How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- ZoomInfo suits enterprise teams that need scale, intent data, and deep CRM integrations, but pricing is custom and usually annual.
- Apollo is the best all-round starting point for small and mid-size teams, with a free tier and paid plans from $49 per user per month.
- Lusha and RocketReach offer lower entry prices for quick prospecting, while UpLead adds a 95 percent accuracy guarantee with credit refunds.
- LeadIQ and Cognism suit teams that need verified direct dials and strong coverage in Europe, though Cognism is quote only.
- LinkedIn Sales Navigator is not a full database, but it is unmatched for LinkedIn-native research and outreach inside LinkedIn.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 ZoomInfo | enterprise sales intelligence | See website | Yes, free to start |
 Apollo | all-round prospecting and outreach | $49 per user per month | Yes |
 Lusha | quick verified contact lookup | $36 per user per month | Yes |
 UpLead | verified data with a guarantee | $99 per month | No, 7-day trial |
 RocketReach | large database at a low price | $39 per month | No |
 LeadIQ | simple contact capture | $39 per user per month | Yes |
 Cognism | phone-verified European data | See website | No |
 LinkedIn Sales Navigator | LinkedIn-native prospecting | $99 per seat per month | No |
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
The best Sales Genie alternatives
#1ZoomInfo
Best for: enterprise sales intelligence4.5/5 on
G2 (9,130 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit zoominfo.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes, free to start
ZoomInfo is the natural upgrade from SalesGenie for teams that want depth as well as volume. The database covers hundreds of millions of contacts, with direct dials and verified emails backed by human researchers and automated checks. Intent data adds a second layer, showing which accounts are researching topics related to your product.
Integrations are a core strength. ZoomInfo connects natively with Salesforce, HubSpot, Outreach, and Salesloft, so prospecting, enrichment, and sequences can run without constant exports. That workflow saves time for larger teams and keeps CRM data cleaner than manual list building.
The barrier is price and contract. ZoomInfo pricing is custom, and published comparisons often place annual deals in five figures for teams. A free start option lets you test data quality, but a full plan needs a sales conversation. Choose ZoomInfo when data scale, intent, and CRM depth matter more than a low monthly bill.
What we like- Very large verified database
- Intent data and buying signals
- Native Salesforce, HubSpot, Outreach, and Salesloft integrations
Watch out for- Custom pricing is usually high and annual
- Smaller teams may not use the full platform
- Credit limits need careful management
#2Apollo
Best for: all-round prospecting and outreach4.7/5 on
G2 (9,847 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit apollo.io
Starting price$49 per user per month
Free planYes
Apollo combines a prospecting database with email sequences, so a small team can find contacts and start outreach without buying a second tool. The free tier includes monthly credits, and paid plans start at $49 per user per month in recent comparisons. That mix makes Apollo the easiest first switch from SalesGenie for many teams.
Search filters cover job title, company size, industry, technology use, and location, which helps narrow a broad market to a workable list. Contacts can be saved to lists, enriched, and pushed to a CRM with a few clicks. For a team of two to twenty sellers, that single workflow often beats juggling a database and a separate sequencer.
Accuracy is good but not perfect, and heavy users should watch credit use. Apollo verifies data in steps, yet bounce rates can rise on older or niche records. Test a sample list in your market before you commit to an annual plan, and compare bounce rates with UpLead if accuracy is your top concern.
What we like- Large database plus outreach sequences in one tool
- Free tier for small teams
- Strong Salesforce and HubSpot integrations
Watch out for- Data accuracy varies at scale
- Credit limits can bind heavy users
- Advanced intent features sit on higher plans
#3Lusha
Best for: quick verified contact lookup4.3/5 on
G2 (1,668 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit lusha.com
Starting price$36 per user per month
Free planYes
Lusha suits sellers who find prospects on LinkedIn or company websites and need a contact fast. The browser extension shows verified emails and phone numbers for a profile you are already viewing, which removes the need to export a list first. Paid plans start at $36 per user per month in recent comparisons, with a free tier for light use.
The tool also offers list building and CRM enrichment, but its strength is single-contact lookup. Sales teams that prospect account by account, rather than building lists of thousands, get the most value. Lusha integrates with Salesforce and HubSpot, so found contacts can be saved without manual entry.
Credit limits are the main limit. Free and low-tier plans include a set number of credits per month, and heavy prospectors can run out quickly. Lusha is best for teams that need accurate contacts for a defined target list, not for mass list building.
What we like- Fast browser extension for LinkedIn and company sites
- Verified emails and direct dials
- Low entry price
Watch out for- Free plan credits are limited
- Database is smaller than ZoomInfo
- Bulk list building is less strong than Apollo
#4UpLead
Best for: verified data with a guarantee4.7/5 on
G2 (831 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit uplead.com
Starting price$99 per month
Free planNo, 7-day trial
UpLead competes on accuracy rather than size. Contacts are verified in real time when you export them, and the company offers a 95 percent accuracy guarantee: if a verified email bounces, you get the credit back. That promise matters when bad data costs you domain reputation and wasted outreach.
Filters include job title, industry, location, company size, and technology used, which helps build a precise list for a niche market. UpLead also supports bulk enrichment and CRM integrations with Salesforce and HubSpot. The interface is simple, so a new seller can build a first list in an afternoon.
At $99 per month, UpLead costs more than the cheapest options here. The trial gives five leads over seven days in some listings, which is enough to test accuracy but not to run a campaign. Choose UpLead if bounce rate and data trust matter more than the lowest price per contact.
What we like- Real-time verification
- 95 percent accuracy guarantee with credit refunds
- Clean interface and technographic filters
Watch out for- Higher entry price than Lusha or RocketReach
- No free plan, only a trial
- Database is smaller than ZoomInfo
#5RocketReach
Best for: large database at a low price4.4/5 on
G2 (1,385 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit rocketreach.com
Starting price$39 per month
Free planNo
RocketReach offers a large database at a price small teams can afford. Paid plans start at $39 per month in recent comparisons, and the search covers people and companies across many industries. That breadth helps when your market is broad and you need volume fast.
The tool also provides email and phone lookup, bulk lookup, and a browser extension. Integrations with Salesforce, HubSpot, and Zapier let you push contacts into your workflow without spreadsheets. For a solo seller or a small team building a first pipeline, RocketReach gives a lot of reach for the money.
Verification is the trade-off. RocketReach checks emails, but its process is less deep than UpLead real-time verification or Cognism phone verification. Expect to verify a sample before a large send, and watch bounce rates on older records. If you need volume first and can clean data yourself, RocketReach is a strong value pick.
What we like- Database of hundreds of millions of profiles
- Low entry price
- Salesforce, HubSpot, and Zapier integrations
Watch out for- Verification is less deep than UpLead or Cognism
- Higher tiers rise quickly for teams
- Some records need manual checking
#6LeadIQ
Best for: simple contact capture4.2/5 on
G2 (1,186 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit leadiq.com
Starting price$39 per user per month
Free planYes
LeadIQ is built for sellers who live on LinkedIn. The extension captures a prospect contact with one click, verifies it, and can push it to a CRM or a sequence tool. Paid plans start at $39 per user per month in recent comparisons, with a free tier for light use.
The tool also includes Scribe, a feature that helps draft personalised outreach based on a prospect profile. That helps teams that want to send fewer, better messages rather than large generic batches. LeadIQ integrates with Salesforce, HubSpot, Outreach, and Salesloft, so captured contacts flow into existing workflows.
LeadIQ is less suited to building large lists from scratch. If you need to search a full database by company filters without starting from LinkedIn, Apollo or ZoomInfo will serve you better. For LinkedIn-first prospecting, LeadIQ is fast, simple, and easy to adopt.
What we like- One-click capture from LinkedIn and company sites
- Verified contacts with outreach personalisation
- Simple setup
Watch out for- Database depth is less than ZoomInfo
- Higher plans needed for larger teams
- Prospecting outside LinkedIn is weaker
#7Cognism
Best for: phone-verified European data4.5/5 on
G2 (1,365 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit cognism.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Cognism is the pick for teams selling into Europe. Its Diamond Data set includes phone-verified mobile numbers, and the platform runs multiple do-not-call checks, which matters under GDPR and local rules. That compliance focus helps teams that cannot risk calling numbers on suppression lists.
The database also covers intent data and technographics, and it integrates with Salesforce, HubSpot, Outreach, and Salesloft. Sales teams can build lists, verify numbers, and push contacts to sequences without leaving the platform. For EMEA-focused sellers, Cognism often beats US-centric databases on phone accuracy.
Price is the barrier. Cognism pricing is custom, and published comparisons place it at enterprise levels, often around $1,000 per month and higher for teams. There is no free tier, only a demo. Choose Cognism when European phone data and compliance matter enough to justify a larger contract.
What we like- Phone-verified mobile numbers
- Strong European coverage
- Compliance checks including do-not-call lists
Watch out for- Pricing is custom and usually enterprise level
- No free plan, demo only
- US coverage is less of a focus than Europe
#8LinkedIn Sales Navigator
Best for: LinkedIn-native prospecting4.4/5 on
G2 (2,210 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit linkedin.com
Starting price$99 per seat per month
Free planNo
LinkedIn Sales Navigator is different from the other tools here. It does not sell a standalone email database. Instead, it gives advanced search, saved lead lists, and alerts inside LinkedIn, where many B2B buyers actually work. That makes it a strong companion to a database tool, and a solid standalone pick for social selling teams.
Search filters go far beyond basic LinkedIn, with options for seniority, function, company growth, and recent job changes. Alerts flag when a saved lead changes role or a saved account posts news, which creates timely reasons to reach out. Advanced Plus adds CRM sync with Salesforce and HubSpot, so lists stay aligned with your pipeline.
The limit is contact data. Sales Navigator does not provide bulk verified emails or direct dials, so you will still need Lusha, LeadIQ, or Apollo to contact prospects outside LinkedIn. At about $99 per seat per month, it is also a real cost for a large team. Use it when LinkedIn is your main channel and timing matters.
What we like- Unmatched LinkedIn search and lead lists
- Real-time job change and company alerts
- InMail and CRM sync on higher plans
Watch out for- Not a full contact database with emails and dials
- Price rises for Advanced Plus
- Outreach stays inside LinkedIn unless paired with another tool
How we chose
We compared tools that replace the core SalesGenie job: finding B2B contacts, verifying them, and getting them into a CRM or outreach workflow. We used pricing and feature details from vendor pages and recent comparison guides found in web search, and we kept only tools active in 2026. We favoured a mix of enterprise, mid-market, and low-cost options, plus one LinkedIn-native tool, so readers can match a tool to budget, market, and workflow.
What to check before you buy
Start with a sample, not a sales demo. Pick fifty real prospects from your target market, run them through each shortlisted tool, and measure how many emails and phones you get and how many bounce. That test reveals more than any database size claim, because coverage varies sharply by industry and region.
Next, count total cost per usable contact. A cheap plan with low accuracy can cost more than a pricier plan once you add bounce handling, rework, and domain risk. Check credit rules: do unused credits roll over, do you get refunds for bad data, and what happens when you hit a limit mid-month. Finally, confirm CRM integration and compliance features, especially do-not-call checks and GDPR handling if you sell into Europe.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest SalesGenie alternative?
RocketReach at $39 per month and Lusha at $36 per user per month are among the lowest paid entry points here, and Apollo offers a free tier. Cheap does not always mean low total cost, so test accuracy before you commit to volume.
Is ZoomInfo worth the price for a small team?
Usually not, unless you need intent data and deep CRM workflows at scale. Small teams often get better value from Apollo or UpLead, and can add LinkedIn Sales Navigator for social prospecting. Move to ZoomInfo when your team grows and data depth becomes the bottleneck.
How do credits work in these tools?
Most tools give a set number of credits per month, and each email or phone reveal uses one credit. Some credits roll over and some do not, and some tools refund credits for bad data. Read the credit terms before you sign an annual plan.
Can I use these tools for cold email legally?
B2B cold email is allowed in the US under CAN-SPAM if you include an unsubscribe link, a physical address, and honest headers. In Europe, GDPR needs a lawful basis, usually legitimate interest, plus do-not-call checks. Follow your provider compliance guidance and local law.
Do I still need a CRM if I buy Apollo?
Apollo includes outreach sequences, but it is not a full CRM for pipeline, forecasting, and customer records. Most teams pair Apollo with Salesforce or HubSpot, or use Apollo for prospecting and keep deals in their main CRM.
What is the best alternative for European prospecting?
Cognism leads on phone-verified European data and compliance checks, with LeadIQ and Lusha as lower-cost options. Test coverage in your specific countries, because European data quality varies by provider and by market.
Sources we checked (8)
- https://www.zoominfo.com
- https://www.apollo.io
- https://www.lusha.com
- https://www.uplead.com
- https://www.rocketreach.com
- https://www.leadiq.com
- https://www.cognism.com
- https://www.linkedin.com/sales
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.