RocketReach vs ZoomInfo: The Real Comparison for B2B Teams
If you're comparing RocketReach and ZoomInfo, you're likely trying to figure out which B2B contact database will actually deliver ROI for your sales or recruiting team. Both tools promise massive databases and accurate contact information, but they serve very different types of buyers.
Here's the bottom line: RocketReach is for lean teams who need affordable, straightforward contact lookups. ZoomInfo is for enterprise teams with big budgets who need a full go-to-market platform. Let me break down exactly why.
Quick Comparison: RocketReach vs ZoomInfo
| Feature | RocketReach | ZoomInfo |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $48-$69/month | $14,995/year minimum |
| Database Size | 700M+ profiles | 260M+ profiles |
| Company Profiles | 35M+ companies | 100M+ companies |
| Data Accuracy (G2) | 80/100 | 77/100 |
| Intent Data | Ultimate plan only | Available (add-on cost) |
| Free Trial | Yes, 5 free lookups | Limited trial available |
| Contract Required | No (monthly available) | Annual contracts only |
| Best For | SMBs, individuals | Enterprise teams |
Pricing: The Elephant in the Room
Let's address what matters most to most buyers: the price difference is massive.
RocketReach Pricing
RocketReach has transparent pricing you can see on their website and sign up with a credit card:
- Free: 5 lookups per month, no credit card required
- Essentials: $48-$69/month (email only) - 1,200 exports/year on annual plans
- Pro: $119/month - includes phone numbers, 3,600 lookups/year
- Ultimate: $209-$249/month - intent data, 10,000 lookups/year
Annual billing saves you 26-44% depending on the plan. The Essentials plan on annual billing works out to around $39/month per seat. If you're a solo founder or small team, you can be up and running today for under $50/month.
ZoomInfo Pricing
ZoomInfo doesn't publish pricing. You have to talk to sales, sit through demos, and negotiate. Here's what we know from research:
- Professional Plan: Starts around $14,995/year for 5,000 credits and up to 3 users
- Advanced Plan: Around $24,995/year with 10,000 credits
- Elite Plan: Approximately $39,995/year
Additional users cost $1,500-$2,500 each depending on your plan. Many customers report paying $25,000-$50,000+ annually after adding seats and credits. One thing users consistently mention: renewal prices often jump 10-20%, and there are stories of aggressive auto-renewal clauses.
ZoomInfo does offer a free tier called ZoomInfo Lite with 10-25 monthly credits, but it requires you to share your email contacts with them.
Database Size and Coverage
RocketReach claims the larger database with over 700 million professional profiles and 35+ million companies. ZoomInfo reports around 260 million contact profiles and 100+ million company profiles.
But raw numbers don't tell the whole story. ZoomInfo dominates on company-level data - their firmographic information, org charts, and technographic data go much deeper. If you need to understand a company's technology stack, department structure, or recent funding events, ZoomInfo provides significantly more detail.
RocketReach's strength is in individual contact coverage. They claim better coverage for smaller companies and international contacts, particularly in industries like healthcare, legal, and tech startups where ZoomInfo's coverage can be spotty.
Data Accuracy: What Users Actually Report
Both platforms claim high accuracy, but the numbers depend on who you ask:
- ZoomInfo claims 95% accuracy and uses a 300+ person research team plus AI verification
- RocketReach reports 85%+ accuracy with multi-step SMTP verification
- On G2, RocketReach scores 80/100 for data accuracy vs ZoomInfo's 77/100 (based on user reviews)
Real-world experience varies. ZoomInfo tends to be more accurate for mid-market and enterprise companies in North America. RocketReach users report more consistent results across company sizes and better international coverage.
The honest answer? Neither platform is perfect. Budget for some bounce rate in your email campaigns regardless of which tool you choose.
Features: What You Actually Get
RocketReach Features
- Email and phone number lookups
- Chrome extension for LinkedIn prospecting
- Basic company search and filtering
- Bulk lookups and CSV export
- CRM integrations (Salesforce, HubSpot)
- Email sending (25/day on lower tiers)
- Intent data (Ultimate plan only)
- AI-powered recommendations
RocketReach is straightforward. You search for people, you get their contact info, you export or push to your CRM. The Chrome extension works well for prospecting on LinkedIn. The interface is clean and doesn't require extensive training.
ZoomInfo Features
- Everything RocketReach offers, plus:
- Advanced intent data and buying signals
- Website visitor identification (WebSights)
- Org charts and department mapping
- Technographic data (what software companies use)
- Automated workflows and sequences
- Conversation intelligence (Chorus add-on)
- AI-powered ICP recommendations (Copilot)
- Account-based marketing tools
ZoomInfo is a full GTM platform. It's not just a contact database - it's trying to be your entire sales intelligence stack. The intent data and buyer signals are legitimately useful for enterprise sales teams running complex ABM campaigns.
The catch? Many of the best features (intent data, engagement tools) are add-ons that increase your already hefty bill. Users report that the "complete platform" pitch often requires significant additional spend to unlock.
Ease of Use
RocketReach wins on simplicity. You can sign up, search for contacts, and export data within minutes. The learning curve is minimal.
ZoomInfo is more complex. Users report a steep learning curve, especially when trying to leverage advanced features like workflows, intent signals, and the various add-on products. It's powerful, but expect to invest time in training your team.
One G2 reviewer noted that ZoomInfo's UI "hasn't seen updates in years" and can be difficult to navigate. Multiple users mention the interface feels clunky for bulk data tasks.
Who Should Choose RocketReach?
RocketReach makes sense if you:
- Have a budget under $15,000/year for contact data
- Run a small sales team (1-10 people)
- Need straightforward contact lookups without complexity
- Want transparent, predictable pricing
- Prospect to SMBs or international markets
- Prefer month-to-month flexibility over annual contracts
- Value simplicity over feature depth
Get started with RocketReach →
Who Should Choose ZoomInfo?
ZoomInfo is the better choice if you:
- Have an enterprise budget ($15K+ minimum, typically $30K+ for full value)
- Need deep company intelligence (technographics, org charts, department budgets)
- Run complex ABM campaigns requiring intent data
- Target mid-market and enterprise accounts in North America
- Have dedicated sales ops to manage the platform
- Need conversation intelligence and advanced workflow automation
- Can negotiate contracts effectively
The Honest Take
ZoomInfo is the more powerful platform. That's not debatable. It has more features, deeper company data, better intent signals, and more sophisticated automation. If money is no object and you have the team to leverage it, ZoomInfo will give you more capabilities.
But here's what ZoomInfo won't tell you: most teams never use 80% of those features. They're paying enterprise prices for what amounts to fancy contact lookup. If you're a 5-person sales team, you don't need department org charts and AI-powered buying signals. You need accurate emails and phone numbers.
RocketReach delivers that at a fraction of the cost with significantly less friction. You can be prospecting today instead of sitting through sales demos and negotiating contracts.
Alternatives Worth Considering
Neither tool perfect? Here are some alternatives:
- Apollo.io: Similar to RocketReach with more built-in outreach features
- Lusha: Great Chrome extension, strong LinkedIn integration - check our Lusha pricing breakdown
- Cognism: Strong European data coverage, claims better mobile numbers
- LinkedIn Sales Navigator: Different approach but works well paired with a contact tool
If you're evaluating broader sales tools, you might also want to look at our reviews of Instantly for cold email outreach or Close CRM for managing your pipeline.
The Bottom Line
For most B2B teams, especially those with budgets under $20K/year, RocketReach provides better value. You get a larger contact database, competitive accuracy, and transparent pricing without annual contract lock-in.
If you're an enterprise team with complex GTM needs and budget to match, ZoomInfo's deeper platform capabilities justify the premium - just go in with eyes open about the true total cost of ownership.