Best Lusha Competitors: 7 Alternatives That Actually Work

Lusha is a solid B2B contact finder, but it's not perfect. The credit-based pricing gets expensive fast, data accuracy hovers around 81% according to some users, and the free plan only gives you 70 credits per month. If you're prospecting at scale, those limitations add up quickly.

I've tested the major Lusha alternatives and compared them on what actually matters: pricing, data accuracy, database size, and real-world usability. Here's what you need to know to make the right choice.

Quick Comparison: Lusha vs Top Competitors

Before diving into each tool, here's how they stack up:

Understanding Lusha's Pricing First

Before comparing alternatives, you need to understand what you're working with. Lusha uses a credit-based system with emails costing 1 credit and phone numbers costing 10 credits (updated from the previous 5-10 range).

Here's the current Lusha pricing breakdown:

• Free Plan: 70 credits/month, 1 user
• Pro Plan: $22.45/user/month (annual) or ~$20/month (monthly), 3,000 credits/year
• Premium Plan: $52.45/user/month (annual), 7,200 credits/year
• Scale Plan: Custom pricing for enterprise

The catch? Those credits burn fast when you're revealing phone numbers, and premium features like bulk search and CSV enrichment are locked behind higher tiers. Check out our full Lusha pricing breakdown for more details.

Why Companies Leave Lusha

Understanding why teams switch away from Lusha helps identify what matters most in a contact database. Here are the most common pain points:

Credit Limitations Hit Fast

The credit system sounds flexible until you run the math. If you're doing phone outreach, 10 credits per number means the Pro plan's 3,000 annual credits only cover 300 phone reveals. For active prospecting teams, that's gone in weeks.

International Coverage Gaps

Lusha performs reasonably well for US contacts, but coverage drops significantly in EMEA and APAC markets. If you're prospecting internationally, you'll hit dead ends regularly.

No Native Outreach Tools

Lusha finds contacts but doesn't help you reach them. You'll need separate tools for email sequencing, which adds cost and complexity to your sales stack.

Data Accuracy Concerns

While Lusha claims high accuracy, user reviews consistently mention outdated contacts and incorrect phone numbers, especially for international prospects. This wastes credits and damages sender reputation.

1. Apollo.io - Best All-in-One Alternative

Apollo is the most direct Lusha competitor for teams that want prospecting AND outreach in one platform. It combines a massive contact database with email sequencing, A/B testing, and CRM functionality.

What Apollo Does Better

Apollo's database includes over 275 million contacts from 73 million companies, significantly larger than Lusha's 100+ million. The platform includes built-in email automation with unlimited sequences on paid plans, so you're not just finding contacts-you're reaching them directly.

The free plan is genuinely useful: you get unlimited email addresses (with fair use limits), basic filters, and access to the full database. That's a massive upgrade from Lusha's 70 credits/month. The platform also includes a built-in dialer, call recording, and meeting scheduling.

Apollo Pricing Breakdown

• Free: Unlimited emails (fair use), 5 mobile credits, 10 export credits/month
• Basic: $49/user/month (annual) or $59/month monthly - 2,500 email credits/month, advanced filters
• Professional: $79/user/month (annual) or $99/month monthly - 9,000 credits/month, A/B testing, dialer
• Organization: $119/user/month (annual) or $149/month monthly - 50,000+ credits/month, API access

The Downsides

Apollo's interface can feel overwhelming-there's a learning curve if you just want simple contact lookups. Data accuracy can also fluctuate in niche industries, with users reporting phone number accuracy issues. The credit system for phone numbers and exports still applies even on paid plans, and credits expire at the end of each billing cycle.

Some users report unexpected costs when credit consumption exceeds estimates. The platform's "multichannel" promise also falls short-LinkedIn tasks require manual execution despite being included in sequences.

Who Should Choose Apollo

Apollo makes sense if you want to consolidate your sales stack. If you're currently using Lusha plus a separate email tool like Lemlist or Instantly, Apollo could replace both and save you money. It's particularly strong for startups and mid-market teams building their first scalable outbound process.

Verdict: Best for teams that want to consolidate their sales stack. If you're currently using Lusha + a separate email tool, Apollo could replace both.

2. RocketReach - Best for Email-Heavy Prospecting

RocketReach focuses primarily on email and phone lookups with a cleaner, simpler interface than Apollo. It's a more direct 1:1 replacement for Lusha's core functionality.

What RocketReach Does Better

The platform offers access to 700 million professional profiles with advanced search capabilities. RocketReach claims 90-98% deliverability on verified emails, which is solid. The Chrome extension works seamlessly with LinkedIn, and CRM integrations with Salesforce, HubSpot, and others are included on higher tiers.

The search interface is more intuitive than Apollo's, making it easier to build targeted lists quickly. RocketReach also offers bulk lookups, allowing you to upload CSV files and enrich them with contact data.

RocketReach Pricing

• Free: 5 free lookups (no credit card required)
• Essentials: $48/month (annual) or $69/month monthly - email only, 1,200 exports/year
• Pro: $108/month (annual) or $119/month monthly - email + phone, 3,600 exports/year
• Ultimate: $249/month (annual) or $209/month monthly - full features, API access

The Downsides

RocketReach is pricier than Lusha for equivalent functionality. The Essentials plan is email-only-if you need phone numbers, you're looking at $108+/month. There's also no built-in outreach, so you'll still need a separate email tool. The annual export limits can feel restrictive for high-volume prospecting teams.

Verdict: Good for sales reps who primarily use email and want reliable data. Not ideal if phone outreach is your main channel. See our full RocketReach pricing breakdown.

Try RocketReach →

3. ZoomInfo - Best for Enterprise Teams

ZoomInfo is the 800-pound gorilla of B2B sales intelligence. It offers the most comprehensive data, but at a price that puts it out of reach for most small businesses.

What ZoomInfo Does Better

ZoomInfo's database spans 321 million active professionals at 104 million companies with some of the most detailed firmographic and technographic data available. Intent data, org charts, company insights, and real-time alerts are all included. The platform goes far beyond contact lookups into full go-to-market intelligence.

The data quality is generally regarded as industry-leading, particularly for US contacts. ZoomInfo offers advanced features like conversation intelligence (Chorus), website visitor identification, and predictive lead scoring. The integration ecosystem is extensive, connecting with virtually every major CRM and sales engagement platform.

ZoomInfo Pricing (Based on User Reports)

ZoomInfo doesn't publish pricing, but here's what we found from verified user reports:

• Professional Plan: ~$14,995/year for 5,000 credits and 3 users (additional users $1,500 each)
• Advanced Plan: ~$24,995/year for 10,000 credits and 1,000 monthly user credits (additional users $2,500 each)
• Elite Plan: ~$39,995/year with full features (same user costs as Advanced)

Yes, you read that right. ZoomInfo starts at $15K/year minimum with annual contracts only. User reports from Reddit and review sites indicate median annual purchases around $30,000, with some enterprise contracts exceeding $100,000.

The Hidden Costs

The price tag is just the beginning. Users frequently report several hidden costs:

• Automatic renewal increases: 10-20% price hikes at renewal are common
• Credit overages: Running out mid-contract triggers expensive top-ups
• Add-on creep: Intent data, global coverage, and enrichment features often cost extra ($5,000-$15,000+ each)
• Seat expansion: Adding users mid-contract often triggers a full re-quote

The Downsides

Beyond price, ZoomInfo requires annual contracts with no monthly option and has a 60-90 day cancellation window. The platform has a steep learning curve, and some users complain about CRM sync errors. Data quality, while generally good, isn't perfect-reviews mention outdated contacts and spam trap emails.

Verdict: Only makes sense for enterprise teams with $15K+ budgets who need the deepest data and intent signals. Everyone else should look elsewhere.

4. Cognism - Best for European/EMEA Data

Cognism positions itself as the GDPR-compliant alternative with particularly strong coverage in Europe, Middle East, and Africa regions.

What Cognism Does Better

Cognism offers phone-verified mobile numbers through its Diamond Data program, which uses human verification to achieve higher connect rates. The platform is built with GDPR and CCPA compliance in mind, including Do Not Call list checking across 13 different registries-important if you're doing phone outreach in regulated markets.

The EMEA coverage is genuinely superior to Lusha and most competitors. Users report contact data accuracy of around 7.9/10 on G2, compared to Lusha's 7.5. Cognism also offers unlimited views and exports on all plans (no credit ceilings), which eliminates the budget unpredictability that plagues credit-based systems.

Cognism Pricing Structure

Cognism uses custom pricing based on team size, regions, and features. There's no free plan. The platform offers two main packages:

• Grow: Core B2B contact and company data, mobile numbers, and integrations
• Elevate: Premium features including Bombora intent signals and extra data verification credits

Based on user reports, expect pricing to start in the five-figure range annually, similar to or slightly below ZoomInfo for comparable functionality.

The Downsides

Some users report a 25-lead export limit that can slow down larger campaigns. U.S. coverage isn't as strong as European data-if your target market is primarily North America, Cognism may not be your best choice. Without transparent pricing, you're going into sales calls blind. APAC coverage is also limited compared to EMEA.

Verdict: The go-to choice if you're prospecting heavily in EMEA markets and need compliant, verified phone data. Less compelling for U.S.-focused teams.

5. UpLead - Best for Real-Time Verification

UpLead differentiates itself with real-time email verification-every contact is verified at the moment you reveal it, not pulled from a static database.

What UpLead Does Better

The platform offers 155 million contacts with real-time verification, meaning you should see significantly lower bounce rates. UpLead includes 50+ search filters including intent data on higher tiers, and consistently ranks high for ease of use. The verification process happens instantly when you reveal a contact, ensuring the data is current.

UpLead offers a 95% data accuracy guarantee-if a contact bounces, they credit it back to your account. This is rare in the industry and shows confidence in their verification process. The platform also includes technographic data, showing what tools and technologies companies use.

UpLead Pricing

• Free Trial: 5 credits
• Essentials: $74/month - 2,040 credits/year (170/month)
• Plus: $148/month - 4,800 credits/year (400/month) + enrichment
• Professional: $299/month - 12,000 credits/year (1,000/month) + intent data

The Downsides

The database is smaller than Apollo or RocketReach (155M vs 700M+ contacts), so coverage in niche industries may be limited. The real-time verification adds latency to bulk lookups, which can slow down list building. No built-in outreach capabilities mean you'll need a separate email tool.

Verdict: Great middle-ground option if you value data quality over raw database size. The pricing is transparent and reasonable, and the accuracy guarantee provides peace of mind.

6. Kaspr - Best Free Alternative

Kaspr is a LinkedIn-focused prospecting tool that offers a genuinely useful free tier-making it attractive for individual contributors and small teams testing the waters.

What Kaspr Does Better

Kaspr provides unlimited free B2B email addresses and includes campaign management features. The Chrome extension integrates tightly with LinkedIn for quick prospecting directly from profiles. It's simple, focused, and has a lower learning curve than most alternatives.

The platform includes workflow automation for enrichment and basic email sequencing. Kaspr's interface is clean and uncluttered, making it easy to get started without extensive training.

Kaspr Pricing

• Free: Unlimited emails, limited phone credits
• Starter: From €30/month - increased phone credits
• Business: From €60/month - full features and integrations

The Downsides

Kaspr works best for LinkedIn-centric prospecting. If you need comprehensive database access outside of LinkedIn, you'll hit limitations. Phone credit costs can add up if that's your primary outreach channel. The database size is not disclosed, suggesting it's smaller than competitors.

Verdict: Perfect for individual sales reps who live on LinkedIn and want free email access. Less suitable for teams needing a full sales intelligence platform.

7. Clay - Best for Data Enrichment Workflows

Clay takes a different approach-it's more of a data enrichment and workflow automation platform than a traditional contact database. It connects to multiple data providers and lets you build custom prospecting workflows.

What Clay Does Better

Clay aggregates data from multiple sources (including Lusha, Apollo, and others) and lets you build automated enrichment workflows. If you need to combine data from multiple providers or run complex prospecting logic, Clay is uniquely powerful.

You can create waterfall enrichment sequences that check multiple data sources in order until it finds valid contact information. This maximizes data coverage while minimizing cost. Clay's AI features can also research companies, write personalized messages, and qualify leads automatically.

The Downsides

Clay has a steeper learning curve than any tool on this list. It's more of a platform than a plug-and-play solution, so expect setup time. Pricing can also get complex as you add data provider credits. Clay works best when combined with other data sources rather than as a standalone solution.

Verdict: Best for ops-minded teams who want to build sophisticated prospecting workflows. Overkill for simple contact lookups.

Try Clay →

8. Lead411 - Best for US SMB Data

Lead411 is a B2B sales intelligence platform that focuses particularly on US small and mid-sized businesses, offering verified contact data alongside growth intent signals.

What Lead411 Does Better

Lead411's database contains over 450 million contacts and 30 million companies, with particularly strong coverage of US SMBs. The platform's standout feature is its growth intent data-tracking signals like recent funding, hiring plans, new locations, and executive changes that indicate companies in buying mode.

The platform offers triple-verified emails (SMTP, human verification, and AI re-checks every 3-6 months) and double-verified phone numbers (vendor verification plus location matching). Lead411 claims 96% email deliverability, which is among the highest in the industry.

Lead411 Pricing

Lead411 offers flexible pricing with both subscription and per-export options:

• 7-Day Free Trial: 50 verified lead credits
• Spark Plan: Custom pricing, 500-1,000 exports/month
• Blaze Plan: Custom pricing, 1,000+ exports/month with Bombora intent data
• Ignite Plan: Annual only, focused on hot leads and improved functionality

Based on user reports, plans start around $75/user/month with annual billing. The unlimited data access option is available for enterprise customers.

The Downsides

International coverage is limited compared to global platforms. Some users report occasional outdated contacts, though less frequently than budget alternatives. The platform lacks native outreach automation-you'll need to integrate with tools like Outreach or Salesloft. The Chrome extension receives mixed reviews, with some finding it distracting.

Verdict: Excellent choice for teams targeting US SMBs who want growth intent signals at a reasonable price point. Not ideal for international prospecting.

Understanding Credit Systems vs. Unlimited Access

One of the biggest decisions when choosing a Lusha alternative is whether to go with a credit-based system or unlimited access. Here's what you need to know:

Credit-Based Pricing

Platforms like Lusha, Apollo, and UpLead use credits. Pros: pay only for what you use, lower entry price. Cons: unpredictable costs at scale, credits typically expire, requires constant usage monitoring.

Unlimited Access

Platforms like Cognism and Lead411's enterprise plans offer unlimited viewing and exports. Pros: predictable budgeting, no usage anxiety, scales with your team. Cons: higher upfront cost, may pay for capacity you don't use.

Which Is Right for You?

Credit systems work for teams with predictable, moderate prospecting needs. Unlimited access makes sense for high-volume prospecting teams or those who can't afford to run out mid-quarter.

Data Accuracy: What the Numbers Really Mean

Every platform claims high accuracy, but what does that actually mean? Here's how to evaluate data quality claims:

Email Accuracy Metrics

Look for deliverability rates above 90%. Anything below 85% will damage your sender reputation. Real-time verification (like UpLead) generally outperforms static databases.

Phone Number Accuracy

This is trickier. Direct dial accuracy varies widely-anywhere from 40% to 90% depending on the provider and market. Cognism's Diamond Data and Lead411's double verification claim the highest accuracy for phone numbers.

The Freshness Factor

Data decays at about 30% per year as people change jobs. Platforms that re-verify frequently (every 3-6 months) maintain better accuracy than those that don't.

Compliance Considerations: GDPR, CCPA, and DNC Lists

If you're prospecting in Europe or calling US contacts, compliance isn't optional. Here's what matters:

GDPR Compliance (Europe)

Cognism leads here, with GDPR built into its core operations. The platform is ICO-regulated and provides a notified database. Lusha claims GDPR compliance but receives mixed reviews on execution.

CCPA Compliance (California)

Most major platforms now claim CCPA compliance, but implementation varies. Look for providers that offer opt-out mechanisms and clear data sourcing.

Do Not Call Lists

For phone outreach, DNC list checking is critical. Cognism checks against 13 different registries. Many platforms don't check DNC lists at all, putting compliance responsibility on you.

Integration Ecosystems: What Actually Matters

Every platform claims to integrate with your CRM, but the quality varies dramatically:

Native CRM Integrations

Look for bidirectional sync with Salesforce, HubSpot, and your specific CRM. Apollo and ZoomInfo offer the most robust CRM integrations, syncing data automatically and updating records in real-time.

Sales Engagement Platforms

If you use Outreach, Salesloft, or similar tools, check integration depth. Some platforms only export CSVs, while others sync directly into your sequences.

API Access

For custom workflows, API access matters. Most platforms restrict APIs to enterprise plans. Clay and Apollo offer the most flexible API implementations.

Chrome Extensions: The Daily Driver Experience

Most prospecting happens on LinkedIn, making Chrome extensions critical:

Best Chrome Extensions

Lusha and Kaspr have the simplest extensions-click and reveal. Apollo's extension is more feature-rich but can feel cluttered. RocketReach offers a good balance of simplicity and functionality.

What to Look For

Instant reveal without leaving the page, bulk reveal capabilities (save time on list building), CRM push buttons (add directly to Salesforce/HubSpot), and minimal page load impact.

Free Trials and Free Plans: Testing Before Buying

Here's what you can actually test on free plans:

• Lusha: 70 credits/month-enough for basic testing
• Apollo: Unlimited emails, 5 mobile credits-best for extended testing
• Kaspr: Unlimited emails-great for pure email prospecting tests
• RocketReach: 5 lookups-barely enough to evaluate
• Lead411: 7-day trial with 50 credits-time-limited but generous
• UpLead: 5 credits-minimal testing capacity

How to Test Effectively

Focus on data accuracy in your specific market, test in your target regions and industries, verify phone numbers actually connect, and check bounce rates on emails. Don't rely on generic test searches-use your actual ICP.

Which Lusha Alternative Should You Choose?

Here's my honest take based on different use cases:

• Replacing Lusha 1:1 on a budget: Kaspr (free tier) or Apollo (free plan with upgrade path)
• All-in-one prospecting + outreach: Apollo.io
• Email-focused with high accuracy: RocketReach or UpLead
• European/EMEA markets: Cognism
• US SMB prospecting with intent data: Lead411
• Enterprise with $15K+ budget: ZoomInfo
• Advanced workflow automation: Clay
• LinkedIn-only prospecting: Kaspr

Calculating Your True Cost Per Contact

Don't just compare sticker prices. Here's how to calculate true cost:

The Formula

Annual cost ÷ (usable contacts per year × your team's success rate) = cost per successful contact

Example Calculation

Apollo Basic: $588/year ÷ (2,500 exports × 85% accuracy × 30% reply rate) = $0.92 per replied contact

Compare this across platforms using your expected usage to find the real winner.

What About Findymail for Cold Email?

If your primary use case is cold email outreach, Findymail deserves a mention. It focuses specifically on email finding with extremely low bounce rates (under 2%), making it ideal for cold email campaigns where deliverability is critical.

Findymail's waterfall approach checks multiple data sources to maximize email discovery while maintaining high accuracy. The platform is particularly strong for protecting sender reputation, which is crucial for scaling cold email.

Check out Findymail →

Building Your Prospecting Tech Stack

No single tool does everything perfectly. Here's how to build a complete stack:

The Lean Stack (Under $200/month)

• Apollo Free (contact data)
• Instantly.ai (email sending)
• LinkedIn Sales Navigator (prospecting)

The Growth Stack ($500-1,000/month)

• Apollo Professional (data + sequences)
• Findymail (email verification)
• Close CRM (sales pipeline)

The Enterprise Stack ($2,000+/month)

• ZoomInfo or Cognism (premium data)
• Outreach or Salesloft (engagement)
• Salesforce (CRM)
• Clay (workflow automation)

Red Flags to Watch For

When evaluating any Lusha alternative, watch for these warning signs:

Opaque Pricing

If they won't show pricing without a demo, expect enterprise-level costs. This isn't necessarily bad, but know what you're getting into.

Data Source Secrecy

Platforms that won't explain how they source data may have compliance or quality issues. Reputable providers are transparent about methodology.

No Free Trial

If they won't let you test the data, it's probably not as good as they claim. Every platform on this list offers some form of free testing.

Aggressive Auto-Renewal

ZoomInfo is notorious for this. Read the fine print on cancellation windows before signing.

Common Mistakes When Switching From Lusha

Here's what typically goes wrong when teams switch:

Not Testing in Your Market

A platform with great US data might be terrible for EMEA. Test with your actual target accounts before committing.

Ignoring Integration Requirements

If your team lives in Salesforce, a platform with poor Salesforce integration will fail regardless of data quality.

Underestimating Usage

Teams consistently underestimate prospecting volume. Add 30% buffer to your usage estimates.

Buying for Features You Won't Use

Intent data sounds great, but if you won't actually use it to prioritize outreach, don't pay for it.

The Future of Sales Intelligence

The market is evolving quickly. Here's what's coming:

AI-Powered Enrichment

Tools like Clay are using AI to research companies and write personalized outreach. This will become standard across platforms.

Real-Time Verification

Static databases are dying. Expect more platforms to adopt real-time verification like UpLead.

Waterfall Enrichment

Instead of single sources, platforms will automatically check multiple providers to maximize coverage and accuracy.

Privacy-First Approaches

Expect tighter compliance requirements, especially in Europe. Platforms with compliance built in will win.

Final Thoughts

Lusha isn't a bad tool-it's just not the only option anymore. The market has matured significantly, with competitors offering larger databases, better pricing transparency, and integrated outreach capabilities.

If you're paying for Lusha Pro or Premium and finding the credits restrictive, Apollo's free plan might give you more runway to test. If you need the absolute best data quality and have the budget, ZoomInfo remains the enterprise standard. And if GDPR compliance keeps you up at night, Cognism is worth the conversation.

For US-focused teams targeting SMBs, Lead411 offers excellent intent data at a reasonable price. If you value simplicity and primarily prospect on LinkedIn, Kaspr's free tier is hard to beat. And for teams that want to build sophisticated multi-source workflows, Clay opens up possibilities no single-source platform can match.

Whatever you choose, don't just look at the sticker price. Calculate your actual cost per contact based on how you prospect, and factor in whether you need separate tools for outreach. Sometimes a slightly more expensive all-in-one platform costs less than stacking multiple cheaper tools.

The best Lusha alternative is the one that matches your specific prospecting motion-whether that's high-volume email, compliant phone outreach, or building complex multi-touch sequences. Test multiple platforms with your actual ICP before committing, and remember that data accuracy in YOUR market matters more than database size.

Looking for more sales tools? Check out our guides to CRM software for small business and email marketing platforms.