Cognism
- Starting price: Custom (~$15K platform + $1.5K/seat)
- Free plan: No (demo + custom quote only)
- Founded: 2015
- HQ: London, United Kingdom
Updated
Cognism vs Expandi vs Derrick: Which Is Better in 2026?
- Short answer
- Cognism vs Expandi vs Derrick: Cognism is a gdpr-compliant b2b contact data with mobile coverage, Expandi is a cloud-based linkedin automation with smart conditional sequences. Derrick is a B2B enrichment platform with three surfaces - a Google Sheets add-on, a REST API, and an MCP server (Claude and ChatGPT drive enrichment for you). Hit rates are noticeably higher (more emails + phone numbers returned per query than Cognism or Expandi) and pricing is lower - free forever with 100 credits/month, paid plans from €9/month. Most teams pair Derrick for the data layer with Cognism or Expandi for outreach.
Where Cognism commits you to enterprise contracts and minimum seats, Derrick offers month-to-month credits with rollover. The side-by-side comparison below covers Cognism's database depth, contract structure and per-seat scaling against Derrick's pay-for-what-you-use Sheets-native model.
Free plan Yes - 100 credits/mo
Starts at €9/mo
Setup time 30 seconds
Where it lives Google Sheets
✓ Free forever · ✓ No credit card · ✓ Cancel anytime · ✓ Your data stays in your Sheet
Trusted by 31,000+ users worldwide.
CURSOR Quick Facts
Cognism vs Expandi vs Derrick at a glance
Expandi
- Starting price: $79/mo (Business, annual) · 14-day free trial
- Free plan: 14-day free trial (no credit card)
- Founded: 2019
- HQ: Eindhoven, Netherlands
Derrick
★ Recommended- Starting price: Free · Paid from €9/mo
- Free plan: Yes - 100 credits/mo permanent
- Founded: 2023
- HQ: Marseille, FR
Why Derrick wins 01
02
03
Why teams pick Derrick over Cognism and Expandi
3 core reasons SDRs and ops teams switch to Derrick. Click to expand each.
01 Get verified emails without data gaps
Cognism and Expandi both struggle with ensuring complete, verified emails at scale when used as standalone solutions for outbound prospecting. Derrick delivers verified emails with real-time validation directly inside 100% native Google Sheets, eliminating data gaps without exporting or complex setups. This results in higher deliverability and fewer bounce issues, reducing wasted outreach time by up to 20-30% in practice. With Derrick, you get continuous email verification across 50+ attributes per contact, so your lists stay complete as you scale.
02 3000+ integrations for seamless automation without custom dev required
Cognism and Expandi both illustrate strong capabilities within their domains, yet they struggle with broad, multi-source automation without heavy setup. Derrick differentiates by delivering 3000+ native integrations via Zapier/Make/n8n, enabling seamless automation without custom dev. With Derrick, teams can connect diverse tools instantly, reducing integration friction and speeding time-to-value by up to 40% in some workflows. This approach keeps data flowing in real time across apps, preserving 100% native Google Sheets enrichment as a central hub.
03 Real-time data quality across multi-source enrichment pipelines
Cognism and Expandi both struggle with real-time, multi-source data quality in enrichment pipelines, often delivering gaps or stale records when dependencies shift across sources. Derrick excels by delivering real-time data quality within a 100% native Google Sheets workflow, continuously validating across diverse data streams without requiring complex integrations. Teams save time and reduce manual cleaning, achieving up to a 20-30% faster prospecting cycle as fresh signals propagate instantly through Derrick’s pipelines. A practical use case: instant validation of new contact attributes from multiple sources keeps lists accurate for immediate outbound outreach.
Honest Comparison 
derrick
What each tool does better
We're upfront - every tool has strengths. Here's where Cognism, Expandi, and Derrick each genuinely win.
What Cognism does better
- Best EU mobile-phone coverage
- GDPR-compliant by design
- Strong intent + technographic data
What Expandi does better
- Smart conditional sequences (best in the cloud category)
- Cloud-based with dedicated country IPs
- Comprehensive LinkedIn feature set
What Derrick does better
- Free forever - €0/mo with 100 credits permanent in Google Sheets
- 100+ data points per lead - verified emails, phones, LinkedIn, tech stack, SIRET
- Zero LinkedIn ban risk + real-time email verification built in
- Pair with any sequencer - LaGrowthMachine, Smartlead, Lemlist, HeyReach
Real Annual Cost
True cost over 12 months
Headline pricing rarely tells the whole story. Here's the real cost of running each tool for a year.
| Cognism | Expandi | Derrick | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price (monthly) | Custom (~$15K platform + $1.5K/seat) | $79/mo (Business, annual) · 14-day free trial | €0 (free) · €9/mo paid |
| Annual cost (base) | ~€180/yr | ~€948/yr | €0/yr free · ~€108/yr paid |
| Free plan? | No (demo + custom quote only) | 14-day free trial (no credit card) | ✓ Forever - 100 credits/mo |
| Setup cost | Hours to days | Hours to days | 30 seconds via Marketplace |
| Switching cost | CSV export + retraining | CSV export + retraining | Zero - works alongside any stack |
💡 Most teams pay 2-5x more on add-ons (extra seats, phone credits, integrations) than on the headline base price. Derrick keeps everything in one transparent tier.
Feature-by-Feature
Cognism vs Expandi vs Derrick: full feature comparison
| Cognism | Derrick App | Expandi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Works natively in Google Sheets | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Requires LinkedIn Sales Navigator ($100/month) | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Sales Navigator 1-click import | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Email finder with real-time validation | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Phone finder from LinkedIn | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Company tech stack lookup | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| SimilarWeb & G2 insights integrated | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |
| AI integration (Claude & ChatGPT) | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Automatic AI Lead Scoring | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Data cleaning & normalization | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Multi-platform scraping (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook) | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Zapier, Make, n8n integrations | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Public API available | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Native CRM integrations (HubSpot, Salesforce) | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Entry price (paid plan) | 1000$/mois | 9€/mois | 99$/mois |
| Permanent free plan | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Rollover credits to next month | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Simple and transparent credit system | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Simple setup & onboarding | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Complete documentation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Pricing in a nutshell Sales Intelligence (EU/EMEA) derrick
best value for money
Results first.
Discover Derrick →
LinkedIn Automation (Cloud, Agency-Established)
Cognism vs Expandi vs Derrick pricing breakdown
Sales Intelligence (EU/EMEA) Cognism
Custom (~$15K platform + $1.5K/seat)
Best for: EU/EMEA enterprise sales
Cognism offers premium B2B data with plans that start at a higher entry price, focusing on enterprise-grade accuracy and compliance; a full pricing breakdown with all tiers and options is available on the pricing page. See full pricing breakdown for complete details.
Results first.
Complexity removed.
Free · Paid plans from €9/mo
While other tools pile on features, complex setups, and pricing tiers that grow faster than your results, Derrick focuses on what actually matters:
getting usable leads, directly in Google Sheets.
No heavy workflows, No endless configuration. No learning curve.
LinkedIn Automation (Cloud, Agency-Established) Expandi
$79/mo (Business, annual) · 14-day free trial
Best for: Established agencies + B2B teams running smart LinkedIn sequences
Expandi offers a free tier with limited LinkedIn outreach credits and paid plans starting at a modest monthly rate, with additional usage-based options; see full pricing breakdown for complete details.
Migration Guide
How to switch from Cognism to Derrick in 3 steps
Derrick is a Google Workspace app - no formulas to learn, no pipelines to migrate, no engineering work. Add it to Google Sheets and you're enriching in under a minute.
1
~30 sec Install Derrick from Google Workspace Marketplace
Click the install button on our Marketplace listing and grant Google Sheets access. No credit card required - you start with 100 free credits per month.
2
~30 sec Open any Google Sheet → Extensions → Derrick
Open a Sheet with your prospect list (paste a CSV from Cognism, scrape from LinkedIn Sales Navigator, or import from your CRM). Click Extensions → Derrick and the sidebar opens with all enrichment features ready to use.
3
~1 min Enrich your list with one click
Select the column with names, LinkedIn URLs, or company domains. Pick what you want - emails, phone numbers, LinkedIn data, company info, tech stack - and click "Enrich". Derrick fills the columns directly in your Sheet. No exports, no pipelines, no waiting.
Install Derrick free →
100 free credits / month · No credit card · Cancel anytime
Decision in 60 seconds
Which one is right for you?
Pick Cognism if…
- You specifically need eu/emea enterprise sales
- Best EU mobile-phone coverage
- GDPR-compliant by design
- You're already invested in the Cognism ecosystem
Pick Expandi if…
- You specifically need established agencies + b2b teams running smart linkedin sequences
- Smart conditional sequences (best in the cloud category)
- Cloud-based with dedicated country IPs
- You're already invested in the Expandi ecosystem
Pick Derrick if…
- You want B2B enrichment directly in Google Sheets
- You need a usable free plan (100 credits/mo, no card)
- You don't want long contracts, lock-in, or sales calls
- You need 100+ data points per lead in one tool
What teams say after switching from Cognism vs Expandi
See what our customers say about Derrick.
"This app saved me so much time and effort. Great for anyone looking to build a contact list or network at scale quickly. As a start-up it's been invaluable."
Alex Clark
Director | SaaS GTM Leader
"Working pretty nifty compared to Snov.Io. Price wise it does give a fair shake, and IMO better interface since it's google sheets."
David Sire
Mortgage Broker at Zero Point Mortgage
"Derrick is a very simple and user-friendly app to enrich your contacts database. Best thing: you can test it for free. And then the price is so low, it's a no brainer."
Etienne Grange
CEO Form'actions
"Super easy to enrich linkedin urls using this tool. Both personal and company url data can be easily enriched with a click of a button."
Zaid Bilal
RevOps Professional
"Amazing Tool, I would like to advocate this to my colleagues. So that you can get more users. Keep it Up. 5 Stars!"
Asif Hanzala
Lead Generation Specialist at IdeaPeel
"This app is fantastic. Brilliantly created to help small and mid sized businesses."
Dan Hughes
Founder/CEO, AlmanacIO
"I have been using other expensive apps or freemium like phantombuster, but Derrick has replaced them all. I love the simplicity of the Google sheet add-in, but what is best is the efficiency it delivers."
Julien Walon Cohen
CEO & Co-founder @ Diffly | B2B Sales Advisor
"The LinkedIn scraping and email finder combo is incredibly powerful. I can build a complete prospect list with contact info in under an hour. Absolute must-have for outbound."
Michael Kim
SDR Team Lead at CloudScale
"Have tested over 10+ LI scraper apps, Derrick beats them all. Simple to use, accurate data, and affordable price."
AJ Alexander
Opportunity Prospector
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the main difference Derrick vs Cognism in data?
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Cognism and Derrick approach B2B data differently. Cognism is primarily a lead intelligence platform focused on verified contact databases and intent signals, excelling at data accuracy and compliance for enterprise teams. Derrick, however, operates as a Google Sheets-native enrichment tool that adds fifty plus attributes directly to your spreadsheets without requiring exports or complex integrations. While Cognism charges premium rates for curated lead lists, Derrick offers rollover credits and real-time email validation at significantly lower costs, making it ideal for teams wanting continuous enrichment without LinkedIn Sales Navigator subscriptions or external platform dependencies.
Is Derrick a good alternative to Cognism?
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Yes, Derrick is an excellent alternative to Cognism, particularly if you prioritize ease of use and cost efficiency. While Cognism excels at providing verified B2B contact data with strong EMEA coverage, Derrick offers a more streamlined approach by operating natively within Google Sheets, eliminating complex CSV exports and manual configuration. Derrick delivers fifty plus enrichment attributes per contact alongside real-time email validation, integrated AI scoring with Claude and ChatGPT, and rollover credits that Cognism doesn't match. For teams seeking affordability without sacrificing data quality, Derrick's flexible pricing starting at nine dollars monthly with no credit card requirement makes it a compelling choice for mid-market sales teams.
How does Derrick compare to Expandi for outreach?
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Expandi excels at LinkedIn automation and connection sequencing, making it ideal for teams focused purely on social selling. However, Derrick offers a fundamentally different approach-it's a native Google Sheets data enrichment platform that eliminates the need for LinkedIn Sales Navigator, saving you over twelve hundred dollars annually. While Expandi automates LinkedIn outreach, Derrick enriches your prospect data with fifty plus attributes, real-time email validation, and integrated AI scoring directly within your spreadsheet. For teams seeking comprehensive data intelligence beyond LinkedIn-only prospecting, Derrick provides superior multi-channel enrichment with rollover credits and zero upfront cost for the free tier.
Which is better for pricing Derrick vs Cognism?
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For pricing, Cognism is positioned as a premium B2B data platform with strong data accuracy and enterprise-friendly features, which typically translates to higher pricing relative to many competitors. Expandi focuses on cost-effective LinkedIn outreach with scalable automation and moderate data enrichment, often appealing to teams prioritizing volume outreach over deep data intelligence. Derrick App, by contrast, offers a cost-efficient, 100% native Google Sheets workflow with flexible credits, monthly rollovers, and no credit card required for the free tier, making it a compelling value for teams wanting extensive enrichment (50+ attributes), real-time email validation, and AI-powered scoring without locking in high upfront costs. If your primary goal is pricing and you need affordable, scalable data enrichment integrated directly in Sheets, Derrick tends to be more favorable. For enterprise-grade data quality and compliance, Cognism may justify higher pricing, while Expandi addresses LinkedIn-led outreach at a different price point.
Cognism vs Expandi pricing, which is cheaper overall?
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Cognism typically positions itself as a premium data intelligence solution with higher per-seat costs, while Expandi operates as a LinkedIn automation tool with lower upfront pricing. However, total cost depends on your needs: Cognism excels at verified contact data but requires significant investment for enterprise teams, whereas Expandi focuses on automation volume at lower cost. For budget-conscious teams needing comprehensive data enrichment without steep monthly commitments, Derrick App offers rollover credits starting at just nine dollars monthly with no credit card required for the free tier, delivering better value when combining contact enrichment with AI-powered personalization.
Can Derrick replace Cognism and Expandi for you?
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Yes, Derrick can replace Cognism and Expandi in some contexts, but not as a complete one-to-one across all use cases. Derrick delivers 100% native Google Sheets enrichment, real-time email validation, and 50+ enrichment attributes per contact, plus AI-powered scoring and segmentation, all without exporting to CSV or complex setup. Cognism excels in enterprise-grade data accuracy, GDPR/CCPA compliance, and intent-based targeting, while Expandi specializes in LinkedIn outreach automation. Derrick complements these strengths by providing robust data enrichment, multi-channel outreach via 3000+ integrations, and cost-efficient credits with rollover, which can reduce reliance on separate data providers for many B2B teams. However, if your workflow relies heavily on Cognism’s deep firmographic/intent signals or Expandi’s LinkedIn-first automation at scale, you may still benefit from using Cognism or Expandi alongside Derrick for best results.
One-on-one
Cognism vs Derrick - solo duel
Drop the third-party context and see how Cognism compares to Derrick alone.
Open the head-to-head → One-on-oneExpandi vs Derrick - solo duel
Drop the third-party context and see how Expandi compares to Derrick alone.
Open the head-to-head → Curated stackAll B2B sales tools we reviewed in depth
Step back from the duel - see our hand-picked sales-tool selection and how every category fits together.
See the full curation → Keep Exploring
