12 best work email finders by segment [SMB vs. Enterprise]

Sales teams often struggle to connect with prospects due to incorrect work emails. It’s frustrating to send emails that bounce or land in the wrong inbox, wasting time and resources.

In our endless mission to help you save time (and Clay credits!), we tested thousands of email addresses across SMBs and enterprises using a dozen email-finding tools. In this data test, you'll get a comprehensive breakdown of three key areas: 

• Accuracy: What percentage of emails reach the right inbox? We tested how well each provider identifies active professional email addresses and matches them to the right person.
• Budget: What's the true cost to find a valid email? We analyzed pricing structures and features to identify which providers deliver the best value.
• Coverage: How well does each tool perform across company sizes? We tested performance across both SMB and enterprise segments to determine the most effective solutions for different needs.
  

We recommend using work email waterfalls to get best combination price and coverage. However, if you’re choosing just one provider, we’ll guide you to the best fit.

Our methodology

We developed a rigorous testing protocol to reveal each email provider's specialties. Here are the providers we put to the test:

• Dropcontact
• Findymail
• Hunter
• LeadMagic
• Nimbler
• People Data Labs
• RocketReach
• Wiza
• Icy Peas
• Datagma
• Prospeo
• Snov

Let's break down our testing methodology step by step.

Step 1: Building a robust dataset

We built two testing environments to evaluate how providers perform across different business segments: SMBs and enterprises. For this analysis, we defined SMBs as businesses with fewer than 500 employees, and enterprises as those with more than 500 employees.

In our SMB analysis, we compiled a dataset of 1,075 professional contacts. Given that SMBs typically maintain simpler organizational structures and have more straightforward email domains, we focused our evaluation on data quality and coverage.

Enterprise testing proved a bit more complex. We started with 719 professional contacts, but quickly realized we needed a larger dataset to address enterprise-specific challenges. For instance, enterprise environments involve multiple email domains, complex organizational structures, and many employees with similar names. So we added 3,000 more contacts to our test set, which helped us identify critical issues like:

• Duplicate emails assigned to different people 
• Mismatched domains across sub-organizations and regions
• Confusion between subsidiary and parent company domains

This extensive dataset was crucial for understanding how each provider handles ingrained challenges across different business segments.

Step 2: Assigning each provider a confidence score

We started with the most definitive test of email accuracy: did the right person actually respond? After all, an email address holds little value for outreach campaigns if it never generates a response. 

With this in mind, we matched each of the email addresses in our dataset against confirmed replies. However, we knew response data alone wouldn't give us the full picture.

Here’s why: Professionals often maintain multiple valid work email addresses that route to the same inbox. For instance, a marketing director might be reachable through several different email addresses, whether it’s their main email, an email alias with only their first name, or an email address from the company’s old domain. For us at Clay, this would look like:

• first.last@clay.com (main email)
• first@clay.com (alias)
• first.last@clay.run (legacy domain)
• first@clay.run (legacy alias)

To account for this complexity, we developed an additional verification system that analyzes email prefixes, company domains, and more.

Prefix verification

We crafted an Anthropic prompt to check that each email prefix logically matched each contact’s first name and last name. Anthropic evaluated each email prefix, and responded with:

• “Yes” for possible matches
• “No” for clear mismatches 

Here’s what the AI formula looked like in our Clay table:  

This extra layer of validation helped us to identify duplicate emails, thereby reducing the source bias of our initial dataset.

Domain search & validation

We also used Claygent (Clay’s AI-powered research agent) to compare email domains against company websites. Echoing our use of Anthropic, we asked Claygent to evaluate each email and provide one of two responses:

• “Yes” for likely matches 
• “No” for mismatches or incorrect findings

Here’s what Clay’s reasoning looks like:

This system helped us to collect all valid email addresses across a company with multiple domains. For example, if an employee could receive mail at both “first.last@clay.com” and “first.last@clay.run,” we were able to capture both email addresses.

Final confirmation with Instantly

We partnered with Instantly to verify email deliverability using their patented three-step process:

1. Validate email addresses using standard protocols
2. Identify risky email addresses and catch-all domains
3. Cross-check email addresses against Instantly’s vast database, which is comprised of hundreds of millions of contacts

This final step proved crucial, as Instantly caught several email addresses that standard verification services may have missed. 

💡Pro tip: Traditional email verification tools often miss catch-all and junk emails, which can make up to 50% of your lead lists. However, Clay integrates directly with Instantly, so that you can optimize your email verification process without so much as needing to leave your Clay table.

Deliverability confidence

Our confidence-based scoring system evaluated the likelihood that an email would reach its target inbox. Here’s a closer look at how we defined each tier:

• 100% confidence: We received a positive response from the contact.
• 80% confidence: The email address passed Instantly's verification system.
• 0% confidence: The email address was confirmed undeliverable.

With this scoring system, we can more accurately predict if an email will reach its intended recipient.

Correct person confidence

Next up, we needed to measure the probability that a given email address was owned by the right person. For example, if we were searching for Jane Smith at Acme Corp, we’d need to confirm that jane.smith@acme.com actually belongs to 1). Someone named Jane Smith, 2). The right Jane Smith at Acme Corp, if there were multiple people with the name Jane Smith.

Here's how we scored each match:

• 100% confidence: Contact responded to confirm their identity.
• 80% confidence: Either the prefix or domain matched perfectly, but not both.
• 60% confidence: Both the prefix and domain showed potential matches.
• 0% confidence: Neither prefix nor domain matched our verification criteria.

In short, this system helped us determine which providers consistently matched emails to the right contacts.

Overall confidence score

Our final confidence score brings together every aspect of our testing. Here's the complete breakdown:

A few important notes about our scoring system:

1. We don't run P1 emails through Instantly verification. After all, a direct response from the right contact is the strongest form of validation possible. In line with this, emails that are confirmed as “undeliverable” don’t require Instantly verification either.
2. Providers’ overall confidence scores can drop as low as -25% when they deliver incorrect emails. Why? Because we consider incorrect emails to be more harmful to your outreach efforts than not finding an email at all. 

Step 3: Evaluating the cost per verified email

For sales teams looking to optimize their budgets, the first step is to stop paying for unverified or unresponsive email addresses. This is precisely why we calculated the cost per verified email (with P1, P2, and P3 confidence labels), according to the Clay credits you’d need to purchase them. 

However, while cost is a significant factor, it shouldn’t be the only consideration in budget planning. For example, if a sales team is working with a list of unverified email addresses, they could be wasting valuable time on dead-end outreach. With this in mind, we also accounted for potential time savings in our cost analysis.

Best work email finders by Enterprise and SMB

The results are in across Enterprise and SMB segments, factoring in accuracy, cost, and coverage.

Each email finder brings something unique to the table. We've organized our findings by key strengths:

• Best accuracy: Multiple providers
• Best budget: Leadmagic
• Best coverage: Leadmagic & Findymail

This heat map depicts how all providers performed across all three of these core metrics:

Best Accuracy: Multiple Providers

Our testing identified several high-performing providers across different business segments.

Best for SMB: Multiple Providers

It can be tricky to find the right contact at smaller companies. Company websites might be outdated, and contact info isn’t always public. Despite these challenges, seven providers delivered exceptional accuracy rates for reaching contacts at SMBs:

• Datagma had a 97.70% confidence score
• Hunter had a 97.58% confidence score
• Icypeas had a 97.46% confidence score
• Prospeo had a 97.03% confidence score
• LeadMagic had a 96.81% confidence score
• Findymail had a 96.33% confidence score
• Dropcontact had a 96.22% confidence score

The higher the confidence score, the more likely a given provider is to deliver email addresses that actually reach your intended contacts. For busy sales and marketing teams, these top providers can save countless hours on outreach by virtually eliminating incorrect or outdated email addresses.

Best for Enterprise: Wiza

Enterprise prospecting comes with unique challenges, ranging from duplicate email addresses to complex organizational structures. However, Wiza proved exceptional at avoiding common enterprise pitfalls with an 84.88% overall confidence score. They also didn't return a single incorrect domain or duplicate email address, even when dealing with similar names across different divisions. When you're connecting with senior decision-makers at global organizations, this level of reliability can make all the difference.

Best Budget: Leadmagic

Leadmagic delivers high-quality SMB and enterprise data without the premium price tag. You'll pay just $0.0133 or $0.0134 per valid email, respectively. With this remarkably steady cost, it opens up the door for more scalable prospecting that doesn’t break the bank. 

Best Coverage: Leadmagic & Findymail

Based on raw coverage numbers, we found two clear leaders across SMB and enterprise categories.

Best for SMB: Leadmagic

In the SMB space, Leadmagic achieved an impressive 89% coverage rate and delivered 940 verified emails that met our highest confidence standards (P1). Their reach extends across both tech startups and established manufacturers alike, helping sales teams to connect with the right decision-makers every time. 

Best for Enterprise: Findymail

At the enterprise level, Findymail delivers equally strong results with an 88% coverage rate. In our testing, they uncovered over 600 P1 email addresses while maintaining exceptional accuracy across large organizations. For sales and marketing teams that are targeting global enterprises, this wide range of coverage is the key to reaching ideal customers. 

Take a closer look at our test data

Visit this [interactive spreadsheet] for valuable insights that you can use to build your own custom email-finding waterfall.

Unlock the full potential of your B2B outreach with Clay

Your email finding tools are only as good as how you use them—and the smartest way to use them is by combining them all in Clay. 

After testing a dozen providers across thousands of email addresses, we've discovered two techniques that can help separate good email lists from great ones.

Combining multiple data sources

The most successful sales and marketing campaigns don't rely on a single email finder. Instead, they strategically combine tools to:

• Optimize providers’ unique strengths
• Build larger email lists
• Keep delivery rates high 

💡Pro tip: Having a quality email list is just the beginning. The best email finding tools will also give you additional features to turn your contacts into personalized outreach.

Using waterfall sequences

Clay’s waterfall data enrichment feature can triple your coverage in a single click. All you have to do is create a waterfall sequence that’s optimized for your sales goals. You can do this by:

1. Starting your sequence with the tools that have the best coverage and delivery rates for your target business segment.
2. Layering in additional providers as needed. 

As the first step suggests, your ideal waterfall sequence depends on whether you’re targeting SMBs or enterprises—so we’ve gone ahead and created an optimized waterfall sequence for both.

SMB waterfall

Small companies typically follow consistent email patterns, making them perfect candidates for email search tools that find contacts based on company email formats. Here's our recommended sequence:

This sequence combines specialized tools with broader B2B databases, thereby maximizing your chances of finding the most current contact details.

Enterprise waterfall

Enterprise outreach demands a different approach: start with comprehensive B2B databases to build your foundation, then use pattern-based tools to fill in any gaps. Here's the optimal sequence:

Here we start with database-first providers like Wiza and People Data Labs since they excel at maintaining accurate contact details across complex organizations, even when email formats vary between sub-organizations and regions. Building on this foundation, pattern-based tools can help to capture additional qualified leads. 

Features and pricing for all B2B email finders

Ready to find the right tool for your outreach? We tested every feature, measured real-world performance, and calculated actual costs across each platform to help you find the best solution for your sales team’s needs. 

Below, you'll find providers listed alphabetically for easy comparison. 

Datagma

Datagma achieves remarkable precision in the SMB space, with the highest confidence score (97%) among all providers we evaluated. In practical terms, that means nearly every email you get at Datagma’s competitive price point ($0.0263 per valid email) will connect you with your target contact. This combination of top-tier accuracy and reliable performance makes Datagma particularly valuable for sales teams that are focusing their outreach on SMBs.

Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $32 per month, which goes towards 45,000 verified emails per year.

Dropcontact

Dropcontact stands out with a remarkable 96% confidence score for SMB searches. This powerful tool also maintains a high confidence score (82%) at the enterprise level. With such consistent performance across business segments, Dropcontact is a reliable choice for teams that need high-quality data across multiple business segments.

Pricing: Free trial available. Paid plans start at 29€ for 500 credits per month.

Findymail

Findymail sets the standard for bulk enrichment. Our testing uncovered 926 verified contacts (out of our original 1,075), which is some of the best coverage in our study.

Findymail also maintains its stellar performance at the enterprise level, with equally strong results across larger organizations. This consistency across company sizes, combined with robust integration capabilities, makes Findymail particularly valuable for teams looking for reliable data at scale.

Pricing: Free trial available. Paid plans start at $49 for 1,000 credits per month.

Hunter

Hunter is another leader in accuracy, achieving a 97% confidence score for SMBs and a 96% confidence score for enterprises. Such consistent performance across company sizes—combined with competitive pricing for both segments—makes Hunter an essential tool for teams looking to scale their outreach efforts.

Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $34 per month for 12,000 yearly verifications. 

Icypeas

Icypeas combines outstanding accuracy with budget-friendly pricing in the SMB space. With a 97% confidence score, it ranks among the top three providers for data quality, while offering one of the most competitive rates at just $0.0132 per valid email. In other words, for teams prioritizing SMB outreach, Icypeas delivers quality results without the premium price tag.

Pricing: Paid plans start at 15€ for 1,000 monthly credits.

Leadmagic

Leadmagic delivers exceptional value with the most budget-friendly rates in our study at just $0.0133 per valid email. Even more impressive: they achieve this while maintaining a 96% confidence score and discovering 940 accurate contacts in our SMB testing (out of the initial list of 1,075).

Leadmagic carries this winning combination of affordability and accuracy into the enterprise space, with pricing staying virtually unchanged across segments. Their ability to scale performance without scaling costs makes them an attractive choice for any sales team.

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Pricing: Paid plans start at $99.99 for 10,000 credits per month.

Nimbler

Nimbler offers a budget-conscious approach to email finding, with cost-effective pricing for SMB outreach at $0.0155 per valid email. The platform maintains its affordable pricing structure for enterprise searches, with just a small uptick in cost. This makes Nimbler a practical choice for teams seeking a straightforward email finding solution that delivers everything you need, and nothing that you don’t. 

Pricing: Free trial available. Plans start at $250 for 10,000 credits per month.

People Data Labs

People Data Labs excels at extracting quality B2B contacts from large, complex organizations. Their extensive database reveals its true value at the enterprise level, where they nearly double their email coverage. This is also ideal for sales teams looking to enrich people data and email addresses in bulk. 

Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $98 for access to 350 records per month.

Prospeo

Prospeo strikes an impressive balance between accuracy and reach in the SMB space. With a 97% confidence score, the platform found valid emails for over 76% of our test contacts. But it doesn’t stop there; at $0.0264 per valid email, Prospeo also turns this robust performance into practical value. For teams that need to build out their SMB contact lists with confidence, Prospeo's balance of excellent quality and reliable coverage makes it a solid choice.

Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $39 for 1,000 credits per month.

RocketReach

RocketReach goes beyond email verification by enhancing email data with phone numbers, social media profiles, and more. This enrichment-focused approach helps teams to better understand and connect with their prospects.

The versatile platform maintains similar performance across both SMB and enterprise segments, with confidence scores staying relatively steady. This consistency, combined with detailed contact information, makes RocketReach valuable for teams who prioritize in-depth research alongside email finding.

Pricing: Paid plans for both email and phone contacts start at $108 per month.

Wiza

Wiza brings unique value for LinkedIn Sales Navigator users, integrating seamlessly to help build quality mailing lists that match your ideal customer profile (ICP). Our testing revealed their strengths in the SMB space, where they uncovered 821 accurate contacts (out of the original 1,075) with a 90% confidence score.

The platform maintains strong performance at the enterprise level, finding 515 accurate contacts (out of the original 719). This extensive coverage across segments, combined with their LinkedIn integration, makes them especially valuable for teams that are already leveraging LinkedIn data for prospecting.

Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $83 for unlimited email credits.

Go from finding emails to closing deals

So you've got your mailing list—now what? Here are five outreach strategies to save your team time while also lifting your conversion rate: 

1. Build a strategic tech stack: Start with our recommended waterfall sequences, then tweak them until they work for your specific needs.
2. Prioritize email verification: Quality email verification services do double duty by keeping your reputation intact while also uncovering verified contacts that basic verifiers miss.
3. Tailor your approach: Let the size and structure of your target companies guide your strategy. For instance, use a targeted approach when you're prospecting smaller companies, and bulk enrichment for your enterprise campaigns. 
4. Leverage enrichment data: Email finding tools should give you more than just email addresses. Tools like Clay offer enriched data like direct dials, job titles, social media profiles, company insights, and more, which can be used to craft more tailored outreach.
5. Measure and adjust: The best email marketing strategies evolve over time. Track your bounce rates, monitor your success rates, and optimize your outreach campaigns based on what you learn. 

Remember: When you combine accurate email addresses with smart outreach, you're not just building a contact list—you're building lasting relationships that convert.

Get started with Clay

Looking for a smarter way to prospect? Clay combines several powerful email finding tools—plus over 100 other seamless integrations—in one intuitive platform. Start your free account today to access:

• Waterfall enrichment tools: Combine multiple data providers to build high-quality lead lists without the manual work.
• Advanced search filters: Segment your prospects by company size, industry, or other key criteria according to your ICP.
• Automation features: Use AI for research, data enrichment, and email writing to send more cold emails and connect with more potential customers.

From targeted campaigns to bulk searches, Clay helps you turn quality data into higher conversion rates. Try Clay for free today.