6sense vs Demandbase (2026) Compared
Both cost $50K+ per year. The question isn't which is better — it's whether your team is ready for ABM at this level.
The Short Version
6sense is generally stronger at intent data aggregation and predictive scoring. Demandbase has better ABM advertising capabilities and a more established ad network. Both require $50K+/year budgets and significant organizational commitment. The biggest risk with either platform is buying it before your sales and marketing teams are aligned on an ABM strategy.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | 6sense | Demandbase |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | ~$25,000/yr | ~$25,000/yr |
| Typical Annual Cost | $50K–100K | $50K–100K |
| Intent Data | Strong — multi-source aggregation | Good — Bombora partnership |
| Predictive Scoring | AI-powered, highly rated | Machine learning models |
| ABM Advertising | Built-in, growing | Established, larger ad network |
| Anonymous Visitor ID | Yes | Yes |
| CRM Integration | Salesforce, HubSpot | Salesforce, HubSpot, Dynamics |
| Job Demand | 22 postings | 8 postings |
| Best For | Intent intelligence focus | ABM advertising focus |
| The Big Risk | ROI hard to measure | Advertising spend adds up fast |
Deep Dive: 6sense
What They're Selling
6sense positions itself as the AI-powered revenue platform. Its core value prop: aggregate intent signals from across the web, predict which accounts are ready to buy, and prioritize them for sales and marketing outreach. The platform scores accounts by buying stage (Awareness → Decision).
What It Actually Costs
Team tier starts ~$25K/year. Growth tier with predictive models and advertising: $50K-100K/year. Enterprise with custom AI models: $100K+/year. Add advertising spend on top. Most mid-market deployments land at $50K-100K/year total.
What Users Say
Marketing teams love the intent signals and account scoring. The buying stage prediction is genuinely useful for prioritization. Frustrations: long implementation (2-4 months), data can feel like a black box, and proving direct ROI is challenging.
Pros
- Best-in-class intent signal aggregation
- Buying stage predictions are actionable
- Strong anonymous visitor identification
- Good Salesforce integration
Cons
- Expensive — most teams spend $50K+/year
- Implementation takes 2-4 months
- Intent data quality varies for niche markets
- ROI attribution is difficult
Deep Dive: Demandbase
What They're Selling
Demandbase started as an ABM advertising platform and expanded into a full ABM suite with intent data, account intelligence, and sales insights. Its advertising network is its biggest differentiator — purpose-built for B2B account-level targeting.
What It Actually Costs
Similar to 6sense: starts ~$25K/year, most deployments $50K-100K/year. The advertising module adds variable cost on top. Demandbase's advertising is core to their value prop, so total spend including ad budget can reach $150K-200K/year for active programs.
What Users Say
ABM practitioners rate the advertising capabilities highly — the ability to target specific accounts with display ads is genuinely powerful. Intent data (powered by Bombora partnership) is good but not as comprehensive as 6sense's multi-source approach.
Pros
- Strongest ABM advertising network
- Established brand in the ABM space
- Good intent data via Bombora partnership
- Account-level targeting for display ads
Cons
- Advertising spend adds significant cost
- Intent data not as comprehensive as 6sense
- Platform complexity requires dedicated resources
- Less mature predictive scoring than 6sense
Which Should You Pick?
The Honest Take
Here's what neither vendor will tell you: the majority of companies that buy 6sense or Demandbase don't fully deploy them. They're complex platforms that require dedicated resources, organizational alignment, and months of tuning. Before spending $50K-100K/year on ABM technology, make sure your sales and marketing teams are aligned on target accounts, you have a process for acting on intent signals, and you've proven the ABM motion works manually. If you haven't closed deals through account-based outreach yet, technology won't fix that.
Questions to Ask Before Buying
- Have you successfully run ABM campaigns manually before investing in platform?
- Do your sales and marketing teams agree on target account lists?
- Who will own the platform day-to-day? Do you have dedicated ABM resources?
- What's your total ABM budget including ad spend, not just software?
- How will you measure ROI? Have you defined success metrics?
- What CRM are you using, and how mature is your CRM data?
- Are you prepared for a 2-4 month implementation timeline?
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do 6sense and Demandbase cost?
Neither publishes pricing. Based on user reports, both start around $25,000/year for basic tiers. Most mid-market deployments cost $50,000-100,000/year. With advertising spend, total ABM investment can reach $150K-200K/year.
6sense vs Demandbase — which has better intent data?
6sense is generally regarded as having better intent data because it aggregates signals from multiple sources. Demandbase uses Bombora as its primary intent source, which is good but narrower. For most use cases, both provide actionable intent signals.
Do I need 6sense or Demandbase?
If you haven't successfully run ABM campaigns manually, you probably don't. Start with simpler tools: LinkedIn ads with firmographic targeting, Warmly for visitor identification, or manual account-based outreach. Graduate to 6sense or Demandbase when you've proven the motion works.