Head to head

Clay vs UserGems

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

UserGems

$40,000/yr

Signal-based GTM platform built on job-change tracking, with MCP on higher plans. Core is $40,000/yr plus a $3,000 implementation fee.

Where UserGems fits

  • B2B teams tracking job changes and champions at scale
  • RevOps already on Salesforce or HubSpot
  • Demand gen syncing audiences to LinkedIn, Meta, or Google
  • Teams on Advanced or Elite that want MCP access

At a glance

DetailClayUserGems
Starting price$167/mo$40,000/yr
Free tier✓Yes–No
Free trial14 day free trialNot on record
MCP server✓Yes✓Yes
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 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

UserGems

Stands out: Published annual plans with a money-back guarantee if the tool does not return its cost in closed-won revenue.

Watch out: Core is a $40,000 annual contract, not a monthly seat, plus a $3,000 implementation fee. Purchases go through sales, not a self-serve checkout.

Not the right fit for

  • SMBs that need a sub-$100 monthly checkout
  • Recruiters looking for a candidate ATS

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

UserGems

  • Published Core price of $40,000/yr
  • Money-back ROI guarantee on every plan
  • Salesforce and HubSpot supported
  • No monthly self-serve plan
  • $3,000 implementation fee on Core
  • MCP starts on the $75,000 Advanced plan

What each one costs

Clay

$167/mo

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

Checked 7 Sep 2026

UserGems

$40,000/yr

Core is $40,000/yr, Advanced $75,000/yr, and Elite $150,000/yr, with one-time implementation fees of $3,000, $5,000, and $10,000. Credits and account coverage scale by tier. Plans are bought through sales. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Common questions

Is Clay cheaper than UserGems?
Clay starts lower, at $167/mo against $40,000/yr for UserGems. 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 UserGems for free?
Clay carries a free tier on our listing. Clay offers a 14 day free trial.
Does Clay or UserGems have an MCP server?
Clay and UserGems 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 7 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?