What is Cognism?

Cognism is a B2B sales intelligence platform that gives you verified contact data for prospects you want to reach. The company is based in London and built its product specifically for teams that need to comply with GDPR and CCPA regulations while prospecting.

You use Cognism to find phone numbers, email addresses, and company information for decision-makers at target accounts. The platform focuses on European markets where data privacy laws are strictest, though it covers other regions too.

What makes Cognism different is Diamond Data. This is their premium offering where actual humans call phone numbers to verify they're correct before adding them to the database. Most data providers scrape numbers from the web and hope they work. That poor data quality approach wastes rep time. Cognism pays researchers to dial every Diamond Data number and confirm it reaches the right person.

This matters if you're tired of calling disconnected numbers or reaching the wrong department. Manual verification costs more but saves your reps time. You get direct mobile numbers that bypass receptionists and reach executives.

The platform targets outbound sales teams, SDRs, and demand gen marketers who need accurate contact data to fill pipelines. If you're prospecting into UK, French, or German companies, Cognism maintains deeper coverage there than most US-based competitors. If you're selling primarily in North America, you'll find gaps.

Cognism Features

Cognism delivers contact data, intent signals, and integrations to support prospecting workflows. Here's what you get access to when you buy the platform.

Diamond Data

Diamond Data is Cognism's phone-verified mobile number database. Real people on Cognism's research team call each number to confirm it works and reaches the right contact. This verification happens before the number enters the system.

You pay more for Diamond Data than standard contact records. The trade-off is higher connect rates because you're not burning time on bad numbers. Your reps dial contacts who actually answer instead of wasting calls on disconnected lines or wrong departments.

This feature works best for teams where phone prospecting drives pipeline. If you rely on email outreach, Diamond Data won't move the needle much.

Browser Extension

The Chrome extension pulls contact information while you browse LinkedIn or company websites. You don't need to switch between tabs or copy-paste data manually.

Here's how it works. You're looking at a LinkedIn profile for a VP of Sales at a target account. Click the Cognism extension icon. It shows you that person's email, phone number, and company details. Export the contact to your CRM or add them to a list without leaving LinkedIn.

The extension saves time during research. Your reps can build prospect lists while scrolling through LinkedIn Sales Navigator results or browsing company leadership pages.

Intent Data

Cognism partners with Bombora to provide buyer intent signals. Intent data shows you which companies are actively researching topics related to your product category.

This works by tracking content consumption across thousands of B2B websites. When a company's employees read multiple articles about sales intelligence tools, that signals buying interest. Cognism surfaces these accounts so you can prioritize outreach to prospects already in-market.

Intent data is an add-on, not included in base packages. You pay extra to access Bombora signals through Cognism's interface.

CRM Integrations

Cognism connects to Salesforce, HubSpot, Outreach, Salesloft, and other sales tools. Contact data syncs directly into your CRM without manual exports.

When your rep finds a prospect in Cognism, they click to push that record into Salesforce. The contact appears in your CRM with phone, email, title, and company details populated. No spreadsheet downloads or CSV imports required.

These integrations keep your CRM data current. When Cognism updates a contact's job title or phone number, that change flows into your system automatically.

Compliance Tools

The platform includes Do-Not-Call list checking and GDPR compliance features built in. Before you call or email a prospect, Cognism flags whether they've opted out or appear on suppression lists.

This reduces legal risk for teams operating under European privacy regulations. You can't accidentally contact someone who's requested removal. The system blocks those records from export.

Compliance tools matter most if you're prospecting into EU countries where GDPR violations carry heavy fines. US-focused teams face less regulatory pressure but still benefit from respecting opt-outs.

Prospector Search

Prospector is Cognism's search interface for building targeted contact lists. You filter by job title, company size, industry, location, and technology stack to create precise segments.

The search supports Boolean logic for complex queries. You can combine multiple criteria to narrow results. For example, find VPs of Sales at software companies with 200-500 employees in Germany using Salesforce.

Once you build a list, export contacts to your CRM or engagement platform. Prospector helps you define your ideal customer profile and pull matching records from Cognism's database.

Cognism Pricing

Cognism doesn't publish prices on their website. You need to request a demo and talk to their sales team to get a quote.

Pricing is structured as annual contracts. You pay a platform access fee plus either credit-based or unlimited data access depending on which package you choose. Costs vary based on how many users need access, how much data you'll pull, and which features you want.

Several factors influence your final price:

• Number of user seats: More reps using the platform means higher costs

• Data access tier: Limited credits cost less than unlimited exports

• Intent data add-ons: Bombora integration requires additional payment

• Integration requirements: Complex CRM setups may increase implementation fees

Expect pricing in line with premium sales intelligence tools. Mid-market and enterprise buyers typically pay thousands per month for team access.

The lack of transparent pricing slows down evaluation. You can't compare costs across vendors without scheduling multiple demos. This creates friction if you're trying to move quickly or have limited budget authority.

Cognism Pros and Cons

Every platform has strengths and weaknesses. Here's where Cognism delivers value and where it falls short.

Pros

• Strong European data coverage: Cognism maintains deeper contact databases for UK, French, and German companies than most US-based competitors. If you're prospecting into EMEA markets, you'll find more complete records.

• GDPR-first approach: The platform was built with European compliance requirements from day one. Features like Do-Not-Call checking and consent tracking are native, not bolted on.

• Phone-verified mobiles: Diamond Data reduces wasted time on bad numbers. Manual verification means higher connect rates when your reps dial.

• Clean user interface: New users can start prospecting quickly without extensive training. The interface is straightforward and doesn't require a learning curve.

Cons

• Limited North American depth: Teams primarily targeting US or Canadian accounts will find coverage gaps. Cognism's database is smaller for North American contacts.

• No public pricing: You must engage with sales before understanding costs. This adds friction to evaluation and makes budget planning harder.

• Intent data costs extra: Bombora integration isn't included in base packages. You pay additional fees for intent signals that some competitors bundle.

• Fewer workflow features: Cognism focuses on data delivery, not sales automation. You won't find engagement sequences, email tracking, or orchestration tools built in.

Who Should Use Cognism?

Cognism fits specific buyer profiles better than others. You'll get the most value if you match these criteria.

You should consider Cognism if you're prospecting heavily into European or UK markets. The platform's data coverage is strongest there. Organizations where GDPR compliance is non-negotiable will appreciate the built-in compliance tools that reduce legal risk.

Mid-market companies that prioritize phone prospecting benefit from Diamond Data. If your reps spend hours dialing and connect rates matter, verified mobile numbers justify the cost. Teams already using Bombora for intent data can consolidate vendors by accessing those signals through Cognism.

You should look elsewhere if you need deep North American coverage. Cognism's database has more gaps for US contacts than competitors focused on that market. Organizations wanting an all-in-one GTM platform with engagement tools, workflow automation, and native intent data require more comprehensive solutions.

Buyers who need robust orchestration capabilities built into the platform rather than basic CRM integrations should evaluate alternatives. Cognism delivers data well but doesn't replace your sales engagement stack.

Cognism doesn't offer a traditional free trial. You must commit to a demo and sales process before testing the platform. This works if you have clear requirements but creates friction if you're still exploring options.

Cognism vs. ZoomInfo

Both platforms provide B2B contact data, but they differ in coverage, capabilities, and approach. Here's how they compare.

Data Coverage

ZoomInfo maintains the largest B2B contact and company database. The platform covers North American markets deeply while also providing strong international data. Contact information gets verified continuously through automated systems and human research teams.

Cognism specializes in European markets where it offers more localized coverage. The platform was built for GDPR compliance from the start, which matters if you're prospecting into EU countries. But the database is smaller overall, especially for North American contacts.

If you're selling globally or primarily in the US, ZoomInfo gives you broader coverage. If you're focused on UK, France, or Germany, Cognism's regional strength may be enough.

Platform Capabilities

ZoomInfo offers GTM Workspace, which combines data, engagement tools, and CoPilot AI in one platform. CoPilot surfaces insights, automates workflows, and helps reps prioritize accounts based on buying signals. You get intent data, conversation intelligence, and orchestration capabilities built in.

Cognism focuses on data delivery with standard CRM integrations. You'll still need separate tools for email sequences, call tracking, and workflow automation. The platform doesn't try to replace your sales engagement stack.

This difference matters if you're trying to consolidate vendors. ZoomInfo can replace multiple point solutions. Cognism works as one piece of a larger tech stack.

Buyer Fit

Teams targeting primarily European accounts with strict GDPR requirements may find Cognism sufficient. The platform delivers strong value when your geographic focus aligns with their data coverage.

Revenue teams needing global coverage, native intent signals, and workflow automation typically require a more comprehensive platform. Organizations building complex go-to-market motions benefit from integrated capabilities rather than point solutions.

ZoomInfo serves mid-market and enterprise buyers who want a single platform for prospecting, engagement, and pipeline management. Cognism serves teams that need European data and compliance features without requiring full GTM automation.

The pricing models differ too. Cognism requires a demo for quotes. ZoomInfo also uses custom pricing but offers more transparent information about what drives costs. Both platforms target similar buyer personas but serve different geographic and capability needs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cognism

Does Cognism offer a free trial or demo?

Cognism doesn't offer a traditional free trial where you can test the platform independently. You need to request a demo through their sales team, who will walk you through the product and may provide limited sample data during evaluation.

What CRM and sales tools does Cognism integrate with?

Cognism integrates natively with Salesforce, HubSpot, Outreach, and Salesloft. The browser extension also works with LinkedIn Sales Navigator to pull contact data while you browse profiles.

Is Cognism compliant with GDPR and data privacy regulations?

Yes, Cognism built the platform with GDPR compliance as a core requirement. The system includes Do-Not-Call list checking and consent tracking to help you maintain compliance when prospecting into European markets.

How does Cognism verify and source its contact data?

Cognism sources data through web crawling, public records, and data partnerships. Their Diamond Data offering uses human researchers to manually verify mobile phone numbers by calling them before adding to the database.

What is Diamond Data and how is it different from standard contact data?

Diamond Data consists of phone numbers that Cognism's research team has manually verified by calling. Standard contact data comes from automated sources without human verification, which means higher risk of disconnected or incorrect numbers.