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HireDov vs Thomasnet: a directory you search, or an agent that does the outreach?
Thomasnet and HireDov both help you find suppliers, but they do different jobs. Thomasnet is a supplier directory you search yourself. HireDov is an AI sourcing agent that runs the outreach for you: it finds suppliers, sends the RFQs, chases replies and lines up the quotes. Here is how to choose.
By the HireDov teamUpdated 4 min readWhat Thomasnet is
Thomasnet is a long-established online directory of industrial suppliers, manufacturers and distributors, centered on North America. Buyers use it for free to search by product, category, certification or location, browse supplier profiles and contact companies; suppliers pay for advertising and premium listings. Thomasnet has added smarter search and ways to send RFQs to suppliers you select on the platform.
It is a strong research tool when you already know what you're looking for and have time to qualify and contact suppliers one by one.
What HireDov is
HireDov gives you an AI sourcing agent, Dov. You describe the need in plain English (product or service, quantity, specs, destination, target date) and Dov does the legwork:
- Finds qualified suppliers anywhere, often around 50 per request, and shows you the list before anything is sent
- Writes a tailored RFQ to each one, in the supplier's language
- Follows up on the silent ones for 72 hours
- Puts every quote side by side in one dashboard: price, lead time, MOQ, terms
- Can negotiate with the shortlist once you've picked a direction
Side-by-side
| Thomasnet | HireDov | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Searchable supplier directory | AI agent that runs the sourcing process |
| Who does the outreach | You (contact or RFQ suppliers you pick) | Dov sends and tracks every RFQ |
| Follow-ups | Manual | Automatic, for 72 hours |
| Supplier coverage | Suppliers listed on the platform, mostly North American industrial | Suppliers found across the open web, any country, any B2B category |
| Languages | Mostly English | RFQs written in each supplier's language |
| Quote comparison | Replies arrive in your inbox | All quotes normalized in one dashboard |
| Cost to the buyer | Free to search | Pro $299/mo or Business $799/mo |
When Thomasnet is the better fit
- You need a North American industrial supplier and want to browse and qualify them yourself
- You're doing early market research and only need a few names
- Budget is zero and you have time to run the outreach by hand
When HireDov is the better fit
- You need real quotes, not a list of names, and you don't have a full-time buyer
- You want suppliers beyond one region or one directory, contacted in their language
- You're tired of chasing replies and copying prices into a spreadsheet
Using both
They're not exclusive. Plenty of buyers start in a directory to understand the market, then hand the outreach to Dov. If you already have a shortlist from Thomasnet, you can upload it (.csv or .xlsx) and Dov will contact those suppliers alongside the ones he finds.
Frequently asked questions
Is Thomasnet free for buyers?
Yes, searching Thomasnet is free for buyers; suppliers pay for advertising and enhanced listings. You still do the outreach, follow-ups and comparison yourself.
Does HireDov use Thomasnet data?
No. Dov searches the open web for suppliers that match your request, in any country, and can also contact suppliers from a list you upload.
Can HireDov contact suppliers I found on Thomasnet?
Yes. Upload your list as a .csv or .xlsx when you start a mission and Dov includes those suppliers in the RFQ round.
How fast do I get quotes with HireDov?
RFQs go out within the first day, Dov follows up for 72 hours, then you get the replies side by side and choose a supplier or ask him to negotiate.
Put Dov on it
Describe what you need. Dov finds the suppliers, sends the RFQs, and compares the quotes. Plans from $299/mo, cancel anytime.
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