Cognism vs Clearbit: Which B2B Data Platform Wins in 2026?
Cognism and Clearbit serve different needs now. Cognism is a standalone sales intelligence platform with phone-verified contacts and strong European data. Clearbit was acquired by HubSpot and rebranded as Breeze Intelligence, it's now primarily an enrichment tool locked into the HubSpot ecosystem.
Quick comparison
| Feature | Cognism | Clearbit (Breeze Intelligence) | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Sales teams, cold calling, EMEA | HubSpot users, enrichment | Depends on use case |
| Pricing | Custom (~$15K+/yr reported) | HubSpot subscription + credits | Tie (both opaque) |
| Database size | 400M+ profiles | Not publicly stated | Cognism |
| Phone data | Diamond Data (human-verified) | Not a focus | Cognism |
| Enrichment | CRM enrichment included | Core strength | Clearbit |
| EMEA data | Industry-leading | Weaker outside US | Cognism |
| US data | Good, not best | Strong for mid-market+ | Clearbit |
| Website visitor ID | Not a core feature | Yes (Reveal) | Clearbit |
| Chrome extension | Yes (LinkedIn, web) | No standalone | Cognism |
| CRM dependency | Works with any CRM | Requires HubSpot | Cognism |
| GDPR compliance | Built-in DNC checks | Basic compliance | Cognism |
| Intent data | Yes (Bombora) | Yes (buyer intent) | Tie |
| Free plan | No | No (HubSpot free CRM, but no enrichment) | Neither |
Data quality and coverage
Cognism wins on contact data, particularly for European markets. Diamond Data, phone numbers verified by human researchers, is genuinely more accurate than algorithm-based phone data. The 400M+ profile database covers EMEA deeply.
Clearbit wins on firmographic enrichment. Company data (revenue, employee count, technographics, industry) is detailed and well-structured for US mid-market and enterprise companies. But it's an enrichment tool, not a prospecting database.
If you need phone numbers to cold call European prospects: Cognism is clearly better. If you need to enrich CRM records with company data: Clearbit's data is more detailed.
Pricing comparison
Neither tool publishes pricing, making direct comparison difficult:
| Cognism | Clearbit (Breeze Intelligence) | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Custom quote per team | HubSpot plan + credit add-on |
| Reported starting cost | $15,000–$25,000/year | HubSpot Starter ($20/mo) + credits (~$30+/mo) |
| Contract | Annual | HubSpot Pro/Enterprise: annual; Starter: monthly available |
| Transparency | None (sales call required) | HubSpot plans listed, credit pricing not always clear |
For basic enrichment on a small scale, Clearbit via HubSpot Starter may be cheaper. For full sales intelligence with phone data, Cognism's pricing is comparable to HubSpot Professional + Breeze Intelligence at scale.
See our Cognism pricing and Breeze Intelligence pricing guides for detailed breakdowns.
Features comparison
Where Cognism wins:
- Phone-verified mobile numbers (Diamond Data)
- Standalone prospecting database with advanced filters
- Works with any CRM (Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive)
- Chrome extension for LinkedIn prospecting
- Built-in GDPR compliance with DNC list checking
Where Clearbit wins:
- Website visitor identification (Reveal)
- Form shortening for higher conversion rates
- Deep HubSpot integration (native, not bolted on)
- Firmographic and technographic enrichment detail
- Buyer intent signals within HubSpot workflows
Who should choose Cognism
- Sales teams that cold call and need verified phone numbers
- Companies selling into European markets (EMEA)
- Teams using Salesforce, Pipedrive, or any non-HubSpot CRM
- Organizations with strict GDPR compliance needs
- Mid-market and enterprise sales teams with budget for premium data
Who should choose Clearbit
- Teams already on HubSpot who want native enrichment
- Marketing teams focused on website visitor identification
- Companies that need form shortening to improve conversion rates
- US-focused teams that need firmographic data for account scoring
- Developers who need a reliable enrichment API (existing Clearbit customers)
Consider MentionAgent instead
If your goal is outreach, not just data, both Cognism and Clearbit leave you doing the hard part manually. MentionAgent automates the full workflow: finding relevant prospects, looking up contacts, writing personalized emails, and following up. No data subscriptions, no CRM dependencies.
Your team uses Salesforce and needs phone numbers for European prospects. Which tool should you choose?
Correct! Cognism integrates with Salesforce natively and its Diamond Data provides the best phone-verified European mobile numbers. Clearbit now requires HubSpot.
Clearbit/Breeze Intelligence requires HubSpot, it won't work with Salesforce standalone. Cognism works with any CRM and has industry-leading European phone data.
You're on HubSpot and want to enrich CRM records with company data and identify website visitors. Which fits better?
Right! If you're already on HubSpot, Breeze Intelligence is the most natural option. Enrichment, visitor ID, and buyer intent all work natively within your existing HubSpot workflows.
For HubSpot users, Breeze Intelligence is the natural choice. It integrates natively for enrichment, visitor identification, and buyer intent without switching platforms.
Data doesn't send emails
MentionAgent goes beyond data. It finds relevant prospects, writes personalized pitches, and follows up, all automated for $99/mo. No CRM lock-in, no data subscriptions.
Start Getting Mentioned For $99/moFrequently asked questions
Is Cognism better than Clearbit?
Cognism is better for sales teams needing phone-verified contacts and European data. Clearbit (Breeze Intelligence) is better if you're on HubSpot and need enrichment. They serve different use cases. See our Cognism review and Clearbit review for details.
Can I use Clearbit without HubSpot?
Not for new customers. Clearbit was acquired by HubSpot in November 2023. Cognism works as a standalone platform with any CRM. See Clearbit alternatives for non-HubSpot options.
Which has better phone data, Cognism or Clearbit?
Cognism, by a wide margin. Diamond Data provides human-verified mobile numbers. Clearbit/Breeze Intelligence focuses on firmographic enrichment, not phone data.
Which is cheaper, Cognism or Clearbit?
Neither publishes pricing. For small-scale enrichment, Clearbit via HubSpot Starter may be cheaper. For full sales intelligence, costs are comparable. See our Cognism pricing and Clearbit pricing guides.