Apollo and Lusha are two of the most-used B2B contact data platforms in 2026, and they often end up on the same shortlist for sales teams that want quality leads without enterprise pricing. Both offer email and phone numbers for millions of professionals, both integrate with major CRMs, and both deliver real value for prospecting. But they take different approaches, Apollo bundles data with sales engagement and dialer, while Lusha focuses purely on accurate contact data delivered through browser extension and API.
The decision usually comes down to whether you want one tool for data plus outreach (Apollo) or specialist data quality with bring-your-own engagement stack (Lusha). This guide walks through which fits which sales motion.
⚡ Quick Verdict
- →Pick Apollo if you want B2B data plus sequences plus dialer in one tool, transparent self-serve pricing, and the broadest database for SMB/mid-market prospecting.
- →Pick Lusha if you want focused, accurate contact data via a slick browser extension, and you already have your outreach stack (Outreach, Salesloft, native CRM tools).
📑 Table of Contents
Apollo Overview
Apollo bundles a serious B2B database (275M+ contacts, 70M+ companies) with sequences, a dialer, email tracking, AI-driven sales assistance, and intent signals, all on self-serve plans starting at $59/user/month. The all-in-one positioning is its biggest differentiator: you get data and outreach in one bill.
Apollo’s strengths are the breadth of the platform and the transparent pricing model that makes it easy for SMB and mid-market teams to start. The bet is that consolidating data + engagement + analytics into one platform is more valuable than best-of-breed point tools at the same cost. For broader context, see our roundup of best B2B lead generation software.
Lusha Overview
Lusha takes a focused approach: deliver accurate B2B contact data (especially mobile phone numbers, where Lusha has built its reputation) via a polished browser extension and API. The product doesn’t try to be an all-in-one platform, it’s a contact-data specialist that integrates into the rest of your stack.
Lusha’s strengths are mobile-number accuracy (often the hardest piece of B2B data to source), a clean Chrome extension that surfaces contact details on LinkedIn and other sites, and integrations with major sales engagement tools and CRMs. Pricing is credit-based: Free at 5 phone + 50 email credits monthly, Pro at $36/user/month, Premium at $59/user/month, Scale custom.
Data Quality and Depth
Apollo’s database is broader (275M+ contacts) and continuously updated through community contributions and partner data sources. Email accuracy is consistently 80-90%+ on independent benchmarks; mobile number coverage varies by region but is competitive at the SMB/mid-market scale.
Lusha’s database is more focused but particularly strong on direct dials. The platform invests heavily in phone-number accuracy, with verified mobile numbers as the signature claim. For sales motions where reaching prospects by phone matters more than email volume, Lusha’s data depth on direct dials is a real differentiator.
For email-first prospecting, Apollo’s broader database wins. For phone-first sales motions, Lusha’s verified mobile numbers are often higher quality.
Pricing Compared
Apollo Free (limited credits), Basic at $59/user/month, Professional at $99/user/month, Organization at $149/user/month. All tiers include data + sequences + dialer + analytics. Self-serve signup.
Lusha Free (5 phone + 50 email credits/month), Pro at $36/user/month (480 phone + 960 email credits), Premium at $59/user/month (960 phone + 1,920 email credits), Scale custom. Credits work per data point retrieved, so pricing scales with how aggressively you prospect.
For pure data spend, Lusha Pro at $36 is meaningfully cheaper than Apollo Basic at $59, but you’re getting data only. Apollo’s $59 includes sequences and dialer that would cost extra elsewhere. Whether the bundle is worth it depends on whether you’d use it.
Features Beyond Data
Apollo features: Sequences (cold email + LinkedIn + call cadences), built-in dialer, email tracking with open/click analytics, meeting scheduler, AI-driven email writing, intent signals at higher tiers, deal management, and analytics across the full sales workflow.
Lusha features: Browser extension that surfaces contacts on LinkedIn/company pages, bulk enrichment of existing CRM lists, prospect list building, intent data at higher tiers, and a clean API for engineering teams building enrichment workflows. No sequences or dialer, you’d plug Lusha into Outreach, Salesloft, or your CRM’s native tools.
For teams that want one tool, Apollo’s bundled features earn the higher price. For teams already paying for sales engagement separately, Lusha’s data-only focus avoids paying for capabilities you don’t need.
Workflow and Browser Extensions
Both have Chrome extensions. Lusha’s extension is widely considered the more polished, on a LinkedIn profile, Lusha surfaces verified contact details with one click, and the UX feels native to the LinkedIn-prospecting workflow.
Apollo’s extension is competent but less elegantly integrated. Apollo expects you to live primarily in its own platform (search, build lists, run sequences) rather than bouncing in and out of LinkedIn. Both approaches work; preference depends on whether your team prospects primarily on LinkedIn (Lusha’s strength) or inside a sales platform (Apollo’s strength).
Side-by-Side Table
| Feature | Apollo | Lusha |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $59/user/mo (Basic) | $36/user/mo (Pro) |
| Free Tier | Yes (limited credits) | Yes (5 phone + 50 email) |
| Database Size | 275M+ contacts | Focused, mobile-number-heavy |
| Mobile Numbers | Good | Best-in-class |
| Sequences (Engagement) | Native | No (integrate with Outreach/Salesloft) |
| Dialer | Native | No |
| Chrome Extension | Yes | Yes (best-in-class) |
| CRM Integrations | Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive, etc. | Salesforce, HubSpot, Outreach, Salesloft |
| Best For | All-in-one SMB/mid-market sales | Focused data + phone-first prospecting |
Which Should You Choose?
Pick Apollo if you want one tool for data plus sequences plus dialer at transparent self-serve pricing, run an SMB or mid-market sales team that benefits from consolidation, value the broadest contact database for email-first prospecting, or are early-stage and need to ship without buying separate tools. Apollo is the all-in-one pick.
Pick Lusha if you already have a sales engagement stack (Outreach, Salesloft, native CRM tools) and just need accurate contact data, run a phone-first sales motion where mobile-number accuracy is the highest-leverage data point, prospect heavily on LinkedIn and want the slickest extension, or want focused data spend without paying for outreach features you won’t use. Lusha is the data specialist pick.
For most consolidated SMB sales teams in 2026, Apollo’s all-in-one model wins on cost-to-value. For mature sales orgs that already have engagement tools and need pure data quality, Lusha’s specialist focus is hard to beat.
🚀 Try Apollo for All-in-One Sales
B2B data, sequences, dialer, and AI, all in one platform at transparent self-serve pricing. Free tier to start.
Try Apollo Free →Frequently Asked Questions
Is Apollo or Lusha better?
Better depends on use case. Apollo wins for all-in-one sales platforms (data + sequences + dialer). Lusha wins for focused data quality with strong mobile number accuracy.
Which is cheaper, Apollo or Lusha?
Lusha Pro at $36/user/month is cheaper than Apollo Basic at $59/user/month, but Lusha is data-only. Apollo’s $59 bundles sequences and dialer that would cost extra elsewhere.
Which has more accurate phone numbers?
Lusha. Its mobile-number accuracy is one of the platform’s strongest claims and is widely cited as best-in-class in independent benchmarks.
Does Lusha include sequences or email tools?
No. Lusha is data-only. For sequences and outreach, you’d integrate Lusha with Outreach, Salesloft, HubSpot, or another engagement platform.
Can I use both Apollo and Lusha?
Yes, some teams do. Apollo for broad prospecting and sequences, Lusha for high-accuracy direct dials on top-target prospects. The combination addresses both volume and depth.
Which has the better Chrome extension?
Lusha. Its LinkedIn extension is widely considered best-in-class for surfacing verified contact data with one click.
Do both integrate with Salesforce?
Yes, both offer Salesforce integration. Apollo’s integration is broader because it includes engagement data. Lusha’s integration focuses on enrichment workflows.
Are there free trials?
Both offer permanent free tiers with limited credits. Enough to evaluate data quality on your target market before committing to a paid plan.
Final Word
Apollo and Lusha both serve real B2B sales teams in 2026, but they’re built around different theories of what a sales-data tool should do. Apollo is the right pick for consolidated SMB and mid-market sales teams that want data plus outreach in one bill. Lusha is the right pick when you have your engagement stack already and want focused data quality, especially on mobile direct dials. Try both free tiers on a sample of your target accounts, the data quality difference becomes empirical fast. For SDR-specific context, see our roundup of best sales prospecting tools for SDRs.