Team cost
Per-user pricing adds up fast
Apollo charges per seat. Deepline charges per enrichment credit (or $0 with BYOK). Here's what a growing team actually pays.
| Team size | Deepline | Apollo Basic | Apollo Professional |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 user | $0/mo | $59/mo | $99/mo |
| 3 users | $0/mo | $177/mo | $297/mo |
| 5 users | $0/mo | $295/mo | $495/mo |
| 10 users | $0/mo | $590/mo | $990/mo |
| 25 users | $0/mo | $1,475/mo | $2,475/mo |
Deepline BYOK: $0/mo platform fee, you pay providers directly. Apollo prices are annual billing rates as of March 2026. Enrichment credits are usage-based on top of Apollo's seat fee.
Waterfall
Apollo is one of 79 providers
Deepline supports BYOK for Apollo. Connect your existing key and use Apollo's database as part of a multi-provider waterfall. If Apollo doesn't have a contact, Deepline automatically tries Hunter, Prospeo, PDL, Icypeas, and 25 other providers. You get Apollo's data plus everything it misses.
Who should use what
Choose the right fit
Choose Deepline if you...
✓ Need data from more than just Apollo's database
✓ Have a growing team and want to avoid per-user fees
✓ Already have an Apollo API key (use it through Deepline free)
✓ Use Claude Code, Codex, or Cursor for GTM automation
✓ Want enriched data in your own PostgreSQL database
✓ Need to cancel or scale down without a contract negotiation
Choose Apollo if you...
✓ Have a $15K+ annual data budget
✓ Need built-in intent data and buying signals
✓ Require CRM and sequencing in the same product
✓ Need deep native Salesforce or HubSpot workflows
✓ Want phone-verified mobile numbers in bulk
Side-by-side
Feature comparison
| Feature | Deepline | Apollo |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | CLI + API (agent-native) | Web UI + API + Chrome extension |
| Contact database | 79 providers via waterfall (includes Apollo) | 275M+ proprietary contacts |
| Data sources | 79 providers, waterfall finds the best match | Single proprietary database |
| Pricing model | Free (own keys), or per-credit (no per-user fee) | $59-149/user/month (annual billing) |
| 5-user team cost | $0/mo (BYOK) or usage-based credits | $295-745/month |
| Built-in CRM | No (integrates with Attio, HubSpot, Salesforce) | Yes, full CRM with deal tracking |
| Email sequencing | Instantly, Lemlist, HeyReach, Smartlead | Built-in sequences with A/B testing |
| Bring your own API keys | Yes, use your Apollo key through Deepline at $0 markup | N/A (Apollo is the provider) |
| Claude Code integration | Native skill with slash commands | Community-maintained MCP server |
| Data ownership | PostgreSQL DB included (your data, your schema) | Data stays in Apollo (CSV export available) |
| Free tier | Unlimited (BYOK mode) | 60 mobile + 120 export credits/month |
| Export limits | None | Varies by plan (900-12K/year on Basic-Professional) |
Analysis
Why Deepline is better for multi-provider work
Apollo is strongest when you want one system with prospecting, CRM, and sequencing built in. Deepline is strongest when you want to orchestrate multiple providers and keep your workflow programmable.
That tradeoff matters most once you start batch enrichment. Apollo gives you one proprietary dataset. Deepline lets you query Apollo and then fall through to the rest of your stack when Apollo misses.
# Apollo API alone in Claude Code
curl -X POST \
"https://api.apollo.io/api/v1/people/match" \
-H "X-Api-Key: $KEY" \
-d '{"first_name":"...","last_name":"...","organization_name":"..."}'
# Deepline waterfall in Claude Code
deepline enrich --input leads.csv --with '{"alias":"email","tool":"name_and_domain_to_email_waterfall","payload":{"first_name":"{{First Name}}","last_name":"{{Last Name}}","domain":"{{Domain}}"}}'
Trusted by GTM teams
Common questions
FAQ
Can I use my Apollo API key through Deepline?+
Yes. Deepline supports BYOK (Bring Your Own Key) for Apollo and 29 other providers. Connect your existing Apollo API key and Deepline routes lookups through it at zero markup. You pay Apollo directly at their rates.
Does Deepline replace Apollo?+
Not necessarily. Deepline can use Apollo as one of 30 waterfall providers. If Apollo has the contact, great. If not, Deepline automatically tries other providers like Hunter, Prospeo, or PDL. You get broader coverage without abandoning Apollo's database.
Why is waterfall enrichment better than a single database?+
No single provider has every contact. Apollo's 275M+ database is impressive, but there are always gaps. Waterfall enrichment tries multiple providers in sequence until a result is found. Deepline's 6-provider-deep email waterfall finds more verified emails than any single source.
Is Apollo's free tier enough for a small team?+
Apollo's free tier gives you 60 mobile credits and 120 export credits per month, which is great for individual prospecting. But if you need to enrich a CSV of 500+ contacts or run batch operations, you'll hit limits fast. Deepline's BYOK mode has no credit caps. You pay providers directly per lookup.
How does Apollo's MCP integration compare to Deepline's Claude Code support?+
Apollo has a community-maintained MCP server that lets Claude Code query Apollo's database. Deepline has a native, first-party Claude Code skill maintained by the Deepline team, with slash commands, waterfall enrichment, and database integration built in. The difference is official support vs community maintenance.
When should I choose Apollo over Deepline?+
Choose Apollo if you want an all-in-one platform: CRM, email sequences, and contact database in a single tool. Apollo is excellent for solo SDRs or small teams who want everything in one place. Choose Deepline if you need multi-provider data coverage, per-credit pricing without per-user fees, or native AI agent automation.