12 Best B2B Contact Database Providers (2026)

B2B contact data decays at roughly 2-3% per month. People change jobs, get promoted, switch email addresses, and move companies. By year's end, nearly a quarter of your database is stale. According to research from Landbase, the average B2B data provider delivers only about 50% accuracy, and 91% of CRM data is incomplete. Poor data quality costs organizations an average of $12.9 million per year, and 44% of companies lose more than 10% of annual revenue due to CRM data decay.

That is not a rounding error. It is a structural problem that drains pipeline, wastes rep time, and inflates your cost per opportunity. And it explains why sales intelligence has become a $4.85 billion market growing at 11.3% annually toward $10.25 billion by 2032.

This guide breaks down 12 contact database providers that matter in 2026 -- what they actually cost, where they excel, and where they fall short. We removed defunct products (RIP Data.com, DiscoverOrg as a standalone) and added platforms that have earned their place. Every pricing figure comes from published pages or verified third-party sources.

What Should You Evaluate Before Choosing a Contact Database?

Before comparing platforms, get clear on five things. These criteria will save you months of buyer's remorse and are consistent with the evaluation frameworks recommended in our data enrichment platforms guide.

1. How Does the Vendor Verify Data Accuracy?

Ask every vendor: How do you verify contacts, and how often? There is a massive difference between a provider that scrapes LinkedIn profiles and one that phone-verifies mobile numbers every 90 days. The technology industry experiences data decay rates as high as 35% annually, so verification cadence matters more than database size. Cognism's own research shows that phone-verified numbers connect at 22% vs. 14% for unverified -- a 57% improvement in connect rate from verification alone.

2. Does the Database Cover Your ICP?

A database with 200 million contacts is useless if none of them are mid-market fintech CTOs in DACH. Map your ideal customer profile first, then test each provider against it. Request a sample export of 500 contacts matching your ICP and validate the results before signing an annual contract.

3. Credits vs. Unlimited Access: Which Model Fits?

Most providers use credit-based pricing. One credit equals one contact reveal. Credits typically expire monthly and do not roll over. This means if you buy 1,000 credits and use 600, you lose 400. Unlimited-access models (like Lead411 and SalesIntel) can be more cost-effective for high-volume teams, but often come with higher base prices.

4. How Deep Are the CRM and Tool Integrations?

A contact database that does not sync cleanly with your CRM and sales engagement platform creates friction. Look for native integrations with Salesforce, HubSpot, Outreach, Salesloft, and LinkedIn Sales Navigator. API access is critical for teams building custom workflows or using AI personalization tools like Autobound that layer intelligence on top of contact data.

5. What Is the True Total Cost of Ownership?

The sticker price is almost never the real price. Watch for: annual-only contracts, per-seat escalation, credit overages, add-on fees for intent data or API access, and 10-20% renewal increases. We will flag these throughout the reviews below.

The 12 Best B2B Contact Database Providers in 2026

1. ZoomInfo -- The Enterprise Standard

ZoomInfo remains the dominant player in B2B sales intelligence. After acquiring DiscoverOrg in 2019 and merging both platforms, they offer the deepest dataset in the market, covering 260M+ professional profiles and 100M+ company profiles. Their intent data, org charts, and workflow automation make them the default choice for enterprise teams.

Pricing: ZoomInfo is quote-based with annual contracts only. According to multiple third-party sources including Cognism's pricing breakdown and UpLead's analysis, expect to pay:

• Professional: ~$14,995-$18,000/year
• Advanced: ~$24,995-$28,000/year (adds intent data)
• Elite: ~$39,995-$45,000+/year (adds engagement tools)
• Additional seats typically cost $1,500+/year each
• Renewals often increase 10-20%

Best for: Enterprise sales teams (50+ reps) with budget for the category leader. If you need org charts, buying committees, and deep intent data across a large TAM, ZoomInfo is hard to beat.

Watch out for: The total cost escalates quickly with seats and add-ons. A team of 20 can easily spend $50,000-$60,000/year. The platform is powerful but complex -- expect a real onboarding period. ZoomInfo Lite is a free option with limited features for individuals and small teams.

2. Apollo.io -- Best Value for Growing Teams

Apollo.io has quietly become the most popular alternative to ZoomInfo, especially for SMBs and mid-market teams. Their database covers 270M+ contacts, and they bundle prospecting workflows, engagement sequences, and a dialer into one platform at a fraction of ZoomInfo's price.

Pricing (per user/month, billed annually):

• Free: $0 -- 5 mobile credits, 10 export credits/month
• Basic: $49 ($59 monthly) -- 75 mobile credits, 1,000 export credits
• Professional: $79 ($99 monthly) -- 100 mobile credits, 2,000 export credits, US dialer
• Organization: $119 ($149 monthly) -- 200 mobile credits, 4,000 export credits, international dialer

Source: Apollo.io pricing page. Additional credits cost $0.20 each with a minimum purchase of 250 monthly or 2,500 annually. All credits expire at billing cycle end.

Best for: Startups, SMBs, and mid-market teams that want prospecting + engagement in one platform. The free tier is genuinely useful for individual contributors testing the waters.

Watch out for: Data accuracy is Apollo's weak point. Multiple G2 reviewers report inconsistent email verification, especially for international contacts. If your outreach volume is high, budget for a separate email verification step or consider a waterfall enrichment approach.

3. Cognism -- Best for EMEA and Compliance-First Teams

Cognism has built its reputation on two things: GDPR-compliant data and phone-verified mobile numbers. They claim 10M+ phone-verified contacts globally and are the go-to provider for European sales teams.

Pricing: Custom quotes only, annual contracts. Cognism recently rebranded its tiers. Based on reports from Warmly and Derrick App:

• Grow (formerly Platinum): ~$15,000 platform fee + $1,500/user/year
• Elevate (formerly Diamond): ~$25,000 platform fee + $2,500/user/year (adds phone-verified mobiles and AI features)
• Total spend for most teams: $15,000-$100,000+/year

Best for: Teams selling into EMEA or regulated industries where GDPR compliance is non-negotiable. The phone-verified mobile numbers are genuinely differentiated -- cold calling teams report significantly higher connect rates.

Watch out for: US data coverage is not as strong as ZoomInfo or Apollo. The opaque pricing means you will not know the real cost until you sit through a sales demo. End-of-quarter negotiations can yield discounts up to 29%.

4. Lusha -- Best for Quick Lookups and Small Teams

Lusha is a lightweight, credit-based contact database with a strong Chrome extension. It is fast to deploy and easy for individual reps to adopt without involving IT.

Pricing (per user/month, billed annually):

• Free: $0 -- 70 credits/month
• Pro: $22.45 -- 3,000 credits/year
• Premium: $52.45 -- 7,200 credits/year
• Scale: Custom pricing -- unlimited contact access, intent data, API

Source: Lusha pricing page and UpLead's breakdown. Annual billing saves 25% vs. monthly.

Best for: Individual reps or small teams (under 10) who need a simple, affordable tool for ad-hoc contact lookups. The Chrome extension works smoothly on LinkedIn and company websites.

Watch out for: The credit system adds up fast if your team is doing high-volume outreach. At scale, Lusha can become more expensive per-contact than platforms like Apollo. Intent data and advanced features are locked behind the Scale tier.

5. Seamless.AI -- Real-Time Search Engine for Contacts

Seamless.AI differentiates by searching for contact data in real time rather than serving from a static database. This approach often surfaces more current emails and direct dials, though results can be inconsistent.

Pricing: Seamless.AI's pricing is not published transparently. Based on analysis from Cognism and SMARTe:

• Free: 50 lifetime credits (not monthly -- once they are gone, they are gone)
• Basic: ~$147/month for 250 credits (credits refresh monthly, unused are lost)
• Pro: ~$79-$299/user/month (requires 5+ users, annual contract, daily credit refresh)
• Enterprise: Custom, reported $20,000-$100,000+/year
• Median annual spend (per Vendr data from 40 buyers): ~$7,775

Best for: Teams that prioritize data freshness over database size. The real-time search model works well for niche industries where static databases have gaps.

Watch out for: The pricing opacity is a red flag. Multiple G2 reviewers report that 20-30% of returned contacts have inaccurate data, and credits are consumed even when the data is wrong. The Pro Plan requires a minimum of 5 user licenses and almost always requires an annual upfront commitment.

6. LeadIQ -- Best for SDR Workflow Integration

LeadIQ is built specifically for sales development workflows. Its Chrome extension captures contacts directly from LinkedIn Sales Navigator and pushes them into your CRM and sequences in one click. They have also added AI email writing that is genuinely useful for personalizing outreach.

Pricing (per user/month, billed annually):

• Free: $0 -- 50 verified emails, 5 phone numbers/month
• Essential: $39 -- 1,000 verified emails, 50 phones, 100 AI emails
• Pro: $79 -- 2,000 verified emails, 100 phones
• Enterprise: Custom -- 10,000+ verified emails, 200 phones

Source: LeadIQ pricing page and Derrick App's breakdown. Credits do not roll over. Add-ons like SSO ($4,800/year) and API access ($200-$500/month) add up.

Best for: SDR teams that live in LinkedIn Sales Navigator and need fast, friction-free contact capture. The workflow integration is genuinely best-in-class for this use case.

Watch out for: LeadIQ is not a full database -- it is a prospecting workflow tool. You cannot build large target account lists or run broad searches the way you can with ZoomInfo or Apollo. The add-on costs for SSO and API can double your investment.

7. UpLead -- Budget-Friendly with Real-Time Verification

UpLead positions itself as a more affordable alternative to ZoomInfo with a strong emphasis on real-time email verification. They claim 95%+ data accuracy and verify every email at the point of export.

Pricing:

• Essentials: $99/month (170 credits) or $74/month annually (2,040 credits/year)
• Plus: $199/month (400 credits) or $149/month annually (4,800 credits/year)
• Professional: Custom pricing, annual only
• Overage credits: $0.50-$0.60 each

Source: UpLead pricing page.

Best for: Small to mid-size teams that want verified contacts without enterprise pricing. Good for companies where email deliverability is a top priority, since the real-time verification catches bounces before they happen.

Watch out for: The database is smaller than ZoomInfo or Apollo, which can mean limited coverage for niche industries or international markets. Monthly credits expire with no rollover.

8. Lead411 -- Best Unlimited-Access Model

Lead411 stands out for offering unlimited contact exports on higher plans, which is unusual in a market dominated by credit-based models. They also bundle Bombora intent data on their Pro tier.

Pricing:

• Basic Plus (Spark): $75/user/month annually ($99 monthly) -- 2,400 annual exports, additional exports $0.50 each
• Pro: Custom pricing, starting ~$3,000/year -- 10,000 annual exports + Bombora intent data, additional exports $0.44 each
• Enterprise (Blaze): Custom, starting ~$6,000+/year -- unlimited exports, dedicated support, API access

Source: Lead411 pricing page. Free 7-day trial includes 50 verified leads.

Best for: High-volume outbound teams that hate worrying about credits. If your SDRs are each exporting 500+ contacts per month, the unlimited model pays for itself quickly compared to credit-based competitors.

Watch out for: The UI is functional but dated compared to Apollo or ZoomInfo. Data coverage for international markets is limited. Intent data is only available on the Pro tier and above.

9. Hunter.io -- Best for Email-Only Use Cases

Hunter.io does one thing exceptionally well: finding and verifying professional email addresses. Their domain search feature is the standard for mapping out an organization's email structure.

Pricing:

• Free: 25 searches + 50 verifications/month
• Starter: $49/month ($34/month annually) -- 500 searches, 1,000 verifications
• Growth: $149/month ($104/month annually) -- 5,000 searches, 10,000 verifications
• Scale: $299/month ($209/month annually) -- 10,000 searches, 20,000 verifications
• Enterprise: Custom pricing -- unlimited features, dedicated manager

Source: Hunter.io pricing page. Annual billing saves ~30%. All plans include auto-verification, lead enrichment, and AI writing assistant.

Best for: Marketers, recruiters, and sales teams that primarily need email addresses. The domain search and bulk verification features are excellent for building targeted lists. Also popular with link builders and PR teams.

Watch out for: Hunter is not a full contact database. No phone numbers, no intent data, no engagement tools. The email finder success rate is reportedly 35-45%, meaning you will not find a valid email for every search. If you need direct dials or company intelligence, you will need to pair Hunter with another platform.

10. RocketReach -- Broad Coverage, Simple Interface

RocketReach offers a straightforward contact lookup tool with a database covering 700M+ professionals across 35M+ companies. The interface is refreshingly simple compared to enterprise platforms.

Pricing (annual billing):

• Essentials: $399/year (~$33/month) -- 1,200 lookups, email only
• Pro: $899/year (~$75/month) -- 3,600 lookups, includes phone
• Ultimate: $2,099/year (~$175/month) -- 10,000 lookups, API + Salesforce sync
• Team plans available from $83/user/month

Source: RocketReach pricing page. Monthly billing is roughly 2x the annual rate ($69/$119/$209). Free accounts include 5 lookups to test the platform.

Best for: Individual contributors and small teams that need broad lookup coverage without the complexity of a full sales intelligence platform. Good for recruiting and BD roles that need quick access to verified contact info.

Watch out for: No built-in engagement tools, limited intent data, and no sequence automation. The per-lookup cost can get expensive at scale compared to unlimited-access models.

11. SalesIntel -- Best for Human-Verified Data Quality

SalesIntel differentiates with human-verified contacts that are re-verified every 90 days. They claim a 95% accuracy rate, which puts them significantly above the 50% industry average.

Pricing: Custom quotes with unlimited access models. Plans include unlimited access to human-verified contact and company data, removing the friction of credit management. SalesIntel describes its approach as eliminating the "predatory pricing" common in credit-based models.

Source: SalesIntel pricing page.

Best for: Teams where data accuracy is the top priority, particularly for cold calling campaigns where incorrect phone numbers waste significant rep time. The 90-day re-verification cycle is genuinely differentiated.

Watch out for: The unlimited model means pricing is entirely quote-based, making it hard to compare. The platform lacks the engagement features (sequences, dialer) you get with Apollo or ZoomInfo.

12. Breeze Intelligence (formerly Clearbit) -- Best for HubSpot-Native Teams

HubSpot acquired Clearbit in December 2023 and rebranded it as Breeze Intelligence. If your CRM is HubSpot, this is now the most tightly integrated data enrichment option available.

Pricing: Requires a paid HubSpot subscription (minimum $30/month) plus Breeze Intelligence credit packs starting at $45/month annually. The minimum effective cost is $75/month ($30 HubSpot Starter + $45 Breeze base). As of 2025, all free Clearbit tools have been shut down. Credits expire monthly with no rollover.

Source: Cognism's pricing analysis and Warmly's breakdown.

Best for: Companies already on HubSpot that want seamless data enrichment inside their CRM. Breeze enriches contact and company records with 40+ firmographic, demographic, and technographic attributes without leaving HubSpot.

Watch out for: You cannot use Breeze Intelligence without a HubSpot subscription. If you ever migrate CRMs, you lose access entirely. The credit expiration with no rollover is frustrating for teams with variable usage patterns. Higher credit packs (1,000 and 10,000) do not have publicly listed prices.

How Do These Providers Compare on Price?

Here is a simplified pricing comparison to help you narrow down your shortlist. All prices reflect annual billing where available.

• Under $50/user/month: Apollo.io (from $49), Lusha (from $22), LeadIQ (from $39), RocketReach (from $33), Hunter.io (from $34)
• $50-$150/user/month: UpLead (from $74), Lead411 (from $75), Seamless.AI (from ~$79)
• Enterprise / quote-based: ZoomInfo ($15K-$45K+/year), Cognism ($15K-$100K+/year), SalesIntel (custom, unlimited), Breeze Intelligence (HubSpot + credits from $75/month)

Remember: the cheapest per-contact cost is not always the best value. A provider delivering 95%+ accuracy at $0.50/contact will outperform one delivering 50% accuracy at $0.10/contact every time, because bounced emails, wrong numbers, and wasted rep time have real costs.

Do You Need a Separate Intent Data Provider?

Several platforms in this list include intent data (ZoomInfo, Cognism, Lead411 via Bombora). But if your primary need is identifying in-market accounts rather than finding contact information, consider dedicated intent data providers like 6sense or Bombora.

6sense is the premium option for account-based marketing teams. Their predictive AI identifies accounts showing buying signals before those accounts ever fill out a form. Pricing starts around $60,000/year and can exceed $300,000 for large deployments, according to Warmly's analysis. It is powerful but requires significant investment in both dollars and implementation effort.

For most sales teams, intent data bundled within your contact database (Apollo, ZoomInfo, or Cognism) is sufficient. A dedicated intent platform makes sense when you have a mature ABM program and need to orchestrate multi-channel campaigns around buying signals.

How Should You Layer Contact Data with Personalization?

Here is where most teams leave value on the table. Having accurate contact data is necessary but not sufficient. Gartner predicts that 65% of B2B sales organizations will transition from intuition-based to data-driven decision making by 2026. And by 2028, Gartner expects 90% of B2B buying to be AI-agent intermediated, pushing over $15 trillion of B2B spend through AI exchanges. The competitive edge is not in having the data -- it is in what you do with it.

The most effective outbound teams combine contact databases with buyer signal data for personalization. Instead of sending the same templated email to every contact, they reference specific triggers: a recent funding round, a leadership change, an expansion into a new market, or a competitor's product outage. Research shows that personalized outreach drives 10-15% more revenue, while personalized cold emails earn 142% higher reply rates.

This is exactly what tools like Autobound are built for. Rather than replacing your contact database, Autobound layers on top of it -- pulling from 350+ signal types across financial filings, news events, job changes, and social media to generate personalized email content that references what is actually happening at each prospect's company.

A practical workflow looks like this:

1. Build your list in Apollo, ZoomInfo, or whichever database you use
2. Enrich with signals using a data-driven targeting approach that identifies relevant triggers for each contact
3. Generate personalized messaging that references those signals in the opening line
4. Execute through your SEP (Outreach, Salesloft, or similar)
5. Measure and iterate on which signal types drive the highest reply rates

Teams running this workflow consistently see 2-3x higher reply rates compared to template-based outreach, because every email demonstrates that the sender actually did their homework.

What Is the Best Way to Choose Between These Providers?

Do not try to evaluate all 12 platforms. Use these filters to narrow to 2-3 finalists:

1. Budget: If you are under $500/month, start with Apollo.io (free tier) or Lusha. If you have $15K+/year, ZoomInfo and Cognism belong on your shortlist.
2. Geography: Selling into EMEA? Cognism should be your first call. Primarily US-focused? ZoomInfo and Apollo will have better coverage.
3. Use case: Need emails only? Hunter.io. Need the full stack (contacts + intent + engagement)? Apollo or ZoomInfo. Need maximum data accuracy for cold calling? SalesIntel or Cognism.
4. CRM: On HubSpot? Evaluate Breeze Intelligence alongside your primary database. On Salesforce? ZoomInfo's integration is the deepest.
5. Volume: High-volume outbound (1,000+ contacts/month per rep)? Look at unlimited models like Lead411 or SalesIntel. Low-volume, high-quality outreach? Credit-based models work fine.

Request trials from your finalists, load a sample of your actual target accounts, and measure two things: (1) match rate against your ICP and (2) accuracy of the emails and phone numbers returned. Those two data points will tell you more than any demo or sales deck.

Then pair your chosen database with a signal-based personalization layer that turns those contacts into conversations. The data gets your foot in the door. What you say when the door opens is what closes the deal.