Netrows vs Clearbit: Complete Comparison for B2B Data Enrichment (2026)
Detailed comparison of Netrows and Clearbit for B2B data enrichment. Features, pricing, data sources, and which platform is right for your business.
Overview: Netrows vs Clearbit
Clearbit has been a leader in B2B data enrichment since 2015, known for its comprehensive company and contact data. However, Clearbit was acquired by HubSpot in 2023 and is now primarily focused on HubSpot customers. Netrows is a newer platform (launched 2025) that provides real-time LinkedIn and X data through a modern API.
The key difference: Clearbit uses a proprietary database built over years. Netrows fetches real-time data from public sources. This means Clearbit has broader coverage but potentially stale data, while Netrows has fresher data but requires the profile to be publicly accessible.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Netrows | Clearbit |
|---|---|---|
| Data Source | Real-time (LinkedIn, X) | Proprietary Database |
| Data Freshness | Real-time | Database (updated periodically) |
| Starting Price | €49/month | $50/month (HubSpot only) |
| Standalone Access | Yes | HubSpot required |
| LinkedIn Data | 48+ endpoints | Limited (via database) |
| X (Twitter) Data | 26 endpoints | No |
| Profile Monitoring | Yes | No |
| API-First | Yes | Yes |
Clearbit's HubSpot Acquisition Impact
In November 2023, HubSpot acquired Clearbit for a reported $150M. This fundamentally changed Clearbit's business model:
What Changed
- HubSpot Integration Required: Clearbit is now primarily available through HubSpot
- Pricing Changes: Moved to HubSpot's pricing structure
- Standalone API Limited: Direct API access is being phased out for new customers
- Focus Shift: Development prioritizes HubSpot features over standalone API
What This Means for Users
If you're already a HubSpot customer, Clearbit integration is seamless and cost-effective. If you're not using HubSpot, you'll need to either adopt HubSpot or find an alternative like Netrows.
Data Coverage & Quality
Clearbit
Clearbit has built a massive database over 10+ years with data on:
- 85M+ company profiles
- 400M+ contact records
- Firmographic data (size, industry, revenue)
- Technographic data (technologies used)
- Intent signals (website visitors, content engagement)
Strength: Broad coverage, especially for US companies. Data is validated and structured consistently.
Weakness: Data can be months old. People change jobs, companies get acquired, and Clearbit's database takes time to update.
Netrows
Netrows fetches real-time data from public sources:
- 1B+ LinkedIn profiles (public data)
- Real-time profile information
- Current job titles and companies
- Recent posts and activity
- X (Twitter) profiles and tweets
- Crunchbase company data
Strength: Data is always current. If someone updated their LinkedIn 5 minutes ago, you'll see it.
Weakness: Requires profiles to be publicly accessible. Private profiles can't be enriched.
Pricing Comparison
Clearbit Pricing (via HubSpot)
- Enrichment: $50/month (requires HubSpot Marketing Hub Starter minimum)
- HubSpot Marketing Hub Starter: $20/month (required)
- Total minimum: $70/month
- Per-enrichment costs: Additional fees apply based on volume
- Enterprise: Custom pricing (typically $15,000+/year)
Netrows Pricing
- Starter: €49/month - 10,000 credits, 50 req/min
- Growth: €299/month - 100,000 credits, 150 req/min
- Enterprise: €1,299/month - 500,000 credits, 500 req/min
- 100 free credits on signup to test all endpoints
- No platform required: Standalone API access
Cost Analysis
For 10,000 enrichments per month:
- Netrows: €49/month (Starter plan)
- Clearbit: $70/month minimum + per-enrichment fees (varies)
- Note: Clearbit requires HubSpot, which adds platform costs and complexity
Use Case Comparison
Scenario 1: HubSpot Customer
You're already using HubSpot for marketing and sales.
Winner: Clearbit - Native integration, seamless workflow, and you're already paying for HubSpot. The combined platform makes sense.
Scenario 2: Non-HubSpot User
You use Salesforce, Pipedrive, or another CRM.
Winner: Netrows - No need to adopt HubSpot just for data enrichment. Direct API access works with any CRM or custom application.
Scenario 3: Real-Time Data Needs
You need to know immediately when prospects change jobs or get promoted.
Winner: Netrows - Real-time data and profile monitoring with webhooks. Clearbit's database updates periodically, not in real-time.
Scenario 4: Broad US Coverage
You need comprehensive data on US companies, including private companies and SMBs.
Winner: Clearbit - 10+ years of data collection gives Clearbit broader coverage, especially for smaller companies that may not have strong LinkedIn presence.
Scenario 5: Social Media Intelligence
You want to enrich contacts with X (Twitter) data and social activity.
Winner: Netrows - 26 X endpoints for profiles, tweets, followers, and more. Clearbit doesn't provide social media data.
API & Developer Experience
Clearbit
- Mature, well-documented REST API
- JavaScript, Python, Ruby SDKs
- Webhook support for real-time enrichment
- Browser JavaScript library for visitor identification
- Extensive integration ecosystem
- Note: Standalone API access being phased out for new customers
Netrows
- Modern REST API with OpenAPI specification
- Code examples in 7 languages
- Webhook support for profile monitoring
- Interactive API playground
- MCP Server for AI assistant integration
- Comprehensive documentation with real examples
Feature Comparison
Clearbit Unique Features
- Reveal: Identify anonymous website visitors by IP address
- Prospector: Build targeted lead lists from Clearbit's database
- Advertising: Target ads based on firmographic data
- Forms: Shorten forms by auto-filling company data
- HubSpot Integration: Native, seamless integration
Netrows Unique Features
- Radar Monitoring: Track profiles and companies for changes
- Real-Time Data: Always current, never stale
- X (Twitter) Data: 26 endpoints for social intelligence
- LinkedIn Posts: Access posts, comments, reactions
- Multi-Platform: LinkedIn, X, Crunchbase, Glassdoor, Reddit in one API
Migration Considerations
If you're currently using Clearbit and considering alternatives:
Reasons to Stay with Clearbit
- You're heavily invested in HubSpot ecosystem
- You rely on Clearbit Reveal for visitor identification
- You need their proprietary database coverage
- Your workflows are deeply integrated with Clearbit
Reasons to Consider Netrows
- You don't use HubSpot or want platform independence
- You need real-time data, not database snapshots
- You want to monitor profiles for changes
- You need X (Twitter) data in addition to LinkedIn
- Budget is a concern (Netrows is more affordable)
Final Recommendation
Choose Clearbit If:
- You're a HubSpot customer and want native integration
- You need visitor identification (Reveal)
- You require broad US company coverage
- You're willing to pay premium pricing for an established platform
Choose Netrows If:
- You don't use HubSpot or want platform independence
- You need real-time, fresh data
- You want to monitor profiles and companies for changes
- You need X (Twitter) data and social intelligence
- You prefer API-first infrastructure with modern tooling
- Budget efficiency is important
Try Netrows Free
Get started with 100 free credits. No credit card required. Test all 115+ API endpoints including LinkedIn, X (Twitter), Crunchbase, and more. No HubSpot required.