No hidden fees, aggressive sales tactics, or outdated contact data… These are just some things that ZoomInfo competitors do better.
So, are there better alternatives to ZoomInfo? Let’s find out.
What is ZoomInfo?
ZoomInfo is a B2B marketing and sales intelligence platform that helps businesses find and connect with potential customers.
It pulls together company and contact data, giving sales and marketing teams access to:
- email addresses,
- phone numbers,
- job titles,
- and firmographics in one place.
With ZoomInfo, businesses can search for decision-makers, track buying signals, and automate outreach. All without spending hours digging through LinkedIn or company websites.
The platform also integrates with CRM and marketing tools, so data is up-to-date and organized.
ZoomInfo – top features for sales and marketing teams
Sales and marketing teams need more than just a list of contacts.
They need accurate data, insights into buyer behavior, and the right tools to turn prospects into customers.
ZoomInfo brings all of this into one platform.
Here are five key features that make it a go-to sales intelligence platform.
#1 Advanced search filters
Finding the correct prospects is easier when you can filter by job title, industry, company size, revenue, etc.
ZoomInfo’s advanced search filters help sales teams narrow down their audience and focus on the decision-makers who matter.
💡 Example: A sales rep looking for mid-sized tech companies in New York can apply multiple filters to get a precise list of potential clients instead of wasting time on unqualified leads.
#2 Buyer intent data
Reaching out to a prospect at the right time makes all the difference.
ZoomInfo’s buyer intent data tracks companies searching for specific products or services, so sales and marketing teams know who’s actively in the market.
💡 Example: If a company has been researching CRM software, a sales team using ZoomInfo can see this activity and reach out before competitors do.
#3 Accurate contact data
Bad data leads to wasted time and missed opportunities.
ZoomInfo is a sales prospecting tool that delivers accurate contact data like email addresses, phone numbers, and company details.
💡 Example: Instead of guessing email formats or cold-calling outdated numbers, sales reps get direct contact details verified by ZoomInfo’s data quality checks.
#4 Data enrichment
Outdated records hurt sales efforts.
With data enrichment, businesses can refresh their CRM with the latest company data provider insights, keeping information current and actionable.
💡 Example: A marketing team using a CRM integration can automatically update job titles and company sizes without manual work.
#5 Integration with sales tools
ZoomInfo connects with tools like LinkedIn Sales Navigator, CRM platforms, and automation software so teams can move from research to outreach without switching between systems.
💡 Example: A sales rep finds a prospect in ZoomInfo, checks their LinkedIn activity, and instantly adds them to an outreach sequence – all in a few clicks.
What ZoomInfo does well
#1 Solid sales intelligence platform
ZoomInfo is a sales intelligence platform for businesses focused on B2B sales. It helps teams identify and reach decision-makers.
Users appreciate its structured data, search tools, and insights.
💬 Review: “In the best category for CRM, I want to list ZoomInfo. My experience using ZoomInfo has been very useful for sales intelligence. This software helps generate leads and build a pipeline between end-to-end customer orientation.” — Mark Phillips, IN
🔹 Bottom line: If sales teams need quality data for prospecting, ZoomInfo is a common go-to.
#2 Buyer intent data for smarter outreach
ZoomInfo’s buyer intent data helps businesses see which companies are actively researching solutions like theirs.
This feature can make outreach more strategic.
💬 Review: “Would not be able to run my business as well if it was not for ZoomInfo. The intent feature is incredible. We have used other intent providers before, but the depth you get with ZoomInfo is unmatched.” — MS, GB
🔹 Bottom line: Instead of cold calling random companies, teams can prioritize businesses already interested in their industry.
#3 Large contact database
ZoomInfo is a company data provider with an extensive database covering various industries.
Users appreciate its ability to help them find accurate contact data, including direct phone numbers and emails.
💬 Review: “Enables me to find the right prospect, their telephone number, and emails (even personal) to reach and engage. Without ZoomInfo, you’re at a loss for a prospect’s contact information.” — Michele M., US
🔹 Bottom line: ZoomInfo gives sales and marketing teams a sales prospecting tool with direct access to contacts when LinkedIn or other sources fall short.
#4 Helpful for lead generation
ZoomInfo provides structured lead lists and data enrichment to make outreach easier for sales and marketing professionals looking to connect with decision-makers.
💬 Review: “It is a great tool to find out which companies are looking for our services, to reach decision makers and have their email or phone number.” — Osvaldo Hernández, MX
🔹 Bottom line: Finding the right contacts is half the battle. ZoomInfo helps users cut down cold outreach time with more targeted leads.
#5 AI & automation for sales teams
ZoomInfo isn’t just a sales prospecting tool.
It also helps automate outreach efforts, making it easier to scale lead generation.
💬 Review: “ZoomInfo has the best B2B data & intent that I’ve come across, as part of an integrated engagement platform that allows us to reach customers across display, social media, email, chat, call, etc.” — Bryan, US
🔹 Bottom line: Sales and marketing teams can use automation and AI to scale outreach instead of manually tracking leads across multiple platforms.
Where ZoomInfo struggles
#1 Auto-renewal without warning
Many customers feel trapped in long-term contracts they can’t get out of. ZoomInfo’s auto-renewal policy catches users off guard, especially when they realize they must cancel 60 days in advance—a detail often buried in the fine print.
💬 Review: “They auto renew without notification, and if you are late by a day, notifying them 60 days in advance for non-renewal, they pressure and threaten you to renew for another year or they will enforce the terms of the contract.” — Joe A., US
🔹 Bottom line: If you sign up, set a calendar reminder months before your renewal date.
#2 Inaccurate contact data
Users expect accurate data, but many report outdated records and wrong job titles. Sales teams relying on quality data for outreach often call people who left the company years ago.
💬 Review: “They have me marked as a logistics manager when I am a purchasing clerk. And all other contacts have either left the company or retired more than 10 years ago.” — Richard Foss, CA
🔹 Bottom line: The database isn’t always reliable, so don’t assume every record is up to date.
#3 Expensive, but no ROI
Several users claim they spent thousands of dollars on ZoomInfo without seeing a single sale. Some even say their investment actively hurt their marketing budgets.
💬 Review: “We paid almost $6,000 for one user for one year, which did not yield a single sale!” — Joe A., US
💬 Review: “We have a small business in Virginia and pay ZoomInfo about $26K per year to help us identify target clients… To date, after almost two years, we have yet to generate a single credible lead.” — Nicholas Draper, US
🔹 Bottom line: This platform might not be the best fit if you’re a small business.
#4 Aggressive sales tactics & harassment
Users complain that ZoomInfo doesn’t leave them alone once they show interest. The company keeps pushing even if they explicitly ask to stop receiving emails and calls.
💬 Review: “I requested simple information from their website and have been continually hounded by calls and emails. I still haven’t received what I requested, AND I’m receiving what I specifically told them not to do.” — Andy Christy, US
🔹 Bottom line: If you fill out a form, expect daily calls from their sales team.
#5 Email verification isn’t reliable
While ZoomInfo integrates with NeverBounce, it doesn’t validate emails in real-time. This means emails marked “valid” could still bounce, hurting deliverability.
💬 Review: “They will sell you on the fact they only upload contact information that’s 90-95% accurate. This is far from the truth. The contacts are garbage.” — Sam, US
🔹 Bottom line: If you’re serious about email outreach, run your lists through Bouncer for real verification.
#6 Poor customer support
Users say getting help from ZoomInfo is nearly impossible. Many claim they were ignored, passed around different departments, or met with rude and dismissive responses.
💬 Review: “Worst customer service ever. Info outdated and inaccurate. Extremely rude people in charge when you have an issue. Completely unprofessional.” — Assistant, US
🔹 Bottom line: If something goes wrong, don’t expect a quick fix.
#7 Buyer intent data is unreliable
The buyer intent data feature sounds great, but several users found it useless. Calling hundreds of “interested” leads resulted in nothing.
💬 Review: “Their ‘intent’ feature, which the salespeople love to rave about, is junk. I called hundreds of customers off their intent feature, and it wasted my time.” — Sam, US
🔹 Bottom line: Don’t rely on intent signals alone—cross-check leads through other sources.
#8 Contracts lock you in
Even if ZoomInfo doesn’t deliver results, users can’t cancel. Many say the sales team misleads them, promising features that don’t exist.
💬 Review: “I asked multiple times how many contacts I would be able to access, and the salesperson consistently told me it would be unlimited… Once I found out it wasn’t, I requested to cancel. They refused.” — Shai Hatuel, US
🔹 Bottom line: Read the contract closely before signing.
#9 Data privacy concerns
ZoomInfo collects and sells personal data without explicit consent. Users trying to opt out have to submit even more personal information, which raises red flags.
💬 Review: “I never gave consent nor have I been notified that my data has been processed. I never agreed to having my information collected, processed, or being sold.” — Ivo Iosifov, BG
🔹 Bottom line: If privacy matters to you, this might be a dealbreaker.
#10 Unfair business practices
Some users claim ZoomInfo intentionally makes it difficult to use their paid records. By delaying access, they run out the contract period before users can get what they paid for.
💬 Review: “You pay in advance for a certain number of records. Every time you ask for them, they drag their feet for weeks. Then at the end of 12 months, when you haven’t been able to acquire the number of records you purchased BECAUSE THEY DRAGGED THEIR FEET, the contract period is up and you’re SOL.” — Sean, US
🔹 Bottom line: If you prepay for data, get it ASAP.
Better solutions covering ZoomInfo’s weaknesses
If ZoomInfo isn’t what you need, plenty of competitors tackle its biggest flaws.
Here’s a better alternative for each common complaint:
#1 Auto-renewal without warning → 📌 Apollo.io
Apollo.io offers flexible pricing and no forced long-term contracts.
You can cancel anytime. It’s a safer option for businesses that don’t want to get locked into expensive agreements.
#2 Inaccurate contact data → 📌 Cognism
Cognism specializes in high-quality contact data, using GDPR-compliant sources to keep information fresh.
It also updates job titles and emails more frequently than ZoomInfo.
#3 Expensive, but no ROI → 📌 Lusha
Lusha is a budget-friendly alternative with a simple pricing structure.
It offers pay-as-you-go credits, so you only pay for the data you actually use – no wasted money on ineffective leads.
#4 Aggressive sales tactics & harassment → 📌 Lead411
Lead411 focuses on product quality over aggressive sales.
It doesn’t flood potential users with calls or emails and lets businesses try the platform without pressure.
#5 Email verification isn’t reliable → 📌 Bouncer
ZoomInfo’s email verification isn’t real-time, meaning you could still be sending emails to outdated contacts.
Their system, powered by NeverBounce, primarily checks if an email technically exists, but that doesn’t mean it’s active or monitored.
If someone left their job months ago, the email might still be listed as “valid,” even though no one reads it.
This leads to a false sense of accuracy, causing businesses to waste time on outreach efforts that go nowhere.
Some users try to fix this by setting high verification thresholds (99+), but that drastically shrinks the number of available contacts, making ZoomInfo’s massive database suddenly feel very limited.
🔹 The smarter fix? Instead of relying on ZoomInfo alone, businesses can run their contacts through Bouncer for a second layer of verification. Bouncer checks emails in real-time, meaning it doesn’t just look at whether an email exists – it detects if it’s active and receiving messages.
💡 Key differences:
✔ Detects catch-all domains – ZoomInfo’s system struggles with these, but Bouncer flags them so you know if an email might not reach the right person.
✔ Real-time validation – While ZoomInfo relies on outdated records, Bouncer actively checks if an inbox is live.
✔ Higher accuracy, bigger reach – Instead of filtering out half your leads, you can keep a broader list while knowing which emails are actually worth contacting.
🚀 ZoomInfo might help you find contacts, but if you want to make sure they actually exist and will respond, you need Bouncer.
#6 Poor customer support → 📌 Seamless.ai
Seamless.ai has a better-rated support team and a more user-friendly experience.
Unlike ZoomInfo, they don’t make you jump through hoops to get help.
#7 Buyer intent data is unreliable → 📌 6sense
6sense offers more advanced buyer intent tracking, using AI-powered signals to predict which businesses are in the market for your services – not just generic searches.
#8 Contracts lock you in → 📌 UpLead
Uplead operates on a credit-based system, so you can buy and use data as needed rather than being forced into a non-refundable yearly contract.
#9 Data privacy concerns → 📌 Breeze Intelligence by HubSpot
Breeze is GDPR-compliant and focuses on ethical data sourcing.
Unlike ZoomInfo, which collects data without explicit consent, Breeze gives businesses more control over their information.
#10 Unfair business practices → 📌 Adapt.io
Adapt.io has transparent pricing and data policies, making it a lower-risk alternative.
Users report fewer issues with accessing paid records and better overall value.
Final thoughts
ZoomInfo isn’t your only option.
If auto-renewals, inaccurate data, and pushy sales reps are dealbreakers, other platforms offer more flexibility, accuracy, and transparency.
Why overpay for leads that don’t convert? Check out the best alternatives and find the right fit for your business today.
And if accurate email verification is your priority right now, give Bouncer a try.
