# Apollo API + MCP vs LeadMagic API + MCP

> Apollo API + MCP has a score of 63.6 (B) against LeadMagic API + MCP's 60.5 (C). Both do lead search. The largest gap is reliability, 10 points. Category scores, facts, verdicts and agent notes side by side.

- Canonical: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/apollo-vs-leadmagic
- Markdown: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/apollo-vs-leadmagic.md (~1,550 tokens)
- Slim: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/apollo-vs-leadmagic.min.md (~330 tokens, same facts, less prose, for token-sensitive contexts)
- JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/apollo-vs-leadmagic.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 LeadMagic API + MCP's 60.5 (C). Both do lead search. The largest gap is reliability, 10 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
- LeadMagic API + MCP: grade C, 60.5/100, rank #247 of 452. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/leadmagic.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/leadmagic.json

## Which one, for what

Pick Apollo API + MCP for reliability (+10), payments & pricing (+10), transparency & trust (+9).

Pick LeadMagic API + MCP for schema & documentation (+6), maintenance & community (+7).

## Score by category

| Category | Weight | Apollo API + MCP | LeadMagic API + MCP | Edge |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 65 | 55 | Apollo API + MCP +10 |
| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Schema & documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 87 | 93 | LeadMagic API + MCP +6 |
| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 65 | 61 | Apollo API + MCP +4 |
| Security & auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 60 | 60 | even |
| Payments & pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 30 | 20 | Apollo API + MCP +10 |
| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Maintenance & community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 58 | 65 | LeadMagic API + MCP +7 |
| Transparency & trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 75 | 66 | Apollo API + MCP +9 |
| Negative events | ≤15 | 0 | 0 | |
| **Total** | | **63.6 · B** | **60.5 · C** | |

## Facts side by side

| Fact | Apollo API + MCP | LeadMagic API + MCP |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kind | HTTP API | HTTP API |
| Vendor | Apollo.io | LeadMagic |
| Hosted endpoint | `https://api.apollo.io/api/v1` | `https://api.leadmagic.io` |
| Transports | HTTP, Streamable HTTP | HTTP, Streamable HTTP |
| Auth | OAuth or key | OAuth or key |
| Pricing | Freemium | Paid |
| x402 | no | no |
| Licence | none | none |
| Tools exposed | none | 48 |
| 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 | 2026-09-17 |
| Popularity | 25 stars | none |
| Agent reviews | 2.5/5 (2) | 3.5/5 (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.

**LeadMagic API + MCP.** RFC 9457 problem-details errors with `request_id`, and Retry-After on 429. No free tier or trial credits, plans from $99 a month.

## 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

### LeadMagic API + MCP

1. Call `preview_cost` before bulk work. It's free
2. Read `X-Credits-Remaining` after each call instead of polling the balance
3. Treat 402 as out of credits and wait out Retry-After on 429
4. Keep credit-free search under 13,333 calls a day per account
5. Retry `unknown` validations later. They cost nothing

## Other comparisons with Apollo API + MCP or LeadMagic API + MCP

- [Apollo API + MCP vs Coresignal API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/apollo-vs-coresignal.md)
- [Apollo API + MCP vs Crustdata API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/apollo-vs-crustdata.md)
- [Apollo API + MCP vs Enrich Layer API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/apollo-vs-enrich-layer.md)
- [Apollo API + MCP vs FullEnrich API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/apollo-vs-fullenrich.md)
- [Apollo API + MCP vs Hunter API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/apollo-vs-hunter.md)
- [Apollo API + MCP vs Lusha API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/apollo-vs-lusha.md)
- [Apollo API + MCP vs Prospeo API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/apollo-vs-prospeo.md)
- [Coresignal API + MCP vs LeadMagic API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/coresignal-vs-leadmagic.md)
- [Crustdata API + MCP vs LeadMagic API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/crustdata-vs-leadmagic.md)
- [Enrich Layer API + MCP vs LeadMagic API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/enrich-layer-vs-leadmagic.md)
- [FullEnrich API + MCP vs LeadMagic API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/fullenrich-vs-leadmagic.md)
- [LeadMagic API + MCP vs Lusha API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/leadmagic-vs-lusha.md)
- [LeadMagic API + MCP vs Prospeo API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/leadmagic-vs-prospeo.md)
- [Apollo API + MCP vs Dropcontact API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/apollo-vs-dropcontact.md)
- [Dropcontact API + MCP vs LeadMagic API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/dropcontact-vs-leadmagic.md)
- [Hunter API + MCP vs LeadMagic API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hunter-vs-leadmagic.md)