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 Zoominfo vs Derrick: Which Is Better in 2026?
- Short answer
- Cognism vs Zoominfo vs Derrick: Cognism is a gdpr-compliant b2b contact data with mobile coverage, Zoominfo is a enterprise b2b contact and company data. 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 Zoominfo) 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 Zoominfo 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 Zoominfo vs Derrick at a glance
Zoominfo
- Starting price: ~$15K/yr (3 seats min)
- Free plan: No (community edition limited)
- Founded: 2007
- HQ: Vancouver, WA
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 Zoominfo
3 core reasons SDRs and ops teams switch to Derrick. Click to expand each.
01 Real-time validation and native Sheets, no CSV exports
Cognism and ZoomInfo both rely on external validation or CSV exports for some workflows, which can slow real-time updates and disrupt native Google Sheets use. Derrick delivers real-time validation directly inside 100% native Google Sheets, eliminating the need for CSV exports or external validation steps. This syncs immediately with sheet data, saving 5-10h per month and improving deliverability with instant checks on each edit. A typical use case is prospect enrichment and validation within a live sheet workflow, without leaving the sheet environment.
02 Automated, scalable prospecting without training wheels
Cognism and ZoomInfo excel at data quality and scale, but they require separate outreach tools or workflows to automate engagement, which adds complexity and cost. Derrick delivers automated, scalable prospecting directly inside 100% native Google Sheets, eliminating training wheels and CSV exports. Teams save 5–10 hours per month and reduce setup friction while enriching 50+ attributes per contact to power immediate, personalized outreach. A quick use-case: deploy Derrick to auto-score and segment leads in Sheets, then launch multi-channel sequences without leaving the workspace.
03 Flexible, scalable data enrichment without rigid workflows
Cognism and ZoomInfo deliver broad data at scale, but many users find their enrichment workflows rigid and built for static lists rather than ongoing, flexible optimization. Derrick differs by turning Google Sheets into a 100% native, adaptable enrichment hub, avoiding export bottlenecks and rigid templates. With 50+ attributes per contact and real-time validation, Derrick enables scalable enrichment that adapts to evolving criteria, saving 5-10 hours per month. A practical use case: dynamically refresh prospect profiles in Sheets as you adjust ICP parameters, without reconfiguring your workflow.
Honest Comparison 
derrick
What each tool does better
We're upfront - every tool has strengths. Here's where Cognism, Zoominfo, and Derrick each genuinely win.
What Cognism does better
- Best EU mobile-phone coverage
- GDPR-compliant by design
- Strong intent + technographic data
What Zoominfo does better
- Largest US contact database (100M+ verified)
- #1 in 142 G2 Spring 2026 reports
- Strong CRM + outreach integrations
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 | Zoominfo | Derrick | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price (monthly) | Custom (~$15K platform + $1.5K/seat) | ~$15K/yr (3 seats min) | €0 (free) · €9/mo paid |
| Annual cost (base) | ~€180/yr | ~€180/yr | €0/yr free · ~€108/yr paid |
| Free plan? | No (demo + custom quote only) | No (community edition limited) | ✓ 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 Zoominfo vs Derrick: full feature comparison
| Cognism | Derrick App | zoominfo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 15000$/an |
| 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 →
Sales Intelligence (Enterprise)
Cognism vs Zoominfo vs Derrick pricing breakdown
Sales Intelligence (EU/EMEA) Cognism
Custom (~$15K platform + $1.5K/seat)
Best for: EU/EMEA enterprise sales
Cognism offers premium pricing with entry-level plans and scalable paid tiers designed for enterprise sales teams; exact prices vary by plan and usage. For full transparency, view the complete pricing details on the Cognism pricing page.
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.
Sales Intelligence (Enterprise) Zoominfo
~$15K/yr (3 seats min)
Best for: Enterprise US sales orgs
ZoomInfo offers scalable B2B data plans starting with entry-level options and paid tiers that scale by access and features; full pricing details are available on the official pricing page-see pricing breakdown for exact plan names, credits, and enterprise 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 Zoominfo if…
- You specifically need enterprise us sales orgs
- Largest US contact database (100M+ verified)
- #1 in 142 G2 Spring 2026 reports
- You're already invested in the Zoominfo 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 Zoominfo
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 Derrick vs Cognism main difference for teams?
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Derrick focuses on native Google Sheets integration and AI-powered enrichment directly within your spreadsheet, eliminating the need for external platforms or CSV exports. Cognism prioritizes lead intelligence and intent signals with premium data accuracy, particularly for enterprise teams. For teams already working in Google Sheets, Derrick eliminates 5-10 hours monthly of manual data handling and integrates Claude and ChatGPT for automated scoring and segmentation. Cognism excels at verified contact discovery but requires separate workflows. Derrick's rollover credits and no-credit-card free tier offer more flexibility for variable team needs, while Cognism operates as a standalone prospecting platform best paired with automation tools like Derrick for complete outbound workflows.
Is Derrick a better alternative to Cognism?
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Whether Derrick is a better alternative to Cognism depends on your specific needs. Cognism excels as a B2B intelligence platform with verified contact data and strong EMEA coverage, particularly for enterprise teams prioritizing data accuracy. However, Derrick differentiates itself through 100% native Google Sheets integration, eliminating manual CSV exports and saving 5-10 hours monthly. Derrick also offers AI-powered enrichment with Claude and ChatGPT, rollover credits, and no credit card required for the free tier, making it more accessible for teams seeking seamless workflow integration over standalone intelligence platforms. For organizations already operating within Google Sheets, Derrick provides faster deployment and lower friction than Cognism's traditional setup, while complementing rather than replacing dedicated intelligence tools.
How does Derrick compare to Cognism and zoominfo overall?
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Derrick offers a fundamentally different approach compared to Cognism and ZoomInfo. While both competitors excel as standalone B2B data providers, Derrick operates natively within Google Sheets, eliminating CSV exports and complex integrations entirely. Cognism focuses on lead intelligence with strong EMEA coverage, while ZoomInfo emphasizes database scale and technographic signals. Derrick differentiates by combining real-time email validation, 50+ enrichment attributes, integrated AI scoring with Claude and ChatGPT, and rollover credits-all without requiring a credit card for the free tier. For teams seeking lightweight, flexible enrichment directly in their existing spreadsheets, Derrick eliminates the overhead that both traditional platforms demand, saving five to ten hours monthly on data management alone.
Which is cheaper for enterprise: Cognism vs zoominfo?
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For enterprise pricing between Cognism and ZoomInfo, both are generally positioned as premium data platforms with enterprise-grade features, often resulting in higher total costs than many outreach-focused tools. Cognism tends to be priced higher than mid-market options due to its emphasis on data accuracy, GDPR/CCPA compliance, and global reach, while ZoomInfo compounds costs with its extensive data coverage, AI verification, and robust integrations. In most cases, enterprise teams will see Cognism or ZoomInfo priced well above Derrick App’s plans, which start at lower entry points and emphasize highly actionable enrichment within Google Sheets, with credits that rollover and no credit card required for the free tier. If you seek the cheapest option for pure data access among the two, Cognism often edges ZoomInfo on price for comparable depth in certain regions, but pricing is highly situational and negotiated per contract. Derrick App adds value by offering native enrichment within Sheets, flexible credit-based pricing, and strong integration reach, making it a cost-effective complement or alternative for teams prioritizing streamlined workflow and outbound efficiency without migrating to a heavier data platform.
Cognism vs zoominfo: which has better pricing and review?
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Cognism and ZoomInfo both offer strong B2B data with different strengths. Cognism excels in EMEA markets with verified contacts and intent signals, while ZoomInfo provides broader global coverage and technographic depth. However, both carry premium pricing and require external integrations. Cognism struggles with SMB coverage, and ZoomInfo faces data latency issues. For teams seeking cost-effective enrichment without leaving Google Sheets, Derrick App delivers 50+ attributes per contact with rollover credits starting at just $9 monthly, plus built-in AI and real-time email validation-eliminating the need for multiple tools while maintaining comparable data quality at a fraction of the enterprise price point.
What features make Derrick a strong alternative to Cognism and zoominfo?
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Derrick stands out as a strong alternative to Cognism and ZoomInfo because it embeds 100% native Google Sheets-based enrichment, eliminating CSV exports and complex configurations while saving 5-10 hours per month. It adds real-time email validation for deliverability, extensive enrichment with 50+ attributes per contact or company, and AI-based scoring, segmentation, and Summaries, all within familiar Sheets workflows. Plus, with 3000+ integrations via Zapier/Make/n8n, credits that roll over monthly, and a free tier requiring no credit card, Derrick offers a flexible, cost-efficient path for teams that want scalable data enrichment and outreach without leaving Google Sheets. Compared to Cognism and ZoomInfo, Derrick emphasizes lightweight, immediate prospection tooling directly in the user’s existing workspace, making it particularly appealing for SMBs or teams prioritizing speed, ease of use, and ROI over exhaustive enterprise data depth.
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-onezoominfo vs Derrick - solo duel
Drop the third-party context and see how zoominfo 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
