Two B2B data providers popular in Europe — built for very different buyers.
Cognism and Lusha both sell B2B contact data, but they serve different markets. Cognism is built for enterprise sales teams selling into Europe — GDPR-compliant by design, strong verified mobile coverage, and priced accordingly at $15K+ per year. Lusha is a Chrome extension that gives individual reps fast access to contact details from LinkedIn, starting at $29/month. One is a platform purchase. The other is a tool purchase. That distinction matters more than the feature comparison.
GDPR compliance and EU data
Cognism was built in Europe and treats GDPR compliance as a core product feature, not an afterthought. Their data processing agreements, consent frameworks, and Do Not Call list integration (including TPS/CTPS in the UK) are built into the platform. Lusha has GDPR features but is a US-Israeli company that added compliance later. For teams selling into the EU where a data breach or GDPR violation is an existential risk, Cognism's compliance posture is materially stronger.
Verified mobile numbers
Cognism's Diamond Data product offers phone-verified mobile numbers — a human has called the number and confirmed the contact picks up. This is expensive to produce, which is why Cognism costs what it does. Lusha provides mobile numbers from its community-contributed database, but without the same verification layer. If your SDRs live on the phone and direct dials drive your pipeline, Cognism's verified mobiles are worth the premium.
Workflow and buying motion
Lusha is designed for individual reps who need a contact's email or phone number right now, from a LinkedIn profile. Install the extension, click, get data. Cognism is designed for RevOps teams building lists, enriching CRM records, and running territory-level prospecting. Lusha is bottom-up adoption. Cognism is a top-down platform decision.
| Cognism | Lusha | |
|---|---|---|
| GDPR compliance | Core product feature — DNC lists built in | Available but added after initial product |
| Verified mobiles | Diamond Data — phone-verified direct dials | Community-contributed, unverified |
| EU data coverage | Strong — built for European markets | Moderate — stronger in US/Israel |
| Primary workflow | Platform — list building, CRM enrichment | Chrome extension — LinkedIn lookups |
| Starting price | $15K+/year (enterprise contracts) | $29–79/user/month |
| CRM integration | Deep — Salesforce, HubSpot, Outreach | Basic — CRM sync available |
| Buyer | RevOps, sales leadership | Individual reps, recruiters |
| Best for | EU-focused enterprise teams needing compliance + mobiles | Reps who need quick contact lookups on a budget |
The verdict
Cognism for enterprise teams selling into Europe where GDPR compliance is non-negotiable and verified mobile numbers drive the sales motion. Lusha for individual reps or small teams who need fast, affordable contact lookups from LinkedIn without a $15K annual commitment. They are different tools for different buyers at different price points.
Is Cognism worth $15K+ per year?
If your team sells into the EU, makes outbound calls, and needs verified mobile numbers — yes. The GDPR compliance alone can justify the cost if a violation would be materially damaging. If you only need email addresses and sell into the US, Cognism is overpriced for what you need.
Can Lusha replace Cognism for European prospecting?
For email lookups, partially. For verified mobiles and full GDPR compliance, no. Lusha's EU data coverage is thinner than Cognism's, and the lack of phone verification means more dead numbers. If Europe is a secondary market, Lusha might be enough. If it is your primary territory, Cognism is the safer bet.
What about Apollo or ZoomInfo instead?
Apollo is a strong alternative to Lusha at a similar price point with a larger database. ZoomInfo competes with Cognism at the enterprise level but with stronger US coverage and weaker EU compliance. The right choice depends on your territory and budget.
No pitch deck. No 45-minute demo. A conversation about where your pipeline is stuck.