Apollo.io vs Close vs Amplemarket (2026)
the top 3, tested head-to-head-to-headWe tested the three top-rated crm & sales tools on identical work. Winner overall: Apollo.io (9.6/10), but each has a case. Full breakdown below.
| Apollo.io | Close | Amplemarket | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Our score | 9.6 | 9.3 | 9 |
| User rating | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.6 |
| Ease | 90 | 88 | 84 |
| Features | 96 | 92 | 93 |
| Value | 94 | 86 | 84 |
| Support | 85 | 90 | 88 |
| Best for | Finding B2B leads | Closing deals faster | AI-powered outbound sales |
| Free | Free plan · no card | 14-day free trial | Free demo |
| Try it | Try Apollo Free → | Try Close Free → | Get a Demo → |
Apollo.io ★ CHAMPION
Best for: Finding B2B leads, find any customer's email & phone, then reach themWhy it ranks here: The best lead database we've tested, period. The free plan alone replaces tools that cost $100/mo. Standouts: 275m+ verified b2b contacts; genuinely useful free plan (1,200 credits/yr). Full Apollo.io review →
✓ Free plan · no card
Close ★ EDITOR'S PICK
Best for: Closing deals faster, the crm built purely to close dealsWhy it ranks here: If your team lives on the phone, nothing beats Close. Calling that other CRMs charge extra for is standard here. Standouts: calling, sms & email native, no add-ons; fastest workflow of any crm we tested. Full Close review →
✓ 14-day free trialWhy it ranks here: The closest thing to hiring an AI SDR. Our test sequences got replies human-written ones didn't. Standouts: ai writes genuinely personalized outreach; lead data + sequences + deliverability in one. Full Amplemarket review →
✓ Free demoHow to choose between Apollo.io, Close and Amplemarket
All three are strong crm & sales tools, which is why they top our testing. The right choice comes down to your priority:
- Pick Apollo.io if you want finding b2b leads. It scored 9.6/10, with 90/100 on ease of use and 94/100 on value. Free plan · no card.
- Pick Close if closing deals faster matters most. It scored 9.3/10, and calling, sms & email native, no add-ons. 14-day free trial.
- Pick Amplemarket for ai-powered outbound sales. It scored 9/10 and is worth a look if the first two don't fit. Free demo.
On value specifically, Apollo.io leads the trio. On ease of use, Apollo.io is the most approachable. Since all three offer a free way to start, the most reliable approach is to shortlist the one that matches your priority above, trial it on real work for a week, and only then commit. If it doesn't click, the other two are quick to test as well.
Want the wider picture? See every option we've tested in the best crm & sales guide, or compare all their prices in the crm & sales pricing comparison. You can also read our full reviews of Apollo.io, Close and Amplemarket.
Apollo.io at a glance
The best lead database we've tested, period. The free plan alone replaces tools that cost $100/mo. It's best for finding b2b leads, scoring 9.6/10 overall (90/100 ease, 96/100 features, 94/100 value, 85/100 support).
👍 Strengths
- 275M+ verified B2B contacts
- Genuinely useful free plan (1,200 credits/yr)
- Email sequences + dialer built in
👎 Watch for
- Data accuracy dips outside US/EU
- Interface is dense for beginners
Close at a glance
If your team lives on the phone, nothing beats Close. Calling that other CRMs charge extra for is standard here. It's best for closing deals faster, scoring 9.3/10 overall (88/100 ease, 92/100 features, 86/100 value, 90/100 support).
👍 Strengths
- Calling, SMS & email native, no add-ons
- Fastest workflow of any CRM we tested
- Brilliant reporting on rep activity
👎 Watch for
- No free plan
- Overkill if you don't call leads
Amplemarket at a glance
The closest thing to hiring an AI SDR. Our test sequences got replies human-written ones didn't. It's best for ai-powered outbound sales, scoring 9/10 overall (84/100 ease, 93/100 features, 84/100 value, 88/100 support).
👍 Strengths
- AI writes genuinely personalized outreach
- Lead data + sequences + deliverability in one
- Duo AI agent works leads while you sleep
👎 Watch for
- Custom pricing, not for tiny budgets
- Overkill below ~2 sales reps
FAQ
Apollo.io vs Close vs Amplemarket: which is best?
Overall, Apollo.io scored highest (9.6/10). But the right pick depends on your need: Apollo.io for finding b2b leads, Close for closing deals faster, Amplemarket for ai-powered outbound sales.
Which is cheapest?
Pricing: Apollo.io, free plan · paid from $49/mo; Close, from $19/user/mo; Amplemarket, custom · demo to start. All three offer a free way to start.
Which is easiest to use?
On ease of use, Apollo.io scored highest in our testing. If you have less technical users, that's worth weighting heavily, since adoption drives whether any tool actually pays off.
Do all three offer free trials?
Yes. Apollo.io offers free plan · no card, Close offers 14-day free trial, and Amplemarket offers free demo. That makes testing your shortlist risk-free before you commit to any of them.
Final verdict
After testing all three head to head, Apollo.io is our overall winner at 9.6/10, thanks to its balance of finding b2b leads, value and ease of use. The best lead database we've tested, period. The free plan alone replaces tools that cost $100/mo. For most people choosing between Apollo.io, Close and Amplemarket, it's the safest starting point.
That said, the beauty of this category is that all three are free to try, so there's no risk in testing your shortlist. Match the tool to your top priority using the guidance above, start with a free trial, and let a week of real use make the final call for you. Whichever you choose, you'll be picking from the strongest options we've found in crm & sales.
And because switching later is always possible, the cost of starting with the winner and adjusting is low, another reason not to overthink the initial decision. Each of these tools earned its place through the same hands-on process we apply to everything on this site: real accounts, real work, and at least two weeks of use before we scored it, so you can trust the ranking reflects genuine day-to-day performance rather than a features checklist.
Short on time? Start with the winner.
Apollo.io, The best lead database we've tested, period. The free plan alone replaces tools that cost $100/mo. Free plan · no card.
