By The PhantomBuster TeamLooking for the right lead generation platform? PhantomBuster and Apollo are two popular sales tools that could improve your outreach efforts.
While PhantomBuster focuses on sales automation and data scraping, Apollo provides an extensive database of potential leads.
This guide will help you decide which tool best fits your sales workflows.
AI highlights
PhantomBuster: Provides lead generation, data enrichment, and sales outreach automation. It allows you to automate the entire sales process with 100+ pre-built workflows across major social media platforms.
Apollo.io: Offers an extensive database of over 210 million contacts for B2B prospecting, a suite of sales intelligence tools, integrates with CRM platforms, and combines data enrichment with outreach.
Which to choose? Apollo is helpful for people who want a ready-made database of potential clients. However, PhantomBuster is the best option for accessing real-time data and has advanced automation capabilities that boost the entire sales process.
PhantomBuster | Apollo.io | |
Primary Focus | Lead generation automation | B2B contact details |
Key Features | Lead generation and enrichment, sales intelligence, lead qualification, AI insights, outreach automation | B2B contact information database, integrated sales tools, AI assistant, analytics |
Scrape Data From | Major social media platforms and websites | A single centralized database |
Data Enrichment | ✅ By analyzing current social media profiles | ✅ Through its B2B database |
Intent Data | ✅ Buying signals through social media engagement or even job changes | ✅ Via website visitors, plus insights from Bombora |
Data Quality | High data quality from regularly updated platforms | Medium data quality (an extensive database, but sometimes outdated) |
Automation Capabilities | Extensive for the entire sales process and across several social platforms | End-to-end sales workflows |
Integrations | ✅ CRMs, Zapier, Make, Hunter.io, Dropcontact, etc. | ✅ CRM, Zapier, SendGrid, Zoom, Salesloft, etc. |
Pricing From | $56/mo | $49/user/mo |
Free Trial | ✅ 14 days | ✅ Free plan |
What is PhantomBuster?
PhantomBuster is a lead generation automation tool designed to automate the entire sales process. Its intuitive interface allows for data scraping and extraction from platforms like LinkedIn and Sales Navigator.
Ultimately, it's all about working smarter, not harder. PhantomBuster's automation capabilities empower sales teams to run workflows in a matter of clicks, from generating leads to qualifying them to starting outreach.
With 100+ pre-built workflows, CRM integrations, and AI-driven insights and lead scoring, the possibilities are truly endless.
What is Apollo?
Apollo.io is a sales intelligence tool designed with B2B lead generation in mind.
With a database of 210 million contacts, Apollo helps sales teams find (and refine) potential leads using filters like revenue, funding, and job roles.
It also has its own sales tool suite, integrating with CRMs like Salesforce and HubSpot.
By combining data enrichment with outreach optimization, Apollo offers data-driven insights that could transform any sales pipeline.
PhantomBuster vs. Apollo: Key features comparison
From data gathering to lead prospecting, here's everything you need to know about PhantomBuster and Apollo's key features. Plus, you'll get an idea of which tool offers the most comprehensive solution.
Data quality and extraction capabilities
You're only as smart as your data. Pick a tool with advanced data extraction capabilities, and you'll easily boost your sales pipeline and increase the chances of closing more deals.
The right platform will find leads and provide deeper insights to refine your outreach strategy.
Here's what both tools can offer you:
PhantomBuster: Extracts data from social media platforms, providing accurate, valuable real-time insights. It also provides contextual data, such as LinkedIn connection insights or company followers, and buying signals based on engagement.
Apollo: Has a vast database of over 210 million contact records and 35 million company data entries to help you find top opportunities. However, users' reviews say its contact information is sometimes outdated.
Automation workflows
The best sales teams automate tasks like lead generation, scoring, and outreach to increase productivity and accelerate sales.
When you automate repetitive tasks, you can free up time to focus on more important things. This allows you to build stronger relationships with high-value prospects and close deals more efficiently.
If you're looking for a tool offering automation features, here's what you need to know:
PhantomBuster: Provides 100+ pre-built sales automation workflows, which can extract data, send outreach campaigns, update CRM systems, use AI for lead scoring, identify buying signals, and more. This means it can suit various business needs in only a few clicks.
Apollo: Allows you to automatically sync CRM data and generate end-to-end sales workflows, such as adding people to an email sequence after they meet certain criteria. This lets you focus on high-priority tasks while the system handles the repetitive aspects of lead nurturing.
Advanced search and filters for lead generation
Once you've defined your ICP, how do you find the right leads?
The right platform will have advanced features to help you filter and interpret your lead data. It's all about turning raw information into actionable insights so that you can refine your sales strategy.
Here's what PhantomBuster and Apollo can offer you:
PhantomBuster: Lets you export the results of targeted LinkedIn and Sales Navigator searches to find leads who match your ICP, or even extract prospects based on buyer intent patterns, such as job changes or LinkedIn post comments and likes.
Apollo: Has an in-built search engine that lets you find contacts, companies, and firmographic data. You can also follow industry trends and changes in your market research.
User interface and ease of use
A user-friendly interface is a game-changer. Since not all sales teams have the same technical knowledge, you need a tool that accommodates every level.
An intuitive design ensures that even beginners can quickly navigate and maximize the platform’s features.
Here's how both tools compare:
PhantomBuster: Provides ready-made workflows that anyone can use without requiring extensive technical knowledge. However, its high functionality across multiple platforms could feel overwhelming at first.
Apollo: Has an extensive database, analytics function, and workflow setup, which could represent a steep learning curve for some users. However, it can support a wide range of sales prospecting workflows once mastered.
Ethical practices and compliance
Data protection regulations aren't optional. Your sales and marketing efforts should always respect data scraping guidelines to keep your accounts safe.
Compliance not only avoids legal risks but also builds trust with potential customers.
Here's how both tools address ethical concerns:
PhantomBuster: Only scrapes publicly available data, such as information visible on LinkedIn. It also provides recommendations on rate limits and offers guidance on automating responsibly.
Apollo: Is GDPR-compliant and ISO 27001 and SOC 2 certified. This makes it a reliable choice for businesses in regions with strict data protection regulations or those handling sensitive customer information.
Integration capabilities
Seamless integration with other sales tools is essential. Choose a platform that supports your wider sales efforts, and everything will run like a well-oiled machine without any workflow disruptions.
Here's what both tools can offer regarding integration capabilities:
PhantomBuster: It can be easily connected with platforms such as main CRMs (including HubSpot), data enrichment tools like Snov.io, Hunter.io, and Dropcontact, and emailing tools like lemlist.
Apollo: Can be used with CRMs and communication platforms like Gmail and Outlook, as well as Slack and Microsoft Teams. This makes it easier to manage leads and can enhance collaboration between team members.
PhantomBuster vs. Apollo: Pros and Cons
Both PhantomBuster and Apollo help sales teams generate leads and boost their prospecting strategy—but they do so in very different ways.
Let's dive into their pros and cons to help you find the right fit for your lead generation efforts.
PhantomBuster automates lead generation across multiple platforms
If you're looking for reliable sales intelligence, then your best option is to capture it from multiple sources. Relying on a single database can limit the quality and scope of your leads, making it harder to reach the right prospects.
While Apollo works from a single database, PhantomBuster can use valuable data sources across the web, from LinkedIn to Sales Navigator to Google Maps and beyond.
This multi-platform approach ensures higher accuracy of contact data, providing fresh data from social media platforms.
PhantomBuster scrapes real-time data
Apollo operates via a B2B contact data directory, which can quickly become out-of-date. On the other hand, PhantomBuster can scrape live, accurate data from major platforms like LinkedIn and Sales Navigator.
Instead of relying on a database for your lead generation efforts, PhantomBuster lets you extract accurate contact information in real-time—such as profile details or even the attendees of a specific LinkedIn event.
Real-time data quality ensures that your leads are current and relevant, improving the chances of successful sales outreach.
PhantomBuster is more cost-effective
Apollo's pricing model is generally more expensive, which can be a hurdle for smaller teams with limited budgets.
High costs can make it difficult for startups or growing businesses to justify the investment, especially if they’re still refining their sales processes.
On the other hand, PhantomBuster's pricing plans offer a more flexible approach and lower-cost entry options. This makes it a better choice for startups or businesses looking to test automation tools without a big upfront investment.
PhantomBuster pricing
PhantomBuster doesn’t have a free plan, but it does provide a 14-day free trial with no credit card required.
Once the trial ends, the Starter plan, at $56 per month, enables users to access 20 hours of execution time and unlimited data exports.
Every plan also comes with community access and priority support. This means you can access a network of resources and expertise with just a few clicks.
Here's a breakdown of PhantomBuster's pricing plans:
Starter plan ($56/month): 20 hours of execution time, 10,000 AI credits, 5 automation slots, and 500 email discovery credits.
Pro plan ($128/month): 80 hours of execution time, 30,000 AI credits, 15 automation slots, and 2,500 email discovery credits.
Team plan ($352/month): 300 hours of execution time, 90,000 AI credits, 50 automation slots, and 10,000 email discovery credits.
Apollo pricing
Apollo's pricing is based on a per-user model, catering to sales teams looking for an all-in-one solution.
Bear in mind that the cost can add up quickly as your team grows, making it less accessible for those with limited resources.
The Free plan is a great starting point but has some restrictions. For example, users are limited to two active sequences and can only access basic filters and buying intent data for three topics.
Here's an Apollo pricing breakdown when billed annually:
Free plan ($0/month): Comes with basic features, limited sequences and export credits.
Basic plan ($49/user/month): Offers more credits and advanced integrations but no uncapped sending limits.
Professional plan ($79/user/month): Includes advanced reports, email tracking, and higher credit limits.
Organization plan ($119/user/month): Minimum of 3 users. Offers customizable reports, SSO, and advanced security features.
PhantomBuster reviews
PhantomBuster is widely praised for its sales intelligence and automation capabilities, allowing users to scrape fresh data from social media platforms.
Many reviews also highlight its user-friendly interface.
"Very easy to use, even for non-technical users"
Ease of use: PhantomBuster is very easy to use, even for non-technical users. The interface is intuitive and user-friendly.
Wide range of features: PhantomBuster offers a wide range of features, including data scraping, lead generation, and social media automation.
Flexibility: PhantomBuster is very flexible and can be used to automate a wide variety of tasks.
Customer support: PhantomBuster offers excellent customer support. The team is very responsive and helpful.
Learning curve: While PhantomBuster is easy to use, there is a bit of a learning curve for some of the more advanced features.
Andrew K., Business Consultant Director, Small-Business
PhantomBuster's reviews on G2 - "Very easy to use, even for non-technical users""Changes in social media policies also force time-consuming adjustments"
PhantomBuster is incredibly user-friendly, letting even non-developers quickly build automated workflows.
Its LinkedIn and Twitter integrations are rock-solid, making lead generation and data extraction a breeze.
PhantomBuster is powerful but can get pricey for heavy scraping or bigger teams, and its UI needs better real-time feedback or logs.
Changes in social media policies also force time-consuming adjustments. These aren’t deal-breakers, but they show where PhantomBuster could still improve.
Guillaume R., Sales Analyst, Mid-Market
PhantomBuster's reviews on G2 - "An indispensable tool for automated lead generation and data extraction"Apollo reviews
Apollo reviewers highlight the sequencing and buyer intent data as a big plus.
However, some users complain about difficulties with email deliverability, limited support, and costly pricing plans.
"Effective and efficient lead source generator"
This has cut my researching time to a fraction of what it used to be. Using the buying intent signaling has helped me know where to start with my cold calls and get through to the leads more easily.
Sequencing is helping to train the multi-channel strategy in a very simple way and has been very easy to add to my day-to-day routine.
The only issue I have run into so far is with getting my email connected and them not going into spam.
I wish there was someone to actually walk you through the onboarding/set-up phase as opposed to relying completely on the pre-recorded videos.
Erica F., Account Executive, Small-Business
Apollo.io's reviews on G2 - "Effective and efficient lead source generator""Even when the contact data is wrong, it's at least available"
I appreciate the fact that even when the contact data is wrong, it's at least available. I will say openly that out of any data provider I've worked with, Apollo seems to have the best coverage: price ratio.
Commercial packages available for purchase are not suitable for smaller organizations - I really feel like they want to gouge us here. I wish there were more options to be able to purchase data a la carte for specific projects (not possible today).
The sales team is very unhelpful. Any time I've interacted with anyone from Apollo's Sales org, they just try to upsell me and are unresponsive most of the time (requires multiple attempts to get in touch with them on the website).
Verified User in Information Technology and Services, Small-Business
Apollo.io's reviews on G2 - "Even when the contact data is wrong, it's at least available"PhantomBuster or Apollo: Which is best for sales and marketing teams?
PhantomBuster and Apollo offer extensive lead generation features but cater to different sales needs.
Apollo provides an extensive B2B contact database with built-in outreach features, making it a strong choice for teams focused on targeted prospecting.
However, PhantomBuster stands out as the better option for businesses looking for flexible sales automation workflows, multi-platform lead generation, and real-time data extraction. It also offers strong data enrichment and outreach automation, helping businesses prospect without manual work.
Sign up for a free trial to put PhantomBuster through its paces and see if it could work for you.
