9 Cognism Alternatives & Competitors For SMBs And ICs

Many small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and individual contributors (ICs) struggle with tools that are too complex, expensive, or ineffective at targeting the right prospects.

In outbound sales, lead generation tools help identify and reach potential customers. Without them, sales reps spend valuable time manually sifting through data and engaging with prospects.

Cognism has gained popularity for its high-quality data, but it might not be for you if you’re on a tighter budget or don’t need additional data points like intent.

Here are some Cognism alternatives for you, all of which you can get started with for free.

Nine alternatives to Cognism - give them a click to jump ahead. 👇

1. Kaspr
2. Apollo.io
3. Adapt
4. Lusha
5. UpLead
6. Hunter.io
7. Snov.io
8. RocketReach
9. AeroLeads

What is Cognism?

Cognism helps businesses identify high-quality B2B sales prospects and gain valuable market insights.

Its key features include:

• Diamond Data®: phone-verified cell phone numbers.
• Intent data by Bombora.
• International coverage: EMEA, NAM, APAC.
• Easy platform setup with CSM support.
• Integrations with CRMs and sales engagement tools.
• GDPR and CCPA-compliant data.
• The database is checked and cleaned against global DNC lists.

Many enterprise businesses use Cognism to enhance prospecting and outbound sales campaigns. Sales teams use its rich data for personalized outreach, ensuring messages resonate with the right audience at the right time.

So why look for alternatives?

Well, while Cognism offers a robust suite of features, it might not be the perfect fit for everyone.

Small businesses are likely to find the pricing of Cognism too high; plus, if you’re an individual contributor, you can’t try it for free and get set up on your own. Others may want features for niche markets or prefer an easier, more intuitive interface.

If these ring a bell, exploring Cognism alternatives could be your next best move! 👇

Criteria for choosing a Cognism alternative

Features

When choosing a lead generation tool, think about what’s important to you. Do you just want to be able to find contact info, or are intent data and outreach features important, too?

The quality of the data should stand out from everything else. Real-time data updates are also essential to keep your strategies fresh and relevant.

Don’t forget about the reporting features. Are they comprehensive enough to provide insights? These insights should drive decisions. Effective tools transform data into actionable strategies that boost your sales pipeline.

Pricing

Look for options that offer scalable pricing plans that grow with your business. This means starting with basic features at a lower cost and adding more advanced capabilities as your needs evolve and budgets allow.

Consider the total cost of ownership, including setup, training, and extra fees for integration or data. An ideal tool gives good value for money, directly linking the price paid and the rise in sales.

Transparency in pricing is key — no hidden fees, no surprises!

Ease of use

A user-friendly interface, clear navigation, and logical workflows make a tool accessible for all team members, no matter how tech-savvy they are. Tools that require minimal training mean faster adoption and less downtime.

Also, look for platforms with easy dashboards and visuals. They make it simple to track performance and gain insights at a glance.

A good tool should simplify your processes, not complicate them. Remember, the simpler the tool, the more likely your team will use it effectively.

Integration capabilities

The right lead generation tool should easily connect with your existing CRM systems, email platforms, social media, and any other tools your sales team relies on. This connectivity ensures that data flows freely between systems, boosting efficiency and cutting the risk of errors from manual data entry.

Look for tools that support API access for custom integrations. This will ensure that you can connect all your tech stack components.

Customer support

Cognism alternatives might support differently, particularly if you’re looking at lower-cost options. Consider what you’d need. You might not have a CSM, but there will be helpful resources like tutorials and community forums to solve immediate problems.

With something that has fewer features, finding your way around is likely to be easier. This is why free trials are important: to gauge the ease of use and reliability. You don’t want a new prospecting tool that crashes all the time.

Top 9 Cognism alternatives

In this section, we’ll explore the top nine alternatives to Cognism. We’ll look at what makes each tool unique and potentially a better fit for different types of businesses.

You’ll also learn each platform’s ideal use cases to choose the tool that best suits your sales strategies.

Alternative 1: Kaspr

Kaspr is a lead generation tool that retrieves contact info from LinkedIn profiles. Unlike broader data platforms, Kaspr is specialized and offers features that are deeply integrated with LinkedIn.

Features:

• B2B data provider with email address and phone number finder.
• Verified data that’s updated in real-time and checked against 150 providers.
• Automated workflows.
• CCPA & GDPR aligned.
• Convenient Chrome Extension.
  
  

Kaspr provides a free plan for all new users. The paid plan’s starting price is $49 per user per month.

✅ Pros:

• It simplifies the process of getting contact information.
• Integrates well with many CRM platforms.
• Convenient Chrome Extension.
• Super accurate phone numbers.
• High accuracy of contact details in the UK, US, Europe and APAC.

❌ Cons:

• No intent data - just accurate contact details.
• It may not be as beneficial for companies not focusing on LinkedIn as a primary lead source.

Kaspr is best suited for businesses that engage heavily in B2B sales and recruiting through LinkedIn. ICs will enjoy straightforward pricing and ease of use and sign up without a credit card.

Alternative 2: Apollo.io

Apollo.io is a sales engagement platform that merges lead generation, sales intelligence, and email outreach into one integrated system. Apollo.io stands out for its data-first approach, leveraging advanced analytics.

(Source: G2)

Features:

• Machine learning is used to score leads based on the likelihood of conversion.
• Access to millions of contacts with detailed firmographic data.
• Automated outreach campaigns.

Paid plan starting price is $49 per user per month. There is a free plan is also available.

✅ Pros:

• Intent data.
• Advanced sequencing and automation capabilities.
• Powerful analytics.

❌ Cons:

• The wealth of features and options can be overwhelming for new users.
• The cost can increase quickly as you add more advanced features and greater database access.
• Cell phone number credits are limited in pricing plans.
  
  

Apollo.io is ideal for medium to large businesses that need robust sales engagement tools to handle complex sales and large volumes of leads.

👉 Here are some Apollo.io alternatives.

Alternative 3: Adapt

Adapt is a lead generation and prospecting tool designed to streamline finding and connecting with potential customers. The platform is known for its ease of use and efficient integration with LinkedIn.

(Source: G2)

Features:

• Filter and contacts list builder based on specific criteria such as industry, job title, and location.
• Chrome Extension.
• Verified cell phone numbers and email addresses.

Paid plan starting price is $49 per user per month. There’s a free plan also available.

✅ Pros:

• Direct integration with LinkedIn.
• Access to a large database of contacts.
• Easy-to-use interface.

❌ Cons:

• The reliance on LinkedIn may limit the tool’s utility.
• Some users have reported that the data, while extensive, can occasionally be outdated.

Adapt is best suited for B2B companies that rely heavily on LinkedIn for networking and lead generation.

Alternative 4: Lusha

Lusha is a lead generation and contact information platform that provides quick access to cell phone numbers and email addresses.

(Source: G2)

Features:

• Data accuracy and compliance.
• Detailed insights into company roles and structures.
• Bulk data enrichment.
• CRM integration.

Paid plan starting price is $36 per user per month. The free plan is also available.

✅ Pros:

• High accuracy of contact details in Europe.
• Easy to use with minimal setup required.
• The freemium model allows users to try Lusha before committing financially.

❌ Cons:

• Pricing can escalate quickly with increased usage.

Lusha is ideal for small to medium-sized businesses that need fast access to contact info for sales or recruiting. It is especially useful for startups and companies in the tech and digital sectors, where quick and efficient communication is essential.

👉 Check out these Lusha alternatives.

Alternative 5: UpLead

UpLead is a B2B lead generation platform designed to help businesses grow their sales pipeline by providing high-quality contact and company data.

(Source: G2) 

Features:

• Real-time email verification.
• Automatically updates and enriches contact and company profiles with the latest available data.
• Advanced filtering by industry, company size, geographical location, job role, and technology usage.

Paid plan starting price is $99 per user per month. A free plan is not available, but you can try UpLead for 7 days for free.

✅ Pros:

• Many filtering options.
• Technographic data.

❌ Cons:

• Costlier than other Cognism alternatives.
• The platform’s extensive options and capabilities might need extra training.
• Some users may find the initial setup and integration process complex.

UpLead is best suited for mid-sized to large businesses that need robust lead generation and data enrichment to support a sophisticated sales process.

Alternative 6: Hunter.io

Hunter.io is a contact data provider that simplifies the process of finding and verifying email addresses. It is famous for its vast database of email addresses and ability to verify these contacts in real time.

(Source: G2)

Features:

• Search for email addresses associated with a domain.
• Email verification.
• Bulk tasks.
• Chrome Extension.

The planned starting price is $34 per user per month. The free plan is also available.

✅ Pros:

• High accuracy of email verification.
• Intuitive design.
• The ability to perform bulk tasks saves time.

❌ Cons:

• It is limited to a domain search. 
• It may require pairing with other tools for full sales and marketing strategies.
• The free plan is quite restrictive, with essential features locked behind paid plans.
• Relies heavily on domain information. This can be less useful if the specifics of a lead’s domain are unknown.

Hunter.io is ideal for small to medium-sized businesses that rely heavily on email for outbound efforts and communication.

Alternative 7: Snov.io

Snov.io is a sales automation platform that offers tools to streamline the lead generation and outreach process.

(Source: G2)

Features:

• Email finder.
• Email verification.
• Automation of follow-up emails based on recipient actions.
• Technology checker.
• CRM integration.

Paid plan starting price is $30 per user per month. The free plan is also available.

✅ Pros:

• Automation features save time and increase productivity by handling routine tasks.
• Offers valuable tech insights that give users a competitive advantage in their outreach.

❌ Cons:

• The credit-based system may limit usage for larger teams or extensive campaigns.
• Integration capabilities, while extensive, can be complex to set up and require technical knowledge.

Snov.io is well-suited for SMBs and startups that need a complete, all-in-one platform to handle many parts of their sales process. It helps B2B businesses with detailed insights into technology use and precise targeting.

Alternative 8: RocketReach

RocketReach is a contact database tool that provides access to email addresses, phone numbers, and social media links. It is designed to ease direct connections with decision-makers and influencers.

(Source: G2)

Features:

• It provides detailed contact information, including B2B emails, phone numbers, and social media profiles. You get it all from a single search.
• Multi-platform search.
• Bulk lookups.
• API access.

Paid plan starting price is $48 per user per month. The free plan is also available.

✅ Pros:

• An extensive database covers various industries and regions, enhancing global reach.
• High accuracy of contact details.
• Flexible integration options through API.

❌ Cons:

• The cost can escalate quickly with the need for more searches or advanced features.

RocketReach is ideal for medium—to large businesses that need lots of contact information and have the resources to use this data effectively. Startups and smaller companies might benefit from the basic plan. Yet, larger organizations with diverse outreach needs best realize RocketReach’s full potential.

👉 Check out these RocketReach alternatives.

Alternative 9: AeroLeads

AeroLeads is a lead generation tool used by sales and marketing teams to find B2B emails and phone numbers of people and companies across various industries.

(Source: AeroLeads)

Features:

• Prospect generation with filters such as job title, location, and industry.
• Contact export to CRM software.
• Email verifier.
• Bulk search.

Paid plan starting price is $39 per user per month. The free plan is also available.

✅ Pros:

• Real-time email verification ensures high-quality data and improves campaign deliverability.
• Supports integration with popular CRM software, facilitating streamlined sales processes.

❌ Cons:

• It can become costly. Additional features and more data access are gated behind higher-tier plans.

AeroLeads is best for small to medium-sized businesses that prioritize quick growth and need to expand their sales pipeline with qualified leads rapidly.

Comparison tables

Feature comparison table

Pricing comparison table

Pros and cons summary

How to choose the right Cognism alternative for you

Choosing the right lead generation tool is about matching your needs with the tool’s abilities without breaking the bank. Let’s break it down into bite-sized pieces.

Identify your needs

First things first: what do you really need? Start by assessing your business’s specific requirements.

Are you looking for a tool that excels in data enrichment, or are you more concerned with seamless CRM integrations? Maybe your team thrives on automation to streamline those repetitive tasks.

Pinpointing exactly what you need will guide you in choosing a tool that aligns with your sales strategies.

Budget considerations

Have you found the perfect tool but are worried about the price tag? It’s crucial to balance the features you need with the cost you can afford.

Look for pricing models that offer scalability. Those that grow with your business are often more cost-effective in the long run. Don’t forget to look for hidden costs like setup fees or charges for extra data access.

Trial and error

Ever bought something that looked great on paper but didn’t quite fit once you got it home? That’s where free trials and demos come into play. They are your best friends in the decision-making process.

Engaging with a tool during a trial period lets you see if it clicks with your team’s workflow and meets your expectations. Make the most of these opportunities to test before you invest.

Read reviews and case studies

What better way to gauge a tool’s effectiveness than hearing directly from those who have walked this path before you?

Look for feedback from businesses like yours in terms of size or industry. This can provide invaluable insights into a particular tool’s performance in real-world scenarios.

Success stories can be enlightening, especially those that resonate with your company’s challenges and goals.

Final word on Cognism competitors

As we wrap up on the top Cognism alternatives, let’s review what we’ve covered and focus on the best option for small operations.

Recap

Each tool has unique advantages tailored to enhance your outreach and boost sales. 

For example, Kaspr’s simple LinkedIn integration makes it a perfect choice for those who value tools that deliver high-quality data without complexities. 

Apollo.io and RocketReach, on the other hand, offer powerful data analytics and many advanced features. They work great for businesses with complex sales strategies.

Hunter.io, UpLead, and AeroLeads stand out with their real-time verification features. Lusha and Snov.io provide quick access to contact information and time-saving automation features.

Final recommendation

So, which one should you choose? If you’re steering a smaller business, consider Kaspr as your go-to.

Why Kaspr? Well, it’s not just about the simplicity and direct integration with LinkedIn, which are big wins on their own. It’s about boosting your sales with verified data updated in real-time and checked against 150 providers. All without a big budget.

Kaspr hits the sweet spot of functionality and ease of use. It is ideal for those who need a practical, simple, and cost-effective solution without all the extra features that larger businesses might need.

👉 Try Kaspr for free today!