The short answer
Apollo.io is a B2B contact database with email and phone data, plus sequencing, dialer and CRM-style features. Prospect Cheap is a lead generation tool that searches six live sources — Google Maps, YouTube, the Facebook Ad Library, Product Hunt, TrustMRR and Skool — and returns each lead with emails, the owner's name and social profiles. Choose Apollo.io for B2B sales teams targeting companies by title and firmographics; choose Prospect Cheap when you want fresh, outreach-ready lists of local businesses, creators, advertisers or founders.
Side by side
| Prospect Cheap | Apollo.io | |
|---|---|---|
| Type of tool | Live lead scraper with enrichment | B2B contact database |
| Where leads come from | Google Maps, YouTube, Facebook Ad Library, Product Hunt, TrustMRR, Skool | Pre-collected B2B database |
| How you use it | Web app — no code, searches run on our servers | Web app and extension |
| Contact details | Emails from the website, owner name and title, mobile numbers with carrier, 6 social networks | B2B emails and phones for listed companies |
| Exports | CSV, Instantly, GoHighLevel | Varies — check Apollo.io |
| Pricing model | One credit per lead, from $29/month for 10,000 credits | Freemium with paid tiers and credits |
| Free start | 100 free credits, no card | Check Apollo.io |
This table describes the products in general terms; features and prices change, so check Apollo.io's website for current details.
Where Apollo.io is strong
- Very large B2B people and company database
- Filters by title, industry and company size
- Built-in email sequences
If those are what you need most, Apollo.io is a sensible choice.
Where Prospect Cheap is different
Prospect Cheap collects leads live from the source — Google Maps, YouTube, the Facebook Ad Library, Product Hunt, TrustMRR and Skool — so the list reflects what is true today, and it reaches small businesses and creators that databases often miss.
- Databases are strongest for mid-size and large companies; many small local businesses, creators and new startups are missing or out of date.
- Data is collected in advance, so new businesses, new channels and new launches can take months to appear.
- Seat-based or annual pricing is a lot to commit to when you only need a few thousand leads.
Pricing approach
Prospect Cheap uses credits: one credit per lead you receive, and a search that fails costs nothing — the credits set aside for it go straight back. Plans are Starter ($29/month, 10,000 credits), Growth ($79/month, 50,000) and Scale ($199/month, 200,000), and subscribers can top up extra credits at any time. Apollo.io's pricing is freemium with paid tiers and credits.
The fairest way to compare is cost per usable lead: how much you pay for each lead that has the contact details you need.
Which should you choose?
- Choose Apollo.io if you sell to larger companies and target by job title, company size and industry.
- Choose Prospect Cheap if you want lists built from live sources, with emails and owner names already attached, ready for Instantly or GoHighLevel.
- Use both if they cover different parts of your workflow — many teams do.
See also: Best Apollo.io alternatives · All comparisons