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Apollo / SignalHire: Which one to choose?

Compare Apollo.io and SignalHire on data volume, outreach capabilities, pricing flexibility, and global reach plus, see how Zintlr offers a smarter balance between scale, accuracy, and affordability.

Apollo.io vs SignalHire

Apollo.io vs SignalHire: What to Know

Apollo.io, in contrast, is a fast-growing sales intelligence and engagement platform valued for its affordability, self-serve onboarding, and all-in-one toolkit. Boasting a database of over 275 million contacts, Apollo combines lead discovery with integrated outreach features such as email sequencing, dialers, and analytics. It is especially popular among startups and mid-market teams seeking a cost-effective, scalable solution that merges prospecting and engagement. While it may lack some compliance depth and ultra-enriched profiles, Apollo delivers strong value for sales teams focused on speed, automation, and budget-friendly growth.

SignalHire is a contact discovery tool designed to find personal emails, phone numbers, and social links, primarily through its Chrome extension. With access to over 400 million profiles, it’s widely used by recruiters and sales professionals for quick, accurate contact details—especially on platforms like LinkedIn. Unlike full-featured sales platforms, SignalHire focuses solely on data lookup, making it a simple yet powerful tool for individual contact sourcing.

SignalHire excels at quick, personal contact discovery, while Apollo.io offers a complete prospecting and outreach platform. The better choice depends on whether you need lightweight data lookup or a full-scale sales engagement solution.

Apollo.io vs SignalHire:

Feature Comparison at a Glance

Features Apollo.io SignalHire
Contact Database Size 275M+ contacts (large, global), particularly strong in U.S. coverage 400M profiles / 200M contacts with personal emails and numbers from sources like LinkedIn and GitHub. Great for personal contact info.
Data Accuracy & Quality Good accuracy (estimated ~75%) SignalHire: 85%+ hit rate, strong personal emails, decent phones. Apollo: good work emails, mixed phone data. Both suit broad prospecting.
Features & Platform Apollo combines data and engagement—searchable database with filters and built-in sequencing. Includes LinkedIn extension. Ideal for small teams. Basic features—contact finding, list building, CSV export. Limited integrations, no outreach tools.
Integrations Native CRM integrations, and Zapier support, Robust API for custom integration Very limited integrations—mostly standalone. Data moved via Zapier or CSV. Commonly used ad-hoc, not deeply embedded in workflows.
Compliance Status GDPR & CCPA compliant, ISO 27001 and SOC II certified No data available
Best For Start-ups and SMEs seeking an all-in-one platform for US prospecting Best for Recruiters / HR professionals, Freelance SDRs / consultants and Individual Prospectors

Apollo.io is a powerful B2B sales engagement platform that combines contact data, lead generation, and outreach automation in one solution. In contrast, SignalHire focuses on personal contact discovery through LinkedIn, making it a simple yet effective tool for recruiters and sales professionals needing fast, accurate data.

Market Presence & Data Strength

Europe

Apollo.io, while not primarily built around European compliance, offers more structured business data, which can be a safer choice for teams navigating GDPR rules. That said, it’s not as regionally deep as tools like Cognism in EU markets.

SignalHire does not focus on any specific region and pulls data globally through its LinkedIn-based extraction, including Europe. However, it lacks strong GDPR filtering meaning it may surface personal emails and phone numbers without verifying compliance.

For European sales teams or recruiters focused on GDPR-compliant sourcing, Apollo may be slightly more reliable, but SignalHire could dig up contacts others miss albeit with higher privacy risk.


 

United States & Global Markets

Apollo.io has strong adoption in the U.S. and other English-speaking economies (UK, Canada, Australia). Its 275M+ contact database and built-in outreach tools (like email sequencing and dialers) make it a popular choice for startups and mid-market teams globally.

SignalHire also works well in global markets but is more commonly used as a browser extension for contact scraping, not as a full platform. It is widely used by individual recruiters, freelancers, and SDRs who want quick email or phone access from LinkedIn.

While Apollo serves as a complete sales engagement suite, SignalHire acts more like a niche utility tool, useful when other platforms come up short.


 

India & APAC

In India, both tools have gained traction, albeit through different paths:

Apollo.io’s free plan attracted small businesses, solo founders, and growth hackers looking for affordable outreach. Apollo’s structured data and integrated automation features provide better long-term value for scaling teams.

SignalHire’s low cost and ability to fetch personal Gmail/Yahoo emails make it a valuable tool in industries where professionals often list personal contact details online (like IT services and tech recruiting). SignalHire may even outperform Apollo in India when it comes to personal contact discovery, especially from LinkedIn. However, Apollo’s structured data and integrated automation features provide better long-term value for scaling teams.

Neither tool specializes in local datasets or regional directories, so ultra-local targeting (like vernacular markets or tier-3 cities) may require a local data provider.

Zintlr's Data Coverage

Zintlr's Data Coverage

This is where platforms like Zintlr are redefining prospecting strategy. While SignalHire excels at quick contact discovery through its Chrome extension—often surfacing personal emails and numbers—and Apollo.io provides a full-stack outreach engine with global reach, Zintlr combines the best of both worlds.

With over 90M+ Indian contacts and 400M+ global records, Zintlr delivers not just verified emails and direct phone numbers but also rich firmographics and personality insights—helping teams prioritize the right prospects faster. Where SignalHire works well for last-mile lookups and Apollo stands out for automated outreach, Zintlr offers a smarter, more scalable way to build qualified pipelines—especially for teams targeting India or blending discovery with deep engagement.

For GTM teams who want depth, accuracy, and conversion-focused data, Zintlr isn’t just another tool—it’s the bridge between lightweight scrapers and bloated platforms.

Apollo.io vs SignalHire: Pricing Breakdown

SignalHire follows a flexible, credit-based pricing model that adapts to your contact lookup needs. Paid plans start at just $29/month and can go upto $399/month depending on the number of credits selected for email and mobile number based packages. Users can choose from monthly or annual billing options, with volume-based discounts for higher credit packages. Each plan includes access to SignalHire’s browser extension and email/phone lookups, with the per-contact cost decreasing as credit volume increases. A free plan is also available, offering 10 contact credits every month. However, credits don’t roll over monthly for any plan

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.

For the most up-to-date details, refer to the official SignalHire and Apollo.io 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.

Compliance & Data Privacy

GDPR, SOC, CCPA Compliance

When it comes to GDPR-compliant B2B data and ethical lead sourcing, SignalHire and Apollo.io offer two distinct approaches.

SignalHire is a widely-used email finder and contact discovery tool, known for extracting personal emails, phone numbers, and social media links—often through its Chrome extension. While it’s effective for finding hard-to-reach contacts, SignalHire does not provide GDPR certifications or advanced compliance filters. It frequently surfaces personal Gmail or Yahoo email addresses, which may not meet strict privacy regulations in regions like the European Union. For companies prioritizing GDPR-compliant sales data, SignalHire may pose risks if used without strict internal safeguards.

Apollo.io, in contrast, adheres to basic data privacy standards and includes built-in features like opt-out links, consent workflows, and data usage transparency. While not as privacy-centric as platforms like Cognism, Apollo offers more structured compliance support than SignalHire. It is better suited for teams operating in less-regulated markets like the U.S., India, and Southeast Asia, where speed, automation, and integrated sales outreach tools are key.

In summary, while SignalHire excels as a last-mile contact finder, it lacks strong compliance credentials. Apollo.io provides a more balanced approach to data access and responsible outreach, though it may not meet the standards of privacy-first industries. Businesses seeking GDPR-compliant sales intelligence tools or looking to avoid exposure to personal contact data risks should evaluate both options carefully.

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 SignalHire?

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