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Apollo.io vs Salesforce Sales Cloud comparison

 

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
5.8
Users find Apollo.io cost-effective and efficient, offering strong returns with accurate data, despite manual lead generation and credit changes.
Sentiment score
6.5
Salesforce Sales Cloud enhances sales efficiency and data management, offering cost-effective solutions for non-profits with productivity benefits.
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.
Virtual Assistant / Technical Support at Digital Witch Support Community
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
Salesforce Sales Cloud is a fantastic tool but requires disciplined data entry by sales personnel and operations teams to maintain data quality.
Chief Digital Officer at Cipher7
We are not just implementing Salesforce Sales Cloud; we need to understand what the customer wants to achieve in 5 to 10 years.
Founder and Salesforce Consultant at SaaSnic
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
4.2
Apollo.io's customer service is generally well-rated, but some users report slow responses and dissatisfaction with support efficiency.
Sentiment score
6.9
Salesforce Sales Cloud offers efficient support, with faster responses for premium users, while community resources enhance regular support experiences.
While the support was adequate, it could be more efficient as the response time was somewhat slow.
Virtual Assistant / Technical Support at Digital Witch Support Community
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
I wouldn't say you go to Salesforce Sales Cloud for their customer support unless you purchase one of their premier plans, which is additional money.
VP of Business Operations at PeerSpot
Support requires a subscription and when taken, the service is pretty nice.
Chief Digital Officer at Cipher7
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
4.9
Apollo.io offers flexible scaling and automation, ideal for small teams, with mixed suitability for larger companies.
Sentiment score
7.7
Salesforce Sales Cloud offers strong scalability, accommodating growth and varied business sizes, though some users face reporting and data challenges.
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
Salesforce is highly scalable and operates efficiently.
AWS Cloud Engineer at Accenture
Salesforce Sales Cloud is totally cloud native, requiring no additional effort for scalability.
Chief Digital Officer at Cipher7
Salesforce Sales Cloud's scalability is impressive as it grows easily with my organization's needs.
VP of Business Operations at PeerSpot
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
5.5
Apollo.io is generally stable but has issues with delays, outdated displays, and a slow user interface.
Sentiment score
8.1
Salesforce Sales Cloud is praised for its reliability, minimal downtime, high performance, and effective issue resolution, ensuring stability.
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
Salesforce Sales Cloud is very stable.
Chief Digital Officer at Cipher7
I have not experienced any degradation in Salesforce's performance.
AWS Cloud Engineer at Accenture
 

Room For Improvement

Apollo.io should improve setup, data accuracy, performance, and support while enhancing features for better user experience and satisfaction.
Salesforce Sales Cloud struggles with integration, high costs, and usability; users desire better mobile, reporting, and AI features.
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.
Virtual Assistant / Technical Support at Digital Witch Support Community
If you're looking at other tools out there, for example SalesLoft or HubSpot, it's much easier to build those workflows and do automation.
VP of Business Operations at PeerSpot
Compared to AWS, it is slower, which could be a hindrance.
AWS Cloud Engineer at Accenture
With today's generative AI capabilities like ChatGPT, it should be possible to directly communicate with the software rather than navigating through the entire system manually.
Chief Digital Officer at Cipher7
 

Setup Cost

Apollo.io offers competitive pricing with plans from $19, appealing free options, and a vast 270 million contact database.
Salesforce Sales Cloud is costly, but negotiating can secure discounts; value justifies pricing, challenging affordability for smaller businesses.
The setup process involves minimal costs and is more affordable compared to other tools such as ZoomInfo.
Virtual Assistant / Technical Support at Digital Witch Support Community
Without negotiation, costs can become expensive.
Chief Digital Officer at Cipher7
This happened for the first time because of the new CEO, Arundhati, who revolutionized pricing strategies, allowing discounts of 60-70% for Salesforce Sales Cloud in India.
Founder and Salesforce Consultant at SaaSnic
Salesforce Sales Cloud is extremely expensive.
VP of Business Operations at PeerSpot
 

Valuable Features

Apollo.io enhances lead generation with precise filters, CRM integration, and a resourceful free plan, boosting user satisfaction.
Salesforce Sales Cloud enhances productivity with customizability, automation, integration, data analytics, and efficient communication for optimal sales management.
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.
Virtual Assistant / Technical Support at Digital Witch Support Community
Its easy-to-navigate interface aids in delivering clear vision and organization, especially for sales and business management.
AWS Cloud Engineer at Accenture
Being able to pull reports in Salesforce Sales Cloud based on any of the fields that we have there and then building logic on those fields saves me time and also gives me visibility into what's going on with my teams across multiple departments, which is very helpful for us.
VP of Business Operations at PeerSpot
The Einstein Analytics and the inbuilt reporting are very useful for keeping track of pipeline movement.
Chief Digital Officer at Cipher7
 

Categories and Ranking

Apollo.io
Ranking in Opportunity Management
2nd
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
6.7
Number of Reviews
13
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Salesforce Sales Cloud
Ranking in Opportunity Management
1st
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
6.9
Number of Reviews
118
Ranking in other categories
CRM (1st), Sales Force Automation (1st), Conversation Intelligence Software (2nd)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of December 2025, in the Opportunity Management category, the mindshare of Apollo.io is 12.0%, down from 14.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Salesforce Sales Cloud is 10.3%, down from 14.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Opportunity Management Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Salesforce Sales Cloud10.3%
Apollo.io12.0%
Other77.7%
Opportunity Management
 

Featured Reviews

Shadrach Godwish Chukwu - PeerSpot reviewer
Virtual Assistant / Technical Support at Digital Witch Support Community
Efficiency improves with automation, but data accuracy needs enhancement
What I appreciate about Apollo.io most is its Chrome extension which is very user-friendly, and it has excellent sequencing capabilities that make it easier to stay consistent with outreach. The fact that it combines both database and outreach tools in one place is valuable. I utilize Apollo.io's lead scoring feature extensively. The experience with Apollo.io's CRM integration capabilities for managing pipelines is excellent. The ability to integrate with HubSpot, which I frequently use as my CRM, is outstanding. It also works seamlessly with Gmail and automation tools such as make.com or Zapier. As an SDR using Apollo.io, there is no need to copy-paste leads as everything can be automated and integrated. When leads are extracted, they automatically transfer to the CRM. This saves considerable time, and activities such as emails, calls, meetings can be automated in the CRM.
Jonny Katz - PeerSpot reviewer
VP of Business Operations at PeerSpot
Uses data-driven insights to improve workflows and highlights a need for simpler automation tools
Salesforce Sales Cloud can be improved in several areas. First, the UI is an area for enhancement. Even though they've launched Lightning, it's clunky at times with page load speeds. It also needs to be made extremely more user-friendly. For new people using Salesforce Sales Cloud, there is a steep learning curve. Additionally, giving non-admins the ability to make changes on the fly is something that I feel is necessary. Currently with Salesforce Sales Cloud, you need to have a consultant. It's hard to build the flows or workflows. Making it easier for that end-user who's not so technically minded to help themselves is essential. I choose seven out of ten because I think you need a consultant or a consulting company to help you build it out. Certain changes should be made much easier and more user-friendly where an admin can do it. The automation processes need to be much simpler. If you're looking at other tools out there, for example SalesLoft or HubSpot, it's much easier to build those workflows and do automation.
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879,259 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
University
11%
Computer Software Company
10%
Financial Services Firm
10%
Marketing Services Firm
9%
Computer Software Company
11%
Manufacturing Company
11%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Performing Arts
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business13
Large Enterprise3
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business55
Midsize Enterprise26
Large Enterprise40
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Apollo.io?
The product's most valuable feature is its ease of use, especially for beginners.
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 do you like most about Salesforce Sales Cloud?
The features of Sales Cloud most useful for testing and running email campaigns are highly valuable.
What needs improvement with Salesforce Sales Cloud?
Salesforce Sales Cloud can be improved in several areas. First, the UI is an area for enhancement. Even though they've launched Lightning, it's clunky at times with page load speeds. It also needs ...
What is your primary use case for Salesforce Sales Cloud?
Salesforce Sales Cloud serves as our primary tool for our sales team and reviews team to document and keep all our information in one place as a source of truth. We use it to manage our business pr...
 

Also Known As

No data available
Sales Cloud, SFDC, Salesforce
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
Coca-Cola Enterprises, Kuoni Global Travel Services, Financial Times, Just Eat, Jobsite, H.R. Owen, PlayerLayer, O2, DMGT, Philips, Xtreme.ie, Business Stream, Remote Asset Management, Dialogue Group
Find out what your peers are saying about Apollo.io vs. Salesforce Sales Cloud and other solutions. Updated: December 2025.
879,259 professionals have used our research since 2012.