Head to head

BetterContact vs Clay

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

BetterContact

$15/mo Free tier

Waterfall contact enrichment API. Starter is $15/mo; Pro is $49/mo.

Where BetterContact fits

Operators running waterfalls instead of one database
HubSpot and Clay users
Teams that want emails and mobiles from many providers
Buyers comparing ContactOut economics

Clay

$167/mo Free tier 14 day free trial

Waterfall enrichment plus Claygent research columns for GTM and recruiting list work. Free plan exists; paid starts around $167/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

Detail	BetterContact	Clay
Starting price	$15/mo	$167/mo
Free tier	✓Yes	✓Yes
Free trial	Not on record	14 day free trial
MCP server	–No	✓Yes
Public API	–No	✓Yes
Listed under	Email finders, Lead generation	Lead generation, Outreach

Where they pull apart

BetterContact

Stands out: A $15 waterfall across 10-plus sources: the anti-ZoomInfo for operators who care about hit-rate, not a branded graph.

Watch out: Starter is a toe-dip. Real volume is Pro $49 or Enterprise from $799. Free 50 credits are not a timed trial.

Not the right fit for

People who want a single branded graph
Sequencer buyers
Desks that will not wire an API

Clay

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

Watch out: Not a sender. Paid plans start at about $167/mo, with Launch from $185/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

BetterContact

Public $15 Starter waterfall
Hit-rate economics versus one expensive graph
HubSpot and Make named

Starter will not cover a real desk
Enterprise jumps to $799
Not a sequencer

Clay

Public start at $167/mo
14-day trial documented
Waterfall plus Claygent in one table

Does not send mail; you still need a sequencer
Launch tier costs more, from $185/mo
Credit burn is easy to underestimate

What each one costs

BetterContact

$15/mo

Checked 7 Sep 2026

Clay

$167/mo

Free plan, paid from ~$167/mo. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 7 Sep 2026

Common questions

Is BetterContact cheaper than Clay?

BetterContact starts lower, at $15/mo against $167/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 BetterContact or Clay for free?

BetterContact and Clay carry a free tier on our listing. Clay offers a 14 day free trial.

Does BetterContact or Clay have an MCP server?

Clay ships a first party MCP server, so an AI assistant can work the product directly.

Not the pair you wanted?

All BetterContact alternatives All Clay alternatives Every Email finders tool

Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 7 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?