The tool that finds you a viral TikTok dancer will not find you a respected CISO whose word moves a six-figure software deal. B2B influence runs on authority, not reach, and it lives on LinkedIn, podcasts and industry stages rather than the feeds most influencer software was built for. So the platform you choose has to match how B2B actually works. Below are the platforms worth knowing in 2026, grouped by what they are genuinely built for, with an honest note on who each one suits.
12 platforms, grouped by purpose. Last reviewed September 2026.
What these platforms actually do
Most cover the same core jobs in different depth: finding the right people, checking they are credible and their audience is real, managing the relationship and the contract, running the campaign, and measuring what came back. The difference in B2B is what “the right people” and “what came back” mean. Discovery has to surface subject-matter experts, not lifestyle creators, and measurement has to connect to pipeline and deal influence, not just likes. A few of these tools are built for exactly that. Most are strong general platforms that a B2B team can bend to the job.
How to choose
Start with the campaign, not the feature list. If the goal is LinkedIn thought leadership, a tool with real LinkedIn data such as Favikon or a B2B network like Thinkers360 will beat a bigger consumer platform every time. If you are a large organisation that needs governance and global reach, the enterprise names earn their price. If you mainly want to find and contract a few credible voices without a long commitment, a marketplace is enough. And be clear on budget early: entry pricing here runs from roughly $199 a month to enterprise contracts well over $25,000 a month.
Built for B2B and thought leadership
The purpose-built tools, where influence means subject authority rather than follower count.
1. Thinkers360
Thinkers360 is the closest thing to a platform built only for B2B. Its opt-in network runs to more than 10,000 verified analysts, authors and subject-matter experts across technology, finance, healthcare and professional services, and its top voices carry over 100 million combined followers. If a campaign depends on genuine expertise rather than reach, this is the first place to look.
2. Favikon
Favikon has become the go-to for LinkedIn-led campaigns, mostly because it built deep LinkedIn creator data while most rivals stayed on consumer platforms. It scores creators on authority and authenticity and lets you filter by job title and LinkedIn Top Voice status, which is exactly the cut most B2B teams need. Plans start around $199 a month, so smaller teams can reach it too.
3. Clickstrike
Clickstrike focuses on software and tech brands, building campaigns around influencers who actually carry weight in the SaaS world. It sits between a platform and a managed service, which suits teams that want help running the programme rather than just a database. A fit for B2B tech companies whose buyers live on niche industry channels.
Enterprise all-in-one platforms
General platforms, mostly built for consumer and DTC work, that large B2B teams also run at scale.
4. Traackr
Traackr is an enterprise creator-marketing intelligence platform with discovery across 71 countries and 26 languages. It leans hard into measurement and relationship management, so large organisations use it to run structured, global programmes and prove ROI. Pricing is enterprise and quote-based.
5. CreatorIQ
CreatorIQ is squarely enterprise software, with pricing that starts around $25,000 a month, and it powers some of the largest creator programmes anywhere. For a big brand that needs governance, integrations and serious reporting it is a heavyweight option, though it is overkill for a small team.
6. Upfluence
Upfluence is an all-in-one influencer and affiliate platform, recently fitted with an AI campaign co-pilot. It was built with ecommerce and DTC in mind, so B2B teams get a broad, capable toolset rather than anything LinkedIn-specific. Good for companies running product or affiliate campaigns alongside their B2B work.
7. GRIN
GRIN is a creator-management platform used by brands like GoPro to run large, brand-owned creator programmes, now with an AI assistant handling discovery and reporting. Its roots are firmly in DTC, so the B2B fit is strongest for companies with a product audience and an ongoing roster to manage. Less suited to a one-off thought-leadership push.
8. IZEA
IZEA, which absorbed the old TapInfluence, runs a long-standing creator marketplace alongside its Flex toolset. It gives B2B teams a self-serve way to find and contract creators without an enterprise commitment. A practical middle option when you want a marketplace rather than a managed programme.
Discovery, analytics and measurement
Data-first tools for finding the right voices and proving what a campaign did.
9. NeoReach
NeoReach pairs analytics-heavy discovery with an optional managed-service tier, so you can run campaigns yourself or hand them over. That flexibility suits B2B teams that want data depth but may not have the headcount to execute. Expect enterprise-level pricing for the full platform.
10. Brandwatch Influence
Brandwatch Influence is the platform that used to be Paladin, now folded into Brandwatch under Cision. It bolts influencer discovery, campaign management and reporting onto Brandwatch's wider social-listening suite. The draw for B2B teams is having influence data sit next to consumer-intelligence data in one place.
11. Kolsquare
Kolsquare is a European platform with a strong GDPR-first, data-compliant reputation, built around key-opinion-leader discovery and campaign management. For brands operating in Europe or wary about data governance, that compliance focus is a real differentiator. Coverage skews toward European markets.
12. Emplifi
Emplifi is where Socialbakers ended up after its 2021 merger, and the old analytics DNA now lives inside a broader customer-experience and social suite with an influencer module. It makes most sense for teams already using Emplifi for social media management who want influencer work in the same tool. As a standalone influencer platform it is less specialised than the names above.
A note on names that have changed
A few well-known names from older lists have moved on, and it is worth knowing so you are not searching for something that no longer exists. Socialbakers became Emplifi after a 2021 merger. Paladin is now Brandwatch Influence under Cision. And Onalytica, for years the most B2B-focused platform of all, went into administration in early 2026, with its technology picked up by Spotlight, so we have left it off until its future is clearer.
How we chose
We started from the platforms that keep appearing in current B2B buyer guides, checked each one was still operating and under what name, then grouped them by what they are actually built for rather than by marketing claims. Ownership, focus and entry pricing were verified against vendor and review sources in September 2026. Vendors rarely publish full rate cards and pricing moves often, so treat any figures here as a guide, not a quote.
Common questions
What makes a platform B2B rather than B2C?
It comes down to discovery and measurement. A B2B tool can find people by expertise, job title and professional platforms like LinkedIn, and it ties results to pipeline and deal influence rather than to reach and likes. Many general platforms can be used for B2B, but only a few are built for it.
Which is best for LinkedIn thought leadership?
Favikon has the deepest LinkedIn creator data, including Top Voice and job-title filters, and Thinkers360 gives you a vetted network of analysts and experts. Between them they cover most serious LinkedIn-led B2B campaigns.
What do these platforms cost?
A wide range. Favikon starts around $199 a month, which suits smaller teams, while enterprise platforms like CreatorIQ begin around $25,000 a month. Many, including Traackr and NeoReach, are quote-based, so budget matters as much as features when you shortlist.
Do I need a platform or an agency?
A platform gives you the data and workflow to run programmes in-house, which pays off if you run them regularly. If you lack the headcount, a managed service or agency, or a hybrid like Clickstrike or NeoReach's managed tier, may get you further faster.
What happened to Socialbakers and Onalytica?
Socialbakers merged into Emplifi in 2021 and no longer exists as its own brand. Onalytica went into administration in early 2026 and its technology was acquired by Spotlight, so its standalone future is uncertain. We have reflected both in the list above.
