A practical comparison of free database allowances, what each unit buys, and when a free plan stops being useful.
Reviewed and updated August 20, 2026 by Argorant
Start with the free product whose workflow matches the test. ZoomInfo Lite offers a small enterprise-data sample, Apollo Free tests an all-in-one prospecting workspace, Lusha Free provides a compact credit allowance, and Argorant's seven-day Starter trial tests 100 validated contacts. None is a durable high-volume acquisition plan, and nominal credits are not directly comparable.
Use the free allowance to answer one measurable question: can the tool produce 25 eligible contacts for your exact ICP? Record matches, valid emails, missing fields, duplicates, time spent, export limits, and the paid plan required for the next 1,000 contacts.
One free credit can mean a revealed email, a phone number, an API action, an enrichment attempt, or a completed contact. A free trial can also convert into a paid plan unless canceled. Read the billing event before comparing allowances.
Choose one narrow ICP and prepare a list of known positive and negative examples. Search every product with the same filters. Review role and company fit before checking the email. This prevents broad coverage from hiding weak targeting.
The winning free database is the one that produces the most eligible contacts with the least cleanup, then has paid economics that still work at the planned volume.
Move to paid when the test proves repeatable acquisition economics, not because a vendor's countdown expires. For agent workflows, include API or MCP entitlement, spend controls, and write permissions in the decision. Argorant also exposes a prepaid agent wallet for a no-subscription production path after testing.
| Product | Public starting allowance | Best test | Important boundary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argorant | 7-day Starter trial, 100 validated contacts | Verified list output and agent workflow | Becomes $99 monthly on day eight unless canceled |
| ZoomInfo Lite | 10 monthly credits; 25 in Community Edition | Small enterprise-data sample | Paid platform is quote-led and typically annual |
| Apollo Free | Free workspace with limited credits and features | Database plus sequence workflow | Actions use different credit rules; paid credits expire by cycle |
| Lusha Free | 40 monthly credits | Small contact-reveal test | Email, phone, CSV, and API actions have distinct costs |
Checked 20 August 2026. Verify the live plan table before purchase because allowances are mutable.
Pricing and product terms can change. Every source links to the public page and shows the review date.
A database-size claim does not answer the useful question. Compare eligible results for your exact countries, industries, and roles.
The trial can still cost $0 during the stated period, but the buyer should clearly see the billing date, paid plan, cancellation path, and included units before checkout.
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