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Freshsales vs Apollo.io vs AroundDeal vs CrankWheel Comparison

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Freshsales

4.7(536 reviews)

Starting at $9 /user/month

  • Free Trial
  • Freelancers / Consultants
  • Large Enterprises

Freshsales is a complete Sales & CRM solution that will help you make your sales team much more productive by getting rid of their chronic information overload and improve hiring with an easy online application. The USP…

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…

AroundDeal

3.5(73 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

AroundDeal is the ultimate tool for B2B marketing initiatives. Our extension helps you quickly and accurately identify leads necessary to close deals faster. We provide you with a list of high-quality, high-value prospec…

CrankWheel

5.0(30 reviews)

Starting at $89 /Month

  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

CrankWheel provides instant screen-sharing and helps you to quickly reduce your sales cycle by half. It can broadcast your visual presentation from your phone in just 10 seconds, simplifying the process of responding to…

Freshsales leads on user satisfaction with a 4.7-star rating across 536 reviews.

Freshsales vs Apollo.io vs AroundDeal vs CrankWheel — at a glance

FeatureFreshsalesApollo.ioAroundDealCrankWheel
Rating4.7 / 52.8 / 53.5 / 55.0 / 5
Reviews5365,0907330
Starting price$9 /user/month$0 /user/monthContact for pricing$89 /Month
Free trial Yes Yes No No
Free version No No No No
Best forFreelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
CategoryCRM SoftwareSales Engagement SoftwareSales Intelligence SoftwareSales Engagement Software
Integrations9+ apps
PlatformsSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOSSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac
APIAvailableAvailableAvailable
Support modes24/7 (Live rep), Business HoursBusiness Hours, OnlineOnline24/7 (Live rep), Business Hours, Online
CertificationsSOC 2, GDPRSOC 2, GDPR
Data residencyGlobalUSUS

Key differences between Freshsales and Apollo.io

  • Pricing: Freshsales starts at $9 /user/month, while Apollo.io starts at $0 /user/month.
  • Target audience: Freshsales is built for Freelancers / Consultants and Large Enterprises, while Apollo.io targets Large Enterprises and Medium Business.
  • User satisfaction: Freshsales scores higher with a 4.7-star average.
  • Deployment: Freshsales supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS; Apollo.io supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.

Compare Freshsales vs Apollo.io vs AroundDeal vs CrankWheel — 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 CRM 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.

Freshsales - CRM Software
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Apollo.io - Sales Engagement Software
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Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Freshsales

Best for mid-sized sales teams needing intuitive CRM with strong automation.

Choose if
  • You want a user-friendly CRM that requires minimal technical expertise.
  • Your sales team benefits from integrated communication tools like email and calls.
  • You need intelligent lead scoring to prioritize high-potential prospects efficiently.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your company requires advanced web form automation capabilities.
  • You depend heavily on highly customizable, graphical reporting 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.

AroundDeal

Best for

Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business

CrankWheel

Best for

Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business

Freshsales: Best for mid-sized sales teams needing intuitive CRM with strong automation. Apollo.io: Best for sales teams needing accurate contact data and integrated sales intelligence.

Description

Freshsales is a complete Sales & CRM solution that will help you make your sales team much more productive by getting rid of their chronic information overload and improve hiring with an ... Read More about Freshsales

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

AroundDeal is the ultimate tool for B2B marketing initiatives. Our extension helps you quickly and accurately identify leads necessary to close deals faster. We provide you with a list of ... Read More about AroundDeal

CrankWheel provides instant screen-sharing and helps you to quickly reduce your sales cycle by half. It can broadcast your visual presentation from your phone in just 10 seconds, ... Read More about CrankWheel

Entry Level Pricing

  • Starts from $9 , yearly
  • Starts from $0 , monthly
  • Not Available
  • Starts from $89

Free Trial Availability

  • No free trial
  • No free trial

SpotScore

What's this? ↗

9.3/10

9.6/10

Not Available

Not Available

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

4.67

(536)

3.5

(73)

Best Company Size

11-50 employees51-500 employees
10-50 employees51-5,000+ employees
Get pricing help
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

Freshsales

  • Simplified Sales Processes: Freshsales simplifies your sales workflow, letting teams track leads, manage customer interactions, and close deals faster. You'll appreciate how easy it is to work through the sales pipeline, so nothing slips through the cracks.
  • Intelligent Lead Scoring: With Freshsales, you can prioritize your leads based on their engagement and likelihood to convert. This feature allows you and your team to focus efforts where they matter most, driving efficiency and improving conversion rates.
  • Built-in Communication Tools: Freshsales integrates email, phone calls, and chat features directly into the platform. This means you can engage with prospects without switching between tools—saving time for you and your team.

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.
Best fit

Best fit

Freshsales

  • 11 to 500 employees
  • Sales Automation, SaaS, Martech, Fintech, and Consulting
  • Sales Managers, Account Executives, Business Development Representatives, and CRM Administrators

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
Watchouts

Reasons buyers look elsewhere

Freshsales

  • Users might consider alternatives to Freshsales due to specific needs or preferences that may not be fully addressed by the platform.
  • Some businesses may require more advanced automation features or customization options that Freshsales does not offer, prompting them to explore alternatives.
  • Companies with budget constraints may seek more cost-effective CRM solutions that provide similar functionalities at a lower price point than Freshsales.

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

Software Demo

Demo

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Step 1 of 4

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How do Freshsales, Apollo.io, AroundDeal and CrankWheel Compare on Features?

Total Features

10 Features

13 Features

5 Features

6 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

No unique features

No unique features

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Get Quote
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Compare Freshsales, Apollo.io, AroundDeal and CrankWheel 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

          • $9 , yearly
          • $0 , monthly
          • Not Available
          • $89

          Pricing Plans

          • Growth

            $11

            /user/month

            • Tailored for startups and SMBs seeking efficient pipeline management and engagement across channels

            • Kanban View for Contacts, Accounts, and Deals

            • Contact Lifecycle Stages

            Show more +

          • Pro

            $39

            /user/month

            • Ideal for growing & mid-sized businesses requiring advanced capabilities and AI assistance

            • Everything in Growth, plus

            • Contact Scoring by Freddy AI

            Show more +

          • Enterprise

            $71

            /user/month

            • Designed for mid to large-sized businesses needing advanced customization and governance capabilities

            • Everything in Pro, plus

            • Field-level Permissions

            Show more +

          • 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
          • Not Available

          Pricing Page

          Freshsales pricing
          Apollo.io pricing

          Pricing information not available

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

          Platforms Supported

          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Installed - Windows
          • Installed - Mac
          • Mobile - Android
          • Mobile - iOS
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Installed - Windows
          • Installed - Mac
          • Mobile - Android
          • Mobile - iOS
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Installed - Windows
          • Installed - Mac
          • Mobile - Android
          • Mobile - iOS
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Installed - Windows
          • Installed - Mac
          • Mobile - Android
          • Mobile - iOS
          • 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
          • 24/7 (Live rep)
          • Business Hours
          • Online

          API Support

          • Available
          • Available
          • Not Available
          • Available
          Get help choosing
          Get help choosing
          Get help choosing

          Security & Compliance

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

          SOC 2

          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes

          HIPAA

          ✗ No
          ✗ No

          GDPR

          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes

          Single Sign-On (SSO)

          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes

          Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)

          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes

          Data Encryption

          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes

          Audit Logs

          ✓ Yes

          Data Residency

          🌐 Global
          🇺🇸 US

          Freshsales vs Apollo.io vs AroundDeal User Reviews & Rating Comparison

          User Ratings

          5

          (based on 30 reviews)

          Rating Distribution

          447

          73

          6

          2

          5

          2193

          0

          0

          0

          17

          124

          16

          11

          0

          3

          0

          0

          0

          0

          0

          Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

          Buyer sentiment

          Overall positive sentiment highlights ease of use, strong customer support, and effective sales process automation, tempered by occasional performance issues and feature limitations.

          What buyers like

          • Ease of use
          • Customer support
          • Automation capabilities

          Common complaints

          • System performance issues
          • Limited advanced features

          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

          Buyer sentiment is mixed to positive across 154 reviews, with clear strengths and a few common watchouts.

          What buyers like

          • Identifies high-quality leads
          • Access to LinkedIn data
          • Deep insights

          Common complaints

          • Limited to B2B
          • Pricing can be high
          • Data accuracy issues

          Buyer sentiment

          Buyer sentiment is very strong across 30 reviews, with consistently positive feedback.

          What buyers like

          • Instant screen-sharing
          • Reduces sales cycle
          • Easy customer invitations

          Common complaints

          • Limited to screen-sharing
          • May require internet connection
          • Not suitable for large presentations

          Pros and Cons

          • Intuitive and user-friendly interface suitable for varying technical expertise

          • Excellent customer support with quick responsiveness and dedicated onboarding

          • Highly customizable features and automation options that streamline workflows

          • Occasional system lags and delays in report generation or real-time data updates

          • Limited features in areas like web form automation and graphical reports

          • 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

          • Access to extensive LinkedIn data for lead generation.

          • User-friendly interface for quick navigation.

          • Deep insights help in decision-making.

          • Limited to B2B applications.

          • Pricing may be high for smaller businesses.

          • Quick and easy screen-sharing capabilities

          • Reduces sales cycle time significantly

          • Real-time engagement enhances customer experience

          • Limited features beyond screen-sharing

          • Requires stable internet connection

          Positive Reviews

          No reviews available for the product

          No reviews available for the product

          No reviews available for the product

          No reviews available for the product

          Negative Reviews

          No reviews available for the product

          No reviews available for the product

          No reviews available for the product

          No reviews available for the product

          Used Freshsales, Apollo.io, AroundDeal, or CrankWheel? Tell buyers what actually differs.

          Integrations

          Integration with other apps

          No Integration information available.

          No Integration information available.

          No Integration information available.

          List of Customers

          Customers

          Dunzo

          Dunzo

          Dyson

          Dyson

          Grabyo

          Grabyo

          EY

          EY

          Colliers International

          Colliers International

          GoDaddy

          GoDaddy

          No Customers information available.

          CrankWheel_customers_0

          CrankWheel_customers_0

          CrankWheel_customers_1

          CrankWheel_customers_1

          CrankWheel_customers_2

          CrankWheel_customers_2

          Media and Screenshots

          Screenshots

          Email Metrics screenshot

          35 Screenshots

          Apollo.io screenshot

          3 Screenshots

          Videos

          video-0

          3 Videos

          No videos available.

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          Add another option to compare side by side

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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, Freshsales or Apollo.io?
          Freshsales 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 Freshsales and Apollo.io offer a free trial?
          Yes, both Freshsales and Apollo.io offer a free trial.
          What is the starting price of Freshsales vs Apollo.io?
          Freshsales starts at $9 /user/month. Apollo.io starts at $0 /user/month.
          What are the top alternatives to Freshsales?
          Top alternatives to Freshsales include Bigin by Zoho CRM, Salesforce, HubSpot CRM, Freshworks 360, Nutshell.
          What are the top alternatives to Apollo.io?
          Top alternatives to Apollo.io include AroundDeal, CrankWheel, ZoomInfo Engage, Outreach, Adapt Engage.