Compare/Head to head

Cargo vs Clay

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

Starting price

Cargo

$165/mo Free tier Free trial

GTM orchestration platform with AI agents, workflows and 100+ integrations on one credit meter. Paid credit packs start at $165/mo for 1,500 credits.

Where Cargo fits

  • GTM engineers routing enrichment into the CRM
  • RevOps teams running agents and plays on one meter
  • Teams already on HubSpot or Salesforce
  • Builders who want to run Cargo from Claude via MCP

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

DetailCargoClay
Starting price$165/mo$185/mo
Free tier✓Yes✓Yes
Free trialYes14 day free trial
MCP server✓Yes✓Yes
Public API✓Yes✓Yes
Listed underLead generation, OutreachLead generation, Outreach

Where they pull apart

Cargo

Stands out: No feature gating: every credit tier gets the same agents, workflows and integrations.

Watch out: The bill is driven by credits, not seats. The $165 pack covers 1,500 credits, and SSO starts on the 17,000-credit pack at $1,190/mo.

Not the right fit for

  • Buyers who want a cheap seat-based CRM
  • Non-technical teams that will not manage credits

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

Cargo

  • Same features on every credit tier
  • Free trial with 100 credits, no card
  • MCP server plus a REST API
  • Credits, not seats, drive the bill
  • SSO starts on the $1,190/mo pack
  • Credit budgeting takes some planning

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

Cargo

$165/mo

Paid credit packs start at $165/mo for 1,500 credits, then $250/mo for 2,500, $1,190/mo for 17,000 and $3,000/mo for 50,000-plus. All features are on every pack; bigger packs add better support and SSO. A free trial starts with 100 credits and no card. 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 Cargo cheaper than Clay?
Cargo starts lower, at $165/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 Cargo or Clay for free?
Cargo and Clay carry a free tier on our listing. Cargo offers a free trial. Clay offers a 14 day free trial.
Does Cargo or Clay have an MCP server?
Cargo and Clay ship a first party MCP server, so an AI assistant can work the product directly.

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