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Cognism vs Lusha

Many Cognism customers first used Lusha. They changed when credit ceilings and uneven coverage created operational drag. Cognism provides unrestricted access to high-quality European data, designed to scale with your revenue engine.

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How does Cognism compare?
Lusha
Strong coverage across Europe and key global markets
Verified B2B data
Dedicated support
No credit ceilings

Why revenue leaders have switched to Cognism

01

30% higher data quality

Cognism delivers reliable European contact data, supporting higher connect rates and reducing wasted outreach.

Companies can trust that records reflect real buying committees, built from verified sources rather than inferred or stitched-together profiles.

"Cognism’s data quality was about 30% better than everything else we were looking at.” Dave, Mollie

02

30–40% reduction in tech overhead costs

Credit-based pricing models restrict outreach and create hidden cost pressure as teams scale activity across markets.

Cognism removes credit ceilings, giving revenue leaders predictable access to European data without throttling execution or forcing incremental spend.

“Price is irrelevant; it’s all about ROI, and Cognism won the battle. The decision to move from Lusha was a very easy one.” Louis, Team Sunday

03

100% increase in meetings booked

Improved connect rates lead to more conversations with qualified buyers and a higher proportion of closed–won deals.

“We used Lusha for around a year, but didn’t receive very good service. The UX wasn’t that smooth, and their data quality was poor. Lots of companies we knew existed weren’t in their database.” Jack, Lockton

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What’s the difference between Lusha and Cognism?

Lusha is often used as an entry point for teams getting started with outbound. Its freemium model and browser extension make it easy to access contact data quickly, with coverage across regions such as Benelux, Latin America and the Asia Pacific.

As organisations scale, however, requirements tend to change. Teams need reliable European coverage, predictable access to data, and confidence that records reflect real buying committees rather than inferred profiles.

Cognism is built for these conditions. It provides verified European mobile numbers, compliance embedded by default, and data delivered directly into existing CRM and revenue workflows. Pricing is predictable, and access is not governed by credit ceilings, enabling usage to scale with growth.

While Lusha may appear more affordable at first glance, several capabilities required for sustained European growth — such as CRM enrichment and do-not-call screening — are restricted to higher-tier plans.

Cognism includes these foundations as standard, because accuracy, compliance and consistency are not optional at scale.

Below is a side-by-side comparison of Cognism vs Lusha.

Cognism
Lusha
Best for
Cognism
Revenue teams building predictable growth in Europe, where data accuracy, compliance, and governance are strategic requirements.
Lusha
Smaller sales teams that need access to contact details and add-on features like email sequence automation.
Compliance status
Cognism
GDPR and CCPA compliant, SOC 2 accredited, with TPS and DNC screening across 15 countries and a notified database.
Lusha
GDPR & CCPA compliant. DNC lists are only included in the higher-priced tiers.
Pricing
Cognism
Two tiers available. Unrestricted views and individual- and page-level exporting included across all packages.*
Lusha
Credit-based & dependent on team size & features. Pick from three paid packages.
Integrations
Cognism
Core CRM and engagement integrations included across all packages, including Salesforce, HubSpot, Microsoft Dynamics, Pipedrive, Salesloft, Bullhorn, Outreach and Zapier.
Lusha
Integrations include Outreach, Salesloft, HubSpot, MS Dynamics and Salesforce. Zapier integration is only included in the Scale plan.
Phone-verification/ research on-demand service
Cognism
Phone-verified Diamond Data® mobile numbers, with an on-demand verification service.
Lusha
Not available.
Browser extension
Cognism
Compatible with LinkedIn, Sales Navigator, Recruiter, Salesforce, HubSpot, Outreach and company websites.
Lusha
The Lusha Chrome Extension works across company domains, LinkedIn profiles (including Sales Nav), and CRMs.
Intent data
Cognism
Bombora intent data across 12 core topics, with over 100 additional topics available.
Lusha
The intent data and filter are included only in the Scale plan with up to 25 topics.
Enrichment
Cognism
API-based enrichment and on-demand CSV enrichment.
Lusha
CSV enrichment. CRM enrichment is included in higher pricing tiers.

See how Cognism compares with other GTM data platforms

Key features of Cognism vs Lusha

Cognism provides the data foundations required for sustained growth across Europe and beyond. It delivers accurate, compliant B2B contact and company data that integrates directly into existing CRM, revenue, and data workflows, supporting confident decision-making at scale.

Lusha offers a range of features aimed at improving access to contact data. Core functionality expands across paid tiers, with capabilities such as mobile numbers, CRM integrations and enrichment introduced progressively. More advanced delivery options, including APIs and custom workflows, are typically reserved for higher plans.

Below is a side-by-side view of Cognism vs Lusha’s features.

Cognism

GDPR and CCPA-compliant

SOC 2 accreditations, TPS & DNC screening across 15 countries & notified database.

European coverage, with global reach

Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific.

Integrations included as standard

Native integrations and APIs designed to embed Cognism data directly into CRM and GTM workflows.

Phone-verified cell phone numbers

Verified mobile numbers that materially improve connect rates and reduce wasted outreach.

Intent and signal data

Bombora intent data, alongside real-time signals covering hiring activity, funding events and technographic insights.

AI-powered search

Natural-language search across accounts and contacts, designed to support research and prioritisation rather than list scraping.

Sales Companion

Contextual access to account and contact intelligence, surfaced directly within CRM, LinkedIn and web workflows to support better-timed, more relevant engagement.

Enrich

API-driven and on-demand enrichment to keep CRM and downstream systems accurate and current.

Unrestricted access to person and company-level data

Full access to contact and company records, with generous fair usage designed for scale.

Lusha

Chrome Extension

Instantly access contact details while browsing LinkedIn and company websites.

Intent signals by Bombora

Identify accounts actively researching relevant topics to prioritise outreach.

List management

Organise, save, and segment prospects into targeted lists for easier follow-up.

CSV exports and integrations

Export data or connect with CRMs and sales tools to streamline workflows (availability depends on plan).

Why teams switch from Lusha to Cognism

“We’ve definitely seen results improve since we switched from Lusha. I save 30 minutes to an hour a day and spend more time on the platform compared to Lusha because I know I’m more likely to get results from it.”
Read the full case study
100%
increase in meetings booked
Jack Hooper
Sales Development @Lockton
“Cognism brought back three times the number of phone numbers compared to Lusha and more than double the number of contacts.”
Read the full case study
200%
increase in leads and contacts.
Jack Brewster_Sparta Global
Jack Brewster
Digital Marketing Manager @Sparta Global
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Lusha versus Cognism: Compliance

Lusha states that it is GDPR and CCPA compliant and holds ISO 27701 certification. According to its documentation, do-not-call list filtering is available only on its highest-tier package. Further detail on Lusha’s compliance approach is published on its website.

Cognism is built with compliance as a foundational requirement for selling into Europe and other regulated markets. Data governance is embedded by default, supporting organisations that need to manage privacy risk consistently across teams, regions and workflows.

“Cognism is our comfort blanket when it comes to compliance.” “Whenever a prospect asks where we get their data from, we can confidently say that we’ve sourced their information from a reputable ISO 27001 and SOC Type II certification data company.”
Read the full case study
1612964195108-1
Richard Caldicott
IT Director @Henderson Scott
In addition to GDPR and CCPA alignment, Cognism screens mobile numbers against a broad set of national and regional suppression lists, including:

  • TPS and CTPS lists in the UK

  • Do-not-call registers across the United States, Canada, Australia and European countries, including Germany, France, Spain, Ireland, Belgium, Croatia, Portugal and Sweden

Where a number appears on a national suppression list, it indicates that the individual has opted out of unsolicited calls via the relevant regulatory authority.

Cognism also provides administrative controls that allow organisations to determine whether suppressed records are visible to users. This enables teams to enforce consistent outreach policies while retaining oversight and auditability.

The Cognism platform applies compliance controls throughout the data lifecycle, including:

  • A structured B2B data verification process

  • Legal sourcing and ongoing validation of records

  • Regulation by the UK Information Commissioner’s Office, with a notified database

The result is a compliance framework designed for scale, rather than an add-on applied at the point of use.

Lusha vs Cognism: Usability & Integrations

Lusha provides a browser extension and a set of filters, with integrations into common CRM systems available on its higher-tier Scale plan. This approach supports lightweight prospecting workflows where data is accessed primarily through the extension.

Cognism is designed to operate across the full revenue workflow, not just at the point of contact discovery. The web application supports structured list building, while the browser extension delivers Cognism data and context across LinkedIn, company websites and connected CRM environments.

As teams research and prospect, Cognism surfaces relevant signals that help identify accounts and contacts showing buying intent, supporting better timing and prioritisation rather than increased activity.

Cognism also offers AI-assisted search capabilities, enabling users to identify prospects through natural language queries, structured account and contact search, or voice input. These options are designed to reduce manual effort while maintaining control over data quality and relevance.

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A fair point — isn’t Lusha’s extension enough?

Lusha’s browser extension supports basic contact discovery. Cognism’s Sales Companion is designed to do more than surface data.

It performs live data validation and delivers contacts, context and signals directly into CRM and engagement workflows. This reduces manual work, improves data cleanliness and supports more consistent decision-making as teams scale.

0%

Better conversion rates (Lead Forensics)

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Time saved each week (UpCloud)

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Cognism vs Lusha: Databases & Data Coverage

Lusha publishes the size of its database, but provides limited visibility into how coverage is distributed by region or how phone data is validated. Its documentation does not indicate filtering by phone type or the use of phone-verified mobile numbers.

Cognism focuses on coverage quality and verifiability rather than headline volume. Dedicated research teams in Europe and the United States support depth in regulated markets, helping organisations build target account lists with confidence across both regions.

Cognism customers consistently highlight the impact of verified direct dials when operating in markets where mobile-first communication is essential. In Southern Europe and South America, access to accurate mobile numbers has been cited as a key factor in increasing meeting volume and converting pipeline into closed revenue.

At the core of this approach is data quality. Cognism provides phone-verified mobile numbers through Diamond Data® and maintains one of the most complete European B2B databases available, alongside strong coverage in the United States.

Independent customer feedback regularly points to accuracy as the primary differentiator, particularly when compared with providers that prioritise database size over validation.

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Where do Cognism and Lusha get their data?

According to its website, Lusha gathers data from the following information sources alongside its proprietary AI technology:

  • The Lusha community - members who have decided to share their contact details under the terms of the Lusha Community Program.
  • Third parties - business partners who own established and trustworthy directories.
  • Lusha insight and analysis system: business information is auto-completed. I.e. email addresses are completed based on standard corporate email patterns.
  • Publicly available information.

There’s no guesswork when it comes to Cognism’s database. Records are built using proprietary sources, complemented by third-party data providers, publicly available information, manual research and strategic partnerships.

Machine learning systems evaluate millions of data points daily, with dedicated research teams validating records to ensure accuracy and compliance. This verification process is applied consistently across the entire database, rather than selectively by region or data type.

Cognism extends this approach through Diamond Data®, its proprietary set of phone-verified mobile numbers. Each number is manually verified through direct contact, ensuring the individual and role are accurate at the point of validation. Customers can also request specific contacts through the Diamonds-on-Demand® service, which prioritises verification based on their target accounts.

This verification-led model is designed to improve confidence in outreach, particularly in European markets where mobile accuracy and consent standards are higher.

Below is an overview of how Cognism’s phone-verified mobile numbers differ from standard mobile data.

 

How standard mobile numbers compare to Cognism's phone-verified numbers.

A fair question — isn’t Lusha lower cost?

Lusha’s entry-level pricing can appear more affordable at first. However, its credit-based model and tiered access to core capabilities often increase costs as usage grows.

Cognism is designed to provide predictable value at scale. Key data, regional coverage and compliance controls are included as standard, without credit ceilings or paid unlocks. For organisations with sustained data usage, this typically results in lower operational friction and clearer cost control over time.

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success rates in European data (Toucan)

0%

Influenced closed/won deals (Openprise)

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Cognism vs Lusha pricing

**Cognism and Lusha pricing information is dependent on your company’s needs. For accurate pricing, please contact your preferred data provider.

Cognism Pricing

What differentiates Cognism from Lusha is predictable access to data at scale.

Cognism’s core packages are designed to provide predictable, unrestricted access to high-quality European data. Reps can view records freely and export up to 25 contacts at a time, without credit limits or usage penalties.

Cognism’s pricing model is split into two primary packages:

  • Grow provides access to Cognism’s core European contact and company dataset, including phone-verified Diamond Data® mobile numbers. It's designed for teams that need reliable, compliant data to support day-to-day prospecting and account coverage.
  • Elevate builds on Grow by combining Cognism’s dataset with advanced intelligence and actionable signals. This enables teams to prioritise accounts more effectively, understand buying context and act with better timing across complex European markets.

In addition, organisations can extend coverage with additional intent topics (12 included with Elevate) and Diamonds-on-Demand®, depending on prospecting requirements.

Lusha Pricing

Lusha’s pricing is based on credits per user. It limits access to certain features and how many contacts you can search for depending on your chosen package.

Lusha pricing plans range from Free and Solo plans to Premium and custom Scale plans. Each package includes: 

  • Direct phone numbers.
  • Landline phone numbers.
  • Email addresses.
  • Basic prospecting platform.
  • Lusha Chrome Extension.

You will have to pay more for additional credits, CSV enrichment and a bulk show of 25 contacts.

Intent signals, job changes, technologies, Salesforce data enrichment, and the Lusha API are all add-ons.  

Trusted by Revenue Teams

See why sales, marketing and go-to-market teams rely on Cognism for accurate, compliant contact data and consistent results across European markets.

FAQs about Lusha vs Cognism

For organisations selling into Europe, Cognism is widely considered a stronger alternative to Lusha. It provides accurate, compliant European B2B contact and company data, delivered directly into CRM, revenue and data workflows.

Cognism is designed for teams that need predictable access to high-quality data at scale, with governance and compliance embedded by default. This makes it particularly well suited to revenue, RevOps and GTM leaders managing cross-border growth.

Cognism is a leading alternative to Lusha for organisations that require reliable, up-to-date European data rather than lightweight prospecting access.

Compliance is built into Cognism’s data model, not added later, and access is not governed by credit scarcity. Data is designed to integrate cleanly into existing systems, supporting consistent decision-making as teams scale across markets.

Yes. Cognism is a strong alternative to Lusha, particularly for teams operating in regulated European markets or expanding beyond basic outbound use cases.

Cognism focuses on accuracy, verification and governance, helping teams work from data they can trust. Customers frequently highlight the reliability of contact records, unrestricted access to data and the platform’s ability to support CRM and RevOps workflows without added complexity.

Lusha offers free and Solo packages, which may appear more affordable than Cognism. However, Lusha has maximum credits per user, meaning customers must add more users to get more credits.

Credits need to be purchased once they are used up, creating a scarcity mindset, which results in teams losing focus on selling. 

What's more, core prospecting capabilities (e.g. CRM integrations and DNC filtering) are reserved for Lusha's most expensive 'Scale' package. 

Cognism packages include key capabilities and features designed to make prospecting as efficient as possible. Even better, Cognism data is unlimited* which offers more value to teams, especially heavy diallers. 

All Cognism plans include key capabilities and features designed to make prospecting as efficient as possible. Only Intent data and Diamonds-on-Demand® require an additional cost.

All Cognism packages are GDPR and CCPA-compliant, including DNC list scrubbing for 13 countries. 

Lusha uses a credit-based pricing model, where one credit is consumed each time a contact’s details are revealed. Credits are tied to users and must be repurchased once exhausted, which can limit access as activity increases.

Cognism does not use credits. Users can view and export contacts individually or at page level, subject to a fair usage policy. This model is designed to support consistent access to data without artificial usage constraints.

Lusha can be a suitable option for teams looking for lightweight access to B2B contact data, particularly for prospecting in the US.

For organisations that need deeper European coverage, stronger compliance controls and predictable access to data without credit limits, Cognism is often a better fit.

Lusha is used by B2B teams to access company and contact data for prospecting and outreach. It is commonly applied in sales, marketing and recruiting workflows that prioritise quick access via browser extensions.

Evaluate Cognism as an alternative to Lusha

Book a demo to learn how Cognism integrates with your existing GTM systems.