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Apollo.io vs LiveAgent vs Zoho Desk Comparison

Last updated:

Apollo.io

2.8(5,090 reviews)

Starting at $0 /user/month

  • Free Trial
  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

Apollo is sales engagement software designed for the sales team. When managers view their team through the lens of goal setting and progress tracking, motivation increases across the board. Apollo helps make targets easi…

LiveAgent

4.7(1,542 reviews)

Starting at $15 /User/Month

  • Free Trial
  • Freelancers / Consultants
  • Large Enterprises

LiveAgent is online support software that gives users the freedom to talk with their customers, manage projects and deliver live chat, e‑mail and phone support. It's mobile‑enabled too so it doesn't matter where customer…

Zoho Desk

4.4(3,462 reviews)

Starting at $7 /user/month

  • Free Trial
  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

Zoho Desk is a robust help desk software that offers a free plan with essential features, making it a cost-effective solution for businesses of all sizes. It allows organizations to manage unlimited agents efficiently wh…

LiveAgent leads on user satisfaction with a 4.7-star rating across 1,542 reviews.

Apollo.io vs LiveAgent vs Zoho Desk — at a glance

FeatureApollo.ioLiveAgentZoho Desk
Rating2.8 / 54.7 / 54.4 / 5
Reviews5,0901,5423,462
Starting price$0 /user/month$15 /User/Month$7 /user/month
Free trial Yes Yes Yes
Free version No No No
Best forLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessFreelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
CategorySales Engagement SoftwareHelp Desk SoftwareHelp Desk Software
Integrations9+ apps
PlatformsSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - MacSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS
APIAvailableAvailableAvailable
Support modesBusiness Hours, Online24/7 (Live rep), Online24/7 (Live rep), Business Hours, Online
CertificationsSOC 2, GDPRGDPRSOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001
Data residencyUSGlobalGlobal

Key differences between Apollo.io and LiveAgent

  • Pricing: Apollo.io starts at $0 /user/month, while LiveAgent starts at $15 /User/Month.
  • Target audience: Apollo.io is built for Large Enterprises and Medium Business, while LiveAgent targets Freelancers / Consultants and Large Enterprises.
  • User satisfaction: LiveAgent scores higher with a 4.7-star average.
  • Deployment: Apollo.io supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; LiveAgent supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac.

Compare Apollo.io vs LiveAgent vs Zoho Desk — and walk away knowing which one fits.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Sales Engagement Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

Apollo.io - Sales Engagement Software
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LiveAgent - Help Desk Software
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Talk to an expert

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Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Apollo.io

Best for sales teams needing accurate contact data and integrated sales intelligence.

Choose if
  • You require highly accurate and reliable contact information for outreach.
  • Your sales team benefits from strong CRM integrations for pipeline visibility.
  • You want comprehensive sales intelligence combining data, analytics, and automation.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your company needs extensive third-party app integrations beyond Apollo’s limited marketplace.
  • You are a new user without dedicated onboarding support who may struggle with complexity.

LiveAgent

Best for small to mid-sized teams needing simple omnichannel customer support.

Choose if
  • You want an all-in-one platform combining live chat, email, phone, SMS, and social media support.
  • Your team values quick, low-complexity setup with mobile-enabled customer engagement.
  • You require integrations with popular tools like Google Apps, Twitter, and MailChimp.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your company needs highly customizable, enterprise-grade workflows and advanced analytics.
  • You are a large enterprise concerned about scalability and transparent pricing for higher tiers.

Zoho Desk

Best for businesses needing AI-driven, multi-channel help desk with Zoho integration.

Choose if
  • You want a cost-effective help desk with a robust free plan for startups and SMBs.
  • Your team requires AI-powered automation and intelligent ticket routing to boost productivity.
  • You use Zoho CRM, Mail, or other Zoho apps and want seamless ecosystem integration.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your organization needs a fully mobile-optimized help desk experience with full app functionality.
  • You prefer a very simple, out-of-the-box setup without technical configuration or learning curve.

Apollo.io: Best for sales teams needing accurate contact data and integrated sales intelligence. LiveAgent: Best for small to mid-sized teams needing simple omnichannel customer support.

Description

Apollo is sales engagement software designed for the sales team. When managers view their team through the lens of goal setting and progress tracking, motivation increases across the board. ... Read More about Apollo.io

LiveAgent is online support software that gives users the freedom to talk with their customers, manage projects and deliver live chat, e‑mail and phone support. It's mobile‑enabled too so ... Read More about LiveAgent

Zoho Desk is a robust help desk software that offers a free plan with essential features, making it a cost-effective solution for businesses of all sizes. It allows organizations to manage ... Read More about Zoho Desk

Entry Level Pricing

  • Starts from $0 , monthly
  • Starts from $15
  • Starts from $7 , yearly

Free Trial Availability

  • Free Trial available

SpotScore

What's this? ↗

9.6/10

9.8/10

9.7/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

Best Company Size

10-50 employees51-5,000+ employees
10-50 employees51-500 employees
10-2000 employeesSmall to Large Businesses
Get pricing help
Get pricing help

Where each option fits best

See where each product is strongest, which teams it fits, and what causes buyers to keep looking — before you commit.

Based on buyer reviews and verified product data collected by Spotsaas.

Strengths

Key strengths

Apollo.io

  • Seamless CRM Alignment: Apollo.io integrates with CRMs like Salesforce and HubSpot to sync contacts, activities, and engagement data. This keeps prospecting aligned with pipeline tracking and revenue reporting. Teams benefit from cleaner data, better visibility across departments, and smoother collaboration between sales development and account executives.
  • Data-Driven Sales Decisions: Apollo.io provides visibility into email engagement, calls, meetings, and conversion activity. Sales managers can review performance trends, identify effective messaging, and adjust outreach strategies using real usage data. These insights help improve prioritization, refine campaigns, and align sales efforts with measurable outcomes.
  • Scalable Outbound Automation: Apollo.io supports scalable outbound efforts through sequences, automated follow-ups, and task scheduling. Teams can maintain steady outreach volume while keeping messages structured and timely. This setup supports growing sales teams by reducing repetitive work and helping reps handle larger lead volumes without losing consistency.

LiveAgent

  • All-in-One Omnichannel Support: Supports live chat, email, call center, SMS, and social media in one platform—ideal for centralizing customer communication.
  • Wide Range of Integrations: Easily integrates with popular tools like Google Apps, Twitter, MailChimp, Slack, and more, simplifying customer service workflows.
  • Competitive Pricing & Easy Setup: Offers affordable pricing tiers and fast onboarding, making it a strong choice for startups and small to mid-sized businesses.

Zoho Desk

  • Multi-Channel Support in One Dashboard: Centralizes email, social media, chat, and more, allowing teams to manage all customer interactions from a unified interface.
  • AI-Powered Assistance and Automation: Includes intelligent suggestions, automated ticket routing, and prioritization through Zia AI, improving agent productivity and response accuracy.
  • Reliable Free Plan & Zoho Ecosystem Integration: Offers a generous free plan and smooth connectivity with Zoho CRM, Zoho Mail, and other Zoho tools—ideal for businesses already in the Zoho ecosystem.
Best fit

Best fit

Apollo.io

  • 10–5,000+ employees
  • SaaS, Technology, IT Services, Marketing & Advertising, Fintech, E-commerce, Consulting, B2B Services, Software Development, Startups
  • Sales Development Representative, Business Development Manager, Account Executive, Sales Manager, Growth Manager, Revenue Operations Manager, Marketing Manager, Founder, Head of Sales

LiveAgent

  • 10 – 500 Employees
  • E-commerce, SaaS, Education, Healthcare, Travel, Retail, Marketing Agencies
  • Customer Support Manager, Help Desk Agent, Operations Manager, Customer Success Specialist, IT Support Admin, Marketing Manager.

Zoho Desk

  • 10 – 2,000 Employee
  • SaaS, Retail, E-commerce, Education, Insurance, Fintech, Healthcare
  • Customer Support Manager, IT Service Desk Lead, Operations Manager, Technical Support Specialist, CRM Administrator, Client Services Director
Watchouts

Reasons buyers look elsewhere

Apollo.io

  • Lacks workflow customization — teams with complex sales processes or unique CRM setups typically switch to Pipedrive or HubSpot
  • No built-in email deliverability monitoring — high-volume outbound teams often add Lemlist or Instantly for reputation management and warm-up controls
  • Limited database coverage in specific regions and industries — teams targeting localized markets or niche verticals often use Hunter.io or RocketReach instead

LiveAgent

  • Lacks modern interface design compared to newer platforms like Zendesk or Intercom
  • Missing advanced AI automation, chatbots, and machine learning features that competitors offer
  • Struggles with complex, high-volume, or multi-department workflows — better suited for teams under 50 than enterprise deployments

Zoho Desk

  • Steep learning curve for configuring automations and integrations — smaller teams often switch to Freshdesk or Help Scout for simpler setup
  • Advanced automation, AI, and reporting features locked behind paid tiers — free plan users typically evaluate Freshdesk or Zendesk for better entry-level access
  • Data sync issues with non-Zoho tools — teams relying on external integrations report inconsistent functionality compared to Intercom or Zendesk

Software Demo

Demo

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How do Apollo.io, LiveAgent and Zoho Desk Compare on Features?

Total Features

13 Features

25 Features

27 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

No unique features

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Get Quote

Compare Apollo.io, LiveAgent and Zoho Desk on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

        Starting From

        • $0 , monthly
        • $15
        • $7 , yearly

        Pricing Plans

        • Free

          $0

          /user/month

          • AI Assistant

          • AI Research

          • 2 Sequences

          Show more +

        • Basic

          $59

          /month

          • AI Assistant

          • AI Research & AI Lead Scoring

          • Unlimited Sequences

          Show more +

        • Professional

          $99

          /user/month

          • AI Assistant

          • AI Research & AI Lead Scoring

          • Unlimited Sequences & A/Z Testing

          Show more +

        • Browse all pricing plans
        • Not Available
        • Express

          $9

          /user/month

          • Small business essentials:

          • Email

          • Social media

          Show more +

        • Standard

          $20

          /user/month

          • Everything in Express +

          • Live chat (Business Messaging)

          • Instant messaging

          Show more +

        • Professional

          $35

          /user/month

          • Everything in Standard +

          • Telephony

          • Blueprints

          Show more +

        • Browse all pricing plans

        Pricing Page

        Apollo.io pricing
        LiveAgent pricing
        Zoho Desk pricing

        Other Details

        Organization Types supported

        • Large Enterprises
        • Medium Business
        • Small Business
        • Freelancers
        • Individuals
        • Large Enterprises
        • Medium Business
        • Small Business
        • Freelancers
        • Individuals
        • Large Enterprises
        • Medium Business
        • Small Business
        • Freelancers
        • Individuals

        Platforms Supported

        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Mobile - Android
        • Mobile - iOS
        • Installed - Mac
        • Installed - Windows
        • Mobile - Windows
        • Mobile - BlackBerry
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Mobile - Android
        • Mobile - iOS
        • Installed - Mac
        • Installed - Windows
        • Mobile - Windows
        • Mobile - BlackBerry
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Mobile - Android
        • Mobile - iOS
        • Installed - Mac
        • Installed - Windows
        • Mobile - Windows
        • Mobile - BlackBerry
        • Browser Based (Cloud)

        Modes of support

        • 24/7 (Live rep)
        • Business Hours
        • Online
        • 24/7 (Live rep)
        • Business Hours
        • Online
        • 24/7 (Live rep)
        • Business Hours
        • Online

        API Support

        • Available
        • Available
        • Available
        Get help choosing
        Get help choosing

        Security & Compliance

        Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

        SOC 2

        ✓ Yes

        HIPAA

        ✗ No
        ✗ No

        GDPR

        ✓ Yes
        ✓ Yes

        ISO 27001

        Single Sign-On (SSO)

        ✓ Yes
        ✓ Yes

        Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)

        ✓ Yes
        ✓ Yes

        Data Encryption

        ✓ Yes
        ✓ Yes

        Audit Logs

        ✓ Yes

        Data Residency

        🇺🇸 US
        🌐 Global

        Apollo.io vs LiveAgent User Reviews & Rating Comparison

        User Ratings

        Rating Distribution

        2193

        0

        0

        0

        17

        682

        173

        13

        1

        1

        2628

        1272

        213

        15

        19

        Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

        Buyer sentiment

        Buyers appreciate Apollo.io’s accurate data and ease of use but express concerns about onboarding complexity and limited integration options.

        What buyers like

        • Ease of use
        • Data accuracy
        • CRM integration

        Common complaints

        • Complexity for new users
        • Limited marketplace integrations

        Buyer sentiment

        Users generally praise LiveAgent for its comprehensive omnichannel support and ease of setup, though some note limitations for large enterprise needs.

        What buyers like

        • Ease of use
        • Multichannel support
        • Integration capabilities

        Common complaints

        • Limited enterprise features
        • Pricing clarity

        Buyer sentiment

        Overall positive sentiment highlights Zoho Desk's powerful automation and multi-channel capabilities, though some users note a learning curve and mobile limitations.

        What buyers like

        • Ease of integration
        • Automation and AI features
        • Multi-channel support

        Common complaints

        • Mobile app limitations
        • Complexity of setup

        Pros and Cons

        • Accurate and reliable contact data including emails and phone numbers

        • User-friendly interface with efficient search filters for lead discovery

        • Strong CRM integrations enabling seamless data alignment and pipeline visibility

        • Steep learning curve for newcomers due to feature richness without sufficient support

        • Limited marketplace for additional apps and connectors restricting advanced customization

        • All-in-one omnichannel support combining live chat, email, phone, SMS, and social media

        • Wide range of integrations with popular tools like Google Apps, Twitter, and MailChimp

        • Competitive pricing with easy and fast setup

        • Limited information on advanced enterprise features

        • Potential scalability concerns for very large enterprises

        • Multi-channel support from a single dashboard including email, social media, and chat

        • AI-powered automation and intelligent ticket routing improving agent productivity

        • Strong integration with Zoho ecosystem and third-party tools enhancing workflow automation

        • Mobile app has limited functionality compared to desktop version

        • Advanced feature configuration requires technical knowledge and time

        Positive Reviews

        No reviews available for the product

        No reviews available for the product

        No reviews available for the product

        Used Apollo.io, LiveAgent, or Zoho Desk? Tell buyers what actually differs.

        Integrations

        Integration with other apps

        No Integration information available.

        No Integration information available.

        List of Customers

        Customers

        EY

        EY

        Colliers International

        Colliers International

        GoDaddy

        GoDaddy

        LiveAgent_customers_0

        LiveAgent_customers_0

        LiveAgent_customers_1

        LiveAgent_customers_1

        LiveAgent_customers_2

        LiveAgent_customers_2

        NHS

        NHS

        Rogers

        Rogers

        ESSILOR

        ESSILOR

        Media and Screenshots

        Screenshots

        Apollo.io screenshot

        3 Screenshots

        Inside of Tickets

        14 Screenshots

        Videos

        No videos available.

        video-0

        5 Videos

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        Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

        Frequently asked questions

        Which is better, Apollo.io or LiveAgent?
        LiveAgent edges out the other on user ratings (4.7 vs 2.8). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
        Do Apollo.io and LiveAgent offer a free trial?
        Yes, both Apollo.io and LiveAgent offer a free trial.
        What is the starting price of Apollo.io vs LiveAgent?
        Apollo.io starts at $0 /user/month. LiveAgent starts at $15 /User/Month.
        What are the top alternatives to Apollo.io?
        Top alternatives to Apollo.io include AroundDeal, CrankWheel, ZoomInfo Engage, Outreach, Adapt Engage.
        What are the top alternatives to LiveAgent?
        Top alternatives to LiveAgent include Zoho Desk, Freshservice, ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus, Freshdesk, ClickDesk.