SubForge vs BuildZoom

License data vs enriched contact intelligence

BuildZoom and Shovels.ai aggregate state contractor license data and permit records into searchable directories. SubForge takes state license data as the starting point, enriches it with verified decision-maker contacts, and segments by trade and project type for B2B sales use cases.

If you need to look up a contractor's license number or check whether they pulled a permit on a specific address, BuildZoom is a useful directory. If you need a list of 500 owners at commercial mechanical contractors with healthcare experience in Texas, with verified email and direct phone, that's SubForge.

Coverage and depth

BuildZoom covers contractors broadly (residential and commercial) and indexes them by name, license, and permit history. The data is shallow but wide. SubForge focuses specifically on commercial construction and goes deep: decision-maker contacts, trade and project type segmentation, bonding capacity, and license class.

Pricing comparison

BuildZoom and Shovels.ai offer free public-facing search with paid API access for higher volumes. SubForge is per-project at $0.50 to $1.50 per record. A typical SubForge engagement runs $500 to $5,000 depending on list size and complexity.

When to use SubForge

If you need decision-maker contacts, not just contractor names. If you need verified emails and direct phones, not just business addresses. If you need trade and project type segmentation for outbound campaigns. If you want a list built for your specific use case rather than a directory you have to filter yourself.