Two tools with opposite approaches. The question that separates them: do you want to plug a data source into your systems, or get a ready-to-use list? Captain Data and OutSend often end up on the same shortlist, even though they don't solve the same problem. This article compares them on concrete criteria: where the data comes from, how you get started, what the access model looks like, what compliance covers, and what scope each one covers.
Captain Data is a well-established French player, and its name comes up whenever B2B data automation is on the table. But the platform has evolved: it now targets developers and teams integrating a data API into their own products. If your need is simpler (pulling a targeted list of businesses in a given area, with their emails and phone numbers, ready to use tomorrow morning), it is worth comparing them criterion by criterion. For some use cases, Captain Data remains the better choice, and we'll say so.
Data origin: aggregated profile database vs. local field data
First criterion, and probably the most important: where does the data come from. The two tools don't use the same source, and everything else follows from that.
Captain Data aggregates multiple data providers and exposes a database of over 500 million person and company profiles, kept up to date: "500M+ profiles, kept fresh" (Captain Data, homepage 2026). This is a real strength: for international use cases or large enrichment volumes, having a pre-built pool of profiles saves a lot of time. You search by firmographic criteria over a global database.
OutSend starts from local field data. You target a category of businesses or companies in a geographic area, and the platform scrapes Google Maps to build the list from actual business listings rather than a pre-built database. Our guide to scraping Google Maps with CSV export covers this starting point in detail. The two approaches are complementary: an aggregated database suits broad firmographic targeting, while Google Maps scraping suits full coverage of a precise geographic area.
Setup: API integration vs. exported file
Second criterion, the one that filters out the most users: what do you need to do before getting your first useful result.
Captain Data has repositioned its offering from workflow automation toward a real-time data infrastructure layer, summed up by their stated direction, "From automation to orchestration", and a stated choice: "Developer-first: We expose everything through scalable APIs" (Captain Data, blog v1 2025). In practice, the target use case requires a technical integration: the v1 documentation describes an API to connect, with authentication keys, pagination, and rate-limit management (Captain Data, v1 documentation). For a technical team building its own pipelines, that's a clean, well-documented foundation. On the other hand, the no-code product that made Captain Data's reputation is no longer the primary target: the visual extraction tool from two years ago no longer exists in the same form. It is a strategic choice, but it makes things harder for an Ops team without a developer.
OutSend requires no integration. No workflow to assemble, no API to connect: you launch a scrape, and the platform automatically chains the rest (email discovery, deliverability verification, additional phone numbers, social networks, tech stack detection, legal data) before delivering an exported file. What would normally require four separate subscriptions fits into a single pipeline. The no-code prospecting pipeline logic shows how the steps chain together without any programming.
Access model: usage-based at scale vs. one-off free alpha
Third criterion: how you pay, and at what threshold the tool becomes relevant.
Captain Data operates on a usage-based model designed for volume. The official pricing page shows a tier at €600/month for 20,000 credits, equivalent to €29.99 per 1,000 credits, versus a base rate of €59.99 per 1,000 credits (Captain Data, pricing page 2026). A trial exists (100 credits offered), but real commitment starts high. This model fits its target: it favors teams that consume a lot of data. It is, however, oversized for someone who needs a one-off list.
OutSend is in free alpha: no budget needed to test a first list. The access model requires no commitment upfront: you test, export, and decide from there. On the other hand, if your need is to continuously feed a software product, an AI agent, or a CRM with hundreds of thousands of enrichments, Captain Data's usage-based model is built for that level of consumption.
Compliance: two transparent French players
Fourth criterion, a sensitive one for any legal team: what each tool displays on the compliance front.
Captain Data displays GDPR Compliant and SOC 2 certifications on its site, which reassures technical and legal teams. Captain Data is solid on this point: its compliance is explicit and documented.
OutSend is built for B2B prospecting within the GDPR framework and CNIL recommendations, with professional email discovery integrated into the pipeline. On this criterion, both French players are transparent, so it does not set them apart. The difference lies in the source, the setup and the scope.
Functional scope: GTM infrastructure vs. integrated enrichment pipeline
Fifth criterion: what each tool actually covers beyond raw data.
Captain Data covers multi-source orchestration: aggregating multiple providers, exposing search, enrichment, and CRM sync through a single API, which they summarize as "Production-ready, one integration, live in hours, not weeks" (Captain Data, homepage 2026). For a RevOps team looking to combine multiple building blocks without assembling ten tools, this GTM infrastructure saves real time. It's a layer designed to be plugged into other systems.
OutSend covers an integrated enrichment pipeline, ready to use without plugging in anything. Beyond emails and phone numbers, it adds modules you wouldn't expect from a simple enrichment API, such as website tech stack detection, automatic SIRET/SIREN/VAT enrichment to legally qualify a list, and deliverability verification. It is a finished product, not a layer to integrate: you target, you launch, you export.
Side-by-side comparison, at a glance
Here are the objective criteria side by side, with no subjective scoring. The goal is to show what each tool does and who it is built for.
| Criterion | Captain Data | OutSend |
|---|---|---|
| Data origin | 500M+ aggregated multi-provider profiles | Google Maps scraping + enrichment pipeline |
| Setup | API integration (keys, pagination, rate limits) | No integration required, exported file |
| Access model | Usage-based, from €600/month (20,000 credits) official pricing | Free alpha |
| Compliance | GDPR + SOC 2 certified | GDPR/CNIL framework, built for France |
| Scope | GTM infrastructure, multi-source orchestration | All-in-one enrichment pipeline |
| Target audience | RevOps teams, developers, product builders | Solos, freelancers, SMBs without dev resources |
| Interface language | API and docs in English | French-language interface |
Where Captain Data remains the better choice, and how to decide
If you're a RevOps team or product builder integrating person/company data into a CRM, a SaaS product, or an AI agent, at scale, on an ongoing basis, with in-house technical resources, Captain Data is built exactly for that scenario. Single API, high volumes, multi-source orchestration: on that segment, OutSend doesn't claim to compete. OutSend is not a real-time data infrastructure for developers. It is a tool for pulling targeted lists on demand.
OutSend takes over on the other segment: a solo, a freelancer, or an SMB without dev resources who wants a targeted list of businesses in a given area, enriched with emails and phone numbers, ready to use today, without a workflow to build. And the two approaches can coexist: a scale-up might run Captain Data as infrastructure for its product pipelines while using OutSend on the ground, so a sales rep can quickly pull a local ad-hoc list without involving the data team.
To decide, ask yourself three questions before signing anything. First question: who will use the tool day to day? If the answer is a sales rep or a founder rather than a developer, an API to integrate will quickly become a bottleneck. Second question: is your need recurring and programmatic, or one-off and exploratory? A continuous feed into a product justifies infrastructure; a campaign by city or sector calls more for an on-demand export. Third question: do you have a specific geographic area to cover in full? An aggregated profile database suits searches by firmographic criteria, but to get every business in a given city, Google Maps scraping works better. If all three answers point toward field-level, no-code, one-off usage, OutSend's free alpha can be tested in a few minutes with no budget commitment.
FAQ: OutSend and Captain Data
Does Captain Data still offer a no-code product?
Captain Data has repositioned its offering toward an API-first data infrastructure, framed around their "from automation to orchestration" direction (Captain Data blog, 2025). The product now targets developers and product builders rather than the general no-code user it once served.
How much does Captain Data cost?
The official pricing page shows a tier at €600/month for 20,000 credits, with a base rate of €59.99 per 1,000 credits and 100 credits offered for trial (Captain Data, pricing 2026). The model is usage-based and adjustable by volume.
Do you need a developer to use OutSend?
No. OutSend works without code: you target a category and a geographic area, the platform scrapes Google Maps and chains the enrichment, and you export a file. That's precisely the setup difference from an API like Captain Data, which requires a technical integration with authentication keys and rate-limit management.
Does Captain Data cover local prospecting by geographic area?
Captain Data is designed for enrichment and search against an aggregated profile database, not for covering an area via Google Maps. To target businesses or companies in a specific city, OutSend's local scraping approach is more direct. The two approaches serve different needs and can even coexist.
Is OutSend GDPR-compliant?
OutSend is designed for B2B prospecting within the GDPR framework and CNIL (the French data protection authority) recommendations; compliance depends on how you use the data. Captain Data displays GDPR and SOC 2 certifications on its site (Captain Data, homepage 2026). On compliance, both French players are transparent.
This article is part of a broader series: see all prospecting tool alternative comparisons.