ContactOut vs The Companies API: Data Enrichment Tool Comparison

ContactOut vs The Companies API: Data Enrichment Tool Comparison

Finding the right data enrichment tool can directly impact your revenue pipeline. ContactOut and The Companies API both aim to solve the same core problem (finding accurate contact data for target accounts), yet they approach it differently. Let's break down the specifics.

The Quick Answer

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, while The Companies API lists domain to company profile enrichment and access to all 50m companies. A capability both offer can appear under different names, so read both feature lists below.

Both start at the same price point ($0/mo), so the decision comes down to features and workflow fit.

If your priority is finding accurate contact data for target accounts, both tools target it. The right choice depends on your budget, team size, and the specific capabilities you need most.

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.

The Companies API is The Companies API is a company enrichment API that turns a domain name into a structured company profile with firmographics such as industry, employee count, founding year and revenue across 50 million companies. Plans are monthly credit allowances with a request-rate limit.

The two platforms take different approaches to solving the same core challenge.

Pricing Comparison

ContactOut Pricing (as of September 2026)

Source: ContactOut Pricing

The Companies API Pricing (as of September 2026)

Source: The Companies API Pricing

Pricing Analysis

Both platforms start at the same $0/mo price point. The decision comes down to which feature set and tier structure works better for your expected usage.

Both platforms offer free tiers, so you can test each one before spending anything.

Features Breakdown

ContactOut lists

• 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
• and 3 more listed below

The Companies API lists

• Domain to company profile enrichment
• Access to all 50M companies
• Firmographics: industry, employee count, founding year, revenue
• Company lists
• Additional credits at a per-1,000 rate
• Rate-limited API by plan

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

The Companies API Key Features

• Domain to company profile enrichment
• Access to all 50M companies
• Firmographics: industry, employee count, founding year, revenue
• Company lists
• Additional credits at a per-1,000 rate
• Rate-limited API by plan

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
• Email campaigns
• AI email writer
• Data enrichment
• List builder
• Search portal
• Bulk license (700M+ profiles on Team)
• CSV export

Listed only by The Companies API

• Domain to company profile enrichment
• Access to all 50M companies
• Firmographics: industry, employee count, founding year, revenue
• Company lists
• Additional credits at a per-1,000 rate
• Rate-limited API by plan

Integration Ecosystem

ContactOut Integrations

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

The Companies API Integrations

The Companies API connects with: .

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

Use Case Recommendations

Best Fit for ContactOut

• Budget-conscious teams looking for an affordable data enrichment tool
• Teams that need a wide feature set (9 capabilities listed)
• Organizations with complex tech stacks needing broad integration support (8 integrations)
• Teams that want to start free and scale up as needs grow
• Enterprise buyers who prefer custom pricing and dedicated support

Best Fit for The Companies API

• Budget-conscious teams looking for an affordable data enrichment tool
• Teams that want to start free and scale up as needs grow
• Revenue operations teams building targeted prospect lists
• Marketing teams enriching CRM data for segmentation

Feature Comparison Summary

Getting Started Checklist

1. Define your B2B lead data and contact enrichment requirements and monthly budget
2. Estimate your expected data credits or contact lookups 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 and The Companies API both serve the B2B lead data and contact enrichment market. ContactOut offers a more accessible entry point, while The Companies API starts at $0/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 The Companies API for current information.