Choosing between Closely and Cognism depends on your priorities: data accuracy or automation with compliance. Closely shines with verified data, AI personalization, and multichannel campaign management. It’s ideal for US-based teams focused on precise outreach and LinkedIn/email integrations. Plans start at $49/month, scaling with team size and usage needs.
Cognism, on the other hand, emphasizes automation and compliance, making it a strong option for businesses working in regulated industries or across international markets. It ensures GDPR compliance, global data coverage, and advanced AI tools for prospecting and engagement.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Closely | Cognism |
|---|---|---|
| Data Quality | Verified contact data, lead scoring, and enrichment tools | Automated data cleansing, compliance-focused |
| Automation | AI-driven LinkedIn/email outreach, centralized dashboard | AI-powered lead generation and engagement |
| Compliance | Basic data protection features | GDPR and international compliance built-in |
| Pricing | $49–$350/month, credit-based | Custom, varies by package |
| Integrations | HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive, LinkedIn | Salesforce, HubSpot, MS Dynamics, more |
| Global Reach | Focus on US markets | Extensive international data coverage |
Closely is perfect for teams prioritizing accurate data and flexible outreach tools, while Cognism suits businesses needing compliance and automation for global operations.
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Closely: Data Quality and Multichannel Automation
Closely places a strong emphasis on maintaining accurate data while combining verified contact details with efficient campaign management tools. This makes it a go-to solution for sales teams that depend on reliable information to drive their outreach efforts.
Data Enrichment and Lead Scoring
Closely provides tools like email and phone finders, alongside LinkedIn-based live data enrichment, to ensure contact details are both verified and up-to-date. This minimizes issues like email bounces or wasted calls to inactive numbers. By keeping databases fresh in real time, sales teams can avoid the pitfalls of outdated information.
The platform also offers lead scoring capabilities, allowing teams to zero in on the prospects most likely to convert. By automatically prioritizing high-potential leads, sales reps can focus their energy where it counts most.
Additionally, Closely’s web research feature gathers extra details about prospects and companies, enabling personalized outreach without requiring manual effort. This combination of enriched data and automation provides a strong foundation for its multichannel campaign tools.
Multichannel Campaign Features
Closely simplifies outreach by managing LinkedIn and email campaigns from a single dashboard. Its AI-powered personalization tailors messages for each prospect using their profile and company data, ensuring outreach feels personal and engaging – key factors in boosting response rates.
A unified inbox brings together replies from both LinkedIn and email, making it easier for sales reps to track conversations seamlessly across channels. This centralized system ensures no lead gets overlooked.
For performance insights, Closely tracks metrics like open rates, response rates, and conversions. These analytics help teams identify which templates and sequences work best, enabling them to refine their strategies based on real-world results.
These tools, combined with Closely’s focus on data accuracy, make it a valuable resource for US-based sales teams.
Pricing and Value for US-Based Users
Closely offers four pricing plans, ranging from $49 to $350 per month, designed to fit different team sizes and outreach needs. Its credit-based system provides flexibility for tasks like finding emails, discovering phone numbers, and using AI-powered personalization.
- Starter Plan ($49 per month): Includes one LinkedIn account, unlimited email accounts, and 1,000 monthly credits. White-label capabilities are also part of this plan.
- Growth Plan ($127 per month): Adds more LinkedIn accounts and increases monthly credits, supporting up to 750 emails or 150 phone numbers.
- Essential Plan ($205 per month): Offers even higher credit limits, covering up to 1,250 emails or 250 phone numbers.
- Custom Plan ($350 per month): Designed for larger teams, this plan supports up to 10 LinkedIn accounts and provides flexible credit allocation for multichannel campaigns.
All prices are listed in US dollars, giving teams predictable monthly costs. By improving email deliverability and cutting down on manual research time, Closely delivers a solid return on investment for sales teams looking to streamline their outreach.
Cognism: Automation and Compliance Focus
Cognism emphasizes streamlining workflows and ensuring strict adherence to data protection regulations. By integrating automation with compliance, the platform helps businesses scale their outreach while safeguarding sensitive information.
AI-Powered Automation Tools
Cognism simplifies lead generation and data management with its AI-driven automation tools. The platform uses machine learning to identify prospects based on set criteria, automatically generating prospect lists without the need for manual research.
To ensure accuracy, Cognism includes automated data cleansing that removes outdated entries and flags inaccuracies, keeping databases up-to-date with minimal intervention.
For personalized outreach, the platform analyzes prospect profiles and suggests customized messaging. It also manages engagement sequences, adjusting follow-up timing based on how prospects interact with previous communications.
An additional feature is its ability to monitor role or company changes among prospects, notifying sales teams when re-engagement opportunities arise.
Compliance and International Data Coverage
Cognism goes beyond automation by making compliance a core focus. The platform is designed to meet GDPR and other international privacy standards, ensuring that data collection, storage, and processing align with regulatory requirements. This is particularly beneficial for businesses operating across multiple regions.
Its global data coverage spans numerous countries, with region-specific compliance measures built into the system. For U.S.-based companies with international operations, this means access to verified contact data that complies with local privacy laws, eliminating the need for separate compliance systems.
Cognism also employs consent-based data collection practices, ensuring that all contact information is acquired through legitimate means. Each contact’s acquisition is documented with audit trails, providing the necessary records for compliance reporting.
The platform includes automated data retention controls that remove contacts after a specified period, supporting "right to be forgotten" regulations under various privacy laws. These features lighten the administrative workload for sales and legal teams while ensuring compliance.
For businesses managing cross-border data transfers, Cognism provides built-in safeguards to ensure compliance with the rules of both the source and destination countries. This automation reduces the need for manual checks when entering new international markets, making expansion more efficient and secure.
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Feature-by-Feature Comparison
The table below provides a side-by-side look at key features offered by Closely, while noting that detailed public information about Cognism’s capabilities is limited.
Feature Comparison Table
| Feature Category | Closely | Cognism |
|---|---|---|
| Data Quality | Advanced tools for data enrichment, verified email/phone finder, lead scoring, and web research | Details not disclosed |
| LinkedIn Automation | AI-driven LinkedIn outreach with personalized messaging | Details not disclosed |
| Multichannel Campaigns | Unified dashboard for managing LinkedIn and email campaigns, supporting unlimited email accounts | Details not disclosed |
| AI Personalization | Scalable AI-powered personalization with credit-based plans (500–2,500 personalizations/month) | Details not disclosed |
| CRM Integrations | Works with HubSpot CRM, Salesforce, Pipedrive, LinkedIn, and tools like Vidyard and RepliQ | Salesforce, HubSpot, MS Dynamics, Pipedrive, Salesloft, Outreach, Zapier |
| Compliance Features | Standard data protection with CRM synchronization | Details not disclosed |
| International Coverage | Focuses on core markets with verified contact data | Details not disclosed |
| Pricing Structure | Flexible credit-based plans ranging from $49 to $350 per month | Varies by package |
| Team Management | Includes built-in tools for team management and white-label options | Details not disclosed |
| Analytics & Reporting | Advanced analytics, performance tracking, and a unified inbox for campaign replies | Details not disclosed |
Closely stands out with its extensive integration capabilities, connecting with 18 different tools to streamline sales and marketing workflows. Its credit-based pricing model – starting at $49/month for 1,000 credits – offers flexibility, making it adaptable to different business needs. These features underline Closely’s focus on delivering tailored solutions, making it a strong contender for businesses prioritizing data quality and automation in their operations.
Use Cases and Platform Selection
When it comes to choosing the right platform, it’s all about matching your team’s unique challenges with the right mix of data quality and automation tools. Let’s break it down.
Choosing Based on Data Quality and Automation Needs
Start by focusing on platforms that provide verified and up-to-date contact data – this is a game-changer for reducing email bounces and navigating compliance hurdles. For teams prioritizing accuracy, platforms offering features like real-time data validation and verified contact information can make a huge difference. For example, verified mobile numbers can triple connect rates, while accurate data verification can improve email deliverability by 10–15%. One user even reported doubling their meetings after switching to a platform with higher data quality standards[1].
Automation needs vary depending on your team’s size and complexity. Smaller teams often benefit from straightforward, plug-and-play tools, while medium-sized teams may need advanced features like multi-account management and real-time tracking. These tools can save up to 10 hours per user weekly, freeing up time for more strategic work[2].
Geographic focus is another critical factor. If your team is targeting Europe, look for platforms with strong European data coverage and GDPR compliance features. For US-focused teams, platforms delivering 90% accuracy on US data and seamless CRM integrations with popular tools like Salesforce are key[3].
Budget matters too. Smaller teams with predictable outreach volumes can often work with credit-based pricing models starting at around $49 per month. Larger organizations, on the other hand, might prefer custom pricing structures that scale with their usage and team size.
By aligning these criteria with your goals, you can choose a platform that’s tailored to your sales and marketing strategies.
Platform Optimization for Sales and Marketing
Once you’ve chosen a platform, optimizing it for your outreach strategy is the next step. Here’s how to make it work harder for you.
First, align the platform with your outreach goals. For instance, AI-powered LinkedIn automation can increase response rates by 35%[2]. Combining LinkedIn and email outreach through multichannel campaign management is another powerful approach. Platforms that allow unlimited email account management and support multiple LinkedIn profiles can help teams generate 45% more pipeline opportunities by diversifying touchpoints[2].
Marketing teams should look for platforms that integrate seamlessly with their existing tools. Solutions that connect with CRMs like HubSpot, Salesforce, and Pipedrive – and even specialized tools for video messaging and personalized content – can streamline campaigns and improve efficiency.
Agencies and consultants, meanwhile, will benefit from features like white-label capabilities and team management options, which make it easier to handle multiple client accounts while maintaining consistent branding.
For organizations with strict compliance requirements, robust data protection features are essential. Look for platforms offering do-not-call scrubbing and transparent data sourcing to ensure compliance in regulated industries or international markets.
The most successful teams combine top-notch data quality with automation. Teams achieving 80% data accuracy and maintaining 95–98% email deliverability rates often report the strongest results. Some even see pipeline values of up to $4.9 million per team member within a year[3].
Finally, leveraging intent data can significantly shorten engagement cycles – by 4–6 months – and deliver ROI in as little as 8 weeks[3]. The key is to match the platform’s capabilities to your market, team size, and operational needs, rather than simply opting for the one with the longest feature list.
Conclusion
When deciding on the right platform, it ultimately comes down to what your business values most – accurate data or streamlined automation. Closely stands out with its ability to provide verified data enrichment, centralized multichannel management, and AI-driven personalization that enhances outreach efforts. Its seamless integration of LinkedIn and email automation, along with CRM compatibility and white-label options, makes it an excellent choice for teams prioritizing data precision and efficiency.
On the other hand, Cognism is tailored for organizations that require robust automation and compliance, making it particularly suitable for businesses in regulated industries or those working across international markets.
The features discussed earlier highlight how each platform caters to different needs, whether you’re looking for simple, ready-to-use tools or advanced, scalable solutions for larger teams and diverse markets. Choose the platform that aligns best with your operational goals to elevate your sales and marketing outcomes.
FAQs
What are the key advantages of using Closely for sales teams in the US?
Closely provides sales teams in the US with AI-powered tools to simplify outreach and increase efficiency, enabling users to secure more meetings with less effort. Its features are tailored to enhance LinkedIn sales automation and support multichannel campaigns, making it easier to engage with prospects.
The platform integrates effortlessly with CRMs and offers detailed performance analytics, allowing teams to monitor and fine-tune their campaigns. With an easy-to-use interface, Closely ensures a quick learning curve and smooth day-to-day operations, helping sales professionals stay productive and meet their goals effectively.
How does Cognism stay compliant with global data protection laws, and why does this matter for international businesses?
Cognism maintains compliance with global data protection laws by following crucial regulations such as GDPR and CCPA. The platform’s certifications – ISO 27701 and SOC 2 Type II – highlight its dedication to data security and privacy. On top of that, Cognism cross-checks its telephone database against various Do Not Call registries worldwide to align with regional standards.
These practices are vital for international businesses, helping them mitigate legal risks, uphold customer trust, and ensure that data is collected, processed, and shared in a lawful manner. Prioritizing compliance not only protects your business operations but also strengthens your reputation in global markets.
When should a business choose Closely over Cognism, and how do their features align with different goals?
When a business prioritizes high-quality, accurate data, tools like Closely might be the way to go. This makes it a solid choice for tasks such as account-based marketing or creating detailed prospect profiles. In scenarios where data precision directly impacts the success of targeted outreach, Closely stands out.
If your focus leans more toward advanced automation and managing multichannel campaigns, Cognism could be the better fit. It’s designed to help businesses scale their outreach while using AI-powered tools to simplify and enhance sales processes.
The choice ultimately comes down to your business goals: whether you value data precision or automation capabilities to shape your sales and marketing efforts.