Instantly vs Apollo (2025): Detailed Comparison of Features, Pricing & Performance

Cold email tools have become the backbone of B2B sales in 2025. Without the right platform, you’re leaving money on the table.

I’ve spent months testing different cold outreach and sales engagement platforms. Two names keep coming up in every conversation: Instantly and Apollo.

In this Instantly vs Apollo comparison, we’ll cover features, pricing, ease of use, deliverability, integrations, and more. I’ll break down everything you need to make the right choice for your business.

If you’re looking for the best cold email software, chances are you’ve come across Apollo.io vs Instantly AI. Both tools promise to transform your outreach game, but they take different approaches.

In this Instantly vs Apollo comparison, we’ll see how these two tools stack up. By the end, you’ll know exactly which platform fits your needs.

 

Instantly vs Apollo: Quick Comparison Table

Feature	Instantly	Apollo
Primary Use	Cold email automation & deliverability	B2B prospecting & sales engagement
Lead Database	No built-in database	250M+ contacts included
Email Sending	Unlimited (all plans)	Limited by plan (250-48,000/year)
Starting Price	$30/month	$0 (Free plan), $49/month (Basic)
Best For	Agencies, cold email campaigns	Sales teams, lead generation
G2 Rating	4.9/5	4.8/5
Free Trial	Yes (7 days)	Yes (Free plan available)
Email Warmup	Included (unlimited)	Not available
CRM Features	Basic	Advanced
Integrations	Zapier, Google Sheets, and CRMs	Salesforce, HubSpot, native CRM

 

Apollo vs Instantly quick comparison: Instantly wins on email volume and deliverability. Apollo wins on built-in prospecting and CRM features.

 

Want to try them out? Start your free trial with Instantly or explore Apollo’s free plan today.

 

What is Instantly?

Instantly is a cold email automation platform built for scale. I discovered it while searching for a tool that could handle unlimited sending without breaking the bank.

The platform focuses on one thing: getting your emails into inboxes. It uses inbox rotation, email warmup, and deliverability optimization to maximize your cold outreach results.

 

 

Key features include:

• Unlimited email accounts and sending
• Built-in email warmup for all accounts
• AI-powered email personalization
• Campaign automation with A/B testing
• Deliverability monitoring and analytics
• Integration with popular CRMs and tools

 

Instantly works best for agencies, B2B marketers, and startups scaling cold outreach. If you send thousands of cold emails monthly, this tool handles the heavy lifting.

I’ve written a detailed Instantly ai review covering its setup, campaign performance, and deliverability results — perfect if you want to see how it performs in real-world outreach.

 

What is Apollo?

Apollo is an all-in-one B2B sales platform. I started using it when I needed both prospecting and outreach in one place.

The platform combines a massive contact database with sales engagement tools. You can find leads, enrich data, and run email sequences without switching between multiple tools.

 

 

Key features include:

• 250M+ B2B contacts database
• Email sequencing and automation
• Built-in dialer for cold calling
• CRM with pipeline management
• AI-powered lead scoring
• Deep Salesforce and HubSpot integrations

 

Apollo works best for sales teams, SDRs, and businesses focused on B2B lead generation. If you need a complete sales engagement platform with data included, Apollo delivers.

Want a deeper breakdown? My Apollo io review covers pricing, CRM features, and lead database accuracy — everything you need before upgrading from the free plan.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Let me break down how these tools compare across the features that matter most.

 

Feature	Instantly	Apollo
User Interface	Simple, focused	Feature-rich, complex
Deliverability	Excellent (warmup included)	Good (no warmup)
Sending Limits	Unlimited	Plan-based limits
Lead Database	Not included	250M+ contacts
Automation	Email-focused	Multi-channel
CRM Integration	Via third-party	Native & deep
Analytics	Email metrics	Full sales funnel

1. Ease of Use & User Experience

I found Instantly incredibly easy to set up. The interface is clean and focused. You connect your email accounts, set up campaigns, and start sending within minutes.

Apollo has a steeper learning curve. The dashboard is packed with features—database, sequences, CRM, dialer. It took me a few days to feel comfortable navigating everything.

Verdict: Instantly wins for simplicity. Apollo requires more time to master but offers more functionality once you do.

 

2. Email Deliverability & Sending Capabilities

Instantly built its reputation on deliverability. The platform includes unlimited email warmup for every account. It rotates, sending across multiple inboxes to avoid spam filters.

I’ve personally sent over 50,000 emails monthly using Instantly without deliverability issues. The inbox rotation system keeps your sender reputation clean.

Apollo focuses more on structured sales workflows. Their sending limits depend on your plan. The Free plan gives you just 250 emails annually, while the Professional plan offers 48,000 credits per year.

Apollo doesn’t include email warmup features. You’ll need third-party tools to maintain inbox health. Before launching any campaign, it’s worth checking out my list of the best email verification tools to remove invalid or risky addresses and protect your deliverability.

Verdict: Instantly wins for outreach volume and deliverability. Apollo works better for controlled, data-driven campaigns.

 

3. Lead Database & Prospecting

This is where Apollo shines. The platform includes access to over 250 million B2B contacts. You can filter by industry, company size, job title, location, and dozens of other criteria.

I’ve built entire prospect lists without leaving Apollo. The data quality is solid, though you should always verify critical contacts.

Instantly doesn’t include a built-in database. You need to import contacts from other sources. Many users integrate Apollo data with Instantly’s sending capabilities. In my lead generation tools guide, I review platforms that help you discover verified prospects across industries.

Verdict: Apollo wins decisively for prospect sourcing. Instantly requires external lead sources.

 

4. Automation & AI Features

Both platforms offer strong automation, but they focus on different aspects.

Instantly provides AI-powered email personalization. The system analyzes your prospects and suggests personalized opening lines. You can automate follow-ups, A/B test subject lines, and trigger campaigns based on recipient actions.

Apollo offers sequences with conditional logic. You can automate multi-touch campaigns across email, calls, and LinkedIn. The AI-driven lead scoring helps prioritize your hottest prospects.

Verdict: Tie. Instantly excels at email-specific automation. Apollo provides broader sales automation across channels.

 

5. Integrations & Workflow

Instantly integrates with major CRMs, Google Sheets, LinkedIn scrapers, and Zapier. The integrations focus on getting data in and pushing results out.

I’ve connected Instantly with HubSpot and used Zapier to automate my entire lead flow. It works smoothly for email-focused workflows.

Apollo offers deep native integrations with Salesforce and HubSpot. The platform includes its own CRM, so you can manage your entire sales process internally.

For teams already using Salesforce, Apollo’s integration feels seamless. Data syncs automatically, and you can trigger sequences from within your existing CRM.

Verdict: Apollo wins for CRM-heavy workflows. Instantly wins for flexible, integration-based setups.

 

6. Analytics & Reporting

Instantly provides campaign-focused analytics. You can track open rates, reply rates, bounce rates, and deliverability scores. The dashboard shows which campaigns perform best and where your emails land.

I rely on Instantly’s deliverability insights to optimize my sender reputation. It tells me exactly which domains need attention.

Apollo offers comprehensive sales analytics. You can track your entire pipeline, monitor team performance, and analyze which sequences convert best. The reporting goes beyond email into calls, meetings, and revenue.

Verdict: Apollo wins for full-funnel analytics. Instantly wins for email-specific insights.

Ready to test these features? Start your free trial and see which platform matches your workflow.

 

Pricing: Instantly vs Apollo

Let me break down what you’ll actually pay for each platform.

 

Plan Type	Instantly	Apollo
Free Option	7-day trial	Free plan (limited)
Entry Level	$30/mo	$49/mo
Mid-Tier	$77.6/mo	$79/mo
High Volume	$286.3/mo	$119/mo per user
Sending Limits	Up to 500K+	Based on credits

Instantly Pricing (2025)

 

Instantly offers straightforward pricing based on sending volume:

 

Growth Plan – $30/month

• Unlimited email accounts
• Unlimited email warmup
• 1,000 uploaded contacts
• 5,000 emails monthly
• Chat support

 

Hypergrowth Plan – $77.6/month (Most Popular)

• Unlimited email accounts
• Unlimited email warmup
• 25,000 uploaded contacts
• 100,000 emails monthly
• Premium live support

 

Light Speed Plan – $286.3/month

• Everything in Hypergrowth
• 500,000 emails monthly
• 100,000 uploaded contacts
• SISR System

 

Enterprise Plan – Custom

• 500,000+ emails monthly
• 100,000+ uploaded contacts
• Dedicated account manager
• Shared Slack channel
• Private deliverability network

All plans include unlimited email accounts and warmup. You’re only limited by sending volume.

 

Apollo Pricing (2025)

 

Apollo structures pricing around credits and features:

Free Plan – $0

• 1,200 credits per year
• 2 sequences
• Basic filters
• Chrome extension

 

Basic Plan – $49/month

• 30,000 credits per year
• 2 sequences
• Advanced filters
• CRM integrations
• 6 intent topics

 

Professional Plan – $79/month (Most Popular)

• 48,000 credits per year
• Unlimited sequences
• US dialer
• 5 mailboxes per user
• Call recordings (4,000 mins)
• AI research intelligence

 

Organization Plan – $119/month

• 72,000 credits per year
• International dialer
• 15 mailboxes per user
• Call recordings (8,000 mins)
• Custom reports
• SSO

 

Note: Apollo charges per user. A 3-person team on the Professional plan costs $237/month.

Verdict: Instantly offers better value for unlimited sending. Apollo provides better value for all-in-one sales tools with included data.

Want to lock in the best price? Both platforms offer discounts on annual billing. Start your free trial today.

 

Pros & Cons: Instantly vs Apollo

Let me give you the honest pros and cons based on my experience.

 

Instantly Pros:

• Unlimited sending across multiple inboxes
• Built-in email warmup for all accounts
• Affordable pricing for high-volume senders
• Easy to scale cold email outreach
• Excellent deliverability features
• Simple, focused interface
• No per-user charges

 

Instantly Cons:

• No built-in prospect database
• Limited CRM-style analytics
• Fewer features beyond email
• Requires external lead sources
• Not ideal for multi-channel outreach

 

Apollo Pros:

• Huge B2B contact database (250M+)
• Great for sales teams and prospecting
• Strong CRM integrations
• Multi-channel sequences (email, call, LinkedIn)
• Comprehensive sales analytics
• All-in-one platform
• Free plan available

 

Apollo Cons:

• Sending limits compared to Instantly
• Per-user pricing gets expensive
• It can feel overwhelming for beginners
• No built-in email warmup
• Learning curve is steeper
• Credits can run out quickly with heavy usage

 

Which Tool is Right for You? (Use-Case Scenarios)

Let me help you decide based on your specific situation.

 

Choose Instantly if:

• You’re a startup, agency, or solopreneur focused on cold email volume
• You need unlimited sending without per-email costs
• Deliverability is your top priority
• You already have lead sources and just need sending infrastructure
• You want simple, email-focused automation
• You’re running multiple campaigns across different domains

 

Choose Apollo if:

• You’re a sales team needing prospecting and outreach in one platform
• You don’t have a lead database and need access to contacts
• You want CRM features and pipeline management
• You run multi-channel campaigns (email, calls, LinkedIn)
• You need deep Salesforce or HubSpot integration
• You want comprehensive sales analytics

 

My personal recommendation? Many businesses use both. I use Apollo for prospecting and building lists, then export those leads to Instantly for high-volume outreach.

This combination gives you the best of both worlds. You get Apollo’s data and Instantly’s sending power. You can explore my full comparison of the best cold email software to see how Instantly, Apollo, and other tools stack up side by side.

 

Final Verdict: Instantly vs Apollo (2025)

After testing both platforms extensively, here’s my conclusion.

Instantly dominates if you need pure cold email power. The unlimited sending, built-in warmup, and deliverability focus make it the best choice for agencies and high-volume senders.

Apollo wins if you need an all-in-one sales platform. The massive contact database, CRM features, and multi-channel sequences make it ideal for sales teams.

Both tools excel in their respective areas. The right choice depends on your specific needs and workflow.

Some businesses even use both—Apollo for prospecting, Instantly for outreach. This combination maximizes your prospecting data while maintaining excellent deliverability.

Ready to make your choice?

Try Instantly free – Start your 7-day trial and send unlimited emails with built-in warmup.

Try Apollo free – Sign up for the free plan and access the B2B database today.

Test them both. See which one fits your workflow. Your perfect cold email setup is waiting.

 

FAQs

 

Is Instantly better than Apollo for cold email?

Yes, Instantly is better for pure cold email sending. It offers unlimited sending, built-in warmup, and superior deliverability features. Apollo is better as an all-in-one sales platform but has sending limits.

 

Can you use Apollo with Instantly?

Absolutely. Many users export leads from Apollo’s database and import them into Instantly for sending. This combination gives you Apollo’s prospecting power with Instantly’s deliverability.

 

Which is cheaper: Instantly or Apollo?

Instantly starts at $30/month for unlimited sending. Apollo’s Basic plan is $49/month but includes database access. Instantly offers better value for email volume, while Apollo provides more features overall.

 

Does Apollo have unlimited sending?

No. Apollo uses a credit system with annual limits. The Professional plan includes 48,000 credits per year. Instantly offers truly unlimited sending on all plans.

 

Best alternative to Instantly and Apollo?

Popular alternatives include Lemlist (similar to Instantly), and Smartlead (cold email focus). Each has different strengths depending on your needs.