Zintlr and Cognism are two powerful B2B sales intelligence platforms, but they cater to different...
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Cognism / Apollo.io: Which one to choose?
Discover how Cognism and Apollo.io differ in data quality, pricing approaches, outreach tools, and regulatory compliance, plus learn why Zintlr is becoming the go-to agile solution for teams balancing precision with scalability.
Cognism vs Apollo.io: What to Know
Cognism is a UK-based B2B data platform renowned for its GDPR-compliant, highly accurate contact data, especially across European markets. Its standout feature, “Diamond Verified” mobile numbers, are manually validated for precision, making Cognism a top choice for cold calling and enterprise prospecting. With over 200 million contacts in EMEA alone and a growing global footprint, Cognism emphasizes data quality and privacy compliance. Unlike all-in-one platforms, it focuses on providing clean, compliant data without built-in outreach tools like email sequencing or dialers, appealing to teams that prioritize legal compliance and data integrity.
Apollo.io, in contrast, is a fast-growing sales intelligence and engagement platform valued for its affordability, self-serve onboarding, and all-in-one toolkit. Boasting a database of over 275 million contacts, Apollo combines lead discovery with integrated outreach features such as email sequencing, dialers, and analytics. It is especially popular among startups and mid-market teams seeking a cost-effective, scalable solution that merges prospecting and engagement. While it may lack some compliance depth and ultra-enriched profiles, Apollo delivers strong value for sales teams focused on speed, automation, and budget-friendly growth.
Cognism delivers premium, GDPR-compliant data ideal for precise targeting, especially across European markets, while Apollo.io offers speed and affordability with an integrated outreach platform designed for fast-growing sales teams. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize verified data quality or all-in-one engagement capabilities.
Cognism vs Apollo.io:
Feature Comparison at a Glance
| Features | Congnism | Apollo.io |
|---|---|---|
| Contact Database Size | 110M global contacts (15M+ in EMEA) | 275M+ contacts (large, global), particularly strong in U.S. coverage |
| Data Accuracy & Quality | Cognism claims 98% phone accuracy, 93%+ email deliverability, and refreshes 5% of data monthly—minimizing bounces and errors. | Good accuracy (estimated ~75%) |
| Sales Engagement Tools | Cognism is a data-focused tool with advanced filters, no outreach features, and extras like LinkedIn plugin and enrichment automation. | Built-in engagement platform with sequencing, dialer, tasks, and lead scoring—enables full outreach in one place. |
| Integrations | Cognism integrates with major CRMs and API, supports auto-enrichment, but setup may need support. No direct marketing automation integration. | Native CRM integrations, and Zapier support, Robust API for custom integration |
| Compliance Status | GDPR & CCPA compliant, SOC 2 accreditations, ISO 27701 certified. | GDPR & CCPA compliant, ISO 27001 and SOC II certified |
| Best For | Ideal for larger sales, marketing, and RevOps teams targeting revenue growth in Europe. | Start-ups and SMEs seeking an all-in-one platform for US prospecting |
Cognism offers GDPR-compliant, highly accurate B2B contact data with a strong focus on Europe, making it a top choice for compliance-focused sales teams. In contrast, Apollo.io provides a cost-effective, all-in-one sales intelligence and engagement platform with global data reach and built-in outreach tools, ideal for fast-growing businesses looking for scalable lead generation and prospecting solutions.
Market Presence & Data Strength
Europe
Cognism is a leader in European B2B data, renowned for its GDPR-compliant, highly accurate contact database and “Diamond Verified” mobile numbers. Its strong local partnerships and privacy-first stance make it the preferred choice for sales teams focused on compliant prospecting across the EU.
Apollo.io offers broad international data but falls short on compliance depth and data precision in European markets. Teams targeting Europe often find Apollo’s data less reliable and may need supplemental enrichment tools to meet GDPR standards.
United States & Global Markets
Cognism, while expanding its global footprint, remains primarily focused on European markets. Its U.S. presence and integrated outreach features are limited compared to Apollo.io, making it less suitable for teams needing comprehensive global sales intelligence and engagement.
Apollo.io shines as an all-in-one sales engagement platform with over 275 million contacts worldwide, combining prospecting with built-in outreach tools. It’s especially popular among startups and SMBs seeking affordability and ease of use across global markets.
India & APAC
Cognism has minimal penetration in India and the broader APAC region, with its core strength centered around EMEA. Businesses targeting these regions may find Cognism’s database insufficient without additional local data providers.
Apollo.io is gaining traction in India thanks to its accessible free plan and user-friendly platform, but its data accuracy and local mobile coverage are still developing in this region.
Zintlr's Data Coverage
Zintlr's Data Coverage
This is where platforms like Zintlr are bridging the divide. Zintlr offers a powerful combination of global scale and unmatched Indian market depth featuring over 90M+ Indian contacts and 400M+ global records enriched with direct mobile numbers, firmographics, and personality insights.
While Apollo.io focuses on integrated outreach tools and global reach, and Cognism specializes in GDPR-compliant, premium European data, Zintlr offers a unique blend of deep Indian market coverage. Enriched with direct mobile numbers, firmographics, and personality insights, Zintlr delivers high-quality, actionable data that’s both intuitive and cost-effective. For teams targeting India, Europe, or global markets, Zintlr stands out as a versatile, smarter alternative.
Cognism vs Apollo.io: Pricing Breakdown
Cognism follows a custom, seat-based enterprise pricing model tailored to team size and data requirements, while Apollo.io offers a credit-based pricing system with tiered plans and fixed per-user pricing.
Cognism, follows a custom, seat-based enterprise pricing model with no public price list, requiring prospective customers to book a demo for a tailored quote. Pricing typically starts in the low thousands per year for small teams and can escalate to tens of thousands for larger deployments, depending on factors like seat count, geographic coverage, contact volume, and add-ons such as intent data or phone verification. For example, a team of five might pay around $15,000 annually, making Cognism roughly 3 to 5 times more expensive than Apollo.io for similar team sizes. Positioned as a premium solution, Cognism emphasizes delivering strong ROI through high-quality, compliant data over competitive pricing.
Apollo.io offers transparent, structured monthly plans starting at $59/month for Basic and up to $149/month for the Organization plan. It includes features like email sequencing, lead scoring, dialers, and advanced filters though many of these are locked behind higher-tier plans. One major limitation is that credits don’t roll over, and per-user pricing can significantly increase total costs for growing teams.
For the most up-to-date details, refer to the official Cognism and Apollo.io pricing pages.
Zintlr's Pricing: Flexible, Transparent, and Built for Modern Teams
If you’re looking for a platform that bridges the gap offering deep B2B data (including mobile numbers), flexible pricing, and strong market coverage across the globe and in regions like India Zintlr is emerging as a smart alternative to both. With a growing user base and a focus on data quality, affordability, and usability, Zintlr brings together the best of both worlds for modern prospecting teams.
Compliance & Data Privacy
Cognism positions itself as a privacy-first B2B data platform with a strong focus on GDPR compliance and data accuracy, especially within European markets. It offers extensive privacy certifications and adheres strictly to EU data protection laws, making it a trusted choice for organizations with rigorous compliance requirements. Cognism’s commitment to data integrity and manual verification processes, like its “Diamond Verified” phone numbers, reinforce its reputation as a highly compliant and transparent provider.
Apollo.io, while aligned with GDPR principles, prioritizes platform scalability and feature-rich sales engagement tools over deep compliance infrastructure. It provides basic privacy policies and standard consent practices but does not offer the same level of certification or detailed compliance transparency as Cognism. This makes Apollo better suited for businesses operating in less regulated environments, such as the U.S., where rapid growth and integrated outreach tools are often the main priorities.
Zintlr is Compliant to Data Security and Privacy
Rest assured knowing that our data collection practices prioritize compliance, providing you with the most reliable and secure business data. Our stringent data privacy and security protocols are in place for your peace of mind.
Curious how Zintlr stacks up against Cognism and Apollo.io?
Zintlr vs Apollo.io
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