Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) is a global company that has been around for nearly 200 years. They help businesses qualify for financing, reduce credit risk, and find new customers. However, they are not meant for businesses of all sizes.
In fact, D&B’s set-up can pose several challenges for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).
First, it’s difficult to determine which products or services your business needs—D&B’s numerous offerings are complex and designed for large teams with extensive resources.
Additionally, its pricing makes it inaccessible to many smaller businesses. Dun & Bradstreet tends to limit accessibility to its extensive data and analytics, only giving full access to the highest-paying customers at a reported rate of $35,000 per year.
Dun & Bradstreet’s platform is also designed with larger enterprises in mind, resulting in features not aligned with smaller businesses’ unique needs.
As a result of these issues and others, many SMBs are seeking alternatives to D&B that offer what matters most: affordable pricing and a dedicated focus on meeting their evolving needs.
Check out the following list of the top D&B competitors to explore alternatives for your business.
10 Best Dun & Bradstreet Alternatives for SMBs
1. Salesgenie®
Salesgenie is the premier self-service lead generation tool, offering access to millions of business and consumer prospects. Designed to optimize your lead generation efforts, Salesgenie enables easy creation of targeted lists of prospects using more than 75 search filters.
Salesgenie provides high-quality, real-time data. An audit by a major academic institution confirmed its data accuracy at a 95% confidence level. This means you can trust the prospective lead data from Salesgenie, ensuring you connect with the right prospects right away and maximize outreach potential.
While D&B offers a comprehensive suite of business information services, its database and analytics tools are better suited for larger enterprises. Since Salesgenie is tailored for SMB lead generation needs, it tends to be a better option in terms of functionality, user-friendliness, and cost-effectiveness.
Salesgenie is an excellent alternative to Dun & Bradstreet for the following reasons:
- User-friendly: Users report that Salesgenie is simple to understand and use, making it easy for small teams to onboard employees and stakeholders quickly.
- Affordability: Salesgenie’s plans are structured for smaller businesses. With a reasonable monthly price point (with no setup fee or hidden costs), Salesgenie is a viable option for SMBs even when there are budgetary constraints. This lower point of entry enables SMBs to access the powerful sales intelligence tools they need to bolster sales targets.
- Free trial: Every dollar counts for small and medium-sized businesses. To ensure Salesgenie has exactly what you need, you can sign up for a free 3-day trial and gain full access to the platform with no credit card required. The platform also offers a free demo during your trial to educate users on how to use Salesgenie’s most popular features.
- Focus on SMBs: Salesgenie’s platform is designed specifically for SMBs in terms of intuitive user interface, functionality and features, simple onboarding procedures, and flexible pricing plans.
- Established history: Salesgenie has over 20 years of experience and is backed by Data Axle USA, whose history dates back to 1972—before the internet existed.
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Key features of Salesgenie
Salesgenie delivers greater value than meets the eye—here are just four highlighted features of the platform.
- Comprehensive business and consumer databases: Salesgenie offers unlimited access to a database of millions of businesses and consumers, allowing users to find targeted sales leads aligned with their business goals.
- Lead management tools: The Salesgenie Lead Manager simplifies viewing, sorting, and tracking sales leads with features like customized viewing panes, notes, tags, and lead status.
- Marketing tools: Do-it-yourself (DIY) marketing tools allow direct reach via phone, mail, and email, with additional services like online search engine marketing and programmatic advertising for a multichannel approach.
- Detailed reporting and tracking: Detailed delivery reports and tracking help measure campaign performance, potentially allowing for cross-team collaboration on assigning and tracking leads and campaigns within the platform.
Salesgenie pricing
Salesgenie offers a transparent pricing model to fit SMB needs, starting with a free three-day trial. You can explore the full capabilities of Salesgenie with no obligation, no credit card required. Subscriptions begin at $99 per month for a twelve-month term. Once the initial period ends, your subscription renews monthly, and you have the freedom to cancel at any time.
Not convinced that Salesgenie is the best D&B alternative? Keep scrolling to learn about additional D&B competitors that may be a fit for your business.
2. Data Axle USA
Data Axle USA and Dun & Bradstreet are both leaders in providing business information and data solutions, but Data Axle USA stands out with its user-friendly approach, including personalized, one-on-one service to help you build your ideal list of prospects. This hands-on approach ensures you get exactly what you need without complicated contracts. And when you need help, users can also get support when building the perfect list or connecting with their prospects using Data Axle USA’s suite of marketing services. These services include email marketing, direct mail marketing, and online advertising.
In contrast, Dun & Bradstreet often involves a more complex, continuous engagement with a focus on extensive business intelligence and risk management services, which is often unnecessary for SMBs.
Key features of Data Axle USA
Data Axle USA offers many benefits, including the following features.
- Extensive databases: Access accurate, up-to-date consumer and business data in the U.S. and Canada. Data Axle USA’s detailed demographic, firmographic, and behavioral data can help businesses effectively target and acquire new customers.
- Actionable intelligence: Use predictive modeling, segmentation analysis, and data enrichment to gain insights into customer behaviors and preferences. This intelligence supports informed decision-making, optimizes marketing strategies, and makes the most of marketing resources.
- Flexible data licensing: All data lists are customizable to their needs and Data Axle USA’s data consultants will help you build your perfect list at no charge.
- Comprehensive marketing services: Benefit from end-to-end marketing solutions to drive engagement and revenue growth, including email marketing, direct mail campaigns, digital advertising, and social media marketing.
Data Axle USA pricing
With Data Axle USA, SMBs can buy a single list tailored to their needs, avoiding long-term commitments. This approach ensures companies get the exact data they require. For those needing continuous access, Data Axle USA also provides data licensing for a flat fee.
3. Cognism
Cognism and D&B are both robust sales intelligence platforms, but Cognism excels in helping businesses expand their European reach. They’re also said to provide specialized data for sales and marketing purposes at a more affordable price than Dun & Bradstreet. This makes Cognism an attractive option for small- and medium-sized businesses looking to establish themselves outside the United States, although their contact data isn’t always thought to be accurate. It should be noted some of Cognism’s more popular features are categorized as “advanced” and, therefore, intended for larger enterprises.
Key features of Cognism
- Uses AI: Uses proprietary machine learning and AI technology to continuously crawl websites and verify data points, though users report this feature isn’t consistently reliable.
- Global B2B database: Gives users access to business contacts across Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), North America, and Asia-Pacific (APAC). International targeting has been said to vary.
- Helpful prospecting features: The Cognism platform and Chrome extension allow users to prospect into target accounts, view employee details, get company insights, and access sales trigger alerts for timely outreach; however, these features may not be as comprehensive as users require.
Cognism pricing
With two primary plans, Cognism’s pricing is adaptable based on the organization’s size, comprised of an annual access fee and a per-user fee. While specific pricing details are not publicly available, estimates suggest that Cognism’s pricing begins at around $15,000 per year. Cognism is considered a premium B2B data provider, meaning its international data can be significantly more expensive compared to other options.
Pros:
- Great customer service
- Large global (primarily B2B) database
- Helpful features such as email verification
Cons:
- Demo or trial is not freely available
- Mobile number data is said to be highly inaccurate
- Complex features designed more for larger enterprises
4. Seamless.AI
Seamless.AI offers a modern approach to a traditional industry –it can be a good fit for dynamic small- and medium-sized businesses. Both platforms offer sales intelligence and data enrichment capabilities. However, Seamless.AI is more specialized and, potentially, a more affordable alternative than Dun & Bradstreet.
While D&B is generally considered more comprehensive and accurate, it’s also a more expensive option than Seamless.ai. At the same time, Seamless.AI doesn’t lean into transparent pricing for its higher tiers so it may be a larger investment than what is apparent at first-glance.
Key features of Seamless.AI
- Customer data: While Seamless.AI’s sales prospecting platform covers contact info like cell phones, emails, and even direct dials for businesses selling to other businesses (B2B), it doesn’t include data for companies selling directly to consumers (B2C).
- Lead builder and enrichment: Allows targeted lead list creation using various filters; however, the effectiveness and current details provided by the data enrichment can vary.
- Integrations: Integrates with popular CRMs and marketing tools like Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho, Outreach, and SalesLoft; however, setup and maintenance can be time-consuming and may require technical expertise.
- AI writing assistant: Includes an AI tool called “Writer” for crafting sales and marketing messages. Users note the quality of generated content can be inconsistent and may require significant editing.
Seamless.AI pricing
Seamless.AI’s pricing is based on the credits needed, features required, and the number of users. There is a free plan, then a paid plan at $147 per user per month, and then customized plans for enterprises based on number of employees. For example, businesses with 200 or fewer employees may pay around $12,900–$25,800 per year, while larger organizations with up to 1,000 employees may pay around $18,000–$38,900 per year. Some users have noted a lack of pricing transparency and unpredictability due to credit caps and resets.
Pros:
- Intuitive user interface
- Multiple integration opportunities
- Free trial
Cons:
- Premium pricing isn’t transparent
- Lacks advanced features of other platforms
- Limit of contacts per day
5. RocketReach
Relative to Dun & Bradstreet, RocketReach is stronger in contact data and lead generation. D & B Hoovers focuses more on company intelligence. While both are widely used sales intelligence platforms with large databases, RocketReach has better user ratings overall. Small- and medium-sized businesses report users may have trouble with the initial setup of the platform for their business.
Key features of RocketReach
- Global contact data: Featuring a large database of 700+ million contacts, RocketReach offers an email finder tool. Some users have reported occasional outdated information.
- Intent data: Provides data with a clear picture of what customers want, when they want it, intent data can help businesses close more sales although the accuracy of this data is questionable.
- Lead generation: RocketReach enables lead generation with advanced filters, custom searches, and a Chrome extension; however, the search filters can sometimes be complex to use.
- Integrations: Integrates with sales tools like Gmail, Salesforce, and LinkedIn, RocketReach allows exporting contact data to a CSV format for streamlined workflows. Users have stated integration setup can be time-consuming and may require technical support.
RocketReach pricing
It’s free to create a RocketReach account, but users are limited to accessing just five free lookups each month. Priced plans start at $48/month for the Essentials plan, with more advanced features available in higher pricing tiers.
Pros:
- Various pricing tiers
- Efficient data extraction
- Detailed onboarding instruction
Cons:
- Small database and limited filters
- Limited free account usage
- May require technical expertise to setup
6. Clearbit
Clearbit by Hubspot offers flexibility for its users that Dun & Bradstreet can’t match. While D&B caters to a target audience of larger, more traditional enterprises, Clearbit is a young, dynamic company focused on powering B2B teams. That said, Clearbit’s data is said to be inaccurate, offering leads that do not, in fact, appear to exist.
Key features of Clearbit
- Comprehensive B2B data: Gathering public data from the web, proprietary data, and AI to provide precise, standardized datasets, some Clearbit users have reported occasional inconsistencies in the data.
- Global coverage: Offering data across every country and language, Clearbit offers optimal coverage, but the data quality can vary depending on the region.
- Lead enrichment: Enriching every lead record with company and contact data, Clearbit helps to reduce manual data entry, but the process can sometimes be slower than expected.
- Clearbit Connect: a free Chrome extension that allows users to instantly find verified contacts in organizations that match their ideal customer profile (ICP).
Clearbit pricing
Clearbit was acquired by Hubspot. Depending on usage, fees range from $800 per month for three seats to $3,600 per month for five users. Each plan has limits on the number of accessible contacts. Both plans require a one-time onboarding fee (either $3,000 or $7,000), which can be restrictive for SMBs.
Pros:
- Quality B2B data
- Global data coverage
- Lead qualification tools
Cons:
- Inadequate data comprehensiveness
- No real-time data
- Limited B2C data
7. Apollo.io
Apollo.io competes with Dun & Bradstreet in terms of user ratings. While offering comparable sales intelligence features, Apollo.io boasts higher user ratings across various review sites. Additionally, Apollo.io’s pricing is more flexible, including offering a discount for annual billing. Although it does limit lead searches for users, it can still be a good option for small to mid-sized businesses.
Key features of Apollo.io
- Search filters: Offering a wide range of filters to help refine search criteria, Apollo.io helps you create targeted personas; however, users may find this feature difficult to navigate without Apollo support.
- CRM integration: Integrating with HubSpot and Salesforce, Apollo.io enables synchronized data between these platforms, yet users have reported issues with data syncing properly.
- AI assistant: Apollo.io’s AI writing assistant can craft personalized emails based on relevant buyer signals for every prospect though content may require rewrites to humanize.
Apollo.io pricing
Apollo.io offers a free plan and three paid plans. Exact costs depend on factors like company size and usage, with their Professional plan at $79 per user per month listed as the most popular.
Pros:
- Large database
- Advanced search features
- Integration with CRMs
Cons:
- Limits on lead searches
- Overreliance on templates, leading to generic outreach
- Weak reporting and analytics
8. ZoomInfo
ZoomInfo and Dun & Bradstreet are prominent players in the business information and data solutions market. However, ZoomInfo stands out with its modern, intuitive platform and real-time data accuracy. Unlike D&B, which focuses on business intelligence and risk management, ZoomInfo leans into business contact data that allows businesses to connect with prospects and potentially close more sales though some businesses find their higher prices prohibitive.
Key features of ZoomInfo
- Vast database: ZoomInfo provides access to over 260 million contacts and more than 1.6 billion data points gathered from all over the web. It helps users find and enrich leads with comprehensive data.
- Automated workflows: Businesses can launch personalized outreach to capture new leads based on website traffic and prospects’ buying signals. When a lead meets certain criteria, they immediately receive outreach from the sales team.
- Contact tracking: This feature ensures all contact information is up to date, including if contacts change job titles or companies, helping organizations follow key relationships.
- Marketplace offering: This feature offers ZoomInfo users plug-and-play, customizable integrations that promote business intelligence within each customer’s unique software systems.
ZoomInfo pricing
ZoomInfo does not publicly disclose its pricing and requires users to complete a contact form for more information. That said, it’s rumored that ZoomInfo’s pricing starts at $15,000 per year for the Professional plan, with higher tiers reaching up to $40,000 annually. ZoomInfo claims to base its pricing on features, number of licenses, and credit use.
Pros:
- Multiple marketing solutions
- Dynamic signals for data
- Data available for outside the U.S.
Cons:
- High pricing
- Limited data depth
- Clunky with bulk list creation
9. Lusha
Lusha is another alternative to Dun & Bradstreet. Both Lusha and D&B offer contact and company data, sales intelligence, and prospecting tools. Lusha is known for its large database of verified business contacts and has higher user ratings and more transparent pricing than D&B.
Key features of Lusha
- Comprehensive contact database: Lusha’s database contains millions of business contacts across various industries and regions; however, some users have reported occasional outdated or inaccurate data.
- Chrome extension: The Lusha Chrome extension is a highly promoted feature that retrieves up-to-date phone numbers, emails, and other contact details. However, this feature has had many reported issues.
- Search filters: Lusha offers advanced search filters for criteria like job title, location, and company size, but the filtering options may not consistently yield precise results.
Lusha pricing
Lusha offers a free plan and three paid plans, though the exact cost will depend on factors like the number of users within your business and the number of credits needed. The Premium plan at $75 per month for five seats is listed as the most popular option.
Pros:
- Large database
- Affordable pricing
- Search filters can use multiple parameters
Cons:
- Users limited to 20 saved searches per month
- Said to collect and store personal data without consent
- Lack of coverage within contacts
10. SalesIntel
SalesIntel offers high user ratings, a focus on data accuracy, and helpful prospecting features. While SalesIntel is a compelling option for sales teams looking for a user-friendly platform with high-quality U.S. contact data, its more advanced features may prove difficult to navigate.
Key features of SalesIntel
- Human-verified contacts: With human-verified direct dials, mobile numbers, and email addresses, users can reach decision-makers, but some contacts may still be inaccurate or hard to reach.
- Data enrichment: By keeping CRM records up-to-date, preventing duplicates, and appending missing data, the data enrichment capabilities provide better insights for successful outreach; however, the process can sometimes take longer than expected.
- Intent data: Identifying prospects actively looking for solutions is made easier with intent data insights, but the accuracy of this data can occasionally vary, leading to mixed results.
SalesIntel pricing
SalesIntel offers affordable plans for individuals at $69 per month and then for small teams at $199 per month for up to five users. The enterprise level offers uncapped access to their high-quality B2B data and tools. That said, pricing is based on the number of users and credits, which can get expensive, and they do not offer a free option.
Pros:
- Large database
- Human-verified direct dials, mobile numbers, and email addresses
- Good customer support
Cons:
- Expensive pricing plans
- Limited data coverage for some industries
- No mobile app
Discover a Better Pricing Model for SMBs With Salesgenie
Among the many D&B alternatives, Salesgenie is the best fit for small and mid-sized businesses.
- Affordable entry: Salesgenie’s plans are more cost-effective than Dun & Bradstreet’s.
- Flexible pricing: Varying tiers suit diverse needs and budgets.
- Transparent investment: No hidden fees, clear pricing structure.
- Value focus: Essential features at affordable rates.
- SMB-tailored: Ideal for small and medium-sized businesses.
