Surfe vs Cognism: Pricing, Features, and Accuracy Compared

Bounced emails. Wrong numbers. Incomplete CRM records. Every sales leader knows just how much time bad data can waste – and the negative impact it has on pipeline and forecasting. 

That said, keeping CRM data clean and up to date is a huge manual lift – particularly when you’re working at scale – which leads the majority of teams to invest in a data enrichment tool sooner rather than later. The right tool will provide verified contact details, fill regional coverage gaps, and keep CRM records accurate over time. 

Not all enrichment tools work the same way. The majority of solutions fall into one of two camps: proprietary databases that prioritise scale and unlimited usage, or multi-source enrichment models that focus on accuracy, adaptability, and workflow fit.

The decision of Surfe vs Cognism reflects those two options: they’re both sales data enrichment tools, but work in different ways. Cognism’s strength is in EMEA, with unlimited usage that works best for teams running high-volume outreach – provided reps consistently use those credits at scale. Surfe’s strength is global coverage, supported by higher verified accuracy, LinkedIn-native workflows, and flexible enrichment options that often deliver a lower cost per usable contact.

This post compares the two data enrichment tools directly. Using results from a 5,000-contact test, we’ll measure Surfe vs Cognism across accuracy, coverage, workflows, signals, integrations, and pricing. By the end, you’ll have the clarity to decide which model – and which platform – is the right fit for your sales motion.

Methodology 

When you’re choosing between enrichment tools, claims about accuracy or coverage only matter if they’re backed by evidence. That’s why this comparison of Surfe vs Cognism is based on a controlled test. 

The Test

Both platforms were run against the same dataset of 5,000 contacts. The sample was deliberately varied across industries, company sizes, and regions to reflect the conditions sales teams face in real prospecting. This diversity reduces bias and ensures the results show how each tool performs in practice, not just in an ideal scenario.

How We Measured Success

Performance was tracked on two dimensions:

• Find rate: the percentage of contacts where the platform returned an email or mobile number.
• Quality: the percentage of those results that were valid and deliverable.

It’s important to note here that while a high find rate looks impressive at first glance, the data found needs to be high quality. Otherwise, the majority of outreach might fail – which determines whether reps are working efficiently or not. 

By holding success to two metrics, we’ve made sure the comparison between Surfe vs Cognism reflects not only how much data each platform surfaces, but how much of it sales teams can actually use. 

A Note on Results

You might be wondering why find rate and quality don’t always align. The reason is that some tools generate emails by following patterns (e.g. [email protected]). This inflates the number of “finds,” but may not be accurate. 

Mobile phone results tend to be lower than email results. Sourcing and validating mobile numbers is more complicated – and enrichment tools can’t rely on patterns in the way they can for email addresses. Unless a vendor clearly explains how it verifies mobiles, true success rates will almost always be weaker than email.

1v1 Performance & Coverage

When comparing enrichment platforms, the first question is simple: can they return accurate contact details at scale? To answer, we tested Surfe vs Cognism on the same 5,000-contact dataset.

Head-to-Head Results

Surfe

Surfe showed strong coverage and high accuracy across all regions, including the US, EMEA, APAC, and LATAM. These results are powered by waterfall enrichment technology that aggregates the data from more than 15 high-quality providers, with every email verified via ZeroBounce before delivery. Underpinning this activity is a large dataset of 500 million professional and 350 million company profiles, which gives depth and breadth for both contact and account-level data.

Cognism

Cognism’s performance was strongest in EMEA, but results were weaker in the US and globally. Its approach relies on a proprietary database built from licensed sources and manual verification. Cognism’s Diamond Data® provides a curated tier of validated mobile numbers, which can benefit EMEA teams running high-volume dial campaigns.

Why This Data Matters

 Coverage and accuracy directly affect sales outcomes. Reliable data means:

• More conversations: verified details reduce bounces and failed calls.
• Regional fit: coverage that matches your target markets avoids pipeline blind spots.
• Long-term CRM health: validated inputs prevent duplicate records and skewed forecasts.

When you have all of this in place, the upside of accuracy becomes clear: sharper targeting, a more predictable pipeline, and a CRM your team can trust.

The takeaway: both platforms aim to improve CRM data accuracy. Surfe provides balanced global coverage with higher verified accuracy. Cognism delivers stronger results in EMEA, particularly for teams that benefit from reliable mobile phone numbers and can make use of unlimited dials. 

Workflows & Integrations

Accurate data is only useful long-term if it flows cleanly into the systems your team already relies on. If your team has to dramatically change their workflows to accommodate a new lead enrichment tool, it’s probably not going to deliver. 

To compare how each platform handles this, we looked at how Surfe vs Cognism capture, enrich, and sync contacts across CRM and sales engagement tools.

Surfe

• Surfe allows enrichment directly inside the platform, through its Chrome Extension on LinkedIn, via bulk CSV uploads, or through sales API – giving teams flexibility in how they capture and update records.
• Every update syncs in real time to CRMs like Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive, Copper, or Google Sheets, ensuring CRM records stay accurate without manual intervention.
• Surfe connects natively with Salesloft, Outreach, Lemlist, and Aircall, so reps can move from enrichment to sequencing or calling without disrupting their workflow.
• Features such as LinkedIn Message Sync, job change refresh, and live field-level updates mean the CRM reflects every interaction, keeping records both comprehensive and current. 

Cognism

• Cognism enables enrichment via its Chrome Extension, which works on both LinkedIn and company websites, making it straightforward to capture contacts directly from where reps prospect.
• It integrates with Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive, Microsoft Dynamics, and Zoho, providing a solid set of CRM connections.
• Cognism also connects natively with Salesloft and Outreach, supporting direct sequencing workflows for SDR teams.
• Broader connections are available through Zapier, linking Cognism to tools like Slack, Bullhorn, and various marketing automation platforms.
• Unlike Surfe, Cognism does not sync LinkedIn messages into CRM, which means conversations on LinkedIn are not automatically captured as part of the record.

How to Decide

If your team spends a lot of time on LinkedIn and needs every interaction – from messages to job change alerts – reflected in the CRM automatically, Surfe will be the stronger fit. If your team is focused on EMEA and primarily needs contacts enriched and synced into CRM or engagement platforms, Cognism is a simpler option.

Signals & Automation

Sales teams also need signals that show where to focus and automation that helps them prioritise the right accounts. To compare how each platform supports these requirements, we looked at Surfe vs Cognism side by side.

Surfe

• Surfe provides filters across company and people data, including industry, employee count, revenue, funding stage, tech stack, and headcount growth. This makes it easier to zero in on accounts that fit your ICP.
• The platform monitors key signals daily, such as job changes, leadership moves, and funding events, helping reps reach out when timing is strongest.
• Surfe’s AI Lookalikes and Sales Recommendations identify new companies and contacts that resemble best-fit customers, guiding reps towards opportunities they might otherwise miss.
• These filters make it easier to work with B2B prospecting data, helping teams focus on accounts most likely to convert.

Cognism

• Cognism’s plain-language search allows reps to build lists without relying on complex filters, which can simplify prospecting for less experienced users.
• Its trigger signals include job changes, funding announcements, and hiring events, giving teams visibility into movements that matter across their target accounts.
• Prioritisation in Cognism leans on intent signals and Diamond Data®, which adds a curated tier of verified mobile numbers.

How to Decide

If your team wants AI-powered recommendations, live job and funding alerts, and filters that expand ICP targeting, Surfe provides deeper support for daily prospecting. If your focus is EMEA coverage with intent triggers and validated mobiles – and you can work without AI-driven guidance – Cognism is a practical alternative.

Pricing & Credits (50-user examples)

For most sales leaders, pricing is a budget line, yes, but it’s also about predictability and ROI. A tool might look affordable upfront, but if costs increase as usage grows or if credits are wasted on bad data, it’s going to end up costing a lot. The right model should give you clarity on spend, confidence in cost per contact, and flexibility as your team scales.

Surfe vs Cognism Pricing At A Glance

When comparing Surfe pricing vs Cognism pricing, it’s clear the models are very different – one is credit-based with verified-only results, the other unlimited but at a higher entry cost.

Surfe

• Surfe offers two pricing tiers, giving teams flexibility based on usage.
• The Surfe Essential plan costs $17,400 per year and has a smaller monthly credit allocation. It is best suited to leaner teams with lower usage volumes.
• The Surfe Pro plan costs $31,860 per year and includes 1,000 emails and 100 mobiles per user, per month. 
• Add-ons, such as 600,000 additional emails for $15,000, are available at scale. 
• Credits are only used on verified results, which ensures budget efficiency and prevents waste.
• Surfe also meets enterprise compliance requirements with SOC 2 Type II certification and GDPR alignment. 

Cognism

• Cognism’s pricing for 50 users is around $90,000 per year.
• Its key differentiator is unlimited usage. Reps can run as many searches as needed, while admins can set entitlement caps to control consumption.
• This model works best for teams running very high-volume daily outreach.
• For teams with lower usage volumes, the effective cost per usable contact can be significantly higher than with Surfe’s verified-credit model.

Value snapshot (ROI modeling)

• Surfe Pro: around 470,000 verified emails per year will cost $0.07 per email. Around 28,000 verified mobiles will cost $1.13 each.
• Cognism: usage is unlimited, but if modeled at the same volumes, it works out at around $0.33 per email and $4.87 per mobile. 

How to Decide

If you want predictable spend with credits that only deduct on verified matches, Surfe provides clearer forecasting and typically lower cost per usable contact. If your team is EMEA-focused and runs very high-volume outreach that will fully make use of unlimited entitlements, Cognism’s model can fit – albeit at a higher annual entry cost.

Who Should Choose What

Let’s put it all together. The right enrichment tool for your team depends on how your reps work, where your customers are, and what scale you need to support.

Surfe is Best For:

• Teams that operate globally, with target accounts spread across the US, EMEA, APAC, and LATAM.
• Teams that rely heavily on LinkedIn for prospecting and want every interaction – from messages to job changes – synced automatically into CRM.
• Teams that need pricing that scales with usage, with credits that are only used up on verified results.

Cognism is Best For:

• Larger enterprises that need strict privacy assurances and compliance audit trails.
• Teams focussed primarily on EMEA, where Cognism’s proprietary database is strongest.
• Teams running high-volume outreach and can fully leverage unlimited usage.

The bottom line: Surfe is a stronger fit for growing teams that want accuracy, workflow depth, and pricing flexibility to scale. Cognism is a stronger fit for enterprises with strict compliance requirements, high-volume dialing, and a regional focus on EMEA.

Surfe vs Cognism: Final Thoughts

Choosing between Surfe and Cognism comes down to more than just coverage or price. It’s about how each platform supports the way your team actually sells.

Surfe is designed for growing teams that want verified accuracy, global coverage, and LinkedIn-native workflows – all while keeping costs predictable by only charging for results that pass validation. Cognism, in contrast, is strongest for enterprises with strict compliance needs and EMEA-focused teams running high-volume dial campaigns who can make full use of unlimited entitlements.

Both models have merit. The decision is about fit: do you need a scalable, efficient data foundation that protects pipeline health and forecasting? Or do you need an enterprise-grade database that prioritises compliance and unlimited usage in EMEA?

FAQs

What Is The Difference Between Surfe Vs Cognism?

Surfe and Cognism take two different approaches to data enrichment. Cognism is built around a proprietary database and unlimited usage, with its strength in EMEA markets and validated mobile numbers. Surfe uses a multi-source enrichment model with waterfall verification across 15+ providers. This delivers high global coverage, stronger accuracy, and LinkedIn-native workflows. In short, Cognism suits enterprises running high-volume outreach in EMEA, while Surfe fits growing teams that need predictable costs, global reach, and CRM-integrated accuracy. The right choice depends on whether you value unlimited volume or verified data foundations that scale.

Which Is More Accurate: Surfe Or Cognism?

Accuracy was tested using a 5,000-contact dataset. Surfe achieved an 87% email find rate with 90% quality, and a 72% mobile find rate with 65% quality. Cognism returned a 68% email find rate with 67% quality, and a 46% mobile find rate with 67% quality. The results show Surfe consistently provides higher verified accuracy across both emails and mobiles, while Cognism performs strongest in EMEA for mobiles. 

How Do Surfe And Cognism Handle Workflows And Integrations?

Surfe integrates enrichment directly into LinkedIn via its Chrome Extension, and supports enrichment inside the platform by CSV upload or API. All updates sync in real time to CRMs like Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive, Copper, and Google Sheets, with native connections to Salesloft, Outreach, Lemlist, and Aircall. Cognism also offers a Chrome Extension for LinkedIn and websites, with integrations to Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive, Dynamics, and Zoho. It connects to Salesloft and Outreach, with broader integrations via Zapier. The main difference: Surfe automatically syncs LinkedIn messages and job changes into CRM, while Cognism does not.

How Do Surfe Vs Cognism Compare On Pricing?

Pricing is one of the biggest differences between Surfe and Cognism. Surfe offers two plans: Essential at $17,400 per year for leaner teams, and Pro at $31,860 per year with 1,000 emails and 100 mobiles per user per month. Credits are only used on verified results, ensuring spend efficiency. Cognism, by contrast, costs around $90,000 per year for 50 users. Its main differentiator is unlimited usage, but the value depends on consistently high daily volumes. At lower usage levels, cost per usable contact is significantly higher than with Surfe.

Who Should Choose Surfe Over Cognism?

Surfe is best for growing teams that need efficient, accurate data foundations to protect pipeline and forecasting. It suits global teams targeting accounts across the US, EMEA, APAC, and LATAM, and those who rely heavily on LinkedIn for prospecting. Surfe’s verified-only credits, global coverage, and LinkedIn-native workflows make it ideal for sales teams that want to scale with predictable costs. If your priority is accuracy, workflow integration, and cost efficiency at scale, Surfe is typically the stronger choice over Cognism.

Who Should Choose Cognism Over Surfe?

Cognism is best for enterprises that need strict privacy assurances, compliance audit trails, and EMEA-focused coverage. Its unlimited usage model suits SDR teams running very high-volume dial campaigns, particularly where validated mobiles are essential. Admins can set entitlements, which helps control usage at scale. However, teams with lower daily outreach may find the cost per verified result higher compared to Surfe. If your business prioritises compliance, scale, and mobile accuracy within EMEA, Cognism may be the stronger fit.