ContactOut Review: Does It Really Work for Finding Contacts?
Finding the right professional contacts is essential for recruiters, sales teams, and marketers. With LinkedIn limiting access to contact details, tools like ContactOut have become popular for discovering email addresses and phone numbers. But how well does ContactOut actually work? This in-depth review explores its features, accuracy, pricing, and how it compares to other tools.
What is ContactOut?
ContactOut is a contact-finding tool designed to help professionals discover accurate email addresses and phone numbers, primarily from LinkedIn profiles. It’s widely used by recruiters, salespeople, and marketers who need direct contact information for outreach. The tool integrates seamlessly with LinkedIn, allowing users to retrieve contact details with just a few clicks. Beyond LinkedIn, ContactOut also offers a large database of professional contacts, making it one of the go-to solutions for sourcing verified information.
Key Features of ContactOut
Email & Phone Number Finder
ContactOut’s primary function is to extract verified email addresses and phone numbers from LinkedIn profiles. The platform claims to have a high accuracy rate, pulling from publicly available data and proprietary sources.
Chrome Extension
The ContactOut Chrome extension is a key feature, enabling users to find contact details directly while browsing LinkedIn. With a simple click, users can retrieve available emails and save contacts for future use.
Candidate Search Portal
For users looking beyond LinkedIn, ContactOut provides access to a vast candidate database. The search portal allows professionals to find potential candidates or business leads using filters such as job title, company, and location.
Bulk Email Search & Export
For those managing large outreach campaigns, ContactOut allows bulk searches and exports. Users can find multiple contacts at once and export data to spreadsheets or CRM systems for seamless integration.
CRM & ATS Integrations
ContactOut integrates with popular Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), such as Salesforce and Greenhouse. This makes it easier for recruiters and sales teams to manage their contact lists and automate workflows.
Email Outreach Feature
Some versions of ContactOut come with an email outreach feature that enables users to send messages directly from the platform. This allows businesses to streamline their outreach campaigns without switching between multiple tools.
How to Use ContactOut
The tool is designed to be user-friendly. To get started, users install the ContactOut Chrome extension, which then becomes accessible while browsing LinkedIn. When viewing a profile, the extension automatically detects available contact details and displays them in a pop-up. Users can then save these contacts, export them, or integrate them with their CRM.
For those who need broader searches, the candidate search portal offers access to a wider database. Simply entering a name, company, or job title yields a list of contacts with available emails. This feature is particularly useful for large-scale recruiting or sales prospecting.
Accuracy & Effectiveness – Does ContactOut Really Work?
One of the biggest concerns with contact-finding tools is accuracy. ContactOut claims an industry-leading accuracy rate, with many users reporting that the majority of retrieved emails are correct. However, no tool is perfect, and some outdated or incorrect emails may still appear.
A common way to verify ContactOut’s effectiveness is to test it against known contacts. In multiple case studies, recruiters and sales teams found that ContactOut successfully retrieved emails that were otherwise difficult to find. While occasional errors occur, the tool performs better than many competitors when it comes to verified business emails.
Pricing & Plans – Is It Worth the Cost?
ContactOut offers a free plan with limited searches, but for professional use, paid plans are necessary. Pricing varies based on the number of searches, bulk exports, and additional features. While the cost may seem high for smaller businesses, many large recruiting firms and sales teams find the investment worthwhile due to the tool’s effectiveness in sourcing hard-to-find contact details.
Compared to alternatives, ContactOut’s pricing is competitive but not the cheapest. However, its accuracy and LinkedIn integration often justify the cost, especially for those who rely heavily on outreach and hiring.
ContactOut Pros & Cons
Pros
- High accuracy rate for email retrieval
- Easy-to-use Chrome extension for LinkedIn integration
- Large contact database beyond LinkedIn
- Seamless CRM integration for streamlined workflows
- Bulk search and export options
Cons
- Limited free searches, requiring a paid plan for regular use
- Occasional outdated emails, though less frequent than competitors
- Pricing can be high for small businesses
How ContactOut Compares to Competitors
There are several alternatives to ContactOut, including Hunter.io, Lusha, and Snov.io. Each tool has its own strengths and weaknesses.
ContactOut vs. Hunter.io
Hunter.io is another email-finding tool but focuses primarily on domain-based searches rather than individual LinkedIn profiles. ContactOut is a better choice for recruiters, while Hunter.io is more suited for marketers looking for domain-wide email discovery.
ContactOut vs. Lusha
Lusha is similar to ContactOut but provides additional phone numbers along with emails. However, many users report that ContactOut’s email accuracy is higher than Lusha’s.
ContactOut vs. Snov.io
Snov.io is a more affordable option but lacks ContactOut’s LinkedIn integration and database accuracy. While Snov.io works well for smaller businesses, ContactOut is the better choice for recruiters and sales professionals who need high-quality contact data.
Who Should Use ContactOut?
ContactOut is best suited for professionals who regularly need verified contact details. The tool is particularly valuable for:
- Recruiters looking for direct contact information of candidates
- Sales teams conducting outreach to potential clients
- Marketers & PR professionals building media and business contacts
- Freelancers & business owners needing to connect with key individuals
User Reviews & Testimonials
Users generally praise ContactOut for its ease of use, high accuracy, and seamless LinkedIn integration. Many recruiters say it has significantly improved their hiring process, while sales teams appreciate its efficiency in finding direct emails.
Common complaints include limited free searches and occasional inaccuracies, though these are expected with any contact-finding tool. Overall, ContactOut has a strong reputation among professionals who rely on direct outreach for business growth.
Final Verdict – Should You Use ContactOut?
After a thorough review, it’s clear that ContactOut is a powerful tool for finding professional contacts. It offers highly accurate email retrieval, an easy-to-use Chrome extension, and a large contact database. While it has some limitations, such as limited free searches and pricing concerns, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks for recruiters, sales teams, and marketers.
For those looking for a reliable, LinkedIn-integrated contact-finding tool, ContactOut is one of the best choices available. If you’re on a budget, free alternatives exist, but they may not provide the same level of accuracy or convenience.
Conclusion
ContactOut is a powerful and effective tool for professionals needing verified contact information. Whether you’re a recruiter, salesperson, or marketer, this tool can streamline your workflow and improve outreach efforts. While the pricing may not suit everyone, its accuracy and ease of use make it a valuable asset for those serious about contact discovery.
FAQs About ContactOut
Is ContactOut legal and GDPR compliant?
Yes, ContactOut follows data privacy laws and only retrieves publicly available information.
How does ContactOut get emails?
ContactOut sources emails from publicly available data and proprietary databases, ensuring high accuracy.
Can ContactOut find phone numbers too?
Yes, ContactOut provides phone numbers in some cases, though email retrieval is its primary focus.
What are the limits of the free version?
The free version offers a limited number of searches per month, requiring an upgrade for unlimited access.
