Tool Comparisons

    Apollo.io vs Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales: Sales Engagement Platform vs CRM Platform Comparison

    Compare Apollo.io (sales engagement platform) and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales (CRM platform) side by side. See pricing, features, and integrations to decide which one, or both, your stack needs.

    Editorial illustration for Apollo.io vs Microsoft Dynamics Sales
    September 1, 2026Updated September 5, 20266 min read
    Share:
    The short answer

    Apollo.io is a sales engagement platform built for multi-channel outreach across email, phone, and LinkedIn, backed by a 275M+ contact database, starting free at $0/mo. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales is a CRM platform for pipeline tracking and forecasting, starting at $65/mo. Many teams run both together rather than choosing one.

    Key takeaways

    • Apollo.io's free plan grants 900 credits per seat per year, while its Basic plan at $49/mo grants 30,000 credits upfront.
    • Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales Professional starts at $65/mo, with Enterprise Edition at $105/mo and Premium at $150/mo.
    • Dynamics 365 Sales Premium includes 1,000 Copilot Credits per user per month.
    • Apollo.io's database includes more than 275 million contacts and supports multi-channel sequences across email, phone, and LinkedIn.
    • Microsoft Relationship Sales, which pairs Dynamics 365 Sales with LinkedIn Sales Navigator, requires a 10-seat minimum.

    Reviewed and updated September 5, 2026

    Apollo.io vs Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales: Sales Engagement Platform vs CRM Platform Comparison

    Apollo.io (sales engagement platform) and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales (CRM platform) sit next to each other in many outbound stacks. They are not substitutes for each other on every job, so this comparison covers pricing, features, and integrations for each and points out where the two meet.

    The Quick Answer

    Apollo.io is a sales engagement platform for multi-channel sales outreach and engagement tracking; Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales 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 Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales lists sales force automation and microsoft 365 interoperation.

    Apollo.io offers a lower entry point at $0/mo compared to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales at $65/mo.

    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 Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales. 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.

    Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales is Dynamics 365 Sales is Microsoft's sales force automation product, covering pipeline, reporting and dashboards with contextual insights and Copilot AI. It interoperates with Microsoft 365 and pairs with LinkedIn Sales Navigator through the Microsoft Relationship Sales offer.

    The two platforms take different approaches to solving the same core challenge.

    Pricing Comparison

    Pricing panels: Pricing Comparison (Apollo.io, Free, Basic, Professional)

    FreeApollo.io entry plan

    Free

    $65/moMicrosoft Dynamics 365 Sales entry plan

    Dynamics 365 Sales Professional

    Entry pricing for Apollo.io and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales, as published on each vendor's own pricing page.

    Apollo.io Pricing (as of September 2026)

    PlanPriceContacts
    FreeFree900 credits per seat per year, granted monthly
    Basic$49/mo30,000 credits per seat per year, granted upfront
    Professional$79/mo48,000 credits per seat per year, granted upfront
    Organization$119/mo72,000 credits per seat per year, granted upfront

    Source: Apollo.io Pricing

    Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales Pricing (as of September 2026)

    PlanPriceContacts
    Dynamics 365 Sales Professional$65/mo-
    Dynamics 365 Sales Enterprise Edition$105/mo-
    Dynamics 365 Sales Premium$150/mo1,000 Copilot Credits per user/month
    Microsoft Relationship SalesContact SalesRequires a 10-seat minimum

    Source: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales Pricing

    Pricing Analysis

    Apollo.io is more affordable at the entry level ($0/mo vs $65/mo). For teams with tight budgets or those just getting started with multi-channel sales outreach and engagement tracking and customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking, this price difference matters.

    Apollo.io includes a free tier, letting you test the platform before committing financially.

    Features Breakdown

    Apollo.io lists
    • 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
    Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales lists
    • Sales force automation
    • Microsoft 365 interoperation
    • Reporting and dashboards
    • Customization and automation
    • Conversation intelligence
    • Sales engagement
    • and 2 more listed below
    What Apollo.io and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales each list on their own pages. The split is by exact wording, so a capability both offer can appear on both sides under different names.

    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+)

    Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales Key Features

    • Sales force automation
    • Microsoft 365 interoperation
    • Reporting and dashboards
    • Customization and automation
    • Conversation intelligence
    • Sales engagement
    • Copilot capabilities in Dynamics 365 Sales
    • Access to Sales Qualification, Opportunity, Research and Close agents

    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 Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales

    • Sales force automation
    • Microsoft 365 interoperation
    • Reporting and dashboards
    • Customization and automation
    • Conversation intelligence
    • Sales engagement
    • Copilot capabilities in Dynamics 365 Sales
    • Access to Sales Qualification, Opportunity, Research and Close agents

    Integration Ecosystem

    Integration schematic: Integration Ecosystem (Apollo.io, Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive)

    Apollo.io Integrations

    Apollo.io connects with: Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive, Gmail, Microsoft Outlook, LinkedIn, Zapier, Slack, Sendgrid, Outreach, Salesloft, Webhooks API.

    Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales Integrations

    Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales connects with: Microsoft 365, Outlook, Microsoft Teams, LinkedIn Sales Navigator, Microsoft Copilot Studio, Azure.

    Integrations listed only by Apollo.io: Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive, Gmail, Microsoft Outlook, LinkedIn, Zapier, Slack, Sendgrid, Outreach, Salesloft, Webhooks API.

    Integrations listed only by Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales: Microsoft 365, Outlook, Microsoft Teams, LinkedIn Sales Navigator, Microsoft Copilot Studio, Azure.

    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)
    • 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 Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales

    • Enterprise buyers who prefer custom pricing and dedicated support
    • Sales teams tracking deals from first touch to close
    • Managers who need pipeline visibility and forecasting
    • Growing teams that need scalable contact management

    Feature Comparison Summary

    FeatureApollo.ioMicrosoft Dynamics 365 Sales
    Starting PriceFree$65/mo
    Top Tier Price$119/moContact Sales
    Total Features Listed108
    Integrations126
    Founded2015N/A

    Getting Started Checklist

    Before-and-after steps: Getting Started Checklist (Define multi-channel sales, Estimate expected sequences, List integrations, Sign up)

    1. Define your multi-channel sales outreach and engagement tracking and customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking requirements and monthly budget
    2. Estimate your expected sequences and engagement actions and contacts and deals to find the right tier
    3. List the integrations your team currently relies on
    4. Sign up for free trials or demos of both platforms
    5. Run a small test with each tool before making a commitment
    6. 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 Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales the customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking side. Apollo.io offers a more accessible entry point, while Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales starts at $65/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 Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales for current information.

    Questions

    Frequently asked questions.

    Frequently asked questions
    What's the main difference between Apollo.io and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales?
    Apollo.io is a sales engagement platform focused on multi-channel outreach and engagement tracking, while Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales is a CRM platform focused on customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking. Apollo.io lists a 275M+ contact database and multi-channel sequences, while Dynamics 365 Sales lists sales force automation and Microsoft 365 interoperation.
    Which one is cheaper to start with?
    Apollo.io has a lower entry point at $0/mo compared to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales at $65/mo for its Professional plan. Apollo.io's free tier includes 900 credits per seat per year, letting teams test the platform before paying anything.
    Can Apollo.io and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales be used together?
    Yes, the article notes that many teams run one of each. Apollo.io handles coordinating outreach across email, phone, and social channels, while Dynamics 365 Sales handles organizing contacts, tracking deals, and forecasting revenue.
    Does Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales include AI features?
    Yes, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales includes Copilot capabilities and access to Sales Qualification, Opportunity, Research and Close agents. Its Premium plan, priced at $150/mo, also includes 1,000 Copilot Credits per user per month.
    What does Apollo.io's pricing structure look like?
    Apollo.io offers a Free plan with 900 credits per seat per year, a Basic plan at $49/mo with 30,000 credits granted upfront, a Professional plan at $79/mo with 48,000 credits, and an Organization plan at $119/mo with 72,000 credits.
    Apollo.ioMicrosoft Dynamics 365 SalesSales Engagement PlatformCRM PlatformComparisonsales-engagementcrm
    Byline

    About the author.

    Tim Carden

    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

    Connect on LinkedIn →
    Your next move

    Ready to scale your outreach?

    We build GTM engines that book real meetings. See the receipts.

    Further reading

    Related articles.

    Tool Comparisons

    Kommo vs Luru: CRM Platform vs Sales Engagement Platform Comparison

    Compare Kommo (CRM platform) and Luru (sales engagement platform) side by side. See pricing, features, and integrations to decide which one, or both, your stack needs.

    6 min readRead →
    Tool Comparisons

    Dripify vs Membrain: Sales Engagement Platform vs CRM Platform Comparison

    Compare Dripify (sales engagement platform) and Membrain (CRM platform). See pricing, features, and integrations to decide which one, or both, your stack needs.

    7 min readRead →
    Tool Comparisons

    Evaboot vs Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales: Data Enrichment Tool vs CRM Platform Comparison

    Compare Evaboot (data enrichment tool) and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales (CRM platform) side by side. See pricing, features, and integrations to decide which one, or both, your stack needs.

    6 min readRead →
    Tool Comparisons

    AiSDR vs Apollo.io: Sales Engagement Platform Comparison

    Compare AiSDR and Apollo.io side by side. See pricing, features, and integrations to choose the right sales engagement platform for your needs.

    7 min readRead →
    Tool Comparisons

    AroundDeal vs Leadspicker: Data Enrichment Tool vs Sales Engagement Platform Comparison

    Compare AroundDeal (data enrichment tool) and Leadspicker (sales engagement platform) side by side. See pricing, features, and integrations to decide which one, or both, your stack needs.

    5 min readRead →
    Tool Comparisons

    AroundDeal vs Salesflare: Data Enrichment Tool vs CRM Platform Comparison

    Compare AroundDeal (data enrichment tool) and Salesflare (CRM platform) side by side. See pricing, features, and integrations to decide which one, or both, your stack needs.

    5 min readRead →