Apollo.io vs Starnus

Apollo.io

Apollo is the default choice for a small sales team that wants database, sequencing and dialler in one subscription without a ZoomInfo contract, and the agent layer now does the list-building and first-draft outreach that used to need a separate tool. The catch is the credit meter: AI research, enrichment and exports all draw from a pool that resets monthly, so the sticker price is the floor, not the bill.

Pros

• +Database, sequencing, dialler, enrichment and meeting booking in one tool at $49 per user
• +A real free plan for light use, with no card required
• +MCP server, Chrome extension and Apollo Anywhere put the data inside Claude, ChatGPT, Gmail and the CRM
• +Agents trained on your ICP and playbooks handle list building and first drafts

Cons

• −Credits reset every cycle and do not roll over, and add-on credits bill immediately and recur
• −Data accuracy varies by region and seniority, and bounces still eat sender reputation
• −Price cards on the pricing page load client-side; the annual discount is not stated
• −API access, SSO and advanced security are reserved for the Custom tier

Starnus

One of the few outbound tools trying to own the whole chain — ICP, list, copy, sending, follow-up — rather than selling one slice of it and expecting you to assemble the rest. The free URL analysis is a fair way to judge list quality before you talk to anyone. The catch is that no price exists in public: the footer's own pricing link 404s, so every buyer goes through a demo call.

Pros

• +Free website analysis returns an ICP and competitor map with no signup
• +Runs LinkedIn and email inside one sequence rather than email only
• +Public API v1 plus a Python SDK, webhooks and real-time streaming
• +Per-campaign dashboard covering leads, sends, accepts and opens

Cons

• −No pricing published anywhere; the footer pricing page returns 404
• −Several linked pages — agents, managed service, about — are missing
• −Automated LinkedIn outreach carries account-restriction risk the site never addresses
• −No public evidence of scale beyond a Product Hunt badge

Is Apollo.io cheaper than Starnus?

Apollo.io starts at $49/seat/mo; Starnus prices on request, so a quote is the only way to compare.

Does Apollo.io or Starnus have a free tier?

Apollo.io has a free tier; Starnus prices on request.

Which has a public API, Apollo.io or Starnus?

Both ship a public API, so either can be built on; the fact table above shows the platforms each one runs on.