Compare/Head to head

Apollo vs Clay

Same facts, side by side: starting price, free tier, MCP, API and what each one is actually built for.

Starting price

Apollo

$49/user/mo Free tier Free trial

All-in-one B2B database plus sequencer, with a free plan and paid plans from $49 per seat a month billed annually.

Where Apollo fits

  • Outbound recruiting and sales on one database
  • Teams that want free-tier access to start
  • Desks that need sequences next to the data
  • Consumers of the Apollo graph via MCP or API

Clay

$185/mo Free tier 14 day free trial

Waterfall enrichment plus Claygent research columns for GTM and recruiting list work. Free plan exists; paid Launch starts at $185/mo, with a 14-day trial.

Where Clay fits

  • Sourcers building enriched spreadsheets
  • Teams chaining many data vendors
  • Desks that want Claygent research columns
  • RevOps pushing clean rows to a sequencer or ATS

At a glance

DetailApolloClay
Starting price$49/user/mo$185/mo
Free tier✓Yes✓Yes
Free trialYes14 day free trial
MCP server✓Yes✓Yes
Public API✓Yes✓Yes
Listed underEmail finders, Lead generation, OutreachLead generation, Outreach
Capterra4.5 from 398 reviewsNot enough reviews

Where they pull apart

Apollo

Stands out: A large people database plus email sequences in one login, with MCP and a Chrome extension.

Watch out: Data quality varies by segment, and it does not match enterprise tools for intent data and org charts.

Not the right fit for

  • Buyers who need enterprise-class intent and org charts
  • Teams that want an ATS

Clay

Stands out: 150+ provider waterfall plus Claygent on every row, with MCP and API.

Watch out: Not a sender. Paid plans start at $185/mo on Launch, CRM sync needs Growth from $495/mo, and credit burn adds up.

Not the right fit for

  • Teams that need Clay to send the email
  • Buyers who want a cheap single-finder

Pros and cons

Apollo

  • Free plan, then Basic at $49 per seat a month billed annually
  • Database plus sequences in one login
  • MCP and Chrome extension
  • Data quality varies by segment
  • Less depth on intent than enterprise vendors
  • Credit model needs watching

Clay

  • Free plan, then Launch from $185/mo
  • 14-day trial documented
  • Waterfall plus Claygent in one table
  • Does not send mail; you still need a sequencer
  • CRM sync needs Growth, from $495/mo
  • Credit burn is easy to underestimate

What each one costs

Apollo

$49/user/mo

Apollo has a free plan with 900 credits per seat a year, granted monthly. Basic is $49 per seat a month billed annually, with 30,000 credits per seat a year granted upfront and a 14-day trial; annual billing saves 24% against monthly. Higher plans are listed on the same page. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Clay

$185/mo

Free plan with 100 Data Credits and 500 Actions a month. Launch starts at $185 a month (2,500 Data Credits, 15,000 Actions, job change and signal tracking). Growth starts at $495 a month (6,000 Data Credits, 40,000 Actions) and adds CRM sync, HTTP API and webhooks. Enterprise is custom with an annual commitment. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Common questions

Is Apollo cheaper than Clay?
Apollo starts lower, at $49/user/mo against $185/mo for Clay. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.
Can you try Apollo or Clay for free?
Apollo and Clay carry a free tier on our listing. Apollo offers a free trial. Clay offers a 14 day free trial.
Does Apollo or Clay have an MCP server?
Apollo and Clay ship a first party MCP server, so an AI assistant can work the product directly.

Not the pair you wanted?

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Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 4 Nov 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?