The Best B2B Data Providers for the UK in 2026 (Honest Comparison)
For UK prospecting, Cognism is the enterprise choice for phone-verified mobiles, while Sendburg and Apollo are the self-serve options with free plans and verified emails. Lusha helps with quick direct dials and Sales Navigator with mapping accounts. Whatever you pick, follow UK GDPR and PECR and screen phone numbers against TPS / CTPS.
The UK is one of the best-covered B2B markets, which makes the choice less about who has data and more about accuracy, phones, price and compliance. We compared the tools UK sales and recruitment teams use for London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Bristol and Edinburgh.
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 UK 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 uk data without an annual contract
Sendburg has 6.7M+ UK contacts, including 1M+ in London and 119K+ in Manchester, and over 1M director-level and above. Filter by city, industry, title and seniority, restrict to verified emails, and get the credit back automatically if an unlocked email bounces. 10,000 free credits a month.
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 London, Manchester and more
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 built for the UK and Europe, with phone-verified mobiles and do-not-call screening. It is the strongest option for phone-led UK teams with an enterprise budget.
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 is widely used by UK SaaS teams for its database plus sequences. Coverage is strong for tech and larger companies; test traditional sectors and SMEs.
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 a quick way to get UK direct dials from LinkedIn one profile at a time. Small credit allowances make it a lookup tool, not a list builder.
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 enterprise teams where the UK is one region of many. For a UK-only team, a regional or self-serve tool usually costs far 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 is heavily used in the UK, so Sales Navigator is the best way to map buying committees and catch job changes - pair it with a database for contact details.
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
UK-specific tips
- first.last@ is common but not universal. From our study of verified UK work emails - United Kingdom: 61.4% first.last@, 9.4% flast@, 13.7% first-name-only. Verify before sending.
- PECR lets you email corporate subscribers (limited companies, LLPs, public bodies) for B2B without prior consent, if you identify yourself and offer an opt-out - but sole traders and some partnerships are treated like individuals.
- Screen numbers against TPS and CTPS before calling.
- Filter by city: London, Manchester and the Thames Valley have very different industry mixes.
Data protection
UK B2B outreach is governed by UK GDPR (legitimate interest is the usual basis) and PECR for electronic marketing. Keep messages relevant to the recipient's role, identify yourself, include an easy opt-out and honour it, and screen calls against the TPS / CTPS registers.
Which one should you choose?
Small team or startup: Sendburg's free plan (10,000 credits/month) or Apollo's free plan.
Phone-led team with budget: Cognism.
You want sequences in one tool: Apollo.
Global enterprise with the UK as one region: ZoomInfo or Cognism.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best B2B data provider in the UK?
Cognism for phone-verified mobiles at enterprise budgets; Sendburg or Apollo for self-serve teams that want verified emails and a free plan. Test your own target accounts first.
Is cold emailing legal in the UK?
Yes for corporate subscribers under PECR, if you identify yourself and offer an opt-out, and you have a legitimate interest under UK GDPR. Sole traders and some partnerships need consent.
Is there a free UK B2B database?
Sendburg's free plan includes 10,000 credits a month with no card and covers 6.7M+ UK contacts. Apollo, Lusha and Hunter have smaller free tiers.
Do I need to check TPS before calling businesses?
Yes - screen against the TPS for individuals and the CTPS for businesses before making marketing calls.
