Cognism vs. Lusha: Which B2B Data Provider Should You Use?

Cognism vs. Lusha: Quick overview

Here’s what each platform offers.

Cognism:

Cognism specializes in GDPR-compliant B2B contact data with strong European market coverage. The platform provides verified mobile numbers through its Diamond Data feature and offers signal data to help sales teams identify when prospects are ready to buy. It’s built for teams that need accurate decision-maker data and smooth CRM integrations.

Starting price: Custom pricing (contact sales)

Lusha:

Lusha is a sales intelligence platform with access to over 280 million verified B2B contacts. The Chrome extension captures leads directly from LinkedIn and other web pages. The platform includes buyer intent data and automated prospecting features.

Starting price: Free plan available, paid plans start at custom pricing

Cognism vs. Lusha: Head-to-head comparison

Here’s how these platforms compare across what matters most to sales and marketing teams.

Features & capabilities

Cognism:

Cognism’s standout feature is Diamond Data—phone-verified contact numbers with a focus on European markets. Sales Companion acts as a personalized assistant, providing contact recommendations and signal data. This signal data tracks hiring trends, funding rounds, and technographic information for better-timed outreach. The Data-as-a-Service offering provides real-time access to verified, GDPR and CCPA-compliant B2B data that integrates directly into CRMs and cloud warehouses.

Lusha:

Lusha’s Chrome extension is its most popular feature, letting users capture contact information directly from LinkedIn profiles with one click. The platform offers Contact & Company Search with verified details, Buyer Intent to identify in-market prospects, and AI Recommendations that deliver daily matched leads. Automated Prospecting builds, enriches, and engages with prospects automatically.

Winner: Tie. Cognism is better for teams that need European data and phone verification. Lusha wins on ease of use and quick lead capture. Pick based on whether you value data depth or speed.

Ease of use

Cognism:

Cognism has a user-friendly interface with detailed filtering options to help teams find their ideal customer profile. The Chrome extension integrates with LinkedIn Sales Navigator, and the platform syncs with CRMs like Salesforce and HubSpot. Some users note a learning curve due to the extensive features. The onboarding process includes training sessions.

Lusha:

Lusha is consistently praised for its simplicity. The Chrome extension is straightforward, and the dashboard is easy to navigate even for new users. The platform requires minimal training—users can start pulling contact data within minutes. The interface is clean and intuitive. Some users report frequent sign-in prompts, which can be time-consuming.

Winner: Lusha. The platform requires almost no training, making it ideal for teams that need to start immediately.

Pricing & value

Cognism:

Cognism offers two main packages: Grow and Elevate. The Grow package provides quality data for prospecting, including contact and company data with Diamond Data contacts. The Elevate package includes all Grow features plus advanced intelligence and actionable signals to prioritize in-market accounts. Pricing is customized based on business needs—contact Cognism for a quote. The platform doesn’t explicitly offer a free trial, instead providing options to book a demo or request a data sample.

Lusha:

Lusha provides a Free plan with up to 70 credits per month, a solid entry point for small teams or individual users. Paid plans operate on a credit-based system: revealing a verified email costs 1 credit and a phone number costs 10 credits. Additional features and higher credit limits are available in paid plans, which can be customized by contacting the sales team. Lusha offers a free trial, though the website doesn’t specify the duration or whether a credit card is required.

Winner: Lusha. The free plan and credit-based pricing make it more accessible for small teams and startups. Cognism’s custom pricing works better for established teams with specific needs and larger budgets.

Integrations

Cognism:

Cognism integrates with Salesforce, HubSpot, Outreach, Salesloft, Pipedrive, Microsoft Dynamics 365, and Bullhorn. The Chrome extension works with LinkedIn Sales Navigator, and data can be exported directly to CRMs. The platform fits into existing sales tech stacks without requiring major workflow changes.

Lusha:

Lusha integrates with HubSpot, Salesforce, Outreach, and other CRM and sales tools. The Chrome extension works with LinkedIn, and the platform lets users push targeted lists directly into their CRM. The integration process is straightforward, and data syncs automatically to keep contact information current.

Winner: Tie. Both platforms offer solid integration options with the most popular CRMs and sales tools.

Data accuracy & coverage

Cognism:

Cognism is known for high-quality data, particularly in European markets. The Diamond Data feature verifies phone numbers, which reduces wasted time on incorrect contacts. Some users note that data accuracy varies for North American contacts, with occasional outdated information. The platform’s focus on GDPR compliance means data is gathered and maintained according to strict privacy standards.

Lusha:

Lusha provides access to over 280 million contacts, but data accuracy can be inconsistent for niche industries or smaller companies. Some users report outdated contact information or phone numbers that lead to switchboards rather than direct dials. The platform does verify emails in real time, which helps reduce bounce rates. Lusha’s coverage is strong in North America and other major markets but may have gaps in less common regions.

Winner: Cognism. While neither platform is perfect, Cognism’s focus on verified phone numbers and European data gives it an edge for teams that prioritize data quality over volume.

Cognism vs. Lusha: Pros and cons

Cognism strengths & weaknesses

Pros:

• High-quality, GDPR-compliant contact database with verified mobile numbers
• Accurate data, particularly strong in European markets
• User-friendly interface with detailed filtering options
• Smooth integration with Salesforce, HubSpot, and LinkedIn Sales Navigator
• Signal data helps identify prospects at the right time

Cons:

• Custom pricing can be expensive for smaller teams
• Data accuracy for North America is weaker than Europe
• Learning curve due to extensive features
• No explicit free trial, only demo or data sample options

User Rating:

• G2: 4.5/5 (based on 1,218 reviews)
• Capterra: 4.7/5 (based on 244 reviews)

Lusha strengths & weaknesses

Pros:

• Easy to use with minimal training required
• Chrome extension makes lead capture quick and simple
• Free plan available with 70 credits per month
• Strong integration with popular CRMs like HubSpot and Salesforce
• Affordable pricing for startups and SMBs

Cons:

• Inconsistent data accuracy for niche industries and smaller companies
• Phone numbers often lead to switchboards rather than direct dials
• Limited coverage for international markets outside major regions
• Frequent sign-in prompts can be disruptive

User Rating:

• G2: 4.3/5 (based on 1,573 reviews)
• Capterra: 4.0/5 (based on 396 reviews)

Cognism vs. Lusha: Side-by-side comparison table

Here’s a quick reference to compare the two platforms:

Which should you choose?

Here’s how to decide:

• If you primarily target European markets and need GDPR-compliant data, Cognism’s focus on European coverage and verified phone numbers makes it a strong fit.
• If you’re a small team or startup looking for affordable, easy-to-use contact data, Lusha’s free plan and simple interface are hard to beat.
• If you need verified mobile numbers and direct dials, Cognism’s Diamond Data feature is built for this.
• If you want to get started immediately with minimal training, Lusha’s Chrome extension and intuitive design let you pull leads within minutes.
• If your budget is limited and you need flexibility, Lusha’s credit-based pricing offers more control over costs compared to Cognism’s custom packages.
• If you’re building campaigns around intent signals and hiring trends, Cognism’s Signal data provides the insights you need to time your outreach.

Looking for something different? Check out La Growth Machine

Cognism and Lusha are solid choices if you’re looking for B2B contact data. But if your focus is on actually reaching out to those contacts and running multichannel sales campaigns, our platform takes a different approach.

What La Growth Machine does:

La Growth Machine is a multichannel sales automation platform that helps teams turn contact data into conversations. Instead of just providing emails and phone numbers, our platform automates outreach across LinkedIn, email, Twitter/X, and calls. You can build personalized sequences, send LinkedIn voice messages (which double reply rates), and manage all responses in a single inbox. We also offer Lead Enrichment to fill in missing contact information, so you’re not starting from scratch if your data provider falls short.

How it fits into your stack:

You’d use Cognism or Lusha to build your contact lists and verify data. Then, use La Growth Machine to engage those contacts through automated, personalized campaigns across multiple channels. Or, if you want a platform that handles both data enrichment and multichannel outreach in one place, La Growth Machine can simplify your tech stack by reducing the number of tools you need.

Pricing:

Starting at €50/month per identity (Basic Plan), €100/month (Pro Plan), €150/month (Ultimate Plan)

Free trial: 14 days (no credit card required)

Worth considering if:

• You need to run multichannel campaigns across LinkedIn, email, and other platforms, not just find contact data
• You want to automate personalized outreach at scale without losing authenticity
• You’re looking to consolidate tools and manage both data enrichment and outreach from one platform

Cognism vs. Lusha: FAQs

How accurate is the contact data from Cognism and Lusha?

Both platforms offer verified contact data, but accuracy varies. Cognism is generally more accurate for European contacts and provides verified mobile numbers through Diamond Data. Lusha has a larger database but can have inconsistency issues for niche industries or smaller companies. Neither platform guarantees 100% accuracy, so expect some outdated or incorrect information regardless of which tool you choose.

Can I integrate Cognism or Lusha with my CRM?

Yes, both platforms integrate with major CRMs like Salesforce and HubSpot. Cognism also integrates with Outreach, Salesloft, Pipedrive, and Microsoft Dynamics 365, while Lusha works with similar sales engagement tools. Integration is generally straightforward for both platforms, letting you sync contact data directly into your existing workflows.

Which platform is better for small teams or startups?

Lusha is typically a better fit for small teams and startups due to its free plan (70 credits per month) and credit-based pricing model, which provides more control over costs. Cognism’s custom pricing is often more expensive and better suited for mid-market or enterprise teams with larger budgets and specific data needs, particularly if targeting European markets.

Conclusion

Cognism and Lusha both deliver verified B2B contact data, CRM integrations, and tools to help sales teams find decision-makers. Cognism stands out for data quality and European coverage, while Lusha wins on ease of use and affordability for smaller teams.

Your decision comes down to budget, geographic focus, and whether you prioritize data accuracy or speed of access. And if you’re looking for something beyond just contact data—like actually running multichannel campaigns and turning leads into conversations—La Growth Machine is worth exploring as a different type of solution.