The Best B2B Data Providers for Germany, Austria and Switzerland (DACH) in 2026
In DACH, data is only half the problem - Germany and Austria have some of Europe's strictest rules on unsolicited email. Cognism suits enterprise phone-led teams, Sendburg and Apollo are the self-serve options, and Sales Navigator is essential for LinkedIn-first outreach.
Germany, Austria and Switzerland are high-value but demanding markets: formal business culture, many Mittelstand companies with little online footprint, and strict rules on email marketing. We compared the tools DACH sales teams use for Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Vienna and Zurich.
Disclosure: Sendburg is our product. We have tried to be fair - where another tool is the better fit, we say so. Prices are from each vendor's public pricing page or widely reported figures as of November 3, 2026; they change often, so check before you buy.
How we compared
- Coverage of the region's companies and decision-makers (we tested searches in the main business cities)
- Email accuracy: is there a verified-email filter, and what happens when an email bounces
- Price for a small team, and whether there is a usable free plan
- Filters that matter for local prospecting (city, industry, title, company size)
- Phone numbers and how much they cost
- Data-protection posture for the region's laws
At a glance
| Tool | Best for | Free plan | Paid from | Phone numbers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sendburg | Self-serve teams that want DACH data without an annual contract | Yes - 10,000 credits/month | $35/month (Growth) | Yes (extra credits) |
| Cognism | EMEA phone-verified mobiles for enterprise teams | No (demo) | Custom annual contract | Yes (phone-verified) |
| Apollo.io | An all-in-one database plus sequencing | Yes - limited credits | $49/user/month (annual) | Yes (extra credits) |
| Lusha | Quick direct dials from a browser extension | Yes - 40 credits/month | About $49.90/month (Starter, monthly) | Yes (10 credits each) |
| ZoomInfo | Large enterprise teams selling into North America | No (demo / trial on request) | Custom annual contract | Yes |
| LinkedIn Sales Navigator | Finding the right people and job-change alerts | Free trial | Monthly subscription | No |
1. Sendburg - best for self-serve teams that want dach data without an annual contract
Sendburg has 1.89M+ contacts in Germany (Berlin 147K+, Munich 131K+, Frankfurt 84K+), 735K+ in Switzerland (Zurich 59K+) and 210K+ in Austria, with 350K+ at director level and above. Filter by city, industry, title and seniority, restrict to verified emails, and get bounced-email credits back automatically.
Strengths
- Free plan large enough for real prospecting, not just a trial
- City, industry, title and seniority filters with a verified-email filter
- Credit refunded automatically if an unlocked email bounces
- Month-to-month plans, no annual contract
- City pages for Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt and Zurich
Watch out for
- Newer brand with fewer third-party reviews than Apollo or ZoomInfo
- Phone numbers cost more credits than emails
- No built-in email sequencer - lists go to Instantly, Smartlead or your CRM in one click
2. Cognism - best for emea phone-verified mobiles for enterprise teams
Cognism is strong in DACH for phone-verified mobiles and do-not-call screening - a good fit for phone-led enterprise teams, given the email restrictions.
Strengths
- Strong EMEA focus, especially UK and Europe
- Phone-verified mobile numbers
- Compliance tooling (do-not-call screening)
Watch out for
- No public pricing; contracts are commonly reported around $15,000-25,000+ a year for small teams
- Sales-led buying process
- Less depth in some emerging markets - ask for a sample
3. Apollo.io - best for an all-in-one database plus sequencing
Apollo covers larger German companies and tech well; test Mittelstand firms and traditional industries before committing.
Strengths
- Very large global database
- Sequences, dialer and CRM sync in one tool
- Well-known, lots of tutorials and integrations
Watch out for
- Credits are per seat and run out quickly on larger teams
- Mobile numbers use many more credits than emails
- Data quality outside North America and Western Europe varies by market - test a sample first
4. Lusha - best for quick direct dials from a browser extension
Lusha is handy for one-off direct dials from LinkedIn and Xing-style workflows; small allowances make it a lookup tool.
Strengths
- Simple Chrome extension for LinkedIn and company websites
- Known for direct-dial phone numbers
- Easy to start, no sales call needed
Watch out for
- Small credit allowances - phone reveals use 10 credits
- Fewer list-building filters than full databases
- Costs climb fast at volume
5. ZoomInfo - best for large enterprise teams selling into north america
ZoomInfo fits global enterprises with DACH as one region; for a DACH-only team, regional or self-serve tools usually cost much less.
Strengths
- Deep North American coverage and company data
- Intent data, org charts and many integrations
- Mature enterprise admin and compliance
Watch out for
- Annual contracts, commonly reported in the five-figure range per year
- Overkill for small teams
- Coverage is strongest in North America
6. LinkedIn Sales Navigator - best for finding the right people and job-change alerts
LinkedIn (and Xing in some sectors) is how many DACH teams open conversations - Sales Navigator is the best way to find and follow the right people.
Strengths
- The most complete view of who works where
- Lead and account alerts, including job changes
- Strong in every market where LinkedIn is used
Watch out for
- No email addresses or phone numbers - pair it with a contact database
- Exports are restricted
- Per-seat pricing adds up
DACH-specific tips
- Formats: from our study of verified work emails - Germany: 72.9% first.last@, 5.0% flast@, 4.5% first-name-only; Switzerland: 76.8% first.last@, 5.4% flast@, 5.1% first-name-only.
- Germany and Austria generally require prior consent for marketing emails - even to businesses. Many teams open with LinkedIn or a phone call instead and get legal advice before emailing.
- Use formal salutations (Sie) and German-language content for most Mittelstand buyers.
- Filter by city and industry - the Ruhr, Munich and Frankfurt have very different company mixes.
Data protection
GDPR applies across the EU, plus national rules: Germany's Act against Unfair Competition (UWG, section 7) and Austria's Telecommunications Act generally require prior consent for marketing emails, including to businesses; Switzerland has its revised Data Protection Act (2023) and unfair-competition rules on mass advertising. Get legal advice before emailing at scale.
Which one should you choose?
Testing the market first: Run 50-100 of your target accounts through Sendburg's and Apollo's free plans and compare verified emails found and bounce rate.
Phone-led enterprise team: Cognism.
LinkedIn-first outreach: Sales Navigator plus a database for verified contact details.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best B2B data provider for Germany?
Cognism for phone-verified mobiles at enterprise budgets; Sendburg or Apollo for self-serve teams. Because of strict email rules, plan a LinkedIn- and phone-first approach.
Can I send cold B2B emails in Germany?
Germany's UWG generally requires prior consent for marketing emails, including to businesses. Many teams lead with LinkedIn or phone and get legal advice before emailing.
Is there a free B2B contact database for DACH?
Yes. Sendburg's free plan includes 10,000 credits a month with no card and covers 2.8M+ contacts there. Apollo, Lusha and Hunter also have free tiers with smaller limits.