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CRM · head to head

Clearbit vs Cognism

Clearbit logo

Clearbit

CRM

B2B data enrichment and intelligence

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Cognism logo

Cognism

Sales Enablement

B2B contact data that notifies European contacts and screens do-not-call lists as a product feature

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Clearbit has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Clearbit pricing can be expensive at scale with usage-based model; Cognism united States coverage is behind ZoomInfo, and the gap shows most in mid-market American accounts where record density thins out.
  • They diverge on capability: Clearbit covers Company enrichment, Cognism covers Diamond Data.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Clearbit and Cognism actually diverge.

Attributes where Clearbit and Cognism differ
AttributeClearbitCognism
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, APIWeb, Chrome extension, REST API
CategoryCRMSales Enablement
Founded2015Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Clearbit

  • Company enrichment
  • Contact enrichment
  • Lead scoring
  • Reveal (website visitors)
  • Forms shortening
  • Salesforce
  • HubSpot
  • Marketo

Only in Cognism

  • Diamond Data
  • Contact notification
  • DNC screening
  • Intent data
  • Browser extension
  • CRM enrichment

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Clearbit

  • Lead enrichmentnot Cognism
  • Account targetingnot Cognism
  • Personalizationnot Cognism
  • Lead scoringnot Cognism

Cognism

  • A European outbound team that needs a defensible answer when legal asks where the phone numbers came fromnot Clearbit
  • Calling campaigns where verified mobile numbers rather than switchboard numbers determine connect ratenot Clearbit
  • Enriching an existing CRM of stale records with current job titles and direct dialsnot Clearbit
  • Prioritising accounts using intent signals before committing sales development capacitynot Clearbit

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Clearbit

  • Pricing can be expensive at scale with usage-based model
  • Batch enrichment has per-row cost that adds up quickly for large datasets
  • Limited data for smaller or private companies
  • Now integrated into HubSpot as Breeze Intelligence, may affect standalone availability

Cognism

  • United States coverage is behind ZoomInfo, and the gap shows most in mid-market American accounts where record density thins out.
  • The commercial model combines an annual platform fee, per-seat licences and credit allowances, so a quoted seat price consistently understates the total.
  • Diamond Data verified mobiles are a subset of the wider database rather than the whole of it, and the subset available for your target market should be tested before signing.
  • There is no free tier and no monthly rolling contract, so evaluating properly means committing to a year or relying on a short trial with limited data.
  • Coverage density varies sharply by country, with the United Kingdom strong and DACH and the Nordics noticeably thinner, which matters if your expansion market is the weak one.

Pricing, plan by plan

Clearbit

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Clearbit review.

Cognism

On request
  • Cognism Platform$undefined/year
    • Annual platform fee plus per-seat licences
    • Credit allowances for exports and enrichment negotiated separately
    • No free tier and no monthly rolling term

Which should you pick?

Choose Clearbit if

  • You need company enrichment.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, API.
  • You also want contact enrichment.
Clearbit review

Choose Cognism if

  • You need diamond data.
  • You work on Web, Chrome extension, REST API.
  • You also want contact notification.
Cognism review

Questions people ask

Is Clearbit or Cognism better?
Neither clearly leads. Clearbit starts at Free and Cognism at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Clearbit or Cognism?
Clearbit has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Clearbit and On request for Cognism.
Does Clearbit or Cognism run on more platforms?
Clearbit runs on Web, API. Cognism runs on Web, Chrome extension, REST API.
Can I use Clearbit for free?
Yes. Clearbit has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Cognism starts at On request.
What is Clearbit best used for?
Clearbit is most often used for lead enrichment, account targeting, personalization, lead scoring. Of those, lead enrichment and account targeting are not what Cognism is typically brought in for.
What can Clearbit do that Cognism cannot?
Clearbit covers Company enrichment, Contact enrichment, Lead scoring, Reveal (website visitors). Cognism covers Diamond Data, Contact notification, DNC screening, Intent data.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Clearbit: Does Clearbit offer a free tier?

Yes. The first 50 real-time lookups are free. After that, usage-based pricing applies with 500 free credits included in subscription plans.

Source
Cognism: Can a European company use it lawfully?

It notifies contacts held in its EU and UK database and screens do-not-call registers, which supports a legitimate interest basis. The balancing test, record keeping and handling of objections remain your obligation, not the obligation of the vendor.

Clearbit: How does Clearbit batch enrichment pricing work?

Batch enrichment costs $0.30 USD per row, with totals rounded to $5 increments. Bulk batch discounts are not available, but large volumes can negotiate lower rates through monthly/annual subscription to the Enrichment API.

Source
Cognism: How does it compare with ZoomInfo on coverage?

ZoomInfo is stronger in the United States, Cognism is generally stronger on European mobile numbers. That, rather than feature lists, is what most head-to-head evaluations come down to.

Clearbit: What data does Clearbit provide?

Clearbit maintains information on over 20 million companies with over 100 rich attributes including demographic and technographic data, industry classification, and company size information.

Source
Cognism: Can we buy a single seat monthly?

No. Contracts are annual with a platform fee, which makes a genuine pilot harder than with credit-based self-serve vendors.

Clearbit: Is there an API available?

Yes. Clearbit offers REST APIs for real-time enrichment and bulk batch processing, allowing direct integration into applications and workflows.

Source
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