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Apollo.io vs Zoho CRM comparison

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Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Jan 2, 2025

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

ROI

Sentiment score
6.0
Apollo.io offers cost-effective lead generation and sales enhancement, outperforming pricier tools while improving campaign performance and workflow efficiency.
Sentiment score
5.0
Zoho CRM boosts ROI by improving sales productivity and reducing costs through automation without increasing staff headcount.
Comparing the price of Apollo.io to ZoomInfo, Apollo.io provides better value while maintaining data accuracy and consistently generating leads from its database of over 270 million contacts.
SDR and Workflow Automation Specialist at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
I would say still with the new pricing, Apollo.io is the cheapest and it gives us a positive ROI.
Assistant Manager - Lead Generation at Roar Global
Many campaigns that we have run and are running deliver significant ROI thanks to the quality of the data and the options to build out very tight audiences using a wide variety of targeting filters.
Founder & Group CEO at We Are Team Rocket
Using Zoho CRM, my clients close more leads and deals with the campaigns and user investments in leads.
Lead Software Engineer at Nexo Solutions Ltd
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
3.9
Apollo.io's customer service receives mixed reviews; some praise it, while others find it repetitive and slow at times.
Sentiment score
6.5
Zoho CRM's support is knowledgeable but has varying response times, occasional availability issues, and relies on self-help resources.
While the support was adequate, it could be more efficient as the response time was somewhat slow.
SDR and Workflow Automation Specialist at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
We had issues with Apollo.io's technical support because they repeatedly provided the same responses even when our issues were different.
Assistant Manager Process Improvement and Data at We Are Team Rocket Employees, Location, Careers
Sometimes, they don't understand what my actual needs are.
Director of Information Technology at MASFinancials
The 1.5 deduction from 10 is due to cultural communication differences based on where we're getting the support, as sometimes it takes a couple of times to communicate clearly enough for them to understand the issue.
Director at a manufacturing company with 11-50 employees
There are multiple blogs and articles available online for self-help.
Sr Zoho Developer and Consultant at Xpert Prime
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
5.3
Apollo.io is praised for affordability and efficiency but seen as less scalable for larger businesses with substantial budgets.
Sentiment score
7.7
Zoho CRM provides scalable solutions for businesses, smoothly supporting user growth and integrations across various operational needs and geographies.
They have automation capabilities for cadences and AI functionalities.
Consultant at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Apollo.io is not very scalable if your company has a bigger budget - you need to simply move on from Apollo.io.
Assistant Manager Process Improvement and Data at We Are Team Rocket Employees, Location, Careers
Apollo.io's scalability is very good.
Founder & Group CEO at We Are Team Rocket
The system is easy to understand, implement coding, and conduct training.
Sr Zoho Developer and Consultant at Xpert Prime
Zoho CRM is quite scalable; I have worked with clients who started with ten companies and have scaled up to managing 500 employees effectively within Zoho CRM.
Zoho Developer at Tarini Consulting
The platform's global data centers across regions such as the US, EU, and India ensure data security and privacy through ISO certification and strong role-based security, which is essential for handling sensitive customer data.
Software Engineer at Maximus
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
5.8
Apollo.io's stability is mixed, with some users satisfied, but others report performance issues like slow loading and freezing.
Sentiment score
7.7
Zoho CRM is praised for its stability and reliability, with minor interruptions that quickly resolve, ensuring business continuity.
The app is very heavy and takes time to load, with frequent stuttering and freezing issues.
Assistant Manager Process Improvement and Data at We Are Team Rocket Employees, Location, Careers
Zoho CRM guarantees 99% uptime, with downtime incidents being very rare.
Software Engineer at Maximus
The level of stability and reliability in Zoho CRM is crucial for me because sometimes bugs appear unexpectedly, disrupting the business flow.
Lead Software Engineer at Nexo Solutions Ltd
I find Zoho CRM to be 100% stable and reliable as far as I know.
Zoho Developer at Tarini Consulting
 

Room For Improvement

Apollo.io users seek better onboarding, data accuracy, UI speed, pricing, global data enrichment, customer service, and AI features.
Zoho CRM users want improved UI, integration, AI, customization, mobile ease, transparency, and quicker support for better user experience.
When it comes to performance, it's a very heavy app now. It takes time to load, stutters, and gets stuck frequently.
Assistant Manager Process Improvement and Data at We Are Team Rocket Employees, Location, Careers
I want to ensure that the information I'm getting is something I can verify because I receive questions from prospects or clients asking where I got their number.
Consultant at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees
The data accuracy needs improvement, especially compared to tools such as ZoomInfo, though Apollo.io is more cost-effective.
SDR and Workflow Automation Specialist at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
The platform does not save code versions similar to GitHub, where you can compare new versions with previous ones.
Sr Zoho Developer and Consultant at Xpert Prime
Another issue is that a Zoho CRM function can run for only three minutes. After three minutes, the function will fail, and we have to rerun the function.
Software Engineer at Evoluz Global Solutions
Some organizations may prefer not to have their data on the internet since Zoho CRM runs as a cloud service.
Director of Information Technology at MASFinancials
 

Setup Cost

Apollo.io's credit-based pricing model is economical, offering vast contact access with affordable plans and a free option.
Zoho CRM offers affordable pricing and customization, with the Enterprise plan at $50/user and Zoho One favored for value.
The setup process involves minimal costs and is more affordable compared to other tools such as ZoomInfo.
SDR and Workflow Automation Specialist at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Sending an email also consumes credits, so every action consumes credits, and all in all, it can consume quite a lot of credits and money.
Risk Management Assistant Manager at Erada Microfinance
Zoho CRM and all of Zoho's software are quite affordable because they are specifically designed for small and medium businesses.
Zoho Developer at Tarini Consulting
In terms of my experience with the price and licensing cost, as with setup cost for Zoho CRM, it might not be quite affordable because there are cheaper solutions available.
Social media strategist at Creative Skills
 

Valuable Features

Apollo.io offers seamless CRM integration, accurate data, and automation, enhancing lead generation, efficiency, and user experience.
Zoho CRM offers customizable, integrated, user-friendly features with automation, making it ideal for businesses of all sizes.
I can select as many tools as I want, add APIs, link external tools, and add AI.
Assistant Manager Process Improvement and Data at We Are Team Rocket Employees, Location, Careers
Previously in my line of work with Google Cloud, it was important for me to know what solutions companies were currently using, whether they already had Google Cloud solutions or were using competitors.
Consultant at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees
The fact that it combines both database and outreach tools in one place is valuable.
SDR and Workflow Automation Specialist at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
The most valuable aspect of CRMs, including Zoho CRM, Salesforce, and Microsoft Dynamics, is automation capabilities.
Sr Zoho Developer and Consultant at Xpert Prime
The most valuable feature I have found in Zoho CRM is custom functions. You can achieve anything with it. From integrations with other applications, it is instant.
Zoho and Web Developer at Ika Three Sixty
Zoho CRM's automation capabilities are really good and better than almost any other application.
Lead Software Engineer at Nexo Solutions Ltd
 

Categories and Ranking

Apollo.io
Ranking in Opportunity Management
2nd
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
6.4
Number of Reviews
14
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Zoho CRM
Ranking in Opportunity Management
3rd
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
61
Ranking in other categories
CRM (2nd), Sales Force Automation (3rd)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of September 2026, in the Opportunity Management category, the mindshare of Apollo.io is 7.4%, down from 16.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Zoho CRM is 6.9%, up from 6.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Opportunity Management Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Apollo.io7.4%
Zoho CRM6.9%
Other85.7%
Opportunity Management
 

Featured Reviews

Mahmood Nazeer - PeerSpot reviewer
Assistant Manager Process Improvement and Data at We Are Team Rocket Employees, Location, Careers
Reliability decreases as UI improves with useful features but needs better support
Apollo.io used to provide much better service before and their UI used to be less clunky. The user experience nowadays is not as good as it used to be. They used to provide more verified emails and numbers, but nowadays, it's not as reliable. We sometimes have to go through other tools to get more information as they have been lackluster in that area. Their information gathering is not as updated as it used to be. They don't have enough information. When it comes to performance, it's a very heavy app now. It takes time to load, stutters, and gets stuck frequently. Previously, it used to be much less laggy and easier to use. The UI live update was good before, but nowadays, I have to refresh the page to see if they had sourced the email or if old information is still being displayed. LinkedIn keeps updating their tools, rules, and regulations. Due to these reasons, Apollo.io experiences bugs, crashes, detail updates, and jumbled columns during updates. These issues are understandable from a developer perspective, but they create minor inconveniences for customers. I would appreciate if Apollo.io could restore the reliability of their email service to its previous level.
HarshVardhan1 - PeerSpot reviewer
Software Engineer at Evoluz Global Solutions
Automates client workflows and data validation reliably but has faced limits in complex integrations
While applying some integrations or automations, if we need to take an action between two modules' fields, we have to write SOQL, and it can miss the data. I had a scenario where I had to use two fields from two different modules, and based on that condition, we had to send a follow-up to our team member to complete the task. We could not find any direct integration, direct SOQL query, or direct workflow that could do that work. However, I think the wizard is performing better now for such tasks. I had a two-part scenario where I had to get data from two modules or two fields in Zoho CRM and send a follow-up to our team member based on that data. We were unable to find any direct integration for this. Another issue is that a Zoho CRM function can run for only three minutes. After three minutes, the function will fail, and we have to rerun the function.
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Outsourcing Company
15%
Marketing Services Firm
13%
Comms Service Provider
11%
Retailer
7%
Outsourcing Company
13%
Construction Company
11%
Comms Service Provider
11%
Manufacturing Company
10%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business14
Large Enterprise3
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business49
Midsize Enterprise6
Large Enterprise10
 

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with Apollo.io?
When it comes to USA contacts, it can be challenging. Some Apollo.io numbers are incorrect, especially when cold calling. The numbers often go unanswered, and when someone does answer, it's frequen...
What is your primary use case for Apollo.io?
From my perspective, I use Apollo.io to get and run simultaneous campaigns including LinkedIn outreach, email outreach, and cold calling. When it comes to cold calling, we find contact numbers. For...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Zoho CRM?
My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing is that those details were taken care of by our operations team, and I am not sure about the specifics.
What needs improvement with Zoho CRM?
I think Zoho CRM can be improved because everything is good, but the UI can be improved. That is the main area where improvements are needed.
What is your primary use case for Zoho CRM?
My main use case for Zoho CRM is to maintain our prospects database, track our email interactions, and manage our entire sales operations. A quick specific example of how I use Zoho CRM in my daily...
 

Comparisons

 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
JetHub, Anderson Sales Advantage, ActionCoach, Milagro Advisory Group, TECO Pneumatic, Proteomics Consult
Find out what your peers are saying about Apollo.io vs. Zoho CRM and other solutions. Updated: September 2026.
913,924 professionals have used our research since 2012.