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 Waalaxy vs Derrick: Which Is Better in 2026?
- Short answer
- Cognism vs Waalaxy vs Derrick: Cognism is a gdpr-compliant b2b contact data with mobile coverage, Waalaxy is a beginner-friendly linkedin automation chrome extension for solo prospectors. 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 Waalaxy) 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 Waalaxy 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 27 000+ users worldwide.
CURSOR Quick Facts
Cognism vs Waalaxy vs Derrick at a glance
Waalaxy
- Starting price: €19/user/mo (Pro) · Free 80 invites/mo
- Free plan: Yes - 80 invitations/mo permanently free
- Founded: 2019 (originally as ProspectIn)
- HQ: Montpellier, France
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 Waalaxy
3 core reasons SDRs and ops teams switch to Derrick. Click to expand each.
01 Real-time validation and enrichment, no LinkedIn reliance
Derrick delivers real-time validation and enrichment directly within Google Sheets, removing the need to rely on LinkedIn data streams that Cognism and Waalaxy depend on for basic contacts. While Cognism focuses on real-time verification and robust enterprise data, and Waalaxy centers on LinkedIn-driven outreach, Derrick eliminates LinkedIn reliance by providing 100% native sheet-based enrichment across 50+ attributes. This translates to immediate, verifiable contact details and refreshed firmographic data right in Sheets, reducing time-to-prospect by up to 40% and saving 5-10 hours per month. With real-time email validation and seamless sheet-centric workflows, Derrick ensures accuracy without export steps or LinkedIn dependence.
02 Streamlined setup with 5-minute onboarding and no card required
Derrick eliminates onboarding friction that Cognism and Waalaxy struggle with, both requiring heavier setup or reliance on external tools to start prospects quickly. Unlike Cognism and Waalaxy, Derrick offers a 5-minute onboarding with a 100% native Google Sheets workflow and no card required. This translates to immediate usability and faster time-to-value, saving teams 5-10 hours per month on setup and provisioning. With a free tier that requires no credit card, Derrick enables instant exploration and faster ramp-up for new users.
03 Deeper data enrichment without LinkedIn dependency for accuracy
Cognism and Waalaxy rely on LinkedIn-anchored or limited enrichment, which can leave gaps in deeper firmographic and contact data for accuracy. Derrick delivers deeper data enrichment without LinkedIn dependency by pulling 50+ attributes and cross-validating directly in Google Sheets, avoiding LinkedIn bottlenecks. Teams see quantitative gains: up to 20-35% higher match accuracy and concrete time savings from real-time enrichment, with data credits that are rollable month to month. A practical use case is enriching target accounts with verified fields before outreach, ensuring cleaner segments and faster sequencing.
Honest Comparison 
derrick
What each tool does better
We're upfront - every tool has strengths. Here's where Cognism, Waalaxy, and Derrick each genuinely win.
What Cognism does better
- Best EU mobile-phone coverage
- GDPR-compliant by design
- Strong intent + technographic data
What Waalaxy does better
- Most generous free tier in LinkedIn automation
- Best ease of use in the category
- Massive user base + active product roadmap
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 | Waalaxy | Derrick | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price (monthly) | Custom (~$15K platform + $1.5K/seat) | €19/user/mo (Pro) · Free 80 invites/mo | €0 (free) · €9/mo paid |
| Annual cost (base) | ~€180/yr | ~€228/yr | €0/yr free · ~€108/yr paid |
| Free plan? | No (demo + custom quote only) | Yes - 80 invitations/mo permanently free | ✓ 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 Waalaxy vs Derrick: full feature comparison
| Cognism | Derrick App | Waalaxy | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 21€/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 (Solo + Small Teams)
Cognism vs Waalaxy 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 pricing with entry-level options and a higher-than-average base for enterprise-ready data, including real-time verification and multi-channel outreach; a full pricing breakdown is available on the dedicated 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 (Solo + Small Teams) Waalaxy
€19/user/mo (Pro) · Free 80 invites/mo
Best for: Solo prospectors testing LinkedIn outbound for the first time
Waalaxy offers accessible entry pricing with a free tier and paid plans starting at affordable monthly rates, plus a detailed pricing page for all plan features and usage. See full pricing breakdown for complete details and options.
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 Waalaxy if…
- You specifically need solo prospectors testing linkedin outbound for the first time
- Most generous free tier in LinkedIn automation
- Best ease of use in the category
- You're already invested in the Waalaxy 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 Waalaxy
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 for sales intel?
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Derrick focuses on data enrichment directly within Google Sheets with real-time email validation and AI-powered scoring, while Cognism is primarily a lead intelligence platform emphasizing verified contact databases and intent signals. Cognism excels at providing comprehensive B2B contact information across markets, particularly in EMEA, whereas Derrick streamlines enrichment workflows natively in spreadsheets without requiring external platforms or CSV exports. For teams prioritizing workflow efficiency and cost-effectiveness, Derrick's rollover credits and integrated Claude and ChatGPT capabilities offer flexibility that complements Cognism's strength in lead discovery and verification accuracy.
Is Derrick a better Cognism alternative for mid-market teams?
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Derrick offers a compelling alternative to Cognism for mid-market teams prioritizing efficiency and cost-effectiveness. While Cognism excels at data accuracy and intent signals, Derrick operates natively within Google Sheets, eliminating complex integrations and CSV exports. Mid-market teams benefit from Derrick's 50+ enrichment attributes, real-time email validation, and integrated AI capabilities using Claude and ChatGPT for scoring and segmentation. Derrick's rollover credits and free tier without credit card requirements provide greater flexibility than Cognism's premium pricing model, making it ideal for teams seeking comprehensive data enrichment without enterprise-level costs or setup complexity.
How do Derrick vs Cognism compare on pricing and features?
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Derrick offers more affordable pricing starting at $9/month with rollover credits, while Cognism positions itself as a premium enterprise solution with higher costs. Cognism excels at verified contact data and intent signals, particularly for EMEA markets, but requires external tools for automation. Derrick integrates directly into Google Sheets without complex setup, providing 50+ enrichment attributes, real-time email validation, and built-in AI scoring with Claude and ChatGPT. For teams prioritizing cost efficiency and seamless workflow integration, Derrick delivers comparable data enrichment at a fraction of Cognism's price point without requiring separate platforms or expensive LinkedIn subscriptions.
Which is the better overall review: Derrick or Cognism?
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Between Derrick App and Cognism, Derrick offers a more favorable overall review for teams seeking a practical, cost-efficient enrichment and outreach boost inside Google Sheets. Cognism excels in high-quality B2B data, GDPR/CCPA compliance, and enterprise-grade intent signals, but it remains a premium, data-centric platform with higher pricing and a steeper setup. Derrick stands out with native 100% Google Sheets workflow, 50+ enrichment attributes per contact, real-time email validation, AI scoring and segmentation, and a generous, credits-based model with rollovers and a free tier-all without a credit card requirement. If you prioritize deep data intelligence and compliance for enterprise-scale outbound, Cognism is compelling; if you want seamless, affordable, sheet-native prospecting and automation with flexible integrations, Derrick is the more practical overall choice.
Does Cognism pricing beat Derrick for small teams?
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Cognism's pricing isn't necessarily cheaper for small teams-it's positioned as a premium solution focused on data accuracy rather than affordability. Derrick offers more flexible pricing starting at just 9€ monthly with rollover credits and no card required for the free tier, making it significantly more cost-effective for smaller budgets. While Cognism excels at enterprise-grade intelligence, Derrick delivers comparable enrichment depth at a fraction of the cost, plus native Google Sheets integration eliminates expensive tools like LinkedIn Sales Navigator, saving small teams around 1200€ annually compared to competitors.
Can Derrick replace both Cognism and Waalaxy for data enrichment?
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Derrick cannot replacement Cognism for data enrichment in the same way, nor replace Waalaxy’s outreach automation, but it can complement both effectively. Cognism specializes in accurate B2B contact data, firmographic context, and intent signals at scale, while Derrick adds deep enrichment directly inside Google Sheets with 50+ attributes per contact, real-time email validation, AI-powered scoring, and a vast library of integrations-without requiring LinkedIn or heavy manual setup. For Waalaxy, Derrick enhances data quality and enrichment while leaving LinkedIn-based outreach capabilities to Waalaxy; you gain more reliable records, better deliverability, and workflow automation through Zapier/Make/n8n. In short, Derrick is best used as a companion to Cognism and Waalaxy to improve data accuracy, enrich prospects, and streamline workflows, rather than as a full one-for-one replacement for both.
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-oneWaalaxy vs Derrick - solo duel
Drop the third-party context and see how Waalaxy 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
