Tools

Tools

Seamless AI vs Cognism: Which One Should You Actually Use in 2025?

Seamless AI vs Cognism: Which One Should You Actually Use in 2025?

So you're trying to pick between Seamless.AI and Cognism for your sales intelligence needs. And now you're stuck comparing two completely different tools that barely overlap. First world problems, am I right?

Well, you're in the right place.

Here's the thing: Seamless.AI and Cognism aren't really competitors. You're basically choosing between a high-speed US prospecting machine (Seamless) and a premium European data powerhouse (Cognism).

It's like comparing a sports car to a luxury sedan—both get you places, but they're built for different roads.

I've included FullEnrich as a reference; it uses waterfall enrichment to query 20+ providers sequentially until it finds complete contact info. Think of it as checking 20 databases instead of just one.

TLDR, My take upfront:

  • 🎯 Seamless.AI: Seamless AI is ideal for small to medium US-focused teams that need a cost-effective lead generation tool. if you can handle bounce rates and read the contract carefully

  • 🎯 Cognism: Cognism is expensive but worth it for European campaigns with accurate information for EMEA targeted lists

  • 🎯 FullEnrich: FullEnrich eliminates the contact data "not found" problem by checking multiple databases instead of one. It's the go-to solution if you're looking for a proper data enrichment tool, but don't expect sales intelligence features.

🎯 Quick Comparison Table

Feature

Seamless.AI

Cognism

FullEnrich

Best For

US teams who need volume

EU ABM campaigns

Global coverage without gaps

Price

$147/user/month (annual)

~$15K-$50K/year (quote)

$29-$55/month (transparent)

Free Trial

50 credits/month

25 leads (sales call required)

50 credits (no sales call)

Contract

Annual, 60-day cancellation notice

Annual, 30-60 day notice

Monthly OR annual

Database

1.3B+ contacts

400M profiles

Aggregates 15+ providers

Where It Works

USA (bad elsewhere)

UK/France/Germany

Everywhere

Data Quality

18-23% bounce rates

98% phone accuracy (EU)

Triple verified

Credit Rollover

✅ Yes

❌ No

✅ Yes (3-12 months)

API

Enterprise only

All plans (costs extra)

All plans, unlimited users

GDPR

Vague

Strong (ICO registered)

Aligned

Looking beyond seamless ai and Cognism? There are some Seamless AI alternatives or Cognism alternatives like FullEnrich worth exploring.

1. Data Quality

Let's be honest, if your emails bounce and phones go to voicemail, will your sales and marketing teams care about database size?

Metric

Seamless.AI

Cognism

FullEnrich

Total Contacts

1.3B+ contacts

400M profiles

Aggregates 15+ sources

Where It Works

USA (meh elsewhere)

UK/France/Germany dominant

Everywhere via provider selection

Verification

AI-verified (kinda)

Humans verify phones

Triple verification across 3 services

Accuracy

No guarantee

98% on Diamond phones (europe only)

80%+ average

Seamless.AI: Volume Over Accuracy

What you get: 1.3 billion contacts, AI-verified in real-time, multiple emails per contact, ~1,000 daily credits on Pro plans.

The problem: Users report 18-23% email bounce rates. That's almost 1 in 4 emails bouncing back.

Real user quote from Reddit: "this year the bounce rates are 18–23%...Without good data they are dead in the water."

Another G2 reviewer found company employee counts wildly off—a company listed as "51–200 employees" actually had 12 people.

Verdict: Good for high-volume US prospecting if you're willing to manually verify before big lead generation campaigns. Weak internationally.

Cognism: Accuracy Over Everything

What you get: 400M profiles, human-verified phone numbers (Diamond Data), 98% phone accuracy, triple email verification.

The wow factor: 87% call connection rates vs ~30% industry average. That's because actual humans verify the mobile numbers.

European domination: 180% more UK contacts, 250% more in France/Germany compared to competitors. European bounce rates under 5%.

Real user quote from G2: "their quality of contact details is insane compared to other tools… they almost always have the email, and most of the time they also have the mobile phone."

The catch: Coverage drops hard outside Europe. APAC and LatAm have major gaps. One user said "Cognism's data in Asia-Pacific just isn't there."

Verdict: Premium quality for European campaigns. Worth the premium price if your potential customer are in this market. Mediocre for US mid-market and weak for APAC.

How FullEnrich and Waterfall Enrichment Fix This

FullEnrich queries 15+ providers sequentially. Provider A doesn't have the contact? Check Provider B. Provider B's phone is old? Try Provider C.

You're not stuck with one vendor's limitations to reach high value prospects.

  • Averages 80% match rates globally

  • Dynamically picks best providers by region

  • Triple verification across 3 email services

  • Only pay for found contacts (not found = no credit used)

  • 1 email = 1 credit, 1 mobile = 10 credits, landlines = free

This is honestly how contact enrichment should work.

👉 Ready to skip ahead? Get 50 free credits and test FullEnrich's waterfall enrichment against your current provider.

💡 Verdict: Data Quality

For US phone prospecting: Seamless.AI delivers volume, but brace yourself for 15-20% bounce rates. You'll spend time manually verifying contacts before big campaigns. Works if you're desperate and US-only.

For verified European contacts: Cognism's Diamond Data is the gold standard. Sub-5% bounce rates in EU and 98% phone accuracy justify the premium if Europe is your market. Just don't expect that quality outside Western Europe.

For global coverage without blind spots: FullEnrich's waterfall enrichment fixes what both platforms struggle with—checking 15+ providers instead of accepting one vendor's geographic limitations. Best match rates across regions.

👉 Start free with 50 enrichments and see how many more verified leads you unlock

2. Pricing and plans

Let's talk money because pricing transparency here is about as clear as mud.

Metric

Seamless.AI

Cognism

FullEnrich

Transparency

Limited (only Free/Basic visible)

Zero (quote-only nightmare)

Fully transparent

Entry Price

$147/user/month (annual trap)

~$15K/year + ~$1,500/user

$29/month (seriously)

How Credits Work

1 credit = 1 contact

Seat-based "unlimited" + surprise credits

1 email = 1, 1 phone = 10

Contract Escape

Annual, 60-day notice

Annual, 30-60 day notice

Monthly OR annual

Credit Rollover

✅ Yes

❌ No

✅ Yes (3-12 months)

User Limits

Pro = 5 minimum

Negotiable (ugh)

Unlimited users

Seamless.AI

Seamless.AI does not publish pricing. You must go through sales. Based on user reports and third-party sources:

Seamless AI pricing plans
  • Free: 50 credits/month (useless for real work)

  • Basic: $147/user/month annually = $1,764/year per user. About 250 credits monthly. Credit-back guarantee only for bounced emails, not phones.

  • Pro: Quote-based, typically 5+ users minimum. ~1,000 credits daily per user. Includes Chrome extension, CRM integrations, AI copywriting.

The gotcha: 60-day cancellation notice. Miss it and you're auto-renewed with a 10-20% price increase. One G2 reviewer called it "brutal and inflexible."

Plus, AI Assistant, Intent Data, and Autopilot cost extra on top.

👉 To learn more about Seamless AI pricing

Cognism: Quote-Only

  • Platinum: ~$15K/year platform + ~$1,500/user/year (basic features)

  • Diamond: ~$25K/year platform + ~$2,500/user/year (includes Diamond Data, API, advanced features)

  • Enterprise: $50K-$91K+/year with Diamonds-on-Demand, dedicated CSM

Everything is annual-only with 30-60 day cancellation windows. The median spend is $35,500/year.

Hidden cost to watch for: "Unlimited" access doesn't include bulk operations or API enrichment—those consume credits you'll need to buy separately. The 25-contact export limit catches people off guard.

👉 To learn more about Cognism pricing

FullEnrich: Actual Transparency

FullEnrich publishes straightforward pricing:

  • Starter: $29/month (500 credits) or $26/month annual

  • Pro: $55/month (1,500 credits) or $49/month annual

  • Scaleups: Custom $400-$50K/month plans

How it works: 1 email = 1 credit. 1 mobile = 10 credits. Landlines = free. Only pay when found—"not found" results are free.

Credits roll over 3-12 months. Monthly plans cancel anytime. Unlimited users on all plans.

👉 To learn more about FullEnrich pricing

💡 Verdict: Pricing

For small teams on tight budgets: Seamless.AI's Basic ($147/user/month) offers entry volume, but read that contract twice—the 60-day cancellation trap has burned a lot of people. Budget $1,764+/year per user.

For enterprises with real budgets: Cognism ($15K-$50K/year) delivers premium quality at premium prices. Negotiate hard, get everything in writing, and clarify all hidden credit costs before signing. Worth it if you need European data and verified phones.

For predictable costs without drama: FullEnrich ($29-$55/month) gives you transparent pricing, unlimited users, and credit rollover. No sales calls, no annual traps, no surprise bills. Cancel anytime on monthly plans.

👉 Start free with 50 enrichments and see how many more verified leads you unlock

3. Features That Actually Matter

Feature

Seamless.AI

Cognism

FullEnrich

Search Filters

30+ filters

40+ filters

N/A (enrichment only)

Intent Data

❌ Add-on only

✅ Bombora included (Diamond)

Org Charts

✅ Maps buying committees

Chrome Extension

✅ LinkedIn

✅ Sales Navigator

✅ 1-click enrichment

Waterfall

❌ Single source

❌ Single source

✅ 15+ providers

API

Enterprise only

All plans (costs extra)

All plans, unlimited

AI Copywriting

✅ Pitch Intelligence

Search & Targeting

Seamless.AI: 30+ filters, fast and simple search, Autopilot auto-list-building. Built for speed over sophistication. Great for SDRs, limiting for power users.

Cognism: 40+ filters, boolean search, Sales Triggers (funding events, exec hires), Bombora Intent Data, org chart mapping. Learning curve required but powerful for ABM.

FullEnrich: No search (it's enrichment only). You bring your leads, it finds their contact info.

Chrome Extensions

All three have extensions:

  • Seamless: Fast LinkedIn prospecting, occasionally buggy on Sales Navigator

  • Cognism: Shows Diamond Data phones, pushes to CRM/Outreach/Salesloft

  • FullEnrich: 1-click enrichment from LinkedIn, queries 15+ providers in seconds

Advanced Features

Seamless: AI copywriting tool (extra cost), Job Change Alerts

Cognism: Human-verified phones (Diamond Data), Diamonds-on-Demand (researchers find hard contacts), intent signals

FullEnrich: Waterfall enrichment (the whole point), triple email verification, source transparency

💡 Verdict: Features

For high-velocity US prospecting: Seamless.AI's fast search, 30+ filters, and AI copywriting help SDRs move quickly. Daily credit refreshes keep lists fresh. Best for teams prioritizing speed over sophistication.

For sophisticated ABM campaigns: Cognism's 40+ filters, Bombora intent data, org chart mapping, and Sales Triggers enable precision targeting. The learning curve pays off for enterprise sales teams running complex account-based plays.

For maximum email/phone coverage: FullEnrich's waterfall enrichment is the core differentiator—eliminating "not found" results by querying 15+ providers instead of one. Best for teams who've identified their ICP and need contact info, not search.


4. Integrations: Does It Work With Your Stack?

Integration Type

Seamless.AI

Cognism

FullEnrich

Native CRMs

Salesforce, HubSpot, Dynamics, Pipedrive, Zoho

Salesforce, HubSpot, Dynamics, Pipedrive, Zoho

Via Zapier/Make

Sales Engagement

Outreach, Salesloft, Mixmax

Outreach, Salesloft

Via Zapier/Make

API Access

Enterprise only (~100 req/min)

All plans (bulk costs credits)

All plans, unlimited users

No-Code Tools

Zapier

Zapier, Tray.io, Celigo

Zapier, Make, n8n, Clay

CRM Integrations

Seamless & Cognism: Both integrate natively with Salesforce, HubSpot, Dynamics 365, Pipedrive, Zoho. One-click exports to CRM.

FullEnrich: Uses Zapier, Make, n8n, and Clay for CRM connections. More flexible but requires setup.

API Access

Seamless: Enterprise tier only, ~100 req/min

Cognism: All plans but bulk operations cost extra credits

FullEnrich: All plans (even $29/month), unlimited users, asynchronous API

No-Code Tools

Seamless: Zapier

Cognism: Zapier, Tray.io, Celigo

FullEnrich: Zapier, Make, n8n, Clay (native integration)

Winner: FullEnrich for flexibility. API access on the cheapest plan is honestly wild.

💡 Verdict: Integrations

For turnkey CRM sync: Seamless.AI and Cognism both offer native integrations with major CRMs (Salesforce, HubSpot, Dynamics). One-click exports make it easy to push contacts directly without CSV gymnastics.

For API-first teams: FullEnrich provides unrestricted API access on all plans ($29+), while Seamless limits API to Enterprise tiers and Cognism charges extra credits for bulk API operations. Huge advantage for automation-focused teams.

For no-code automation: FullEnrich's native integrations with Zapier, Make, n8n, and Clay provide the most flexibility for building custom enrichment workflows that eliminate manual work entirely.


5. Compliance: Will This Get You Sued?

Compliance Factor

Seamless.AI

Cognism

FullEnrich

GDPR

Vague claims

✅ ICO registered, public DPA

✅ Aligned

DPA Available

Not public

✅ Yes, with EU SCCs

✅ On request

Breach History

None known

None known

None known

Legal Issues

Class-action lawsuit (2023)

Clean record

Clean record

Data Transparency

Limited

High (Article 14 notices)

Source-level visibility

DNC Scrubbing

❌ No mention

✅ 13+ global registries

Provider-dependent

Seamless.AI: Murky at Best

  • CCPA registered in California

  • GDPR compliance? Unclear. Terms say service "might not be suitable for use outside the US"

  • No public DPA

  • Has SOC 2 Type II but security ≠ privacy

  • Class-action lawsuit filed in 2023 (Spindler v. Seamless) for using personal data in marketing without consent

  • LinkedIn took action against their Chrome extension in 2023

Verdict: Fine for US prospecting. Risky for European campaigns.

Cognism: Built for GDPR

  • ICO registered as data broker

  • Public DPA with EU Standard Contractual Clauses

  • Article 14 notices (emails every contact that their data is in database)

  • ISO 27001, ISO 27701, SOC 2 Type II certified

  • Scrubs against 13+ global Do-Not-Call registries

  • Legitimate Interest as lawful basis (backed by legal assessments)

Verdict: Strongest compliance documentation in the industry. Worth it for regulated industries and European campaigns.

FullEnrich: Source Transparency

  • GDPR & CCPA aligned

  • Shows exactly which provider sourced each contact (audit trail)

  • DPA available on request

  • Clean legal record

  • Each provider handles compliance individually

Verdict: Source visibility lets you audit compliance per vendor and exclude risky sources.

💡 Verdict: Compliance

For US-only prospecting: Seamless.AI's CCPA registration and California data broker compliance is adequate, though GDPR ambiguity makes it risky for European campaigns. Fine if you're staying domestic.

For GDPR-compliant European campaigns: Cognism's ICO registration, public DPA, Article 14 notices, and DNC scrubbing provide the strongest compliance documentation. Worth the premium for regulated industries (finance, legal, healthcare) or European markets.

For multi-provider auditability: FullEnrich's source-level transparency lets you verify compliance per provider and exclude vendors that don't meet your standards. Critical for teams that need to demonstrate due diligence to regulators.

👉 Start free with 50 enrichments and see how many more verified leads you unlock

6. User Experience: Will Your Team Actually Use It?

UX Factor

Seamless.AI

Cognism

FullEnrich

Learning Curve

Low (30 min)

Medium (2-4 hours)

Very low (15 min)

Training Needed

Minimal

Moderate

Minimal

Support

Email, training (Pro+), CSM (Enterprise)

Live chat (20s response), CSM

Email, responsive human team

Cancellation

Difficult (60-day notice, limited mid-term)

Moderate (30-60 day notice)

Easy (cancel anytime monthly)

Time to Value

30 minutes

2-3 hours

15 minutes

Seamless.AI: Fast but Frustrating

The good: Interface is fast and intuitive. Chrome extension works great. New SDRs can start prospecting in 30 minutes.

The bad: Support quality drops after you sign. Cancellation is notoriously difficult—60-day written notice, live meeting required. One G2 reviewer: "Aggressive sales, terrible customer service once you're past the sale."

Cognism: Powerful but Complex

The good: Dedicated onboarding with CSM. Live chat support averages 20-second response. Advanced features justify the learning curve for enterprise teams.

The bad: Interface can be overwhelming initially. Still requires annual commitment with 30-60 day cancellation notice.

FullEnrich: Simple and Frictionless

The good: Upload CSV, click enrich, download results. 15 minutes to first value. Cancel anytime on monthly plans, no retention calls.

The bad: API-first design might feel "too technical" for non-technical users who prefer turnkey UIs.

💡 Verdict: User Experience

For fast onboarding with minimal training: Seamless.AI gets SDRs prospecting in 30 minutes with its intuitive interface. Just expect support quality to drop after you sign, and prepare for cancellation friction.

For enterprise teams needing hands-on support: Cognism's dedicated onboarding, live chat (20s response time), and CSMs justify the premium for complex deployments. Worth it if you need training and priority support.

For technical teams wanting simplicity: FullEnrich's straightforward upload-enrich-export workflow and frictionless cancellation (no retention calls) provide the lowest-friction experience. Best for RevOps teams who value flexibility over hand-holding.


🎯 When to Use Each Tool

Use Case

Best Choice

Why

US high-velocity prospecting

Seamless.AI

Daily credit refreshes, fast search, built for volume

European ABM campaigns

Cognism

180% more UK contacts, 98% phone accuracy, GDPR compliant

Global coverage

FullEnrich

15+ providers eliminate geographic gaps

Tight budget (<$5K/year)

FullEnrich

$348-$660/year vs $1,764+ (Seamless) or $15K+ (Cognism)

API-first automation

FullEnrich

API on all plans vs Enterprise-only (Seamless/Cognism)

Phone-heavy campaigns

Cognism

Diamond Data = 98% accuracy, 87% connect rates

International prospecting

FullEnrich

Dynamically picks best providers by region

Compliance-sensitive

Cognism or FullEnrich

Cognism for GDPR docs, FullEnrich for source transparency

Low match rates on current tool

FullEnrich

Waterfall averages 80%+ vs single-source 60-70%

No annual commitment

FullEnrich

Month-to-month available, cancel anytime

Why Smart GTM leaders are switching to Waterfall Enrichment

Instead of checking one database, solution like full enrich use waterfall enrichment queries 15+ providers sequentially until it finds complete contact info.

What you get with FullEnrich:

80%+ match rates globally by checking 15+ sources instead of one database

$29-$55/month vs $1,764-$50,000/year for single-source competitors

Unlimited users across all plans—no per-seat penalties

Triple email verification across 3 services keeps bounce rates under 2%

Credits roll over 3-12 months—no "use it or lose it" waste

Only pay for found contacts—"not found" results consume zero credits

Source transparency shows which provider found each contact for compliance auditing

Most businesses waste 20-30% of their data budget on single-source vendors that miss half their target market.

👉 Start free with 50 enrichments and see how many more verified leads you unlock


The Verdict: Which Should You Choose?

Seamless.AI works for US-focused teams who need volume fast and can stomach 15-20% bounce rates. The interface is quick and the Chrome extension is solid. But the annual contract trap (60-day cancellation notice) has burned many buyers, and data quality outside North America is weak.

Best for: High-velocity US SDR teams who manually verify contacts before big campaigns.

Skip if: You need European data, GDPR compliance, or hate being locked into brutal annual contracts.

Cognism delivers premium European data with exceptional phone accuracy (98% on Diamond Data) and strong GDPR compliance. You're paying $15K-$50K/year for quality, not volume. If your market is UK, France, or Germany and you need verified mobiles for cold calling, Cognism justifies the cost.

Best for: Enterprise ABM campaigns targeting Europe with serious budgets.

Skip if: You're primarily targeting North America or APAC, have budget under $15K, or don't need the advanced features.

Happy prospecting!


FAQ: Your Questions Answered

Does Cognism use AI?

Yes, but that's not what makes it special. Cognism uses AI for email verification and matching algorithms. But their real differentiator is human-verified phone data—actual researchers manually verify mobile numbers, which is why they hit 98% accuracy. AI can't do that.

Is Seamless.AI worth it?

Worth it if: You're US-focused, need high volume quickly, and can tolerate 15-20% bounce rates.

Not worth it if: You target Europe/APAC, need GDPR compliance, or hate being locked into annual contracts with 60-day cancellation notices.

The data quality issues (18-23% bounce rates) are rough, but the interface is fast and the Chrome extension is solid for LinkedIn prospecting.

How much do Seamless.AI sales reps make?

This question comes up because people are researching their aggressive sales tactics. Based on industry reports, B2B SaaS sales reps typically earn $60K-$90K base + commission, with total comp around $100K-$150K.

Why it matters: Expect persistent follow-ups and hard-sell tactics during your evaluation. Multiple users report "aggressive sales" and frequent outreach even after declining demos.

Is Cognism worth it?

Worth it if: You're targeting Europe (UK/France/Germany), need phone-verified mobiles for cold calling, have $15K+ budget, or need strong GDPR documentation.

Not worth it if: You're primarily targeting North America (ZoomInfo has better US coverage), have budget under $10K/year, or prospecting in APAC/LatAm where Cognism has gaps.

The platform's sophisticated features (intent signals, org charts) also require training—small teams without RevOps support may underutilize expensive contracts.

Find

Emails

and

Phone

Numbers

of Your Prospects

Company & Contact Enrichment

20+ providers

20+

Verified Phones & Emails

GDPR & CCPA Aligned

50 Free Leads

Reach

prospects

you couldn't reach before

Find emails & phone numbers of your prospects using 15+ data sources.

Don't choose a B2B data vendor. Choose them all.

Direct Phone numbers

Work Emails

Trusted by thousands of the fastest-growing agencies and B2B companies:

Reach

prospects

you couldn't reach before

Find emails & phone numbers of your prospects using 15+ data sources.

Don't choose a B2B data vendor. Choose them all.

Direct Phone numbers

Work Emails

Trusted by thousands of the fastest-growing agencies and B2B companies:

Reach

prospects

you couldn't reach before

Find emails & phone numbers of your prospects using 15+ data sources. Don't choose a B2B data vendor. Choose them all.

Direct Phone numbers

Work Emails

Trusted by thousands of the fastest-growing agencies and B2B companies: