9 Best B2B Contact Database Providers

Navigating the world of B2B contact database providers can be quite the challenge. You're aware of how crucial accurate data is for effective outreach, yet finding a company that actually delivers this can often feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. The right B2B database provider is essential to any sales process, so it’s important that you feel confident choosing a provider that meets your needs and expectations. By understanding what B2B contact databases are and how they work, you'll be better equipped to choose the best one that enhances your prospecting efforts and boosts your sales.

What is a B2B contact database?

A B2B contact database is a structured collection of contact information for businesses and professionals that companies use for marketing, sales, cross-selling, upselling, and even recruiting purposes. Such databases contain information about prospects, customers, partners, suppliers, and other vendors that organizations may want to engage with for various business reasons.

While some B2B contact providers may vary on a few features, each provider typically offers: 

• Company information, including name, industry, size, location, and general contact details (e.g., phone numbers, office addresses, and company email addresses)
• Contact data for individuals within the company, including names, locations, job titles, phone numbers, LinkedIn profiles, and email addresses
• Firmographic data, like company revenue, number of employees, geographic information, funding, and competitors
• Industry-specific data, like a company’s tech stack and infrastructure or information about a financial services firm’s assets under management

The features that generally vary between each B2B contact database provider are integrations, pricing model, ways to access the data beyond integrating into your CRM (such as through a Chrome extension) and the freshness of their data. For example, the good providers  are automatically updating their data and thus the data that feeds into your system and the best B2B contact database providers have automatic alerts for important data like job changes or promotions.

Top 9 B2B contact database providers in 2024

Choosing the right B2B contact database provider can be make or break for business success. Not only will the right database give your sales team the ability to reach the most relevant and receptive audience for your products and services, it also helps build trust while reducing the risk of wasted resources or having your domain negatively impacting your email deliverability.

For these reasons, it’s critical to do your due diligence when selecting a B2B database. With that in mind, let’s examine some of the top B2B data companies on the market today.

1. LeadIQ (Okay - we're a little biased here...)

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We wouldn't be doing our job as marketers and sales people if we didn't highlight the unique features LeadIQ offers on top of the high-quality b2b contact data we provide. Hear us out!

LeadIQ stands out as a dynamic sales prospecting platform, uniquely designed to empower GTM teams to connect with the right people at the optimal times. It distinguishes itself by its superior data accuracy, leveraging a combination of data partnerships, public domain data, and a proprietary verification algorithm. Don't just listen to us - we've been ranked as the top provider by our customers for the last five years in G2's reports across implementation and results in a variety of categories.

Beyond the basics - we use artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance this commitment to data integrity, ensuring the data we provide remains current and reliable. By integrating with popular sales tools and focusing on customer-driven data, LeadIQ not only ensures accuracy but also enhances its practical application for sales personnel.

Top features of LeadIQ

• Accurate and realtime B2B contact data
• Real-time data verification
• 1-click data capture and syncing using our Chrome extension
• Integrations with sales tools you already use
• Contract tracking for job changes
• AI-powered email generation with LeadIQ Scribe (that beats ChatGPT!) 
• Top-notch customer implementation and support
• Security and compliance features

LeadIQ Pricing

• Free tier including our recnetly enhanced free Chrome extension
• Essential: $39/user/month ($45 when paid monthly)
• Pro: $79/user/month ($89 when paid monthly)
• Customized Enterprise plans available

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2. ZoomInfo

Since 2007, ZoomInfo—which launched as DiscoverOrg before acquiring Zoom Information in 2019 and rebranding—has offered a B2B contact database to customers across all industries. The legacy platform in the sales intelligence space, it combines tools for sales, marketing, RevOps, and recruitment. Its wide-ranging use cases make it a popular choice for very large enterprises, but it’s an expensive and complex platform that can require months to set up.

Top features of Zoominfo

• B2B contact data
• Engagement platform
• Salesforce enrichment
• Automated prospect research
• Contact tracking for job changes

Zoominfo Pricing

• Starts at $15,000/year
• Custom plans available
• Pricing available upon request
• No free or self-service plans

Zoominfo Cons

• Legacy format with no real-time verification capability
• Poor UX due to outdated, all-in-one structure
• Most expensive sales tool in this space
• History of legal issues concerning data privacy
• Limited sales prospecting efficiency due to its range of sales functions
• Cumbersome process for switching between different functions

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3. LinkedIn Sales Navigator

LinkedIn Sales Navigator is a specialized tool designed to enhance the capabilities of sales professionals by allowing them insights into their prospects. It offers a focused approach to leveraging LinkedIn's vast network, enabling users to find and connect with potential clients more effectively. By providing advanced search features and personalized algorithm recommendations, it helps salespeople target the right prospects and build stronger relationships.

Top features of LinkedIn Sales Navigator

• Advanced lead and company search capabilities
• Customized lead recommendations
• Real-time sales updates on leads and accounts
• InMail messaging for direct contact with prospects
• Integration with popular CRM platforms

LinkedIn Sales Navigator Pricing

• Core: For individual sales professionals, $79.99/month billed annually
• Advanced: For small to medium-sized teams, $135/month billed annually
• Advanced Plus: For large sales organizations (custom pricing)
• No free plan

LinkedIn Sales Navigator Cons

• Only captures individuals with LinkedIn profiles
• More niche industries often do not use LinkedIn
• Users say filters aren't always accurate

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4. Lusha

Lusha is a B2B data platform for sales and marketing teams that specializes in providing contact information for company decision-makers and their organizations. Since 2016, Lusha has delivered data to businesses across all industries and served as a solid data repository for European data. Lusha offers a browser extension and API, allowing users easy access to email addresses, phone numbers, and other contact information.

Top features of Lusha

• B2B contact data
• Salesforce enrichment
• Integration with popular CRMs
• Security and compliance features

Lusha Pricing

• Free tier
• Pro: $29/user/month
• Premium: $51/user/month
• Custom pricing for enterprises

Lusha Cons

• Limited North American data
• Lack of advanced prospecting features, such as buying signal tracking, cold outreach personalization, and CRM insights
• Unreliable contact data
• Minimal enrichment, extension, and workflow features
• Longer time to ROI than some other platforms, including LeadIQ

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5. UpLead

UpLead is a B2B client discovery platform that provides global contact and company data for sales prospecting. It uses real-time email verification and technology tracking for data accuracy, and they offer other tools including account-based marketing and competitor intelligence. 

Top features of UpLead

• Real-time email verification
• Worldwide contact access
• Advanced search criteria for refined targeting
• Technology tracking and account-based marketing tools
• Competitor intelligence and email pattern insights

UpLead Pricing

• Free trial: 7 days
• Essentials Plan: $99/month
• Plus Plan: $199/month

UpLead Cons

• Very limited integration capability (Zapier only)
• Significant investment requirement with no free plan option
• Unsuitable for midsize to large companies
• Lower G2 scores for setup and ease of use than other b2b contact providers

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6. Clearbit

Clearbit is a data intelligence platform that uses data aggregation and cleansing techniques to enrich data by adding details like job titles and contact information to existing data. Clearbit integrates with many popular business applications, but its design can make it better suited for marketing teams than sales teams. 

Top features of Clearbit

• Leads, contact, and account enrichment
• Coverage in multiple languages
• Lead scoring and routing
• Detailed industry information
• Corporate hierarchies
• Normalized roles and seniority

Clearbit Pricing

• Free Chrome extension
• Custom pricing options available upon request

Clearbit Cons

• Marketing-focused design doesn’t often suit sales teams needs
• Small database (30M+) compared to leading competitors, including LeadIQ (150M+)
• No integration capabilities with sales tech stacks
• Lack of support and investments due to Hubspot acquisition

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7. Cognism

Cognism is a sales prospecting platform with similar functionality and data quality as LeadIQ, but it’s more popular with European companies. The Europe-based company focuses on providing comprehensive EMEA data coverage, so its North American data is less extensive. Unlike LeadIQ, the Cognism platform requires a premium investment and doesn’t offer basic UX features like self-service options.

Top features of Cognism

• B2B contact data
• Salesforce enrichment
• Integrations with CRMs (e.g., Salesforce and Outreach)

Cognism Pricing

• Two tiers, Platinum and Diamond 
• Pricing available upon request
• No free plan available

Cognism Cons:

• Focus on EMEA data with limited North American data
• Expensive plan choices with no free plan or self-service options
• Lack of contact and job tracking functionalities
• No email personalization feature

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8. Apollo.io

Apollo is an all-in-one sales platform that combines B2B contact data, sales sequences, and sales plays in one tool. This makes it an option for smaller companies whose sales teams who don't yet have the basic sales intelligence functionality.

Top features of Apollo

• B2B contact data
• Salesforce enrichment
• Lead scoring
• Engagement platform

Apollo Pricing

• Free tier
• Basic: $39/user/month (billed annually)
• Professional: $79/user/month (billed annually)
• Organization: $79/user/month (minimum five users; billed annually)

Apollo Cons

• Not ideal for midsize or large sales teams
• Complex platform setup and management
• Low-quality customer support
• Not considered a best-of-breed platform for sales prospecting
• Limited sales tool integrations
• Focus on quantity of data over quality

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9. Seamless.ai

Seamless.ai is a B2B contact data and prospecting tool that’s most popular among small businesses. As a lead management solution, Seamless.ai is designed to connect salespeople with their ideal prospects. However, G2 reviewers report that it lacks the ease of use, transparent pricing, and support quality of other data providers in this space.

Top features of Seamless.ai

• B2B contact database
• Pitch intelligence
• Data enrichment (premium)
• Contact tracking for job changes (premium)

Seamless.ai Pricing

• Free tier
• Basic, Pro, and Enterprise plans
• Pricing available upon request

Seamless.ai Cons:

• Inability to verify data in real time
• Low G2 scores for ease of setup, ability to meet customer requirements, and quality of customer support
• Lack of transparent plan pricing
• Not ideal for midsize or large sales teams

Why does your business need a B2B contact database?

Having a reliable contact database is crucial for any B2B business looking to thrive in today's competitive landscape. It serves as a vital tool for identifying and connecting with potential prospects, identifying upsell and cross-sell opportunities, and finding decision makers to ensure your sales efforts are targeted and efficient. Companies across all industries use B2B contact data to fuel growth and drive revenue.

At a high level, B2B contact data can be used for:

• Lead generation. Sales teams use B2B contact details to identify potential prospects and target companies. With a robust, reliable data set powering acquisition efforts, reps can find would-be buyers that match their ideal customer profile (ICP).‍
• Sales and marketing campaigns. B2B sales and marketing teams can also use databases for outreach, cold calling, outbound email sequences, and direct mail campaigns. With accurate data and contact lists guiding their efforts, they can connect with the right people in the right place at the right time. ‍
• Networking. B2B contact repositories also help sales reps build relationships by connecting with potential customers, partners, and suppliers including decision makers
• ‍Market research. Companies also use contact data for B2B market research and analysis purposes. With data fueling their strategies, organizations can better understand market trends and make smarter decisions.

While B2B contact data providers are undeniably valuable, their effectiveness hinges on the accuracy and freshness of the information they contain. Outdated or incorrect data can lead to misdirected efforts, missed opportunities, and ruining your domain so you always land in the spam folder. Working with a provider that ensures their data (and therefore your data) is regularly updated and verified is essential for maintaining its usefulness.

What’s the best way to build a B2B database for your sales team?

The most effective approach to building a B2B database for your sales team is to leverage a reliable and accurate sales intelligence platform.

This method marks a strategic shift away from traditional, often outdated legacy vendors to modern, more focused B2B data providers. Modern providers prioritize real-time data verification, using advanced technologies to ensure that the information your sales team relies on is current and relevant. This is crucial in an era where job changes are frequent and business landscapes are constantly evolving.

The best b2b database providers concentrate on delivering high-quality, actionable data, as opposed to the vast but often stagnant databases of legacy directories. Size isn't the only thing that matters when it comes to B2B data providers!

Active data sets are a core component of any sales prospecting platform, but they’re just one of many features to look for in an ideal B2B data tool.

How to choose a B2B data provider

Selecting the right B2B data provider is crucial for your sales team's success. Here are key points to consider:

• Database Size and Quality: The size of the database should be balanced with the quality of data it contains. A vast database is valuable, but only if the information is relevant and reliable, ensuring your sales team isn't wasting time on outdated or irrelevant leads.
• Accuracy of the Data: Accurate data is the backbone of any successful sales strategy. It reduces the time spent on chasing incorrect leads and enhances the effectiveness of marketing campaigns.
• Sales Tool Integration Capabilities: The ability to integrate seamlessly with existing sales tools streamlines workflows and increases efficiency. This integration ensures that data is easily accessible and usable within the tools your team already trusts.
• Data Coverage: Broad geographic coverage is important, but also consider the strength of the tool in specific regions. For instance, while some tools like Lusha and Cognism have strong coverage in EMEA, they might be less robust in NA. Other important data coverage considerations include the business segment they focus on—such as SMB or large enterprises—and the industries they provide data for within those segments.
• Data Refresh and Verification: Regular data updates and verification are vital to maintain data relevance and accuracy. It's important to understand how often the provider refreshes their database and the methods they use for verification.
• Overall User Experience: An intuitive, user-friendly platform can significantly impact the productivity and satisfaction of your sales team. It should enable easy access and manipulation of data without a steep learning curve.

Any data provider should be willing to help you test their data - which is a crucial part in picking the right provider! The best way to do this is to run a list of your current contacts with information you know to be true through their systems. Another way is to request a certain type of data such as "We want a list of 100 VPs of Marketing in the B2C SaaS industry with teams under 100 people".

Never second guess B2B contact data again with LeadIQ

B2B data providers may be easy to find, but distinguishing your team with contact data that truly stands out is more crucial (and harder) than ever. The challenge lies in finding a database that not only offers accurate information but also streamlines your sales process rather than hindering it. With many legacy database hosts, amassing data without robust verification, sales reps risk wasting time on outdated contacts, especially given the frequent job changes in today’s dynamic world.

LeadIQ addresses these challenges head-on, making sales searching both easier and more efficient. With LeadIQ, you'll access verified, comprehensive data that integrates seamlessly with your CRM at the click of a button. LeadIQ keeps your data current with automatic enrichment, alerts you to key sales triggers like job changes and company updates, and employs advanced AI to craft personalized messages through Scribe. It's a streamlined approach to prospecting for businesses of all sizes and in all industries.

To see how LeadIQ can transform your sales prospecting, book a demo and experience the difference firsthand.