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ComparisonNovember 20, 202520 min read

Top 10 B2B Data API Providers Compared (2026)

Comprehensive comparison of the best B2B data API providers for developers.

The B2B Data API Landscape in 2026

The B2B data API market has matured significantly over the past few years, with dozens of providers competing to serve developers who need professional network data, company intelligence, and contact information. Choosing the right provider can dramatically impact your application effectiveness, cost structure, and user experience.

This comprehensive comparison examines the top 10 B2B data API providers based on data quality, API design, pricing transparency, developer experience, and real-world performance. We tested each platform extensively to provide actionable insights for technical decision-makers.

The providers covered range from established enterprise platforms to developer-focused startups. Each has distinct strengths and trade-offs that make them suitable for different use cases, team sizes, and budget constraints.

Evaluation Criteria

We evaluated each provider across seven key dimensions that matter most to developers and technical teams:

Data Coverage: Breadth and depth of available data including profiles, companies, jobs, and social activity. Geographic coverage and data freshness are critical factors.

API Design: Quality of API documentation, consistency of endpoints, error handling, and adherence to REST principles. Well-designed APIs reduce integration time and ongoing maintenance.

Performance: Response times, rate limits, and reliability. Production applications need consistent performance under load with minimal downtime.

Pricing Transparency: Clarity of pricing models, predictability of costs, and value for money. Hidden fees and complex pricing structures create budget uncertainty.

Developer Experience: Quality of documentation, availability of SDKs, responsiveness of support, and ease of getting started. Good DX accelerates development and reduces frustration.

Data Quality: Accuracy of information, frequency of updates, and completeness of records. Poor data quality undermines application value regardless of other factors.

Compliance: GDPR compliance, data sourcing transparency, and privacy practices. Regulatory compliance is non-negotiable for most organizations.

1. Netrows

Netrows is a developer-first B2B data API platform offering 70+ endpoints for LinkedIn profiles, companies, jobs, and X (Twitter) data. The platform emphasizes real-time data, transparent pricing, and excellent API design.

Strengths:

  • Comprehensive endpoint coverage with 70+ REST APIs
  • Real-time data fetching, not cached databases
  • Transparent subscription pricing starting at $49/month
  • Excellent API documentation with interactive examples
  • Fast response times (typically under 2 seconds)
  • Built-in monitoring features for tracking profile changes
  • 100 free credits on signup for testing

Limitations:

  • Newer platform with smaller community compared to established players
  • Focused primarily on LinkedIn and X data

Best For: Development teams building sales intelligence, recruitment tools, or market research applications who value API quality and pricing transparency.

Pricing: Subscription plans from $49/month (10k credits) to $299/month (100k credits). All plans include full API access.

2. Clearbit

Clearbit (now part of HubSpot) provides company and contact enrichment APIs focused on B2B marketing and sales use cases. The platform emphasizes data quality and has strong integration with marketing automation tools.

Strengths:

  • High-quality company data with detailed firmographics
  • Strong email enrichment capabilities
  • Native integrations with major CRM and marketing platforms
  • Reliable uptime and performance
  • Established brand with large customer base

Limitations:

  • Expensive pricing that can quickly scale with usage
  • Limited endpoint variety compared to specialized providers
  • Primarily focused on enrichment rather than discovery
  • Less transparent pricing (requires sales contact)

Best For: Enterprise marketing teams with substantial budgets who need reliable enrichment integrated with existing tools.

Pricing: Custom enterprise pricing, typically starting at several thousand dollars per month.

3. ZoomInfo

ZoomInfo is an enterprise-grade B2B database and intelligence platform offering extensive company and contact data. The platform combines proprietary data collection with third-party sources for comprehensive coverage.

Strengths:

  • Massive database with hundreds of millions of contacts
  • Strong coverage of mid-market and enterprise companies
  • Intent data and buying signals
  • Comprehensive technographic information
  • Robust sales intelligence features

Limitations:

  • Very expensive, typically $15k-$30k+ annually
  • Complex platform with steep learning curve
  • API access often requires premium tiers
  • Data quality can vary, especially for smaller companies
  • Long-term contracts with limited flexibility

Best For: Large enterprise sales organizations with significant budgets and dedicated operations teams.

Pricing: Custom enterprise pricing, typically $15,000-$30,000+ per year with multi-year commitments.

4. Apollo.io

Apollo.io combines a B2B database with sales engagement tools, offering both data access and outreach capabilities. The platform targets sales teams who want an all-in-one solution.

Strengths:

  • Large database with 250M+ contacts
  • Integrated sales engagement features
  • Generous free tier for testing
  • Good coverage of startup and SMB companies
  • Active community and regular updates

Limitations:

  • Data accuracy issues reported by users
  • API rate limits can be restrictive
  • Platform complexity if you only need data access
  • Email deliverability concerns with built-in sending

Best For: Small to mid-size sales teams who want combined data and engagement capabilities.

Pricing: Free tier available, paid plans from $49/user/month to $79/user/month.

5. Lusha

Lusha provides contact and company data with a focus on ease of use and browser extension access. The platform emphasizes quick lookups and simple workflows.

Strengths:

  • User-friendly interface and browser extension
  • Good coverage of direct dial phone numbers
  • Simple pricing structure
  • Quick setup and onboarding
  • Decent API for programmatic access

Limitations:

  • Limited API endpoints compared to specialized providers
  • Data coverage gaps in certain industries
  • Credit-based pricing can get expensive at scale
  • Less suitable for complex technical integrations

Best For: Individual sales reps and small teams who need quick contact lookups with minimal technical complexity.

Pricing: Plans from $29/user/month to custom enterprise pricing.

6. Hunter.io

Hunter.io specializes in email finding and verification, offering APIs for discovering and validating professional email addresses. The platform focuses on doing one thing exceptionally well.

Strengths:

  • Excellent email finding accuracy
  • Robust email verification API
  • Clean, well-documented API
  • Affordable pricing for email-focused use cases
  • Domain search capabilities

Limitations:

  • Limited to email data, no comprehensive profiles
  • No company intelligence or firmographic data
  • Smaller database compared to full-service providers
  • Not suitable for complex data enrichment needs

Best For: Teams primarily focused on email outreach who need reliable email finding and verification.

Pricing: Free tier with 25 searches/month, paid plans from $49/month to $399/month.

7. Cognism

Cognism provides B2B contact and company data with strong European coverage and GDPR compliance. The platform emphasizes data quality and regulatory compliance.

Strengths:

  • Excellent European market coverage
  • Strong GDPR compliance and data governance
  • High-quality mobile phone numbers
  • Intent data integration
  • Good customer support

Limitations:

  • Expensive pricing, enterprise-focused
  • Limited API documentation
  • Weaker coverage outside Europe and North America
  • Requires annual contracts

Best For: European companies or those targeting European markets who prioritize compliance and data quality.

Pricing: Custom enterprise pricing, typically $10,000+ annually.

8. Seamless.ai

Seamless.ai offers real-time contact data discovery with an emphasis on finding hard-to-reach decision-makers. The platform uses AI to verify and update contact information.

Strengths:

  • Real-time data verification
  • Good coverage of executive contacts
  • Chrome extension for easy access
  • Unlimited searches on higher tiers
  • Active data refresh

Limitations:

  • Data accuracy concerns reported by users
  • Aggressive sales tactics
  • Limited API capabilities
  • Pricing can be confusing
  • Platform stability issues

Best For: Sales teams focused on executive outreach who value unlimited access over API sophistication.

Pricing: Plans from $147/user/month to custom enterprise pricing.

9. LeadIQ

LeadIQ combines contact data with sales prospecting workflows, offering browser-based capture and CRM integration. The platform targets sales development teams.

Strengths:

  • Seamless CRM integration
  • Good LinkedIn integration
  • Prospecting workflow features
  • Team collaboration capabilities
  • Reasonable pricing for small teams

Limitations:

  • Limited API functionality
  • Smaller database than major competitors
  • Data coverage gaps in certain regions
  • Platform-centric approach limits flexibility

Best For: SDR teams who want integrated prospecting workflows with data access.

Pricing: Plans from $75/user/month to custom enterprise pricing.

10. RocketReach

RocketReach provides contact information for professionals across various industries, with particular strength in finding email addresses and phone numbers.

Strengths:

  • Large database with 700M+ profiles
  • Good email accuracy rates
  • Bulk lookup capabilities
  • API access available
  • Reasonable pricing for individual users

Limitations:

  • Limited company intelligence data
  • API documentation could be better
  • Data freshness varies
  • Credit system can be confusing

Best For: Recruiters and sales professionals who need broad contact coverage at reasonable prices.

Pricing: Plans from $53/month to $269/month for individuals, custom enterprise pricing available.

Comparison Summary

ProviderBest ForStarting PriceAPI QualityData Coverage
NetrowsDevelopers$49/month✓ Excellent✓ Comprehensive
ClearbitEnterprise MarketingCustom✓ Good✓ Good
ZoomInfoEnterprise Sales$15k+/year✓ Good✓ Extensive
Apollo.ioSMB Sales Teams$49/user/month✗ Limited✓ Large
LushaIndividual Reps$29/user/month✗ Basic✓ Moderate
Hunter.ioEmail Finding$49/month✓ Good✗ Email Only
CognismEuropean Markets$10k+/year✗ Limited✓ Good (EU)
Seamless.aiExecutive Outreach$147/user/month✗ Limited✓ Moderate
LeadIQSDR Teams$75/user/month✗ Basic✗ Limited
RocketReachRecruiters$53/month✗ Basic✓ Large

Key Decision Factors

When choosing a B2B data API provider, consider these critical factors:

Use Case Alignment: Different providers excel at different use cases. If you are building a developer tool, prioritize API quality and documentation. For sales teams, consider integrated workflows and ease of use.

Budget Constraints: Pricing varies dramatically from $49/month to $30k+/year. Understand your volume requirements and calculate total cost of ownership including setup, integration, and ongoing usage.

Technical Requirements: Evaluate API design, rate limits, response times, and reliability. Poor API design creates ongoing technical debt and maintenance burden.

Data Quality Needs: Assess accuracy requirements for your use case. Some applications tolerate occasional errors while others require high precision. Test data quality before committing.

Geographic Coverage: If you operate globally, ensure the provider has strong coverage in your target markets. Many providers have regional strengths and weaknesses.

Compliance Requirements: Verify that the provider meets your regulatory obligations, especially for GDPR, CCPA, and industry-specific regulations.

Integration Complexity: Consider how easily the provider integrates with your existing tech stack. Native integrations and good documentation reduce implementation time.

Making Your Decision

The best B2B data API provider depends entirely on your specific needs, budget, and technical requirements. Here is a decision framework:

For Developers Building Applications: Prioritize API quality, documentation, and pricing transparency. Netrows and Hunter.io offer excellent developer experiences with clear pricing and well-designed APIs.

For Enterprise Sales Teams: Consider comprehensive platforms like ZoomInfo or Clearbit that offer extensive data coverage, intent signals, and established reliability despite higher costs.

For Small Sales Teams: Apollo.io or Lusha provide good value with integrated workflows and reasonable pricing. They are easier to adopt without dedicated technical resources.

For European Markets: Cognism offers superior European coverage and GDPR compliance, making it the logical choice for EU-focused operations.

For Email-Focused Outreach: Hunter.io specializes in email finding and verification, offering the best value for teams primarily focused on email campaigns.

Start with free trials or low-cost plans to test data quality and API performance with your specific use cases. Evaluate multiple providers in parallel before making a final decision. The right choice will balance data quality, API design, pricing, and support to meet your unique requirements.