Apollo.io vs Cognism: B2B Data for Cold Email Teams (2026)
Apollo offers 260M+ contacts at $49-99/month with US strength. Cognism leads in phone-verified mobiles and GDPR compliance at $15K+/year. Which data provider fits your cold email operation?
Two Data Providers, Two Very Different Approaches
Apollo.io and Cognism both sell B2B contact data. That is where the similarity ends. Apollo built a massive self-serve database priced for startups and individual SDRs. Cognism built a premium, compliance-first data platform priced for enterprise sales teams. Choosing between them comes down to where your prospects are, how much you can spend, and whether GDPR compliance keeps you up at night.
Apollo.io: The Volume Play
Apollo's database has 260M+ contacts with email addresses, phone numbers, company data, and job titles. The free tier gives you 10,000 credits per month, which is enough to run cold email campaigns without spending a dollar on data. Paid plans range from $49 to $99 per month.
The platform is more than just a database. Apollo includes built-in email sequences, a basic CRM, intent data, and job change alerts. For teams that want data and sending in one tool, Apollo covers a lot of ground. The email accuracy sits around 92-95% based on my testing. That is good enough for most campaigns, though I still recommend running lists through ZeroBounce before sending.
Where Apollo shines: US and Canadian contact data is deep and accurate. The filters let you get specific. Company size, industry, revenue, tech stack, funding stage, job title, seniority level. You can build a laser-targeted list in 10 minutes. The Chrome extension pulls contact info directly from LinkedIn profiles, which speeds up prospecting for individual SDRs.
Where Apollo falls short: European data is thinner. Phone numbers outside the US are less reliable. The built-in sequence tool works but it is basic compared to Instantly or Smartlead. If you are sending more than 200 emails per day, you will outgrow Apollo's sending features and need a dedicated platform anyway.
Cognism: The Compliance-First Approach
Cognism targets enterprise sales teams that sell into European markets. Their core differentiator is phone-verified mobile numbers. Cognism's research team manually verifies mobile numbers by calling them, which produces accuracy rates above 98% for verified numbers. If your sales process depends on cold calling, this matters.
GDPR compliance is baked into the product. Cognism checks every contact against Do Not Call lists across European countries, flags contacts who have opted out, and provides a compliance audit trail. For companies selling into Germany, France, the UK, and the Nordics, this removes a real legal headache.
Pricing: Cognism starts at roughly $15,000 per year with annual contracts. There is no self-serve free tier or monthly plan. This is enterprise software priced for enterprise budgets.
Where Cognism shines: European data quality is best in class. Phone-verified mobiles are genuinely accurate. The compliance features protect you from GDPR fines. Intent data powered by Bombora is included on higher plans. The platform integrates well with Salesforce, HubSpot, and Outreach.
Where Cognism falls short: The price eliminates most startups and small teams from consideration. US data is decent but not as deep as Apollo's. The minimum contract commitment means you are locked in for a year. No built-in sending features, so you still need a separate cold email platform.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | Apollo.io | Cognism |
|---|---|---|
| Database size | 260M+ contacts | 400M+ business profiles |
| Starting price | Free (10K credits/mo), paid from $49/mo | ~$15,000/year |
| US data quality | Strong | Good |
| European data quality | Moderate | Excellent |
| Phone-verified mobiles | No | Yes (Diamond Data) |
| GDPR compliance tools | Basic | Built-in DNC checks, audit trail |
| Email accuracy | 92-95% | 95-97% |
| Built-in sequences | Yes (basic) | No |
| Intent data | Yes (included on paid plans) | Yes (Bombora, higher plans) |
| CRM integrations | HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive | Salesforce, HubSpot, Outreach |
| Chrome extension | Yes (LinkedIn + web) | Yes (LinkedIn + web) |
| Free tier | Yes (10,000 credits/mo) | No |
| Contract | Monthly or annual | Annual only |
Which One Should You Pick for Cold Email?
Pick Apollo if: You are a startup, solo SDR, or small sales team. Your prospects are primarily in the US or Canada. You want data and basic sending in one tool. You need a free tier to get started. Your budget is under $1,200 per year for data.
Pick Cognism if: You sell into European markets and need GDPR compliance built in. Your sales process relies on cold calling with verified mobile numbers. You have $15K+ per year for data. You are an enterprise team with 10+ reps. You cannot afford the legal risk of non-compliant European outreach.
The Practical Reality
Most cold email teams under 10 people should start with Apollo. The free tier alone provides enough data to run serious campaigns. The $49 per month plan gives you everything a growing team needs. Save the budget difference and invest it in better infrastructure, like pre-warmed inboxes from Puzzle Inbox.
If you are scaling into European markets, Cognism becomes worth the investment. The phone-verified mobiles genuinely convert better for cold calling. The GDPR compliance features save you from a real risk that gets more expensive to fix after the fact. But only commit if you have the budget and the sales volume to justify the annual contract.
One more thing. Regardless of which data provider you use, always verify emails before sending. Apollo at 92-95% accuracy means 5-8% of addresses might bounce. Run every list through ZeroBounce or NeverBounce. Cognism is more accurate, but verification is still cheap insurance against burning your sender reputation.