Typing "international buyer directory" into Google will get you thousands of results.

Most of them are:

• Free PDFs

• Static websites

• Forums or scraped Excel files

But if you're serious about findingreal B2B buyers, these free directories may hurt more than help.

Here’s why.

Reason 1: Most “Buyers” Are Outdated or Inactive

Free lists rarely show:

• When the buyer last made a purchase

• What product they actually import

• Whether the company still operates

WithSaleAI:

You can search active importers by product keyword or HS code in theAutomated Business Datamodule—ranked by trade volume and recency.

Reason 2: Contact Info Is Generic or Missing

You’ll see entries like:

• “XYZ Import Co.” –info@xyz.com

• No decision-maker, no industry tag, no social profile

With SaleAI:

UseEnterpriseScopeto get:

• Buyer name, company, job title

• Public email, domain, or LinkedIn link

• Purchase activity and contact history (when available)

Reason 3: No Filters, No Targeting

You can’t:

• Filter by region

• Choose only recent buyers

• Sort by volume or product category

WithSaleAI:

You can:

• Target buyers by country, industry, size

• Apply smart filters like “active in last 6 months” or “high volume importers”

• Tag and segment leads for outreach later

Reason 4: Lists Don’t Lead to Action

You get a file. Then what?

• You copy-paste into another tool

• Clean the format manually

• Hope the emails work

With SaleAI:

You can push buyers intoEmail SmartReach, launch cold email campaigns, and track opens—all in one flow.

Reason 5: No Way to Confirm Credibility

A free list doesn’t show:

• Company website status

• Domain legitimacy

• Fraud risk or compliance exposure

With SaleAI:

CorpDomain Checkverifies:

• Domain ownership

• Activity status

• MX/email server presence

• Contact trust score

What to Use Instead of Free Buyer Directories?

Real Buyers. Real Data. Real Results.

Stop wasting time chasing ghost buyers from old PDFs.

UseSaleAIto build areal international buyer directory—filtered, verified, and ready for outreach.