Cognism vs ZoomInfo (2026) Compared
This decision comes down to geography. If you sell into Europe, Cognism fills a gap ZoomInfo can't. If you sell into the US, ZoomInfo's dominance is hard to argue with.
The Short Version
ZoomInfo is the default choice for North America-focused sales teams with budget for premium data. Cognism is the pick for teams selling into Europe or operating under strict GDPR requirements. The risk with ZoomInfo is overpaying for data you don't fully use. The risk with Cognism is thinner coverage outside of Europe and the UK.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Cognism | ZoomInfo |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | ~$15K/year (custom) | $15K/year (Professional) |
| Enterprise Price | ~$25K–40K/year | $40K–60K+/year |
| Contract | Annual | Annual |
| Database Size | 400M+ B2B profiles | 600M+ B2B profiles (100M+ with direct info) |
| Geographic Strength | Europe, UK, EMEA | North America (US/Canada) |
| GDPR Compliance | Built-in. GDPR-first architecture. | Available but not the default design |
| Phone Data | Diamond Data: phone-verified mobiles | Strong direct dials, less mobile focus |
| Intent Data | Bombora partnership | Native intent + Bombora integration |
| Integrations | Salesforce, HubSpot, Outreach, Salesloft | 70+ integrations including most major CRMs and SEPs |
| Sales Engagement Built-in | No | Yes (Engage product) |
| Job Demand | 4 postings | 85 postings |
| Best For | EMEA-focused sales teams needing compliant data | US-focused enterprise sales teams |
| The Big Risk | Thin US data coverage vs ZoomInfo | Annual contracts with aggressive renewal pricing |
Deep Dive: Cognism
What They're Selling
Cognism's pitch is straightforward. It's the B2B data provider that was built for how European data privacy actually works. Founded in London in 2015, the company designed its entire data architecture around GDPR compliance from day one. That's not a bolt-on feature or a checkbox. It's the foundation. The standout product is Diamond Data, a set of phone-verified mobile numbers. Cognism's team manually verifies mobile numbers, which means the data you get has been confirmed by a human. In a market where direct dial accuracy rates hover around 40-60%, having phone-verified contacts is a genuine differentiator for outbound teams. Cognism also integrates with Bombora for intent data, giving sales teams the ability to prioritize accounts showing buying signals. The platform connects directly to Salesforce, HubSpot, Outreach, and Salesloft. It's not trying to be a full sales engagement platform. It's a data provider, and it stays in its lane.
What It Actually Costs
Cognism uses custom pricing, which means you won't find a public pricing page with clear tiers. Based on market data and user reports, expect to pay roughly $15K-25K/year for a small team (5-10 users) and $25K-40K/year for mid-market deployments. The pricing is credit-based. You get a pool of credits to reveal contact information, and usage beyond that pool costs extra. This model rewards teams that are disciplined about targeting. If you're spraying contacts broadly, you'll burn through credits fast. Compared to ZoomInfo, Cognism typically comes in 20-40% cheaper for equivalent functionality. That gap narrows if you need deep US coverage, where Cognism's data is thinner. The biggest hidden cost isn't the subscription. It's the opportunity cost of thinner data in regions where Cognism isn't as strong.
What Users Say
Users in Europe and the UK consistently rank Cognism as the top data provider for their region. The GDPR compliance removes a genuine headache for companies that have been burned by data privacy issues. Sales teams praise Diamond Data specifically, noting that phone-verified mobile numbers convert at significantly higher rates than unverified data. The criticism is equally consistent. US data coverage doesn't match ZoomInfo. Some users report gaps in smaller company data (under 50 employees) and certain industries outside of tech and financial services. The credit-based pricing model frustrates teams that prefer unlimited access. Customer support gets positive marks overall, with users noting responsive onboarding teams.
Pros
- GDPR-compliant by design, not as an afterthought. Critical for any team selling into Europe.
- Diamond Data phone-verified mobile numbers outperform unverified databases on connect rates
- Typically 20-40% cheaper than ZoomInfo for comparable functionality
- Clean integrations with major CRMs and sales engagement platforms
Cons
- US data coverage is noticeably thinner than ZoomInfo's
- Only 4 job postings suggest limited adoption and a smaller talent pool
- Credit-based pricing punishes high-volume prospecting teams
- No built-in sales engagement tools. You'll need a separate platform.
Deep Dive: ZoomInfo
What They're Selling
ZoomInfo is the market leader in B2B data, and the job numbers prove it. With 85 job postings in our dataset (compared to Cognism's 4), ZoomInfo has a massive installed base and ecosystem. The platform offers 600M+ business profiles, and its data quality for North American contacts is the industry benchmark. Beyond raw data, ZoomInfo has expanded into a full go-to-market platform. The company offers native intent data, website visitor identification (WebSights), conversation intelligence (Chorus), and sales engagement (Engage). It's trying to become the operating system for B2B sales and marketing. ZoomInfo co-occurs with Salesforce in 70 job postings, LinkedIn Sales Navigator in 31, and HubSpot in 19. That's not just popularity. It tells you that ZoomInfo is deeply embedded in enterprise sales stacks, particularly in North America.
What It Actually Costs
ZoomInfo starts around $15K/year for the Professional tier, but most mid-market and enterprise teams land between $25K-60K+/year. The pricing structure includes seat licenses, credit pools for contact exports, and add-on products. The costs escalate fast. Adding intent data, Engage, or Chorus can push annual contracts above $80K. ZoomInfo's sales team is known for aggressive initial discounting (30-50% off list price) followed by significant renewal increases. Multiple users report 20-40% price hikes at renewal. Here's the math that matters. A team of 10 SDRs on ZoomInfo Professional plus Engage plus intent data can easily spend $40K-60K/year. The same team on Cognism with Bombora intent might spend $20K-35K/year. That $20K+ gap is the premium you're paying for superior US data coverage and a broader platform.
What Users Say
ZoomInfo's data quality for US contacts gets consistently high marks. Enterprise sales teams rely on it as their primary prospecting database, and the integration ecosystem is the deepest in the category. Users praise the Chrome extension, the Salesforce integration, and the ability to build targeted account lists quickly. The biggest complaint is pricing and renewal tactics. Users describe feeling locked in by annual contracts and blindsided by renewal price increases. Data accuracy outside the US is a frequent criticism, particularly for European and APAC contacts. Some users also note data decay. Contacts go stale, people change jobs, and the database doesn't always keep up in real time.
Pros
- Deepest and most accurate B2B database for North American contacts
- 85 job postings signal massive market adoption and a large talent pool
- Full platform play with intent data, engagement, and conversation intelligence
- Co-occurrence with Salesforce (70 postings) shows deep enterprise integration
Cons
- Aggressive renewal pricing with reported 20-40% annual increases
- European and APAC data quality lags significantly behind US coverage
- Annual contracts with limited flexibility to downgrade
- Platform complexity has grown. Many teams only use 30-40% of what they pay for.
Which Should You Pick?
The Honest Take
The uncomfortable truth about Cognism vs ZoomInfo is that geography makes this decision for you. There isn't a meaningful debate if 80% of your pipeline is US-based. ZoomInfo's data is better, its ecosystem is larger (85 vs 4 job postings, a 20x gap), and every major sales tool integrates with it natively. Choosing Cognism for a US-focused team because it's cheaper would be a false economy. But the reverse is equally true. If you're selling into Europe, ZoomInfo's data quality drops noticeably, and you're paying a premium for coverage that doesn't match your territory. Cognism was purpose-built for this market. Its GDPR compliance isn't a marketing bullet point. It's a structural advantage that affects how the data is collected, stored, and maintained. The 4 job postings for Cognism vs 85 for ZoomInfo deserve context. Cognism is a younger, smaller company (founded 2015 vs 2000). Its adoption is concentrated in Europe and among US companies with significant EMEA sales. That limited job demand is a real consideration if you're thinking about hiring people who already know the tool. ZoomInfo talent is 20x easier to find. But don't let market size alone drive your decision. The best database for your team is the one that's accurate in the territory where you actually sell.
Questions to Ask Before Buying
- What percentage of your target accounts are based in North America vs Europe vs APAC?
- Do you have specific GDPR compliance requirements for how prospect data is collected and stored?
- How important are verified mobile phone numbers vs office direct dials for your outreach?
- What's your annual budget for B2B data? Under $20K, $20K-40K, or $40K+?
- Are you currently locked into an annual contract with another data provider?
- How many contacts do you need to export or reveal per month?
- Have you tested both platforms against 100 contacts in your ICP to compare accuracy?
- Do you need intent data, or is contact data sufficient for your current workflow?
- What CRM and sales engagement tools does your team use today?
- How many users will need access to the platform daily?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cognism's data as good as ZoomInfo's?
It depends entirely on geography. For European and UK contacts, Cognism's data is often more accurate and more compliant. For US contacts, ZoomInfo has the edge in both coverage and accuracy. Neither platform is universally 'better.' Test both against your specific ICP and territory before committing.
Why does ZoomInfo have 20x more job postings than Cognism?
ZoomInfo was founded in 2000, went public in 2020, and has become the default data provider for US enterprise sales teams. Cognism was founded in 2015 and has grown primarily in the European market. The 85 vs 4 job posting gap reflects market maturity and geographic focus, not necessarily product quality. If you're selling in Europe, Cognism's smaller footprint doesn't diminish its value for your use case.
Can I use both Cognism and ZoomInfo together?
Yes, and some enterprise teams do exactly this. They use ZoomInfo for US accounts and Cognism for European accounts. The combined cost ($40K-80K+/year) makes this practical only for companies where the revenue opportunity justifies dual subscriptions. For most teams, pick the platform that covers your primary territory and accept the trade-off in secondary regions.