Apollo.io vs Nutshell: Data Enrichment Tool vs CRM Platform Comparison
Compare Apollo.io (data enrichment tool) and Nutshell (CRM platform) side by side. See pricing, features, and integrations to decide which one, or both, your stack needs.
Apollo.io is a data enrichment tool built for B2B lead data and contact enrichment, offering a free entry plan and a database of 210 million-plus contacts. Nutshell is a CRM platform for customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking, starting at $19 per month with unlimited contacts and storage. Many teams use both together.
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.
- Nutshell's Foundation plan starts at $19/mo and includes unlimited contacts and storage plus 10 AI outcomes.
- Apollo.io lists a database of 210 million-plus contacts and 30 million-plus companies.
- Nutshell offers 5 pricing tiers ranging from $19/mo to $89/mo, compared to Apollo.io's 4 tiers.
- Apollo.io integrates with Salesforce, HubSpot, Outreach, SalesLoft, Marketo, SendGrid, and LinkedIn, while Nutshell integrates with Gmail, Calendly, Aircall, and ChatGPT/OpenAI among others.
Reviewed and updated September 4, 2026
Apollo.io vs Nutshell: Data Enrichment Tool vs CRM Platform Comparison
Apollo.io is a data enrichment tool; Nutshell is a CRM platform. Whether you need one, the other, or both depends on which part of the workflow you are buying for: B2B lead data and contact enrichment 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 data enrichment tool for B2B lead data and contact enrichment; Nutshell is a CRM platform for customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking. By each vendor's own wording, Apollo.io lists 210m+ contacts database and 30m+ companies, and Nutshell lists unlimited contacts & storage and email & calendar sync.
Apollo.io offers a lower entry point at $0/mo compared to Nutshell at $19/mo.
If your priority is finding accurate contact data for target accounts, Apollo.io is the one built for it; for organizing contacts, tracking deals, and forecasting revenue, that is Nutshell. Many teams run one of each.
Understanding the Core Difference
Apollo.io is All-in-one sales intelligence platform with 210M+ contacts, AI-powered campaigns, and built-in email sequencing.
Nutshell is Nutshell is an all-in-one growth software featuring CRM, email marketing, and contact management for sales teams. Every subscription bundles webchat, an AI chatbot, a form builder, landing pages and attribution reporting alongside the sales pipeline.
The two platforms take different approaches to solving the same core challenge.
Pricing Comparison
Free
Foundation
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
Nutshell Pricing (as of September 2026)
| Plan | Price | Contacts |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation | $19/mo | Unlimited contacts and storage; 10 AI outcomes |
| Growth | $32/mo | 20 AI outcomes |
| Pro | $49/mo | 40 AI outcomes; 5 custom pipelines |
| Business | $67/mo | 100 AI outcomes; 10 custom pipelines |
| Enterprise | $89/mo | 150 AI outcomes; unlimited pipelines |
Source: Nutshell Pricing
Pricing Analysis
Apollo.io is more affordable at the entry level ($0/mo vs $19/mo). For teams with tight budgets or those just getting started with B2B lead data and contact enrichment and customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking, this price difference matters.
Nutshell offers 5 pricing tiers compared to Apollo.io's 4, giving you more granularity as you scale.
Apollo.io includes a free tier, letting you test the platform before committing financially.
Features Breakdown
- 210M+ contacts database
- 30M+ companies
- AI-powered multichannel campaigns
- Email deliverability guardrails
- Anonymous visitor identification
- Real-time form enrichment
- and 4 more listed below
- Unlimited contacts & storage
- Email & calendar sync
- Form builder & landing pages
- Activity reports
- Lead assignment rules
- Sales automation
- and 2 more listed below
Apollo.io Key Features
- 210M+ contacts database
- 30M+ companies
- AI-powered multichannel campaigns
- Email deliverability guardrails
- Anonymous visitor identification
- Real-time form enrichment
- Contact and company enrichment
- Advanced filtering
- CRM data cleansing
- Pipeline boards
Nutshell Key Features
- Unlimited contacts & storage
- Email & calendar sync
- Form builder & landing pages
- Activity reports
- Lead assignment rules
- Sales automation
- Meeting scheduler
- Advanced reporting
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
- 210M+ contacts database
- 30M+ companies
- AI-powered multichannel campaigns
- Email deliverability guardrails
- Anonymous visitor identification
- Real-time form enrichment
- Contact and company enrichment
- Advanced filtering
- CRM data cleansing
- Pipeline boards
Listed only by Nutshell
- Unlimited contacts & storage
- Email & calendar sync
- Form builder & landing pages
- Activity reports
- Lead assignment rules
- Sales automation
- Meeting scheduler
- Advanced reporting
Integration Ecosystem
Apollo.io Integrations
Apollo.io connects with: Salesforce, HubSpot, Outreach, SalesLoft, Marketo, SendGrid, LinkedIn.
Nutshell Integrations
Nutshell connects with: Gmail and Google Calendar, Calendly, Aircall, CallRail, Dialpad, Intercom, Google Meet, Google Analytics (GA4), ChatGPT / OpenAI, Claude.
Integrations listed only by Apollo.io: Salesforce, HubSpot, Outreach, SalesLoft, Marketo, SendGrid, LinkedIn.
Integrations listed only by Nutshell: Gmail and Google Calendar, Calendly, Aircall, CallRail, Dialpad, Intercom, Google Meet, Google Analytics (GA4), ChatGPT / OpenAI, Claude.
Use Case Recommendations
Best Fit for Apollo.io
- Budget-conscious teams looking for an affordable data enrichment tool
- 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 Nutshell
- Budget-conscious teams looking for an affordable CRM platform
- Organizations with complex tech stacks needing broad integration support (10 integrations)
- Sales teams tracking deals from first touch to close
- Managers who need pipeline visibility and forecasting
Feature Comparison Summary
| Feature | Apollo.io | Nutshell |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | Free | $19/mo |
| Top Tier Price | $119/mo | $89/mo |
| Total Features Listed | 10 | 8 |
| Integrations | 7 | 10 |
Getting Started Checklist
- Define your B2B lead data and contact enrichment and customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking requirements and monthly budget
- Estimate your expected data credits or contact lookups 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 B2B lead data and contact enrichment side of an outbound stack and Nutshell the customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking side. Apollo.io offers a more accessible entry point, while Nutshell starts at $19/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 Nutshell for current information.
Frequently asked questions.
Frequently asked questions- What is the main difference between Apollo.io and Nutshell?
- Apollo.io is a data enrichment tool built for B2B lead data and contact enrichment, while Nutshell is a CRM platform for customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking. They address different parts of the sales workflow, and the article notes many teams run one of each.
- How much does Apollo.io cost?
- 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, all granted upfront.
- How much does Nutshell cost?
- Nutshell's pricing starts at $19/mo for the Foundation plan, which includes unlimited contacts and storage plus 10 AI outcomes, and rises through Growth at $32/mo, Pro at $49/mo, and Business at $67/mo, up to Enterprise at $89/mo with 150 AI outcomes and unlimited pipelines.
- Does Apollo.io or Nutshell list more integrations?
- Nutshell lists 10 integrations, including Gmail and Google Calendar, Calendly, Aircall, CallRail, Dialpad, Intercom, Google Meet, Google Analytics, and ChatGPT and Claude. Apollo.io lists 7 integrations, including Salesforce, HubSpot, Outreach, SalesLoft, Marketo, SendGrid, and LinkedIn.
- Can you use Apollo.io and Nutshell together?
- Yes, the article states that many teams run one of each because Apollo.io handles B2B lead data and contact enrichment while Nutshell handles customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking, covering different parts of the same sales workflow.
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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