How to Find a Phone Number with Apollo

Finding accurate phone numbers shouldn't feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Yet too many sales reps waste hours digging through outdated directories, search engines, or (let's be honest) hoping for the best with sketchy lookup services. The reality? Your prospects aren't listing their direct numbers on social media or company websites. They're protecting their time — and you need a smarter way to reach them.

That's where Apollo comes in. More than just another phone lookup tool, Apollo is a complete sales intelligence platform that not only finds the numbers you need but integrates them seamlessly into your entire go-to-market workflow. In this article, we'll show you exactly how to use Apollo's extensive and accurate sales database to find, verify, and connect with the right prospects — all from one platform.

What is B2B phone number lookup?

Let's get one thing straight: B2B phone number lookup isn't about finding your old college roommate. It's a strategic tool for sales professionals to find accurate, direct phone numbers for business contacts. Unlike consumer lookup services that pull from public records, a B2B-focused tool like Apollo taps into a verified professional database. This means you're not just getting a number; you're getting the right number for the right person at the right company, helping you connect with decision-makers, not switchboards.

Why Apollo is the best choice for finding phone numbers

So, why choose Apollo? Because finding a phone number is only half the battle. Other tools just give you a number. Apollo gives you a complete go-to-market engine. We don't just provide verified direct dials; we integrate them directly into your prospecting and engagement workflows. You can find a number, add the contact to a sequence, and call them from our dialer without ever leaving the platform. It's about connecting with prospects faster and more intelligently than the competition.

What information can you find with Apollo

When you look up a contact in Apollo, you get more than just a string of digits. You get the full picture. Here's what you can expect to find:

• Verified Mobile Numbers: Reach decision-makers directly on their mobile phones for higher connection rates.
• Direct-Dial Work Lines: Bypass the gatekeeper and get straight to your prospect's desk.
• Company Main Lines: A reliable fallback to reach the right department when a direct line isn't available.
• Essential Context: Every number is linked to a rich profile with job titles, company information, and buying signals, so you can personalize every call.

Find phone number using the Apollo Database

A foolproof way to find someone's phone number is with our powerful B2B database prospect searcher.

Navigate to Search on the top navigation bar.

On the left-hand side, you'll see your filters bar, where you can people search using 200+ specific data attributes and advanced filtering (such as a person's name, job title, persona, location, revenue and funding, # of employees by department, and more!).

So, for example, if an SDR wanted to conduct a cold-calling campaign to account managers in banking and finance industries with 100-500 employees in the San Francisco Bay Area, their filtered search might look something like this:

Clicking on the blue Apply Filters button will pull up their search result.

Now, finding exact mobile phone numbers is a breeze!

From the list of results, the sales rep can click on an individual contact and go to their contact page. From here, they should click Access Contact Email and Phone.

This will reveal the contact's current business phone number, email address, and other personal details you'll want to use to personalize your calls!

(Note: For Apollo plans without unlimited credits, this will cost 1 credit).

And back at the search results page, you can bulk select contacts to add them to your own cold-calling sequence, putting them in your sales cycle to access their contact information and give them a call when the time is right!

Making Mobile Number Requests

To close a sale, you often need more than a landline or company business number. Apollo allows you to request mobile number enrichment for any contacts.

From your saved contacts, you can bulk-select contacts and enrich all of their direct dials!

From the Search tab, navigate to Saved. Here are all of the contacts from your search that you have saved to your Apollo account. Now, select all of the contacts you want mobile phone numbers for and click on the "..." button above.

From the dropdown, select Enrich Mobile Numbers > Enrich.

(Note: Every successfully enriched mobile number will cost 1 credit. If Apollo is not able to find a cellphone number for a contact, you will not be charged)

You've done it! You've made a direct dial enrichment request.

Some direct dials will be provided immediately, and others may take up to 24 hours to process. Any time you request a direct dial, you can track its progress by going to Settings > Data Request History > Mobile Number Requests.

Apollo also allows you to request direct dials straight from LinkedIn using our Chrome Extension!

If the contact you are viewing on LinkedIn has already been added to Apollo, getting their cell phone number is as simple as clicking Request Mobile Number while the extension is open.

If the contact you are viewing on LinkedIn has not been added to Apollo yet, click + Add to Contacts, first, and then the option to request their mobile phone number will appear!

Lastly, if you would like to request direct dials for all contacts added from Linkedin (and the Prospect Searcher page), you can do so by going to Settings App > Prospecting Configuration and enabling this setting under Mobile Numbers:

Using the Apollo Dialer

Here's a bonus!

Once you've conducted your phone number lookup, you can make and receive all your calls directly from Apollo with our in-app dialer!

This allows you to contact the leads you prospect in Apollo, without having to transfer all of your information into a different platform.

In addition to automatic call recording, transcriptions, and CRM logging, Apollo allows you to create and call from your prospects' local numbers! Prospects are much more likely to answer your call if it comes from an area code they recognize, rather than an unlisted number. That's why using Apollo's phone app not only saves you time and money but astronomically improves your call conversion rates!

And there you have it!

Finding the right numbers on Apollo is not only straightforward but extremely accurate. We use third-party vendors, social media accounts, and public records as well as our own dialer data to verify all company numbers, direct dials, and mobile numbers. You never have to worry about whether or not your call is headed to the right person.

So, what are you waiting for? Give us a try for free to make your first phone call using Apollo!

Start finding accurate phone numbers today

Stop wasting time on dead-end calls and disconnected numbers. The right data is the foundation of any successful sales strategy, and with Apollo, you have an entire platform built to deliver it. You've seen how easy it is to find, enrich, and call prospects all in one place. Now it's time to put it into action and see the results for yourself. Ready to connect with more of the right people? Get Started with Apollo for free.

Frequently asked questions about finding phone numbers

How do I find a telephone number for free?

Apollo offers a free plan that includes credits you can use to find phone numbers. This allows you to access our powerful B2B database and find verified contact information for your prospects without an initial investment.

How do I find a number by name?

In the Apollo database, you can search for prospects by name, company, job title, and dozens of other filters. Once you find the right person, you can access their contact details, including their phone number, directly from their profile.

Can I lookup a phone number without paying?

Yes. With Apollo's free plan, you can look up business phone numbers using your monthly credits. It's a great way to test the accuracy and depth of our data before committing to a paid plan.

What's the difference between direct dials and company numbers?

A company number typically connects you to a general switchboard or receptionist. A direct dial, on the other hand, is a specific phone line that connects you directly to an individual's desk or mobile phone, helping you bypass gatekeepers.

How accurate are Apollo's phone numbers?

We pride ourselves on data accuracy. Our database is continuously verified through a combination of automated processes and a dedicated data science team to ensure you have the most reliable contact information available.