Which is better: FirstSales.io or Apollo.io?

FirstSales.io is better for startups and small businesses with its 87% inbox placement at $29/mo. Apollo.io is better suited for larger teams with bigger budgets. FirstSales.io also includes free list cleaning, while Apollo.io charges extra.

How much can I save by switching from Apollo.io to FirstSales.io?

You can save $816+ per year by switching from Apollo.io to FirstSales.io. FirstSales.io costs $29/mo compared to Apollo.io's higher pricing, while delivering better inbox placement (87% vs 62-75%).

Does FirstSales.io have all the features of Apollo.io?

Yes. FirstSales.io has everything Apollo.io offers: unlimited sending accounts, AI personalization, A/B testing, analytics, webhook integrations, and more. The difference is we don't hide features behind expensive tiers.

How long does it take to switch from Apollo.io to FirstSales.io?

Most customers fully migrate in under 30 minutes. Export your leads as CSV, connect your email accounts to FirstSales.io, and launch. Your campaign data and lead lists transfer seamlessly.

What about list cleaning? Is it included?

FirstSales.io includes list cleaning free because protecting your domain shouldn't be a premium feature. Apollo.io charges $47/mo extra for this essential feature.

Which is better: FirstSales.io or Apollo.io?

FirstSales.io is better for teams who want the full SDR loop: it scrapes the web to find leads, writes and personalizes every email, follows up automatically, and books the meeting to your calendar. It delivers 87% inbox placement at $29/mo, with free list cleaning included. Apollo.io focuses on sending and sequences. If your only need is sending pre-built campaigns and you already have a clean list, Apollo.io is fine. If you want to replace a human SDR entirely, FirstSales.io is the better fit.

How much can I save by switching from Apollo.io to FirstSales.io?

Most users save $816 or more per year. FirstSales.io starts at $29/mo. Apollo.io typically costs $94 to $358/mo for comparable features, plus extra for list cleaning. The savings compound if you are also paying for a separate lead-finding tool, since FirstSales.io includes web scraping to build your list automatically.

Does FirstSales.io have all the features of Apollo.io?

Yes, and more. FirstSales.io includes everything Apollo.io offers: unlimited sending accounts, AI personalization, A/B testing, analytics, and follow-up sequences. On top of that, FirstSales.io finds your leads by scraping the web, includes free list cleaning, and books meetings to your calendar. None of that is hidden behind expensive tiers.

How long does it take to switch from Apollo.io to FirstSales.io?

Most users are fully switched in under 30 minutes. Export your lead list as CSV from Apollo.io, connect your email accounts to FirstSales.io, and launch your first campaign. Setup takes 8 minutes and the deliverability engine starts the 21-day warm-up automatically.

Is list cleaning really included free in FirstSales.io?

Yes. FirstSales.io strips invalid addresses, spam traps, and dead inboxes before every campaign at no extra charge. Apollo.io and most other tools charge $47/mo or more for this as an add-on. List cleaning is a prerequisite for inbox placement, so we include it because a bounced email is a domain reputation you cannot afford to lose.

Updated for 2026

FirstSales.io vs Apollo.io

Apollo.io sends cold email. FirstSales.io runs the full SDR loop: scrapes the web for your leads, writes and personalizes every email, follows up automatically, and books the meeting to your calendar. At 87% inbox placement from $29/month.

Try FirstSales.io free See full comparison

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87%

Inbox placement

$29/month

Starting price

Free

List cleaning

Home/Comparisons/FirstSales.io vs Apollo.io

87%

Inbox rate

$29/month

Starting price

4.9

User rating

Free

List cleaning

Quick verdict

FirstSales.io delivers 87% inbox placement at $29/month and runs the full SDR loop from lead discovery to booked meeting. Apollo.io is a solid sender for enterprise sales teams but stops at delivery.

Save $816/year vs Apollo.io

87% vs 60-70% inbox placement

Full SDR loop, not just sending

Side-by-side comparison

FirstSales.io vs Apollo.io: features

Every feature that matters for a cold email AI SDR.

Feature

FirstSales.io

Apollo.io

Core features

Email warm-up

Automated warm-up for better deliverability

21-day included

Varies

Unlimited sending accounts

Connect multiple email accounts

AI personalization

AI-powered email personalization

Email sequences

Automated follow-up sequences

Lead discovery (web scraping)

Finds your leads automatically, no list to upload

Calendar booking

Books meetings directly to your calendar

Deliverability

Inbox placement rate

Average inbox placement

87%

60-70%

List cleaning

Verify emails before sending

Free included

$47/mo extra

Spam testing

Check spam score before sending

Premium only

Bounce protection

Auto-remove bouncing emails

Support and onboarding

Live chat support

Real-time help

Email support

Support via email

Onboarding call

Free setup assistance

Migration support

Help switching from other tools

Included

Not available

FirstSales.io includes the full SDR loop at one price. Apollo.io charges extra for features FirstSales includes free.

Pricing breakdown

FirstSales.io vs Apollo.io: pricing

What you get at each price point.

BEST VALUE

Starting at

$29/month

per month

87% inbox placement

Free list cleaning included

Unlimited sending accounts

AI writes and personalizes emails

Finds leads by scraping the web

Books meetings to your calendar

Live chat support included

Start your $1 trial

Starting at

$49/month

per month

60-70% inbox placement

List cleaning: $47/mo extra

Unlimited sending accounts

AI personalization

No lead discovery

No calendar booking

Email support only

Visit Apollo.io

Save $816/year by choosing FirstSales.io over Apollo.io

Detailed analysis

FirstSales.io vs Apollo.io: full breakdown

About FirstSales.io

FirstSales.io is an AI SDR for cold email that works 24/7. It scrapes the web to find your leads, writes and personalizes every email, sends it, follows up automatically, and books the meeting to your calendar. Starting at $29/month, it delivers 87% inbox placement with free list cleaning and a 21-day warm-up included.

Key features:

4,000 credits/monthAI Warm-upFree List CleaningUnlimited MailboxesAI Personalization

Best for startups & small businesses

About Apollo.io

Apollo.io is all-in-one sales intelligence platform. It covers Lead Database, Engagement, Intelligence. Starting at $49/month. Strong for teams that already have a clean lead list and want sending automation. Does not include lead discovery, calendar booking, or free list cleaning.

Key features:

Lead DatabaseEngagementIntelligenceCRMEnrichment

Best for enterprise sales teams