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
Updated
Apollo vs Skylead vs Derrick: Which Is Better in 2026?
- Short answer
- Apollo vs Skylead vs Derrick: Apollo is a b2b sales intelligence and outreach, Skylead is a multichannel linkedin + email outreach with smart-sequence branching. 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 Skylead) 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 Skylead 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.
CURSOR Quick Facts
Apollo vs Skylead vs Derrick at a glance
Skylead
- Starting price: $100/mo (All-in-One, annual)
- Free plan: 7-day free trial
- Founded: 2019
- HQ: Belgrade, Serbia
Derrick
★ Recommended- Starting price: Free · Paid from €9/mo
- Free plan: Yes - 100 credits/mo permanent
- Founded: 2023
- HQ: Marseille, FR
Why Derrick wins 01
02
03
Why teams pick Derrick over Apollo and Skylead
3 core reasons SDRs and ops teams switch to Derrick. Click to expand each.
01 Real-time validation and enrichment without manual verification pain
Derrick delivers real-time validation and enrichment directly inside Google Sheets, a contrast to Apollo and Skylead, which struggle with in-app real-time accuracy and multi-source enrichment within a single workflow. Unlike Apollo, whose data accuracy can require manual verification for niche profiles, Derrick automates verification on the fly and enriches records as you type. This results in tangible gains: typical teams save 5-10 hours per month and reduce bounce rates through immediate, verifiable data, with 50+ attributes per contact available for instant segmentation. A practical use case is live lead scoring during sheet-based prospecting, eliminating post-export validation steps.
02 Flexible multi-source enrichment without platform lock-in
Apollo and Skylead struggle with multi-source enrichment that remains siloed or limited to single platforms, making cross-source validation tedious. Derrick delivers flexible multi-source enrichment without platform lock-in by integrating 3000+ workflows and native Google Sheets to unify data from diverse sources without forcing a move to another tool. Teams save time and reduce errors, gaining measurable efficiency of 5–10 hours per month and faster go-to-market cycles. A practical use case is real-time enrichment across disparate data signals directly inside Derrick, avoiding export/import frictions.
03 Unified, multi-channel data quality and deep enrichment automation
Apollo and Skylead both struggle with true multi-channel data quality and deep enrichment beyond single-source or LinkedIn-focused inputs. Derrick delivers unified, multi-channel enrichment and automated data quality within 100% native Google Sheets, avoiding export steps or platform lock-in. Users see measurable gains, like up to 20–30% faster lead qualification and reduced manual cleanup, thanks to real-time validation and 50+ enrichment attributes per contact. With Derrick, teams can run cross-channel enrichment workflows and maintain consistently cleansed records without leaving Sheets.
Honest Comparison 
derrick
What each tool does better
We're upfront - every tool has strengths. Here's where Apollo, Skylead, and Derrick each genuinely win.
What Apollo does better
- Massive 250M+ contact database
- All-in-one stack at SMB price
- Intuitive list-builder
What Skylead does better
- Smart sequences with if/else branching
- Unlimited email accounts + native warm-up
- Standout customer support
What Derrick does better
- Free forever - €0/mo with 100 credits permanent in Google Sheets
- 100+ data points per lead - verified emails, phones, LinkedIn, tech stack, SIRET
- Zero LinkedIn ban risk + real-time email verification built in
- Pair with any sequencer - LaGrowthMachine, Smartlead, Lemlist, HeyReach
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 | Skylead | Derrick | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price (monthly) | Free / $49 annual or $59 monthly /seat (post-2026 price increase) | $100/mo (All-in-One, annual) | €0 (free) · €9/mo paid |
| Annual cost (base) | ~€588/yr | ~€1,200/yr | €0/yr free · ~€108/yr paid |
| Free plan? | Yes (Free forever) | 7-day free trial | ✓ 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 Skylead vs Derrick: full feature comparison
| apollo | Derrick App | Skylead | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 100$/mois |
| Permanent free plan | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Rollover credits to next month | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Simple and transparent credit system | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Simple setup & onboarding | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Complete documentation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Pricing in a nutshell Sales Intelligence derrick
best value for money
Results first.
Discover Derrick →
Multichannel LinkedIn + Email Sequencer
Apollo vs Skylead vs Derrick pricing breakdown
Sales Intelligence Apollo
Free / $49 annual or $59 monthly /seat (post-2026 price increase)
Best for: SMB & mid-market outbound
Apollo pricing starts with a free tier offering access to core features and limited credits, with paid plans beginning at a competitive monthly rate; see the full pricing breakdown for all tiers and add-ons. For complete details, view the pricing page.
Results first.
Complexity removed.
Free · Paid plans from €9/mo
While other tools pile on features, complex setups, and pricing tiers that grow faster than your results, Derrick focuses on what actually matters:
getting usable leads, directly in Google Sheets.
No heavy workflows, No endless configuration. No learning curve.
Multichannel LinkedIn + Email Sequencer Skylead
$100/mo (All-in-One, annual)
Best for: Active SDRs needing smart conditional LinkedIn + email sequences
Skylead offers tiered pricing with an entry-level plan and credits-based options; specific prices vary by plan and usage. For exact details, view the complete pricing page on Skylead.
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
Pick Skylead if…
- You specifically need active sdrs needing smart conditional linkedin + email sequences
- Smart sequences with if/else branching
- Unlimited email accounts + native warm-up
- You're already invested in the Skylead ecosystem
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
What teams say after switching from Apollo vs Skylead
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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"This app is fantastic. Brilliantly created to help small and mid sized businesses."
Dan Hughes
Founder/CEO, AlmanacIO
"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
"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
"Have tested over 10+ LI scraper apps, Derrick beats them all. Simple to use, accurate data, and affordable price."
AJ Alexander
Opportunity Prospector
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the main difference between Derrick and apollo for outreach?
+
Derrick operates natively within Google Sheets, eliminating the need for external platforms or CSV exports, while Apollo functions as a standalone database platform requiring manual data handling. Apollo excels at providing verified contact databases and multi-channel outreach at scale, but Derrick differentiates through integrated AI capabilities using both Claude and ChatGPT for intelligent segmentation and scoring directly in your spreadsheet. Additionally, Derrick's monthly rollover credits and no credit card requirement for the free tier offer greater flexibility for teams with variable outreach needs, whereas Apollo typically involves higher upfront investment for advanced features.
Is Derrick a better alternative to apollo for data quality?
+
Derrick offers distinct advantages for data quality compared to Apollo. While Apollo excels at scale with its massive contact database, Derrick provides more granular enrichment with 50+ attributes per contact and real-time email validation for superior deliverability. Derrick's native Google Sheets integration eliminates manual CSV exports that can introduce data errors, and its AI-powered Claude and ChatGPT integration enables intelligent data validation and scoring directly within your spreadsheet. For teams prioritizing data accuracy and streamlined workflows over raw database size, Derrick's focused enrichment approach and flexible rollover credits offer better control over data quality without the complexity of managing external platforms.
How do Derrick and Skylead compare in automation features?
+
Derrick and Skylead differ significantly in their automation approach. Skylead focuses primarily on LinkedIn-based automation and lead extraction, excelling at contact discovery within the LinkedIn ecosystem. Derrick, however, operates natively within Google Sheets with integrated AI automation using both Claude and ChatGPT for intelligent scoring, segmentation, and lead qualification without requiring external platforms. While Skylead offers solid LinkedIn workflow automation, Derrick provides broader automation capabilities across 3000+ integrations via Zapier and Make, plus real-time email validation and 50+ enrichment attributes per contact, making it more versatile for teams seeking comprehensive prospecting automation directly in their existing spreadsheet workflows.
Which tool offers the best pricing: Derrick vs apollo vs Skylead?
+
In terms of pricing, Derrick App provides a clear value proposition with a free tier and scalable paid plans that start at just 9 per month for 4,000 credits, with generous credit rollovers and no credit card required for the free tier. Apollo and Skylead, while strong in data and outreach respectively, tend to bundle more features into higher-priced plans and may require larger upfront investments for multi-channel or enrichment capabilities. If you’re prioritizing cost-efficiency, predictable monthly spend, and native Google Sheets intelligence with extensive enrichment per contact, Derrick often delivers the best value for growing B2B prospecting without sacrificing capability.
Does apollo have better review scores than Skylead?
+
Apollo generally maintains slightly higher review scores than Skylead, particularly for contact database comprehensiveness and email verification accuracy. However, both platforms face similar criticisms regarding data enrichment depth and manual validation requirements. Apollo excels at scale and speed, while Skylead delivers stronger LinkedIn-specific automation. For teams seeking superior data quality with less manual verification overhead, Derrick App offers native Google Sheets integration with fifty plus enrichment attributes, real-time email validation, and AI-powered scoring that reduces the need for supplementary tools entirely.
Can Derrick replace both apollo and Skylead for teams?
+
Yes, Derrick can replace parts of what Apollo and Skylead offer for teams, but it depends on your priorities. Derrick delivers native Google Sheets enrichment, real-time email validation, AI-powered scoring and segmentation, and broad automation through 3000+ integrations, all without exporting CSVs or using LinkedIn Navigator. Apollo specializes in a vast prospecting database and multi-channel outreach, while Skylead excels in LinkedIn-centric lead discovery and workflow automation. If your team values a single, flexible, cost-efficient data enrichment and prospecting hub inside Sheets with AI insights and scalable credits, Derrick can cover many needs. For teams that rely heavily on Apollo’s database breadth or Skylead’s LinkedIn-first workflows, you may still want to pair Derrick with those tools to fill gaps in data depth or channel coverage.
One-on-one
apollo vs Derrick - solo duel
Drop the third-party context and see how apollo compares to Derrick alone.
Open the head-to-head → One-on-oneSkylead vs Derrick - solo duel
Drop the third-party context and see how Skylead compares to Derrick alone.
Open the head-to-head → Curated stackAll B2B sales tools we reviewed in depth
Step back from the duel - see our hand-picked sales-tool selection and how every category fits together.
See the full curation → Keep Exploring
