ZoomInfo vs Apollo.io for Startups
Choose Apollo.io for Startups if your early-stage team wants published per-seat pricing and qualifies for its first-year discount; choose ZoomInfo if you need to evaluate a tailored package spanning sales intelligence, marketing, and operations. Both offer contact data and sales tools, but Apollo publishes plan prices and credit allowances, while ZoomInfo asks buyers to price a package based on licenses, features, and credit usage.
Last updated October 24, 2026.
At a glance
| Dimension | ZoomInfo | Apollo.io for Startups |
|---|---|---|
| Published paid price | Not published; request a quote | Basic $49; Professional $79 per seat/month, billed annually |
| Startup offer | Not published | 50% off Basic or Professional for one year, up to five seats |
| Startup offer eligibility | Not published | Fewer than 20 employees; other conditions apply |
| Sales plans | Professional, Copilot Advanced, Copilot Enterprise | Free, Basic, Professional, Organization |
| Free access | Sales-plan free trials | Free plan; paid-plan trials |
| Included credits | Tailored monthly allowance; amount not published | Basic 30,000; Professional 48,000 per seat/year |
| Platforms | Web, Chrome extension, mobile app | Web app, Chrome extension |
| CRM integrations | Salesforce and HubSpot | Salesforce, HubSpot, and Pipedrive |
| Deployment | SaaS subscription | Web-based subscription |
| Sales outreach | AI email and intelligent dialing; advanced workflows on Copilot Advanced | Email sequences; dialer on paid plans |
| Buyer intent | Buyer Intent signals on Copilot Advanced | Six intent topics on Basic and Professional |
| Support | Standard on Professional; dedicated manager on Copilot Enterprise | One-to-one support for accepted startups |
Scroll the table sideways to compare each row.
Which should you choose?
Choose ZoomInfo if
- Teams evaluating sales and marketing products together
- Buyers who need ZoomInfo's account-prioritization and buyer-intent features
- Teams prepared to request a package-specific quote
Choose Apollo.io for Startups if
- Eligible startups with fewer than 20 employees
- Founders who want a free plan before buying
- Small sales teams that want published per-seat prices and credit allowances
- Teams seeking the 50% first-year startup offer
The verdict
The deciding factor is how much you need to define before buying. Apollo.io for Startups is the better fit for a qualifying team that wants a published price, a 50% first-year discount, and a stated credit allowance for each paid tier. ZoomInfo is the better fit for a team prepared to request a tailored quote and assess its sales, marketing, and operations products together. Compare quotes against your actual contact and workflow needs rather than assuming the vendors' credits cover the same actions.
ZoomInfo vs Apollo.io for Startups: common questions
- How much do ZoomInfo and Apollo.io for Startups cost?
- ZoomInfo does not publish a paid-plan price; its quote depends on features, licenses, and credit usage. Apollo lists Basic at $49 and Professional at $79 per seat per month when billed annually. Accepted Apollo for Startups applicants receive 50% off either plan for one year, for up to five seats.
- Who qualifies for the Apollo.io startup discount?
- Apollo says applicants should have fewer than 20 employees, no existing Apollo subscription, a valid company domain, and an affiliation with a startup ecosystem partner. A startup without a partner affiliation can still apply and ask Apollo about next steps.
- Can I try either product before paying?
- ZoomInfo offers free trials for its Professional, Copilot Advanced, and Copilot Enterprise sales plans. Apollo has a Free plan and offers paid-plan trials. A trial is not the same as the separate Apollo for Startups discount.
- How do the products' credit limits compare?
- ZoomInfo says its sales packages include a tailored monthly credit allowance but does not publish a fixed allowance for each sales plan; exporting a contact or company profile uses a credit. Apollo publishes 30,000 credits per seat per year for Basic and 48,000 for Professional, billed annually. Apollo credits can cover different activities, so the numbers are not a like-for-like export allowance.
- Do both products integrate with a CRM?
- Yes. ZoomInfo lists Salesforce and HubSpot integrations for its Professional sales plan. Apollo lists Salesforce, HubSpot, and Pipedrive CRM integrations. Check the specific plan and workflow you need before purchasing.
- Which product supports automated outreach?
- Both publish sales outreach features. ZoomInfo lists AI-powered email generation and intelligent dialing on Professional, with automated outreach workflows on Copilot Advanced. Apollo offers email sequencing, with dialer availability varying by paid plan.
- Which is a better fit if I also need marketing tools?
- ZoomInfo is worth evaluating if your team needs a separately packaged marketing product with audience targeting, advertising, and campaign workflows alongside sales tools. Apollo also offers marketing workflows, but its startup offer applies specifically to its Basic and Professional plans.
- Can my team use either product on a phone?
- ZoomInfo lists a mobile app and Chrome extension for its Professional sales plan. Apollo documents a web app and Chrome extension; its startup offer does not state a mobile-app benefit.