Global Database vs. Creditsafe: Choosing the Right Business Data Provider for Growth & Compliance
Introduction: Business Data is Not All the Same—Here’s Why It Matters
In today’s data-driven world, having the right business intelligence can make or break a company’s success. Whether you're in sales, marketing, compliance, fintech, or risk assessment, access to accurate, real-time company data is critical for making informed decisions. However, not all data providers offer the same level of quality, coverage, or flexibility.
Two major business data platforms stand out:
✔Global Database – A first-party data provider that sources company information directly from 100+ official government registries, delivering real-time updates, firmographics, financials, UBO (Ultimate Beneficial Ownership) structures, and verified executive contact details.
✔Creditsafe – A company that owns data in only 12 countries (including the UK, Ireland, Nordics, Italy, Austria, and the US) while relying on third-party partners for the rest of the world. It primarily focuses on credit risk scoring and business risk assessment, with limited company insights beyond financial health indicators.
While both offer company intelligence, their depth, usability, and flexibility differ significantly. This in-depth comparison will help you decide which provider best fits your business needs.
1. Data Ownership & Coverage: Who Really Controls the Data?
✅ Global Database: 300 Million Verified Companies with First-Party Data
✔ Direct sourcing from 100+ government registries, ensuring complete data accuracy.
✔ Fully enriched company profiles, including firmographics, financials, key decision-makers, and contact details.
✔ Global coverage, with no reliance on external partners for data acquisition.
❌ Creditsafe: Only 12 Countries with Owned Data, Rest via Third-Party Partnerships
❌ Owns data only in 12 countries, including the UK, Ireland, the Nordics, Italy, Austria, and the US.
❌ In all other countries, Creditsafe relies on third-party data vendors, meaning:
*Updates are slower, depending on the local partner.
*Accuracy is inconsistent across regions.
*Businesses must follow strict licensing terms based on where the data comes from.❌ More limited global reach compared to Global Database.
📌 Why This Matters: If your business requires direct access to fully owned data without reliance on third parties, Global Database offers a more stable and comprehensive solution.
2. Data Enrichment & Firmographics: Who Provides More Than Just Basic Information?
✅ Global Database: Fully Enriched Business Intelligence
✔ Goes beyond raw registry data by providing:
*Business descriptions (what the company does).
*Social media profiles (LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook).
*Websites and digital presence insights.
*Revenue estimates and employee count.
*Key executive contacts (including CMO, CTO, COO, and more).✔ Designed for sales, marketing, compliance, and risk assessment.
❌ Creditsafe: Basic Data with Limited Enrichment
❌ No firmographics → Lacks business descriptions, social media profiles, and full web presence analysis.
❌ Limited websites → Not all company profiles include verified website URLs.
❌ No revenue estimates or employee counts → Difficult to assess business size and potential.
❌ Only provides data on company officers and directors → No contact details for other key executives (e.g., CTO, COO, CMO).
❌ Not designed for sales & marketing intelligence.
📌 Why This Matters: If you need enriched data that provides a complete company profile, Global Database offers far more business intelligence than Creditsafe.
3. Licensing & Usage Restrictions: Who Gives You More Freedom?
✅ Global Database: No Licensing Restrictions
✔ Businesses fully own the data they access, meaning:
*No restrictions on resale, modification, or integration into AI, CRM, or analytics platforms.
*No attribution requirements or bulk redistribution bans.✔ Unlimited API access for automation, fintech, and SaaS applications.
❌ Creditsafe: Strict Licensing & Reseller Limitations
Creditsafe enforces two licensing models, both of which come with major restrictions:
1️⃣ Internal License
*Data can only be used within the company for risk assessment.
*Resale, modification, and external use are strictly prohibited.
2️⃣ External License
*Limited resale rights—businesses cannot freely resell the data in bulk.
*No rights to modify, integrate, or redistribute without approval.
📌 Why This Matters: If your business needs full control over its data for AI, fintech, or product integration, Global Database gives you complete freedom, while Creditsafe enforces legal barriers.
4. User Interface & Accessibility: Which Platform is More User-Friendly?
✅ Global Database: Intuitive & Feature-Rich
✔ User-friendly platform with advanced search, filtering, and data export capabilities.
✔ Customizable dashboards for real-time insights and business intelligence.
✔ User-friendly API built for fintechs, IT, and manufacturing companies → Tailored for seamless integration into CRMs, automation tools, and compliance workflows.
❌ Creditsafe: Not User-Friendly
❌ More complex and outdated UI → Not as easy to navigate as modern business intelligence platforms.
❌ Limited search and filtering options → Harder to extract meaningful insights.
❌ Focuses heavily on credit risk rather than full business intelligence.
📌 Why This Matters: If you need an easy-to-use platform with customizable insights, Global Database offers a better user experience than Creditsafe.
5. Web Extension: Who Provides Instant Company Verification?
✅ Global Database Web Extension: Real-Time Business Insights
✔ Instantly verify company details while browsing the web.
✔ Check company registration status, financials, and UBO structures.
✔ Find and contact key executives for sales & business development.
✔ Seamless LinkedIn integration for quick decision-making.
❌ Creditsafe: No Web Extension Available
❌ No instant company lookups—users must manually search in the platform.
❌ No LinkedIn integration—sales teams must look up contacts manually.
❌ No instant access to financials or ownership structures.
📌 Why This Matters: If you need quick, on-the-go business intelligence, Global Database’s web extension provides real-time insights that Creditsafe lacks.
6. Flexibility & Jurisdiction Restrictions: Who Offers Unrestricted Data Access?
✅ Global Database: No Geographic Restrictions
✔ Users can sell or distribute data in any country.
✔ No limitations based on jurisdiction or third-party partnerships.
✔ Fully compliant with GDPR and global data regulations.
❌ Creditsafe: Geographic Restrictions & Limited Resale Rights
❌ In many jurisdictions, Creditsafe prohibits the resale of data, depending on local agreements.
❌ Users must comply with strict territorial limitations that restrict international data usage.
❌ Regulatory concerns can limit access and redistribution rights in certain regions.
📌 Why This Matters: If your business needs full international flexibility, Global Database provides unrestricted data usage, while Creditsafe enforces strict jurisdiction-based limitations.
Final Verdict: Which Provider Offers More Value?
Which Business Data Provider Best Fits Your Needs?
Both Global Database and Creditsafe offer valuable business intelligence, but their coverage, flexibility, and usability differ significantly.
📌 Creditsafe specializes in credit risk assessment, making it useful for financial institutions evaluating a company’s creditworthiness. However, it owns data in only 12 countries, relying on third-party providers elsewhere, which can lead to slower updates and inconsistent accuracy. Strict licensing rules also limit how businesses can use, resell, or integrate the data.
📌 Global Database provides credit scores and credit limits, but goes beyond financial risk by offering first-party, real-time data from 100+ government registries, covering 300+ million companies worldwide. It includes firmographics, UBO structures, executive contacts, and flexible usage rights, making it ideal for sales, compliance, risk assessment, and fintech applications. With a user-friendly API, businesses can seamlessly integrate data into CRMs, AI models, and automation workflows.
The Bottom Line
If you need strictly credit risk data, Creditsafe may be a fit. But if you require a fully enriched business intelligence solution with unrestricted data access, deeper insights, and greater flexibility, Global Database is the smarter choice.
