Looking for the best EMEA B2B data provider?
If you’re expanding into Europe, not all contact data platforms are created equal. While tools like ZoomInfo and Apollo.io dominate the US, they often lack the compliance, data quality, and localisation needed to succeed in complex EMEA markets.
Cognism is the trusted choice for go-to-market teams targeting Europe. We provide a high-quality GDPR-compliant database, industry-leading mobile phone and email accuracy, and the most complete data in EMEA.
Whether launching in the UK, DACH, Nordics, or Benelux, this guide explains why Cognism’s EMEA data wins and why you should choose it to fuel your European revenue growth.
Let’s start 👇
EMEA B2B data provider comparison
Finding a sales intelligence tool that provides quality EMEA data is critical when expanding into Europe.
This comparison breaks down how Cognism, ZoomInfo, and Apollo.io differ in terms of EMEA contact data, from compliance to contact quality.
Cognism leads across every category that matters for European success. While ZoomInfo and Apollo.io may be strong in the US, they fall short in key EMEA areas, like DNC screening, mobile reach, and localised targeting.
Want a quote? Enter the form below, or check out Cognism’s pricing page.
Why EMEA data is a unique challenge for providers
Selling in Europe isn’t just about expanding your TAM. It’s about navigating a complex environment of privacy laws, data accuracy expectations, and local market nuances.
For many US-based platforms, these challenges often result in patchy coverage, lower connection rates, or compliance risks.
Unlike a generic European business mailing list or scraped European email list, accurate EMEA data needs to be built with compliance, consent, and context from the ground up.
Here’s why EMEA is different:
- Strict data laws: The EU’s GDPR demands that businesses work with a fully compliant provider. This includes transparent sourcing, DNC screening, and legally required notifications to data subjects.
- Fragmented regional norms: What works in Germany won’t always work in France or the Nordics. You need a provider who understands the nuances, like Cognism.
- Decision-maker accessibility: Reaching the right people requires verified, high-quality data, not just any European email database pulled from unknown sources.
Cognism’s EMEA-first approach means our European business database isn’t just compliant; it’s enriched, phone-verified, and built to drive conversations, not bounce rates or no dials.
Managing Director @Mollie
Why not test our data? Click the button below, or check out our compliance page for peace of mind.
ZoomInfo EMEA Market Fit Breakdown
When evaluating ZoomInfo vs Cognism for European market expansion, the differences in EMEA fit become immediately apparent. ZoomInfo’s broad, US-headquartered platform offers extensive global coverage, but it wasn’t built with Europe’s complexity or compliance in mind.
Here’s where Cognism stands apart in the ZoomInfo Europe conversation:
1. Compliance confidence
User feedback highlights GDPR issues with ZoomInfo’s European data. While ZoomInfo is GDPR compliant, its DNC list checking is limited to eight countries.
According to verified user reviews, users cite “poor data quality in Europe” and warn against signing agreements in the region.
As a UK-headquartered company, Cognism built its offering in compliance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Our job is to ensure revenue teams can go to market without their legal or info-sec teams worrying about whether the data they’re using for prospecting in Europe is risking their business.
- We only obtain business data from publicly available sources and validate our dataset internally.
- We screen our telephone database against 13 Do Not Call registries worldwide, including key European regions such as the UK, Germany, France, Sweden, and Belgium.
- We notify data subjects in compliance with our transparency obligations under Art 14 GDPR and give them the option to exercise any of their rights, including the option to opt-out.
- We hold the ISO 27001 and SOC2 type II certifications for our information security compliance.
Cognism is the platform legal teams can trust 👇
SDR Manager @Cloudreach
2. Undisclosed auto-renewal terms
ZoomInfo contracts are known for their undisclosed auto-renewal terms, often locking customers into more expensive contracts without proactive notice. According to user feedback on Reddit and G2, renewal costs can increase unexpectedly.
Cognism takes a different approach. There are no surprise renewals, no opaque bundling, and a transparent pricing model designed for scale without the stress.
Locked into a contract with ZoomInfo and need a way out? Cognism can help you make the switch.
3. US company with limited European granularity
Headquartered in Washington, DC, it makes sense that ZoomInfo’s data would be stronger in the US, as mentioned by many Capterra, G2 and Trustpilot reviewers.
However, for teams selling into EMEA, granularity and coverage often fall short. Users report missing local job titles, regional firmographics, and verified contact details.
Cognism, on the other hand, is not only headquartered in the UK but also acquired Kaspr, a French data provider.
European buyers are becoming more data-savvy. They expect higher accuracy, faster connection rates, and proof of regulatory compliance—areas where Cognism outperforms.
From EMEA-specific firmographics to intent data with GDPR consent baked in, Cognism provides tailored tools that align with how sales actually happen in Europe.
SDR Manager @User Evidence
If you’re serious about expanding into Europe, ZoomInfo’s data for EMEA may not deliver the compliance, granularity or trust your GTM team needs. Cognism is the better fit for modern European sales teams, offering transparency, precision, and support tailored to the EMEA landscape.
Enable real-time B2B data enrichment in Europe, keep your CRM clean, and trigger relevant actions based on live buying signals. Take a look at how our platform works 👇
Why freemium doesn’t win in Europe
Apollo.io has risen in the B2B data space because of its low-cost, freemium-first model. It’s attractive to small, budget-conscious sales teams, especially in the US. However, when it comes to EMEA B2B data, Apollo’s offering doesn’t hold up.
Here’s why Cognism outperforms Apollo.io in Europe:
1. Price-driven, but not performance-driven
Apollo’s pricing is affordable, but many EMEA teams are paying for “good enough” data that doesn’t deliver consistent results.
Cognism delivers ROI through accuracy. With Diamond Verified® mobile numbers, users report 3x faster connect rates and 5x fewer touches per meeting booked. Outcomes that freemium tools can’t match.
Director of Business Development @SUB1
2. Compliance red flags
Apollo’s freemium model relies heavily on scraped or crowdsourced data. According to the Ts & Cs, when you connect your CRM to Apollo’s software and use its services, you add data to the database.
Unauthorised scraping led LinkedIn to remove Apollo.io’s company page and restrict its platform. As a result, Apollo’s LinkedIn features, like one-click lead scraping and profile enrichment, no longer function.
Apollo also includes personal emails in its database, which requires adherence to different compliance laws. Failing to ensure compliance may lead to profound legal implications for your business.
But that’s not all. Apollo.io has had not one but two data breaches. One occurred in 2018, when email addresses and data points in their database were exposed. The other occurred in 2021, when records of French users were stolen and sold online.
By contrast, Cognism is purpose-built for GDPR. Our European business email list is consent-based, and we screen phone numbers against 13 country-specific Do Not Call registries, offering unmatched peace of mind for legal and compliance teams.
Moreover, Cognism works with LinkedIn workflows using GDPR & CCPA-safe, phone-verified data without scraping risk.
👉 Learn more about how Cognism compares to Apollo.io.
3. Built for SMBs, not scalable for GTM teams
Apollo’s Chrome extension and UI are intuitive but designed for individual reps or small teams. EMEA mid-market and enterprise teams often report frustrations with the lack of advanced integrations, limitations around enrichment, and minimal support.
By contrast, Cognism is built for scaling GTM teams with native integrations, real-time enrichment, and live onboarding support. Our customers include leading sales teams across EMEA, from tech to recruitment and enterprise SaaS.
4. Intent & orchestration capabilities
Cognism and Apollo.io acquire intent data from different sources. Cognism has partnered with the industry leader Bombora, while Apollo utilises LeadSift.
LeadSift collects data through contact and account intent, custom search terms, and public web scraping.
In contrast to LeadSift, Bombora’s intent data is not obtained through scraping. It is consent-based and gathered from a cooperative of 5,000 B2B sites, where B2B buyers actively research topics when they are ready to purchase.
Head of Cloud Sales @Ultima
Apollo.io may work for small US-based sales teams. But if you’re targeting EMEA and need accurate, compliant, and scalable contact data, Cognism is the clear winner. Don’t trade short-term savings for long-term sales inefficiencies.
Built for EMEA: Cognism’s competitive advantage
When it comes to sourcing accurate, compliant, and conversion-ready contact data across Europe, Cognism is built differently.
Where competitors try to stretch US-centric models across new geographies, Cognism starts with the complexity of EMEA and builds up.
Here’s what makes Cognism the go-to compliant contact data provider for sales and marketing teams expanding into EMEA:
1. GDPR compliance you can rely on
Cognism was founded in the UK and designed from day one to comply with the EU’s strictest data protection laws. We go beyond basic legal hygiene:
- Article 14 notifications for all data subjects
- Screening against 13 national DNC lists—more than any other B2B data provider
- Full opt-out support and transparency built into every record
This is B2B data trusted by legal and procurement teams across Europe.
2. Diamond Verified® mobile data
Quantity is good, but we know quality is what you really need.
That’s why we’ve built a pre-call verification process to ensure sales teams prioritise calling mobile phone numbers where they KNOW a human will pick up.
Diamond Phone-Verified Data® results in an increased speed-to-connect rate and helps engage more of the right decision-makers in less time, eliminating inefficiencies due to misdialed or incorrect numbers.
Not just more contacts—better contacts. Cognism’s phone-verified mobile data ensures you connect with real decision-makers faster:
- Connect with 87% of your list.
- 3x higher connect rates than unverified databases
- Verified European business email lists and mobile numbers, refreshed regularly for accuracy.
This isn’t a scraped Europe email database. It’s sales intelligence that works 👇
Director of Business Development @SUB1
3. Localised, enriched firmographics
Relying on outdated CRM data isn’t just inconvenient; it’s costly.
Inaccurate information leads to wasted marketing dollars, misdirected outreach, and lost sales.
We’ve developed Instant & Scheduled Enrichment to keep your CRM data up-to-date and always actionable.
Instant Enrichment allows for real-time enrichment of EMEA leads from inbound to CRM, populating company and contact level data points with accurate information. This will enable reps to quickly action and work the right leads with the context and relevance they need to convert them.
Use Cognism Scheduled Enrich for a fresh and action-ready CRM. Revenue teams can automatically append and correct data at the frequency of their choice and dodge data decay.
Moreover, Cognism provides EMEA data that understands context: local languages, job titles, revenue bands, industry classifications, and location nuances.
Our European business mailing list includes deep firmographic details—helping you segment and personalise campaigns for the UK, Germany, France, the Nordics, Benelux and beyond.
4. Powerful integrations with your GTM stack
Plug into your sales and marketing tools with ease. Cognism integrates with:
- Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive.
- Salesloft, Outreach, LinkedIn Sales Navigator.
- Custom workflows through Zapier and API.
Sales Administrator @Simpleshow
Cognism isn’t trying to retrofit a global platform to work in Europe. We’re already here—with the most complete EMEA contact data, industry-leading compliance, and support that speaks your language (and your time zone).
Frequently asked questions about EMEA B2B data
What is EMEA B2B data?
EMEA B2B data refers to business contact and firmographic information for companies and professionals located in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. This includes emails, phone numbers, job titles, and company details, which sales and marketing teams use for prospecting and outreach.
How is EMEA B2B data different from US B2B data?
EMEA data is subject to stricter data privacy laws, including the EU’s GDPR. It also requires deeper localisation, such as language, job title formats, and regional compliance, making European business email lists and phone data more complex to source and validate than in the US.
What is the European standard for data privacy?
GDPR is a comprehensive privacy legislation that applies across sectors and to companies of all sizes.
It protects the privacy and security of personal data about individuals in EEA-based operations.
Cognism’s legal team advises that the GDPR automatically applies where a company processes the data of an EEA resident.
Companies can carry out direct marketing and sales practices under GDPR, provided they can prove a lawful basis, such as legitimate interest.
Cognism’s commitment to providing the highest level of compliance in the EU and the UK makes it the best business data provider in Europe.
What should I look for in an EMEA B2B data provider?
Look for providers that offer:
- GDPR-compliant data sourcing.
- Verified mobile numbers.
- DNC list screening across Europe.
- Strong coverage across the UK, DACH, Benelux, and Nordics.
- Integrations with your CRM and sales tools.
Cognism meets all these requirements and more.
Is ZoomInfo good for EMEA B2B data?
ZoomInfo has global reach, but you’ll need to pay extra for EMEA data via its global data passport. Cognism is headquartered in the UK with teams across EMEA for local support. What’s more, Cognism doesn’t charge you extra for regional data.
Which B2B data provider has the best EMEA coverage?
Cognism offers 2x more European contacts than other providers, including deep coverage in the UK, Germany, France, Benelux, and the Nordics. It also screens phone data against DNC lists in 13 countries—the most of any provider on the market.
Is Cognism’s coverage in EMEA better than US providers, like ZoomInfo?
With over 200M European contacts, our data coverage and quality across Europe is unrivalled compared to US-based providers, like ZoomInfo or Lusha.
Our mobiles are phone-verified (which means we’ve validated and confirmed the accuracy of the mobile number) to ensure your team spends less time dialling the wrong mobile phone numbers and more time conversing with decision-makers.
Additionally, Cognism does NOT charge extra for access to data in NAM, EMEA, and APAC.
On the other hand, to access ZoomInfo’s European B2B data, you must buy a Global Data Passport (Global, Europe, North America Plus).
How is the Cognism B2B database better than EU data providers?
Local B2B data providers that cover specific territories in the EU usually lack global coverage or unlock access to it in the highest pricing plans.
For example, Dealfront’s database (created after Echobot and Leadfeeder merged) specialises in covering Germany and the DACH region.
Dealfront’s coverage may be too limited if you plan international business expansion, as they "don’t accommodate businesses whose main objective is to sell outside of Europe."
If you’re looking for one provider that can fuel your international sales team, you need Cognism.
With Cognism, you can access global data, including EMEA, NAM and APAC without extra charges.
We also have over 70 million mobile phone numbers in the US (which is twice that of other data providers).
How many B2B contacts does Cognism have in Europe?
Cognism has an extensive global database with over 200 million contacts for European decision-makers in DACH, Benelux, Nordics, and more.
If you’re interested in the coverage we can provide for your target market and persona, book a 1:1, no-obligation call with one of our reps.
Is Cognism worth the price compared to Apollo.io vs ZoomInfo?
Yes. While Apollo.io may be cheaper upfront and ZoomInfo offers bundles, Cognism delivers better ROI through verified data, higher connect rates, and no hidden costs or auto-renewal traps. One deal may pay for a full year’s subscription.
Get the best EMEA B2B Data the right way
If your team is serious about driving revenue in Europe, you need more than just a prospecting list. You need a partner who understands the region’s complexity, delivers reliable data, and helps you quickly connect with the right people.
Cognism is a leading European data provider because we combine:
- The most complete GDPR-compliant European contact database.
- Phone-verified mobile numbers that get reps on calls faster.
- Enrichment and intent data built for EMEA workflows.
- Transparent pricing, live onboarding, and local support.
No scraped databases. No compliance headaches. No false promises.
Ready to see what compliant, accurate EMEA B2B data can do for your sales team? Click the button to test our data 👇
