Head-to-head
Clay vs Apollo: which one in 2026?
Clay and Apollo.io are both used to build outbound lists, but they are built differently. Clay is a spreadsheet-style workbench that pulls data from 150+ providers and runs AI research per row. Apollo.io is an all-in-one database with sequencing and a dialer, priced per seat with pooled credits.
Verdict
Clay ranks above Apollo.io in the category because it solves the harder problem: finding and researching the right people when no single database has them. That comes with build time and two credit meters to watch. Apollo.io is the faster start for a small team that mainly needs contacts, sequences and a dialer in one place. Before paying either, run the same 200 target accounts through the free tiers and compare how many usable emails each returns.
Clay and Apollo side by side
| Clay | Apollo | |
|---|---|---|
| Price entry | $167 per month (Launch); free plan with 500 actions per month | Quoted |
| Core design | A table where each column enriches or researches a row, with waterfalls across many data providers and an AI agent called Claygent. | A contact and company database (Apollo cites 240M contacts and 30M companies) with sequences, a dialer and a Chrome extension attached. |
| Free plan | Includes 500 actions and 100 data credits per month, 200 rows per table, and no phone number enrichment. | A free Starter plan with no time limit. Free accounts can connect Gmail mailboxes only for sending campaigns. |
| How usage is metered | Two meters: actions for platform work and data credits for purchased data and AI. Paid plans start at 15,000 actions monthly. | One pool of credits shared across the team, granted at the start of each cycle. Unused credits expire and do not roll over. |
| Entry paid price | Launch lists at $167 per month on the pricing page, Growth at $446, and annual billing is described as saving 10%. | Paid tiers are Basic and Professional; the figures did not render on the page fetched, so check the live pricing page. |
| Sending email | A native sequencer arrives with Launch, or you can connect another sender. Growth adds buying domains and mailboxes for it. | Sequencing is on every account, including free ones, and paid plans can connect Microsoft and other email providers. |
| Seats and roles | Seats and tables are unlimited on every plan. SSO, SCIM, IP allowlists and role controls sit on custom Enterprise. | Every seat shares one plan level, so mixing Basic and Professional users is not allowed. SSO and advanced security are on Custom. |
| Credit rollover | Launch and Growth carry up to one month of credits over, or 15% of annual credits. Extra credits cost a 30% premium. | Nothing carries over, including purchased add-on credits. Add-ons renew automatically until you slide them back to zero. |
| Compliance statements | A custom DPA is listed under Enterprise, and the privacy policy says one can be requested by email to privacy@clay.com. | The privacy policy states ISO 27001 and SOC 2 certification, and the pricing page shows a GDPR compliant label. |
Where each one wins
Clay wins on
- Combines many outside data sources in one waterfall instead of relying on a single contact database.
- Seats are unlimited, so a large team pays for usage rather than headcount.
- Unused credits can partly carry over on Launch and Growth plans.
Apollo wins on
- Ships a prospect database, sequencer, dialer and CRM sync in one login, free to start.
- Pooled credits with per-user caps are easier to explain to a finance team.
- Vendor privacy policy names ISO 27001 and SOC 2 certification directly.
Which to pick
Pick Clay if
You have an operations person who will build enrichment workflows, and your target accounts are poorly covered by any single contact database.
Pick Apollo if
You want reps prospecting and emailing from one tool this week, and a single database plus sequencer covers your market well enough.
Each tool in context: Clay, Apollo, and the full Best AI SDR Software in 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is Clay a replacement for Apollo.io?
Only partly. Clay specializes in enrichment and research workflows across many data providers, and it has its own sequencer. Apollo.io bundles its own database with sequencing and a dialer. Teams often use Clay to build and score the list, then send from Apollo.io or another sender.
Which is cheaper for a team of five sellers?
It depends on volume, not headcount. Clay has unlimited seats, so cost follows actions and data credits. Apollo.io charges per seat on one shared plan level and meters credits. Get a quote for your monthly contact volume from both before assuming either is cheaper.
Can I use Apollo.io data inside Clay?
Clay lists integrations with 150+ data providers and CRMs, and Apollo.io offers waterfall enrichment and an MCP connection of its own. Whether the Apollo.io connector is available on your Clay plan, and which credits it spends, is something to confirm in both vendors' docs.
Do unused credits expire on Clay and Apollo.io?
On Apollo.io they expire at the end of each billing cycle, including purchased add-ons. On Clay, Launch and Growth plans roll over up to one month of credits, or 15% of annual credits on annual billing. The Free plan has no rollover.