Head to head

Clay vs OutboundSync

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

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

Syncs Smartlead, Instantly, and other outbound tools into Salesforce and HubSpot. Starter is $99/mo for 2,000 sends.

Where OutboundSync fits

  • Teams pushing Instantly or Smartlead into Salesforce
  • HubSpot shops that want outbound events in the CRM
  • Ops teams that refuse Zapier for send logging
  • Companies that need SOC 2 on the sync layer

At a glance

DetailClayOutboundSync
Starting price$167/mo$99/mo
Free tier✓Yes–No
Free trial14 day free trialNot on record
MCP server✓Yes–No
Public API✓Yes✓Yes
Listed underLead generation, OutreachLead generation, Outreach, CRM

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 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

OutboundSync

Stands out: API, webhooks, and agent skills ship on every plan, with unlimited connectors and SOC 2 Type II.

Watch out: You are billed on sent messages, not replies or opens. Staying over plan plus 2x rollover can pause sync. Annual pre-pay is two months free.

Not the right fit for

  • In-house teams that already log sends natively
  • Very high volume unless you buy Custom

Pros and cons

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

OutboundSync

  • Starter $99/mo for 2,000 sends
  • API and webhooks on every plan
  • SOC 2 Type II on the sync layer
  • Overages can pause CRM sync
  • Billed on sends, not outcomes
  • Walkthrough required to buy

What each one costs

Clay

$167/mo

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

Checked 7 Sep 2026

OutboundSync

$99/mo

Starter is $99/mo for 2,000 sent messages (2x rollover to 4,000). Explorer is $249/mo for 10,000. Advanced is $499/mo for 25,000. Custom is annual. Monthly billing. Annual pre-pay gives two months free. API access and unlimited connectors on every plan. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Common questions

Is Clay cheaper than OutboundSync?
OutboundSync starts lower, at $99/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 Clay or OutboundSync for free?
Clay carries a free tier on our listing. Clay offers a 14 day free trial.
Does Clay or OutboundSync 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 7 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?