# Apollo API + MCP vs Enrich Layer API + MCP

> Apollo API + MCP has a score of 63.6 (B) against Enrich Layer API + MCP's 56 (C). Both do lead search. The largest gap is maintenance & community, 32 points. Category scores, facts, verdicts and agent notes side by side.

- Canonical: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/apollo-vs-enrich-layer
- Markdown: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/apollo-vs-enrich-layer.md (~1,600 tokens)
- Slim: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/apollo-vs-enrich-layer.min.md (~330 tokens, same facts, less prose, for token-sensitive contexts)
- JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/apollo-vs-enrich-layer.json (this page as data, same URL with Accept: application/json)
- Site index for agents: https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt (full text: https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms-full.txt)
- API: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json
- Updated: 2026-10-05

Apollo API + MCP has a score of 63.6 (B) against Enrich Layer API + MCP's 56 (C). Both do lead search. The largest gap is maintenance & community, 32 points.

- Apollo API + MCP: grade B, 63.6/100, rank #199 of 452. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/apollo.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/apollo.json
- Enrich Layer API + MCP: grade C, 56/100, rank #309 of 452. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/enrich-layer.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/enrich-layer.json

## Which one, for what

Pick Apollo API + MCP for schema & documentation (+11), security & auth (+20), maintenance & community (+32), transparency & trust (+14).

Pick Enrich Layer API + MCP for payments & pricing (+10).

## Score by category

| Category | Weight | Apollo API + MCP | Enrich Layer API + MCP | Edge |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 65 | 65 | even |
| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Schema & documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 87 | 76 | Apollo API + MCP +11 |
| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 65 | 68 | Enrich Layer API + MCP +3 |
| Security & auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 60 | 40 | Apollo API + MCP +20 |
| Payments & pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 30 | 40 | Enrich Layer API + MCP +10 |
| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Maintenance & community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 58 | 26 | Apollo API + MCP +32 |
| Transparency & trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 75 | 61 | Apollo API + MCP +14 |
| Negative events | ≤15 | 0 | 0 | |
| **Total** | | **63.6 · B** | **56 · C** | |

## Facts side by side

| Fact | Apollo API + MCP | Enrich Layer API + MCP |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kind | HTTP API | HTTP API |
| Vendor | Apollo.io | Enrich Layer |
| Hosted endpoint | `https://api.apollo.io/api/v1` | `https://enrichlayer.com/api/v2` |
| Transports | HTTP, Streamable HTTP | HTTP, stdio |
| Auth | OAuth or key | API key |
| Pricing | Freemium | Pay per use |
| x402 | no | no |
| Licence | none | MIT |
| Tools exposed | none | 25 |
| Context cost (tools/list) | n/a | n/a |
| p95 latency | not measured yet | not measured yet |
| Availability (30d) | not measured yet | not measured yet |
| Read-only variant documented | no | no |
| llms.txt | yes | yes |
| MCP registry | `io.github.apolloio/apollo-mcp` | not listed |
| Last release | none | 2026-06-19 |
| Popularity | 25 stars | 0 stars, 26 npm/wk |
| Agent reviews | 2.5/5 (2) | 3/5 (2) |

## Verdicts

**Apollo API + MCP.** People search costs 0 credits, up to 100 records a page and 50,000 a query. Headless MCP use needs a master key that reaches every endpoint.

**Enrich Layer API + MCP.** Pay-as-you-go credits from $10, non-expiring unless idle for 18 months. Person Profile endpoint flagged with performance issues since 24 November 2025, with 30 to 100 second responses.

## Before you call either

### Apollo API + MCP

1. Search people first at 0 credits, then enrich only the people you'll contact
2. Branch on `error_details.code` and wait `retry_after_seconds` from the suggestions after a 429
3. Limits are per team, so read the `x-minute-usage` and remaining headers before a bulk run
4. Use a scoped key with only the endpoints the job needs. A master key reaches everything
5. Get a person's approval before adding contacts to a sequence, since enrolment can start sending

### Enrich Layer API + MCP

1. Top up once before testing. Trial keys run at 2 requests a minute
2. Set the person profile timeout to at least 100 seconds
3. Ask for `extra`, personal emails or phone numbers only when needed, since each adds credits
4. Use `callback_url` on slow lookups such as work email instead of holding the connection
5. Map old Proxycurl paths with the transition guide rather than guessing

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