Sep 08, 2025 · 12 min read
13 Best CEO Email List Providers (Ranked & Compared)
Christian Bonnier
Finding the right CEO email list provider can make or break your executive outreach campaigns. CEOs make the ultimate business decisions, but reaching them requires precision targeting and verified contact data that actually works.
Most providers promise accuracy but deliver recycled lists with outdated contacts and poor deliverability. You need verified, actionable CEO data—not just impressive database numbers.
We tested 13 CEO email list providers to help you find the best solution for accurate, compliant executive outreach.
Ready? Let's go!
TL;DR
- ListKit — Triple-Verified data + intent filters; best for CEO outreach
- Apollo — Comprehensive sales platform; best for all-in-one prospecting
- ZoomInfo — Enterprise-grade database; best for large organizations
- Lusha — LinkedIn integration; best for social selling
- Clearbit — API-first enrichment; best for developers
Quick Comparison Table
| Provider | Records | Key Advantage | Pricing | Rating |
ListKit | 626M+ | Triple-Verified + intent targeting | $97/mo | 4.8/5 (500+ reviews) |
Apollo | 210M+ | All-in-one sales platform | $49/mo | 4.6/5 (1000+ reviews) |
ZoomInfo | 100M+ | Enterprise database coverage | Contact for pricing | 4.4/5 (2000+ reviews) |
Lusha | 60M+ | LinkedIn Chrome extension | $22.45/mo | 4.3/5 (800+ reviews) |
Clearbit | 50M+ | Real-time API enrichment | Contact for pricing | 4.2/5 (400+ reviews) |
Cognism | 400M+ | GDPR-compliant EU data | Contact for pricing | 4.5/5 (600+ reviews) |
RocketReach | 700M+ | Extensive profile database | $39/mo | 4.0/5 (500+ reviews) |
Snov.io | 200M+ | All-in-one outreach platform | $29/mo | 4.2/5 (400+ reviews) |
Seamless AI | 300M+ | Real-time contact discovery | $147/mo | 4.1/5 (300+ reviews) |
UpLead | 155M+ | Real-time verification | $99/mo | 4.1/5 (250+ reviews) |
Kaspr | 500M+ | LinkedIn extraction focus | $51/mo | 4.3/5 (300+ reviews) |
LeadIQ | 150M+ | Workflow integration | $60/mo | 4.2/5 (350+ reviews) |
SMARTe | 284M+ | Global mobile coverage | $25/mo | 4.1/5 (200+ reviews) |
1) ListKit – The best way to get CEO emails that are Triple-Verified (including phone numbers)
Rating: 4.8/5 (500+ reviews)
ListKit leads the market for agencies, SaaS teams, and B2B companies seeking verified CEO contacts without manual data cleaning hassles.
With access to 626M+ Triple-Verified business contacts, ListKit provides both emails and phone numbers for chief executives. Combined with real-time Intent Data filters, it helps identify CEOs actively researching business solutions.
Key Features:
- Triple-Verified CEO emails and direct phone numbers – Multi-step verification ensures 95%+ accuracy for executive outreach, protecting sender reputation and eliminating bounced emails
- Real-time Intent Data filters for CEO targeting – Identify CEOs actively researching enterprise software, business services, or strategic solutions
- Private cold email infrastructure – Maintain high deliverability with dedicated IPs and built-in reputation protection for large-scale CEO campaigns
- Unlimited exports with higher plans – Scale outreach without per-contact charges or hidden fees
- Native CRM integrations – One-click push to HubSpot, Salesforce, Zapier, SmartLead, and 15+ platforms
How to find emails of CEOs in "buying mode" with ListKit (in three steps)
Intent data reveals when chief executives are actively researching solutions like yours. For CEO outreach, this means targeting decision-makers already evaluating business tools—dramatically increasing response rates.
1. In ListKit's Intent Data tab, select CEO-relevant topics like Business Intelligence, Enterprise Software, and Strategic Consulting.
- Pro tip: Use ChatGPT to brainstorm intent topics specific to executive challenges.
2. Filter for CEO / Chief Executive Officer / President job titles (plus industry & company size if needed).
3. Export Triple-Verified emails & phone numbers (95%+ accuracy) for immediate outreach. Refresh daily for a constant flow of new in-market CEOs.
Try 50 free CEO emails, then pricing starts at $97/mo
Best for: Teams serious about executive accuracy and willing to invest in quality data
This is my favorite source of leads.
"This is my favorite source of leads. Their search interface is very easy to use. I can drill down to exactly the sorts of leads myself and my clients want to prospect for… Customer service is great, and the no-cost onboarding/training call was incredibly helpful. I use ListKit regularly to prospect and generate lead lists for my outbound sales."
Michael
Small Business Owner
What else can you do with ListKit?
Beyond CEO lists, ListKit offers private cold email infrastructure, unlimited intent data, and hands-on support to maximize your executive outreach ROI.
2) Apollo – Comprehensive sales platform with CEO targeting
Rating: 4.6/5 (1000+ reviews)
Apollo combines B2B prospecting with sales engagement tools, making it popular among teams wanting an all-in-one platform. With 210+ million contacts and comprehensive filtering options, Apollo offers solid CEO targeting alongside sequence automation.
Key Features:
- 210+ million contact database with advanced filtering by job title, seniority, and company characteristics for precise CEO targeting
- AI-powered email writing and sequence automation to scale personalized outreach to chief executives
- Chrome extension integration for LinkedIn prospecting and real-time contact enrichment on company websites
- Built-in dialer and call recording for multi-touch campaigns combining email and phone outreach to CEOs
- Comprehensive CRM sync with Salesforce, HubSpot, and other platforms for seamless workflow integration
Considerations before going with Apollo:
Users frequently report data accuracy issues, with some experiencing bounce rates of 20-30%. The platform can feel overwhelming for simple list building, and many features require higher-tier plans.
Pricing starts at $49/mo
Apollo offers a freemium model with paid upgrades for advanced features:
| Plan | Price | Features |
Free | $0 | 50 email credits/month, 10 phone credits/month, Basic filters |
Starter | $49/user/mo | 1,000 email credits/month, 120 phone credits/month, Email sequences |
Professional | $79/user/mo | 5,000 email credits/month, 300 phone credits/month, Advanced filters |
Organization | $119/user/mo | 10,000 email credits/month, 500 phone credits/month, Team management |
Best for: Teams wanting an all-in-one sales platform with CEO prospecting capabilities
Tried Apollo... 1/3 emails would bounce back.
"Tried Apollo... 1/3 emails would bounce back. The triple-verified emails are the most obvious feature that I like the most about ListKit."
Pablo
Small Business Owner
Thinking about Apollo? Check out 11 better alternatives first.
3) ZoomInfo – Enterprise-grade CEO database
Rating: 4.4/5 (2000+ reviews)
ZoomInfo provides one of the largest B2B databases with extensive CEO coverage, particularly strong for enterprise teams with complex targeting requirements. Their platform combines contact data with intent signals and technographic information.
Key Features:
- Massive B2B database with comprehensive CEO coverage across industries and company sizes
- Advanced intent data integration to identify CEOs showing buying signals for business solutions
- Technographic and firmographic filters for precise targeting based on company technology stack and characteristics
- Website visitor identification to track when target CEO companies visit your site
- Enterprise-grade compliance with GDPR, CCPA, and other data protection regulations
Considerations before going with ZoomInfo:
ZoomInfo requires significant investment with enterprise-level pricing that can reach $20-50K annually. Data accuracy varies, and many users still need additional verification tools.
Pricing is not public
ZoomInfo requires contacting sales for custom enterprise quotes. However, third-party sources estimate contracts range from $15,000–$50,000 annually, depending on features and user count.
Best for: Large enterprises with substantial budgets needing comprehensive US data
I've used ZoomInfo Elite ($3000+) and still need to run contacts through NeverBounce.
"I've used ZoomInfo Elite ($3000+) and still need to run contacts through NeverBounce. On the first day I got ListKit, I booked a meeting within the first hour of use. It already paid for itself."
Ravi
Small Business Owner
ZoomInfo contracts too steep? Here are 11 tools that won't break the bank.
4) Lusha – LinkedIn-focused CEO prospecting
Rating: 4.3/5 (800+ reviews)
Lusha specializes in LinkedIn-based prospecting with a Chrome extension that reveals CEO contact information directly on LinkedIn profiles. It's particularly useful for teams that do most of their research on LinkedIn.
Key Features:
- LinkedIn Chrome extension for instant CEO contact reveal on LinkedIn profiles and company pages
- Email and phone number enrichment with verification to ensure contact accuracy
- Bulk enrichment capabilities for processing large lists of CEO prospects
- CRM integration with automatic contact sync to Salesforce, HubSpot, and other platforms
- Compliance-focused approach with GDPR and CCPA adherence for international prospecting
Considerations before going with Lusha:
Lusha's database is smaller than that of comprehensive platforms, and it's heavily dependent on LinkedIn for data sourcing. Credit-based pricing can become expensive for high-volume users.
Pricing starts at $22.45/mo
Lusha offers credit-based pricing with monthly subscription tiers:
| Plan | Price | Features |
Free | $0 | 5 credits/month, Basic Chrome extension |
Pro | $22.45/user/mo | 480 credits/month, Phone numbers, CRM sync |
Premium | $52.45/user/mo | 960 credits/month, Advanced filters, API access |
Custom | Contact sales | 2,400 credits/month, Team management |
Best for: Sales teams already using LinkedIn for prospecting
I've been using other lead list software from Lusha.
"I've been using other lead list software from Apollo, Lusha, Seamless, Sales Navigator, and more, including GMB scrapers. ListKit has made both the interface and finalized pulled list simple, easy to understand, non-data heavy, and ready to sell to. The customer service is quick and helpful."
One ListKit user
Marketing & Advertising Industry
Before locking in Lusha, see how 11 alternatives stack up.
5) Clearbit – API-first CEO data enrichment
Rating: 4.2/5 (400+ reviews)
Clearbit takes an API-first approach to B2B data, making it popular among technical teams that want to integrate CEO data directly into their applications and workflows.
Key Features:
- API-first architecture for seamless integration into custom applications and sales automation platforms
- Real-time data enrichment that automatically appends CEO information to existing contact records
- Company and person data combination providing both the CEO contact details and comprehensive company intelligence
- High data accuracy standards with multiple verification layers and regular data updates
- Developer-friendly documentation and robust API endpoints for custom CEO prospecting workflows
Considerations before going with Clearbit:
Clearbit requires technical implementation and is primarily designed for developers. It may not be suitable for teams wanting a simple, user-friendly interface for CEO list building.
Pricing is not public
Clearbit uses usage-based pricing that requires contacting sales. However, third-party sources estimate starting costs around $2,000–$10,000 annually, depending on API usage volume.
Best for: Technical teams needing API-first CEO data integration
Easy to use, fast searching to build verified emails (x3 verified).
"Easy to use, fast searching to build verified emails (x3 verified) means I can streamline my workflows. I don't need to export from Apollo go into three other verifier softwares, run, upload, etc. This is a one-stop search and export."
Rik
Account Director
Clearbit feels heavy? Try these simpler, more agile options.
6) Cognism – GDPR-compliant CEO EU data
Rating: 4.5/5 (600+ reviews)
Cognism focuses on providing compliant B2B data with strong coverage in Europe and North America. Their platform emphasizes data quality and regulatory compliance, making it suitable for companies with strict data governance requirements.
Key Features:
- GDPR and CCPA compliant data with explicit consent tracking for international CEO outreach
- EU database coverage with a strong presence in North America, EMEA, and APAC regions
- Phone number verification, including mobile numbers for multi-channel CEO outreach
- Intent data integration to identify CEOs showing buying signals and sales triggers
- Advanced filtering options by seniority, department, company size, and industry for precise targeting
Considerations before going with Cognism:
Cognism requires custom pricing quotes and can be expensive for smaller teams. The platform focuses heavily on compliance, which may add complexity for simple prospecting needs.
Pricing is not public
Cognism requires contacting sales for custom quotes. However, third-party sources estimate contracts range from $6,000–$25,000 annually based on data volume and features.
Best for: Enterprise teams requiring GDPR-compliant global CEO data
They make it pretty hard to fail with the level of support they bring to the table.
"They make it pretty hard to fail with the level of support they bring to the table… I'm a dummy and successfully building lead lists with this tool… Easy to use, easy to implement, easy to integrate. I'm currently using this to build all my lists."
Levi
Account Manager
7) RocketReach – Extensive CEO profile database
Rating: 4.0/5 (500+ reviews)
RocketReach maintains a database of 700+ million profiles across 35 million companies, offering broad coverage for CEO prospecting with both email and social media contact discovery.
Key Features:
- 700+ million profile database with extensive CEO coverage across industries and company sizes
- Bulk lookup capabilities for processing large lists of CEO names and companies
- Social media integration revealing CEO profiles across LinkedIn, Twitter, and other platforms
- Chrome extension for instant CEO contact discovery on websites and social profiles
- API access for integrating CEO data into custom applications and workflows
Considerations before going with RocketReach:
Data accuracy can vary, and the platform focuses more on contact discovery than verification. International coverage may be limited compared to specialized providers.
Pricing starts at $39/mo
RocketReach offers credit-based pricing with monthly subscription options:
| Plan | Price | Features |
Essential | $39/mo | 170 lookups/month, Email finder, Chrome extension |
Pro | $99/mo | 1,000 lookups/month, Phone numbers, CRM sync |
Ultimate | $249/mo | 5,000 lookups/month, Bulk lookup, API access |
Best for: Teams needing broad CEO profile coverage with social media integration
You won't find higher quality leads anywhere else.
"You won't find higher quality leads anywhere else. The platform is so easy to use, and all the leads are triple verified, so you don't have to do anything else after downloading them. Plug them into your software and you're good to go. Highly recommend it."
Nick
Small Business Owner
RocketReach on your shortlist? Here are the top alternatives worth a look.
8) Snov.io – All-in-one CEO outreach platform
Rating: 4.2/5 (400+ reviews)
Snov.io combines CEO contact discovery with email automation tools, making it suitable for teams that want both prospecting and outreach capabilities in one platform.
Key Features:
- Email finder and verifier with CEO-specific search capabilities and accuracy validation
- Automated email sequences for nurturing CEO prospects with personalized follow-up campaigns
- LinkedIn integration for discovering CEO contacts and automating connection requests
- Email warm-up tools to improve deliverability when reaching out to high-level executives
- Analytics and tracking for monitoring CEO outreach campaign performance
Considerations before going with Snov.io:
The platform tries to do many things, which can make it complex for users who only need CEO contact data. Email automation features may require additional setup time.
Pricing starts at $29/mo
Snov.io offers freemium pricing with paid tiers for advanced features:
| Plan | Price | Features |
Free | $0 | 50 searches/month, Email verifier, Basic templates |
Starter | $29.25/mo | 1,000 searches/month, Email sequences, CRM sync |
Pro | $74.25/mo | 5,000 searches/month, Advanced automation, A/B testing |
Best for: Small teams wanting email finding and automation in one platform
It's really frustrating purchasing lists from other tools that claim they have good data.
"It's really frustrating purchasing lists from other tools that claim they have good data. ListKit's triple verification has made sure every list we pull are actually people we can reach."
Tristan
Small Business Owner
Struggling with Snov.io's data accuracy? These alternatives fix that.
9) Seamless AI – Real-time CEO data discovery
Rating: 4.1/5 (300+ reviews)
Seamless uses artificial intelligence to discover and verify CEO contact information in real-time, positioning itself as a modern alternative to traditional static databases.
Key Features:
- AI-powered real-time search that discovers CEO contacts as you search, rather than relying on static databases
- Chrome extension integration for finding CEO information on LinkedIn and company websites
- Automated list building with AI-driven suggestions for similar CEO profiles
- CRM integration with automatic contact sync and enrichment capabilities
- Team collaboration features for sharing CEO lists and coordinating outreach efforts
Considerations before going with Seamless AI:
Real-time discovery can be slower than traditional database searches. The AI approach may not always find comprehensive CEO information for all companies.
Pricing starts at $147/mo
Seamless offers subscription-based pricing with different feature tiers for real-time CEO discovery and AI-powered prospecting.
Best for: Teams needing real-time CEO contact discovery with AI assistance
I've been using other lead list software from Apollo, Lusha, Seamless, Sales Navigator, and more.
"I've been using other lead list software from Apollo, Lusha, Seamless, Sales Navigator, and more, including GMB scrapers. ListKit has made both the interface and finalized pulled list simple, easy to understand, non-data heavy, and ready to sell to. The customer service is quick and helpful."
One ListKit user
Marketing & Advertising Industry
We tested Seamless AI against 11 tools — here's what we found.
10) UpLead – Real-time verified CEO contacts
Rating: 4.1/5 (250+ reviews)
UpLead focuses on real-time email verification and provides CEO contact data with high accuracy rates through their proprietary verification technology.
Key Features:
- Real-time email verification ensuring CEO contacts are valid and deliverable at the point of download
- Advanced search filters for targeting CEOs by company size, industry, technology stack, and location
- Chrome extension for finding CEO contacts while browsing LinkedIn and company websites
- CRM integrations with popular platforms like Salesforce, HubSpot, and Pipedrive
- Compliance features, including GDPR adherence and data processing agreements
Considerations before going with UpLead:
Database size is smaller than enterprise providers, and pricing can become expensive for high-volume users. Limited intent data capabilities compared to specialized platforms.
Pricing starts at $99/mo
UpLead offers tiered pricing based on contact credits and verification features.
Best for: Mid-market teams needing real-time verification for CEO outreach
"…the data we are now getting from ListKit is by far the best quality we have ever had."
Dale
Divisional Manager
Before paying UpLead's high price, see 11 cheaper alternatives.
11) Kaspr – LinkedIn Chrome extension for finding CEO emails
Rating: 4.3/5 (300+ reviews)
Kaspr focuses specifically on extracting CEO contact information from LinkedIn profiles through their Chrome extension, making it ideal for LinkedIn-heavy prospecting workflows.
Key Features:
- LinkedIn-focused Chrome extension for instant CEO contact extraction from profiles and search results
- Email and phone number discovery with verification to ensure contact accuracy
- Bulk export capabilities for processing multiple CEO contacts simultaneously
- CRM integration with automatic contact sync to popular sales platforms
- Workflow automation for streamlining LinkedIn-based CEO prospecting processes
Considerations before going with Kaspr:
Limited to LinkedIn-based prospecting, which may miss CEOs who aren't active on the platform. Database coverage is smaller than comprehensive providers.
Pricing starts at $51/mo
Kaspr offers freemium pricing with paid tiers for advanced features:
| Plan | Price | Features |
Free | $0 | 15 credits/month, Basic Chrome extension |
Starter | $51/mo | 500 credits/month, Phone numbers, CRM sync |
Business | $90/mo | 1,000 credits/month, Bulk actions, Advanced filters |
Best for: Teams heavily using LinkedIn for CEO prospecting and relationship building
I really love how easy and user-friendly it is.
"I really love how easy, user-friendly it is, but most importantly, I love the quality of data it gives me."
Kai Patrick
Founder of SnackPrompt
Kaspr isn't your only option — meet the top 11 contenders.
12) LeadIQ – Workflow integration for CEO prospecting
Rating: 4.2/5 (350+ reviews)
LeadIQ streamlines sales workflows with a browser extension that captures CEO contact details directly while browsing LinkedIn, instantly pushing data into CRMs for efficient prospecting.
Key Features:
- Browser extension for capturing CEO contact details directly from LinkedIn and company websites
- Batch prospecting functionality to process multiple CEO contacts simultaneously for efficient outreach
- Social media insights providing details on CEO activities and company news for personalized messaging
- CRM integration with seamless data flow into existing sales workflows
- Prospect tracking with insights on CEO engagement and interaction history
Considerations before going with LeadIQ:
Primarily focused on workflow efficiency rather than database size. May require additional data sources for comprehensive CEO coverage.
Pricing starts at $60/mo
LeadIQ offers per-user pricing with enterprise options available for larger teams requiring advanced CEO prospecting capabilities.
Best for: Sales teams needing streamlined workflow integration for CEO outreach
Customer support is also INCREDIBLE.
"Customer support is also INCREDIBLE, haven't seen anything like it with any other platform. You can hop on calls for support whenever you need to help you with building your list, which is amazing."
Nick
Business Owner
Considering LeadIQ? These 11 options might fit better.
13) SMARTe – Global mobile coverage for CEO outreach
Rating: 4.1/5 (200+ reviews)
SMARTe provides a global sales intelligence platform with over 284 million verified B2B contacts, including comprehensive CEO coverage with strong mobile number availability for multi-channel outreach.
Key Features:
- 284+ million verified B2B contacts with 64 million enriched company profiles for comprehensive CEO targeting
- 70%+ mobile number coverage in North America for direct CEO outreach via phone
- Real-time data enrichment to keep CRM updated with current CEO information
- Advanced filtering capabilities by company size, industry, technology stack, and buying signals
- GDPR, CCPA, and SOC 2 compliance for secure international CEO prospecting
Considerations before going with SMARTe:
Credit-based pricing model may become expensive for high-volume users. Newer platform with smaller user base compared to established providers.
Pricing starts at $25/mo
SMARTe offers flexible credit-based pricing:
| Plan | Price | Features |
Free | $0 | 10 credits/month, Basic features |
Pro | $25/mo | 50 credits ($0.50 per credit), CRM integrations |
Enterprise | $15,000+ | Volume pricing ($0.20-$0.30 per credit), Custom features |
Best for: Teams needing global CEO coverage with high mobile number availability
Besides getting validated high-quality leads within minutes.
"Besides getting validated high-quality leads within minutes, you also get access to a community of like-minded people and a team of experts."
Keith
Small Business Owner
Key Factors for Choosing a CEO Email List Provider
Before selecting a provider, understand what actually matters when targeting chief executives.
Data Accuracy & Verification
CEO outreach demands absolute precision—chief executives receive hundreds of pitches daily and have zero tolerance for irrelevant messages. Providers using Triple-Verification dramatically reduce wasted effort by delivering contacts validated at multiple checkpoints.
Here's what verification levels mean for CEO campaigns:
| Verification Type | Checks Included | Estimated Accuracy |
Single-step | Basic email format validation | 50–70% |
Multi-step | Format + domain + mailbox checks | 70–85% |
ListKit's Triple-Verified | Format + domain + mailbox + engagement verification | 90–95% |
When Luis switched to ListKit's Triple-Verified data for executive outreach, he booked 15 calls and signed $5K MRR in six weeks—proof that verified data drives real results with C-suite prospects.
Intent Data & Buying Signals
CEOs actively research strategic solutions throughout the year. Intent data reveals when they're evaluating enterprise software, consulting services, or business tools—making them 5x more likely to respond than cold prospects.
Compliance & Deliverability
Chief executives are particularly sensitive to compliance and privacy. Choose providers with clear GDPR, CCPA, and CAN-SPAM documentation, plus features supporting strong deliverability to executive inboxes.
Must-Haves vs Red Flags
| ✅ Must-Haves in a CEO Email List | 🚩 Red Flags to Avoid |
✅ Verified email addresses with recent validation | ❌ Promises of 100% accuracy (no database is perfect) |
✅ Direct phone numbers for multi-channel outreach | ❌ No explanation of verification methods |
✅ Intent signals showing active business research | ❌ Suspiciously low pricing (often outdated data) |
✅ Company firmographics and executive backgrounds | ❌ No mention of GDPR/CCPA compliance |
✅ Integration with sales automation platforms | ❌ Negative reviews citing bounce rates |
The Verdict: Which CEO Email List Provider Should You Choose? (Our Top 3 Picks)
After testing multiple providers and analyzing user feedback, here are our top recommendations:
- ListKit – Best overall for Triple-Verified CEO data with intent filters, unlimited exports, and transparent pricing. The combination of accuracy, intent targeting, and native CRM integrations makes it ideal for agencies and SaaS teams serious about executive outreach.
- Apollo – Best for volume teams wanting an all-in-one sales platform with CEO prospecting capabilities. While data accuracy can vary, the comprehensive feature set and freemium model make it accessible for smaller teams.
- Cognism – Best for compliance enterprise teams requiring GDPR-compliant global CEO data. Strong compliance features and international coverage justify the higher price for regulated industries.
Ready to stop wasting time on bounced emails and outdated contacts? Try ListKit's Triple-Verified CEO lists today and see what accurate, intent-driven outreach can do for your pipeline.
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