Cognism vs. ZoomInfo: Which is Better and Why?

An Overview of Cognism

Cognism started as a B2B marketing and sales organization in 2015 by James Isilay and Stjepan Buljat in London, UK, with a goal to introduce innovative sales intelligence into the existing operations, while also providing accurate and compliant data to customers globally. In 2021, they experienced major growth as they acquired Bombora’s intent data into their platform, spreading across Europe, North America, and beyond.

The emotional footprint award by SoftwareReviews records that Cognism has 91% positive reviews in 2024 and just 2% of negative reviews. Some of the core features that make Cognism stand out include: 

• Unrestricted lead generation for Individuals and Agencies 
• Phone-verified leads with 87% accuracy 
• GDPR and CCPA-compliant B2B contact and company data
• AI-powered intent data to identify warm leads.
• Easy integrations with major CRM and sales engagement tools like Salesforce, Hubspot, Outreach and more 

Cognism focuses on providing these services to technology industries, financial services and organizations involved in staff recruitment.

An Overview of ZoomInfo

ZoomInfo was started in 2000 by Henry Schuck and Kirk Brown, and later rebranded after DiscoverOrg acquired it in 2019 with its headquarters in Vancouver, Washington. The software started as a business directory and evolved into a leading sales intelligence platform which businesses use now for lead generation. As one of Lusha’s competitors, ZoomInfo provides the following services to companies from healthcare to manufacturing. 

• Seamless data integration
• Supports talent acquisition 
• Insights into organizational charts for better decision making
• Integrates seamlessly into its CRM and SalesOS platforms

ZoomInfo and Cognism Features

ZoomInfo and Cognism features have similar and different features for sales growth that are programmed to bring growth to any business. These range of features help sales and marketing teams to identify high-value prospects, useful in outreach, specific targeting and to improve actions of data-driven decision makers. The comparison of the features of each company is necessary to fully understand the suitable company for your business.

Cognism

• Data Enrichment: Build your contact list with accurate, up-to-date, high-quality B2B contact and company data
• Cognism AI Search: Use AI-powered text prompts or voice search to identify high-value prospects
• Advanced Sales Intelligence: Cognism provides technographic, firmographic, and intent data to provide insights on ready buyers
• Sales Prospector Tool: Users can generate targeted leads matching their ideal customer profile using various filters to find the proper emails and contacts.
• Workflow Automation: Automates major activities within sales and marketing platforms for efficient workflow

ZoomInfo

• Sales Intelligence: gives signals into buyers intent, showing companies how to approach and turn warm leads into buyers
• Contact Search: advanced contact search filters makes it possible to get contacts of your ideal market like other providers like Apollo 
• Advanced analytics and insights: companies can track website visitors with website chat and forms to analyze their behavior and interests 
• CRM Integrations: ZoomInfo seamlessly integrates with other marketing and sales platforms.
• Comprehensive Coverage: ZoomInfo provides accurate contact for the North American markets with additional global reach
• Real-Time Updates: Receive real-time updates for data accuracy and relevance

Cognism vs. ZoomInfo Benefits

Before you select a sales intelligence tool, it is crucial to understand most of the features they present, and how they proffer solutions to specific needs in your company. Every sales intelligence tool should streamline workflow, comply with regulations like GDPR, and provide actionable insights to improve sales and marketing strategies, and achieve measurable growth. 

Cognism

• Phone-Verified Data: Gathers accurate and verified data
• Industry-Specific Focus: Provides sales intelligence tools tailored to industries
• GDPR and CCPA Compliance: Prioritizes ethical data usage
• Uses artificial intelligence to identify warm leads and high-value prospects efficiently 
• User-friendly interface making it easy to use
• International Coverage: Provides email verification of regional contacts for the European market and audiences beyond North America

ZoomInfo

• Superior Integrations: deals with automatic data synchronization, reducing manual entry 
• Advanced Filtering: granular filters by job title, company size and more.
• Comprehensive Database: large and detailed B2B contact and company databases globally similar to Uplead and Zoominfo
• All-in-One Platform: combines sales, marketing, and recruitment tools in a single solution
• Behavioral Insights: improved targeting through insights into buyer behavior 

Data Quality and Coverage

While it is important for companies to have an extensive database, it is also necessary to provide high quality data as these features affect the effectiveness of sales intelligence tools. Accurate, up-to-date information ensures that sales and marketing teams target the right prospects and work within a comprehensive data coverage to grow revenue. 

Cognism's Data

• Data Accuracy: Cognism sources contacts from third party public and proprietary data points, gathering over twice the cell phone numbers other providers offer. They gather email addresses as well as phone-verified cell phone numbers which have been checked against global do-not-call lists.
• Update Frequency: Updating data on Cognism lead generation tools is as frequent as each time you need a contact, because it uses a real-time technology to refresh its database. This way, you have the most current information about prospects. Regarding coverage, the data provided by Cognism has coverage which is strong in the EMEA region and the US.

ZoomInfo's Data

• Data Reliability: Not only does ZoomInfo have a comprehensive database, it also maintains a strong reputation for reliable data. Seamless and Zoominfo are similar in lead generation as they carry out a couple of manual checks and AI-powered validations regularly to verify data from multiple sources for continual reliability. Also, Zoominfo gathers data from a group of voluntary contributors that share their business contacts, reliable contact data in exchange for limited access to ZoomInfo. 
• Refresh Rate: The emails, mobile numbers and other contact details are updated in real-time, to keep data fresh and relevant. Data is monitored regularly to ensure information stays current and reflects changes in company information per time.

ZoomInfo vs. Cognism Data Integrations

The main difference between Cognism and ZoomInfo's data integrations is that while cognism allows for integration, Zoominfo offers an in-house technology stack, removing the need to add on other tools, which makes it stand out from Zoominfo competitors. When companies integrate with CRMs and productivity tools, it reduces the need for manual data entry, streamlines workflows and ensures consistent information across teams. 

Cognism Integrations

Cognism integrates directly with; 

• LinkedIn Sales Navigator to enrich contact profiles and list
• Salesforce to exports contact data for sales automation
• Outreach to add prospects into sequences for effective cadence management.
• HubSpot to connect contact database for inbound or outbound marketing
• Chrome Extension to sync contact data from websites
• Zapier to eliminate tedious tasks

ZoomInfo Integrations

Zoominfo integrates with;  

• Salesforce to export data to CRM
• HubSpot to sync contact data for campaign enrichment 
• Slack to manage communication among teams
• Zoho CRM to provide in-depth lead intelligence
• Chrome Extension to connect with prospects swiftly from the browser
• Google Analytics 360 to align marketing campaign efforts with website analytics

Pricing Plans Compared: Cognism vs. ZoomInfo

Zoominfo and Cognism do not offer monthly subscription plans but necessitates longer-term commitment. To access the pricing plan on both platforms, companies need to contact their sales team for the tailored pricing and free trial options.

Talking about Zoominfo pricing, it is based on a credit system which personalizes the features based on each company’s requirements. Prices start at $14,995 per year for the professional plan, $24,995 per year for advanced plan and $39,995 annually for the elite plan. While these costs vary based on number of users and credits, you can adjust the cost by removing or adding more features.

On the other hand, Cognism offers a seat based pricing, allowing individuals unrestricted contact views and exporting in all packages. For larger organizations with teams, there are custom packages that provide bulk-list building, exporting plus setup, maintenance and support.

Zoominfo offers a free demo which lasts between 2 days and 7 days according to previous users, during which users enjoy unlimited access to its research database, and offer contact info and company profiles in exchange. With Cognism, users enjoy a free trial during which they have access to a one time 25 targeted and qualified B2B leads.

ZoomInfo vs. Cognism Ratings and Reviews

Before you choose a sales intelligence tool, checking out user ratings and reviews on different review platforms is necessary. With these reviews, companies have an idea of the strengths, weaknesses and overall efficacy of sales intelligence tools from a users perspective.

ZoomInfo

Over 8,700 users have tried out Zoominfo and submitted their review on G2, with a rating of 4.4 out of 5. Users love Zoominfo for seamless integration with advanced marketing tools, the extensive information database, as well as accurate email addresses and phone numbers. However, some users complain about the high cost which makes it unaffordable for small businesses and unclear pricing information. A few users also report outdated or incorrect contact information, which can hinder outreach efforts.

Cognism

Capterra records a 4.6 out of 5 rating for Cognism, as noted by 157 users. Cognism is known for providing accurate data, with users testifying to building leads from precise contact information. Another thing that stands out with Cognism is support from the customer support team, with the team providing assistance during onboarding, setup and marketing activities.

Security & Compliance

The mode of operation of different sales intelligence tools includes gathering data from different sources, accessing email addresses, company information and phone numbers which are all sensitive and require absolute security and compliance with the set rules and privacy regulations. If data providers like Lusha and Zoominfo follow global regulations like GDPR and CCPA, it will build the client’s trust in their services and prevent them from legal penalties.

Cognism Compliance

Cognism complies with key international regulations:  

•   CCPA Regulation  
•   ISO 27001 and ISO 27701 Certifications  
•   GDPR Regulation  

These regulations ensure:  

•   Systematic sensitive data management  
•   Data security  
•   External privacy  

Unlike other providers like Lusha, Cognism conducts rigorous checks on all mobile numbers and compares numbers against broader Do-Not-Call (DNC) lists 

ZoomInfo Compliance

• Zoominfo complies with major data protection regulations including GDPR, CCPA, and other relevant global data privacy laws
• Data protection measures used by Zoominfo includes regular audits and assessments to ensure compliance
• They also have various frameworks for data security and privacy

Not Sure About Cognism or ZoomInfo? Try BookYourData for Proven Results

Cognism and Zoominfo are a good referral when it comes to lead generation but if you have doubts, make Bookyourdata your choice. Bookyourdata is one of the reliable alternatives for high-quality business data, company profiles and every other feature that Cognism offers. Unlike Zoominfo, Bookyourdata runs on a cost effective pricing plan known as the pay as you go model which makes it a cost-effective solution. It also updates information in real time, allows targeted search filters and is easy to use. You are sure to experience company growth and long lasting marketing solutions with Bookyourdata.

Key Takeaways

• Cognism offers phone-verified mobile data, GDPR and CCPA compliance, and AI-powered tools for warm leads, ideal for target industries 
• ZoomInfo has an extensive global database with advanced analytics, and seamless CRM integrations
• While Cognism uses a seat-based pricing model with unrestricted contact exports, ZoomInfo follows a credit-based pricing model starting at $14,995/year
• Both Cognism and Zoominfo offer free trial, with Cognism providing 25 targeted leads and ZoomInfo offering 2-7 days of unlimited access.  
• Cognism is more suitable for smaller teams while ZoomInfo is better for large enterprises that need require advanced integrations

Frequently Asked Questions

How Accurate is Cognism Data?

Cognism has a reputation of 98% accuracy of phone verified mobiles and company data, which it ensures through a combination of real-time updates and rigorous checks against global Do-Not-Call (DNC) lists.

Does ZoomInfo Have Accurate Data?

Although ZoomInfo does not states it’s data accuracy on the website, reports state that ZoomInfo records 90% data accuracy. It maintains this record via manual checks, framework validations, and real-time updates.

Is Cognism a CRM?

Cognism is compatible with many CRM tools, allowing them to integrates seamlessly with Salesforce, HubSpot, and LinkedIn Sales Navigator. It is not a CRM but rather supports CRM integration to enrich contact data and automate workflows.

Do Cognism and ZoomInfo provide any training or resources to maximize platform usage?

These two platforms offer extensive training and onboarding resources courtesy of their dedicated support teams. Cognism has more positive reviews regarding excellent customer training during setup and beyond while ZoomInfo is known for hosting live training sessions.

Which platform is more suitable for small to medium-sized businesses?

Cognism is better suited for small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) as a result of its flexible seat based pricing, scalability and user-friendly interface, while Zoominfo’s caters better to large organizations.

Can I trial Cognism and ZoomInfo before purchasing?

Any user whether a freelance or a company can try out each platform’s features with their free trials. Cognism offers 25 targeted B2B leads during its trial, while ZoomInfo offers 2-7 days of unlimited access to its database, in exchange for company data.

Which platform offers more robust analytics and reporting capabilities?

On advanced analytics and intent data, Zoominfo takes the lead by providing users with tools to track website visitors, analyze buyer behavior, and generate detailed reports. Cognism also offers a fair analytics with intent data but is more skilled with sales prospecting.

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