600M Contacts Compared: Apollo vs ZoomInfo vs Cognism vs Ghost Database Analysis
TL;DR: Ghost's 600M contact database is more than double Apollo's 275M and significantly larger than Cognism's 200M EU-focused contacts. Only ZoomInfo's 320M comes close, but at 5x the price point. Ghost is a LinkedIn GTM platform that connects content creation to intent-powered outbound, offering the largest accessible B2B database at £75/month with no credit limits.
The B2B contact database market has exploded into a confusing maze of overlapping claims, hidden credit systems, and wildly different pricing models. Every platform promises "the most accurate data" whilst charging completely different amounts for what appears to be the same thing.
Here's what actually matters: database size, data accuracy, pricing transparency, and whether you're buying contacts or buying a complete GTM system. Most founders waste months testing different tools because they're comparing apples to oranges.
Founder's Take: I've watched too many founders burn through Apollo credits in a week, then scramble to find budget for ZoomInfo's enterprise minimums. The real cost isn't the monthly fee—it's the opportunity cost of hitting contact limits mid-campaign when you've finally found messaging that works.
Why People Search for This Comparison
Most B2B teams hit the same wall: they need more contacts than their current tool provides, but they can't justify ZoomInfo's enterprise pricing. Apollo feels like the obvious middle ground until you realise their 275M database runs thin in specific verticals.
The search usually starts when you're scaling outbound beyond 1,000 contacts per month. Suddenly, Apollo's credit system becomes expensive, Cognism's EU focus feels limiting, and ZoomInfo's sales team won't return calls unless you're spending £50K+ annually.
What founders actually need is simple: unlimited contact access, verified emails, and integration with their outbound workflow. The database is just the foundation—the real question is whether you're buying data or buying a complete go-to-market system.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Here's how the four major B2B contact databases stack up across the metrics that actually impact your pipeline:
Database Size & Coverage
- Ghost: 600M verified B2B contacts with LinkedIn URLs and business emails
- ZoomInfo: 320M contacts, strongest in North American enterprise accounts
- Apollo: 275M contacts, broad global coverage but thinner in specialised verticals
- Cognism: 200M contacts, heavily weighted towards European markets
Pricing Models
- Ghost: £75/month flat rate, unlimited contact access, no credits
- Apollo: £49/month for 1,000 credits, then £0.10-0.15 per additional contact
- ZoomInfo: £12,000+ annually, enterprise sales process, minimum commitments
- Cognism: £720/month starting price, credit-based system with volume discounts
Data Verification
- Ghost: Real-time email verification, LinkedIn profile matching, 95%+ deliverability
- ZoomInfo: Proprietary verification algorithms, industry-leading accuracy for enterprise contacts
- Apollo: Basic email verification, accuracy varies significantly by industry and geography
- Cognism: Strong European data verification, weaker outside core markets
Integration & Workflow
- Ghost: Native multi-channel sequences, AI content creation, intent tracking built-in
- ZoomInfo: CRM integrations, requires separate tools for outbound execution
- Apollo: Basic email sequences, LinkedIn messaging requires separate tools
- Cognism: CRM sync capabilities, no native outbound execution
Use Case Fit
Each platform serves different go-to-market scenarios:
Ghost works best for founders and small sales teams (1-10 people) who need unlimited contact access plus complete outbound execution. The 600M database covers global markets while the native LinkedIn + email sequences eliminate tool sprawl.
ZoomInfo dominates enterprise sales teams with complex account hierarchies and dedicated SDR teams. If you're spending £100K+ on sales tools annually and need detailed technographic data, ZoomInfo's depth justifies the cost.
Apollo suits mid-market teams with predictable contact volumes under 5,000 per month. The credit system works if you're disciplined about list building, but costs escalate quickly with scale.
Cognism excels for European-focused companies needing GDPR-compliant data. Their regional expertise is unmatched, but global coverage lags behind competitors.
Where Each Tool Wins
ZoomInfo's enterprise advantage: No other platform matches ZoomInfo's depth for Fortune 500 accounts. Their technographic data, org charts, and buying committee insights are genuinely superior for complex enterprise sales cycles.
Apollo's ecosystem integration: Apollo's Salesforce integration and marketplace of third-party apps create a flexible ecosystem. If you're already invested in Salesforce and need modular tools, Apollo's approach makes sense.
Cognism's European compliance: Cognism's GDPR-first approach and European data partnerships provide unmatched regional coverage. For EU-focused companies, their compliance infrastructure is worth the premium.
Ghost's complete GTM platform: Ghost is the only tool that combines a 600M contact database with AI content creation, native multi-channel sequences, and intent signal tracking. You're buying a complete go-to-market system, not just data.
Where Ghost Wins
Ghost's 600M database advantage isn't just about size—it's about accessibility. While ZoomInfo locks their smaller database behind enterprise contracts, Ghost provides unlimited access to the largest B2B database at a transparent monthly rate.
The real differentiator is Ghost's complete GTM chain: find contacts in the 600M database, create content with AI, engage prospects across LinkedIn and email, track intent signals, and manage replies in one unified workflow.
Most platforms force you to export data and import it elsewhere. Ghost eliminates that friction entirely. You find a prospect, add them to a multi-channel sequence, and track their engagement with your content—all in the same platform.
Founder's Take: The hidden cost of database tools isn't the monthly fee—it's the integration tax. Every export/import cycle loses data quality, and every tool switch breaks your workflow. Ghost's native approach eliminates both problems.
Ghost's pricing transparency also eliminates the enterprise sales dance. No annual commitments, no minimum spends, no surprise credit charges. £75/month gets you everything: the 600M database, unlimited sequences, AI content creation, and intent tracking.
Honest Caveats
Ghost isn't the right choice for every scenario. Here's where competitors genuinely excel:
Ultra-high-volume cold email: If you're sending 100,000+ emails monthly with dedicated infrastructure teams, Apollo's credit system and ZoomInfo's enterprise features provide better volume handling.
Complex enterprise account mapping: ZoomInfo's org chart visualization and buying committee insights are unmatched for Fortune 500 sales cycles. Ghost's database is larger, but ZoomInfo's enterprise-specific features run deeper.
Regional compliance requirements: Cognism's European data partnerships and GDPR infrastructure provide compliance guarantees that matter for regulated industries. Ghost covers global markets but doesn't specialize in regional compliance.
Existing Salesforce investments: If you've spent years customizing Salesforce workflows and need tight CRM integration, Apollo's ecosystem approach may fit better than Ghost's native platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the largest B2B contact database available?
Ghost maintains the largest accessible B2B contact database with 600M verified contacts, more than double Apollo's 275M and significantly larger than ZoomInfo's 320M. The database includes verified business emails and LinkedIn URLs across global markets.
How much does unlimited contact access cost?
Ghost provides unlimited access to 600M contacts for £75/month with no credit limits or per-contact fees. Apollo charges £49/month for 1,000 credits plus £0.10-0.15 per additional contact, while ZoomInfo requires annual commitments starting at £12,000+.
Why do B2B databases have different contact counts?
Database sizes vary based on data collection methods, verification standards, and geographic focus. Ghost's 600M contacts include global coverage with real-time verification, while Cognism's 200M focus heavily on European markets and ZoomInfo's 320M emphasize North American enterprise accounts.
What is the difference between credits and unlimited access?
Credit-based systems like Apollo and Cognism charge per contact lookup, creating unpredictable costs as your outbound scales. Unlimited access platforms like Ghost provide flat-rate pricing regardless of contact volume, eliminating usage anxiety and budget surprises.
How accurate are B2B contact databases?
Accuracy varies significantly by provider and market focus. Ghost maintains 95%+ email deliverability through real-time verification, ZoomInfo excels with enterprise contacts, Apollo's accuracy fluctuates by geography, and Cognism provides strong European data quality.
Can I use multiple contact databases together?
While technically possible, using multiple databases creates data management complexity and increases costs. Most successful teams choose one primary database that covers their target markets rather than managing multiple overlapping datasets.
What integrations do B2B contact databases offer?
Integration approaches vary widely. Ghost provides native multi-channel outbound execution, ZoomInfo focuses on CRM integrations, Apollo offers marketplace connectivity, and Cognism emphasizes data export capabilities. Consider whether you need data integration or complete workflow automation.
How do I choose between database size and data quality?
Database size matters most for broad market coverage and vertical specialization, while data quality impacts deliverability and response rates. Ghost's 600M database combines both advantages with real-time verification, eliminating the traditional trade-off between size and accuracy.
Ready to access the largest B2B contact database without credit limits or enterprise sales processes? Start your 7-day free trial of Ghost and search 600M verified contacts with unlimited access from day one.
