Apollo vs Hunter: tools to find new customers
Pick Apollo if you want to build lead lists and run the whole outreach from one account: it pairs a large B2B contact database with email sequences, a dialer and meeting booking. Pick Hunter if you already know which companies you want and need their work email addresses, checked before you send. Test each on ten real prospects before you pay; neither charges to start. Apollo replaces more tools; Hunter does one job with less setup.
Which one to pick
You start from zero and need a list of decision makers by role and industry, then want to email, call and book meetings with them without leaving the app.
You have a list of target companies or names, want verified addresses from a Chrome extension or the API, and plan to write emails from your own inbox.
Side by side
Questions
Is Apollo or Hunter free?
Yes, each has one. Hunter gives you a set of monthly credits for finding and verifying addresses. Apollo's free plan is generous and covers the contact database plus basic outreach. Paid plans add volume, and we only list prices we have confirmed, so check each vendor's pricing page before you upgrade.
Can I use Apollo and Hunter together?
Yes, and some small teams do. You can build the list in Apollo and run unknown or bounced addresses through Hunter's verifier. Both connect natively to HubSpot and Pipedrive, so the contacts end up in one CRM. Keep one tool as the place you send from, or you will email the same person twice.
Does Hunter send cold emails like Apollo?
Hunter can send simple cold email campaigns from your own inbox. Apollo goes further with multi-step sequences, a dialer and meeting booking. If you send a handful of personal emails a week, Hunter's campaigns cover it. For a repeatable outbound process with follow-ups, Apollo fits better.
Is cold email legal in Europe?
B2B cold email is allowed in several EU countries under legitimate interest, but the rules differ by country and GDPR applies everywhere. You need a clear reason to contact the person, an easy way to opt out and a record of where you got the data. Germany is stricter than most and often expects prior consent. Check your national rules before a campaign, whichever tool you use.
Which has better data quality?
Hunter's strength is checking that an address delivers before you send, which protects your sender reputation. Apollo gives you more fields per contact, such as role and company details, for building targeted lists. Data quality varies by country and sector for both. Run the same twenty prospects through each and compare the bounce rate.