Overview
Apollo works wherever you do. Use Apollo with AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity to run real GTM work without leaving the conversation. You can search for people and companies, enrich records, create sequences, improve sequence steps, add prospects to sequences, and analyze performance right from your AI workspace.
You can also connect Apollo MCP directly to AI coding clients like Cursor, Claude Code, VS Code, and more for custom AI development. Or for terminal-based workflows, use Apollo CLI to run Apollo workflows directly from the command line.
When you use Apollo with AI, Apollo remains your system of record, while your AI tool becomes the workspace where GTM gets done. Everything runs on your existing Apollo permissions, plan limits, and credit balance.
Check out the following sections to learn more about using Apollo with external AI.
How It Works
Apollo connects directly to native AI integrations through a secure authorization flow. These tools use Apollo MCP (model context protocol), an emerging standard that allows AI to securely access Apollo data and take action. You can access, enrich, and execute GTM motions with Apollo using natural language.
For technical workflows, Apollo CLI provides direct command-line access to many of the same Apollo actions, including search, enrichment, sequence creation and management, CRM updates, analytics, and automation.
Get Started
To connect Apollo to your favorite AI tool:
ChatGPT
Connect Apollo to ChatGPT to run your full GTM workflow in one conversation. Install the Apollo app from ChatGPT apps, and start using Apollo directly in your chat to search, enrich, create records, create sequences, enroll contacts, and analyze performance.
Advanced ChatGPT users can also use the Codex plugin for orchestrated prospecting and sequencing workflows.
Learn more about using the ChatGPT integration.
Claude
Connect Apollo to Claude, and start working in any conversation to search, enrich, create records, create sequences, enroll contacts, and analyze performance.
Advanced Claude users can also use the Cowork plugin for orchestrated prospecting and sequencing workflows.
Learn more about using the Claude integration.
Perplexity
Connect Apollo to Perplexity and start working in any conversation to search, enrich, create records, create sequences, enroll contacts, and analyze performance.
Learn more about using the Perplexity integration.
Apollo MCP
Connect Apollo MCP to your favorite AI tool to bring Apollo data to the place where you already build, prompt, and work. Apollo MCP connects directly to AI tools like Cursor, Claude Code, Codex, VSC with Copilot, Claude Desktop, and Antigravity.
Just add the Apollo MCP endpoint https://mcp.apollo.io/mcp to any MCP client that supports remote servers over Streamable HTTP and OAuth 2.0. No API key or local install is required.
Then authenticate with Apollo to use your AI tool to search, enrich, create sequences, enroll contacts, and analyze performance.
Learn more about using Apollo MCP.
Apollo CLI
Prefer working from the terminal? Install Apollo CLI, then authenticate with apollo auth login. The command opens a browser window so you can authorize Apollo with OAuth. No API key is required.
Use the CLI to search and enrich people or companies, manage contacts, accounts, deals, sequences, calls, and tasks, pull analytics, and export results in JSON, CSV, YAML, JSONL, or table format.
Learn more about using Apollo CLI.
FAQs
|
Frequently asked questions |
||
|---|---|---|
| What is Apollo MCP? | Can I use Apollo MCP with my plan? | Which actions cost credits with Apollo MCP? |
| Why don't people searches include emails or phone numbers? | Can I create sequences and add contacts with AI tools? | Can AI tools delete or bulk-update my data? |
| What limitations are there? | What should I do if something isn't working? | Can AI tools access everything in my Apollo account? |
What is Apollo MCP?
Apollo MCP is the connection layer that lets AI tools securely use Apollo data and actions. In plain language: it's what lets an AI tool search Apollo, enrich records, create contacts, build sequences, add people to sequences, and analyze performance for you.
There are a few ways to use Apollo MCP:
- Native integrations: Use Apollo directly in tools like ChatGPT, Claude, or Perplexity. This is the easiest option if you want Apollo inside a familiar AI chat experience.
- Apollo MCP server: Connect Apollo MCP directly to MCP-compatible tools like Cursor, Claude Code, Codex, or custom AI workflows. This is best for technical users who want Apollo available in developer tools or agent workflows.
- Apollo CLI: Use Apollo CLI from the command line instead of an AI chat. This is best for developer or coding teams that want terminal-based workflows, scripts, exports, and automation.
The main difference is where you want to work. Apollo meets you wherever you're at, with native integrations for chat apps, Apollo MCP server for MCP-compatible AI tools, and Apollo CLI for the terminal.
Can I use Apollo MCP with my plan?
Yes, Apollo MCP is available on all Apollo plans, including free plans. Free plans can search and manage contacts already saved in Apollo, enrich individual people, add contacts to sequences, analyze performance, and view connected email accounts.
Paid plans unlock prospecting from Apollo's database of millions of people, along with bulk enrichment and company search.
Which actions cost credits with Apollo MCP?
Searching and most CRM actions are free, while enrichment actions use credits from your Apollo plan. Check out the following table for more details:
| Action | Credits |
|---|---|
| Search for people | Free |
| Search for companies | Uses credits |
| Search contacts | Free |
| Create or update sequence | Free |
| Search sequences | Free |
| Enrich person | Uses credits |
| Enrich company | Uses credits |
| Bulk enrich people | Uses credits |
| Create contact | Free |
| Update contact | Free |
| Get contact | Free |
| Get company | Free |
| Get job postings | Uses credits |
| List email accounts | Free |
| Add to sequence | Free |
| Remove from sequence | Free |
Your Apollo plan limits and available credit balance always apply when using MCP integrations or the Apollo CLI.
Can AI tools access everything in my Apollo account?
Nope. AI integrations only have access to the Apollo data and actions allowed by your Apollo permissions, plan, and role settings.
If you can't perform an action directly in Apollo, your AI integration can't perform it either.
Why don't people searches include emails or phone numbers?
A people search returns profile-level information like names, titles, companies, and location data. Net-new prospects include partially redacted information.
To reveal verified emails or phone numbers, follow up with an enrichment request. For example: "Enrich the top three results."
Can I create sequences and add contacts with AI tools?
Yes, Apollo MCP integrations can create sequences, improve sequence steps, generate variants for specific segments or personas, and preview changes before you push them to Apollo.
Keep sequence creation and enrollment as separate steps. Review and approve the sequence first, then confirm the sender, schedule, and contacts before enrolling prospects.
Before enrolling contacts, ask your AI tool to list your connected email accounts so you can choose which mailbox to send from. Apollo supports using one mailbox or multiple mailboxes when adding contacts to sequences through MCP workflows. Just specify the mailboxes you want to use.
Can AI tools delete or bulk-update my data?
No, Apollo MCP integrations don't support destructive bulk operations like bulk delete or unrestricted bulk updates.
This helps reduce the risk of accidental large-scale data changes.
What limitations are there?
- Email and phone numbers aren't included in people search results. Use enrichment to reveal verified contact details.
- Search results are paginated. Most searches return up to twenty-five results per page. Ask your AI tool to show the next page for more results.
- Bulk delete and unrestricted bulk update actions aren't supported to help prevent unintended data changes.
- Your Apollo plan permissions and feature access still apply. Some tools and data may not be available on all Apollo plans.
What should I do if something isn't working?
| Issue | What to try |
|---|---|
| Action not working as expected | Ensure you have permission to perform the action in Apollo. If credits are required, check your balance. If an action still isn't working, disconnect and reconnect Apollo from your AI tool settings. |
| Authorization failed | Reconnect Apollo from your AI tool settings and confirm your Apollo account is active. |
| No search results found | Broaden your search filters or simplify your query. |
| Cannot add contacts to a sequence | Check that you have at least one connected email account available for sequencing. Link your mailbox to Apollo. |
| Enrichment did not return an email | Try providing more identifying details like a full name, company domain, or LinkedIn URL. |
Next Steps
Now that you're running Apollo inside AI tools, here are a few ways to connect, expand, and get even more done.
| Integrate Apollo with ChatGPT | Connect Apollo to ChatGPT to run full GTM workflows directly inside your conversations. |
|---|---|
| Integrate Apollo with Claude | Set up the Apollo integration in Claude to search, enrich, and take action without switching tools. |
| Integrate Apollo with Perplexity | Connect Apollo to Perplexity to search, enrich, and take action directly inside your conversations. |
| AI Assistant Overview | Want to stay inside Apollo? Use the AI assistant on Apollo to complete the same workflows directly in-platform. |
| Apollo AI Overview | Explore everything Apollo AI can do to understand how it powers workflows across prospecting, outreach, and automation. |
| Apollo AI Glossary | Get familiar with key AI concepts to better understand how everything works behind the scenes. |