Top 12 Clay Alternatives for Data Enrichment and Automation (2026)

The best Clay alternatives in 2026 are Apollo.io, Persana AI, Cognism, and FullEnrich, offering comparable data enrichment and automation at lower price points. According to Cognism's 2026 analysis, Clay's $149/month starting price for just 2,000 credits—combined with a steep learning curve—drives many teams to seek alternatives that deliver similar waterfall enrichment without the complexity. This guide compares 12 tested alternatives based on pricing, data accuracy, and automation capabilities.

Why Look for Clay Alternatives in 2026?

Clay has established itself as a powerful data enrichment and automation platform with access to 75+ data sources and sophisticated workflow builders. However, according to Lindy's Clay review, several limitations drive teams to explore alternatives:

• High pricing: Starting at $149/month for 2,000 credits, with phone enrichments consuming credits rapidly
• Steep learning curve: Most teams never unlock Clay's full potential due to complexity
• Credit consumption: API calls that return no data still cost credits
• Enterprise focus: Features and pricing optimized for large teams, not SMBs

I've evaluated data enrichment platforms for over eight years at Enricher.io. While Clay excels at complex multi-source workflows, many organizations need simpler solutions with predictable pricing—especially teams doing straightforward lead enrichment without advanced automation requirements.

Quick Comparison: Top Clay Alternatives

Platform	Best For	Starting Price	Data Sources	G2 Rating
Apollo.io	All-in-one sales platform	Free / $49/mo	275M+ contacts	4.8/5
Persana AI	AI-powered intent signals	$99/mo	75+ sources	4.6/5
Cognism	European data compliance	Custom	Phone-verified	4.6/5
FullEnrich	Waterfall enrichment	$29/mo	15+ providers	4.7/5
ZoomInfo	Enterprise intelligence	$15,000+/yr	600M+ profiles	4.4/5
Lusha	SMB prospecting	Free / $32/mo	100M+ contacts	4.3/5
UpLead	Verified B2B leads	$99/mo	155M+ contacts	4.7/5
Lead411	Intent + contact data	$99/mo	450M+ contacts	4.5/5
Bardeen	Browser automation	Free / $10/mo	100+ app integrations	4.9/5
Gumloop	AI workflow automation	Free tier	Any enrichment tool	4.5/5
Databar.ai	Multi-provider enrichment	Custom	100+ providers	4.4/5
Enricher.io	Affordable bulk enrichment	$0.01/record	2.5B+ profiles	4.6/5

What Are the Best Clay Alternatives?

Based on extensive testing across data accuracy, pricing, and automation capabilities, here are the top 12 Clay alternatives for 2026:

1. Apollo.io - Best All-in-One Sales Platform

Apollo.io combines data enrichment with complete sales engagement tools, making it the most practical Clay alternative for teams that want prospecting, enrichment, and outreach in one platform.

Quick Facts	Details
Best For	Sales teams needing all-in-one prospecting
Database Size	275M+ contacts, 73M+ companies
Starting Price	Free (limited) / $49/user/month
Waterfall Enrichment	Yes (Prospeo, ZoomInfo fallback)
Standout Feature	Built-in email sequencing
G2 Rating	4.8/5 (7,400+ reviews)

According to Gumloop's testing, Apollo's waterfall enrichment now falls back to secondary providers like Prospeo when its own database misses—raising email match rates from 58% to 79% in tests.

Key Features:

• Waterfall enrichment with secondary provider fallback
• Built-in email sequencing and dialer
• Chrome extension for LinkedIn prospecting
• Intent data signals for timing outreach
• CRM integrations (Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive)

Pros:

• Generous free tier with 600 email credits/month
• All-in-one platform eliminates tool switching
• Transparent, self-serve pricing
• Waterfall enrichment improves match rates

Cons:

• Data accuracy varies by region (US strongest)
• Phone number coverage weaker than email
• Enterprise accounts require custom pricing

Pricing: Free tier with 600 email credits/month. Paid plans start at $49/user/month (billed annually) or $59/user/month (billed monthly).

2. Persana AI - Best for AI-Powered Intent Signals

Persana AI differentiates with intelligent signal detection—automatically identifying job changes, funding rounds, and company growth to time outreach perfectly.

Quick Facts	Details
Best For	Teams prioritizing timing over volume
Data Sources	75+ automatically scanned
Starting Price	$99/month
Team Pricing	Unlimited seats included
Standout Feature	AI-detected buying signals
G2 Rating	4.6/5

According to Smarte's comparison, Persana's platform scans 75+ data sources automatically to find key events like job changes and funding rounds—signals that indicate the perfect timing for outreach.

Key Features:

• AI-powered buying signal detection
• 75+ data sources scanned automatically
• Job change and funding round alerts
• Unlimited team seats on all plans
• Company growth indicators

Pros:

• Unlimited team seats for cost-effective scaling
• Strong intent signal identification
• Comprehensive data source coverage
• AI handles source selection automatically

Cons:

• Newer platform with smaller user base
• Less established than enterprise competitors
• Limited historical track record

Pricing: Plans start at $99/month with unlimited team seats included.

3. Cognism - Best for European Data and Compliance

Cognism excels at GDPR-compliant B2B data with phone-verified mobile numbers—particularly strong for European markets where data privacy regulations are strictest.

Quick Facts	Details
Best For	European market targeting, compliance-focused
Database	Phone-verified mobile numbers
Starting Price	Custom (contact sales)
Compliance	GDPR and CCPA certified
Standout Feature	Diamond Data (phone-verified)
G2 Rating	4.6/5 (700+ reviews)

According to Cognism's own Clay comparison, Cognism offers unrestricted access to data and page-level exporting—minimizing the need to buy additional credits that plague Clay users.

Key Features:

• Phone-verified "Diamond Data" mobile numbers
• GDPR and CCPA compliance built-in
• Intent data from Bombora integration
• Unrestricted data access without per-credit billing
• Page-level exporting included

Pros:

• Strongest European data coverage
• Phone verification reduces wasted calls
• Compliance-first approach
• No per-credit nickel-and-diming

Cons:

• Custom pricing requires sales conversation
• Overkill for US-only targeting
• Enterprise-oriented

Pricing: Custom pricing based on company size and requirements. Contact sales for a quote.

4. FullEnrich - Best for Waterfall Enrichment on a Budget

FullEnrich delivers Clay-style waterfall enrichment across 15+ data sources at a fraction of the cost—ideal for teams who want multi-source coverage without the complexity.

Quick Facts	Details
Best For	Budget-conscious teams wanting waterfall
Data Sources	15+ enrichment providers
Starting Price	$29/month
Credit Rollover	Up to 3 months
Standout Feature	Multi-source waterfall at low cost
Capterra Rating	4.7/5

According to Databar's comparison, FullEnrich's waterfall approach achieves 40-60% higher match rates than single-source providers by cascading through multiple sources until finding a match.

Key Features:

• Waterfall enrichment across 15+ sources
• Triple email verification with catch-all detection
• Professional and personal email access
• Direct dials and mobile numbers
• Credit rollover up to 3 months (rare feature)

Pros:

• Clay-style waterfall at 1/5th the price
• Credit rollover preserves unused credits
• Highest match rates for the price
• Unlimited seats included

Cons:

• Newer platform with smaller user base
• Less automation than Clay
• Focused on enrichment (not full workflow)

Pricing: Starts at $29/month with credit rollover.

5. ZoomInfo Sales - Best for Enterprise Intelligence

ZoomInfo remains the enterprise standard for comprehensive B2B intelligence, offering the largest database and most sophisticated intent data—at an enterprise price point.

Quick Facts	Details
Best For	Enterprise Fortune 1000 targeting
Database Size	600M+ profiles, 135M+ companies
Starting Price	$15,000+/year (annual contracts)
Direct Dials	70M+ verified phone numbers
Standout Feature	Buyer intent data + conversation intelligence
G2 Rating	4.4/5 (8,500+ reviews)

Key Features:

• 70M+ direct dial numbers, 174M+ verified emails
• Buyer intent data for identifying active researchers
• Conversation intelligence (Chorus integration)
• Org charts and reporting structures
• Website visitor identification

Pros:

• Most comprehensive enterprise database
• Accurate direct dial phone numbers
• Deep intent data integration
• Excellent Salesforce integration

Cons:

• High cost ($15K+ annually)
• Annual contracts required
• Complex platform with learning curve
• Overkill for SMBs

Pricing: Custom quotes starting at $15,000+/year. Contact sales for enterprise pricing.

6. Lusha - Best for SMB Simplicity

Lusha offers the easiest entry point for small businesses needing contact enrichment—a browser extension that works on LinkedIn with minimal setup.

Quick Facts	Details
Best For	SMBs and individual sales reps
Database Size	100M+ business contacts
Starting Price	Free (5 credits/mo) / $32/user/month
Pro Plan	1,920 emails + 480 phones/month
Standout Feature	Browser extension simplicity
G2 Rating	4.3/5 (1,500+ reviews)

Key Features:

• Chrome extension for LinkedIn/website enrichment
• Direct dial phone numbers included
• Salesforce and HubSpot native integrations
• Team management and credit sharing
• Bulk enrichment for list uploads

Pros:

• Easiest learning curve of any platform
• No annual contract required
• GDPR and CCPA compliant
• Affordable entry pricing

Cons:

• Smaller database than enterprise competitors
• Limited automation capabilities
• Credits expire monthly

Pricing: Free tier with 5 credits/month. Pro at $32/user/month (1,920 emails + 480 phones). Premium at $65/user/month.

7. UpLead - Best for Verified-Only Data

UpLead's unique value proposition: you only pay for verified contacts. Real-time email verification at export eliminates wasted credits on bounced emails.

Quick Facts	Details
Best For	Quality-focused prospecting
Database Size	155M+ contacts, 200+ countries
Starting Price	$99/month (170 credits)
Verification	Real-time, only pay for verified
Standout Feature	95% data accuracy guarantee
G2 Rating	4.7/5 (750+ reviews)

Key Features:

• Real-time email verification at export
• Only pay for verified contacts
• 50+ search filters
• Technographics (technology stack data)
• CRM integrations

Pros:

• 95% accuracy guarantee
• No wasted credits on bad data
• Clean, intuitive interface
• Strong international coverage

Cons:

• Higher per-credit cost
• Phone numbers cost extra
• Limited automation

Pricing: Essentials at $99/month (170 credits). Plus at $199/month (400 credits). 7-day free trial with 5 credits.

8. Lead411 - Best for Intent + Contact Data

Lead411 combines contact enrichment with Bombora intent signals, helping teams identify not just who to contact but when they're actively researching solutions.

Quick Facts	Details
Best For	Timing-focused outreach
Database Size	450M+ contacts, 20M+ companies
Starting Price	$99/month (Basic Plus Unlimited)
Intent Signals	Hiring, funding, news triggers
Standout Feature	Growth Intent Data
G2 Rating	4.5/5 (450+ reviews)

Key Features:

• 450M+ contacts with verified emails and direct dials
• Bombora intent data integration
• Growth Intent signals (hiring, funding, tech adoption)
• Unlimited exports on higher tiers
• CRM integrations

Pros:

• Intent signals improve outreach timing
• Unlimited exports available
• Verified phone numbers included
• No per-export fees

Cons:

• UI less modern than competitors
• Coverage gaps in smaller markets
• Learning curve for intent features

Pricing: Basic Plus Unlimited at $99/month (monthly) or $75/month (annual). 7-day free trial with 50 exports.

9. Bardeen - Best for Browser Automation

Bardeen excels at automating repetitive web tasks—data extraction from LinkedIn, workflow automation across 100+ apps, all running 24/7 in the cloud.

Quick Facts	Details
Best For	Web scraping and workflow automation
Integrations	100+ apps supported
Starting Price	Free / $10/month (500 credits)
Automation	24/7 cloud-based execution
Standout Feature	No-code automation builder
G2 Rating	4.9/5 (best in class)

Key Features:

• Automatic data extraction from LinkedIn and websites
• 100+ app integrations
• AI-powered Magic Box for custom workflows
• 24/7 cloud automation
• No-code builder

Pros:

• Highest G2 rating (4.9/5)
• Generous free plan
• Runs automations 24/7
• No code required

Cons:

• Not a data provider (automation only)
• Requires other data sources
• Learning curve for complex workflows

Pricing: Free plan with unlimited non-premium usage. Professional at $10/month (500 credits). Business at $15/month for teams.

10. Gumloop - Best for AI Workflow Flexibility

Gumloop differentiates by integrating with any lead enrichment tool while providing built-in access to premium AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini) for intelligent data processing.

Quick Facts	Details
Best For	AI-augmented data workflows
Integrations	Any enrichment tool + AI models
Starting Price	Free tier available
AI Models	ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, DeepSeek
Standout Feature	AI web scraping + LLM integration
G2 Rating	4.5/5

According to Gumloop's analysis, their platform integrates with any lead enrichment tool while providing built-in AI web scraping and access to premium LLMs—allowing teams to build Clay-like workflows with their preferred data sources.

Key Features:

• Integrates with any enrichment provider
• Built-in ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini access
• AI-powered web scraping
• Visual workflow builder
• Custom automation pipelines

Pros:

• Flexibility to use any data source
• Premium AI models included
• Free tier for testing
• Modern, intuitive interface

Cons:

• Requires separate data subscriptions
• Newer platform
• Complex for simple use cases

Pricing: Free tier available. Paid plans scale by usage.

11. Databar.ai - Best Multi-Provider Platform

Databar.ai aggregates 100+ data providers through a single interface, solving the data fragmentation problem that forces teams to juggle multiple subscriptions.

Quick Facts	Details
Best For	Teams needing diverse data sources
Data Providers	100+ integrated sources
Starting Price	Custom pricing
Interface	Single unified platform
Standout Feature	100+ provider aggregation
G2 Rating	4.4/5

According to Databar's own comparison, their platform's main strength is integrating 100+ best-in-class data providers through a single interface—eliminating the need for multiple vendor relationships.

Key Features:

• 100+ data providers in one interface
• Comprehensive prospecting and enrichment
• Unified billing across providers
• Comparison shopping for best data
• Custom workflow building

Pros:

• Eliminates multi-vendor complexity
• Choose best source per use case
• Single billing relationship
• Comprehensive data access

Cons:

• Custom pricing requires negotiation
• Can be overwhelming with options
• Less established brand

Pricing: Custom pricing based on usage. Contact sales for a quote.

12. Enricher.io - Best for Affordable Bulk Enrichment

Enricher.io (our platform) specializes in transforming email addresses into complete professional profiles at the lowest per-record cost in the market.

Quick Facts	Details
Best For	High-volume email enrichment
Database Size	2.5B+ person profiles
Starting Price	$0.01/record (pay-as-you-go)
Enrichment Attributes	26+ data points per profile
Standout Feature	Lowest per-record pricing
G2 Rating	4.6/5

Key Features:

• Email-to-profile enrichment (26+ attributes)
• Bulk CSV upload and enrichment
• Real-time API access
• Company domain enrichment
• Pay-as-you-go pricing

Pros:

• Lowest per-record cost ($0.01)
• No minimum commitment
• Simple API and bulk upload
• No credit expiration

Cons:

• Enrichment only (no prospecting)
• Requires existing email lists
• Less automation than Clay

Pricing: Pay-as-you-go at $0.01/record. Subscription plans available for volume discounts.

How to Choose the Right Clay Alternative?

Use this decision framework based on your primary need:

If You Need...	Choose...	Why
All-in-one prospecting + outreach	Apollo.io	Combined data + sequencing + dialer
AI-powered intent timing	Persana AI	Automatic signal detection, unlimited seats
European compliance	Cognism	GDPR-first, phone-verified data
Clay-style waterfall on budget	FullEnrich	15+ sources at $29/mo
Enterprise intelligence	ZoomInfo	Largest database + intent data
Simple SMB prospecting	Lusha	Easiest learning curve
Verified-only data	UpLead	95% accuracy, pay only for verified
Intent + timing signals	Lead411	Bombora intent + unlimited exports
Web automation	Bardeen	24/7 cloud automation, 4.9 rating
AI workflow flexibility	Gumloop	Any enrichment tool + LLM access
Multi-provider access	Databar.ai	100+ providers, one interface
Affordable bulk enrichment	Enricher.io	$0.01/record, no minimums

What About Clay's Pricing?

For context, here's Clay's current pricing structure:

Clay Plan	Price	Credits	Notes
Free	$0	100/month	Very limited testing
Starter	$149/month	2,000/month	Phone lookups cost 5+ credits
Explorer	$349/month	10,000/month	Adds AI message writing
Pro	$800/month	50,000/month	CRM integrations
Enterprise	Custom	Unlimited	Dedicated support

Key consideration: Phone enrichments in Clay burn through credits quickly (5+ credits per lookup), and API calls that return no data still consume credits.

Key Takeaways

• Apollo.io offers the best all-in-one value with prospecting, enrichment, and outreach starting at $49/month
• FullEnrich delivers Clay-style waterfall at $29/month—1/5th Clay's starting price
• Cognism leads for European compliance with phone-verified data and GDPR certification
• Clay's $149/month starting price with 2,000 credits is expensive when phone lookups cost 5+ credits each
• Bardeen has the highest G2 rating (4.9/5) for teams focused on automation over data
• Per-record costs range from $0.01 (Enricher.io) to enterprise pricing—choose based on volume

Ready to enrich your B2B data without Clay's complexity? Enricher.io provides data enrichment at $0.01/record with no minimum commitment or credit expiration.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Clay used for?

Clay is a data enrichment and workflow automation platform that connects to 75+ data sources to build comprehensive lead profiles. It's primarily used by sales and marketing teams for prospecting, lead enrichment, and automated outreach campaigns.

How much does Clay cost?

Clay's pricing starts at $149/month for 2,000 credits on the Starter plan, scaling to $800/month for Pro (50,000 credits). Phone number lookups cost 5+ credits each, meaning actual per-contact costs can be higher than they appear.

What is the cheapest Clay alternative?

For enrichment-only needs, Enricher.io offers the lowest per-record pricing at $0.01/record. For all-in-one platforms, Apollo.io's free tier provides 600 email credits monthly, and Bardeen offers unlimited non-premium automations free.

Which Clay alternative has the best data accuracy?

UpLead claims 95% accuracy with real-time verification—you only pay for verified contacts. Cognism's Diamond Data provides phone-verified mobile numbers. Both prioritize accuracy over volume.

Is there a free Clay alternative?

Yes. Apollo.io offers a free tier with 600 email credits/month. Bardeen has unlimited free non-premium automations. Lusha provides 5 free credits/month. Gumloop offers a free tier for testing workflows.