Tool Comparisons

    ContactOut vs Method CRM: Data Enrichment Tool vs CRM Platform Comparison

    Compare ContactOut (data enrichment tool) and Method CRM (CRM platform) side by side. See pricing, features, and integrations to decide which one, or both, your stack needs.

    Side-by-side panels: ContactOut vs Method CRM (Data Enrichment Tool, CRM Platform)
    August 31, 2026Updated September 4, 20266 min read
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    The short answer

    ContactOut is a data enrichment tool for finding B2B contact data, with plans ranging from a free tier to $99/mo for Email + Phone; Method CRM is a CRM platform for managing customers and sales pipelines, starting at $35/mo. Teams needing contact data choose ContactOut, teams needing pipeline tracking choose Method CRM, and some run both.

    Key takeaways

    • ContactOut's entry plan is free while Method CRM's entry-level CRM Quick Start plan starts at $35/mo.
    • ContactOut's Email + Phone plan costs $99/mo and includes unlimited emails and unlimited phone lookups.
    • Method CRM's top published tier, CRM Enterprise, costs $97/mo.
    • Both tools integrate with Zapier, Gmail, and Outlook, but ContactOut also connects to Salesforce, HubSpot, Greenhouse, Lever, and Bullhorn.
    • ContactOut's Team plan includes a bulk license covering more than 700 million profiles.

    Reviewed and updated September 4, 2026

    ContactOut vs Method CRM: Data Enrichment Tool vs CRM Platform Comparison

    ContactOut is a data enrichment tool; Method CRM is a CRM platform. Whether you need one, the other, or both depends on which part of the workflow you are buying for: B2B lead data and contact enrichment on one side, customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking on the other. This guide lays out what each vendor publishes.

    The Quick Answer

    ContactOut is a data enrichment tool for B2B lead data and contact enrichment; Method CRM is a CRM platform for customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking. By each vendor's own wording, ContactOut lists one user per company limit on free, email and email + phone plans and browser extension for linkedin, and Method CRM lists customer management with a 360-degree customer view and customer portals.

    ContactOut offers a lower entry point at $0/mo compared to Method CRM at $35/mo.

    If your priority is finding accurate contact data for target accounts, ContactOut is the one built for it; for organizing contacts, tracking deals, and forecasting revenue, that is Method CRM. Many teams run one of each.

    Understanding the Core Difference

    ContactOut is Email and phone finder with a LinkedIn-focused browser extension, AI-powered email campaigns, and a 700M+ profile bulk license on the Team plan.

    Method CRM is Method CRM is a customizable CRM for QuickBooks and Xero users that syncs customer, estimate, invoice and payment data with the accounting system. It adds lead management, customer portals, email campaigns, workflow automation and job management for growing businesses.

    Both platforms offer email campaigns. Where they diverge is in their approach to pricing tiers and advanced capabilities.

    Pricing Comparison

    Pricing ladder: Pricing Comparison (ContactOut, Method CRM, Free, CRM Quick Start)

    FreeContactOut entry plan

    Free

    $35/moMethod CRM entry plan

    CRM Quick Start

    Entry pricing for ContactOut and Method CRM, as published on each vendor's own pricing page.

    ContactOut Pricing (as of September 2026)

    PlanPriceContactsEmails
    FreeFree5 emails, 5 phones and 5 exports per day5 emails / day
    Email$49/mo300 exports / monthUnlimited emails
    Email + Phone$99/mo600 exports / monthUnlimited emails and unlimited phones
    Team / APIContact SalesBulk license, 700M+ profilesContact us

    Source: ContactOut Pricing

    Method CRM Pricing (as of September 2026)

    PlanPrice
    CRM Quick Start$35/mo
    CRM Pro$59/mo
    CRM Enterprise$97/mo
    CRM Multi-entityContact Sales

    Source: Method CRM Pricing

    Pricing Analysis

    ContactOut is more affordable at the entry level ($0/mo vs $35/mo). For teams with tight budgets or those just getting started with B2B lead data and contact enrichment and customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking, this price difference matters.

    ContactOut includes a free tier, letting you test the platform before committing financially.

    Features Breakdown

    ContactOut lists
    • One user per company limit on Free, Email and Email + Phone plans
    • Browser extension for LinkedIn
    • AI email writer
    • Data enrichment
    • List builder
    • Search portal
    • and 2 more listed below
    Both tools
    • Email campaigns
    Method CRM lists
    • Customer management with a 360-degree customer view
    • Customer portals
    • Lead management with web-to-lead forms
    • Estimates and proposals with online approvals
    • Invoicing and online payments
    • Workflow automation
    • and 3 more listed below
    What ContactOut and Method CRM each list on their own pages. The split is by exact wording, so a capability both offer can appear on both sides under different names.

    ContactOut Key Features

    • One user per company limit on Free, Email and Email + Phone plans
    • Browser extension for LinkedIn
    • Email campaigns
    • AI email writer
    • Data enrichment
    • List builder
    • Search portal
    • Bulk license (700M+ profiles on Team)
    • CSV export

    Method CRM Key Features

    • Customer management with a 360-degree customer view
    • Customer portals
    • Email campaigns
    • Lead management with web-to-lead forms
    • Estimates and proposals with online approvals
    • Invoicing and online payments
    • Workflow automation
    • Job and work order management
    • Time tracking, scheduling and dispatching
    • Mobile app

    Shared Capabilities

    Both ContactOut and Method CRM include:

    • Email campaigns

    The two lists below are a diff of each vendor's own feature list by exact wording, so a capability both tools offer can appear on either side under a different name.

    Listed only by ContactOut

    • One user per company limit on Free, Email and Email + Phone plans
    • Browser extension for LinkedIn
    • AI email writer
    • Data enrichment
    • List builder
    • Search portal
    • Bulk license (700M+ profiles on Team)
    • CSV export

    Listed only by Method CRM

    • Customer management with a 360-degree customer view
    • Customer portals
    • Lead management with web-to-lead forms
    • Estimates and proposals with online approvals
    • Invoicing and online payments
    • Workflow automation
    • Job and work order management
    • Time tracking, scheduling and dispatching
    • Mobile app

    Integration Ecosystem

    Integration grid: Integration Ecosystem (ContactOut, Method CRM, Zapier, Gmail)

    ContactOut Integrations

    ContactOut connects with: Salesforce, HubSpot, Greenhouse, Lever, Bullhorn, Zapier, Gmail, Outlook.

    Method CRM Integrations

    Method CRM connects with: QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, QuickBooks Enterprise, Xero, Gmail, Google Calendar, Outlook, Zapier.

    Shared Integrations

    Both tools integrate with: Zapier, Gmail, Outlook.

    Integrations listed only by ContactOut: Salesforce, HubSpot, Greenhouse, Lever, Bullhorn.

    Integrations listed only by Method CRM: QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, QuickBooks Enterprise, Xero, Google Calendar.

    Use Case Recommendations

    Best Fit for ContactOut

    • Budget-conscious teams looking for an affordable data enrichment tool
    • Teams that want to start free and scale up as needs grow
    • Enterprise buyers who prefer custom pricing and dedicated support

    Best Fit for Method CRM

    • Budget-conscious teams looking for an affordable CRM platform
    • Teams that need a wide feature set (10 capabilities listed)
    • Enterprise buyers who prefer custom pricing and dedicated support

    Feature Comparison Summary

    FeatureContactOutMethod CRM
    Starting PriceFree$35/mo
    Top Tier PriceContact SalesContact Sales
    Total Features Listed910
    Integrations88
    Founded2015N/A

    Getting Started Checklist

    Before-and-after steps: Getting Started Checklist (Define B2B lead, Estimate expected data, List integrations, Sign up)

    1. Define your B2B lead data and contact enrichment and customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking requirements and monthly budget
    2. Estimate your expected data credits or contact lookups and contacts and deals to find the right tier
    3. List the integrations your team currently relies on
    4. Sign up for free trials or demos of both platforms
    5. Run a small test with each tool before making a commitment
    6. Evaluate the onboarding experience and support quality

    Final Thoughts

    ContactOut serves the B2B lead data and contact enrichment side of an outbound stack and Method CRM the customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking side. ContactOut offers a more accessible entry point, while Method CRM starts at $35/mo. Your decision should weigh pricing against the specific features that matter most for your workflow.

    Start with a trial of each to see which platform fits your team's daily process. The best tool is the one your team actually uses consistently.

    Pricing and features verified as of September 2026. Visit ContactOut and Method CRM for current information.

    Questions

    Frequently asked questions.

    Frequently asked questions
    What's the main difference between ContactOut and Method CRM?
    ContactOut is a data enrichment tool built for B2B lead data and contact enrichment, while Method CRM is a CRM platform built for customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking. ContactOut focuses on finding contact data, while Method CRM focuses on organizing contacts, tracking deals, and forecasting revenue.
    How much does ContactOut cost compared to Method CRM?
    ContactOut starts free, with paid tiers at $49/mo for Email and $99/mo for Email + Phone, plus a Team/API plan available by contacting sales. Method CRM starts at $35/mo for CRM Quick Start, then $59/mo for CRM Pro and $97/mo for CRM Enterprise, with a Multi-entity plan available by contacting sales.
    Do ContactOut and Method CRM integrate with the same tools?
    They share three integrations: Zapier, Gmail, and Outlook. Beyond that, ContactOut also connects with Salesforce, HubSpot, Greenhouse, Lever, and Bullhorn, while Method CRM connects with QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, QuickBooks Enterprise, Xero, and Google Calendar.
    Can I use both ContactOut and Method CRM together?
    Yes, the article notes that many teams run one of each. ContactOut is used for finding accurate contact data for target accounts, while Method CRM is used for organizing contacts, tracking deals, and forecasting revenue, so the two cover different parts of the same workflow.
    What features does ContactOut have that Method CRM doesn't list?
    ContactOut lists a browser extension for LinkedIn, an AI email writer, data enrichment, a list builder, a search portal, a bulk license covering 700M+ profiles on the Team plan, and CSV export. None of these appear on Method CRM's published feature list, which instead focuses on customer and job management.
    ContactOutMethod CRMData Enrichment ToolCRM PlatformComparisondata-enrichmentcrm
    Byline

    About the author.

    Tim Carden

    Tim Carden is CMO / CTO at RevenueFlow, which builds and operates outbound revenue engines for B2B companies. Studied at McGill University.

    Tim Carden · CMO / CTO

    Connect on LinkedIn →
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