# Apollo API + MCP vs Lusha API + MCP

> Apollo API + MCP has a score of 63.6 (B) against Lusha API + MCP's 62.6 (B). Both do lead search. The largest gap is maintenance & community, 24 points. Category scores, facts, verdicts and agent notes side by side.

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- API: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json
- Updated: 2026-10-05

Apollo API + MCP has a score of 63.6 (B) against Lusha API + MCP's 62.6 (B). Both do lead search. The largest gap is maintenance & community, 24 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
- Lusha API + MCP: grade B, 62.6/100, rank #215 of 452. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/lusha.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/lusha.json

## Which one, for what

Pick Apollo API + MCP for agent ergonomics (+14).

Pick Lusha API + MCP for reliability (+10), payments & pricing (+10), maintenance & community (+24), transparency & trust (+9).

## Score by category

| Category | Weight | Apollo API + MCP | Lusha API + MCP | Edge |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 65 | 75 | Lusha API + MCP +10 |
| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Schema & documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 87 | 83 | Apollo API + MCP +4 |
| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 65 | 51 | Apollo API + MCP +14 |
| Security & auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 60 | 59 | Apollo API + MCP +1 |
| Payments & pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 30 | 40 | Lusha API + MCP +10 |
| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Maintenance & community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 58 | 82 | Lusha API + MCP +24 |
| Transparency & trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 75 | 84 | Lusha API + MCP +9 |
| Negative events | ≤15 | 0 | -4 | |
| **Total** | | **63.6 · B** | **62.6 · B** | |

## Facts side by side

| Fact | Apollo API + MCP | Lusha API + MCP |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kind | HTTP API | HTTP API |
| Vendor | Apollo.io | Lusha |
| Hosted endpoint | `https://api.apollo.io/api/v1` | `https://api.lusha.com` |
| Transports | HTTP, Streamable HTTP | HTTP, Streamable HTTP |
| Auth | OAuth or key | OAuth or key |
| Pricing | Freemium | Freemium |
| x402 | no | no |
| Licence | none | none |
| Tools exposed | none | 50 |
| 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` | `com.lusha.mcp/mcp` |
| Last release | none | 2026-09-23 |
| Popularity | 25 stars | none |
| 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.

**Lusha API + MCP.** API key on every plan, including Free with 40 credits a month. At least 1 credit per request even when nothing matches.

## 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

### Lusha API + MCP

1. Batch up to 25 contacts a request. A single bulk request costs 1 credit, not 1 per contact
2. Ask for phones only when needed. A phone is 5 credits against 1 for an email
3. Use the Buying Group endpoint. Decision Makers was retired on 2026-09-04
4. Use `/v3/lookalike/contacts` for contact lookalikes
5. Back off exponentially on 429. Free keys stop at 100 requests a day

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