If you’re building a list of prospects or trying to make your sales team’s lives easier, picking the right B2B data enrichment tool isn’t just a “nice to have”—it’s the difference between sending killer emails and watching your campaigns hit a wall. There are a ton of tools out there, all promising the freshest data and the smoothest integrations, but let’s be honest: Most of them sound the same until you actually dig in. This guide’s for anyone who wants to see past the hype and find out how tools like Proxycurl really stack up against the rest.
1. Know What B2B Data Enrichment Actually Means (and What It Doesn’t)
Before you start comparing tools, let’s ground our expectations. “Data enrichment” in B2B usually means:
- Filling in missing info for your leads (like job titles, company size, or LinkedIn URLs)
- Updating stale data so you’re not chasing ghosts
- Sometimes, scoring or segmenting leads so you don’t waste time
Here’s what it doesn’t mean:
- Magically handing you a list of perfect buyers
- Fixing a broken go-to-market strategy
- Guaranteeing accuracy (no provider is 100% up to date—anyone who says otherwise is selling you something)
Pro tip: If a tool’s sales pitch sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Focus on what data you actually need, and ignore the bells and whistles.
2. Define Your Must-Haves Before Comparing Anything
Don’t start with the vendor demos—start with your own requirements. Otherwise, you’ll end up buying features you’ll never use.
Ask yourself:
- What data fields actually move the needle for your team? (Is it emails, phone numbers, LinkedIn profiles, firmographics…?)
- Do you need real-time lookups or is bulk enrichment enough?
- How strict is your compliance/legal team about data sourcing?
- What systems do you actually need this to plug into? (CRM, outbound tools, etc.)
Skip: The “AI-powered” add-ons unless you know exactly what they’ll do for you.
3. Make a Shortlist: Proxycurl and Its Main Alternatives
Here’s a quick rundown of the main players you’ll see when you start Googling:
- Proxycurl: Focuses on LinkedIn and people/company enrichment via API. Good for developers and teams who want flexibility.
- Clearbit: Popular for its integrations with Salesforce and marketing tools. Breadth of data is decent, but can get expensive.
- Apollo.io: Offers enrichment, outreach, and CRM features in one. Great for all-in-one, but sometimes jack of all trades, master of none.
- ZoomInfo: The “big name.” Huge database, but pricey—and legal compliance can be a headache.
- Lusha: Simple, browser-based, focused on contact info. Good if you want something quick and easy, but limited depth.
What to ignore: Any tool that doesn’t let you test the data quality before you commit. If you can’t get a sample, move on.
4. Compare Data Coverage: Don’t Just Trust the Numbers
Every provider will brag about “millions of records.” That’s not the point—you want relevant and current data.
- Breadth: Does the tool actually cover the industries, roles, or geos you care about?
- Depth: Can it find nuanced info (like recent job changes or company funding rounds)?
- Freshness: How often is the data updated? Some tools scrape daily; others refresh monthly (or worse).
- Accuracy: Ask for a sample based on your ICP (ideal customer profile) and spot-check it. Don’t just take their word for it.
Proxycurl’s strength: It’s built on real-time scraping, especially from LinkedIn, so you’ll often get fresher data on people moves. But, it’s only as good as your input (e.g., LinkedIn URLs).
Pitfall: Some tools pad their numbers with outdated or irrelevant contacts. Always check recency.
5. Evaluate Ease of Use and Integration
A tool is only as good as your team’s willingness to use it. Here’s what to actually check:
- API Documentation: Is it clear and up to date? Proxycurl’s docs are solid, but not as “push-button” as something like Clearbit.
- Native Integrations: Does it plug into your CRM, or will you need a Zapier hack?
- Bulk Uploads: Can you enrich a list, or is it one record at a time?
- UI/UX: If your team isn’t technical, avoid API-only tools unless you have a dev on hand.
Watch out: Some platforms bury their best features behind higher pricing tiers.
Reality check: Proxycurl is developer-first. If you want a slick UI with buttons everywhere, you may be happier elsewhere. But if your team loves flexibility and automation, you’ll like what it offers.
6. Scrutinize Pricing—It’s Rarely Apples to Apples
Pricing in this space is a mess. Here’s what to look for:
- Per-lookup vs. subscription: Proxycurl charges per API call. Others want monthly/annual commitments (sometimes with minimums).
- Data usage limits: Some tools throttle you unless you’re on an expensive plan.
- Hidden fees: Watch for “premium data” upcharges, setup fees, or minimum contract lengths.
- Trial/Free Tier: Always test before you buy. If you can’t, that’s a red flag.
True cost: Figure out your monthly volume, and run the numbers for each provider. Often, what looks cheap gets pricey as you scale.
7. Check for Compliance and Data Sourcing Transparency
GDPR, CCPA, and other privacy rules aren’t going away. If you get caught using sketchy data, you’ll have more than a sales problem.
- Where does the data come from? Proxycurl is transparent about scraping public profiles, but some competitors are vague or rely on user-contributed data (which can be outdated or against TOS).
- Opt-out mechanisms: Can people remove their info? This matters, especially for EU markets.
- Contract language: Get it in writing. If they won’t tell you how data is sourced, walk away.
8. Test Support and Responsiveness Before You Commit
Best-case scenario: Nothing breaks. Real-world scenario: You’ll have questions.
- Support channels: Is it live chat, email, or just a FAQ page?
- Documentation: Are there real guides, or just marketing fluff?
- Community/Slack: Some tools have active user groups—great for troubleshooting.
Proxycurl’s reality: Support is responsive via email, and their docs are honest about what the API can/can’t do. No hand-holding, but you won’t get gaslit by sales.
9. Run a Real-World Trial Before You Buy
Don’t just run a canned demo. Try to replicate your actual workflow:
- Pull a list of 20-50 target companies or people.
- Enrich them through each tool (yes, it takes time—but it’s worth it).
- Compare the results for completeness, accuracy, and how easy the process was.
- Ask your team: Which data actually helped with outreach? What slowed you down?
You’ll learn more in a day of hands-on testing than a week of sales calls.
10. Make the Call: Don’t Overthink It
After all this, you’ll have a clear winner—or at least a better sense of what matters for your team.
- If you care about flexible, developer-friendly enrichment and up-to-date LinkedIn data, Proxycurl is a strong pick.
- If you want “all-in-one” with a built-in CRM and don’t mind average data freshness, Apollo.io or Clearbit might be more your speed.
- If your team just needs to grab a few emails fast, Lusha or a browser plugin could be enough.
What to ignore: Fancy dashboards, “AI-powered” buzzwords, and any tool that can’t back up its claims with real results.
Keep it simple: Pick the tool that solves your biggest pain point, run with it for a month, and iterate. Don’t get paralyzed by the options. Most of these tools can be swapped out if you need to change down the line—so aim for progress, not perfection.