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European Alternative to Apollo

Apollo is a US-based sales intelligence and engagement platform. European businesses seek alternatives with GDPR-compliant prospecting data and EU data residency.

The best European alternative to Apollo is Lemlist.

Lemlist logo

1. Lemlist

GDPR Compliant
Lemlist screenshot

Multi-Channel Outreach, Built in France

Lemlist combines cold email, LinkedIn outreach, and phone sequences in one platform. Sales teams build automated sequences that move prospects through multiple touchpoints, with AI generating personalized icebreakers for each contact.

The built-in lead database (450M+ contacts) means you can prospect and reach out without switching tools. Lemlist also handles email warm-up through lemwarm, which keeps your sender reputation healthy as you scale outreach volume.

Standout Feature

The multi-channel sequencing is where Lemlist pulls ahead. Rather than sending emails in isolation, you can build sequences that start with a LinkedIn connection request, follow up with a personalized email two days later, and add a phone call step if there's no response. Each step adapts based on prospect behavior.

Good Fit For

SDRs and sales teams running outbound campaigns in European markets. Agencies managing outreach for multiple clients also use Lemlist heavily for its workspace separation and client reporting.

Key features include:

  • •Multi-channel sequences (email, LinkedIn, phone)
  • •AI-powered personalization
  • •Built-in B2B lead database (450M+ contacts)
  • •Email warm-up (lemwarm)
  • •A/B testing for outreach
  • •CRM integrations (Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive)

Pros

Strong multi-channel outreach capabilities

Built-in lead database reduces tool sprawl

French company with EU data processing

Cons

Learning curve for advanced sequences

Lead database quality varies by region

Paidfrom from €39/moSales Prospecting & Outreach
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Kaspr logo

2. Kaspr

GDPR Compliant
Kaspr screenshot

LinkedIn Contact Data in One Click

Kaspr is a Chrome extension that surfaces verified B2B phone numbers and email addresses directly from LinkedIn profiles. Click on a prospect's profile and Kaspr returns their direct contact details in seconds.

The tool works across LinkedIn profiles, posts, groups, and Sales Navigator lists. Bulk enrichment lets you extract contacts from entire search result pages rather than clicking profiles one by one.

How It Handles GDPR

Kaspr is part of the Cognism group and operates under French jurisdiction. Contact data is sourced through GDPR-compliant channels, and the platform checks against European do-not-call registries before surfacing phone numbers.

Good Fit For

Individual sales reps and small teams who prospect on LinkedIn daily. The free plan includes 5 phone and 5 email credits per month, enough to test the data quality before committing.

Key features include:

  • •LinkedIn Chrome extension
  • •Verified phone numbers and emails
  • •Bulk LinkedIn list enrichment
  • •CRM auto-sync
  • •Team analytics dashboard

Pros

Instant contact data from LinkedIn

Generous free plan available

French company, GDPR-compliant data sourcing

Cons

Depends heavily on LinkedIn access

Data coverage stronger in Europe than other regions

Freemiumfrom Free plan availableSales Prospecting & OutreachData Enrichment
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Cognism logo

3. Cognism

GDPR Compliant
Cognism screenshot

European B2B Data With Phone-Verified Numbers

Cognism provides B2B contact and company data with a focus on accuracy that most competitors can't match. Their phone-verified mobile numbers go through human verification, resulting in 98% connect rates on direct dials.

The platform covers EMEA markets more deeply than US-based alternatives like ZoomInfo or Apollo. Intent data shows which accounts are actively researching solutions in your category, so sales teams can prioritize timing.

The GDPR Angle

Cognism checks every contact record against European do-not-call lists (TPS, CTPS, Robinson lists) before making it available. This is table stakes for European sales teams but something most US data providers don't handle natively.

Worth Noting

Cognism is headquartered in London (UK), not the EU. Post-Brexit, the UK operates under its own data protection regime, though it mirrors GDPR closely. All data processing is available within EU infrastructure.

Key features include:

  • •Phone-verified mobile numbers
  • •Company and contact search
  • •Buyer intent data
  • •Do-not-call list compliance
  • •Salesforce and HubSpot integration
  • •Chrome extension for LinkedIn

Pros

Best-in-class EMEA data coverage

Phone-verified numbers reduce wasted calls

Strong GDPR compliance practices

Cons

UK-headquartered (not EU)

Premium pricing, not suited for small teams

Coverage outside EMEA less comprehensive

Paidfrom Custom pricingSales Prospecting & OutreachData Enrichment
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Why consider a European alternative to Apollo?

Apollo is headquartered outside the EU, which means it operates under a different legal framework. For EU-regulated businesses, this raises practical considerations around data jurisdiction and regulatory compliance.

The Schrems II ruling invalidated the EU-US Privacy Shield, and data transfers to non-EU companies remain legally complex. Tools based outside the EU may also be subject to foreign surveillance laws or policy changes that are beyond your control.

The alternatives listed above are all built and headquartered in Europe, with data processing within the EU and GDPR compliance built in from the ground up.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why look for European alternatives to Apollo?

European businesses face increasing pressure to ensure their tools comply with GDPR and keep data within the EU. Using non-European tools can expose your organisation to Schrems II risks, foreign surveillance laws, and the possibility that geopolitical shifts could disrupt access to tools you depend on. European alternatives eliminate these risks entirely.

Are these alternatives fully GDPR compliant?

Each tool listed has been reviewed for GDPR compliance. Check the compliance badge and comparison table for each tool. Tools marked as "GDPR Compliant" have been verified to meet all major requirements including DPA availability and EU data hosting.

Can I self-host any of these alternatives?

Some of the listed tools offer self-hosted or on-premise options, giving you full control over where your data is stored. Check each tool's individual page for details on hosting options.

How do the prices compare to Apollo?

Many European alternatives offer competitive pricing, and several include free tiers or open-source options. See each tool above for pricing details.

What does "Schrems II Risk" mean?

The Schrems II ruling by the EU Court of Justice invalidated the EU-US Privacy Shield. Tools with "Low" Schrems II risk keep all data within the EU, while tools with "High" risk may transfer data to jurisdictions without adequate protections.