If you are evaluating ZoomInfo vs UpLead, you are likely weighing two different approaches to B2B data.
One positions itself as a large-scale data platform with intent capabilities and workflow integrations. The other focuses on verified contact data with transparent pricing and credit-based access.
The right choice depends on what you value more: database scale, cost control, intent depth or verification methodology.
Below, we break down UpLead vs ZoomInfo across features, pricing, data quality, compliance, and integrations, so you can assess what matters for your revenue model.
If compliant, mobile-first and internationally accurate B2B data is a priority - particularly across the UK and Europe - the evaluation shifts. Both UpLead and ZoomInfo were built around US data models.
European markets operate differently, with stricter regulatory interpretation, fragmented sources and higher enforcement scrutiny.
Cognism is designed as a European data foundation for revenue teams that require:
Over 90% director-level coverage in Europe
30-day refresh cycles
15 Do Not Call lists
Screened and verified mobile numbers
Direct delivery into CRM systems, data warehouses, and AI workflows
No credit ceilings that restrict scale
Here is a breakdown of how all three options compare.
Book a demo to learn how Cognism can help you maintain data accuracy, minimise wasted efforts, and support revenue operations:
ZoomInfo positions itself as a broad go-to-market platform. In addition to contact and company data, it offers:
Its strength lies in scale and breadth across the US market.
UpLead focuses more narrowly on:
Its interface is designed for simplicity, with fewer adjacent workflow products.
Cognism provides the trusted data foundation revenue teams rely on to deliver predictable performance across Europe. It provides accurate, compliant B2B contact and company data tailored to the structural complexity of European markets, supporting prospecting, enrichment, and AI-driven workflows at scale.
The platform delivers the most complete European datasets available, with over 90% coverage of director-level and above contacts and frequent refresh cycles to counter data decay.
Phone-verified mobile numbers improve connect rates, while intent signals and contextual triggers support informed prioritisation. Data is accessible without credit ceilings, subject to fair usage, and integrates directly into CRM systems, data warehouses, and AI environments, ensuring your European growth strategy is built on information you can trust.
UpLead is generally considered to be more affordable than ZoomInfo and other B2B contact databases.
Here are the main differences between UpLead vs ZoomInfo when comparing pricing:
Despite these differences, ZoomInfo and UpLead’s prices are based on a credit system that limits viewing and exporting data. Monthly caps, resets, and expensive ‘add-ons’ may make forecasting budget spending challenging.
Other challenges with credit-based pricing include:
Cognism removes credit ceilings from its commercial model. Revenue teams are not required to ration views or exports, and international expansion does not sit behind separate usage packages.
Commercial agreements are structured for predictable access to data, enabling teams to test new markets, grow addressable segments and build pipeline without incremental penalties.
As a revenue leader, you’re likely focused on the accuracy of B2B contact data. It’s reasonable to ask how many email addresses and direct dial numbers ZoomInfo and UpLead report in their databases.
At first glance, volume appears decisive. More records suggest more opportunities.
However, database scale does not guarantee usable pipeline.
If a provider promotes a large contact count but a significant proportion of emails bounce, or direct dials are outdated, the operational costs quickly outweigh the headline number. Connect rates fall. SDR productivity declines. Forecasting becomes less reliable.
When evaluating UpLead vs ZoomInfo, it is worth distinguishing between total records and verified, deliverable contacts.
Below are the figures each vendor publishes publicly.
If you are primarily selling in the US, both platforms offer meaningful coverage. If you are expanding into Europe, you will need to assess:
Large global contact counts do not guarantee regional completeness.
Earlier, we distinguished between volume and usability. That distinction matters most when evaluating mobile data.
Cognism’s approach prioritises verification over scale. Mobile numbers are validated through direct confirmation processes to ensure they are active and assigned to the correct decision-maker. This methodology is designed to improve connection outcomes, not simply increase database totals.
Independent testing and customer case studies show significantly higher connect rates when using phone-verified mobile numbers. In many cases, reaching up to 87% of targeted records.
Below is how customers describe the impact of accurate, verified contact data on their pipeline performance.
ZoomInfo is CCPA and GDPR-compliant. The provider also checks do-not-call lists in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, and the US.
However, UpLead’s website doesn’t mention CCPA, GDPR compliance or DNC list cleaning. You can refer to UpLead’s Privacy Policy to learn more about its compliance status.
If compliance is a strategic priority, the evaluation extends beyond basic GDPR and CCPA claims.
Cognism embeds regulatory governance directly into its data sourcing and verification processes. In addition to GDPR and CCPA compliance, Cognism screens against 15 global Do Not Call lists - more than any other provider - reducing the risk of regulatory breach and reputational damage.
This includes TPS and CTPS in the UK, as well as national Do Not Call registers across the United States, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Spain, Ireland, Belgium, Croatia, Portugal, Sweden and more.
The main difference between ZoomInfo and UpLead is that ZoomInfo is an end-to-end sales intelligence platform that aims to consolidate tech solutions. In contrast, UpLead is a marketing automation platform with a smaller scope.
When you compare the UpLead vs ZoomInfo platforms, ZoomInfo offers more advanced proprietary technology, while UpLead focuses on integrations with other tools via Zapier.
If your organisation already relies on established systems such as Salesforce, Outreach or HubSpot, your data layer must integrate seamlessly with them.
Cognism is designed to sit within existing revenue infrastructure. Data can be delivered directly into CRM and sales engagement platforms, enriching records without disrupting established workflows. Browser-based functionality surfaces compliant contact data and contextual insight across LinkedIn, CRM environments and corporate websites.
For more advanced use cases, data can also be delivered programmatically into wider systems and AI-driven workflows. The objective is not to introduce another tool, but to strengthen the integrity of the systems you already depend on.
Below is an example of how data can be accessed directly within LinkedIn workflows.
ZoomInfo and UpLead provide intent data to reach prospects at the right time. But they source it differently.
ZoomInfo leverages proprietary machine learning to identify leads ready to buy. It collects intent data from various sources, including proprietary data from its subsidiary Datanyze.
UpLead partners with industry leader Bombora to provide intent data to its customers. But it’s only supplied if you negotiate a custom pricing package with annual billing.
You can also add Bombora’s intent data to Cognism’s package; the tool sends signal data in real time. This ensures you’re the first to act when your customers make a move.
When comparing ZoomInfo vs UpLead, user feedback tends to reflect a trade-off between simplicity and scale.
ZoomInfo is frequently praised for the breadth of its database and its intent capabilities, particularly among US-based revenue teams operating at scale. Users often highlight its depth of company intelligence and segmentation power. (G2) For organisations running structured outbound programmes in North America, it is widely regarded as an established market leader.
However, criticism centres on cost and complexity. Review platforms and community forums regularly mention long-term contracts, pricing opacity and credit consumption as friction points. One Reddit user states that ZoomInfo is good, but the contracts are brutal. Some users also question data consistency outside the United States, noting that international coverage can vary by region. (Reddit)
UpLead, by contrast, is commonly described as easy to use and transparent (G2). Users appreciate its published pricing, real-time email verification and ease of use. It is often seen as a practical option for teams seeking predictable monthly spend without lengthy commitments.
That said, reviews also point to limitations such as batch downloads (G2), low-quality list exports (Trustpilot), and a lack of full-featuredness or contact richness compared to ZoomInfo. (Capterra)
As with most data platforms, perceptions often mirror the business context. The more complex the sales motion and the more geographically diverse the target market, the more closely users tend to examine coverage quality, compliance safeguards and commercial flexibility.
Here’s a quote from one of Cognism’s customers, who made the switch from ZoomInfo to Cognism:
Stuck in a ZoomInfo contract and want out? Cognism can help you make the switch
If you’ve evaluated UpLead and ZoomInfo but neither fully aligns with your requirements, you’re not alone.
Many revenue organisations find themselves choosing between transparent, credit-based simplicity with limited scale, or broad platform depth accompanied by higher cost, contract rigidity and operational complexity.
Cognism provides a more deliberate alternative: accurate, compliant European B2B data designed to support confident decision-making and sustainable growth across multiple jurisdictions.
Cognism delivers:
For organisations prioritising data accuracy, regulatory alignment and predictable commercial structures, Cognism offers a balanced foundation without unnecessary platform sprawl.
Book a demo and test Cognism’s data today.