Head to head

Clay vs PhantomBuster

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

PhantomBuster

$69/mo Free tier 14 day free trial

Cloud automations for LinkedIn and the public web, with MCP on every plan. Start is $69/mo, or $56/mo billed annually.

Where PhantomBuster fits

  • Growth teams automating LinkedIn and Sales Nav lists
  • Agencies running several Phantoms in parallel
  • Builders wiring HubSpot, n8n, Zapier, Make, or MCP
  • Users who want cloud runs instead of a desktop scraper

At a glance

DetailClayPhantomBuster
Starting price$167/mo$69/mo
Free tier✓Yes✓Yes
Free trial14 day free trial14 day free trial
MCP server✓Yes✓Yes
Public API✓Yes✓Yes
Listed underLead generation, OutreachLead generation, LinkedIn, Outreach
CapterraNot enough reviews4.5 from 64 reviews

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

PhantomBuster

Stands out: Hosted MCP at mcp.phantombuster.com plus 100+ Phantoms that run without your browser open.

Watch out: You act through your own social accounts, so limits and bans are on you. Execution hours, slots, and email credits all cap out. Exports on the trial are 10 rows.

Not the right fit for

  • Buyers who want a pre-built B2B database
  • Teams unwilling to connect their own LinkedIn accounts

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

PhantomBuster

  • 14-day trial, then a limited free plan
  • MCP, API, and HubSpot / n8n / Zapier / Make
  • Unlimited users sharing one workspace meter
  • LinkedIn risk sits on the connected account
  • Hours, slots, and email credits all cap out
  • Trial exports stop at 10 rows

What each one costs

Clay

$167/mo

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

Checked 7 Sep 2026

PhantomBuster

$69/mo

Start is $69/mo billed monthly or $56/mo billed annually ($672/year). Grow is $159/mo ($128 annual) and Scale $439/mo ($352 annual). A 14-day trial is followed by a limited free plan. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 18 Sep 2026

Common questions

Is Clay cheaper than PhantomBuster?
PhantomBuster starts lower, at $69/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 PhantomBuster for free?
Clay and PhantomBuster carry a free tier on our listing. Clay offers a 14 day free trial. PhantomBuster offers a 14 day free trial.
Does Clay or PhantomBuster have an MCP server?
Clay and PhantomBuster 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 7 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?