We Tried 3 Ocean.io Alternatives & Competitors for B2B List Building

We used Ocean.io… until it started slowing us down.

At first, it looked like the perfect list-building tool, smart filters, B2B focus, all the right promises.

But as our targeting got more specific and our workflows more complex, Ocean.io started to crack. 

Slow exports, limited control, rising costs, sound familiar?

So we went hunting for better. We tested 3 Ocean.io alternatives across real outbound campaigns, not demos, not guesses, but real use.

In this blog, you’ll find:

• 3 tools that genuinely compete with (and beat) Ocean.io
  
  
• Side-by-side comparisons on data accuracy, filters, CRM syncs, and pricing
  
  
• The pros, cons, and takeaways that matter when you're scaling outbound
  

If you’re building lists at scale or just want better control over your lead data, this will help you choose the right tool faster.

Let’s get into it.

TL;DR – Ocean.io Alternatives Comparison Table

5 Most Common Challenges with Ocean.io

After reviewing real user feedback on G2, here are the most common issues people mention when switching from Ocean.io to other tools:

1. Renewals Feel Predatory

Several users complained about unexpected renewals and being chased by debt collectors, even after canceling.

2. Missing Contact Information

Many users say Ocean.io gives good company-level data, but often lacks emails or phone numbers for key decision-makers.

3. Export Limitations

Some reviewers pointed out that export options are limited and lack customization.

4. Data Can Be Outdated or Inaccurate

A few users mentioned that the data quality is not always reliable, especially for company info.

5. Pricing May Be Costly for Smaller Teams

Ocean.io does display its pricing on the site now (starting at $199/mo), but several users say it still feels expensive for what they need.

Ocean.io has strengths, especially in company discovery and UI, but it’s not a perfect fit for every team. 

If you care about deeper filtering, clean contact data, smoother exports, or simply want more control without the renewal drama, it might be time to look elsewhere.

Next up, I’ll walk you through the tools that actually solve these problems and show where Ocean.io alternatives stand out.

3 Ocean.io Alternatives & Competitors for B2B List Building

1. Leadsforge: Best for Speed + Data Accuracy

Leadsforge is an AI-powered lead generation tool that lets you describe your ideal customer using plain language (like ChatGPT). 

While Ocean.io relies on filters and dropdowns to find leads.

Leadsforge lets you just type what you need (like “Fintech startups hiring sales teams in the UK”), and it instantly gives you a ready-to-use list with emails, job titles, and company info.

Ocean.io is powerful but can feel slow, technical, and harder to customize. Leadsforge flips that by focusing on speed, data quality, and ease of use. 

You don’t need to set up complex targeting or deal with clunky exports; it’s made to just work.

If you’ve ever felt stuck waiting on Ocean.io exports or couldn’t get contact data that matches your filters, Leadsforge solves that with a clean, natural workflow and real-time delivery.

Key Features of Leadsforge

• Describe your target audience in natural language (e.g., “mid‑market SaaS in UK hiring in last 6 months”), and it builds the list instantly.
  
  
• Every lead returned includes verified emails, job titles, company size, and more.
  
  
• It comes with non-expiring credits for exports, and lists are delivered immediately to CSV or a synced tool.

Leadsforge vs Ocean.io

Pros & Cons of Leadsforge 

Leadsforge Pricing

Starts at $49/month for 2,000 export credits. Credits don’t expire, and plans scale up based on usage.
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✅ No onboarding fee
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✅ Monthly billing available
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✅ Pricing is transparent on their website

👉 View Leadsforge pricing

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Our Verdict

Leadsforge is perfect for teams who want quick, clean lead lists without wrestling with filters.

If you care about accuracy, CRM-ready exports, and saving time, it’s a great Ocean.io alternative.

Try it if you’re tired of slow filters and want faster, cleaner B2B data.

✅ Best for: RevOps teams, marketers, and SDRs who want fast, verified leads without paying for unused data.

Next up, let’s see how Apollo.io compares, especially if you're looking for outreach tools baked into the platform.

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2. Apollo.io: Best for All‑in‑One Prospecting

Apollo.io combines lead search, contact enrichment, and outreach into a single platform. 

Unlike Ocean.io, which focuses mainly on company lookalikes and data export, Apollo lets you find leads, get verified emails and phone numbers, and run email or call campaigns without switching tools. 

It's designed for teams wanting data and outreach together.

Key Features of Apollo.io

• You can search for B2B leads, enrich their contact info, and send cold emails all from one tool.
  
  
• You can set up automated email sequences and track opens, clicks, and replies.
  
  
• Apollo houses over 210–275 million contacts and millions of companies with filters like role, location, and technographics.
  
  
• It offers a Chrome extension that captures contacts instantly on LinkedIn or company sites.
  
  
• The tool integrates with HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive, and offers API access on higher plans.
  

Apollo.io vs Ocean.io

Pros & Cons of Apollo.io

Apollo.io Pricing

• Free plan: Includes limited export credits, basic filters, and email limits.
  
  
• Basic: $49/user/month (annual) or $59/month billing; includes advanced filters, email, and export credits.
  
  
• Professional: $79/user/month (annual) or $99/month; adds call dialer, reporting, and more export credits.
  
  
• Organization: $119/user/month (annual) or $149/month; includes API, custom workflows, and high-volume credits.
  

Our Verdict

Apollo.io is perfect if you want everything in one place, lead discovery, enrichment, and outreach.

It's especially strong for outbound teams that rely on email sequences and want integrated analytics.

👉 Try it if you're replacing Ocean.io but want built-in email and dialing features.

✅ Best for: Startups, SDR teams, and sales teams needing CRM integration and outreach in a unified platform.

Now that we’ve covered Apollo.io, the all-in-one tool for prospecting and outreach, let’s look at Cognism, a top choice if you're focused on global B2B data, compliance, and intent-based targeting.

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3. Cognism: Best for Global 🌍 B2B Targeting & Compliance

Cognism delivers verified, global B2B contact and company data, with built-in compliance checks and mobile numbers. 

Unlike Ocean.io, which focuses on lookalike companies and exports, Cognism provides phone‑verified emails and mobiles, real‑time CRM enrichment, and intent signals. 

It’s ideal if you sell internationally and care about accuracy, compliance, and scale.

Key Features of Cognism

• Cognism offers phone‑verified contact data (“Diamond Data®”) that delivers ~87% connect rates.
  
  
• You get GDPR‑ and CCPA‑compliant data, scrubbed against global Do‑Not‑Call lists with ISO/SOC certifications.
  
  
• It has intent signals to flag when accounts are likely in-market (funding, hiring, tech usage changes).
  
  
• Seamless CRM syncing with tools like Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive, Outreach, Microsoft Dynamics and Zapier.
  
  
• Unrestricted data access and page-level exporting, no credits needed.
  

Cognism vs Ocean.io 

Pros & Cons of Cognism

Cognism Pricing

Cognism does not list fixed prices publicly. Pricing is license-based, designed for unlimited usage and exports.

Expect plans to start at ~$1,500/year and scale toward $25K+/year depending on seats and data needs.

Our Verdict

Cognism is the top choice if you need accurate, compliant B2B data worldwide, especially for EU/UK markets or regulated environments. 

Its mobile-verified contacts and intent signals help sales teams prioritize prospects effectively. 

👉 Try Cognism if you need GDPR-safe global coverage with no export limits.

✅ Best for RevOps teams, international sales, and compliance-first organizations.

Now, let’s wrap up and help you figure out which Ocean.io alternative fits your team best.

How to Choose the Right Ocean.io Alternative

Choosing the right tool comes down to what your team actually needs.

Are you focused on speed? Looking for better outreach workflows? Or is compliance your top concern?

Here's a simple way to match the right platform to your specific goals:

Final Verdict

Ocean.io has its strengths, but many teams outgrow it fast.

If you're tired of slow exports, unclear pricing, or just need a smoother workflow, there are better tools out there.

• Use Leadsforge if you want fast, accurate lead lists without messing with filters or credits.
  
  
• Use Apollo.io if you want one tool for both data and outreach.
  
  
• Use Cognism if compliance and global contact data are must-haves.
  

👋 But if we had to pick one?

Leadsforge stands out. It's simple, fast, and delivers high-quality leads without the friction.

👉 Check out Leadsforge here → It’s the smoothest way to scale your outbound with data that works.