Apollo vs. Emitree
The difference between a sales intelligence tool and a sustainability-native sales engine.
The Short Version
Apollo.io gives you tools to run your own prospecting workflow. Emitree runs the workflow for you based on sustainability data.
Apollo.io
A B2B sales intelligence platform with 275M+ contacts across all industries. It provides data and tools for prospecting, but you run the workflow: finding companies, researching them, writing messages, and executing sequences.
Emitree
A sustainability sales engine that handles your top-of-funnel workflow. You define how you find and qualify companies based on sustainability criteria. Emitree does the rest: identifying decision-makers, pulling contact data, generating personalized messaging, and running multichannel outreach.
The question: Do you want tools to run your own prospecting workflow, or a system that runs it for you?
The Fundamental Difference
Apollo and Emitree represent different approaches to sales. Apollo gives you tools. Emitree is an AI-powered sales team that runs your workflow.
Apollo: Sales Intelligence Platform
Apollo provides infrastructure, but you are the operator.
- You search the database to find companies.
- You research each prospect manually.
- You write outreach messages.
- You build and manage sequences.
- You monitor campaigns and update your CRM.
Emitree: Sales Engine
Emitree runs the workflow and syncs everything to your CRM.
- Finding targets: industry registries, news, and niche sources most tools miss.
- Deep research: why each company is a fit, with sustainability context.
- Decision-maker identification: the right people, ranked by priority.
- Contact data: current information from all major B2B data providers.
- Personalized outreach: messaging based on company data and prospect context.
- Execution: multichannel sequences running 24/7 with proven infrastructure.
- CRM sync: everything flows to your CRM; you get tasks when humans are needed.
Quick Comparison
| Dimension | Apollo.io | Emitree |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Sales intelligence platform | Sales engine (runs the workflow) |
| Focus | Horizontal B2B (all industries) | Vertical (sustainability only) |
| Who Does the Work | You run the workflow | Emitree runs it for you |
| Carbon Credit Data | None | Verra, Gold Standard, ACR registries |
| ESG/SBTi Tracking | None | Built-in analysis |
| Sustainability Intent | Generic Bombora topics | Carbon retirements, net-zero pledges, CSO hiring |
| Outreach Execution | You build and run sequences | Emitree executes on your behalf |
What Apollo Does Well
- Massive database: 275M+ contacts across every industry.
- Affordable entry: free tier with 100 credits/month, paid plans from $79/user.
- All-in-one platform: sequencing, dialer, LinkedIn automation, CRM integrations.
What Emitree Does Well
A Sales Engine That Runs Your Workflow
- You define the criteria: how you find and qualify companies.
- Emitree finds decision-makers, ranked by priority.
- Emitree pulls contact data from major B2B providers.
- Emitree generates messaging from sustainability signals.
- Emitree executes outreach with multichannel sequences.
- Everything syncs to your CRM for human action when needed.
Sustainability-Native Intelligence
- Tracks signals generic tools cannot see.
- Understands carbon market terminology.
- Analyzes complex sustainability commitments.
Carbon Registry Integration
- Verra retirement tracking (83% of market).
- Gold Standard activity monitoring.
- ACR data integration.
- Purchase frequency and first-time buyer identification.
ESG and Regulatory Signals
- SBTi commitment deadlines (24-month windows).
- EU CSRD compliance triggers (50,000+ companies).
- CDP disclosure maturity analysis.
- Net-zero pledge tracking.
Apollo's Gaps for Sustainability Sellers
Apollo's "Environmental Services" industry filter is too broad. It cannot distinguish between companies actively buying carbon credits and companies with zero sustainability engagement.
| Missing Capability | Impact |
|---|---|
| No carbon credit retirement data | Cannot identify active buyers in voluntary carbon markets. |
| No ESG disclosure tracking | Miss companies with sustainability maturity signals. |
| No SBTi commitment monitoring | Lose visibility into deadline-driven urgency. |
| No sustainability-specific intent | Generic topics do not capture carbon or ESG research behavior. |
| No regulatory deadline awareness | Cannot prioritize EU CSRD or CORSIA affected companies. |
Intent Signals: Where the Gap Shows
Both platforms track signals, but they look at completely different data.
Apollo Intent Signals
- General B2B research topics (1,600 categories).
- Powered by Bombora and LeadSift.
- Example topics: "Cloud Computing," "Cybersecurity," "Marketing Automation."
Sustainability gap: no topics for carbon credits, ESG compliance, SBTi targets, or climate commitments.
Emitree Intent Signals
- Carbon credit retirements (Verra, Gold Standard, ACR).
- SBTi commitments with deadline tracking.
- CSO and sustainability hiring.
- CDP disclosure filings.
- Sustainability report publications.
- Net-zero pledge announcements.
- EU CSRD compliance deadlines.
Example: "Company X retired 50,000 VCUs from Verra last quarter, hired a Chief Sustainability Officer in January, and has a SBTi target due in 18 months."
What Each Platform Sees
| Apollo Sees | Emitree Sees |
|---|---|
| Company name, size, industry. | Company name, size, industry. |
| Contact names and emails. | Contact names and emails. |
| Job titles (generic). | Sustainability-specific roles with context. |
| Generic intent: "researching sustainability." | Specific: retired 75K credits on Verra last year. |
| No purchase history. | First purchase was 2023, volume increasing. |
| No commitment data. | SBTi commitment due in 14 months. |
| No compliance context. | Affected by EU CSRD, deadline Q2 2025. |
Apollo tells you the company exists and gives you tools to reach them. Emitree tells you they are actively buying, explains why they are a fit, and runs the outreach for you.
When Each Makes Sense
Apollo
Best if you sell across multiple industries, have SDR capacity, and want hands-on control of your prospecting workflow.
Emitree
Best if you sell sustainability solutions and want the workflow handled, not just tools to do it yourself.
Bottom Line
Apollo.io is a solid sales intelligence platform with a massive database and good tooling. But it treats sustainability as one industry among hundreds, missing the signals that indicate active carbon and ESG buyers. And you still need people to operate it.
Emitree is a sustainability sales engine. You define your criteria, and Emitree runs the workflow: finding targets, researching them, identifying decision-makers, pulling contacts, writing personalized messages, executing outreach, and syncing to your CRM.
Two questions to decide
- Do you sell primarily to sustainability buyers? (If no, Apollo.)
- Do you want tools, or execution? (Tools: Apollo. Execution: Emitree.)