Compare/Head to head

Clay vs Freckle

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

Starting price

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

Freckle

$99/mo Free tier

Waterfall enrichment over 40-plus providers. Free forever with 500 rows. Build starts at $99/mo.

Where Freckle fits

  • GTM teams enriching people and companies
  • Operators who want waterfall email and phone finds
  • Teams that need unlimited seats on a cheap plan
  • Analysts running web search inside tables

At a glance

DetailClayFreckle
Starting price$185/mo$99/mo
Free tier✓Yes✓Yes
Free trial14 day free trialNot on record
MCP server✓Yes–No
Public API✓Yes✓Yes
Listed underLead generation, OutreachEmail finders, Lead generation

Where they pull apart

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

Freckle

Stands out: Priced on output credits rather than action clicks, with unlimited seats and tables even on Free.

Watch out: Free includes 250 starting credits and 500 rows. HTTP API and bring-your-own keys start on Build. Enterprise is quoted above 500,000 credits.

Not the right fit for

  • Companies that need a documented public API on Free
  • Very large enrich jobs above 500,000 credits

Pros and cons

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

Freckle

  • Free forever with 500 rows
  • Build from $99/mo, unlimited rows
  • Unlimited seats on every plan
  • Free stops at 500 rows
  • HTTP API starts on Build
  • Credit prices vary by provider

What each one costs

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

Freckle

$99/mo

Free forever is $0/mo with 500 rows, unlimited seats and tables, and 250 starting credits. Build starts at $99/mo with unlimited rows, HTTP API, and bring-your-own keys. Enterprise is quoted above about 500,000 credits. Credits can roll over and be topped up. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Common questions

Is Clay cheaper than Freckle?
Freckle starts lower, at $99/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 Clay or Freckle for free?
Clay and Freckle carry a free tier on our listing. Clay offers a 14 day free trial.
Does Clay or Freckle 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?

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