on Closely's plans?
- Closely's Starter plan at $49/mo includes 1 LinkedIn account, the Growth plan at $127/mo includes 3 LinkedIn accounts plus 3,000 bonus credits per month, and the Essential plan at $205/mo includes 5 LinkedIn accounts plus 5,000 bonus credits per month. A Custom plan offers unlimited seats and custom LinkedIn accounts.
- Does Closely offer a free plan like Apollo.io?
- No, based on the pricing listed, Closely's entry plan is Starter at $49/mo, and there is no free tier mentioned. Apollo.io, by contrast, offers a Free plan with 900 credits per seat per year granted monthly.
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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