10 Lead Generation Companies & Services [+How to Choose]

Let me guess—

You’re running a company and it’s been doing great thanks to referrals and loyal customers. But your goal is to scale your business. And this requires exploring new ways to generate more leads.

Am I right?

If so, you need to build a sustainable pipeline. Your options are either building an in-house sales team to attract potential customers or outsourcing it to B2B lead generation companies.

The lead generation solution market is booming so there’s no shortage of services. The only problem is finding the right one among all the others.

What are lead generation companies?

Lead generation companies collect consumer and B2B data and sell it to businesses looking to buy new leads. They use different methods to segment and categorize the data to make sure the buyers get relevant contacts.  

B2B lead generation companies and software solutions get their leads from various sources through a combination of AI-enabled research and dedicated sales development reps. The best companies aim to deliver qualified sales leads.

Some large lead generation companies offer comprehensive services, such as:

• Building B2B contact databases
• Database management
• CRM integration
• Account-based management
• Personalized marketing campaigns
• Sales enablement software for your sales team
• Scheduling appointments

Look for a company that can tailor its services to your needs or specializes in your niche. 

How much do they charge for their services?

Some lead gen agencies charge clients a monthly subscription fee for using their services or software, while others charge per lead. The price per lead depends on the lead’s ‘warmth. Their cost varies depending on the industry, too. Healthcare and insurance leads are thought to be the most expensive. 

Cold leads may be as cheap as $0.15, while hot leads can cost up to $100. Like most things in life, you get what you paid for. So if you go for the cheapest options, you won’t see much return on your investment.  

There are two more, less obvious factors influencing lead companies’ prices—

Some lead list companies sent out contacts to multiple parties which “dilutes” their value. On other occasions, you will only get a fraction of leads in your total TAM. That’s when your chosen leads agency offers exclusive lists of targeted leads and serves other businesses in your niche.

So, are lead gen companies worth it?

Lead gen companies are worth it when you receive qualified or targeted lead generation data with a real potential to convert. Look for lead gen companies that offer at least prequalifying services to ensure sales data’s high quality.

Top lead generation companies list

According to Hubspot’s State of Marketing report, 61% of marketers consider generating traffic and leads their biggest challenge. That’s why we gathered the best companies offering lead generation services to help you find a good fit for your business. You can scroll down for a more in-depth description.

1. Cognism

Cognism is not a typical lead generation company. It is a premium sales intelligence platform with headquarters in the UK. It has a globally compliant B2B contact database. You can perform company and contact searches in EMEA, NAM, APAC markets. 

Main features

• Access to B2B emails and human-verified mobile numbers (GDPR & CCPA compliant, US & European DNCs checked)
• Unrestricted individual and page-level viewing and exporting (no credits)
• Integrations with popular CRMs and sales tools to prospect into owned accounts
• Cognism Chrome Extension that works over Outreach and Salesforce to enrich records without switching to another tool
• Access to key account and lead information on company websites (e.g., company details, their technology stack, and key decision-makers)
• Access to prospects' connections to close multithread deals
• Sales triggers, technographics, and Bombora's intent data

Pricing

• All Cognism licenses give you unrestricted access to its phone and email database*, integrations, and Chrome extension
• The cost of Cognism's subscription depends on the data type you need. Talk to the sales team to see which license is right for you

Not ready to book a demo?

💡 Click through our interactive workflows to see how intuitive our platform is. Or watch Localz video case study below 👇 

2. Cience 

Cience is one of the fastest-growing and top-rated lead-generation companies. It offers managed services for lead generation. It’s great for startups and companies without sales teams. It allows you to interact with buyers and monitor your leads through a proprietary platform. 

Main features

• Demographic, firmographic, and technographic data
• Building and maintaining CRM
• Multi-channel outbound campaign launches

Pricing

• Highly customizable based on the scope of the project
• Schedule a meeting to get a quote

Clutch reviews: 4.5 out of 5

G2 reviews: 4.3 out of 5

Upcity reviews: 4.7 out of 5

Social: Cience Linkedin profile

Tip! If you're a start-up or in the SaaS industry, check out unique lead-generation strategies for tech companies.

3. Belkins

Belkins carries out lead generation services in various industries, including healthcare, construction, and e-learning. It offers lead research with over 10 prospecting tools and email nurturing campaigns. It works with SMBs and startups struggling to connect consistently with prospective clients. 

Main features

• Deliverability team (sales development representatives and account managers)
• B2B appointment setting
• Copywriting services to enhance your campaigns

Pricing

• Request a quote after a consultation

Clutch reviews: 4.9 out of 5

G2 reviews: 4.8 out of 5

Upcity reviews: 5 out of 5

Social: Belkins LinkedIn profile

Tip! Looking for free leads?

4. Callbox

This lead gen company for small businesses provides comprehensive lead management and automation platform to enterprises and scaling businesses. Callbox uses a global B2B database to build target lists. It also provides telemarketing scripts and email templates for direct outreach campaigns, e.g., webinar promotions.

Main features

• An account-based multi-channel marketing approach 
• Lead nurturing tools and smart calling to qualify leads
• Partnered with HubSpot to facilitate handing off qualified leads

Pricing

• Book a meeting for a custom price

Clutch reviews: 4.5 out of 5

G2 reviews: 2.8 out of 5

Upcity reviews: not available 

5. RocketReach

RocketReach is one of the top lead gen companies that helps IT businesses and startups in sales, recruiting, and marketing. It has a global database of emails and direct dials to enhance lead scoring. You can also use their extension to discover leads on sites like Google, AngelList, or Crunchbase.

Main features

• Bulk lookups to fill in missing data points
• API to integrate contacts directly into your app
• Email analytics to fine-tune conversations and track performance

Pricing

• Three individual plans starting from $468 for 1,500 lookups a year
• Team and enterprise plans available after consultation

Clutch reviews: 4.8 out of 5

G2 reviews: 4.5 out of 5

Upcity reviews: not available 

Social: RockerReach LinkedIn profile

6. Operatix

Operatix is a global powerhouse in sales development and pipeline generation, with a presence spanning three continents. This lead generation marketing company empowers B2B organizations worldwide to achieve their growth targets through tailored sales development services.

Main features

• Specialises in working with B2B SaaS vendors
• A comprehensive account-based, multi-touchpoint approach
• Focus on C-Level outbound activities with tailored messaging for each client
• Other services include marketing, sales recruitment channel recruitment and activation

Pricing

• Variable due to the high level of personalisation for each client

Clutch reviews: 4.7 out of 5

G2 reviews: 4.5 out of 5

Upcity reviews: Not available

Social: Operatix LinkedIn profile 

6. LeadGeneration

LeadGeneration (WebiMax) agency offers services of lead gen specialists who build B2B marketing campaigns for you on multiple channels. You get a dedicated project manager to help you identify your ideal customer profile and produce better-quality leads.

Main features

• Integrations with HubSpot, Pipedrive, Zoho, Salesforce, and more
• Exclusive lead lists and lead replacement policy
• Combination of inbound and outbound lead generation methods

Pricing:

• Request a quote after a free consultation

Clutch reviews: 5 out of 5

G2 reviews: 4.8 out of 5

Upcity reviews: 5 out of 5

Social: LinkedIn profile

8. Martal Group

This B2B lead generation company consists of 100+ sales executives and has four curated databases with 100 million contacts. They specialize in generating leads for B2B technology companies in the IT, SaaS, and telecom industries.

Main features

• Weekly customized lists of pre-qualified leads and marketing campaigns
• A dedicated management team that monitors intent data
• Customer onboarding flow for new customers 

Pricing:

• Flat fee per month after the 3-month Pilot Campaign
• To get a quote, speak to the sales team

Clutch reviews: 4.9 out of 5

G2 reviews: 4.8 out of 5

Upcity reviews: 5 out of 5

Social: Martal Group LinkedIn profile

9. Smith.ai

This company provides 24/7 sales lead generation services for SMBs. Smith.ai combines the power of AI technology and North-America based receptionists to capture and convert prospective clients.

Main features

• 24/7 handling of phone calls, live chats, Facebook messages, and SMS
• Lead screening and intake form competition
• Appointment setting

Pricing:

• Virtual receptionist plans start at $240/mo for 30 calls
• Outreach campaigns plans start at $400/mo for 100 calls
• Live chat plans start at $140/mo for 20 live chats
• Get a plan tailored to your unique business needs

Clutch reviews: 5 out of 5

G2 reviews: 5 out of 5

Upcity reviews: not available

Social: Smith.ai LinkedIn profile

10. Cleverly

This is a LinkedIn lead generation agency. It is focused on social media advertising and LinkedIn marketing. Their services include website design, copywriting, and conversion rate optimization.

Main features

• LinkedIn contact lists and cold outreach sequences
• Recruitment services, e.g. candidate list building, A/B tested copywriting
• Dashboard with key metrics and Zapier integration 

Pricing:

• Lead generations plans are $297/mo for 250 prospects and $397/mo for 500 prospects
• White-label lead gen available upon approval for $397/mo
• Other services are priced separately

Clutch reviews: 4.6 out of 5

G2 reviews: 4.5 out of 5

Upcity reviews: not available

Social: Cleverly LinkedIn profile

Tip! Before you sign up with any of the lead gen companies, check out the best strategies to generate leads.

How to choose a good lead generation company

Whether you’re searching for lead generation companies for small businesses or enterprises, you need to consider the same finer details. The checklist below will help you evaluate lead services and make sure you’re getting the best deal.

The best B2B lead generation companies won’t mind discussing them.

1. Data compliance

Obtaining accurate sales data should be our number one priority when you use lead generation companies. Otherwise, you’ll be wasting valuable time and resources trying to connect with people who are not interested in your product or service. You won’t be able to fill in the sales pipeline with irrelevant leads and hit revenue goals. 

Tip! Check out the video below that answers all your questions about B2B lead generation companies providing data. 

2. Data source

Make sure the lead generation agency you hire sources leads in a compliant way. The likelihood of lead conversion is higher if leads agree to provide their contact details. You can ask the agency where their leads come from and how often their contact database is refreshed. Outdated information might not be correct even if it was provided voluntarily. 

3. Data relevancy

Make sure that the data provided by the lead gen companies is usable. The obtained data has to serve your purpose (or purposes) which means it has to be easily manipulated. For example, does the company provide filtering and segmentation options for the data? If not, you won’t be able to reach your ideal customers. 

4. CRM integrations

Check if your lead generation vendor can bridge the gap with your sales and marketing teams by providing smooth integration with your company’s CRM. It helps you monitor transfer, and manage generated data. 

5. Sales triggers tracking

Does the company you’re considering analyze sales triggers to increase the chances of conversion? The top B2B lead generation services analyze prospects' activity and performance, like hiring new executives or receiving funding to find new business opportunities for you.

Tip! Find out what sales triggers are and how they can improve lead conversion rates.

6. Data coverage

Double-check if the lead gen companies you're considering can deliver leads globally. Even if you’re focusing your sales strategy on one location at the moment, it can change in time. Make sure that the company you choose can scale as you grow.

7. Local regulations compliance 

Fines for breaching data compliance laws or not taking proper care of contacts’ information can be hefty. So make sure the online lead generation company is registered with international and national regulators and addresses consent requirements.

Tip! Find how to generate leads in a compliant way using B2B data.

8. Services' flexibility

Most lead-generating companies offer a broad scope of services, from website development, to lead nurturing and scheduling appointments. Check with the company if they can tailor the offer to your go-to-market strategy. It’s best to book a meeting with the SDR team to discuss your needs.

9. Pricing

Once a company provides you with a personalized solution, make sure the pricing is adjusted accordingly. Check if it is competitive and provides real value. For example, some online lead generation services resell lead lists to different clients or ask you to pay for invalid leads. 

Tip! Learn more about the cost of lead generation and how to calculate cost per lead. Make sure you’re not overpaying for leads and check which campaigns are most cost-effective.

10. The ownership of generated leads

Some B2B lead gen companies only rent their contact databases to you. It means you lose access to leads after the rental period. So if you’re thinking about building a sustainable sales pipeline in the long term, choose a solution without an expiration date. 

11. Support for in-house teams

Finally, evaluate your in-house resources. If you already have a sales team, consider how you can use a lead generation firm to support their work. Sometimes all you need to do is to provide the right sales intelligence. So they can better optimize the revenue operations process and have time to nurture active leads.

Tip! Read tips from our SDR team for winning sales or an interview with Karen Muldoon, Zendesk’s sales leader, on becoming a successful SDR.