Updated

Apollo vs LinkFinder vs Derrick: Which Is Better in 2026?

Short answer
Apollo vs LinkFinder vs Derrick: Apollo is a b2b sales intelligence and outreach, LinkFinder is a ai-powered linkedin email finder with multi-source data aggregation and zero linkedin account dependency. Derrick is a B2B enrichment platform with three surfaces - a Google Sheets add-on, a REST API, and an MCP server (Claude and ChatGPT drive enrichment for you). Hit rates are noticeably higher (more emails + phone numbers returned per query than Apollo or LinkFinder) and pricing is lower - free forever with 100 credits/month, paid plans from €9/month. Most teams pair Derrick for the data layer with Apollo or LinkFinder for outreach.

Apollo is a B2B database vendor - seat-time + record access charged per user, per year. The side-by-side comparison below tracks Apollo's total-cost-of-ownership across team growth and lookup volume against Derrick's credit-pool model where the cost moves with usage, not headcount.

Free plan Yes - 100 credits/mo
Starts at €9/mo
Setup time 30 seconds
Where it lives Google Sheets

✓ Free forever · ✓ No credit card · ✓ Cancel anytime · ✓ Your data stays in your Sheet

Trusted by 31,000+ users worldwide.

Quick Facts

Apollo vs LinkFinder vs Derrick at a glance

Apollo

  • Starting price: Free / $49 annual or $59 monthly /seat (post-2026 price increase)
  • Free plan: Yes (Free forever)
  • Founded: 2015
  • HQ: San Francisco, CA
4.7/5 G2 4.5/5 Capterra

LinkFinder

  • Starting price: $49/month (Starter) · 25-credit free trial
  • Free plan: No (paid plans only - credit-based pricing)
  • Founded: 2024 (estimated)
  • HQ: Not publicly disclosed
4.1/5 G2 4/5 Capterra

Derrick

★ Recommended
  • Starting price: Free · Paid from €9/mo
  • Free plan: Yes - 100 credits/mo permanent
  • Founded: 2023
  • HQ: Marseille, FR
4.8/5 G2 4.8/5 Capterra
Why Derrick wins

Why teams pick Derrick over Apollo and LinkFinder

3 core reasons SDRs and ops teams switch to Derrick. Click to expand each.

01

Enrich data in Google Sheets, not CSV export limits

Apollo and LinkFinder both rely on CSV-based workflows or external scraping that disrupt seamless live data work, limiting enrichment inside Google Sheets. Derrick makes enrichment 100% native in Google Sheets, eliminating CSV export limits and export/import friction. With Derrick, you enrich 50+ attributes per contact directly in Sheets, converting it into a full prospecting center and saving 5-10 hours per month. Use cases like real-time validation and AI-powered scoring stay in your sheet, without switching apps or formats.

02

Real-time data quality without manual verification bottlenecks

Apollo and LinkFinder can struggle with real-time data quality, often requiring manual verification to confirm accuracy across batches. Derrick delivers continuous, real-time data quality directly within Google Sheets, eliminating the bottleneck of manual checks. Teams see tangible gains, such as faster lead validation and reduced rework, with credits that reflect on-demand enrichment rather than sporadic refreshes. A quick use case: validate and enrich contacts live during queue buildup, without leaving the sheet. Derrick maintains up-to-date, highly reliable records at the moment of use.

03

Native in-workspace automation for complex research flows

Derrick delivers native in-workspace automation for complex research flows that Apollo and LinkFinder can’t match, since they operate as external tools that force CSV exports or separate workflows. Unlike LinkFinder’s CSV-based enrichment or Apollo’s standalone data surface, Derrick runs entirely inside Google Sheets, enabling seamless, multi-step research pipelines without leaving the workspace. This translates to measurable time savings and reduced context-switching, with users typically reclaiming 5-10 hours per month on complex enrichment tasks. Use cases like multi-attribute profiling and chained validation run uninterrupted in Derrick, within the sheet you’re already using.

Honest Comparison

What each tool does better

We're upfront - every tool has strengths. Here's where Apollo, LinkFinder, and Derrick each genuinely win.

What LinkFinder does better

  • Zero LinkedIn account ban risk (private network architecture)
  • No Sales Navigator dependency
  • Feature-flat pricing across all tiers
Read full LinkFinder review →
Real Annual Cost

True cost over 12 months

Headline pricing rarely tells the whole story. Here's the real cost of running each tool for a year.

Apollo LinkFinder Derrick
Starting price (monthly) Free / $49 annual or $59 monthly /seat (post-2026 price increase) $49/month (Starter) · 25-credit free trial €0 (free) · €9/mo paid
Annual cost (base) ~€588/yr ~€588/yr €0/yr free · ~€108/yr paid
Free plan? Yes (Free forever) No (paid plans only - credit-based pricing) ✓ Forever - 100 credits/mo
Setup cost Hours to days Hours to days 30 seconds via Marketplace
Switching cost CSV export + retraining CSV export + retraining Zero - works alongside any stack

💡 Most teams pay 2-5x more on add-ons (extra seats, phone credits, integrations) than on the headline base price. Derrick keeps everything in one transparent tier.

Feature-by-Feature

Apollo vs LinkFinder vs Derrick: full feature comparison

apollo Derrick App LinkFinder
Works natively in Google Sheets
Requires LinkedIn Sales Navigator ($100/month)
Sales Navigator 1-click import
Email finder with real-time validation
Phone finder from LinkedIn
Company tech stack lookup
SimilarWeb & G2 insights integrated
AI integration (Claude & ChatGPT)
Automatic AI Lead Scoring
Data cleaning & normalization
Multi-platform scraping (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook)
Zapier, Make, n8n integrations
Public API available
Native CRM integrations (HubSpot, Salesforce)
Entry price (paid plan) 59$/mois 9€/mois lifetime deal
Permanent free plan
Rollover credits to next month
Simple and transparent credit system
Simple setup & onboarding
Complete documentation
Pricing in a nutshell

Apollo vs LinkFinder vs Derrick pricing breakdown

AI LinkedIn Email Finder + Multi-Source Enrichment

LinkFinder

$49/month (Starter) · 25-credit free trial

Best for: Solo SDRs wanting LinkedIn email finder without Sales Nav dependency

LinkFinder offers a starting tier with free access for basic CSV-based enrichment, followed by paid plans that scale with usage and API access across all tiers - see full pricing breakdown for details. View complete pricing details on the dedicated LinkFinder pricing page.

Migration Guide

How to switch from Apollo to Derrick in 3 steps

Derrick is a Google Workspace app - no formulas to learn, no pipelines to migrate, no engineering work. Add it to Google Sheets and you're enriching in under a minute.

1
~30 sec

Install Derrick from Google Workspace Marketplace

Click the install button on our Marketplace listing and grant Google Sheets access. No credit card required - you start with 100 free credits per month.

2
~30 sec

Open any Google Sheet → Extensions → Derrick

Open a Sheet with your prospect list (paste a CSV from Apollo, scrape from LinkedIn Sales Navigator, or import from your CRM). Click Extensions → Derrick and the sidebar opens with all enrichment features ready to use.

3
~1 min

Enrich your list with one click

Select the column with names, LinkedIn URLs, or company domains. Pick what you want - emails, phone numbers, LinkedIn data, company info, tech stack - and click "Enrich". Derrick fills the columns directly in your Sheet. No exports, no pipelines, no waiting.

Install Derrick free →

100 free credits / month · No credit card · Cancel anytime

Decision in 60 seconds

Which one is right for you?

Pick Apollo if…

  • You specifically need smb & mid-market outbound
  • Massive 250M+ contact database
  • All-in-one stack at SMB price
  • You're already invested in the Apollo ecosystem
Read full Apollo review →

Pick LinkFinder if…

  • You specifically need solo sdrs wanting linkedin email finder without sales nav dependency
  • Zero LinkedIn account ban risk (private network architecture)
  • No Sales Navigator dependency
  • You're already invested in the LinkFinder ecosystem
Read full LinkFinder review →

Pick Derrick if…

  • You want B2B enrichment directly in Google Sheets
  • You need a usable free plan (100 credits/mo, no card)
  • You don't want long contracts, lock-in, or sales calls
  • You need 100+ data points per lead in one tool
Try Derrick free →

What teams say after switching from Apollo vs LinkFinder

See what our customers say about Derrick.

"This app saved me so much time and effort. Great for anyone looking to build a contact list or network at scale quickly. As a start-up it's been invaluable."

Alex Clark

Director | SaaS GTM Leader

Reviewed on Product Hunt

"Working pretty nifty compared to Snov.Io. Price wise it does give a fair shake, and IMO better interface since it's google sheets."

David Sire

Mortgage Broker at Zero Point Mortgage

Reviewed on Product Hunt

"Derrick is a very simple and user-friendly app to enrich your contacts database. Best thing: you can test it for free. And then the price is so low, it's a no brainer."

Etienne Grange

CEO Form'actions

Reviewed on Capterra

"Super easy to enrich linkedin urls using this tool. Both personal and company url data can be easily enriched with a click of a button."

Zaid Bilal

RevOps Professional

Reviewed on Capterra

"Amazing Tool, I would like to advocate this to my colleagues. So that you can get more users. Keep it Up. 5 Stars!"

Asif Hanzala

Lead Generation Specialist at IdeaPeel

Reviewed on Capterra

"This app is fantastic. Brilliantly created to help small and mid sized businesses."

Dan Hughes

Founder/CEO, AlmanacIO

Reviewed on Product Hunt

"I have been using other expensive apps or freemium like phantombuster, but Derrick has replaced them all. I love the simplicity of the Google sheet add-in, but what is best is the efficiency it delivers."

Julien Walon Cohen

CEO & Co-founder @ Diffly | B2B Sales Advisor

Reviewed on G2

"The LinkedIn scraping and email finder combo is incredibly powerful. I can build a complete prospect list with contact info in under an hour. Absolute must-have for outbound."

Michael Kim

SDR Team Lead at CloudScale

Reviewed on Capterra

"Have tested over 10+ LI scraper apps, Derrick beats them all. Simple to use, accurate data, and affordable price."

AJ Alexander

Opportunity Prospector

Reviewed on Capterra

Frequently Asked Questions

Derrick vs apollo: which is better for data enrichment?

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Derrick excels at data enrichment directly within Google Sheets without requiring CSV exports or external platforms, while Apollo prioritizes database breadth with 250 million contacts but demands manual verification for accuracy. For data enrichment specifically, Derrick's native integration with 50+ enrichment attributes per contact, real-time email validation, and built-in AI scoring capabilities streamline the entire workflow within your existing spreadsheet. Apollo offers superior contact volume and verification tools, making it stronger for high-volume prospecting. However, if you need efficient, integrated enrichment with rollover credits and no LinkedIn Navigator costs, Derrick delivers more flexibility at lower operational overhead, particularly for teams managing complex prospect research workflows.

Is Derrick a strong alternative to apollo for teams?

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Yes, Derrick is a strong alternative to Apollo for teams prioritizing seamless workflow integration and cost efficiency. While Apollo excels at large contact databases and verified email accuracy, Derrick operates natively within Google Sheets, eliminating CSV export friction and saving five to ten hours monthly. Derrick includes AI-powered scoring with Claude and ChatGPT, real-time email validation, and fifty plus enrichment attributes without requiring LinkedIn Sales Navigator. For teams seeking native workspace integration, flexible rollover credits, and lower operational overhead, Derrick complements or replaces Apollo depending on your prospecting complexity and budget constraints.

Derrick vs apollo vs LinkFinder: which offers broader features?

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Derrick, Apollo, and LinkFinder serve distinct purposes with different feature breadths. Apollo excels in contact database scale with 250 million profiles and multi-channel outreach, but requires external platform management. LinkFinder specializes in rapid CSV-based bulk enrichment without LinkedIn connections, yet lacks workspace integration. Derrick offers the broadest native feature set directly within Google Sheets, combining 50+ enrichment attributes, real-time email validation, integrated AI scoring with Claude and ChatGPT, 3000+ Zapier integrations, and rollover credits. For teams seeking comprehensive, seamlessly integrated enrichment without external tools or complex workflows, Derrick delivers superior breadth within a single unified platform.

How do apollo and LinkFinder compare on pricing?

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Pricing between Apollo and LinkFinder varies by model: Apollo offers tiered plans focused on volume and outreach, with pricing that grows as you add contacts, email validation, and CRM integrations. LinkFinder prices revolve around bulk enrichment via CSV uploads, with API access across plans and no LinkedIn account requirements. Derrick, by contrast, uses a 100 free credits starter and scalable paid tiers (4k/10k/25k/100k credits) all within Google Sheets, with monthly rollovers and no credit card required for the free tier. For teams prioritizing native Google Sheets workflow, real-time email validation, and flexible, reusable credits, Derrick often provides clearer value and control than either Apollo or LinkFinder, especially when you factor in additional enrichment attributes and seamless automation.

Which is a better review pick: Derrick or LinkFinder?

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LinkFinder excels at rapid CSV-based bulk enrichment without LinkedIn account requirements, making it ideal for teams needing quick data appending at scale. However, Derrick offers superior workflow integration as a 100% native Google Sheets platform, eliminating manual import-export friction entirely. Derrick also provides AI-powered enrichment with Claude and ChatGPT integration, rollover credits, and 50+ attributes per contact without requiring LinkedIn Sales Navigator. For teams prioritizing seamless workspace automation and contextual enrichment logic, Derrick delivers more comprehensive functionality, whereas LinkFinder works best as a standalone enrichment tool for straightforward batch processing tasks.

What’s Derrick’s difference vs LinkFinder for Google Sheets integration?

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Derrick’s difference vs LinkFinder for Google Sheets integration is that Derrick is 100% native to Google Sheets, eliminating CSV exports and complex setup, and transforms Sheets into a full prospecting hub with real-time email validation, AI-powered scoring and segmentation, and 3,000+ integrations via Zapier/Make/n8n. LinkFinder, by contrast, excels at fast bulk enrichment via CSV workflows without native spreadsheet embedding, but requires export/import cycles and lacks the contextual, in-sheet enrichment and real-time validation that Derrick provides. For teams prioritizing seamless in-workspace enrichment, no LinkedIn dependencies, and ongoing credits you can roll over, Derrick offers a clearer, more integrated workflow.
Apollo vs LinkFinder vs Derrick - Free · 100 credits/mo Apollo vs LinkFinder vs Derrick - Derrick is Product of the Day on Product Hunt Try Derrick free →