5 Popular Ocean.io Alternatives & Competitors for B2B List Building

I’ve used Ocean.io.

At first, it felt smart, find lookalike companies, build a list, done.

But soon, the problems showed up.

No outreach. Data felt limited. And I still had to jump into other tools to do the real work.

So I went looking for better options, tools that go beyond what Ocean.io offers. Effective lead generation is crucial for any business, and choosing the right tool can make a big difference in results.

In this blog, I’ll break down 5 popular Ocean.io alternatives for B2B list building in 2025.

You’ll get:

• A quick look at Ocean.io and where it falls short ‍
• A side-by-side comparison table of all 5 tools ‍
• What each tool does, why it’s better, pricing, pros/cons ‍
• How each platform handles data accuracy and the risk of outdated information
• My honest verdict on which tool fits which use case

If you skip this, you’ll likely keep switching between tools that don’t work well together.

Let’s get into it.

What is the best Ocean.io alternative in 2025?

Leadsforge is the top Ocean.io alternative for verified leads and built-in outreach.

Other great options include Apollo.io (free plan + email sending), Cognism (GDPR-safe phone data), Clay (workflow builder), and ZoomInfo (enterprise scale).

Ocean.io Review: Why Look for Ocean.io Alternatives?

Ocean.io is an AI-driven tool that helps you find lookalike companies based on your existing customers, built for B2B list building using company-level insights.

Ocean.io supports account based marketing by helping users identify target accounts and build an ideal customer profile, allowing businesses to tailor their outreach to the right accounts and target companies.

✅ Ocean.io: Quick Snapshot

👎 Why Users Look For Ocean.io Alternatives

At first, Ocean.io seems great for finding similar companies. But once users start relying on it for real prospecting, problems show up.

Here’s what real users are saying:

• Missing contact details: “Their database is junk… not worth the money.” – G2 reviewer

Many users expected verified emails or phone numbers, but only got basic company info. This makes outreach harder.

• Outdated or inaccurate data:  “Company info is outdated.” – G2 reviewer

Data accuracy is critical for identifying potential leads—when information is outdated or inaccurate, it becomes much harder to build effective target lists and reach the right prospects. Several users found the data stale or not matching real-time updates, which affects targeting accuracy and reduces the chances of connecting with high-quality potential leads.

• Frustrating billing experience: “Predatory renewal practices.” – G2 reviewer

Some teams were charged without notice or had trouble canceling their plans.

These issues, limited contacts, outdated data, and billing confusion, are why many users start looking for better Ocean.io alternatives.

Tools that not only find leads but help you reach out, enrich them, and stay in control.

Ocean.io vs Alternatives: Quick Comparison

This section provides a detailed comparison of each sales intelligence platform, including features such as API access, global coverage, and other key capabilities to help you make an informed decision.

Note: Prices are based on official sources or public estimates and may vary by plan or usage

Export Limitations and Other Challenges

Export limitations are a common frustration for users of sales intelligence platforms like Ocean.io. For many sales teams, the ability to quickly and efficiently export contact and company data is crucial for building targeted outreach campaigns and keeping sales pipelines full. However, these platforms often impose restrictions that can slow down your workflow and limit your results.

Here’s how export limitations can impact your sales process:

• Capped Data Exports: Many platforms restrict the number of contacts or companies you can export each month, forcing sales teams to prioritize or delay campaigns.
• Format Restrictions: Some tools only allow exports in certain file types or structures, making it harder to integrate with your existing tools or CRM.
• Delayed Access: Waiting for data exports to process or for manual approvals can slow down your sales cycle and reduce your team’s agility.
• Incomplete Data: Exported lists may lack key fields like direct emails or phone numbers, requiring extra steps to enrich or verify the data elsewhere.

For users relying on sales intelligence to drive results, these export limitations can mean missed opportunities and more manual work. The right platform should empower your sales team to access, export, and act on high-quality data without unnecessary roadblocks.

How do Ocean.io alternatives compare?Many Ocean.io competitors recognize these pain points and offer more flexible export options, higher data limits, or direct integrations with sales engagement tools and CRMs. This allows sales teams to move faster, keep their data fresh, and focus on closing deals instead of wrestling with platform restrictions.

When evaluating sales intelligence platforms, always check the fine print on export limitations—because the freedom to use your data, your way, can make all the difference for your sales success.

5 Popular Ocean.io Alternatives & Competitors for B2B List Building

Let’s start exploring the 5 best Ocean.io alternatives for B2B list building.

These alternatives serve different segments of the market, providing solutions for businesses of all sizes—from small businesses seeking technographic data to large revenue teams looking for AI-driven insights and integrated sales strategies.

First up, if you want verified leads and outreach in one place, start with Leadsforge.

1. Leadsforge – Best for Verified Lead Lists + Built-in Outreach

Rating: 4.8/ 5

Best For: Founders, marketers, and sales teams who want fast, verified leads without the usual complexity.

Leadsforge helps you find your ideal B2B leads just by describing them.

Leadsforge leverages artificial intelligence to identify the best accounts for your business and automates email sequences for efficient outreach. You tell it the type of company or person you want, and it gives you a verified list of contacts, job titles, emails, company size, industry, and more.

👍 Why We Like It (Instead of Ocean.io)

Ocean.io gives you companies. But Leadsforge gives you contacts you can email, already enriched, verified, and ready to go.

• You don’t need to play with filters. Just describe your ideal customer—Leadsforge helps you define and reach your target audience.
• Leads come verified, so you’re not wasting credits on bounced emails.
• You can launch outreach campaigns directly from the platform. No switching tools.
  

✅ Pros & Cons of Leadsforge

💰Leadsforge Pricing

• Monthly: $49/month for 2,000 export credits
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• Yearly: $588/year for 28,000 credits (~2 months free)
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• Add-on Tiers are available to increase credits, up to 100,000/month
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• Free Trial: 100 free credits to start, no credit card required

🔄 Ocean.io vs Leadsforge

✅ Our Verdict

If Ocean.io gives you company lists, Leadsforge gives you ready-to-email leads, plus the ability to launch your outreach right away. 

If you're tired of exporting CSVs and jumping between tools, Leadsforge is your shortcut to speed and scale.

Now, let’s explore the next Ocean.io alternative.

2. Apollo.io – Best for Contact Data + Built-In Outreach

Rating: 4.7 / 5

Best For: Sales teams that want to find leads and run outreach in one place.

Apollo.io gives you access to millions of B2B contacts and lets you email them directly.

While Apollo.io offers robust B2B prospecting and outreach features, it is often compared to LinkedIn Sales Navigator, which leverages LinkedIn's professional network for lead generation and account insights.

You can search by job title, company, or tech used, and then send emails or create sequences right from the platform.

👍 Why We Like It (Instead of Ocean.io)

Ocean.io helps you find companies. Apollo goes further; it gives you contacts, email tools, and even phone numbers.

• You don't need to use another tool for email outreach; it's already built in.
  
  
• The database is big: 200M+ contacts, 30M+ companies.
  
  
• You can filter leads by job title, industry, funding, and more.

✅ Pros & Cons of Apollo.io

💰 Apollo.io Pricing

• Free Plan – $0/month: 10 email credits/month
  
  
• Basic – $59/user/month: 2,500 credits
  
  
• Professional – $99/user/month: 4,000 credits
  
  
• Organization – $149/user/month: 6,000 credits
  

🔄 Ocean.io vs Apollo.io

✅ Our Verdict

Apollo.io is great if you want everything in one tool, data, filters, and email sending. 

Compared to Ocean.io, it’s more hands-on and contact-ready. You don’t just get companies, you get people you can email now.

If GDPR matters to your team or you’re targeting Europe, Cognism might be the safer Ocean.io alternative.

 3. Cognism – Best for GDPR-Compliant Leads in Europe & Beyond

Rating: 4.6 / 5

Best For: Sales and marketing teams targeting Europe or needing verified phone numbers.

Cognism helps you find and connect with decision-makers by providing verified contact data, including mobile numbers and emails.

It’s especially strong in Europe and ensures compliance with privacy laws like GDPR. Cognism is committed to security, using measures such as encryption and regular security audits to protect customer data and maintain regulatory adherence.

👍 Why We Like It (Instead of Ocean.io)

Ocean.io offers company-level data, but Cognism goes further:

• Verified Mobile Numbers: Access to phone-verified contacts, increasing connection rates.
  
  
• GDPR Compliance: Ensures your outreach aligns with European privacy regulations.
  
  
• Intent Signals: Identifies companies actively researching solutions like yours.

✅ Pros & Cons of Cognism

💰 Cognism Pricing

Cognism offers customized pricing based on your needs. While exact prices aren't listed publicly, estimates suggest:

• Grow Package: Essential data for prospecting.
  
  
• Elevate Package: Includes intent data and advanced insights.
  

Pricing typically starts around $1,500/year and can go up to $25,000/year, depending on features and team size.

🔄 Ocean.io vs Cognism

✅ Our Verdict

If you're focusing on European markets and need verified contact data that's compliant with privacy laws, Cognism is a strong alternative to Ocean.io. 

Its emphasis on data quality and compliance makes it ideal for teams aiming for effective and lawful outreach.

If you like having more control and want to build smarter lead workflows, Clay is the next one to check out.

4. Clay – Best for Building Custom Lead Workflows

Rating: 4.6 / 5

Best For: Teams who want full control over how leads are found, enriched, and organized.

Clay is a smart lead-building tool that lets you mix data from many sources and create your own lead workflows. 

You can find leads, enrich them with job titles, emails, and company info, and even use AI to clean or personalize the data. Clay can also incorporate technographic data from various sources, allowing you to target leads based on the specific technology stacks they use.

👍 Why We Like It (Instead of Ocean.io)

Ocean.io is simple, but it's limited; you can't change much.

Clay gives you flexibility. You control everything, from how leads are found to how they're enriched.

• Pull data from 100+ tools like LinkedIn, Clearbit, or Hunter
  
  
• Use AI to clean or add extra info to each lead
  
  
• Set up custom steps to fit your own outreach flow

✅ Pros & Cons of Clay

💰 Clay Pricing 

• Free Plan – $0/month for 100 credits
  
  
• Starter – $149/month for 2,000 credits
  
  
• Explorer – $349/month for 10,000 credits
  
  
• Pro – $800/month for 50,000 credits
  
  
• Enterprise – Custom plan available
  

Credits are used for data pulls, enrichments, and AI tasks.

🔄 Ocean.io vs Clay

✅ Our Verdict

If Ocean.io feels too limited, Clay gives you more control. You decide where your data comes from, how it’s enriched, and how it fits into your outreach. 

It’s best for teams who want to build smarter, more flexible lead systems.

Wrapping up with the most enterprise-heavy option on the list, let’s look at ZoomInfo.

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5. ZoomInfo – Best for Large Teams Needing Deep B2B Data

Rating: 4.5 / 5

Best For: Enterprise sales and marketing teams that require extensive, up-to-date B2B contact and company information.

ZoomInfo offers a comprehensive B2B database with detailed contact and company information.

It provides tools for sales prospecting, marketing campaigns, and recruiting, including features like intent data, organizational charts, and CRM integrations.

👍 Why We Like It (Instead of Ocean.io)

Ocean.io shows you company lists. ZoomInfo gives you way more:

• Find contacts with email addresses and phone numbers
  
  
• Search using many filters like revenue, job role, or location
  
  
• Works well with CRMs like Salesforce and HubSpot

✅ Pros & Cons of ZoomInfo

💰 ZoomInfo Pricing

ZoomInfo doesn’t list exact prices on its website, but here’s what’s known from public sources:

• Professional – Starts at ~$14,995/year for basic features and 5,000 credits
  
  
• Advanced – ~$24,995/year for more data and tools like intent signals
  
  
• Elite – ~$39,995/year+ for full access and high usage
  

Plans are billed yearly and may vary based on the number of users and credits.

🔄 Ocean.io vs ZoomInfo

✅ Our Verdict

ZoomInfo is built for scale. If you’re at a large company and need thousands of high-quality leads fast, it’s a top choice. 

But if you're a smaller team, the price and complexity might be too much; there are leaner options like Leadsforge or Apollo that can do the job for less.

How to Choose the Right Ocean.io Alternative

If you’re searching for Ocean.io alternatives, you’re probably not just looking for company names; you want real contacts, email-ready data, a tool that respects privacy laws, and reliable customer support.

When choosing a tool, consider not only features and compliance, but also the response times for customer support, as quick and effective assistance can be crucial.

Here’s a quick comparison of the top tools, based on what matters most:

Final Verdict

Ocean.io has its strengths, especially for building company segments based on firmographics.

But when it comes to actual B2B list building, most teams need more: verified contacts, emails that don't bounce, and tools that launch outreach without delays.

That's why so many teams are now searching for better Ocean.io alternatives.

TL;DR: Ocean.io works for lookalike segmentation, but lacks contact-level depth and outreach features.

If you want ready-to-send leads: → Leadsforge

If you want a free plan: → Apollo.io

If GDPR matters: → Cognism

If you want total workflow control: → Clay

If you're a large team: → ZoomInfo

➡️ And if you want faster prospecting, cleaner data, and built-in email sending, Leadsforge stands out.

It gives you verified leads, enriched details, and lets you email them, all from one place.

You even get 100 free credits to test it with zero setup.

👉 Try Leadsforge Free and see the difference.