Updated

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

Short answer
LeadIQ vs Apollo vs Derrick: LeadIQ is a enterprise lead intelligence platform with waterfall enrichment and ai message writer, Apollo is a b2b sales intelligence and outreach. 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 LeadIQ or Apollo) and pricing is lower - free forever with 100 credits/month, paid plans from €9/month. Most teams pair Derrick for the data layer with LeadIQ or Apollo for outreach.

Where LeadIQ commits you to enterprise contracts and minimum seats, Derrick offers month-to-month credits with rollover. The side-by-side comparison below covers LeadIQ's database depth, contract structure and per-seat scaling against Derrick's pay-for-what-you-use Sheets-native model.

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

LeadIQ vs Apollo vs Derrick at a glance

LeadIQ

  • Starting price: Free 50 credits/mo · Pro $150/mo (annual)
  • Free plan: Yes - 50 credits/mo permanently free
  • Founded: 2015
  • HQ: San Francisco Bay Area, CA (with Singapore engineering)
4.2/5 G2 4.4/5 Capterra

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

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 LeadIQ and Apollo

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

01

Time-saving enrichment without manual verification bottlenecks

LeadIQ and Apollo both rely on separate enrichment steps that can bottleneck velocity, with real-time verification and data depth often limited when scaling outreach. Derrick eliminates manual bottlenecks by delivering 100% native Google Sheets enrichment with automated validation and AI-driven scoring, all without leaving Sheets. Teams typically save 5-10 hours per month and maintain higher deliverability through real-time email verification, using Derrick’s bundled credits and seamless automation. A quick use case: enrich 100 contacts in minutes, then auto-segment for immediate outreach without switching apps or manual checks.

02

Flexible 3,000+ integrations for complex workflows

LeadIQ and Apollo both struggle with breadth of workflow integration beyond their native ecosystems, limiting complex multi-tool automations. Derrick addresses this by offering 3,000+ integrations through Zapier, Make, and n8n, enabling seamless connections across diverse tools without custom coding. This results in measurable efficiency gains, such as faster pipeline setup and reduced manual handoffs in complex workflows. With Derrick, teams can orchestrate data enrichment, scoring, and outreach inside a single, scalable automation layer.

03

Real-time data quality boosts for every prospect profile

LeadIQ and Apollo struggle with real-time data gaps that can leave prospect profiles stale between checks, undermining immediate outreach. Derrick fixes this by delivering real-time data quality boosts directly within a 100% native Google Sheets workflow, ensuring updates flow automatically without exporting or manual verification bottlenecks. Teams enjoy measurably higher deliverability and fresher profiles, with up-to-date enrichment across 50+ attributes per contact and ongoing verification to minimize bounce rates. Derrick keeps profiles accurate as markets move, empowering faster, more reliable outreach.

Honest Comparison

What each tool does better

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

What LeadIQ does better

  • Waterfall enrichment from 9 data providers
  • Scribe AI message writer for personalization
  • Job-change tracking creates warm re-engagement
Read full LeadIQ 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.

LeadIQ Apollo Derrick
Starting price (monthly) Free 50 credits/mo · Pro $150/mo (annual) Free / $49 annual or $59 monthly /seat (post-2026 price increase) €0 (free) · €9/mo paid
Annual cost (base) ~€600/yr ~€588/yr €0/yr free · ~€108/yr paid
Free plan? Yes - 50 credits/mo permanently free Yes (Free forever) ✓ 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

LeadIQ vs Apollo vs Derrick: full feature comparison

LeadIQ Derrick App apollo
Works natively in Google Sheets
Requires LinkedIn Sales Navigator ($100/month)
Sales Navigator 1-click import
Email finder with real-time validation
Phone finder from LinkedIn
Company tech stack lookup
SimilarWeb & G2 insights integrated
AI integration (Claude & ChatGPT)
Automatic AI Lead Scoring
Data cleaning & normalization
Multi-platform scraping (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook)
Zapier, Make, n8n integrations
Public API available
Native CRM integrations (HubSpot, Salesforce)
Entry price (paid plan) 39$/mois 9€/mois 59$/mois
Permanent free plan
Rollover credits to next month
Simple and transparent credit system
Simple setup & onboarding
Complete documentation
Pricing in a nutshell

LeadIQ vs Apollo vs Derrick pricing breakdown

Enterprise Lead Intelligence + AI Personalization

LeadIQ

Free 50 credits/mo · Pro $150/mo (annual)

Best for: Enterprise SDR teams running Salesforce/HubSpot motions

LeadIQ offers entry-level plans starting at affordable monthly rates with a free tier on select credits, plus scalable paid tiers-visit the pricing page for the full breakdown of features and limits. See full pricing breakdown for all details.

Migration Guide

How to switch from LeadIQ 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 LeadIQ, 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 LeadIQ if…

  • You specifically need enterprise sdr teams running salesforce/hubspot motions
  • Waterfall enrichment from 9 data providers
  • Scribe AI message writer for personalization
  • You're already invested in the LeadIQ ecosystem
Read full LeadIQ review →

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 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 LeadIQ vs Apollo

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 LeadIQ: which is better for data enrichment?

+
For data enrichment, LeadIQ excels at real-time contact verification and accuracy, making it ideal for teams prioritizing verified email addresses and phone numbers. However, Derrick offers a fundamentally different approach by operating natively within Google Sheets, eliminating CSV exports and complex integrations entirely. Derrick provides 50+ enrichment attributes per contact, integrated AI scoring with Claude and ChatGPT, and rollover credits monthly, giving teams more flexibility and automation depth. LeadIQ works better for volume-based prospecting, while Derrick suits teams seeking comprehensive enrichment without leaving their spreadsheet workflow.

Is Derrick a solid alternative to LeadIQ for prospecting?

+
Yes, Derrick is a solid alternative to LeadIQ for prospecting, particularly if you prioritize efficiency and cost savings. While LeadIQ excels at real-time contact verification and CRM integration, Derrick operates natively within Google Sheets, eliminating the need for CSV exports or complex setup. Derrick offers 50+ enrichment attributes per contact, integrated AI scoring with Claude and ChatGPT, and rollover credits at lower price points. LeadIQ focuses on contact accuracy and seamless workflows, but Derrick's Google Sheets-native approach saves 5-10 hours monthly and requires no LinkedIn Sales Navigator subscription, making it ideal for teams seeking streamlined prospecting without technical overhead or recurring tool costs.

Derrick vs LeadIQ vs Apollo: which offers the best overall comparison?

+
The best choice depends on your specific needs. LeadIQ excels at contact accuracy and CRM integration for teams prioritizing data quality, while Apollo offers a massive contact database ideal for high-volume prospecting. However, Derrick stands out for teams already working in Google Sheets, eliminating CSV exports and complex setup. Derrick's integrated AI scoring, rollover credits, and fifty-plus enrichment attributes provide flexibility without requiring LinkedIn Sales Navigator. For straightforward lead discovery, LeadIQ or Apollo work well, but Derrick delivers superior efficiency and cost savings if you're building prospecting workflows natively within your existing spreadsheet environment.

LeadIQ pricing compared to Derrick: which is more affordable?

+
LeadIQ tends to be more affordable on a pure pricing-per-contact basis for small to mid-sized teams, but Derrick App delivers greater overall value when you factor in the full scope of features. LeadIQ pricing centers on data accuracy and list-building with basic enrichment, while Derrick includes 100% native Google Sheets, real-time email validation, AI-powered scoring and segmentation, and a large set of integrations, plus credits that roll over and a free tier. For teams aiming to maximize automation, enrichment depth, and operational efficiency without exporting to CSV or paying for additional tools, Derrick often proves to be the more cost-effective choice, especially at higher usage tiers. If you only need core contact discovery, LeadIQ may seem cheaper, but for long-term scale and deeper prospect intelligence, Derrick offers greater total value.

How does LeadIQ stack up against Apollo in reviews and features?

+
LeadIQ and Apollo both excel at contact data accuracy and CRM integration, but they serve slightly different needs. LeadIQ focuses on real-time verification and seamless workflow integration, making it ideal for teams prioritizing data quality in personalized prospecting. Apollo emphasizes scale and breadth with its 250 million contact database, better suited for high-volume outreach campaigns. However, both platforms require external tools and manual data mapping for deeper enrichment. Derrick App complements either approach by operating natively within Google Sheets, eliminating CSV exports and offering 50+ enrichment attributes with integrated AI scoring-delivering richer prospect intelligence without the platform switching overhead that LeadIQ and Apollo demand.

Can Derrick replace both LeadIQ and Apollo for outreach automation?

+
Derrick cannot fully replace LeadIQ and Apollo for every outreach automation scenario, but it can cover core automation and enrichment needs while offering unique advantages. LeadIQ excels at data accuracy and CRM-friendly list building; Apollo shines with its vast database and multi-channel outreach. Derrick focuses on native Google Sheets enrichment, real-time email validation, AI-powered scoring, and extensive Zapier/Make integrations, making it a strong complementary layer for automation, segmentation, and workflow efficiency. For teams needing deep account intelligence or extensive database breadth, a hybrid approach may be most effective.
LeadIQ vs Apollo vs Derrick - Free · 100 credits/mo LeadIQ vs Apollo vs Derrick - Derrick is Product of the Day on Product Hunt Try Derrick free →