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Apollo.io / Cognism: Which one to choose?

Explore how Apollo.io and Cognism compare across data accuracy, pricing models, sales engagement features, and compliance standards, and discover how Zintlr stands out as a flexible, cost-effective alternative for fast-growing sales teams.

Apollo.io vs Cognism

Apollo.io vs Cognism: What to Know

Apollo.io is a fast-growing sales intelligence and engagement platform known for its affordability, self-serve onboarding, and all-in-one toolkit. With a database of over 275 million contacts, Apollo combines lead discovery with built-in outreach tools like email sequencing, dialers, and performance analytics. It’s a favorite among startups and mid-market teams looking for a cost-effective, scalable solution that integrates prospecting and engagement in one place. While it may not offer deep compliance guarantees or highly enriched profiles, Apollo provides great value for lean sales teams that prioritize speed, automation, and budget.

Cognism, on the other hand, is a UK-based B2B data platform that specializes in GDPR-compliant, high-accuracy contact data particularly in European markets. Its standout feature is “Diamond Verified” mobile numbers, which are manually validated for precision, making it a go-to choice for cold calling and enterprise prospecting. With over 200 million contacts in EMEA alone and a strong global presence, Cognism focuses on quality over quantity and doesn’t offer outreach tools like sequencing or dialers. Its deep integrations and privacy-first approach make it ideal for teams that prioritize data integrity and legal compliance over engagement features.

Apollo.io offers speed and affordability for growth-focused teams, while Cognism delivers premium, compliant data ideal for precise targeting, especially in Europe. The right choice depends on whether you value integrated outreach or verified data quality.

Apollo.io vs Cognism:

Feature Comparison at a Glance

Features Apollo.io Congnism
Contact Database Size 275M+ contacts (large, global), particularly strong in U.S. coverage 110M global contacts (15M+ in EMEA)
Data Accuracy & Quality Good accuracy (estimated ~75%) Cognism claims 98% phone accuracy, 93%+ email deliverability, and refreshes 5% of data monthly—minimizing bounces and errors.
Sales Engagement Tools Built-in engagement platform with sequencing, dialer, tasks, and lead scoring—enables full outreach in one place. Cognism is a data-focused tool with advanced filters, no outreach features, and extras like LinkedIn plugin and enrichment automation.
Integrations Native CRM integrations, and Zapier support, Robust API for custom integration Cognism integrates with major CRMs and API, supports auto-enrichment, but setup may need support. No direct marketing automation integration.
Compliance Status GDPR & CCPA compliant, ISO 27001 and SOC II certified GDPR & CCPA compliant, SOC 2 accreditations, ISO 27701 certified.
Best For Start-ups and SMEs seeking an all-in-one platform for US prospecting Ideal for larger sales, marketing, and RevOps teams targeting revenue growth in Europe.

Cognism offers GDPR-compliant, highly accurate B2B contact data with a strong focus on Europe, making it a top choice for compliance-focused sales teams. In contrast, Apollo.io provides a cost-effective, all-in-one sales intelligence and engagement platform with global data reach and built-in outreach tools, ideal for fast-growing businesses looking for scalable lead generation and prospecting solutions.

Market Presence & Data Strength

Europe

Cognism stands out as a top B2B data provider in Europe, offering fully GDPR-compliant data and “Diamond Verified” phone numbers. It’s trusted by sales teams targeting the EMEA region for its high data accuracy and privacy-first approach. Cognism’s strong European database and local data partnerships make it an ideal solution for compliant prospecting across the EU.

Apollo.io, while offering international coverage, often receives mixed reviews for data accuracy in European markets. Although Apollo supports prospecting in the EU, it lacks the advanced data compliance infrastructure and precision that Cognism delivers. Teams focusing on the European region may require additional enrichment when using Apollo.

United States & Global Markets

Apollo.io is a powerful all-in-one sales platform with over 275 million global contacts. It’s widely adopted by startups and growing sales teams for its affordability, ease of use, and built-in outreach tools like email sequencing and dialers. Its freemium model and global reach make it a strong alternative to traditional enterprise data solutions for U.S. and international teams.

Cognism is primarily used for EMEA sales operations, with less focus on the U.S. market. While it’s expanding globally, Cognism doesn’t offer the same integrated outreach features or broad global contact coverage that Apollo provides. For sales teams seeking a combined prospecting and engagement solution, Apollo.io may be a more scalable choice outside Europe.

India & APAC

Apollo.io has seen rising adoption in India due to its free plan and user-friendly setup. However, it still faces challenges with local mobile number coverage and data accuracy, especially for SMBs and startups in Tier 2 and 3 cities. Its strength lies more in global rather than deeply localized data.

Cognism has limited market penetration in India and the broader APAC region. The platform’s focus remains on high-quality European data, and it does not currently offer extensive coverage or enrichment tailored for South Asian or Southeast Asian markets.

Zintlr's Data Coverage

Zintlr's Data Coverage

This is where platforms like Zintlr are bridging the divide. Zintlr offers a powerful combination of global scale and unmatched Indian market depth featuring over 90M+ Indian contacts and 400M+ global records enriched with direct mobile numbers, firmographics, and personality insights.

While Apollo.io focuses on integrated outreach tools and global reach, and Cognism specializes in GDPR-compliant, premium European data, Zintlr offers a unique blend of deep Indian market coverage. Enriched with direct mobile numbers, firmographics, and personality insights, Zintlr delivers high-quality, actionable data that’s both intuitive and cost-effective. For teams targeting India, Europe, or global markets, Zintlr stands out as a versatile, smarter alternative.

Try Zintlr For Free

Apollo.io vs Cognism: Pricing Breakdown

Apollo.io uses a credit-based pricing model with tiered plans and fixed user pricing, while Cognism follows a custom, seat-based enterprise pricing approach tailored to specific team sizes and data needs.

Apollo.io offers transparent, structured monthly plans starting at $59/month for Basic and up to $149/month for the Organization plan. It includes features like email sequencing, lead scoring, dialers, and advanced filters though many of these are locked behind higher-tier plans. One major limitation is that credits don’t roll over, and per-user pricing can significantly increase total costs for growing teams.

Cognism, follows a custom, seat-based enterprise pricing model with no public price list, requiring prospective customers to book a demo for a tailored quote. Pricing typically starts in the low thousands per year for small teams and can escalate to tens of thousands for larger deployments, depending on factors like seat count, geographic coverage, contact volume, and add-ons such as intent data or phone verification. For example, a team of five might pay around $15,000 annually, making Cognism roughly 3 to 5 times more expensive than Apollo.io for similar team sizes. Positioned as a premium solution, Cognism emphasizes delivering strong ROI through high-quality, compliant data over competitive pricing

For the most up-to-date details, refer to the official Apollo.io and Cognism pricing pages.

Zintlr's Pricing: Flexible, Transparent, and Built for Modern Teams

If you’re looking for a platform that bridges the gap offering deep B2B data (including mobile numbers), flexible pricing, and strong market coverage across the globe and in regions like India Zintlr is emerging as a smart alternative to both. With a growing user base and a focus on data quality, affordability, and usability, Zintlr brings together the best of both worlds for modern prospecting teams.

Explore Zintlr Plans

Compliance & Data Privacy

GDPR, SOC, CCPA Compliance

Apollo.io, while GDPR-aligned in its operations, places more emphasis on platform scalability and feature development than on deep privacy infrastructure. It includes basic privacy policies and standard consent mechanisms but lacks extensive compliance documentation or certifications. This makes Apollo more suitable for companies operating in regions like the U.S., where data regulation enforcement is less stringent compared to the EU.

Cognism positions itself as a privacy-first B2B data platform with a strong focus on GDPR compliance and data accuracy, especially within European markets. It offers extensive privacy certifications and adheres strictly to EU data protection laws, making it a trusted choice for organizations with rigorous compliance requirements. Cognism’s commitment to data integrity and manual verification processes, like its “Diamond Verified” phone numbers, reinforce its reputation as a highly compliant and transparent provider.

GDPR, SOC, CCPA Compliance

Zintlr is Compliant to Data Security and Privacy

Rest assured knowing that our data collection practices prioritize compliance, providing you with the most reliable and secure business data. Our stringent data privacy and security protocols are in place for your peace of mind.

Curious how Zintlr stacks up against Apollo.io and Cognism?

Still comparing tools? Why not try Zintlr free?

Advanced prospecting starts here, tap into 400M+ global leads.

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