Competing for B2B Supremacy: 6sense vs ContactOut

When it comes to B2B sales, having the right tools can be the difference between success and failure. Two players in the B2B sales space have been making waves in recent years: 6sense and ContactOut. The former is an AI-powered revenue platform designed to help businesses identify and prioritize target accounts, while the latter is an email and phone number finder that allows users to discover accurate contact information.

But which tool is best suited for your business needs? With so many options available in the market, it's essential to understand the core features, strengths, and weaknesses of each platform. In this in-depth comparison, we'll delve into the company profiles, core features, data sources, user interface, integration capabilities, pricing, customer support, and use cases of 6sense and ContactOut. Our goal is to provide you with a clear understanding of each tool, enabling you to make an informed decision that drives revenue and growth for your business.

By the end of this article, you'll have a comprehensive understanding of the two platforms, allowing you to determine which one aligns best with your sales strategy and business goals. Whether you're a seasoned sales professional or a growing startup, this comparison is designed to help you navigate the complex world of B2B sales and make data-driven decisions that propel your business forward.

Company Profiles

6sense

6sense, founded in 2013 by Viral Bajaria, Premal Shah, and Dustin Chang, is a San Francisco-based company that has made a significant impact on the B2B revenue landscape. With a substantial funding of $426 million, the company has carved a niche for itself in the industry. 6sense boasts an impressive list of clients, including renowned names like Dell, Cisco, and Thomson Reuters.

ContactOut

ContactOut, on the other hand, was founded in 2016 by Rob Liu and is also headquartered in San Francisco, California. Although relatively younger than 6sense, ContactOut has managed to secure $5.3 million in funding and has an impressive client base that includes tech giants like Amazon, Google, and Facebook.

Both companies have established themselves as players in the B2B technology space, with 6sense focusing on AI-powered revenue platforms and ContactOut specializing in email and phone number finding solutions. As we delve deeper into the comparison, it's essential to understand the unique strengths and weaknesses of each company.

Core Features Comparison

When choosing between 6sense and ContactOut, it's essential to understand the core features of each platform. Here's a detailed comparison of the key features of both tools:

6sense

6sense is an AI-powered revenue platform designed for B2B organizations. Its core features include:

• Account Identification and Prioritization: 6sense helps you identify and prioritize potential accounts based on their likelihood of conversion.

• Predictive Analytics and AI-driven Insights: The platform uses machine learning algorithms to analyze customer data and provide actionable insights to sales and marketing teams.

• Intent Data Collection and Analysis: 6sense collects and analyzes intent data from various sources, including social media, content consumption, and search behavior.

• Personalized Content Recommendations: The platform suggests personalized content to target accounts based on their interests and engagement patterns.

• Multi-Channel Orchestration: 6sense enables you to orchestrate personalized campaigns across multiple channels, including email, social media, and advertising.

ContactOut

ContactOut is an email and phone number finder designed for professionals. Its core features include:

• Email and Phone Number Finder: ContactOut helps you find accurate email addresses and phone numbers of potential contacts.

• LinkedIn Profile Data Extraction: The platform extracts data from LinkedIn profiles, including job titles, companies, and locations.

• Chrome Extension for Easy Access: ContactOut offers a Chrome extension that allows you to access its features directly from your browser.

• Bulk Search and Export Capabilities: You can search for multiple contacts at once and export the results to your CRM or spreadsheet.

• API Access for Integration: ContactOut provides API access, enabling you to integrate its features with your existing workflows and tools.

Detailed Analysis of Feature Overlap and Differences

A closer examination of the features reveals that 6sense and ContactOut serve different purposes. 6sense is a comprehensive revenue platform focused on account identification, predictive analytics, and multi-channel orchestration. ContactOut, on the other hand, is a specialized tool for finding accurate contact information. While 6sense provides more advanced features for B2B sales and marketing teams, ContactOut is a simpler, more affordable solution for finding and extracting contact data.

In terms of feature overlap, both platforms offer data extraction capabilities, but 6sense's intent data collection and analysis are more advanced and integrated with its predictive analytics engine. ContactOut's data extraction is mainly focused on LinkedIn profiles and public databases.

Ultimately, the choice between 6sense and ContactOut depends on your business needs and goals. If you're a B2B organization looking for a comprehensive revenue platform, 6sense might be the better choice. If you're a professional seeking an affordable and easy-to-use contact finder, ContactOut is a more suitable option.

Data Sources and Accuracy

When evaluating 6sense and ContactOut, it's essential to understand where they get their data and how accurate it is. This section delves into the data sources and accuracy of each platform.

6sense

6sense collects its data from a combination of first-party and third-party sources. The platform uses AI-powered data cleansing and enrichment to ensure the data is accurate and up-to-date.

First-party data collection methods include:

• Web forms and landing pages

• CRM and marketing automation platforms

• Customer interactions and behaviors

Third-party data partnerships provide additional insights, including:

• Firmographic data

• Technographic data

• Intent data from various sources

ContactOut

ContactOut relies on web scraping techniques to collect email and phone number data. The platform aggregates public database information and user-contributed data to provide a comprehensive contact dataset.

ContactOut's data collection methods include:

• Web scraping from public sources

• Public database aggregation

• User-contributed data

Comparison of Data Accuracy and Freshness

Both 6sense and ContactOut prioritize data accuracy, but their approaches differ. 6sense's AI-powered data cleansing and enrichment ensure a high level of accuracy, while ContactOut's web scraping and public database aggregation may lead to occasional inaccuracies.

However, ContactOut's user-contributed data can provide a fresh and accurate source of information, especially for lesser-known contacts. Ultimately, the choice between 6sense and ContactOut depends on your business needs and the type of data you require.

6sense's data accuracy is generally higher due to its rigorous data cleansing and enrichment processes. This makes it a better choice for businesses that require precise data for sales and marketing efforts. ContactOut, on the other hand, provides a more affordable solution for companies that need access to a large contact database, even if the data may not be 100% accurate.

User Interface and Ease of Use

When it comes to user experience, both 6sense and ContactOut have their strengths and weaknesses. In this section, we'll dive into the details of each platform's interface, navigation, and overall usability.

6sense

6sense boasts a visually appealing and modern dashboard that provides an overview of your B2B marketing and sales performance. The platform's layout is customizable, allowing you to create a tailored experience that suits your needs.

The navigation is generally intuitive, with clear menus and dropdowns that guide you through the various features and tools. However, some users have reported a steep learning curve, especially when it comes to leveraging the platform's advanced analytics and AI-driven insights.

Data visualization is a standout feature of 6sense, with interactive charts, graphs, and tables that make it easy to digest complex data sets. The platform also offers a range of customizable report templates, enabling you to create bespoke reports that cater to your business needs.

ContactOut

ContactOut's interface is refreshingly simple, with a minimalistic design that makes it easy to find what you're looking for. The Chrome extension is particularly convenient, allowing you to access the platform's features with just a few clicks.

The web application is equally user-friendly, with a straightforward search bar and filtering options that enable you to quickly narrow down your results. The platform's data export capabilities are also seamless, allowing you to download your findings with ease.

While ContactOut's interface is undeniably user-friendly, some users have reported occasional glitches and lag when performing bulk searches or exporting large data sets.

Learning Curve and Onboarding

In terms of onboarding, 6sense offers a more comprehensive process, with dedicated customer success managers and guided tutorials that walk you through the platform's features and tools. However, this onboarding process can be time-consuming, and some users have reported feeling overwhelmed by the sheer scope of the platform's capabilities.

ContactOut, on the other hand, offers a more streamlined onboarding process, with an intuitive interface that makes it easy to get started right away. While the platform lacks the comprehensive onboarding support of 6sense, its user-friendly design means you can start using it effectively within minutes of signing up.

Ultimately, the choice between 6sense and ContactOut will depend on your business needs and the level of complexity you're willing to tolerate. If you're looking for a comprehensive, AI-powered revenue platform with advanced analytics and integrations, 6sense may be the better choice. However, if you're after a simple, user-friendly contact finder with accurate data and seamless export capabilities, ContactOut is a solid option.

Integration Capabilities

Both 6sense and ContactOut provide integration capabilities with various tools and platforms. In this section, we'll explore the depth and flexibility of their integrations.

6sense Integrations

6sense offers a range of integrations with popular CRM, marketing automation, and business intelligence tools. These integrations enable seamless data exchange and workflow automation. Some notable integrations include:

• CRM integrations: 6sense integrates with Salesforce, HubSpot, and Microsoft Dynamics, allowing for bi-directional data sync and automated workflows.

• Marketing automation integrations: 6sense integrates with Marketo and Eloqua, enabling marketers to leverage AI-driven insights in their marketing campaigns.

• Business intelligence integrations: 6sense integrates with Tableau and Power BI, providing businesses with advanced analytics and data visualization capabilities.

These integrations enable 6sense customers to leverage its AI-driven insights across multiple touchpoints, creating a unified revenue platform.

ContactOut Integrations

ContactOut also offers integrations with various tools and platforms, although the scope is more limited compared to 6sense. Some notable integrations include:

• CRM integrations: ContactOut integrates with Salesforce and HubSpot, allowing users to sync contacts and leads directly into their CRM.

• ATS integrations: ContactOut integrates with Lever, Greenhouse, and Bullhorn, enabling recruiters to find and export candidate contact information.

• Zapier integration: ContactOut's integration with Zapier allows users to connect with over 5,000 apps, automating workflows and data exchange.

While ContactOut's integration capabilities are more limited, they still provide users with a range of options for automating workflows and leveraging its contact data.

Comparison of Integration Capabilities

Both 6sense and ContactOut offer integrations with popular tools and platforms. However, 6sense's integrations are more comprehensive and diverse, reflecting its broader platform capabilities. ContactOut's integrations are more focused on CRM and ATS systems, reflecting its primary use case as a contact finder tool.

In terms of integration flexibility, 6sense offers a more flexible API and greater customization options, making it easier to integrate with custom or proprietary systems. ContactOut's integrations are more standardized, with a focus on out-of-the-box compatibility with popular tools.

Ultimately, the choice between 6sense and ContactOut will depend on the specific integration needs of your business. If you're looking for a comprehensive revenue platform with advanced integrations, 6sense may be the better choice. If you're primarily focused on finding and exporting contact information, ContactOut's integrations may be sufficient.

Pricing and Plans

When it comes to pricing, 6sense and ContactOut take different approaches. Understanding the pricing structures and plans of each tool is crucial to determining which one is the best fit for your business.

6sense

6sense offers customized pricing based on the size and needs of your company. They use an annual contract structure, which can be a significant commitment for some businesses. Their pricing model is tiered, with different feature sets and levels of support available depending on the plan you choose.

Unfortunately, 6sense doesn't publicly disclose their pricing, so you'll need to contact their sales team to get a quote. This lack of transparency can make it difficult to compare prices with other tools or plan your budget in advance.

ContactOut

ContactOut, on the other hand, offers a more transparent pricing structure. They have a free plan that allows for a limited number of searches per month, which can be useful for small businesses or individuals.

Their Professional plan costs $99 per month and is designed for individual users. It includes features like unlimited searches, LinkedIn profile data extraction, and bulk search capabilities.

For larger teams or businesses, ContactOut offers a custom-priced Team plan. This plan allows for multiple user accounts, API access, and additional support.

Value for Money Analysis and ROI Comparison

While 6sense's pricing is more complex and dependent on the size and needs of your business, ContactOut's pricing is more straightforward and affordable for smaller businesses.

However, when considering the value for money, it's essential to look beyond the initial cost. 6sense's comprehensive platform and advanced AI capabilities can provide significant returns on investment, particularly for larger enterprises.

ContactOut, on the other hand, offers a more limited feature set, but its ease of use and accurate contact information make it an attractive option for businesses that don't need a full-fledged revenue platform.

Ultimately, the choice between 6sense and ContactOut will depend on your business needs and budget. Be sure to carefully evaluate the features, pricing, and potential ROI of each tool before making a decision.

Customer Support and Resources

When it comes to customer support, both 6sense and ContactOut offer different levels of assistance and resources to help users get the most out of their platforms.

6sense

6sense provides dedicated customer success managers to work with clients and tailor their experiences to meet specific business needs. Additionally, the platform offers an online knowledge base and documentation that cover a range of topics, from getting started with the platform to advanced topics like predictive analytics.

6sense also hosts regular webinars and training sessions to educate users on best practices and new features. These resources are designed to help users overcome common challenges and maximize the value they derive from the platform.

ContactOut

ContactOut takes a more self-service approach to customer support, providing an email and chat support system for users to reach out to the team with questions or concerns. The platform also maintains a help center with tutorials, FAQs, and guides to help users navigate the tool.

Furthermore, ContactOut has a community forum where users can discuss topics related to the platform, share best practices, and get feedback from other users. While the level of support is not as personalized as 6sense, ContactOut's resources are designed to be easily accessible and user-friendly.

Comparison

Overall, 6sense offers a more comprehensive and personalized customer support experience, which is reflective of its larger size and more complex feature set. ContactOut, on the other hand, focuses on providing accessible and easy-to-use resources that are geared towards self-sufficiency. When choosing between the two, businesses should consider their support needs and priorities.

Use Cases and Target Audiences

When it comes to deciding between 6sense and ContactOut, understanding the ideal use cases and target audiences for each tool is crucial.

6sense

6sense is ideal for large B2B enterprises with complex sales cycles. These companies typically have an annual revenue of over $50 million and multiple departments involved in the sales process. The platform's advanced AI capabilities, robust integrations, and comprehensive features make it well-suited for organizations that require precise targeting and personalized engagement at scale.

Key departments that can benefit from 6sense include:

• Sales: Identify and prioritize high-value accounts, and receive AI-driven insights to inform outreach strategies.

• Marketing: Leverage 6sense's intent data and predictive analytics to create targeted campaigns and measure ROI.

ContactOut

ContactOut is suitable for companies of all sizes, including startups. However, it's particularly useful for recruiters and sales professionals who need to find accurate contact information quickly. The platform's ease of use, affordable pricing, and accurate data make it an attractive option for individuals and teams looking to streamline their outreach efforts.

Key departments that can benefit from ContactOut include:

• HR: Find and connect with top talent using ContactOut's email and phone number finder.

• Sales: Boost sales productivity by accessing accurate contact information and automating data entry.

• Business Development: Identify new business opportunities and Decision-Makers using ContactOut's search functionality.

By understanding the distinct strengths and use cases of each platform, businesses can make informed decisions about which tool is best suited to meet their unique needs and goals.

Pros and Cons

Both 6sense and ContactOut have their strengths and weaknesses. Let's dive into the details.

6sense

Pros:

• Comprehensive platform: 6sense offers a wide range of features that cater to various business needs, from account identification to content personalization.

• Advanced AI capabilities: 6sense's AI-powered insights and predictive analytics can help businesses make data-driven decisions and stay ahead of the competition.

• Robust integrations: 6sense integrates with a wide range of CRMs, marketing automation platforms, and business intelligence tools, making it easy to incorporate into existing workflows.

Cons:

• High cost: 6sense is a premium platform that comes with a hefty price tag, making it less accessible to smaller businesses or startups.

• Steep learning curve: 6sense's comprehensive feature set can be overwhelming for new users, requiring significant training and onboarding time.

• May be overkill for smaller businesses: 6sense's advanced features and high cost may not be justified for smaller businesses with simpler sales cycles.

ContactOut

Pros:

• Affordable: ContactOut offers a free plan and competitive pricing for its paid plans, making it an attractive option for businesses of all sizes.

• Easy to use: ContactOut's user-friendly interface and Chrome extension make it easy to find and extract contact information.

• Accurate contact information: ContactOut's data scraping techniques and public database aggregation provide accurate contact information.

Cons:

• Limited feature set: ContactOut's primary focus on contact information means it lacks the comprehensive features offered by 6sense.

• Potential legal concerns: ContactOut's data scraping techniques may raise legal concerns, and businesses should ensure compliance with data protection regulations.

• Occasional outdated data: ContactOut's data may not always be up-to-date, which can lead to inaccuracies in contact information.

Customer Reviews and Testimonials

Let's see what real users have to say about 6sense and ContactOut. We've compiled reviews and testimonials from various sources to give you a better understanding of each tool's strengths and weaknesses.

6sense

6sense has an overall rating of 4.5/5 stars on G2, based on 200+ reviews. On Capterra, it scores 4.6/5 stars from 100+ reviews.

Some common praises about 6sense include:

• Accurate predictions: Many users appreciate 6sense's ability to accurately identify and prioritize potential customers.

• Improved sales efficiency: Reviewers often mention that 6sense helps them streamline their sales process, resulting in better productivity and revenue.

However, some users have expressed concerns about:

• Complex setup: A few reviewers find 6sense's implementation process challenging, requiring a significant amount of time and resources.

• Occasional data inaccuracies: Some users report occasional discrepancies in 6sense's data, which can impact its effectiveness.

ContactOut

ContactOut has an overall rating of 4.3/5 stars on G2, based on 50+ reviews. On Capterra, it scores 4.4/5 stars from 30+ reviews.

Some common praises about ContactOut include:

• Easy to use: Reviewers appreciate ContactOut's user-friendly interface and simplicity, making it easy to find and extract contact information.

• Accurate contact information: Users often praise ContactOut for providing accurate and up-to-date contact information, helping them reach their target audience.

However, some users have expressed concerns about:

• Limited search results: A few reviewers mention that ContactOut's search functionality can be limited, particularly for more obscure or hard-to-find contacts.

• Occasional outdated data: Some users report encountering outdated or stale contact information, which can impact their sales and marketing efforts.

By considering these real-user reviews and testimonials, you can gain a better understanding of each tool's strengths and weaknesses, helping you make a more informed decision for your business.

Conclusion and Recommendations

In conclusion, 6sense and ContactOut are two distinct tools catering to different business needs. 6sense is a comprehensive revenue platform designed for large B2B enterprises with complex sales cycles, while ContactOut is a specialized email and phone number finder ideal for companies of all sizes, particularly recruiters and sales professionals.

When choosing between these tools, consider the following recommendations:

• Large B2B enterprises: If you're a large B2B company with a complex sales cycle, 6sense might be the better choice. Its advanced AI capabilities, robust integrations, and predictive analytics can help you identify and prioritize high-value accounts.

• Small to medium-sized businesses: For smaller companies or startups, ContactOut might be a more suitable option. Its affordable pricing, ease of use, and accurate contact information make it an attractive choice for finding and connecting with potential customers.

• Recruiters and sales professionals: If you're a recruiter or sales professional looking for a reliable email and phone number finder, ContactOut is a great option. Its chrome extension, bulk search capabilities, and API access make it an efficient tool for finding accurate contact information.

Ultimately, the decision between 6sense and ContactOut depends on your specific business needs and goals. Take the time to assess your requirements, weigh the pros and cons of each tool, and choose the one that best aligns with your objectives.

By doing so, you'll be able to make informed decisions, optimize your sales processes, and drive revenue growth.