Bombora vs 6sense (2026) Compared
Bombora sells intent data. 6sense sells a vision of predictive revenue. You're choosing between a data feed and an operating system.
The Short Version
Bombora is the better choice if you want pure intent data to feed into your existing tech stack (CRM, MAP, ad platforms) without ripping and replacing anything. 6sense wins if you want an all-in-one ABM platform with intent, predictive analytics, orchestration, and advertising built in. The risk with Bombora is that intent data alone doesn't drive action without good workflows; with 6sense, it's the price tag and the 18-month implementation before you see ROI.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Bombora | 6sense |
|---|---|---|
| Core Product | Intent data feed (Company Surge) | Full ABM platform + intent |
| Starting Price | $25K+/year | $60K+/year |
| Contract | Annual | Annual (multi-year common) |
| Intent Data Source | B2B publisher co-op (5,000+ sites) | Multi-source: web, co-op, keyword, 6sense network |
| Topic Taxonomy | 7,000+ topics | Custom keyword + topic based |
| Account Identification | No (intent data only) | Yes (de-anonymize web traffic) |
| Predictive Analytics | No | Yes (buying stage prediction) |
| Ad Platform | No (integrates with DSPs) | Built-in display advertising |
| Best For | Adding intent signals to existing stack | Full ABM orchestration platform |
| The Big Risk | Data without activation workflows | High cost, long time-to-value |
Deep Dive: Bombora
What They're Selling
Bombora's pitch is straightforward: they operate the largest B2B intent data co-operative, tracking content consumption across 5,000+ publisher websites. Their Company Surge data tells you which accounts are researching topics relevant to your product, scored by intensity. It's a data feed, not a platform. You plug Bombora into your existing CRM, MAP, or ABM tools and use it to prioritize accounts.
What It Actually Costs
Pricing starts around $25K/year for limited topics and accounts. Most mid-market companies pay $36K-$60K/year for broader coverage. Enterprise deals with multiple topic clusters run $60K-$100K+/year. Unlike 6sense, there's no platform cost on top. But you will need existing tools (CRM, MAP, ad platform) to activate the data, which are separate costs.
What Users Say
Users appreciate Bombora's simplicity: it does one thing (intent data) and integrates with everything. The Company Surge scoring is well-regarded for account prioritization. Frustrations include: topic taxonomy can be too broad, difficulty attributing pipeline to intent signals alone, and the fact that co-op data captures content consumption but misses search-based intent.
Pros
- Largest B2B intent data co-operative
- Integrates with 40+ platforms (CRM, MAP, DSP)
- Simpler to implement than full ABM platforms
- Lower price point than 6sense
Cons
- Intent data only, no activation tools built in
- Co-op data misses search and web-based intent
- Topic taxonomy can be too broad for niche products
- Hard to measure ROI without proper attribution
Deep Dive: 6sense
What They're Selling
6sense positions itself as the revenue AI platform for B2B. The pitch goes beyond intent data: 6sense combines intent signals from multiple sources, de-anonymizes website visitors, predicts buying stages, orchestrates campaigns, and runs display advertising. It's an operating system for ABM, not just a data feed.
What It Actually Costs
Pricing starts around $60K/year for smaller deployments. Most mid-market companies pay $75K-$120K/year. Enterprise deals commonly run $120K-$250K+/year with multi-year contracts. Implementation typically requires 3-6 months and a dedicated RevOps resource. Total first-year cost including implementation and training can be 30-50% above the license fee.
What Users Say
Teams that fully implement 6sense often become advocates. The buying stage prediction and account identification features get strong praise. The most common complaint: time-to-value is long. Companies report 6-18 months before they're getting consistent value. The platform is complex, requires dedicated resources, and the AI models need data to calibrate. Buyer's remorse is real for companies that underestimate the implementation lift.
Pros
- Multi-source intent data (broader coverage than co-op alone)
- De-anonymizes website visitors to accounts
- Predictive buying stage models
- Built-in display advertising and orchestration
Cons
- Significantly more expensive than data-only solutions
- 6-18 month implementation timeline
- Requires dedicated RevOps resources
- Multi-year contracts with limited flexibility
Which Should You Pick?
The Honest Take
Bombora and 6sense aren't direct competitors in practice. Bombora sells data; 6sense sells a platform that includes data. The decision is less about which intent data is better and more about how much of your ABM stack you want from a single vendor. Companies with mature CRM, MAP, and ad operations often prefer Bombora's approach: add intent signals without disrupting existing workflows. Companies that want a single platform to run their ABM program lean toward 6sense. The catch: 6sense's promise of predictive, AI-driven revenue is compelling on paper but requires significant investment in time, money, and resources to realize. Many companies buy 6sense expecting magic and discover it's a powerful but complex tool that demands real operational commitment.
Questions to Ask Before Buying
- Do you have an existing ABM platform, or are you starting from scratch?
- What tools will you use to activate intent data (CRM workflows, ad platforms, BDR alerts)?
- How many topics or keywords do you need to monitor for intent signals?
- Do you need website visitor identification, or is account-level intent sufficient?
- What's your realistic budget for intent/ABM tools including implementation?
- Do you have dedicated RevOps resources to configure and maintain a platform like 6sense?
- How do you plan to measure ROI on intent data?
- Are you willing to commit to a multi-year contract?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bombora or 6sense better for intent data?
Bombora provides pure co-op intent data from 5,000+ publisher sites with 7,000+ topics. 6sense uses multi-source intent (co-op, web, keyword-based). 6sense has broader coverage, but Bombora's focused approach integrates more easily into existing tools. For intent data quality alone, both are strong. 6sense offers more sources; Bombora offers simpler integration.
Can you use Bombora and 6sense together?
Technically yes, but there's significant overlap. Some enterprises use Bombora's co-op data as one signal feeding into 6sense's platform. Most companies choose one or the other since 6sense includes its own intent data layer.
How much does Bombora cost vs 6sense?
Bombora typically costs $25K-$60K/year for intent data. 6sense costs $60K-$120K+/year for the full platform. The price gap widens when you factor in 6sense's implementation costs and the RevOps resources needed to run it. Bombora's total cost of ownership is lower, but you need existing tools to act on the data.