7 Best B2B Lead Directories for 2025 (Ranked & Reviewed)

Finding quality B2B leads shouldn’t feel like guesswork. Yet, most revenue teams spend hours chasing bad data, only to find numbers that don’t connect, emails that bounce, or people who no longer work for that company.

That’s where a lead directory changes the game. The right platform gives you verified, compliant contact data, ready to plug into your CRM or prospecting tools.

And when it comes to accuracy, compliance, and global reach, Cognism leads the pack.

In this guide, we’ve ranked the seven best business-to-business directories based on:

• Data accuracy and verification.
• Compliance (GDPR/CCPA).
• CRM and workflow integrations.
• Global coverage.
• Pricing transparency.

Let’s dive in. 👇

1. Cognism (Best overall lead directory for verified B2B data)

Cognism is the gold standard for verified, compliant B2B contact data. Its platform gives sales and marketing teams access to millions of phone-verified mobile numbers (Diamond Data®) and business emails, all compliant with the GDPR and CCPA.

Why it stands out

Cognism doesn’t just provide data; it delivers confidence. Every contact is verified through a five-layer process, including by humans and technology, backed by a compliance engine that makes data privacy simple.

With global reach across the US, EMEA, and APAC, Cognism is built for teams that generate leads in international markets.

Key feature 1: Diamond Data® connects your calls through high-accuracy mobile numbers

Diamond Data® connects reps to decision-makers through phone-verified B2B mobile numbers. Internal studies have shown that these numbers are 3x more likely to connect than standard data on the market. The result means more conversations with your ideal prospects.

Key feature 2: Enterprise-grade GDPR and CCPA compliance

All Cognism lead directory data is compliant-first. Our data collection and processing practices adhere to GDPR and CCPA guidelines, helping to safeguard your business from non-compliance risks. We also regularly scrub our data against 14 major Do Not Call (DNC) and TPS lists, more than any other lead providers on the market.

Key feature 3: Integrations with a high number of CRMs and outreach tools

Cognism connects with all your favourite tools to make sure your data is up-to-date everywhere. We integrate with Salesforce, HubSpot, Outreach, Salesloft, Sales Navigator and many more through Zapier integration.

Key feature 4: User-friendly interface with a low learning curve

Unlike some lead directory platforms on the market, the learning curve is low, and you’ll be supported throughout setup by our friendly team. There are no complex enrichment spreadsheets; your workflows will run naturally in the Cognism web app or browser extension.

Ideal for: Revenue teams, SDRs, and growth marketers who want to enrich CRM records and connect with verified prospects at scale.

💡 Pro tip: Try Cognism’s lead directory data sample to get a taste for our global contacts and accuracy.

2. ZoomInfo

ZoomInfo is one of the biggest names in enterprise B2B data. It offers deep North American coverage and layered intent data. But tools like Cognism can also exceed your US data needs, especially if you’re looking to expand into Europe later.

Features:

• Big dataset with advanced segmentation filters.
• Integrates with major CRMs and sales engagement tools.
• Intent data.

Ideal for: Enterprise sales teams that need extensive US contact data and have large budgets for data licensing.

Compare: Cognism vs ZoomInfo to see what’s different about Cognism.

3. Lusha

Lusha is an affordable, easy-to-use lead directory designed for smaller sales teams. It’s known for its Chrome Extension and credit-based plans. It could be considered a good starting point, but when you begin to scale, the limitations around credits make it costly vs the value from the platform.

Features:

• Simple UI and quick LinkedIn prospecting.
• Easy onboarding and pay-per-credit pricing.
• Start for free without speaking to a salesperson.

Ideal for: SMBs and start-ups that need quick, low-volume lead access.

4. Apollo.io

Apollo.io combines a B2B lead directory with outreach automation, making it a popular choice for teams wanting an all-in-one platform. Similar to Lusha, Apollo is likely to be able to scale only so far with you, making it challenging to enter new markets or engage in more outbound activity.

Features:

• Email sequencing and CRM integration.
• Strong pricing for smaller teams.
• In-built dialler for cold calling from the app.

Ideal for: Teams looking for a budget-friendly mix of contact discovery and outreach automation.

5. Breeze Intelligence

Breeze Intelligence (previously Clearbit) focuses heavily on data enrichment rather than lead lists. It’s a favourite for marketing teams who want to refine their CRM data and segmentation.

Features:

• Real-time firmographic enrichment.
• Integrates tightly with HubSpot.
• Form enrichment for your lead generation database.

Ideal for: Marketing teams that prioritise accurate company data and live enrichment over direct prospecting.

6. Lead411

Lead411 is another solid option for North American teams that want verified email addresses and phone number data with built-in intent triggers. Its compliance status is unclear, though, so consider the tool with caution.

Features:

• Accurate US data.
• Intent signals to improve outreach timing.
• Email addresses and phone numbers for lead gen.

Ideal for: US-based sales teams targeting verified regional leads.

7. Uplead

Uplead offers a credit-based model and claims 95% data accuracy. It can be a flexible option for smaller teams or freelancers for this reason.

Features:

• Transparent, pay-as-you-go pricing.
• Solid verification process.
• Credit-based model means you can scale down.

Ideal for: Freelancers and SMBs that want precise, verified data without long-term contracts.

How to choose the right lead directory

Choosing a business-to-business lead directory isn’t necessarily about size.

Here’s what to evaluate to find a good fit:

1. Data accuracy - How are contacts verified? (Phone verification is best-in-class).
2. Compliance - Does the platform comply with GDPR/CCPA and offer consent metadata?
3. Integrations - Does it plug into your CRM and outreach stack seamlessly?
4. Regional coverage - Are your ICP regions covered (e.g. EMEA, APAC)?
5. Pricing transparency - Is it clear what you’re paying for?

💡 Pro tip: Always ask for a sample of the data or use the free trial before committing. A credible provider will gladly prove their accuracy.

Why Cognism stands out in vendor directories

Cognism isn’t just another business leads database; it’s a complete, compliant data infrastructure for your go-to-market strategy.

Here’s what makes it different:

• The only provider offering global, GDPR-compliant, phone-verified contact data, checked against 14 DNC lists.
• Combines intent data, enrichment API, and Browser extension for full-funnel prospecting.
• Supported by a dedicated compliance and data verification team.
• Backed by enterprise clients who’ve seen measurable ROI.

Example: One B2B SaaS company found that using Cognism contributed 100% to helping them hit their KPIs and found it saved them 3-4 hours per day; that’s 20 hours per week!

Final thoughts

The best lead directory for your business depends on your region, scale, and compliance requirements.

If you’re looking for global coverage, verified accuracy, and peace of mind on data compliance, there’s no better choice than Cognism.

🚀 Book your Cognism demo today to see live verified leads in action.