Apollo vs SugarCRM (SugarAI): Complete Comparison (2026)
An in-depth comparison of Apollo and SugarCRM (SugarAI) to help you choose the right tool for your business.
Last updated: November 2026
Apollo
6.5/10
Apollo is a sales intelligence and engagement platform that combines a B2B contact database, email sequencing, a dialer and deal tracking for outbound sales teams.
SugarCRM (SugarAI)
6.3/10
SugarCRM, rebranded as SugarAI in 2026, is a customizable CRM suite for mid-market and enterprise sales, marketing and service teams, with an AI layer that draws on ERP data.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 6.5/10 | 6.3/10 |
| Integration | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Analytics | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Customization | 6/10 | 8/10 |
| Ease of Use | 8/10 | 5/10 |
| Support | 4/10 | 7/10 |
| Cost | 7/10 | 4/10 |
| Scalability | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Security | 6/10 | 8/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Cheapest paid plan | $49/user/mo Basic | $68/user/mo Sugar Sell Standard+ |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | Free Free | Contact for pricing |
| Features | ||
| Built-in Calling | Not listed | |
| Collaboration | Not listed | |
| Lead Management | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Sales Automation | ||
| Opportunity Management | ||
| Contact Management | ||
| Reporting & Analytics | ||
| Marketing Automation | Not listed | |
| Customer Support Management | Not listed | |
| Mobile Access | Not listed | |
Apollo vs SugarCRM (SugarAI) cost by team size
| Team size | Apollo | SugarCRM (SugarAI) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | FreeFree | Contact for pricing |
| 5 users | FreeFree | Contact for pricing |
| 10 users | FreeFree | Contact for pricing |
| 25 users | FreeFree | Contact for pricing |
| 50 users | FreeFree | Contact for pricing |
The plan that fits each team size, billed monthly, before add-ons and usage charges. Each cost opens that tool's pricing calculator for the team size.
Which One Should You Choose?
Why choose Apollo
- Has a free plan (SugarCRM (SugarAI) does not)
- Higher Ease of Use score (8/10 vs 5/10)
- Higher Cost score (7/10 vs 4/10)
- Better fit for startups (8/10 vs 3/10)
- Better fit for small business (8/10 vs 4/10)
Why choose SugarCRM (SugarAI)
- Higher Support score (7/10 vs 4/10)
- Higher Customization score (8/10 vs 6/10)
- Better fit for customer support teams (6/10 vs 2/10)
- Better fit for enterprise (7/10 vs 5/10)
Pros & Cons
Apollo
Pros
- Prospect database, email sequencing, dialer and enrichment come in one subscription, so teams buy fewer tools.
- The free plan has no time limit and lets a team try the full prospecting workflow.
- Reviewers rate ease of use highly, and G2 shows about 4.7 out of 5 from roughly 9,700 reviews.
- Admins can pool credits across the team and set per-user caps.
Cons
- Many reviews report inaccurate data, especially mobile numbers and contacts outside North America.
- Credits expire each cycle, phone reveals cost about eight times as much as an email, and credits are spent even on bad records.
- Support is the lowest-rated G2 subcategory, and Trustpilot shows a TrustScore of about 3.1.
- API access and SSO require the top Custom plan, and every seat must be on the same plan.
SugarCRM (SugarAI)
Pros
- Highly customizable, and reviewers have adapted it to niche business models
- Workflow automation handles repetitive emails, tasks and reminders
- Can be hosted in the cloud or on-premises, and data is easy to export
- ISO 27001 certified with a SOC 2 Type II attestation held for over five years
- Sugar Predict uses ERP data for cross-sell suggestions and churn signals
Cons
- Reviewers report a steep learning curve and long setup times
- Reviewers call the mobile app outdated
- Built-in reporting covers basics, and deeper analysis needs third-party tools
- Billed annually only, and the top tiers are quote-only
- Some users report slowdowns with large data volumes and upgrades that break customizations
Not sold on either?
Frequently Asked Questions
Apollo scores higher on our AI Software criteria: 6.5/10 against 6.3/10 for SugarCRM (SugarAI). The largest gap is in Cost: 7/10 for Apollo and 4/10 for SugarCRM (SugarAI).
Apollo has a free plan; SugarCRM (SugarAI) does not list one.
Apollo is the better fit for startups: we rate it 8/10 for them, against 3/10 for SugarCRM (SugarAI).
